San Antonio Summer FREEBIES!!!!

Big THANK YOU to Jody for passing along the following information!  More Cheap (or free) summer ideas to come!!

Book Store Events:
Toy Story 3 Event at Barnes and Noble
http://www.examiner.com/x-44284-San-Antonio-Budget-Events-Examiner~y2010m6d7-Toy-Story-3-storytimes-at-Borders-stores-June-12

Every Friday at 10:30am at the Twig (Pearl Brewery) Miss Anastasia Storytime!! 

http://thetwig.indiebound.com/miss-anastasia

Inflatable Bounce Houses and indoor play places
Tuesdays and Thursdays – HALF price Rolling Oaks Mall Inflatable Wonderland (10am-9pm). ½ price is $6.50- 6909 N. Loop 1604 E. #2063, San Antonio, TX 78247, (210)212-4386

Tuesdays and Thursdays- HALF price Emerald Rainbow Family Fun Center (11am-5pm), 20,000 square feet of inflatables, mini bowling, rock climbing, batting cages, arcade games mini golf, and food! 21155 Hwy. 46, Spring Branch, TX 78070
one mile west of US 281, Phone: (830) 980-8981
http://www.emerald-rainbow.com/

http://funtasticplayland.com/Admission.html

MOVIES:
http://www.villageatstoneoak.net/go/Poolb.cfm?MallID=1000&FPURLID=2129971307

http://www.regmovies.com/nowshowing/familyfilmfestivalschedule.aspx?state=TX

http://www.santikos.com/summerseries.php

http://www.amcentertainment.com/smc/

Library Stuff:
http://saplkids.blogspot.com/2010/06/storybook-theatre-at-library.html
http://guides.mysapl.org/summerreading2010

Date and Time: Wednesday, June 23, 2010 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Location: Cody Library 11441 Vance Jackson
Contact Information: For more information call 210.270.9000
This event is FREE and open to the public. There will be fun, educational activities,and a special appearance by Curious George. Don't forget to bring your camera!

Great page to find stuff:
http://www.littledailyplanner.com/

Store Events:
Free Crafts for Kids!
Every Saturday from 11am – 3pm, Lakeshore Learning Store offers FREE craft activities for kids ages 3 and up at all of our locations.

Bass Pro Shop
http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CFPageC?storeId=10151&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&pageID=4766&cm_ven=redirect&cm_cat=mktg&cm_pla=bps&cm_ite=summercamp


Museums:
Witte Museum- Free admission on Tuesdays from 3 to 8pm.

Thursday evenings is FREE general admission to the McNay Art Museum.

Not free but very cool... http://www.alamo.edu/sac/ce/scobee/faqs2.html

Texas Transportation Museum
http://www.txtransportationmuseum.org/

Parks and Rec Stuff:
http://www.sanantonio.gov/sapar/calendar.asp?res=1440&ver=true

FOOD
http://www.sayachtclub.com/
Great new place with great playground for kids, good food and drinks for mom an dad!

KIDS EAT FREE:
Mondays at the wonderful La Paloma Norte!!!!!! Its on the corner of Evans and Bulverde with the green umbrellas :)! Make sure you get a pineapple mojito, for you, not the kids...ha ha ha ha

Other Fun Stuff
ZOO:
Also, if you have a SA Zoo membership you can get in at 7:30am! So fun to take breakfast tacos and watch them feed the animals and have the zoo all to yourself.

Magik Theater:
Not Free but not expensive is the http://www.magiktheatre.org/ and the Hemisphere playground is right next door. How I became a Pirate is through this weekend and then it is Snow White and the Seven Amigos!

Fort Sam Houston:
Fort Sam Houston has been many things since it was built 140 years ago: an Army post, a supply depot, a prison for Apache Chief Geronimo … Today, the fort's quadrangle is home to deer, rabbits, chickens, geese and ducks. The fort is also the site of one of San Antonio's most fascinating historical monuments. Take your grandchildren on a tour of Texas history that they can see, touch, and feel, in a spot where the animals are tame enough to feed from your hand.
Info: Free
Hours: Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm, Saturday and Sunday 12pm to 6pm

Roller Skating:
http://www.therollercade.com/SUMMER_SKATING_2010.php

Baskin Robbins has dollar scoop night every Tuesday night

  

All sounds great Jody...especially the pineapple mojito!!  Thanks again!!

KID AND MOM OF THE WEEK!!

Meet Hudson!

Hudson goes to Kaia's school and he is super smart.  He is always answering questions and just as important, asking them.  He has always been very considerate and his delightful personality definitely shines but the last week of school he did something WONDERFUL!

When I went to pick up Kaia from school her teacher pulled me aside and shared a little story with me.  She told me that today was the first day that any of the kids had ever said anything about Kaia's hemangioma.  We knew this day was coming soon.  We have done our best to prepare Kaia by telling her that the big red bulge on her head is her "beauty mark", that it makes her special and different.  I also call it her "nice button" and she has to automatically be nice when I press it.  My mom tells her it is where an angel kissed her.  So far, she has been happy with those answers and she even seems to be proud of it.  But, we knew one day someone who isn't in her family would point it out, and of course, I worry about how she is going to take it.  Well, Hudson was the first.  Their conversation went like this, 

Hudson: "Kaia, what is on your head?" 

Kaia: "My beauty mark, it makes me different"

Hudson: "Can I touch it?"

Kaia:"Ummm, sure"

10 seconds of investigating

Hudson: "Kaia, it is very cool"

Kaia: "I know"  :)

Doesn't seem like that big of a deal but when you realize that HE IS THREE YEARS OLD, it is a big deal!!  It also meant a lot because her teacher told me that the other kids were watching this happen and guess what?  After Mr. Hudson declared it was cool, that was good enough for the other kiddos and they went right along with their business.  Kids can be mean these days and already at such a young age, Hudson is recognizing and appreciating differences in others and I think that is SUPER GREAT!

For this Hudson, YOU ARE ALL THINGS MOM's KID OF THE WEEK!!!!!

Thanks for making Kaia feel safe and secure in her little world!  

We all know the saying, "Behind every good man, is a good woman".  We all know that 99% of the time, it is true!  I feel the same way about kids!  Behind every good kid, is a good parent(s).

So it comes as no surprise that Hudson's mom is wonderful!

Kristin is a teacher by trade and a stay-at-home mom by choice of two little boys (teachers always tell me that they always know who the TEACHER'S KIDS are...hoping this is a good thing).  Kristin works hard to keep a nice home, a strong marriage, and two healthy, happy kiddos.  I am always so impressed when I run into her at2 how "together" she seems.  She also always has a smile to offer everyone around her!

Hudson is a true testament to what an amazing mom Kristin is!  You are doing a fabulous job girl!  Keep up with good work!!!

We Have a Winner!!!

Whew Whooooo! Stephanie Owens and D'Layne Kelly won The Little Gym Camp Day give-away!
Both have two monkeys so all four kiddos will get to enjoy all the fabulous things The Little Gym Camp days offer!

I hope you two mommies get a well deserved break and I hope your little ones enjoy The Little Gym as much as my two do!!!

I received my first blogger award!

WOOOOO WHOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
Michelle at My Kind of Crafts nominated me for the Versatile Blogger Award.



Rules for receiving the award are:

1. Thank the person who gave me the award
2. Share 7 things about myself
3. Pass the award on to 15 (sorry...didn't get to that many) fabulous bloggers
4. Contact the bloggers I have picked and let them know about their award!

Thanks Michelle!!

Seven things...hmmm?

1. I am sort of a "jack of all trades". I know a little about a lot! I am a mom, science teacher, volleyball coach, personal trainer, certified as a nutrition specialist, a wanna-be photographer (working on this one), and I'm sure tomorrow, I will add something else to the list :)

2. I want to learn to play my guitar SOON!

3. My husband makes me laugh the most out of everyone I know and I am the most competitive with him!

4. My nickname (which I hated) while teaching was Biology Barbie (I know, BARF!!)

5. I love everything about entertaining! I host parties, coffees, BBQs, and showers as often as I can!!

6. I hope I always remain an athlete and motivated to work out and stay healthy and pass that on to my kiddos!

7. My kids make my world go around and keep me smiling all the time! I am truly blessed

Here are my favorite bloggers! I am passing this award on to them!!
Three Little Birds
Photosmashing
Free People

Clarification on give-away entry rules

My sincere apologies to those new to the blog give-away world!!
I should have been more precise when stating the entry rules!! You DO NOT have to have a twitter account! You can easily sign up for one if you would like to.
If you do one of the 5 following things, that enters your name in the drawing one time. Two things, two times, all things, 5 times!
So, by visiting the Little gym website and commenting on my blog post, you entered your name one time. If you also became a fan of ALL THINGS MOM of FB, you entered your name two times, etc.


How to Enter:

1. Visit The Little Gym website here and comment on this post what your kid would like about The Little Gym (example - my kid would love the balance beam)
2. Become a fan of ALL THINGS MOM on Facebook
3. Follow ALL THINGS MOM in Google Friends Connect (click Follow on ALL THINGS MOM Home Page)
4. Email five friends the link to ALL THINGS MOM and tell them about the give-away! CC me on it at Lesliand3ks@gmail.com
5. Follow ALL THINGS MOM on Twitter and tweet this giveaway. Leave this link: http://mommawareness.blogspot.com/2010/05/little-gym-and-all-things-moms-first.html

Be sure and email me at Lesliand3ks@gmail.com your name and contact info (however you would like to be contacted, email, phone, etc.) and let me know how many of the above entry rules you followed (sometimes can't track twitter usernames, or blog identities)!

Does this help?? Any more questions, please email or comment! I would be happy to help!!

The LITTLE GYM and ALL THINGS MOM's first GIVE-AWAY!!

Since my husband and I are both athletes (I almost typed "former" and then corrected myself...we will always be athletes, at least in our own minds!), it is very important that we instill a love for exercise and physical activity in our kids lives. As soon as my daughter was walking, my husband wanted to know which sport we were going to put her in. Now that the baby boy is walking, he wants to set up tire drills in the backyard. I know it is crazy, but that's how we roll :)
So we joined The Little Gym. The Little Gym has been a big part of our lives since Kaia was a baby. It was her first "social" activity that I enrolled her in and she was only 9 months old. She loved it so much! I noticed how every time we went she became more comfortable with not only the other kids, but the other moms and dads in the class. She also quickly became comfortable on the equipment and began challenging herself to new tasks and taking risks she normally would not take. It was my favorite 45 minutes of each week because it gave us the opportunity to bond with each other and as she slowly tried new things, I could see her trust in me grow as she knew I would be there to catch her and spot her. Kaia enjoyed the class so much we even had her one-year birthday party there! Even at three-years-old, we still do "rollie-pollies" together and "whoop-te-do's" in the living room floor.

Now I take Kristian. He loves it too but on a whole other level. He is a wild one and loves to run and jump and fall down. He is also trying new things and challenging himself but I love that it is in a safe environment and all while he is interacting with other children. He loves to watch me run and jump and walk across the balance beam. He even claps for me and then tries it himself.
Here he is!!




This was Kaia at eleven months!




I have been thoroughly impressed with the instructors and curriculum at The Little Gym. The instructors are great about teaching parents how to safely spot their children and constantly encouraging the kids even when they are having a bad day or not wanting to try an activity. The curriculum is top-notch. Parents and kids learn a new sign each class, new songs, and each class has a theme where we work on a different "strength" that our kids possess!

I would recommend The Little Gym to anyone with kids and I am excited to announce the following give-away!
Read more about The Little Gym here!!



This is a local give-away! If you live in San Antonio, this one if for you!!
The Little Gym on Thousand Oaks has FOUR CAMP DAYS TO GIVE AWAY!!!
Read about The Little Gym Camp Days HERE!


The camp day is three hours long so stick around and watch your little one(s) have a ball or meet a friend out for a meal and some shopping and enjoy some MOMMY TIME!!

Your child/children must be 3-8 years old and be POTTY TRAINED!!
Camp days run Mon., Tues., Wed. from 1pm - 4pm and Thurs. and Fri. from 9am - 12pm. You get to pick the day!

Each week has a special theme and each day has a different, creative lesson plan. Your child and their friends will love to go on a new adventure each time they attend camp! The specially designed camp curriculum combines physical activity, gymnastics and play with arts, crafts, and special events.

Even better: If the mommies who win have more than one child, the camp day give-away includes ALL ELIGIBLE SIBLINGS!!
The day is for the FAMILY :) :)

The dates for the camp day give-away are as follows (note: the give away includes ONE DAY of each week so there are FOUR WINNERS):

June 14th - June 18th WILD WEST!
Get ready to "Gitty-up Partner" - for this Wild West adventure here at The Little Gym! Each day of this camp may be wilder than the next - what with "Ropin' Pigs", "Runaway Stage Coach Rides" and of course the "Buckin' Bronco Hoedown!" But leave your holster at home! All you'll need for this Wild West Ride is your smile, your imagination, and a cowboy boot full of "gumption" (whatever that is!).

June 21st - June 25th Jolly Roger's Hidden Treasure
The Little Gym Pirates embark on unforgettable adventures on Pirate Island as they search for the "Jolly Roger's Hidden Trasure" - the silliest pirate that ever tickled a squid! Searching for strange clues that have our little pirates doing everything from straddle rolls to back handsprings is just a sample of what is in store. Will they find the treasures? What kind of incredible pirate gymnastics and games does Jolly Roger do to get his "jollies"? You'll just have to hop on boards and see!


How to Enter:

1. Visit The Little Gym website and comment on this post that you did so
2. Become a fan of ALL THINGS MOM on Facebook
3. Follow ALL THINGS MOM on Twitter and tweet this giveaway. Leave this link: http://mommawareness.blogspot.com/2010/05/little-gym-and-all-things-moms-first.html
4. Follow ALL THINGS MOM in Google Friends Connect (click Follow on ALL THINGS MOM Home Page)
5. Email five friends the link to ALL THINGS MOM and tell them about the give-away! CC me on it at Lesliand3ks@gmail.com

Note: WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED June 4th!! Thanks to the Little Gym for providing ALL THINGS MOM with the camp days. Please make sure your child fits the age criteria before entering. ALL THINGS MOM will contact you if you win and will contact The Little Gym with your name, contact info, and specific date(s) your child/children are planning on attending.

Emergency Contact Sheet

The best time to prepare for an emergency is before it happens. Make sure your family knows emergency phone numbers and your kids know how to place a call for help!!


Here is a great resource to have! Click on the link below and you can print out as many of these sheets as you would like. Fill it out and keep it close to the telephone! It is great for babysitters or relatives to have this information close at hand in case of an emergency.

EMERGENCY CONTACT SHEET

Some other important tips:
- WRITE ALL NUMBERS WITH A DARK COLORED PEN AND VERY CLEARLY
- BE SURE TO INCLUDE ANY ALLERGIES, ESPECIALLY TO MEDICATIONS ON YOUR LIST
- BE SURE TO INCLUDE ALL MEDICAL CONDITIONS YOUR CHILD MAY SUFFER FROM
- BESIDES CLOSE TO THE HOME PHONE, KEEP A CONTACT LIST IN THE CAR

Another important thing for you to think about...
My husband and I have filled out a Power of Attorney for my parents to make any medical decisions for our kids on our behalf. We had it notarized and keep it current. Our kids are with my parents frequently and we wanted to make sure, in case of an emergency, that if we could not be reached, my parents would be able to make any decision necessary.

Sun screens for your kids....GRRRRRR!

Listening to our local news this morning, I hear bits and pieces of information about sun screens and how some may not be all they are cracked up to be. Then I receive a post from a friend and blog reader (thanks Molly!) with a link attached about how some chemicals in sunscreens may be accelerating cancer cell development AND not protecting our kids the way they are advertising to be. Okay so I am fired up a bit and start doing some research.....and NOW I AM FUMING!!!!

I thought for sure the sunscreen I buy was a good quality lotion. It is the most expensive at the store, and after all, you get what you pay for, right? WRONG! It was rated ONE OF THE WORST! And these are products I am trusting to protect my children, my three and one-year old??

It is so frustrating! I use a lot of things that are considered "natural" but let's be honest, who has the time to investigate every little thing and the money to purchase all these things? So while running through the grocery store, I grab a trusted name (at least I thought) brand sun screen. Those of you who have done the same thing, READ ON!

Here is the article (Study: Many Sunscreens May Be Accelerating Cancer) Take what you want from it, but the most important thing I did was click on the EWG (environmental Working Group) link below, then click on the Find the best sunscreen for you link, then you can search for the cream you have been using to see it's rating (the scale of good to caution to harmful is there). And you guessed it, mine was not just "caution" but in the HARMFUL category!! The page also shows the EWG's list of best rated sun screens that do not have those harmful chemicals in them. I recognized a lot of the names and most of them you can not buy in the grocery store because they are all natural products and are not carried in the big chain stores. I have seen some of them at Whole Foods and Sun Harvest and even Babies R Us.
Looks like I will be purchasing new sun screen for the hot summer months to come!!

EWG Link to finding a safe and effective sun screen
http://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/best-beach-sport-sunscreens/

If you don't read the article or rate your sun screen at least take the time to look over this page. IT IS GREAT!
It is the EWG Top Sunscreen Tips and includes a chart showing you how to shop for sun screens (which chemicals to check for to have and avoid), then what to do prior to applying sunscreen, and sun tips for infants, toddlers, children, and teens!
It is a must read!! Look for most posts on this issue to come!!

CRY/LAUGH Monday!

I figured we all could use a little laugh on Monday mornings so thanks to Lisa Pullig, here is All Things Mom's FIRST Cry/Laugh Monday Story!!

Last night I was taking off the kids clothes to get them in the tub. I put my little one down on the ground naked and was walking him to the bathroom. I went back to see where I lost the oldest (1-2 minutes TOPS) and when I came back for the little one I saw him standing near the TV console. When I picked him up to take him to the tub I noticed.....where he was standing, he was peeing the whole time. Directly in the line of fire of our DVD player and BOSE speakers. They were both soaked. Just like our parents used to say..."Can't we have ANYTHING nice?!"

Great one Lisa! Looking forward to receiving more cry/laugh stories to post! Email them to me at Lesliand3ks@gmail.com