Yes I can!


That's right - finished my final and I got an "A". Oh, but it felt good. I worried and fretted the entire semester about my grade, but boy did it pay off. I'm taking two classes this summer, photography because I take crap pictures, and a wellness class...well...it's obvious, my arse has morphed into something I know longer know. AND, worse it keeps following me around like a stalker! Stay tuned for the transformation......

Breakin' the law, breakin' the law (with apologies to Judas Priest)

I did the unthinkable yesterday. In fact, I'm not even sure it's legal. I bought white pants. More specifically, white denim capris (what? they were on sale!). After I got them home, I realized they were perhaps a bit too reminiscent of "Dirty Dancing" for comfort.

I've been avoiding white pants my entire life, mostly because of a girl named Honelore. I remember her last name, too, but I'll keep it to myself. And yes, that was her real first name, though I might be off on the spelling. In junior high, Honelore got her period one day. While wearing white pants. And apparently, she failed to notice for quite a while. The whole school knew about it before lunchtime and her name went down in infamy. I tucked that little lesson away in my brain. White pants = bad.

The other problem with white pants is, of course, the fact that they are not slimming. At all. So why did I purposely buy an optical ass enlarger? That, my friends, is the question.

PrintArtKids: Masterpieces Immortalized

Can't stand the thought of getting rid of your little Picasso's precious prints, but feel like they are taking over your home? There is a great, local company called PrintArtKids which can help you declutter while preserving some great memories!

The "brainchild" of a local mom whose house was buried under her sons’ artwork, PrintArtKids will transform your kid’s vibrant flower painting into Notepads, transform a homemade holiday ornament into this year's Holiday Card, or take a finger painting and make it a one-of-a-kind Note Card. Your children will be excited to see their artwork turned into custom pieces that will be used again and again!

Looking for a great gift for Dad? Upload your photos or artwork to www.PrintArtKids.com to create a never to be forgotten, one-of-a-kind present just for Dad (or Grandpa)! Place your order by June 7th to ensure your order will be shipped to you by Father's Day!

And, ordering is a snap! Either scan or take a digital photo of your print, and upload to your computer. Since it's digital, you can use your computer to make changes to the photos before sending off to PrintArtKids. Once you've digitized your child's masterpiece, visit www.PrintArtKids.com, select the item you wish to order from “Our Products,” then click on “Order Now.” Simply upload the image to PrintArtKids following the easy to use instructions to create notepads, holiday cards, return address labels and more! For an additional fee, PrintArtKids will even erase errant scribbles.

NBC 10 Show Mom's Morning Out Field Trip..

Hey Mom's.... call the babysitter and get a group of friends together.....Anyone interested in going to see a live taping of the NBC 10! Show on June 3rd or June 4th?

Visiting the 10! Show is a really fun Mom's morning out. If you are interested please email your name, phone # and date (6/3 or 6/4) that you can attend to sarah@chestercountymoms.com. The show tapes in Bala Cynwyd and you have to arrive at the studio between 9am-9:30am. Space is limited so please email your info ASAP.


June 3rd: A performance from Andrew Lipke, Father's Day Fashions, Katie Cavuto will be on (she from Next Food Network Star)- a demo on sunglasses and Lee Daniels and Adam Rothenberg they will be talking about their new movie Tennessee

June 4th: The Anitque Road Show,a chef-author Janice Leiberman (talking about how to shop for a husband) Adventure Aquarium and John Debella with a pet up for adoption

FREE Ice Cream Day at The Parkesburg Walmart Supercenter

Mark your calendars and make plans to visit the Parkesburg Walmart Supercenter
on Saturday, May 30th from 11am to 4pm for FREE Ice Cream!
Available items : 1.57 fl oz. Dibs snack bag, 2.4 fl oz. Blue Bunny Aspen Frozen Yogurt Granola Bar, 4 oz Ben & Jerry's Flipped Out Cup.
1 sample per customer while supplies last

Memorial Day Weekend









Whenever Shad has a three-day weekend, he complains that "we never do anything fun". This year I decided I didn't want to hear about it anymore, so we went to the beach for the weekend. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN!!! In the past, I've gotta admit, vacations with kids simply are not fun. They don't sleep well, which causes Shad and I to not sleep well, which causes us to bicker more, the kids don't eat good, and inevitably, a child gets a cold. Other Mothers have told me that it's just my kids' ages and that eventually it will get easier. Well I think that time has arrived (at least until we have another baby). It was great.

The first night David, Rachelle, Ben and Will joined us. We went out to eat, went to the beach and the boys were in heaven being able to play with each other so much. We were sad to see them go.

The rest of the weekend, we did more beach, went to some parks (partaking in Kate's latest addiction....swinging. I swear if she could, she would have me push her on the swings 24 hours a day), went out to eat, ate WAY too much junk food, and slept a ton. We took the kids to the San Diego Temple because they'd never seen a temple in real life before. Tanner was in awe. He loved it and wanted tons of pictures so he could print them out and keep them. Kate just enjoyed running away from me as I tried to take pictures of her.

The weekend was wonderful. On the way home, Tanner kept asking, "But why do we have to go home? Why can't we stay at the hotel?"

Paging: The Worst Mother Ever

I took the kid with me on Saturday morning to run some errands. We sat through a Weight Watchers meeting, then had breakfast with my friend Nancy, then bought some annuals and grass seed at the garden shop, and finally hit Barnes & Noble. I was in need of a new book to read and figured I'd pick one up for A as well.

The children's section is in the back of the expansive store. It features one of those tabletop train sets, and the kid loves it. I tried to head her off by letting her know that she would be given ample opportunity to play with the train if she would just agree to wait patiently while I selected a book to read. I figured I'd choose some offbeat paperback and then sit in the children's section and read while she played. Her patience, however, ran out after .0003 seconds, and she began edging closer to the train. Finally, I gave up and escorted her back there. An older boy was already there playing with the wooden trains. I knelt down and whispered to my daughter. "Blah blah blah share share share blah blah other kid blah blah don't wander away blah blah." She nodded and grabbed a caboose.

I knew I couldn't go too far, so I headed to the biography section just outside the children's area. I could hear A playing with the other kid. Then I heard another boy show up on the scene and some wrangling over trains seemed to ensue. I walked back over and whispered my vague "sharing" pep talk again. I wandered a bit farther away, to the nature section, and then back to the biographies. I was looking for a good memoir but nothing was popping out at me. A lot of junk, though. I mean, Candy Spelling? Seriously?

Suddenly, I realized something wasn't quite right. No longer able to hear my kid negotiating with the others, I tucked a book (Diablo Cody's memoir) under my arm and walked back to the train. I found only rough-housing boys. No curly-headed girl in a sundress. A mom sitting in an upholstered chair looked up at me. "She got mad and headed that way," she said, pointing to the far end of the children's section. I walked in that direction but somehow knew I'd come up empty-handed. Which is exactly what happened.

I sighed and headed towards the front of the store, knowing that it would be nearly impossible to find my child amidst the countless aisles and books and people. I held my breath and waited for the loudspeaker announcement, which I somehow knew was coming.

"Attention. Would the mother of A______ please come to the front registers?" (Why did we teach that child her own name?) The voice then repeated the announcement, just in case the coffee sippers over in the cafe missed the news about the irresponsible parent.

That announcement was what the rest of the book shoppers heard, but what my brain heard was:

"Would the worst mother in the history of all time, even worse than that mom in Texas who drowned all of her kids in the bathtub, please retrieve your forlorn, neglected child from the front of the store, where she waits for you with a tear-stained face and a broken heart?"

This, my friends, is a low point in parenting to be sure. What kind of mother loses her child? I trudged to the front of the store and saw a middle-aged lady smiling and consoling my daughter. "Thank you," I told her. "I was right around the corner. I don't know how she didn't see me. Probably walked right past me! Ha ha!" She nodded and walked off, probably to look up the number for Child Protective Services.

I knelt down next to the kid and said, "You were supposed to stay by the train!" She frowned and began muttering about how it was actually my fault for abandoning her. I decided that I had reached Maximum Barnes & Noble and got in line to check out. But, it was Saturday, the busiest day of the week, so of course only one register was open. I'm sure they wouldn't have it any other way. I don't think I've ever actually seen two registers operating simultaneously at Barnes & Noble. And no, I don't want to join your %&*#ing savings club!

We stood in the line for what seemed an eternity - her pulling miniature books off shelves that were situated right at her eye level and me countering with pointless time-out threats. The day, it seemed, could not get any worse. But then . . .

"Mama! I gotta go potty!"

Celebrate the End of School with Goodies for a Graduation Party

Break out the paper and the scissors! It's time to celebrate the end of the school year.

Click here for fun crafts, make it your self gift ideas, recipes, party ideas and more from Family Fun Magazine.

Tasty Tuesday - Class of 2009 Cake

With another school year drawing to a close, you'll want to make sure your young graduate gets his just desserts -- such as a jelly roll diploma wrapped in a fruit leather bow.

RECIPE INGREDIENTS:

2 eggs plus 1 egg white
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
Jelly
4 oz. cream cheese
softened 3 tbsp. butter
softened1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
Decorator's gel
Fruit leather



1. Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a 15- x 10-inch jelly roll pan with waxed paper and grease the paper well.

2. In a bowl, beat the eggs and egg white with an electric mixer on high speed for 5 minutes. Add 1 teaspoon of the vanilla extract, then gradually beat in the sugar at low speed. Stir in the dry ingredients until well mixed.

3. Pour the batter into the pan and bake for 12 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

4. Invert the hot cake onto a clean towel sprinkled with confectioners' sugar; remove the waxed paper. Trim the cake edges with a sharp knife (adults only) and roll up the hot cake and towel from a narrow end. Let it cool on a wire rack.

5. Unroll the cooled cake, remove the towel, and spread on jelly, leaving a 2-inch strip at one end plain. Reroll the jelly-covered portion of the cake.

6. In a bowl, beat together the cream cheese, butter, confectioners' sugar, and the last 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract and use to frost the cake.

7. Use decorator's gel to pipe "roll lines" on the cake ends and the class year or your child's name onto the unrolled portion. Finally, add a fruit leather bow.

Money Saving Tip - Joovy Caboose Stroller

We received an email today from one of our awesome readers that wanted to share this Hot Deal with everyone. If you have a tip email sarah@chestercountymoms.com.

www.joovy.com is having a big sale on all of their Joovy Caboose strollers – I just bought the original Caboose in Appletree for $129, plus a FREE parent tray and FREE SHIPPING! If I had purchased it all through Babies R Us or Amazon, I would have spent $200 plus shipping.

This is the page that lists the sale prices: http://www.joovy.com/online_store/doublestrollers.php

Gluten Free Baking Demo at Wegman's

Gluten-Free Baking with Elizabeth Barbone

Event Information: Gluten-Free Baking 101: Baking Demo and Book Signing
Elizabeth Barbone, author of Easy Gluten-Free Baking will teach you the ins and outs of Gluten-Free Baking. In two hours, you will learn:
· The basic gluten-free flours
· How to stock a gluten-free kitchen
· Essential tools to make gluten-free baking easier

And you’ll see Elizabeth demonstrate two easy recipes—banana muffins and chocolate chip cookies from her cookbook. Whether you are new to the gluten-free diet or have been living gluten-free for years, you’ll learn something new in this fun class!

Date: Tuesday, May 26
Time: 6:00 - 8:00PM
Address: Wegmans Downingtown1056 East Lancaster Ave.Downingtown, PA 19335
For more info please call: (610) 518-7800
Cost: $15 Tickets available at “That’s T.H.E Ticket” locations. Click here for ticketing info.

Anniversary

Twelve years ago today, I walked down the aisle at Cameron United Methodist Church in Alexandria, Virginia. It was a beautiful day, everyone was where they were supposed to be, and the groomsmen were not hung over (as far as I could tell). I was thinner than I'll ever be at any point in my life again, though I think a lengthy stomach flu could get me into the ballpark one of these days. My proud stad was at my left side, supporting my arm in the crook of his. He was wearing a white shirt under his tuxedo, even though I had told him approximately 782 times that my dress was ivory and that his tuxedo shirt should match. To men, the difference between white and ivory is tantamount to "splitting hairs."

At the alter stood my intended, smiling widely. He had a ding on his forehead. The day before, he had slammed his skull into an overhang at my sister's house. Then he informed me that it was actually my fault that he had injured himself, because I had called him from the other room.

Fifteen minutes later, we were hitched. A dozen years later, we stand on the other side of home ownership, a cross-country move, four miscarriages, multiple dogs and cats, and most life-altering of all: parenthood. The kid gets mad when she sees photographs from our wedding. "Why wasn't I there?!" she fumes.

I'm not much of a poet, but I thought I'd share the poem that was read at the wedding:

Wedding Poem

I'll fold up my heart
Like an origami bird
And present it to you
For safekeeping

And sometimes you'll unfold it
You won't remember
How to get it back
Just the right way

Or you may press it too tightly
As between the pages of some
Too large tome, until
It flutters and bounces into focus

And me, I am collecting
Here is the night I asked you to dance
Here is the moment you sank to one knee
Here is the day of hopeful promises

Together we have spun ourselves
Into something familiar, yet not overly so
My friend, my valentine, my husband
Encircling my heart in a band of gold
*******************
Happy anniversary, handsome. I still dig you. But please know that when you kick the bucket, I am still planning to sell all of your comics for one dollar. Cheers!

Memorial Day Savings at Grand Slam, Malvern

11 E Lancaster Ave
Malvern, PA 19355
(610) 647-6622
Memorial Day Specials
Indoor Mini Golf $4.00 a round (Save $3)
Laser Tag$4.00 per game (Save $3)
Dollar Dog Day$1 Hot dogs from 11am-3pm

Easy Grilling for Memorial Day


Still stumped on what to make for all the guests coming over to enjoy the relaxing Memorial Day weekend?

Cookie Magazine has gathered some scrumptious & easy recipes to help you celebrate your holiday this weekend! These recipes are also great to consider if you're vacationing or even at the shore with friends and family for the weekend.



Simple and Easy Grilled Chicken


Grilled Chicken

The beauty of this recipe is in its simplicity—and its convenience: When you're ready for dinner, all the prep has already been done, far in advance.

Serves 4 to 6 | Total time: 30 minutes, plus time for marinating

  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
  • 5 cloves garlic, minced
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 whole chicken, cut into 8 pieces (or use whichever pieces you prefer)
  1. In a medium-size bowl, mix together a marinade of olive oil, vinegar, garlic, and salt and pepper to taste. Put the chicken pieces in a large bowl or resealable plastic bag, add the marinade, and cover the bowl or seal the bag.
  2. Let the chicken sit in the marinade in the refrigerator all day or overnight. The longer it marinates, the better.
  3. When you're ready to cook, turn the grill to medium heat.
  4. Remove the chicken from the bowl or bag, discard any remaining marinade, and place the chicken pieces on the grill.
  5. Grill the chicken until the breast meat near the bone registers 165° F and the thigh meat registers 180° F on a thermometer. If you don't have a meat thermometer, cook the chicken until the meat is no longer pink and the juices run clear, about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the chicken from the grill and let it sit 5 to 10 minutes before serving.



Açai Power Popsicles


popsicles


If you have a blender and want to make happy food—and give your kids healthy snacks - this is a great recipe! If they dislike milk and yogurt, it's a great way to sneak it in. With the weather warming up (finally!) and the long weekend approaching, these Popsicles will do double duty: be fun and healthy.

Makes 8 4-ounce Popsicles | Total time: 5 minutes, plus 6 hours to freeze

  • 7 to 8 ounces frozen açai puree
  • 3 1/2 cups vanilla yogurt
    (the full-fat version tastes the best)
  • Honey-based simple syrup (recipe below), or agave nectar.
  1. Let the frozen açai puree soften at room temperature for five minutes, then crumble it into a blender.
  2. Add 1 cup of the yogurt to the blender and puree it with the açai until the mixture is smooth. If you like your Popsicles on the sweeter side, add honey-based simple syrup or agave nectar 1 tablespoon at a time.
  3. Use the remaining 2 1/2 cups of yogurt to fill each of 8 4-ounce Popsicle molds (or small paper cups) two-thirds full. Top each with the açai mixture and use the handle of a spoon to swirl the berry puree into the yogurt. Stir just enough to get some streaks going.
  4. Freeze the pops for at least 6 hours, or until they're solid. If you have trouble getting the Popsicles out of the molds, just give them a quick run under hot water.
Honey-Based Simple Syrup (optional)

Makes 2 cups

  • 1/2 cup very hot water
  • 1 1/2 cups mild honey
  1. Pour the hot water over the honey and mix until incorporated.
  2. Store the syrup in a clean jar at room temperature.

TIP: Frozen açai puree is available in most natural-food stores. If you can't find açai, you can substitute any other pureed frozen berry or fruit.

4 going on 24

Have you ever had one of those moments when you look at your young child and, just for a fleeting moment, you catch a fast-forward glimpse of the adult version of her? Not the chubby-cheeked Dora-watching incarnation, but the calls-you-from-college-to-request-money-for-beer-books version?

Last night, I gave in to the latest request for Play-Doh play time. In those heady post-Christmas days, I was allowing Play-Doh to be ground into my carpet about once a week. Now we're down to a once-monthly sort of thing. I keep the mushy gunk and its related accessories in a bin at the top of her bedroom closet, so that Miss Tenth Percentile is only reminded of its existence if she looks way, way up. She has a better memory than you'd think, though. So, I set up everything in her room and then put up the baby gate so that the dogs couldn't come in and eat the Play-Doh (for whatever reason, the dogs are drawn to it like zombies are drawn to the living).

My daughter remains obsessed with birthdays (just 11 1/3 months to go!) and is always molding the grey Play-Doh into birthday cakes. It's grey because that's what always happens when one combines all the colors. She learned about the concept of mixing primary colors on Blue's Clues, but she's always asking me about weird combinations. "Mama, what do you get when you mix orange, purple, and green?" "Grey," I always think to myself.

She called me into her bedroom to celebrate a birthday - mine this time. "How old am I?" I asked. I hoisted myself over the gate.

"Four, just like me," she responded matter-of-factly. She pretended to light the candles on top of the grey blob and then sat down in a blue plastic chair (and instructed me to do the same). She folded her hands in her lap and took a deep breath.

"Happy birthday to youuuuu," she began, and then stopped. "Quick! Turn out the light!" I guess we had forgotten that this ritual requires semi-darkness. I flipped the light switch behind my head and let her finish the song. "Happy birthday, dear Maaaaamaaaaa! Happy birthday to you!" She smiled at me in the twilight, her eyes shining.

And then - for a quick moment, I saw it. A flash: a stunning young woman with still-bouncy curls, the baby fat gone from her cheeks. And then, just as suddenly, she was four again. "Now it's my birthday," she announced, snatching the Play-Doh cake out of my hands.

It's bittersweet, this business of growing up. But just when I think it is all passing too quickly, I find a fruit snack wrapper in the toy box or a mysterious sticky spot on the dog's head and then I am reminded . . . childhood has much left to offer.

5 Tips For Busy Moms

Millions of Moms are overloaded with responsibilities and distractions, and although they try to stay healthy from a physical standpoint by eating well, exercising, and getting enough sleep, they are only nurturing their bodies, but neglecting to nurture their minds and spirits as well.

Below are Five tips for Living Well from wellness expert, Marlise Karlin:

#1: Breathe Into the Moment: In the midst of a busy day, take a few moments to find stillness. Slow your pace, breathe deep, and refocus your attention away from the mind-chatter. Instead, reflect on what is most meaningful to you in life, and carry those inspirational thoughts with you throughout your day.

#2: Take Inspired Action: Being in constant reaction mode will leave you feeling exhausted & unfulfilled. After taking a moment of reflection and stillness, follow through with the necessary steps to achieve the goals you set forth for the day. If a disruption occurs, acknowledge it and look for a solution, rather than allowing it to derail you. Notice how your new focus helps you to stay on track with greater ease.

#3: Water Your Garden: Truly acknowledge the people in your life for the value they bring to you and the world. As with a garden, relationships need to be nurtured and appreciated. With even a sprinkling, the relationship will bloom – and the beauty of what is given will return to you tenfold.

#4 Be Aware of Your Attitude: Notice how you feel and how you radiate those feelings outward. If you have a positive attitude, people will not only gravitate to you, but it might even help change the attitude of others from negative to positive. If you are projecting love, generosity and hope, others may follow your lead. Realize how what you give comes back to you!

#5 Make Choices: Acknowledge that you have the ability to make choices that will keep you moving forward toward your overall vision, rather than letting other people, or life’s circumstances distract you from staying focused on what matters most. Choose what moves you toward your goals that give you the greatest rewards – inside and out.

“People are running at a hundred miles an hour, racing with the clock, trying to squeeze in ways to stay healthy and fit,” said Marlise Karlin. “It’s important to realize it only takes a few minutes a day to completely reboot ourselves by nurturing both mind & body to become more balanced and healthy.”

ABOUT MARLISE: Marlise Karlin is a person just like you and me who focuses on rebooting people by experiencing The Simplicity of Stillness. After a series of profound experiences shifted her perception of life, Marlise developed simple methods for people everywhere to reboot themselves so the journey of life can be more enjoyable. Countless people from every culture around the world have attended Marlise’s Programs and are attesting to the extraordinary benefits that her Stillness Sessions® have brought to their lives, from experiencing a sense of peace rarely felt, to finding balance and wellbeing, from releasing years of road blocks, to discovering what they really want out of life and how to create it. Marlise’s authentic personality allows her to connect with people at a real level to bring balance to their lives through The Simplicity of Stillness. See www.marlisekarlin.com

50 Great Places to take your Kids within 50 Miles

developed by the
Upper Moreland Free Public Library

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Briar Bush Nature Center
12 acre park with bird observatory & preschoolers' discovery den.
1212 Edge Hill Rd, Abington
215-887-6603
www.briarbush.org

Delaware Valley Historical Aircraft Association
Aircraft museum and historic aircraft.
1155 Easton Road, Horsham
215-672-2277
www.dvhaa.org

Elmwood Park Zoo
Small zoo.
Ideal for young children.
1661 Harding Blvd, Norristown

Four Mills Nature Preserve
Trails on 51 acres, museum with child-oriented nature displays.
12 Morris Rd, Ambler

Freddy Hill Farms
Featuring miniature golf, a driving range, batting cages,
a farm zoo, homemade ice cream and fresh milk.
1440 Sumneytown Pike, Lansdale
215-855-1205
www.freddyhill.com

Glencairn Museum
Educates visitors about the history of religion
using art & artifacts from a variety of cultures & time periods.
1001 Cathedral Rd, Bryn Athyn

Graeme Park
A colonial governor's residence.
859 County Line Rd, Horsham

Green Lane Park & Nature Center
Workshops, nature studies, hiking.
Rte 63 & Rte 29, Green Lane

Hope Lodge & Mather Mill
In 1777 Washington's troops camped here after battle of Germantown.
House was Surgeon-General's Headquarters.
Mather Mill is a 200 year-old grist mill.
553 South Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington

Pennypack Farm
Learn about sustainable local food systems.
685 Mann Road, Horsham

Upper Moreland Free Public Library
Providing access to diverse information, life-long learning,
and cultural enrichment.
109 Park Ave, Willow Grove

Valley Forge National Historical Park
Visit the historic Revolutionary War site.
More than 3,600 acres of rolling hills and well-worn trails.
1400 N Outer Line Dr, King of Prussia
610-783-1077
www.nps.gov/vafo


BUCKS COUNTY

Bucks County River Country
(Please check website or call for directions.)
Rafting, canoeing, kayaking & tubing outings on the Delaware River.
2 Walters Lane, Point Pleasant

Carousel Village at Indian Walk
Enjoy a ride on antique 1890 carousel or 1/3 scale locomotive.
591 Rte 413, Wrightstown

Central Park
Park featuring Kids' Castle, an eight story wooden playground.
425 Wells Road, Doylestown

Fonthill Museum
Henry Mercer's home - laden with treasures
from his travels plus his world famous tiles.
E. Court St & Rte 313, Doylestown

Giggleberry Fair Giggleberry Mountain, Discovery Land
and lots more at Peddler’s Village.
Rte 202 & Rte 263, New Hope

Historic Fallsington
300 year-old village recreating early Quaker community.
4 Yardley Ave, Fallsington

James A. Michener Art Museum
Home to a world-class collection of
Pennsylvania Impressionism.
138 South Pine Street, Doylestown

Mercer Museum
Displays of furnishings, folk art & implements of Early America.
84 S. Pine St, Doylestown

New Hope & Ivyland Railroad
Authentic operating museum.
32 W. Bridge St, New Hope

Peace Valley Park
Walk the beautiful shores of Lake Galena
or visit the Nature Center.
230 Creek Rd, New Britain

Ralph Stover State Park
45-acre park offering rock climbing, picnicking and fishing.
Stover Park Rd & State Park Rd, Pipersville

Sesame Place
Experience Sesame Street together through
whirling rides, water slides, colorful shows & furry friends.
100 Sesame Rd, Langhorne

Tyler State Park
1,711 acres of park roads, trails, and facilities along Neshaminy Creek.
101 Swamp Rd, Newtown

Washington Crossing Historic Park
Picturesque setting with 13 historic buildings.
1112 River Road, Washington's Crossing

CHESTER COUNTY / WEST CHESTER

American Helicopter Museum/Education Center
Currently displays over 35 civilian and military
helicopters, autogiros and convertiplanes.
1220 American Blvd, West Chester

Brandywine River Museum
American art in a 19th century gristmill,
including paintings by 3 generations of Wyeths.
Rte 1 & 100, Chadds Ford

Springton Manor Farm
300 acre demonstration farm, animals and nature trail.
860 Springton Rd, Glenmoore
DELAWARE COUNTY

Brandywine Battlefield
Historic Site Encompasses 650 acres of
horticultural collections, rare plant specimens, ancient trees,
historic buildings, and extensive hiking trails.
1491 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford

Longwood Gardens
1,050 acres of woodlands, gardens, conservatories, and fountains open year-round.
1001 Longwood Rd, Kennett Square

Tyler Arboretum
A place where history, horticulture, and natural habitats come together.
515 Painter Rd, Media

LEHIGH COUNTY

Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
Features world-class roller coasters and 22 twisting water slides.
3830 Dorney Park Rd, Allentown
610-395-3724
www.dorneypark.com


NORTHAMPTON COUNTY

Crayola Factory
Color, draw, paint and create with the latest Crayola products.
30 Centre Square, Easton

PHILADELPHIA

Academy of Natural Sciences
Dinosaurs, animal dioramas & children's hands-on museum.
19th St & Ben Franklin Parkway
215-299-1000
www.ansp.org

African American Museum in Philadelphia
Houses and interprets the life and work of African Americans.
701 Arch Street
215-574-0380
www.aampmuseum.org

Elfreth's Alley
Museum Considered oldest continuously occupied street in America.
126 Elfreth's Alley (on 2nd St between Race and Arch)

Fireman's Hall
Firefighting equipment from 1730 to present.
147 N. 2nd St

Fort Mifflin
Historic site of 1777 Battle.
Tour features weapons and uniforms.
Fort Mifflin Rd & Hog Island Rd

Franklin Institute Science Museum and Fels Planetarium
Multi-faceted hands-on Science Museum & Tuttleman IMAX Theater.
222 North 20th St
215-448-1200
www2.fi.edu

Franklin Square
History comes alive with mini-golf, a carousel, storytelling and more!
200 N 6th St

Independence Seaport Museum
Interactive exhibits demonstrate early times. Also visit Naval Flagships.
Penn's Landing

Mummers Museum
History of the parades, from costumes to instruments.
1100 South 2nd St

National Museum of American Jewish History
Exhibits featuring artifacts, documents and photographs.
55 N. 5th St
215-923-3811
www.nmajh.org

Philadelphia Zoo
Special features include children’s zoo, Big Cat Falls, and Primate Reserve.
3400 W. Girard Ave

Please Touch Museum
Unique, fun-filled environment for young children.
4231 Avenue of the Republic; Memorial Hall, Fairmount Park

NEW JERSEY

Adventure Aquarium
See sharks, seals, stingrays & other sea creatures. Ferry from Penn's Landing.
1 Aquarium Dr, Camden

Battleship New Jersey
Learn what life was like for a battleship sailor.
100 Clinton Street, Camden

Cowtown Rodeo
Cowtown is the oldest weekly running rodeo in the U.S.
780 Route #40, Pilesgrove

Howell Living History Farm
Workhorse rides, etc.
70 Wooden's Ln, Lambertville
I know everyone is already in holiday weekend mode-- and probably loving the weather-- but if you know someone who's looking for work, you have to tell them to watch NBC 10 news at 5 with Tracy Davidson, tomorrow(Friday) at 5:30. Tracy has a long list of local jobs that are available right now and will be showing them for a half hour.. Very cool that NBC 10 is trying to help people connect with employers..

For more info please click here to visit the NBC 10 website.

update

  • I chopped 10 inches off my hair. I'll get a picture soon.
  • I got eyelash extensions. I know, sounds high-maintenance, BUT I got them so I wouldn't have to put make-up on all summer. The kiddos and I swim at least once day (usually 2-3) and I'm sick of looking like a wet dog when Shad comes home at night. So I chopped my hair, which air dries great and got the extensions. The first picture I have foils in my hair from highlighting it, but it's right before I got the extensions applied. The second picture is after I got extensions and a couple of hours after the kids and I went swimming. My face was soaking wet for a couple of hours and I have NO MAKE-UP on. I am loving it. We'll see how well they hold up.
  • Tanner loves swimming. I don't know where his energy comes from. He can throw stuff in the deep end and swim down (5 ft) to get it. He continually jumps in the pool, swims to the side climbs out and does it all over again. Kate finally started wearing floaties yesterday and has inched away from her Dora playing area on the pool steps.
  • I posted a pic of Kate wearing one of the skirts. I'd put more, but she's sort of in a phase where I hold her all the time. It's hard to take a picture while holding her. So my best bet was while she was eating.
  • Tanner drew that entire picture on his chalkboard. He's really obsessed with the movie Swiss Family Robinson.



Member Appreciation Party

What a wet and wild time we had at our Member Appreciation Party this last weekend. We all had fun at Chaparosa Park enjoying the playground and splash pad. We enjoyed a pizza dinner, fruit snacks, and icees and a cake for dessert. Thank goodness the spray pad runs for 15 min then takes a break or I don't think we'd ever get the kids out of the water to eat. It was fun catching up with every ones family and enjoying the warm night.

Hanging Around!

The fire hose!

Weekend Wrap-Up



The simulator ride at Chuck E Cheese

Here's a brief report on the weekend's events. Yes, I know the following week is half over but as my daughter would say, "you get what you get and you don't frow a fit."

My sister and her family were in town for the past few days. I had a "stomach thing" (that's the technical term) for the last two days of their visit, which put a damper on some of the festivities. But, looking on the bright side, I'm likely to have a kick-ass weigh-in at Weight Watchers this week. I'm trying on this new "glass is half full" attitude for size.

My sister did complete the marathon, and in fine form I might add! The marathon was extremely well organized. Each time she passed over a timing mat, a microchip in her shoe caused a text message to be sent to my phone. Her boyfriend and I were able to round up the kids (my niece and nephew plus my youngster) and head to several points along the way to assemble a cheering squad on the sidelines. We made posters and brought along a few noisemakers for added effect. Just after the five mile mark, the marathon actually passed right through our neighborhood. We had to walk about six blocks (one way!) to cheer her on, so I hope she appreciated how much we exerted ourselves for her. We also met up with her at the 13.1 mile mark, the 20 mile mark (AKA "the wall"), and the finish line. It was a very emotional moment to hear my sister's name being called as she crossed that line. I'm so proud of her!

After the marathon, I took all three kids to Chuck E Cheese because I'm the best mom/aunt in the history of time and space. I even brought along color-coded plastic cups so that the kids could keep their tokens and tickets straight. Do I think ahead or what?

Needless to say, my sister was pretty sore the next day. At one point she was lying on the couch and could hear the two younger kids bickering. Frustrated, she said, "God, I can't even get up and yell at my kids!" I drove to McDonald's and bought her some fries and a "real" Coke. Her stomach was iffy but she was hungry! I still haven't figured out what made me sick, but it seems to be related to some Moose Munch that I bought at Harry & David on Saturday night. Not only does typing the words "Moose Munch" bring back a wave of nausea, but even just seeing the transaction in Microsoft Money on my computer makes me physically ill.

The kid was very happy to have her cousins visiting for a few days (the only drawback was that Crabby McCrabbikins did not get enough sleep during their visit and is still a bear at this point). I felt like I should pay my ten-year-old niece, because she did such a good job of keeping my daughter occupied. We had a trip to the park, a visit to an indoor play joint, and an excursion to a wildlife sanctuary. The grown-ups also had a night out.

Life is getting back to normal now. My niece made several attempts to "misplace" her headgear while she was at my house, so I'm convinced I'm going to find it behind my couch or something. She doesn't care that her braces cost more than a decent used car - she hates the headgear. I'm going to start saying "that sucks worse than headgear!" and see if it catches on.

Eagleview - Concerts on the Square

Pack up the family or hire a babysitter and head out for date night. Eagleview is hosting FREE Concerts On the Square, Tuesday evenings throughout the summer from 7-9PM. Below is the summer schedule. The dates have also been added to our community calendar.

June 2nd
Barley Juice (Celtic Rock) with special guest Amy Lavere

June 9th
Guggenheim Grotto (Pop/Folk) with special guest Caleb Hawley
June 16th
Big Package (R&B / Funk) with special guest fusionhouse
June 23rd
Jim Boggia (Singer/Songwriter) with special guest Graham Brown
June 30th
Cresson Street Vibration (Reggae) with special guest David Spencer
July 7th
Ben Arnold (Singer/Songwriter) with special guest Zach Djanikian
July 14th
Family Night - Mama Mac with special guest Scott Silipigni(kid's music starts at 7:00pm)
July 21st
Andrew Lipke (Singer/Songwriter) with special guest Papertrees
July 28th
Christine Havrilla (Pop Singer / Songwriter) with special guest Liz Longley
August 4th
Jim George (Rock) and Wink Keziah (Country Rock)
August 11th
The Large Flowerheads (Groovy 60s Music) with special guest Jim Stanson
August 18th
Works Progress Administration (Folk Rock) with special guest Adrien Reju
August 25th
Entrain - Fireworks at 8:30
Click here for directions. Click here for more information.

Healthy Kids Day!

Please join us for the first Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Healthy Kids Day. Come and get ideas for great health from the nation’s top children’s hospital and its community partners. Ask experts about nutrition, vaccines, managing asthma, injury and prevention and much more.


When: Saturday, May 30, 2009, Noon to 5 p.m., rain or shine
Where: Mann Center for the Performing Arts

This celebratory event is free to the public, but tickets are required. Come and enjoy:

  • Concert performance by The Laurie Berkner Band featuring Susie Lampert, Adam Bernstein and Laurie Berkner, with special guest Bob Golden
  • Healthy food and drinks (while supplies last)
  • Children’s activities

Admission to Healthy Kids Day is free of charge, but you must register for the event. Seat assignments for the concert, including lawn, will be distributed at the gate on a first come, first served basis. Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

For information, please e-mail us at healthykidsday@email.chop.edu or call our hotline at 1-877-HKD-CHOP (1-877-453-2467).

Visit the Mann Center for the Performing Arts Web site for directions. Check our Timeline of Events and Sponsorship pages for more.

Let them eat cake!

My first fondant cake!








I surprised my neighbor and gave her the cake! G-d knows, we don't need the temptation.

sewing projects

Last Christmas I just "had to have" a serger so I could sew all of these cute dresses and skirts for Kate. Well, I haven't touched the thing until last night, when I made these for Kate. They obviously aren't anything fancy, but I figured I should start with something easy. I love the skirts. I'm not too sure about the dress. It's a Pillow Case Dress, which is supposedly really easy to make and cute...ummm...not really. I suppose it was easy, but it took FOREVER (compared to the skirts), and I'm not in love with it. The blue fabric, you'll be seeing a lot of. I bought a sheet set that was really cheap on clearance, so it will probably be popping up in several of my future projects. The orange flowery ribbon is made from a swatch I ordered when picking out fabric for curtians last summer. Shad had to drag me off of my sewing machine last night to go to bed. I was loving it.

3rd Annual Cookie Service Project

We had another amazing year delivering over 100 boxes of cookies to the families and staff in the NICU at Banner Children's Hospital. Thanks for all the moms that made/bought 3-5 dozen cookies and to those that helped box them all up at the business meeting. The staff and families loved the goodies and look forward to us doing this service project again next year. Below are pictures from the fun meeting, the delivery, and also a note from one of the staff at the hospital.



Dear Yvonne and the entire MOMS Club of Chandler East,

Wow are your cookies a hit! One mom just said, “it is these little things that get you through the days here (her son has been here 107 days). I am just going to sit here and eat these and cry (she had some good news and was tearful).”

I also just toured a soon to be dad, who’s twins are being delivered this afternoon, who enjoyed the cookies too (he looked a bit guilty when I said they were for mother’s day) :)

Thank you all for remembering us again this year. You have touched many lives today. Cheryl

Cheryl Alexander RNC, BSN
Developmental Program Manager, NICU
Banner Children's Hospital
Family Fun Day at ACAC
Enjoy some relaxing fun-time with your family!

Saturday, May 16th from 12-4 pm
FREE and OPEN to the Community

Inflatable Obstacle Course and Bungee Run
FREE Carnival Games with Prizes.
AM 640 Radio Disney Road Crew on-site from 1:00pm-2:30pm
entertaining the kids and giving out prizes.
Bring your bathing suit and relax in our Activity Pool with Tumble Buckets, Water Slide, and zero grade entry-perfect for little ones.
For more info contact ACAC at 610-431-7000
1130 McDermott Drive, West Chester, PA 19380
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)