Beothuk Amulets

Beothuk Amulets at the Rooms: Thursday, September 1, 2011 2-4pm


Bring the whole family along and explore the life of the Beothuks in The Rooms 3rd Floor Connections Gallery - then decorate your very own pendant or amulet just like the Beothuks would have done 500 years ago.

In the land of chalk drawings

Simple pleasures. My son using chalk to draw pictures on our driveway. What simple and inexpensive activities or games do your children enjoy?

Playing with Printmaking

At the Rooms: 2-4 PM Tuesday, August 30th, 2011
Take a turn on our printing press and create original calligraphy images using fabrics, foam and other found objects in this family fun geared for everyone.

Kids in Mind

If you haven't seen this movie rating web site and app you really need to check it out. Kids in Mind  rates movies for their suitability for kids of all ages by providing detailed play-by- play accounts of the scenes in movies that might make it inappropriate for your child. They offer a rating system and discussion topics so you can raise topics with your child after the movie. It's pretty cool.
Have a good link or app to share? I'd love to hear about it.


- Posted from my iPad

Cooking with Kids

Thanks to Veggie Daddy and Facebook I was directed toward this awesome 'cooking with kids' site
If you don't have the time to explore it yourself, here's a sample.

 

Some Appropriate Tasks For 3-6 year olds Include:
Scrub vegetables and fruits

• Cover beans with water to soak


• Wash table with a cleaning rag


• Tear lettuce


• Stirring dough


• Spreading with a dull knife or child safe knife


• Pouring ingredients


• Adding pre-measured ingredients


• Gather ingredients


• Help setting table


• Grease pans


• Open packages


• Peel eggs, oranges, bananas


• Crush chips, crackers, etc. for toppings

 

 

 

- Posted from my iPad

La Leche League Canada

La Leche League Canada
3rd Annual Walk for Breastfeeding
Sunday, September 25
Kenny's Pond Playground
11:30 Registration, 12:00 Walk
Family Potluck Picnic to Follow
Register/Pledge: Jane: 722 5815 or Jan 739 9368
Supporting Breastfeeding Families Since 1961

Doors Open

Don't forget to check the Doors Open web page to see if there is anywhere you have been curious about seeing, this might be your chance!

Only boring people get bored redux

Here's a great post on avoiding the "I'm boreds."

Grilled pizza

As you know, I like to share recipes, especially kid-friendly ones. Homemade pizza dough is one of those and recently we tried grilling the pizza on the BBQ. I thought I would share some pictures and a link to a recipe. For obvious reasons making the dough is a great activity for kids and putting on the toppings can be fun too. We put fresh arugula on top just before serving.

Children's Tea Party

MUN Botanical Garden Inc.
Children's First Annual Tea Party
Location: The Garden Café at MUN Botanical Garden
Date: Sunday, August 28, 2011
Time: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Children are welcome to wear their tea party attire. Lots of fun activities and games are planned.

Fee: $15 per person

For more information please contact:
The Café at the Garden
Telephone: 753-0173


- Posted from my iPad

Genealogical Fun -

2-4 PM, Thursday, August 25, 2011 oops - this should also include: At the Rooms!
Explore your roots during our Genealogical Family Fun Day. Construct a simple family tree to share with family members of all ages or a family crest button to wear proudly on your jacket.

Rites of passage

It occurred to me, as I wiped the puke off my arm, that I had just been through another rite of passage of motherhood. Believe it or not, my child had only thrown-up once in his three years on the planet and his Daddy had the privilege of bearing witness to that first time. Even as an infant he didn't spit up. All those receiving blankets everyone told me I would need? They just collected dust on the shelf, folded perfectly like set dressing for the nursery. However, this time our boy had a real bug. He puked off and on for about six hours and one time as I was carrying him. We both had to change all of our clothes.

Before motherhood, bodily functions were something I denied. I didn't like talking about them, thinking about them, or admitting I even had them. Having a baby pretty much got me over that. First of all there's the whole 'Having a Baby' thing. Once you have a whole room full of people looking at your 'va-jay-jay' (as Oprah calls it), you don't have much choice but to get over yourself. Then there's all the post-birth recovery stuff and if you had a baby you know what I am talking about and we don't need to relive it all here. Then there is the baby belly button thing that NO ONE TELLS YOU ABOUT, and the poop and the pee and the snot...

All of this to say that motherhood has challenged me and given me confidence in my ability to handle pretty much anything oozy, gooey, gross, slimy and smelly... Except slugs and worms. Unless my child was being attacked by them, of course.


- Posted from my iPad

Pop Up Pop Art -

2-4 PM  Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Come see the Province’s collection of Pop Art on display in the gallery - then create pop up paperworks using images made famous in our culture.

Small pleasures: Off-days

Sometimes the best days to take your kids somewhere are not the big event days. We showed up at the St. John's Racing and Entertainment Centre a couple of weekends ago when we were out for a drive. My husband had never been there, I hadn't been since I was a kid. There was no one there except a few drivers out with their horses on the track for a warm up. We watched them round the track a few times which our little boy enjoyed. The drivers stopped to talk to us and let us visit the barn. There were lots of men grooming horses. We chatted with them and our son saw horses close-up.

A lovely and unexpected family outing.

When I got home I remembered that it was supposed to be a big family day there, but the event had been cancelled. All the better for our 'small family day.'





- Posted from my iPad

Somebody's Aunt's Banana Bread

This is the quickest and bestest recipe yet. Deliciousness proportional to number of choc chips added. I only used two bananas because that was all I had, but it was still awesome. Sorry there is no picture. It was all eaten before I could take one! :)

- Posted from my iPad

Ahoy, Mateys!

A colleague at work tells me this event is absolutely awesome! From what she says, this description doesn't do it justice. She said there was a pirate boat, pirates, soldiers, cannons and treasure to discover the year she went. She highly recommends it.

　
PIRATE DAY AT TOPSAIL BEACH Sunday, August 21, 2011 The Town of Conception Bay South invites residents to the
Annual Pirate Day at Topsail Beach on Sunday, August 21 from 2:00 – 4:00pm.

August Family Fun Day -Geocentre

August Family Fun Day
Description: Fun for the whole family! Crafts, science experiments, tours, 3D movies, BBQ & more! Come and experience our 3 brand new exhibits and learn more about fossils, space and DNA!
Regular Admission rates apply.
Start Time: 12:00 pm
End Time: 5:00 pm
Sunday, August 21, 2011

- Posted from my iPad

Grown Up Salad

I call this a grown up salad because there are a few things about it that make it less kid-friendly than other recipes I have shared, but if your kids are adventurous eaters they might like it.

This recipe is a pared down version of one I saw in magazine years ago that involved candied nuts and bacon and other things that made it delicious, but labour intensive. The changes I have made have make this an easy go-to salad for week night meals. There are only three ingredients.

Basil and baby spinach leaves in pretty much equal parts and grape or cherry tomatoes to taste. Amounts depend on how many you plan to feed.

Toss spinach and basil leaves together.

Toss tomatoes in a little olive oil and Herbes de Provence (or a mix of dried herbs from your cupboard like Oregano, Rosemary, Lavender, and Basil.)

Put under the broiler until the tomatoes split.  Toss hot tomatoes in spinach and basil mix and sprinkle with fleur de sel and pepper to taste.

The tomatoes will wilt the spinach mix and create a dressing. Serve right away while the tomatoes are warm.

You could add a little goat cheese or olives if you wanted and the leftovers make a great naan bread pizza topping.

I am enjoying this salad as I write this. Yum!


- Posted from my iPad

Salmonier Nature Park Family Day

This weekend, August 20 th is Family Day at the nature park. Sounds like it will be a lot of fun and there are lots of activities planned including the usual : free cake! Our annual visit is Labour Day weekend, but if you go this weekend let me know how it went and if your kids had fun!


- Posted from my iPad

The Legend of Inuksuit

2-4 PM Thursday, August 18, 2011
Did you know that an Inukshuk was once used as a navigation tool by the Inuit people? Today, Inuksuit inspire craftspeople, carvers, and printmakers. Come hear the myths surrounding the first Inukshuk and create your very own Inukshuk craft.

Eastern Edge Activities this week

FREE ART MARATHON WORKSHOPS FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES!!
Wednesday and Thursday, 11-2pm
Eastern Edge Gallery, 72 Harbour Dr.

LANTERN SCULPTURE MAKING
Eastern Edge Gallery and The Murphy Centre’s Community Youth Arts Program have teamed up with the Friends of Victoria Park Lantern Festival to create a large movable sculpture for the Lantern Festival and the Art Marathon Festival. With two late morning workshops participants will be able to create their own lanterns and add to the large lantern sculpture! The goal is to make an ocean out of lanterns to support the ham’s runaway from the pirate ship!

MOVABLE ART GARDEN
Preparing to be a part of FEASt’s Third Annual Open
Garden Day on Sunday August 21, the whole family can help us paint and plant to create a beautiful Movable Art Garden.

The workshops are ongoing Wednesday and Thursday between 11am and 2pm, and there will also be BBQs on both of these days to feed little hungry tummies!




- Posted from my iPad

Chores: Yard Work

Here's another job my toddler loves: sweeping the driveway with this big ol' push broom. What chores does your child love to do?


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City of St. John's Fall 2011 activity guide

The guide is out and among the many activities listed you'll find playgroups, schedules, and classes, but the PDF is so huge that it may crash your computer trying to look at it. Try the hard copy that comes in your mail box or the City of St. John's Online registration.

- Posted from my iPad

Rooms with a view

Tuesday at the Rooms: Rooms with a View -Spend some time making art inspired by the fantastic panoramic views of the city of St. John’s. 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM.
Part of the Summer Fun program at the Rooms.

It's about the journey

I took my toddler to Beachy Cove for a picnic a while back (during those four days of summer we had back in July). We packed a bag with food, blanket and other essentials and I packed his Little Life back pack with a drink box and a toy. He was thrilled to have his own backpack and when we got there he was happy to carry it. I carried all the other stuff like the Sherpa Mama I am.

The path to Beachy Cove is not long, but is very steep and rocky. It is a bit slippery with loose rocks. Lugging stuff and holding my child's hand added to the challenge.

Once you are on the beach, there is a small stream with a makeshift 'bridge' made from beach rocks piled together. And of course you must cross this to get to the part of the beach sheltered from the wind and flat enough to lay out a blanket. We made our way carefully across. My kid was pretty proud of himself for crossing the river and not getting his feet wet.

There was no one else there because it was ungodly early (only toddlers and parents of toddlers would be out and about), so we set up in the middle of the beach.

We collected shells and climbed boulders. We watched ants. We threw rocks in the ocean. We had a snack and after about an hour we were ready to go. It seems to me that an hour is pretty much the perfect amount of time for any toddler activity.

Anyway, walking down the hill was a little tricky, but walking up was just slow because of the incline. We weren't in a rush and we took our time trudging up 'the mountain.' As we went along I realized that the things I had found tedious like carrying all our gear, hiking down to the beach, crossing the bridge and climbing the mountain were as enjoyable and stimulating to my toddler as the other things we did while at the beach. For him getting there was all part of the adventure. Wouldn't it be nice if we could all think like that?

New Music Classes...

I recieved an email the other evening I thought I would share with you all:

My name is Stephanie Rockwood and I am the Center Director of Music Together St. John's.  Music Together is an award-winning, research-based music curriculum that is available in over 30 countries, including Canada.  It was developed especially for infants, toddlers and preschoolers and it pioneered the concept of mixed-age classes.  I have taught Music Together for 10 years while living in California, and I am thrilled to bring this high-quality program back to my native Newfoundland.  Please visit my websitewww.musictogetherstjohns.com as well as our national site www.musictogether.com for further information.

Teddy Bear Picnic is Going Ahead today!

Bannerman Park 12:00 -2:00 PM Today. Bring a bear and a blanket!
Expect wet and muddy grass, but lots of fun!

Social Media

Reminder - St. John's Toddler is on Facebook and on Twitter. Sometimes I use social media to post time sensitive or last minute info... join in the conversation!

Chores: Painting

We bought our son a Muskoka Chair to match the big ones we have. We had stained the big ones, but not his. One day my toddler asked if he could paint the house because he saw me painting the front porch. I told him he couldn't paint the house, but asked him if he wanted to paint his chair instead. What do you think his reply was? YES!

We got him in some old clothes (stuff he had mostly grown out of) and put a tarp on the lawn and plunked him there with his chair and a can of stain and a brush. He was thrilled!

I helped a little, but he really did paint his own chair.

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Small pleasures: Tires

Of all the amazing things to see and do at Lester's Farm Market, the tires are my child's favourite. I don't mean the tires placed intentionally in the ground specifically for child play, I mean the pile of discarded and dirty tires at the side of the field. It reminds me of the way kids sometimes like the box more than the toy that came in it.


- Posted from my iPad

Brigus Blueberry festival

The Brigus Blueberry Festival is this weekend you can find out more here.

Create a Postcard at The Rooms

2-4 PM Thursday August 11, 2011
Did you know that the first postcards were made more than 150 years ago?
Today, postcard collecting is one of the largest “collecting” hobbies in the world.Why not drop in and create your very own. Bring along a mailing address and we’ll help you send your postcard to someone special.

Farm Field Day

This description doesn't make this event sound as fun as it is, but I can't find a more detailed one anywhere. This is a fun event though:

The Annual Farm field day at the Atlantic Cool Climate Crop Research Centre will take place on Sat. Aug.13. The event will feature research displays and free tractors rides.

Playing with Printmaking

2-4PM at the Rooms - Tuesday, Aug 9th, 2011
Take a turn on our printing press and create original calligraphy images using fabrics, foam and other found objects in this family fun geared for everyone.

Too social?

I have been thinking a lot about information overload and social media lately. There have been some interesting news stories about it's affects on the brain, on children, on social interaction.

I have been seeing too many people in my rearview mirror texting as they drive far too close to my bumper and my precious three year-old cargo. I have seen too many parents in playgrounds talking on cell phones or pushing strollers with their headphones on as their child chatters away, unaware mommy or daddy isn't even listening. I find it sad and frustrating to be truthful.

As a blogger and a person who is on Twitter and Facebook I am well aware of the addictive nature of the medium and my iPhone makes getting my fix far too easy, but as a mindful parent I am trying to curb my use in front of my child. The other night my husband and I noticed that we were sitting side by side on the patio on a beautiful summer night and both of us were texting and surfing away instead of spending time with each other.

So for the good of our family we are going to try more aggressively to keep the iPhone, iPod and all the other technological advances that take us out of the moment with our child and for that matter other 'real people' something we do when we are by ourselves whenever possible.

What are your thoughts and practices around technology, social media and your kids and family? I'd love to hear from you.

The joy of Lester's

Foggy or not, Lester's is fun for kids.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Small pleasures

There are lots of things to do in this city. Finding something to do with your toddler doesn't always have to mean a lot of planning or a lot of money. Sometimes the simplest thing can be a big adventure for a toddler, feeding the ducks at Bowering Park for example.

One that we discovered recently is dog statues at the Geocentre. It's a great place to take a toddler on a fine day. Not only do they make for nice photos, your child will love the size and textures of the sculptures... and climbing them!

Have a simple pleasure you want to share? Send me a note or leave a comment here or on the Facebook page.

Only boring people get bored

Love this post from Dinner a Love Story about encouraging your child to read... what a great idea for when my toddler gets a little older.

More Cars...

August 7th, 2011 is Cruisin' in the Park. See classic cars at Bowring Park. There's a link to the poster here.

Pancakes and Splatters

I love the Whole-wheat Oatmeal Pancakes from Epicurious.com, but my favorite thing about pancakes is the crispy little splatters you get as a by-product of drips on the griddle.

As they are perfectly toddler-sized I made a batch on purpose for fun! My toddler ate a pile of them and best of all, these pancakes freeze well for weekday breakfasts.

Beothuk Amulets -

The Rooms, Thursday, August 4th, 2-4 pm
Bring the whole family along and explore the life of the Beothuks in The Rooms 3rd Floor Connections Gallery - then decorate your very own pendant or amulet just like the Beothuks would have done 500 years ago.

Reader recipe: Creamy Curry Pasta Sauce

I am always looking for new kid-friendly recipes. Here's one submitted by a reader for a curry sauce:

2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp flour
Dash black pepper
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp onion powder
2 tsp yellow curry powder
2cups milk

Melt butter in a skillet, then add curry powder and cook for 1 minute while stirring occasionally. Add flour, stir in well over heat. Add milk, and remaining ingredients, and stir over low heat until milk thickens and is bubbling. Serve over your favourite pasta and steamed veggies (I used broccoli, cauliflower and some sauteed peppers and red onion). Serve with boneless chicken.

Submitted by Jan

Send me your go-to recipes for future blog posts and we can start a handy online collection. Pictures too if you have them!

Iggy Peck Architect

We love this quirky kids book about a little boy who wants to be an architect and how having his dream oppressed by grumpy a teacher makes him miserable until one day his talent saves the day!
I am always on the hunt for unique kids books, so please feel free to send ideas or leave a comment on St. John's Toddler Facebook Page.

Busker Festial

The Busker festival is August 5-7th this year and as always it is free!

Reader recipe:pesto

One of my all time favourite foods is pesto. I first had it on a trip to Montreal when I was a teenager. The dinner was at a friend of my parents' house where I was staying and the menu, wine and company were all so wonderful and exotic that I was hooked. This recipe came from a reader, feel free to send me your food ideas, recipes and stories too!

A sure fire recipe at our house is homemade pesto. Quick & easy to make. I normally pan roast a handful of pine nuts, and halve some grape tomatoes, cook some rotini pasta and add the pesto in a large wooden bowl & mix all together.

50g pine nuts
3 packages of basil
50g parmesan cheese (grated)
150 mls olive oil
1 garlic clove
salt (to taste)

* Add pine nuts, basil, cheese and garlic clove to the food processor and whizz until all chopped and well blended.
* Whizz processor again while pouring olive oil into the feeder tube.

The above pesto recipe makes quite a lot, so you can judge yourself how much to add to the pasta salad. You can keep any leftover pesto in the fridge in a covered container for a few days afterwards.

Somehow green pasta that you are aloud to eat with your fingers has toddler appeal :o)

Happy cooking & hope you enjoy!
Joanne M.



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