Pinocchio

Holy Heart High School presents “Disney's My Son Pinocchio.” Thursday, March 23rd to Saturday, March 25th at 7:30 p.m.; Matinée at 2:00 on Saturday, March 25th.
The classic tale of an aging toymaker and his puppet, Pinocchio, takes on timely issues in Disney's”My Son Pinocchio.” Grammy Award-winner and master melodist Stephen Schwartz adds a compelling score of original songs to the beloved classics 'When You Wish Upon a Star' and ‘I’ve Got No Strings'.
Join the Blue Fairy, Stromboli and a lively cast of characters as Geppetto journeys beyond the toy shop to discover what makes the 'perfect child'. This family-friendly musical is appropriate for all audiences and is a magical mix of heartwarming fairytale and action-packed adventure. Audiences will love following Pinocchio's journey from an awkward wooden puppet to a real, live boy and will be charmed by Geppetto's transformation from demanding creator to a real, live father. Tickets are $25 ($18 for seniors and students).

For more information about any events at Holy Heart Theatre, contact the Holy Heart Box Office at 579-4424.



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I grow old, I grow old...

The other day I made a snarky remark on Facebook about how parents who are teaching their kids to be self-centered little you-know-whats, better remember they are raising the generation that is going to have to take care of all of us when we are old. I was only half-kidding. I am not sure people think about this when they are parenting on a day-to-day basis, but it would behoove (love that word) us all to keep it in mind. We really will be relying on our kids to make decisions that will impact us in our old age, whether it is direct; such as whether they put us in a home or not, or indirect; such as voting for a government that wants to eliminate old age pensions.

Our job as parents isn't just to make sure our kids are safe, warm, fed, and loved, it is also to make sure they are good citizens of the world and nice people who are nice to other people. I am sure we all have different ideas about what that means, but I know no one wants their kid to grow up a jerk. Jerks are lonely and a world full of jerks is not where I want live when I am old.


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Tip of the Ice berg

In the mission to get my child to eat a variety of foods, salad has been my Everest. Admittedly I have not been that diligent in my approach. I put salad in front of him when we are having it ourselves and I coax him to try, but I don't push, lest he dig his heels in. On a good day he might tolerate the presence of leaves on his plate. On a bad day he might demand like a dictator that I "Take THAT away!" The most I got him to do was lick dressing off a leaf once.

It's winter, so salad hasn't been making an appearance lately, mostly we have been having root vegetables and other cooked vegetables like broccoli and peas. That hasn't helped.

This week, my childcare provider sent me a text message at lunch time to tell me that my son had two helpings of salad. I am sure the other cubicle dwellers must of heard an audible 'WTF!' from my general direction. She clarified the message with the description: ice berg lettuce and French dressing.

Now I don't know about you, (and feel free to call me a food snob; you won't be the first), but ice berg lettuce has always been the low brow lettuce choice in my books. A couple of years ago my cooking magazines tried to convince me otherwise with fancy shots of ice berg lettuce halved and drenched in blue cheese dressings, but I wasn't converted.

So this week, motherhood reminded me (again) never to say never; I bought ice berg lettuce. I decided that as pot is to cocaine, ice berg lettuce is perhaps the gateway vegetable to romaine.

I will keep you posted.

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Little Gym Open House

I received this email about tomorrow at the Little Gym, go there after the Hava Java Play Date :)
The Little Gym of St. John's is having an Open House to celebrate its 5th year anniversary. You are all invited to join us for games, prizes and some Serious Fun! This Sunday, February 26th, drop by anytime between 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm. We are located at 286 Torbay Road in the Coaker's Meadow Plaza. If you have any questions call us at 754-7655. Hope to see you there!

Multicultural Food and Craft fair

Another fun event for families and a way to introduce your kid to some new flavours! The Multicultural Food and Craft Fair is March 11th, 2012.

Hava Java Play Date

The Play Date at Hava Java last Sunday went really well. There were ten families over the course of the two hours and children as young as two months and as old as 4 years old came to play. The parents had a chance to talk and have a coffee and breakfast sandwich or muffins and the kids played with the puzzles and games and stomped around like dinosaurs.

I am going to host another one this Sunday, but I am going to expand the hours from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. I encourage you to come and invite your friends. Hava Java has a nice lunch so feel free to stay longer than the designated time.

Facebook is kind of wonky this week, I keep getting blank pages, but I will try to create a new event there for this week's Play Date so watch for it and RSVP there.

Remember, this is a drop in so stay for as short or as long as you like.

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Shadow Puppets

This Sunday,  February 26th, at the Rooms from 2-4PM

Shadow PuppetsShadow puppetry is one of the world’s oldest forms of entertainment. Learn more about the tradition and how to make and animate your own cut-out creatures. Then have a look at the digital shadows created by artist of Philippa Jones in the exhibition New Romantics.

Your Guide to Pancake Day

Reposted from 2011

This can be a fun day to celebrate because there are very few children that don't like pancakes and the novelty of having pancakes for dinner can be a treat for everyone. Add a little fruit, cream and some bacon or sausage and you've got an easy and filling meal.

According to my internet research, Newfoundland seems to be the only place where baking items into the pancakes is a traditional Pancake Day activity. Here is what the Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage Web Site had to say about it:
"...Pancakes were a simple way to use these foods, and one that could entertain the family. Objects with symbolic value are cooked in the pancakes, and those who eat them, especially children, take part in a divinatory game as part of the meal. The person who receives each item interprets the gift according to the tradition: a coin means the person finding it will be rich; a pencil stub means he/she will be a teacher; a holy medal means they will join a religious order; a nail that they will be (or marry) a carpenter, and so on (cf. Hiscock 1990:9)."
Unfortunately these sorts of items would not be safe to bake into pancakes for toddlers, but with a little creativity you can still keep the tradition alive. Try placing a little item under everyone's plate or in their cup to serve the same purpose as the objects baked into pancakes. Choose toddler-friendly items such as Canadian Tire money in place of coins, and a crayon instead of a pencil stub... make up some funny ones like a dog biscuit to mean you will grow up to be a veterniarian or a dinky car to mean you'll be a mechanic. The options are limited only by your imagination.

Here are two of my favourite pancake recipes. I often make them on the weekend and freeze them in Ziploc bags for weekday breakfasts when we are in a hurry. Both are from epicurious:

Whole Wheat Pancakes with Tropical Fruit

Whole Wheat oatmeal Pancakes



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The weekend is here!

Some weeks the weekend can't come fast enough! This is one of those weeks, and while we often look for things to do on the weekend, sometimes having nothing to do is exactly what my family needs. As much as I resist sticking my kid in front of the TV, sometimes I think he, just like his mom and dad, needs some pure and utter veg out time. For us Friday nights have become our guilt-free down time. We pop in a movie and eat take out. We make buttery popcorn and lately, we all go to bed at the same time to try to make up for the lack of sleep during the week. We all look forward to this and my son now asks "Is it Family Movie Night?" on a daily basis and we do a count down all week long.

Now that being said, this weekend we are very much looking forward to meeting some of you guys at the Hava Java Play Date on Sunday, I think that activity will be just my speed for this February weekend!


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Childcare space !!

The Children's Centre is now offering full time spaces ... registration starts in March. You can find out more on their web site.


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Fuzzy Felting

This Sunday, February 19th from 2-4PM at the Rooms:
Create a fuzzy fibre creature from natural sheep’s wool. Using a special needle, wool and a sponge, everyone can unleash their creativity and learn something new. This dry-felting workshop is fast and fun for all ages.

Little Gym contest

Apologies for my erratic posting lately. Life is so busy. I will try to get back at it soon in a regular way. In the meantime here 's an email from Stella at the Little Gym with some information on their anniversary contest and programming:

The Little Gym has an awesome contest going at the moment which may interest you and your blog followers;

In honour of our 5 year anniversary (I can't believe how quickly the time has passed) we are giving away FIVE 2012-2013 enrollments!

To enter we want you to show us your 5!
Check out our website www.tlgstjohnsnl@thelittlegym.com OR
www.facebook.com/tlgstjohnsnl for details on how to enter and to see some of the fantastic videos that have been posted.

BTW Easter Holiday Camps are offered this year from April 9th-12th. Camps are for 3-8 year old children and are 3 hours in length. All have really fun themes and we will provide the snack. There are discounts for siblings and multi-day registration. Camps are flexible as you can register for 1 day, 2 days or all 4 - whatever fits your schedule!!


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Sunday Play Date at Hava Java

I am starting a Sunday morning play date at Hava Java Coffee House at 258 Water Street. The first one will be February 19th, 2012 from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM. I will bring books, games, and puzzles appropriate for the toddler and preschooler
set.


It is a drop in, so come and stay for as long or as short as wish. Have a coffee, order breakfast or a treat, and make some friends.
If we get a good turn out, I am going to try and get some writers and performers to come to provide child-friendly activities, readings, or entertainment for a portion of the morning. Please spread the word. I hope to see you there. Follow me on Facebook and Twitter for updates and cancellations due to weather etc...
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Location:Hava Java 258 Water Street.

A romantic dinner for three?

With Valentine's around the corner I was thinking about celebrating it once with my husband in the form of a romantic date night, but also once with my husband and son too in the form of a family dinner. I think it would be a nice way to expand the meaning of the day beyond romantic love to family love and show the two most important people in my life how special they are. Despite what your thoughts are on the V-Day holiday (some people, possibly correctly, feel it was invented by Hallmark to sell cards), I think February is a month that could use a little perking up with a holiday, no matter how trivial. So I think I will get some red napkins, heart shaped something or others, light some candles, make everyone's favourite food, buy some chocolates and set a table for three next week! How do you celebrate Valentine's Day?


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Weelicious

Weelicious ™ - Fast, Easy & Fresh Homemade Home Made Baby Food Babyfood Recipes, Toddler Food and recipes for the entire family!

A reader sent me this link and I thought I would share, there are some great ideas and recipes here....

Snow Daze?

I hadn't even heard of this before.... Snow Daze



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Daily Bread

I heard from a friend who has this book that she hasn't bought bread since she got it. So I am going to give it a try this weekend. I'll keep you posted on the results.

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Happy Valentines

At the Rooms this Sunday, February 12, from 2PM-4PM
Happy Valentine’s Day
Red, pink and hearts galore, say Happy Valentine’s Day with a special handmade card. Top off the day with a ‘hearty hat’ that wiggles when you move.

More cakes

Here's some information I received this week from another cake baker:


I'm hoping you can add my link to your blog in the Birthday Cakes section.

I'm a new home-based business specializing in Buttercream Cakes. (no
fondant here!)

I offer a Large section of cakes (mostly vintage character cakes) and
newer childrens themes. From Star Wars to Animals.

As a mother of a child with celiac disease, I can also work with
parents with children with allergies.

I can be found on facebook:www.facebook.com/buttercreamcakesnl

or email: teresabestevans@gmail.com

Thanks!


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No!

I don't know about your children, but my 3 year old likes to say no; sometimes just for the fun of it, sometimes in anger or frustration, and sometimes with a smirk. Well, the other day I read the back of one of his books, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, and it talked about how this was one time it was ok to say 'no.' If you haven't seen this book, the premise is that the bus driver ask you, the reader, to watch his bus and make sure that a lurking pigeon does not drive it while he is away. Said pigeon then appears and pleads and cajoles you to let him ride the bus. I always thought it was kind of a boring book, not written for kids and more of a wink wink nudge nudge to parents.

Well, with my new tactic I now love this book. I took that idea about it being ok to say 'no' to heart and read it to my son. For each attempt the pigeon makes to drive the bus, I had my son tell him "no" or "sorry, pigeon," or some other appropriate response. He loved it! I read the voice of the pigeon with melodrama and he had full permission to say "no!" as many times as he liked. We read this book 4 times in a row and would have had to read it 4 times more if I hadn't convinced my son we could read it again at bed time.

I have a sneaking suspicion that this interactive approach, though not explicitly stated, was actually the author's intent as it turns out his background is with Sesame Street.


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Good gear

Long John's : Sale price $9.99

MEC Balaclava : $13 

Snow Shoes : $59

Playing outside with my 3.5 year old? Priceless!

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Stuck inside

Just because the weather isn't always great for gettng outside doesn't mean your kids have to be bored or sitting in front of the TV all day. I found this great idea for a simple, indoor game that requires only a bit of string. It will challenge your kids and get them off the couch. This web site has lots of ideas so have a good look around while you are there. If you have a good indoor game, activity, or link to share, please send it along!

Snow Goggles

At the Rooms this Sunday, February 5th from 2-4 PM
Snow Goggles
Make your own pair of Inuit snow goggles and learn about some of the amazing technologies the Inuit developed to thrive in the harsh Arctic environment.