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Reptile Ready

Posted on July 29, 2011 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

The summer programs at our local libraries have been absolutely amazing this summer. I could not imagine what we would do if we did not have them to go to. While at the chocolate tasting experience, the librarian mentioned another event coming up. It was going to be Reptile Adventure with Jessica Shea. The description was “Touch a snake, pet a turtle, and see eye-to-eye with a South American frog.” Yes, Reptile Adventure was coming to help the kids learn and meet some of their friends.

NHL was very excited about the program, but JSL opted not to go. He was tired and stayed back with Papa to rest and relax. I thought this was an amazing opportunity to introduce the kids to the wonders of reptiles. I still remember meeting several snakes and other critters during a Girl Scout event when I was a child.

When NHL and I walked into the meeting room, there were several reptiles already out to greet the excited children. One of them was Plaid.

True story, NHL walked right by Plaid and did not notice him sitting there until he nearly bumped into him and it scared him. It was definitely a kodak moment since I had watched the entire event (wish I had my video camera turned on).

Jessica was so patient with the rather large and young crowd before her. She introduced all of her reptile friends that were visiting. Then the best part for the kids, every animal was brought around for them to get a close look, and in most instances touch. Here are a few of the reptile friends that came to visit:

The part that the kids loved, was the opportunity to touch and hold any of the reptiles that Jessica said were up to it. NHL did not want to hold the big lizard, but he asked to hold the spotted turtle named Seurat (love the name):

Then, we went to wait on line to hold the Python. NHL was not too sure about this, but he allowed the Python on his lap and was petting it while chatting away about snakes. A special thanks for the patience of Chris from the library. He was a rock star handling the reptiles and helping with the kids.

After this, we went back over to Jessica who had the Legless Lizard out. I was floored with what I witnessed. Without even blinking NHL picked it up and I got this photo to prove how great he did:

Yes, this truly was a FUN and EDUCATIONAL experience for everyone that was there. When it was time to go, Jessica told the kids to each take a special sticker. NHL did and was so proud to show it to others the rest of the afternoon.

Thanks to the library, we now know about another great business that helps to educate children in our area and may be a fantastic future birthday party experience. Can you imagine?!

So my question to you this week is inspired by our reptile encounter:

What reptile would you love to know/learn more about and why? Oh and no saying you don’t like them – you probably have never met any like these to appreciate them.

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Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the linky there if you are participating.

Aloha #162

Categories:
Aloha Friday Educational fun local event nhl photos summer

Adventures with Wikki Stix

Posted on July 22, 2011 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Rain on a summer day earlier this week left me wondering what I was going to do with the boys. I had some projects to work on, but wanted them to try something fun and different. The boys wanted to use some funny smelling sculpting material on the table, but I was not in the mood for that mess. Suddenly, I recalled that I had some Wikki Stix. Do you remember those? This is what I am talking about:

What are Wikki Stix? From their website: “Wikki Stix are made of hand-knitting yarn enhanced with a microcrystalline food-grade, non-toxic wax, the kind used in bubble gum and lipstick. They do not contain latex, gluten, nor peanut or other nut oils or byproducts which makes them an ideal creative activity toy for children with allergies.” If you want to learn more, they have lots of details on the what are Wikki Stix page.

Several years ago, I had gotten a Curious George Wikki Stix book to use with NHL. At the time, he was receiving occupational therapy and this was to work on fine motor skills. The beauty of Wikki Stix, they allow kids to use their imagination to play, create, and even practice letter and shape formation. The Wikki Stix above were donated to us by a friend who had them in her classroom and never used them.

For one reason or another, the Curious George book was never used, but I pulled it out the other day. JSL immediately grabbed it and wanted to see what was inside (see above). Here is JSL playing with a Wikki guy that we made together:

Of course, if one child is using something new and exciting, the other is bound to want to try it out. Since NHL was jealous, I went on a hunt for the other package so both of the boys could experiment with the Wikki Stix. NHL immediately made a flower for me:

JSL played for well over an hour and then wanted to move on. He’s four and was tired, but NHL played on and kept coming back to the new found favorite over and over.

The best part of the day was seeing the smiles on their faces, not having a mess to clean up, and just tossing them away like this:

Yes, the boys have used them multiple times again and keep coming up with new games and things to do with them. NHL has even gone to the Wikki Stix website with me and looked at their how to videos to see some amazing creations. There are also dot-to-dot and other crafts to download and use with our Wikki Stix. I am in love! We will probably be looking to buy more because we are all having such fun with them.

My questions to you this week:

Have you ever used Wikki Stix as a child or with your children? What would you make with them if given the opportunity to play?

Disclosure

All items were purchased by us or given to us by a friend. I was not asked to write this post and just wanted to share an amazing child friendly activity for children of a variety of ages.

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Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the linky there if you are participating.

Aloha #161

Categories:
Aloha Friday arts and crafts fun jsl nhl photos play time summer

For the Love of a Fish Fry

Posted on July 15, 2011 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Growing up in the northeast, I learned to love our local fish fry haven. I remember going with both sides of the family to this favorite destination. Relatives that were from out of town would actually beg to head to Bob & Ron’s Fish Fry. I would sit there looking up at the sharks on the wall, swivel in my seat, and let time pass.

As a child, I was not originally a fan of the fish fry. Instead, I would get a hamburger or later on clam strips (never said I was kosher ~~as a kid~~). Then, I realized what I was missing.

The other night, we took the boys bowling and wanted a quick and easy dinner since it was late. I pulled out our Entertainment book. I recalled that there was a coupon for Bob and Ron’s Fish Fry. We pulled into the parking lot and memories came flooding back. The menu has hardly changed, even with new owners in recent years.

This was not a healthy meal, but something different, nostalgic, fun, and delicious. Yes, it fun to get photos of my kids swiveling in the same chairs I sat in as a kid.

The boys were mesmerized by the giant sharks on the wall. I could not resist taking a photo when they asked me to capture this moment (even if NHL was being silly).

So my question to you this week:

Do you have a restaurant that you recall from your childhood that you like to revisit now? Why do you still like to head back there?

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Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the linky there if you are participating.

Aloha #160

Categories:
Aloha Friday family food glorious food jsl looking back me moments nhl photos yummy

Stop Distracted Driving

Posted on July 8, 2011 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Recently, something has really been bothering me. I have seen a lot of other drivers in their cars with cell phone to their ears and/or texting. They are not stopped at lights. No, they are driving. Not only is this dangerous, but illegal in New York State. Yes, it is illegal to text while driving and you must have a hands free device IF you talk on your cell phone.

Accidents happen with normal distractions and circumstances. We don’t need other items to be there. I can not imagine any call or text being so important that your life or another person’s is worth it. Of course, if you must, pull your car over and do what you need in a safe manner.

Sorry, I just had to vent since I have been seeing more and more people in their cars doing this. So to lighten it up a bit and send home the message I give you this PSA message from Cars 2

So my question to you this week:

Does the state that you live in have laws about talking on the cell phone or texting while driving? What do you think about laws like the ones we have in NYS?

Nobody asked me to write this post, it is just something that has been on my mind for a while and I wanted to hear what others were thinking about the subject.

Pssst . . . be sure to stop by TechyDad’s Outback Steakhouse $45 giveaway.

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Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the linky there if you are participating.

Aloha #159

Categories:
Aloha Friday PSA real world news vent

Crafty Start To Summer 2011

Posted on July 1, 2011 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Thursday morning, I was not sure what I was going to do with the boys. Then, I saw something in my Google Feed Reader from A Frugal Friend. Thanks to Debra, I realized that Michael’s is offering a Passport to Fun Kid’s Event all summer long. I know I had received e-mails about it, but had likely ignored them. So we ran out of the house to Michael’s.

The Passport to Fun book looks amazing. It is filled with great items about each of the places that you will visit during an activity at Michael’s this summer. Coming up this weekend is one for the United States on July 2 for Independence Day.

So where did we visit? We went to Canada. Quite fitting since today is Canada Day. Happy Canada Day to all of my friends to the north.

You probably want to know what they made, eh? Here are the Canadian inspired crafts that were shown to us:

The boys had a great time. The craft itself was cute and should have been really easy to do, but the glue was not behaving. Luckily we were patient and got the pipe cleaner to stay put for the Moose antlers.

Here’s the page from the Passport book about Canada and NHL’s finished project:

The remaining events are always 11am – 2pm:

U.S.A. – Saturday, July 2
Italy – Tuesday, July 5
Australia – Thursday, July 7
India – Saturday, July 9
Russia – Tuesday, July 12
France – Thursday, July 14
United Kingdom, July 16
Japan – Tuesday, July 19
Greece – Thursday, July 21
Mexico – Saturday, July 23
China – Tuesday, July 26
South Africa – Thurday July 28
Brazil – Saturday, July 30

We missed the ones for Sweden, Germany, Egypt, and Bahamas. I know we will try to catch more of these events and others taking place this summer. Of course, while at Michael’s we picked up something to do on our own that was inspired by a craft at the Library’s event earlier in the week. More to come on that tomorrow.

here

So my question for you this week:

What country would you have added to the Passport and why?

Pssst . . . be sure to stop by TechyDad’s Outback Steakhouse $45 giveaway.

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Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the linky there if you are participating.

Aloha #158