- Dads get FREE admission into Zoo Atlanta on Sunday with the purchase of a child’s or adult’s full price ticket.
- Take Dad for a spin around the rink. Dads get FREEadmission to Sparkles in Kennesaw from 2pm-7pm on Sunday. Admission for all others is $9 and Skate rental is $4.
- Make Dad an “Out of this World” card at Lakeshore Learning in East Cobb at 4287 Roswell Road from 11am-3pm Saturday the 18th.
- Have fun making a painted T-shirt for Dad at Family Fun Craft Time at your favorite Michael’s. Buy the shirt, and the rest of supplies are free. Saturday June 18th from 1pm-3pm. Click Here for Michael's Class Schedule
- Grad dad a cup o' joe at Starbucks and listen to 2 special stories to honor dads and grandpas at Barnes & Noble's FREE Father's Day Storytime at Town Center Prado on Saturday at 11am. Activities will follow. There is also a Father’s Day storytime at the West Cobb Avenue location at 11am on Saturday.
Showing posts with label summer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label summer. Show all posts
Monday, June 13, 2016
Father's Day Fun
Friday, July 6, 2012
Gimme 5 Friday
Five fun things to do this weekend! Click on the highlighted
links to find out more.
1. Kids Karate on Saturday at 10:00am at the Ben Robertson
Center. Kennesaw Parks & Recreation is celebrating Parks & Recreation Month by
offering a calendar full of FREE Drop-In classes for kids & adults at the
community center and their parks. Click HERE to get the calendar and try
something new this month!
2. Send Dad to your neighborhood Home Depot with the
kids to build a Moving Truck
Saturday morning while you relax (HA- yeah right! Catch up on laundry, dishes,
paperwork, vacuum, mop, change sheets…) Kids workshop is from 9am-12pm...drop-in anytime but give yourself plenty of time to finish the project. Our
experience with these FREE fun workshops – the later you go, the more crowded.
3. Head to the mountains and make tasty treats that your
backyard birds will love. Red Top Mountain is hosting a kid’s Pine Cone Birdfeeder Workshop from 3pm-4pm on Saturday. Meet at the park office. The cost
for the workshop is $1 (plus $5 State Park Parking fee). Make a day of it and
enjoy a hike on one of their trails before or after the workshop. Address for GPS: 50 Lodge Rd
SE, Cartersville
4. B at the
Movies is at East Cobb
Park Saturday for Movie Night!
Bring the family out for Rio. Music by B98.5 begins at 7:30, movie starts at
dusk. Event is FREE but Friends for
the East Cobb Park will host a concession stand to benefit the
park. Arrive early for a picnic & beat the crowds!
5. Insect Field Day for ages 7+ at the Chattahoochee Nature Center on Sunday from 10:30am-11:30am. Observe and identify insects you collect
in nets and learn why these small creatures are vital to our world. Stick
around for a guided trail hike at 1pm. Both activities are included with admission:
$8 for adults, $5 for kids ages 3-12, 2 and under FREE.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Cheap Seats to Beat the Heat - June 30th
Picture Show at Merchant's Exchange is showing the following family-friendly movies:
- The Lorax
- Mirror, Mirror
- The 3 Stooges
- Pirates, Band of Misfits
Click here to see today's showtimes! Not sure these movies are ok of your kids...I love iMom's Movie Monitor
Mountain View Library has Beat the Heat Movies for Teens (ages 13 to adults) showing at 3pm. Today's flick is Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (PG-13)
Studio Movie Grill in Alpharetta has KidToons today at 11am. Strawberry Shortcake's Bloomin' Berry Garden is showing - tickets only $2 each.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
"Dream Big" with Cobb Libraries
The 2012 Summer Reading Program "Dream Big - READ" begins on June 1 and ends on July 31, with an end-of-summer reading celebration scheduled for Saturday, August 4. Here are 5 of Cobb Tots & Kids "Don't Miss" activities for June at the library! There are over 700 programs and activities this summer to celebrate reading so it was a challenge to narrow it down! I'll be back with a list for July. More information about these and even events can be found at www.cobbcat.org/calendar:
1. Dream Big and get creative with The Art Station. The creative minds at the Art Station have come up with all sorts of fun. Open to children of all ages with caregiver. Powder Springs Library at 11am on Tuesday, June 4th
2. Learn about Frogs & Toads during a fun program about the frogs in our own backyard with Rachel Small from the Cobb Watershed Stewardship Program. Listen to a the zany story "Tuesday" by David Wiesner and Ms. Small will demonstrate the differnent sounds that frogs and toads make. Registration is required. For grades 3-6. Mountain View Library Tuesday, June 5th at 3pm
3. Summer Fun for Tweens is a weekly program at Gritters starting June 7th from 3:30-4:30. Each week the topic changes...from Calligrapghy to Soap Carving kids get to try something new while having fun. Regsitration is required so call 770-528-2524.
4. Kids Writing Workshop at Kennesaw Library on June 12th from 1:30-3:30 with Best-selling author and Kennesaw resident Margaret Johnson-Hodge. Young writers will be presented with tools to tap into their creativity and tips tailored especially for students ages 9-12. The workshop will be hands-on, and will include handouts and on-site exercises. Participants also will learn methods for tackling the hardest part of writing - the first page!
5. Watch Joe the Magician on June 12 at 11am at the Powder Springs Library. Open to children all ages with caregiver.
Children from birth to 5th grade can participate in the Summer Reading Program at the library. Pick a folder to log the books they have read. Return the reading log anytime after July 4th to receive receive a certificate and to be eligible to win prizes. Stevi B’s has also sponsored a pizza giveaway for participants, and the first 5000 children to return their folders any time after July 4 can receive a coupon for a free kid’s buffet at any local Stevi B’s location!
Adults and Teens in grades 6-12 are also encouraged to participate in the "Dream Big" Summer Reading Program too by submitting book reviews. Forms can be picked up at the branches, downloaded from the website, or submitted online. Each person who enters a book review will be eligible to win a Sony eReader, courtesy of OverDrive, a provider of downloadable books and audiobooks.
Every person, regardless of age, who completes the library’s reading program will be entered into a drawing to win an iPad 2, courtesy of Cobb EMC. All winners will be announced at the End of Summer Reading Party, which will be held on Saturday, August 4 from 5-7 p.m. at the Central Library. Any winners not in attendance can pick up their prize at the Cobb County Public Library System branch of their choice.
1. Dream Big and get creative with The Art Station. The creative minds at the Art Station have come up with all sorts of fun. Open to children of all ages with caregiver. Powder Springs Library at 11am on Tuesday, June 4th
2. Learn about Frogs & Toads during a fun program about the frogs in our own backyard with Rachel Small from the Cobb Watershed Stewardship Program. Listen to a the zany story "Tuesday" by David Wiesner and Ms. Small will demonstrate the differnent sounds that frogs and toads make. Registration is required. For grades 3-6. Mountain View Library Tuesday, June 5th at 3pm
3. Summer Fun for Tweens is a weekly program at Gritters starting June 7th from 3:30-4:30. Each week the topic changes...from Calligrapghy to Soap Carving kids get to try something new while having fun. Regsitration is required so call 770-528-2524.
4. Kids Writing Workshop at Kennesaw Library on June 12th from 1:30-3:30 with Best-selling author and Kennesaw resident Margaret Johnson-Hodge. Young writers will be presented with tools to tap into their creativity and tips tailored especially for students ages 9-12. The workshop will be hands-on, and will include handouts and on-site exercises. Participants also will learn methods for tackling the hardest part of writing - the first page!
5. Watch Joe the Magician on June 12 at 11am at the Powder Springs Library. Open to children all ages with caregiver.
Children from birth to 5th grade can participate in the Summer Reading Program at the library. Pick a folder to log the books they have read. Return the reading log anytime after July 4th to receive receive a certificate and to be eligible to win prizes. Stevi B’s has also sponsored a pizza giveaway for participants, and the first 5000 children to return their folders any time after July 4 can receive a coupon for a free kid’s buffet at any local Stevi B’s location!
Adults and Teens in grades 6-12 are also encouraged to participate in the "Dream Big" Summer Reading Program too by submitting book reviews. Forms can be picked up at the branches, downloaded from the website, or submitted online. Each person who enters a book review will be eligible to win a Sony eReader, courtesy of OverDrive, a provider of downloadable books and audiobooks.
Every person, regardless of age, who completes the library’s reading program will be entered into a drawing to win an iPad 2, courtesy of Cobb EMC. All winners will be announced at the End of Summer Reading Party, which will be held on Saturday, August 4 from 5-7 p.m. at the Central Library. Any winners not in attendance can pick up their prize at the Cobb County Public Library System branch of their choice.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
End of Summer Blues
Since the end of July, I have been feeling a little sad...anxious...a bit panicked maybe...well...just blue. I haven't been able put my feelings in to words or really explain my emotions. Maybe it's because the first day of school was looming in the future which means my youngest will be headed off to Kindergarten. Maybe it's something else. Not sure really but recently, I came across Kristi Vinson's "End of Summer Blues" post on the Kennesaw Patch. She put into words what I have been feeling - everythings "great" on the outside but a little "off" on the inside. I am sad that summer is over because it's the end of a sweet chapter - not just the end of the summer on the calendar but the end of those simple weekday mornings spent with my daughter at preschool storytimes and "the jumpy place". I am trying to remember a saying I saw once to "get me through" it: "Don't be sad it's over, be happy it happened" but despite looking forward to the next stage my heart aches a little. I am sharing Ms. Vinson's article with permission here, in case maybe...you're a blue mommy too.
It’s a fine summer day in Kennesaw. The hot Georgia sun is blistering the air, and I am safely tucked away in the comfort of my air-conditioned office. Why do I feel such anxiety and sadness?
I am sure the Eastern Bluebird perched right outside my window is singing just for me as I anxiously peck away at my keyboard, and yet somehow the bluebird of happiness escapes me. I am sad.
I’ve cleaned the house, washed and folded the laundry and completed all my chores. I am tired, but in a good way. My tasks are all accomplished, and yet somehow I have a feeling of being unsettled, anxious and sad.
Having been to the grocery store, the fridge and pantry are well-stocked, the carrots are peeled and the strawberries are perfectly sliced. There is a fresh loaf of bread on the shelf in the pantry. I don’t know hunger, and yet somehow I am still feeling sorry for myself.
This summer, like so many others, has been filled with busy days and summer catch-up chores, combined with leisurely activity. Nothing out of the ordinary, nothing spectacular, just a fun Georgia summer spent in the safety and familiar surroundings of our own backyard. Nothing there to be sad about.
Our family did not venture out on a summer vacation this year. Instead, we saved the gas and applied the money toward household expenses. We created our own memories with some of the many exciting summer activities our area has to offer. No complaints there.
We were not bored with our staycation. I especially enjoyed not having to pack and unpack, load and unload, plan, execute and worry about whether the weather would disrupt our travel plans and routine. It was quite a refreshing change to our sometimes otherwise hectic summer regiment. Nothing sad about that. And yet, why do I feel this way?
The connection feels lost, and the needle is fluctuating on my sad-o-meter. I must examine the way I feel under a microscope and peel back the layers of the onion to expose my inner feelings. To do this will require shedding a few tears. Uh oh, here goes. Break out the box of Kleenex tissues (or closest generic substitute).
I will escape to the television for awhile. Perhaps my brain will go numb, and my heart will reveal the reason for this sadness I feel. Oh no, I’ve gotten sucked into a chick flick Lifetime Movie. Two hours and a box of tissue later…that was a tear-jerker. I should have changed the channel while I had the chance.
According to the 26 commercials I watched during the movie, I would be much happier if I established a routine of anti-depressant medication. Maybe then I wouldn’t be sad. I could, however, suffer the possible side effects of headaches, insomnia, fatigue, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, joint pain, increased salivation, nasal congestion, blurred vision, abdominal pain, dry mouth, weight gain, indigestion and dizziness.
Now I’m sad and confused. Is it physically possible to suffer both dry mouth and increased salivation? Or did the announcer say salvation? Perhaps I got my channels mixed up. The announcer spoke so quickly. Maybe I missed something? Either way, my strategy worked somewhat. Getting lost in a here come the tears movie took the edge off my sadness.
Back at my keyboard, a thought occurs to me. I am depending on something or someone to fill the anxious void I feel. No one can do that for me. It must come from within. For me, overcoming an overwhelming feeling of sadness takes action. This kind of action doesn’t come from a medication bottle, a cupboard stocked full of goodies or retail therapy (although I could try).
This kind of feeling is conquered by getting out and rubbing elbows with your neighbors for a backyard barbeque. This kind of sadness is overcome by watching your kids and their friends run through the sprinklers and seeing the expression on their faces when you hand them a frozen Bomb-Pop.
This kind of sadness comes on the heels of the end of another Georgia summer, right before the insanity of back-to-school sales and resetting the alarm clock for the bus. This too shall pass. Part of the sadness I feel of another Georgia summer coming to a close will be lessened by knowing August has arrived and the beautiful colors of another Georgia autumn are just around the corner.
Ahhhh, I am not so sad anymore.
It’s a fine summer day in Kennesaw. The hot Georgia sun is blistering the air, and I am safely tucked away in the comfort of my air-conditioned office. Why do I feel such anxiety and sadness?
I am sure the Eastern Bluebird perched right outside my window is singing just for me as I anxiously peck away at my keyboard, and yet somehow the bluebird of happiness escapes me. I am sad.
I’ve cleaned the house, washed and folded the laundry and completed all my chores. I am tired, but in a good way. My tasks are all accomplished, and yet somehow I have a feeling of being unsettled, anxious and sad.
Having been to the grocery store, the fridge and pantry are well-stocked, the carrots are peeled and the strawberries are perfectly sliced. There is a fresh loaf of bread on the shelf in the pantry. I don’t know hunger, and yet somehow I am still feeling sorry for myself.
This summer, like so many others, has been filled with busy days and summer catch-up chores, combined with leisurely activity. Nothing out of the ordinary, nothing spectacular, just a fun Georgia summer spent in the safety and familiar surroundings of our own backyard. Nothing there to be sad about.
Our family did not venture out on a summer vacation this year. Instead, we saved the gas and applied the money toward household expenses. We created our own memories with some of the many exciting summer activities our area has to offer. No complaints there.
We were not bored with our staycation. I especially enjoyed not having to pack and unpack, load and unload, plan, execute and worry about whether the weather would disrupt our travel plans and routine. It was quite a refreshing change to our sometimes otherwise hectic summer regiment. Nothing sad about that. And yet, why do I feel this way?
The connection feels lost, and the needle is fluctuating on my sad-o-meter. I must examine the way I feel under a microscope and peel back the layers of the onion to expose my inner feelings. To do this will require shedding a few tears. Uh oh, here goes. Break out the box of Kleenex tissues (or closest generic substitute).
I will escape to the television for awhile. Perhaps my brain will go numb, and my heart will reveal the reason for this sadness I feel. Oh no, I’ve gotten sucked into a chick flick Lifetime Movie. Two hours and a box of tissue later…that was a tear-jerker. I should have changed the channel while I had the chance.
According to the 26 commercials I watched during the movie, I would be much happier if I established a routine of anti-depressant medication. Maybe then I wouldn’t be sad. I could, however, suffer the possible side effects of headaches, insomnia, fatigue, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, joint pain, increased salivation, nasal congestion, blurred vision, abdominal pain, dry mouth, weight gain, indigestion and dizziness.
Now I’m sad and confused. Is it physically possible to suffer both dry mouth and increased salivation? Or did the announcer say salvation? Perhaps I got my channels mixed up. The announcer spoke so quickly. Maybe I missed something? Either way, my strategy worked somewhat. Getting lost in a here come the tears movie took the edge off my sadness.
Back at my keyboard, a thought occurs to me. I am depending on something or someone to fill the anxious void I feel. No one can do that for me. It must come from within. For me, overcoming an overwhelming feeling of sadness takes action. This kind of action doesn’t come from a medication bottle, a cupboard stocked full of goodies or retail therapy (although I could try).
This kind of feeling is conquered by getting out and rubbing elbows with your neighbors for a backyard barbeque. This kind of sadness is overcome by watching your kids and their friends run through the sprinklers and seeing the expression on their faces when you hand them a frozen Bomb-Pop.
This kind of sadness comes on the heels of the end of another Georgia summer, right before the insanity of back-to-school sales and resetting the alarm clock for the bus. This too shall pass. Part of the sadness I feel of another Georgia summer coming to a close will be lessened by knowing August has arrived and the beautiful colors of another Georgia autumn are just around the corner.
Ahhhh, I am not so sad anymore.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Summer "Brain Drain"
Summer break is 13 days away...that's right, 13 days! Do you have a plan? I am always in a panic by now but the summer flies by and before I know it there are things I wanted to do with the kids I never got to! I have to admit, this year I am calmer about the summer break...or maybe it just hasn't sunk it yet!
Camps, swimming at the pool, and playdates keep the kids entertained but what about keeping that brain sharp?
Mom blogger and former teacher at www.StudentsFirstResources.blogspot.com has great suggestions in her post "How to Keep Their Brains from Melting in the Hot Summer Sun". Here are a few suggestions from her blog as well as a few more I came across!
Camps, swimming at the pool, and playdates keep the kids entertained but what about keeping that brain sharp?
Mom blogger and former teacher at www.StudentsFirstResources.blogspot.com has great suggestions in her post "How to Keep Their Brains from Melting in the Hot Summer Sun". Here are a few suggestions from her blog as well as a few more I came across!
- Visit museums! She mentions one of Cobb Tots & Kids favorite places: Tellus Science Museum. This is about a 30-45 min easy drive north on I-75 in Cartersville. This place is truly a hidden "gem" - check it out this summer.
- Visit the Library! Cobb Tots & Kids got a sneak peek at their summer programs and all we can say is WOW, it's going to be one fun summer. But even when there isn't anything special going on, it's just a "cool" place to hang out. Most children's areas have puzzles or blocks and let your kids "roam" the stacks to make their selections.
- Get creative! Student's First Resources offers up ideas on reusing fast food paper bags and milk cartons. There are tons of kid craft websites now or you can check out “Let’s Get Crafty” on our website for ideas. At my own house, I have a tote with typical craft supplies and I throw in toilet paper tubes, empty yogurt containers, milk cartons, yarn, etc. I let my kids have at it (I keep the paint and glitter out of reach for supervised projects!!) Not only do they come up with some very interesting creations, it keeps them busy on their own!
- Talk to your kids! Use those everyday activities to talk and teach. Cook with your kids, talk about different foods in the grocery store, help them count the money in their piggy banks, discuss interesting or funny things that happen in TV shows or movies they watch, talk about the plants and flowers in your yard or at the local park. Play rhyming games, make up funny poems about your day. Going on a trip? Let your kids help you research the area...online or check out travel books, use google earth or a map website.
- Keep Writing! Encourage kids of all ages to keep a “journal” or “summer diary” throughout the summer. Even preschoolers can draw pictures of what they did with one or two words about the picture. Or you can write a simple sentence for them and then have them trace the letters. Write a funny poem about what your family did that day or over the weekend. Write "snail-mail" letters to classmates - who doesn't love to get mail?
- In doing research for this post I came across Sylvan Learning Centers website. Under "Parent Resources" found free worksheets for each grade level and a downloadable free Math Activity Booklet. I can still get away with playing "school" with my 5 and 6 yr old so I sneak in those worksheets! Sylvan is having a summer "Just a Page-a-Day" Contest so be sure check that out on their website. Student's First Resources does warn not to overdo it with the worksheets...you don't want your child to get burned out on paper/pencil activities - good point! Go easy on them.
So this summer...keep it fun but keep them smart!
**Please visit www.studentsfirstresources.blogspot.com for more great ideas on teaching kids, homework helpers, & resources! (check out her March 17th post about paper bag puppet story starters...LOVE IT)
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