My Living Attachments

I really don't know why I don't blog about my kids that much. I feel like all I do is run them around!

This guy still has over a month of school left. All his activities are starting to end (thankfully!), so things will slow back down a bit. I have never seen an elementary school offer so many clubs! For a while, it seemed like he was bring home a sign up sheet a day. I let him do what he wanted, even though I tried to steer him towards the technology, math, and science clubs. He picked cup stacking, the 100 Mile Club, and the schools online news.

I don't know that he got any skills out of the cup stacking, but he thought it was fun. Filming the news taught him new words like teleprompter and green screen. The 100 Mile Club is just the kids trying to walk/run 100 miles by the end of the year. They got t-shirts at 25 miles and I feel like they don't really care anymore! Only miles walked during their events count, so none at home. He stays after a few days a month and walks at recess. He isn't going to make 100 miles, but he stuck with it the whole year and that counts for more in my book.

Then there is soccer. Poor kid has my athletic ability, meaning he has none. He is having fun though and we've told him as long as he tries his best, that's the best we can ask for. His team as a whole wasn't that great. Those kids tried, but they played other teams that were just bigger and better than them. He had his last game this past weekend.

As much as he says he doesn't like school, he does pretty good. He isn't good at spelling and his handwriting is horrible, but he pretty much gets everything else. He also loves to read! I have a hard time keeping him supplied with books. The school had a contest in March for reading. Each classroom gave the kids who read the most minutes a really neat metal, Dr. Seuss designed water bottle. He came in second with 950 minutes for the month. 

Then there's my girl. She loves preschool and is always talking about her teachers and her friends. In the 5 months she's been there, she has learned a lot. Apparently she's the singing leader too. I haven't put her in any other activities yet. I would put her in sports in a heartbeat, but you have to be 5 for most things. She's going to be the athletic one and wants to play things, she just can't yet. On the days she's not at preschool, we go exploring, to the beach, to parks, on bike rides, and just have fun together while we can. Like today, we went to a mall near our house (that for some reason we'd never gone to before, what's wrong with me?) and played at the arcade and looked around. Then I took her on a bike ride, since she had been bugging me all day. 

Forest Adventure Park

Hubby and I had a little day date today - ziplining!

We headed up to the Forest Adventure Park in Onna. I know lots of people who have already done this and everyone says it's a blast! 

I made reservations for 10 on a Tuesday morning, hoping they wouldn't be busy. We found their office easy enough, signed our waivers, then followed the shuttle bus to their parking lot. The bus then took us to the actual park. We were greeted by the guides and one (who was red headed and spoke perfect English) helped us get strapped into our harnesses. He then took us to the beginning safety course. He showed us exactly how the clips work and how to properly use them, then had us go through the course once to make sure we knew what we were doing. He then sent us off on our own!

We went from one zipline to the next. Each line was over jungle and we had gorgeous views of the East China Sea. It was so much fun! We only ran into one other small group. Since there was four of them, they let us go on ahead of them.

We also crossed a net bridge

and another smaller bridge

At the end of the course, after most of the ziplines, is a small obstacle course. First thing to do is make it through the Tarzan like free fall into a net. I had heard about this and knew it was coming, so I figured I was prepared and wouldn't have any issues. Hubby did it with no problem. It took him a bit to coax me off of there. I know the look on my face screamed 'Oh, hell no! What the effing, eff, eff!'. It really is a free fall. Heights don't bother me, but the falling part does. Hubby confirmed the look on my face was absolutely hilarious. 

After that was various nets, rings, ropes, and bridges to cross to get to the final zipline. It was an absolute blast! I actually liked that we did it all ourselves. It was more fun that way than if there would have been someone on each tower hooking us up. I know that would never fly in the states, but that's half the reason why I love it here so much!

Freebies - Lots of kids activities for tomorrow 8/14

Like Barbara's Bakery on Facebook and get a coupon for a free box of cereal

TGI Friday's coupon for $5 off $15 or more - good till August 18

Dora's 10th Birthday Celebration at participating Wal-Mart stores on Aug 14. Party favors and cupcakes included.

Free Perry the Platypus figure at Disney Stores on Aug 14. Check your store for participation.

Free custom soap

Lowe's Build & Grow clinic - Aug 14 - Beetle Shaped Bug Box (Little Man loves these clinics!!)

Over 600 Free Museums for Military this Summer

WASHINGTON — More than 600 museums nationwide are offering free admission to military families all summer in a new partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.

The list includes some of the nation’s premier art museums, including New York’s Museum of Modern Art and the Art Institute of Chicago, as well as science centers, children’s museums and other sites in all 50 states.

The program, called Blue Star Museums, is being announced Monday in San Diego, where 14 museums will participate. The offer for active duty military personnel and their families runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

It was the brainchild of Kathy Roth-Douquet, chairwoman of the group Blue Star Families. Her husband, Marine Corps Col. Greg Douquet, is on his third deployment to Afghanistan.

“You can feel a little alone in America right now, being part of the 1 percent that’s involved in fighting these wars,” she said, adding that the recession has changed priorities for many people. “When the kids and I go to museums this summer, we know we’re being welcomed. It will make us feel less alone.”

Roth-Douquet, who lives in Parris Island, S.C., said military bases are sometimes far from cultural centers, though museums can be a good escape.

The Defense Department is helping to promote the offer, and Roth-Douquet said some military bases may coordinate bus trips.

When her family was based in London for a time, she and her son and daughter spent an entire summer visiting museums because many were free. As a result, she said, her 8-year-old son Charlie now draws for hours each day.

This summer, they’re planning a road trip along the East Coast to visit museums. Normally, a $20 ticket to MoMA in New York might rule it out, she said. Now they could also stop for free at Washington’s Corcoran Gallery of Art or New York’s Jewish Museum.

NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman said he was surprised by how many museums joined the effort, despite the poor economy, from the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum to the International Quilt Study Center and Museum in Nebraska.

“I think it is good karma for the museums,” he said. “Long-term, it promotes museum-going and engagement with the arts.”

Also, over Memorial Day weekend in New York City, Sen. Kristen Gillibrand has announced more than 50 museums and historic sites will offer free admission to military personnel and veterans.

For a list of museums, click here.
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/05/ap_museum_052310/

Borders Kids Summer Reading Program

Border has a summer reading program for kids 12 and under. Read any 10 books of your choosing, fill out the form, bring it into any Borders, Borders Express, or Waldenbooks, and get a free book (from their list of books). Find the form here. Must be completed and brought into a store by August 26.

Barnes and Noble is also doing a summer program. Find details here.

Mother's Day at Michaels

Michaels craft stores are offering free Mother's Day workshops for kids. They can make a craft and take it home for Mom! It started May 1, but there is one a day, with 2 on Saturday, May 8. Each requires a small purchase, like a t-shirt or frame, but they look like fun workshops. Click here for info.

Museums on Us

Bank of American is giving free entrance into over 100 museums this weekend. Click the locater link to find a museum participating near you.

Kids Freebie Events

Free things to do with your kids are the best!

Participating Borders stores will be holding a Fancy Nancy Poet Extroidanaire in honor of National Poetry Month. on Saturday, April 17 at 11:00 a.m.

Lowes has another Build and Grow Clinic this Saturday from 10 - 11 a.m. This Saturday, April 17 is an Earth Day Planter. Next Saturday, April 24 is a Bird Feeder. Great projects for girls or boys! Register online or in your local store.

USO Sesame Street Workshop for Deployed Families

USO Announces Sesame Workshop Tour Dates
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, March 31, 2010 – The Sesame Street/USO Experience for Military Families, a free traveling USO show based on Sesame Workshop’s award winning “Talk, Listen, Connect” initiative and produced in partnership with Vee, is back in the United States after an around-the-world tour.

The show, which is exclusively for military families, kicks off its second swing through the United States on April 17 at Fort Knox, Ky.

Audiences will experience a 25-minute character performance and receive promotional items and outreach materials, officials said.

The Sesame Street Workshop/USO partnership put on its first show at Twentynine Palms, Calif., in July 2008. Since then, The Sesame Street/USO Experience for Military Families has traveled more than 45,000 miles to 76 bases in nine countries. More than 120,000 servicemembers and families have been entertained during 176 shows.

“The momentum that this show has gathered since it first performed for military kids and families is unbelievable,” said Gary E. Knell, Sesame Workshop president and CEO. “To see how families come together and then use the messages from the show to talk to their kids is the greatest reward that we could ask for. We at Sesame Workshop are thrilled to continue this work with our partners and friends at the USO and reinforce our commitment to military families.”

Sloan Gibson, USO president, noted the positive impact the tour is having on the military community.

“The fact that more than 100,000 troops and family members have attended these shows so far speaks volumes about the tour’s relevance to today’s military,” Gibson said. “We listen to our troops and understand the challenges they face at home, and are proud to call Sesame Workshop our partner in helping to ease the daily stresses on military families.”

For tour dates and schedule click here.
(From a USO news release.)

I took my son to this 2 years ago. It was really cute and they gave out free toys and other goodies.