I'm now of Facebook!

I'm not sure what took me so long, but I finally have a Facebook page for my business, Blue Frog Creations, LLC. If I've inspired you, enlightened you, or helped you through this blog, I ask that you jump over and click "Like." Don't let me be alone in cyberspace! I'd really appreciate it!

TN Aquarium Keeper Kids: What a blast!

Yesterday my kids and I were treated to a visit at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga. It was our first trip there and I must say I was impressed. The aquarium consists of two buildings: one focused on river life and one on the ocean. In both, you start at the top and wind your way down.

Though there's tons to see every day, we went during spring break for the special Keeper Kids experiences. You can sign up for two of 19 different behind-the-scenes, hands-on interactions with certain animals, that are offered on a first come, first serve basis. Since a limited number of children are allowed with each experience, you're never crowded and the kids have time to ask questions.

Our first Keeper Kids experience was Otter Edibles and Trout Chow. The otters are so cute at feeding time--like meerkats of the water. The fish were not slimy and were easy for the kids to throw. The trout chow were pellets that made the whole tank swarm in seconds.

Our second Keeper Kids experience was Really Awesome Reptiles. Since Bobby and Devin ADORE lizards, this was perfect. They learned that even though the box turtle is the TN state reptile, it too has seen its numbers dwindle over the past decade. We found one in our backyard once and started to care for it. She recommended leaving them in the wild, as taking them out of their habitat even temporarily is very confusing and possibly detrimental for box turtles. When a lizard native to the desert came out, Bobby recognized it immediately. It was fun for me seeing him spout his wealth of knowledge of these creatures. They got to touch both animals--quickly followed by hand sanitizer; thank you!

Our last encounter wasn't a scheduled experience but they brought out a few shrimp for the boys to feed the sting rays. When a ray came up to the glass to get his treat, he startled Bobby and me. I didn't expect the rays to climb the wall of the tank! The exhibit was set up well so that all the kids had plenty of opportunities to stroke a sting ray as it swam by. Even my two-year-old Brooke got into the action.

The aquarium certainly has the WOW factor year-round, but getting to touch and feed the animals will be experiences they'll never forget. By interacting with them, hopefully they will value efforts to protect animals and their dwindling habitats all over the world.

Don't forget to check out my video at the bottom of this post. If you can't make it to the TN Aquarium during spring break, they will continue the Keeper Kids experiences through April 17. There's a list of programs by times here. Thanks for your feedback on the video and for sharing which Keeper Kids experience would interest your kids most.

Here's more info:

Dates available: March 12-April 17, 2011
Hours: 10:30 am-4:30 pm (Aquarium hours 10 am-6 pm)
Price: Keeper Kids activities are FREE with Aquarium admission
Reservations: Call 800-262-0695, Monday-Friday, 8 am-5 pm

Toddler Race on WBIR 5/5 at 5pm

Part of me is excited, part of me is fearing the worst. I've agreed to participate with my 14-month-old Brooke in a toddler race tomorrow, May 5 on the 5:00pm news--WBIR. There will actually be two races: one for crawlers and one for toddlers. This could either go really well or really poorly, depending on whether Brooke runs to me at full tilt with a broad smile or gets stranger anxiety and bursts into tears. What will happen is anybody's guess. So you won't want to miss it.

I think it's mainly just for fun. Who wants a margarita for Cinco de Mayo when you could watch the unpredictability of racing babies--though I may need that drink after this! ;-) I'm taking all three kids to the station for a behind-the-scenes look at how TV is made. Having worked as a TV producer for 11 years, I find it kind-of odd that my children have never been to a television station. It's like that was a different life. Sigh. I don't regret my decision to become a SAHM five years ago, but if you have any interest in what I used to do, click here.

The main reason I agreed to participate is that hopefully it will give some good publicity for a fundraiser for the Lisa Ross Birth and Women's Center. That's where I had both Devin and Brooke--both beautiful experiences. The Seventh Annual Walk for Healthy Babies (just one mile) is scheduled to begin at 9:30am on Saturday, June 5 at Victor Ashe Park. We plan to be there. And if you'd like to see one of the videos I produced for them, click here and scroll down. Let the races begin!

Mac 'n Cheese Dominoes

If you recall with last week's super deal on Annie's mac 'n cheese, I bought a few boxes--26 actually. Not only was my 6 year old Bobby thrilled that we had lots of his favorite on hand now; he decided to get creative. Enjoy this video: Mac 'n Cheese Dominoes! And for those not aware of my other profession, I am a video producer who works with companies, non-profits, and individuals. Check out my website.

First Snow

This morning we awoke to a winter wonderland outside. Snow had blanketed the yard in maybe an inch, and snowflakes were still floating from heaven. All three kids were of course excited. Brooke, our nine month old, was mostly curious and was eager to investigate it closer than the windowsill.

We started with a big family breakfast of pancakes, french toast, and bacon with Harry Connick's Christmas special playing in the background. Does it get any better than this, I thought? That's when Devin asked, "What's that sound? Where's the picture?" Have I failed in educating them about music and CDs? Are moving images on a screen all they know? Sigh.

By 9:15am we had dug out all our ski gear and boots (that I'd bought on consignment since we only see snow a few hours a year in TN), and we were ready. The kids looked like they were prepared for an Arctic trek across a glacier. And Brooke looked like a blue marshmellow, wearing a puzzled expression most of the time. Adorable. Bob, who grew up in the North, taught the boys the fine art of snowman building. We sledded on what little snow had accumulated on the empty lots in our subdivision. Within an hour, they were cold and asking for hot chocolate.

Snow always makes for a frenzied experience in the South because you know by noon, it will probably all be gone. It forces us to Carpe Diem: Seize the Day and that to me is a great way to live every day. Enjoy the video!

All Star

SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO.

He’s the last batter of the final inning in the last game of the Karns little league T-ball season. The bases are loaded, and my 6-year-old son Bobby steps up to the plate. This is his moment—his chance to be the hero.

Bobby eyes the ball, winds up, and does a complete 360--clearly missing the ball. He regains his concentration, fixes his stance, and whacks the T--again missing the ball. Undeterred he gets back in position, takes a deep breath, and…smacks the ball past the pitcher, past the second baseman, and into the outfield where not a single player is ready to retrieve it. Bobby sprints to first, doesn’t stop at second, rounds third at full speed, and slides triumphantly into home on his belly. He hardly notices that the other team is in the dugout by now. The only cheers are the ones from his parents, but his smile proves that’s enough.

This was Bobby’s first year for organized sports: soccer in the spring, baseball in the fall. We were surprised that he was already “behind” many of the other players who began as young as four. We wanted him to start in the non-competitive league where there are no outs, every player rounds the bases, and everyone gets a trophy. Bobby didn’t seem to mind that he was literally head and shoulders above some of his teammates. Skillfully he blended right in. I was thrilled to see that Bobby was given the #7 jersey (my number from softball). Bob got nostalgic as well, pulling out his first baseball hat from second grade.

Not wanting to be over-scheduling parents, we’re choosy about our children’s extra activities. But we didn’t hesitate to sign him up for little league baseball. Sports teach so many valuable skills: coordination, teamwork, taking turns, paying attention, and one day, learning how to be a gracious loser. And there’s something magical about this All American sport; it’s practically a childhood rite of passage.

There were times when I dreaded the mad dash of getting the boys fed, the baby nursed, the dog her dinner, and Bobby dressed in time to be on the field by 5:45pm. More often than not Devin’s face was smeared with dinner remnants and Brooke needed a diaper change just as the game started. It was a good day if I remembered toys and extra layers for the younger two. The crowd consisted of four dozen faithful family members who generally remained quiet. But we all secretly beamed with pride when our little one stood poised at home plate.

Today all the extra chaos sports add to a family’s life melts away because it’s the All Star game. The four teams of the league combine to battle it out as representatives of the American and National Leagues. It’s a beautiful, crisp sunny day when these pint size peanuts have the privilege of ascending the hill to the big ball field. Their faces are giddy with anticipation.

Adding authenticity to the spectacle is the announcer who calls their names over the loud speaker. One by one, each player tips his hat and bows. When it’s Bobby’s turn, he bows with the flair of an Elizabethan prince. He knows this is a big deal since I’m shooting video with my professional camera. This is an occasion to be recorded for posterity.

The game only has two innings—perfect for their short attention spans. The players show off their improved skills. A few times they even come close to making a real out. Bobby proves he’s no baseball prodigy and I doubt scouts, scholarships, or the major league are in his future. And no, he couldn’t really claim to be the hero in today’s game, but that wasn’t the point. Today was about making every kid feel like a hero—to let the youngest players of the game taste glory. Thank you to everyone who helped our happy, normal, well-adjusted son feel like an All Star. This is the good stuff of life.

Eco Crafts

As I've noted before in my treasure hunt party craft, I believe in crafts that stress the importance of reusing and then recycling materials. Some of my favorite supplies are paper towel / toilet paper rolls, plastic bottles, egg cartons, and cardboard boxes. Out of these I've made binoculars, swords, discovery bottles, and a rocket ship with a full control panel.

Today we decided to decorate for Halloween by making spiders / one-eyed-monsters made of egg cartons, pipe cleaners, and googly eyes. It's not the most original idea, but it was quick, easy, and cost nothing extra I didn't already have in art supplies. Check out our video for more details.

I was feeling so inspired on the eco craft front that I made bird feeders with the boys as well. You can find all kinds of ideas here. In the past we've just covered pinecones in peanut butter and bird seed, but today we tried something different.

I had two thicker, more durable dowels from aluminum foil packages; in theory, they should last longer in the rain. I also chose to use up some Soy Butter that did not go over well in our family. (I was looking for a peanut-free alternative for school but this was aweful. I do recommend the fresh almond butter at Ingles).

For ease of clean-up, I recommend using wax paper and plastic knives. Tips: The seed will roll on more easily if there isn't much sticky material on the paper. You can also use honey or peanut butter but you should probably stick to something you don't mind the kids tasting.

Since I had bird seed from years past and some twine in the garage, this project also cost us $0. Check out all the fun in our video.

Treasure Chest Cake

I can't believe I forgot to post a picture of the fabulous treasure chest cake. Thank you, Bert Slattery, for your creativity.

Birthday Party for Next to Nothing: A Real Treasure

My son Devin just turned three and wanted a treasure hunt for his birthday party. I was thrilled with all the creative possibilities and went immediately to work to make this a memorable occasion. Along the way, I realized this could be a low cost option as well.

Venue: The main way I saved money was simply by having it at home. Most venues for birthday parties are $150 and up. Parks are also a good alternative as long as there is a structure in case of rain.

Invitations and Thank You’s: I found a great website to send electronic invitations and thank you’s after the party: www.smilebox.com. They had a cute animated treasure invitation and I added a short video of Devin in his pirate hat at the end. It was original, it involved no paper waste, and the basic design was FREE.

Decorating Supplies: Another money saving tip is to keep the guest list at 8 or 16. Since most party supplies come in packs of 8, this prevents waste and extra spending. If you can get your child to decide on a theme months in advance, you can take your time scouring stores for deals. I wasn’t so lucky but I did find the plates, cups, and napkins on sale. I also found a pack of balloons and streamers at a dollar store for a buck each. Get the big balloons that are easier to blow up and at least two packs of streamers.

No Cost Craft: I searched online for pirate themed crafts and games and found lots of good ideas: www.coolest-kid-birthday-parties.com. For the craft, the kids painted pirate swords I made out of two paper towel rolls and a toilet paper roll. I had been saving rolls for some time. I like crafts that teach the importance of reusing and then recycling.

No Cost Games: We did three games: musical islands, pin the X on the map, and a treasure hunt. Musical islands was like musical chairs but they had to step on a piece of construction paper. When a child got out of the game, he got to “walk the plank” along our couch and then jump into a pile of pillows. My husband made a treasure map on a poster board; curling the edges was a nice touch. Each child had an X made of recycled cardboard and got to place it on the map blindfolded. I had to make two versions of a treasure hunt since last minute showers confined us indoors. I made rhyming clues that sent them all over the house and printed them in Lucida Blackletter font on resume paper to look more authentic. I put the final treasure in two treasure boxes my boys had previously decorated. The contents were divided up for their goody bags.

Goody Bags: It can be tempting to buy everything related to your theme, but ask yourself what the kids will really enjoy in their goody bags two days from now. I chose cute cardboard treasure boxes instead of bags and filled them with the treasure hunt contents: gold and silver beads, gold coins, pirate stickers, and Hershey nugget chocolates. They also got a pirate hat and an eye patch (which made for adorable pictures).

Themed Snack: Before we filled the kids with sugar, I gave them a snack. Since none of the kids had peanut allergies, they each got pretzyl sticks, a spoonful of peanut butter, and goldfish so that they could “go fishing.”

Treasure Box Cake: I’m fortunate to have a very creative mother-in-law who makes custom cakes. For our treasure chest, she cooked one box of cake mix in a Wilton loaf pan. She froze it to make it easier to cut, shaved the top off, and tilted it up like an open chest. She supported it with three bamboo skewers and two chocolate coins. Once frosted, she put a necklace of smarties and a handful of chocolate gold coins inside. It was the perfect size cake for 16 guests. If you’re feeling creative, check out lots of great ideas at: www.coolest-birthday-cakes.com.

For School Friends: If you’re having trouble trimming the guest list, consider taking cupcakes or cookies to their school separately. We took pretzyl rods, dipped them in melted chocolate and rolled them in sprinkles. It was a nice alternative at snack time.

I’m proud that this didn’t feel like a cheap party, but we only spent about $35. A little creativity goes a long way!