Review: Wreck-it-Ralph

If you're looking for a wonderful film the entire family can enjoy, Wreck-it-Ralph is the movie  for you.

I was so pleased after seeing Wreck-it-Ralph, I applauded. It was tha good. Especially in the wake of that horrible non-family friendly Brave, which Disney put out earlier this year.

If you recall my Brave review, I was terribly disappointed in the film due to it's lack of family friendliness. It billed itself as a family film, then scared the pants off of kids and promised them it was OK to poison their mothers, so long as they felt bad about it later. Well, Wreck-it-Ralph is no such mess.

This is a film that knows who it is and what it wants to be from scene one and does it well.  Ralph is the villain in a video game, and all he wants is to be loved and included. Yet, when the game players go home and all the other characters play and celebrate with each other, they don't include Ralph. In fact, Ralph lives in a garbage pile.

Wanting to feel part of the group, Ralph attends a party being hosted by the game's hero, Fix-it-Felix. There, the townspeople are mean to Ralph, and say he can't be included because he hasn't won a medal.
Certain he can win one,  Ralph heads to another game, Hero's Duty, to win this medal.

Ralph accomplishes his goal, but accidentally launches himself and a giant insect from Hero's Duty into the racing game, Sugar Rush. There, Ralph meets Vanellope von Schweetz, an outsider in her game as well.
Vanellope has a glitch that causes her to blink out occasionally and the mayor of Sugar Rush won't let her race.

Ralph and Vanellope bond. As the movie goes on, the two form a great friendship, and he helps them both prove that outsiders can fit in. A subplot brings Fix-it-Felix and a character from Hero's Duty into
Sugar Rush to help find Ralph and the rogue insect.

It's a great film and pretty family friendly. It's charming, funny, spirit-lifting and just plain good. The only areas of potential concern for parents of small children are the insects from Hero's duty, which is a pretty intense game that involves blasting the insects (as always, I encourage you to visit www.kids-in-mind.com and check out their listing of every incidence of violence, bad language, etc in films. It's a great way to determine if a film is right for  your children)

That's it for today.

-Hyattsville Mom

Weekend Fun

There's lots to do in the area, this weekend.

First and foremost, we fall back this weekend, so don't forget to wind your clocks back an hour. Instead of being 8 am when you awaken Sunday, it will be 7 am.

If you have active children, there are a couple of great FREE events for you. First up is a lacrosse clinic for children ages 7-15. It's at the Tucker Road Athletic Complex, 1770 Tucker Rd. in Ft. Washington. At the clinic, which runs from 1-3 pm, will go over the basics of lacrosse, including stick handling, passing and shooting.  Pre-registration is recommended. Call 301-446-6800 or go online to https://smartlink.pgparks.com/POSweb/POSItemDetails.aspx?POSItemKey=12775. From 6-7 pm, the Sports & Learning Complex is hosting a free gymnastics workshop. This is a self-guided workshop, for children who are walking up to 12 years old. Parents must supervise children. For more information, contact the Sports & Learning Complex, 8001 Sheriff Road in Landover, 301-583-2400.

Are your children budding artists? Well, on Sunday, check out Art a la Carte at the American Art Museum. Kids can do hands-on art projects for FREE. More information is online here. Also, if you're into model rockets, there will be a launch at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt.

As always, have a safe weekend. All items mentioned here can be found on our calendar page.

-Hyattsville Mom
(p.s. I apologize. I'm Google is having a problem that's preventing me from posting images).

Happy Halloween!

Pep-o-lantern

It's All Hallow's Eve and I've been busy carving a pepper!

We were traveling over the weekend--to New Hampshire and back in a day due to Sandy. Then, we were housebound due to Sandy. So, the pumpkin thing didn't so much happen. But when my daughter pointed out that my red pepper looked like a pumpkin, I decided to carve a face into it.

Unfortunately, the neighbors won't be seeing it pep-o-lantern because he (or she--it's hard to tell with peppers) was eaten during lunch. However, I post this picture as a remembrance of the beautiful pep-o-lantern she (or he) was.

Do be safe trick or treating tonight. The biggest threat to children on Halloween is getting hit by cars, so wear reflective clothing and stay away from traffic.

I'll be updating the calendar this week, so stay tuned.

-Hyattsville Mom

Gee, I'm really old!

My kids and I watched the Frankenweenie trailer the other day. It's a new Tim Burton film coming out next month.

Upon completing the trailer, my son, who is eight, tells me: "I don't want to see that. It's in black-and-white. It was probably made in the '70s"

Wow! He knows I was born in the '70s, so I guess he assumes that was a long, long, long time ago (perhaps even a galaxy far, far away). But, really, black-and-white movies? Gone with the Wind and the Wizard of Oz were made in 1939 and they had color!

Maybe, it's a sign I ought to teach him about the history of film. Starting with when that lovely innovation of color appeared (not the '70s!).

As a side note, I forgot to add to yesterday's post this cool event in DC at the National Building Museum. It's free and for kids ages 4-12. They get to build and create. Details are here: http://www.nbm.org/families-kids/festivals/big-build.html.

Fun Fall Activities!

Photo by Jean-Pol GRANDMONT

Happy Thursday, folks. I haven't posted in a while, but I do update my Twitter and Facebook feeds on a regular basis, so be sure to follow, as I'll post any deals/discounts I hear about, as well as interesting research (like BPAs link with obesity).


In anticipation of the weekend, I'm posting a few events that you might enjoy this weekend or in the near future.


Hyattsville Arts Festival
Sept. 22, 11 am - 5 pm. Check out what the Hyattsville arts district has to offer with exciting displays and live demonstrations. More information is available at the website
http://hyattsvillecdc.org/hyattsvilleartsfestival/.

Fall Pretty Cupcake event
Pretty Girl Cupcakery will have its "Fall Pretty" promotion on from 10am - 6pm. During the event, Pretty Girl Cupcakery will reveal new fall flavors like Maple, Apple Cinnamon, Sweet Potato, Pumpkin Spice, and S'mores! They will be available in mini sizes (many at only 99 cents) so that you can enjoy more!  For more information about the "Fall Pretty" promotion, contact Pretty Girl Cupcakery at 301-699-2010
or visit http://www.yelp.com/events/hyattsville-fall-pretty-at-the-pretty-girl-cupcakery-hyattsville-arts-festival.

National Book Festival
Sept. 22-23
During this two day celebration on the National Mall, brings famous authors into town for book signings and readings. For more details and a complete schedule, visit: http://www.loc.gov/bookfest/

Free Museum Day
Sept. 29. Get free admission to a host of museums around the nation. While we're used to museums being free in this area, several museums with admission costs are waiving them for free museum day. You need to reserve tickets in advance, though. To find out which area museums are participating and reserve tickets, go to http://www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday. 

Ghost Stories
Oct. 20, 11 am. Ghost Stories with Judy Cook is a performance that includes ghost stories, poetry, pictures and songs performed by Cook. It is $5 at the Montpelier Arts Center., 9652 Muirkirk Rd. in Laurel. For more information, call 301-377-7800

Flea Market
Oct. 21, 7 am- Until at the  Bladensburg Spa Church, 4105 54th St. in Bladensburg. Come hunt for shoes, toys and clothes. For more information, contact Shenue Ross, 240-595-9151 or Marilyn Thorpe,
301-617-0882.

Spooktacular Pumpkin Carving Workshop
Oct. 27, 11 am - 2 pm. At this FREE drop-in event, kids of all ages can come in and carve a pumpkin. Tools and pumpkins will be provided. It takes place at the Brentwood Arts Exchange, 3901 Rhode Island Ave. For more information, call the exchange, 301-277-2863.

Holiday Cookbook
Nov. 17, 10:30 am - 1:30 pm. At this FREE drop-in event, you can take your favorite family recipes and turn them into a beautiful cookbook. You bring the recipes and the Brentwood Arts Exchange will provide the rest. The Brentwood Arts Exchange is located at 3901 Rhode Island Ave. For more information, call the exchange, 301-277-2863.

Simple Solutions

One of the things I think it's important to teach kids is to solve their own problems and go for simple solutions. 

Take this conversation I had with my daughter the other day, just 5 minutes before we were supposed to leave for school:

Her: Mom, I can't find any pants I like to wear.

Me: Wear pants you don't like. We have to go to school!

Two good things come from this conversation. One, I've shown her a simple solution. And two, given the face she made when I gave her the answer, I'm guessing she won't be coming to me for pants solutions in the future. She'll learn to become her own problem solver, because I'm sure she'll come up with a more satisfying solution herself (even it's the same solution as mine; it's always more satisfying when you'r responsible for the idea).

That's it for today. Take care.

Research Wednesday: Gratitude Makes for Happier Kids!

I recently came across some research from California State University that made me think about ways to make my kids more grateful.

The fascinating 4-year study found that teens who were grateful were less likely to be depressed or delinquent. The study started when the kids were 10 and went through age 14.  Kids didn't have to start off grateful. They just had to become grateful over the course of the
study to recognize benefits.

“They experienced many of the same improvements in well-being. Moreover, they showed slight reductions overall in delinquency, such as alcohol and drug use, cheating on exams, skipping school, detention and administrative discipline,” said Giacomo Bono, a CSU psychology professor and lead author of the study. “For instance, the top 10 percent of those who developed the most gratitude showed 9 percent less delinquency than the bottom 10 percent in gratitude growth.”

The study found that children who were grateful were15 percent more satisfied with their life overall (at home, at school, with their neighborhood, with their friends and with themselves); and 17 percent more happy and more hopeful about their lives.

To me, this is great news. I just have to figure out how to instill gratefulness in my children, because that is the one area where I feel they struggle. They seem to just expect things to happen and not be that happy for them. I'd like them to be more grateful. I hope it starts with setting a more grateful example, which I am definitely going to strive to do.

The study author, Bono, added: "These findings suggest that gratitude may be strongly linked with life-skills such as cooperation, purpose, creativity and persistence and, as such, gratitude is vital resource that parents, teachers and others who work with young people should help youth build up as they grow up. More gratitude may be precisely what our society needs to raise a generation that is ready to make a difference in the world.”

I totally agree.  More details of the study are online here:
http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2012/08/health-benefits.aspx

Anyone out there got tips for raising grateful kids?

Book Tuesday: Foxy & Egg

My daughter found this little gem at the library a couple of weeks ago.

It's a darling picture book that helps kids learn that we can't always assume things.

The book follows "conniving" Foxy (a fox), who finds a spotted egg on her doorstep. Foxy invites Egg in for a bite to eat and plots to fatten Egg up and eat him for breakfast. Egg is polite and seemingly clueless, as he eats Foxy's food, does some exercise to get in shape and even agrees to stay the night and join Foxy for breakfast.

Foxy dreams of eating the egg, debating whether to boil,  fry or poach it. When she awakens, Foxy checks on Egg and finds he's grown enormous overnight. All that fattening up, apparently worked, Foxy deduces eggcitedly. Just then, the egg cracks open and reveals -- an alligator! Yes, boys and girls, alligators lay eggs, too. And Mr. Gator has some plans for breakfast, Foxy plans, if you get my drift.

It's a really fun book because of it's surprising ending. And it gives you an opportunity to talk with your kids about all the different types of animals that lay eggs: chickens, ducks, platypuses, alligators, spiders. I would definitely recommend. It's written and illustrated by Alex T. Smith.

That's it for today.

-Hyattsville Mom

Happy Labor Day!

Enjoy this day that celebrates labor by resting!

Mini-Golf, Festivals highlight Labor Day Weekend Fun!

A Mini Golf hole at the Building Museum

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

There's lots of fun stuff on tap for this weekend.

First up is the Greenbelt Labor Day Festival. Go on carnival rides, eat wonderful carnival food like funnel cakes, and watch local talent at this annual festival. If you hurry, you can still get a half-priced voucher for the all-you-can-ride wrist ban. The vouchers are sold through noon today. The festival admission is FREE.

This weekend is the last chance to catch a couple of Building Museum Exhibits.  Both the Indoor Mini-Golf and Lego Architecture exhibits are at the museum only through Labor Day.  Each exhibit has an entrance fee.

There will be a FREE TASTING of West African food at Chima Restaurant Monday at 11 am. The tasting is just down the road from the Labor Day festival, at 10631 Greenbelt Rd.

Also, the Maryland Renaissance Festival is Going on this weekend. This annual event features folks dressed up in costumes from long ago. See jousting, taste authentic Renaissance Food and enjoy plays. The festival is in Annapolis and will be going on weekends through October.

That's it for me.  Have a good one.

-Hyattsville Mom

Avoidance Parenting

Run for the hills! It's a tough question.

I know we as parents our kids expect us to know things. And generally, society expects us  to raise them without messing them up too badly (everyone needs a little therapy, right?).

And I try, but I must admit, I am in the total avoidance parenting mode. Avoid at all costs the things I have no interest  in explaining to a 5 and an 8 year old. The most recent example, we were listening to the radio and along came an ad for a play at a local theater. I hear the announcer say, THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS, so, of course, I immediately turn the station and hope nobody heard it. I really have no interest in explaining to my children what a whorehouse is. Because of course, that's the question they'll ask if they hear
it.

My husband also suffers from this. Last year, there was a widely publicized case of a transvestite being attacked in a restaurant. We were listening to a news station that mentioned it, and my son, probably 6 at the time, asks, "what's a transvestite."  My husband doesn't miss a beat. He says, "I don't know." So, my son, of course asks me. And if Daddy doesn't want to deal with it, I sure don't. So, I say, "I don't know." My husband then goes. "They have a lot of new fangled words that pop up. I'm sure we'll look it up at some point." 

Parenting by avoidance. And he didn't ask again. While I know we could've sat down and figured out age appropriate ways to answer these questions, I didn't want to. I have enough on my plate without dealing with things little kids really don't need to know about. All I can say, is I'm glad I was not a parent during the Monica Lewinsky scandal. Oral Sex, the blue dress. It would've been hard to get by with avoidance parenting then.

And even still, you can't always do it. We were listening to WTOP in the car, and they did a story about a man who stapled another man's mouth shut, and my daughter goes, "Mommy, I don't want my mouth stapled shut." Well, neither do I.  So, that one we had to discuss. I probably ought to invest in a Barney CD or something, huh?

Sadly, I know it will have to end sometime. We can't let kids face middle school and teen years and all the choices they'll have to make uninformed about things. But, for right now, I must say, I enjoy turning the station and getting  lucky so I don't have to explain what
a whore house is?

So, any topics you're avoiding with the young'uns?

-Hyattsville Mom

Half-Price Ride vouchers & Free Museums

A Smithsonian Museum

Happy Hump Day!  I hope you don't have those middle-of-the-week blues. The weekend is just a couple of days away, and you need to be prepared! 

My kids have been back in school for a week and a half now, but it still doesn't feel like we've built a routine. We've had all sorts of little things pop up that are not going to be on our schedule for the rest of the semester. 

So, in the spirit of helping you prepare for the weekend. Just a reminder that the Greenbelt Labor Day Festival is coming up this weekend. If you--or your children--want to do the carnival rides for half price, be sure to stop by the Greenbelt Coop to pick up a $12 voucher for an all-you-can-ride wrist ban valid on Saturday or Sunday. Vouchers are on sale until Noon Friday. Don't wait, because wrist bans cost $25 once the festival starts. The Coop is located at 121 Center Way Dr. in Greenbelt.

Also, you can get free tickets to local museums on Sept. 29 through Museum Day!, a program of the Smithsonian.  To sign up for free tickets, go to the website: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/.  Tickets need to be ordered in advance. Participating museums include favorites like the Newseum, National Building Museum and Chesapeake Children's Museum. A complete list is on the website. You get 2 tickets per e-mail address, so families will need a few house members to pitch in and get enough tickets.

That's it for me, today.

-Hyattsville Mom

Movie Review: Thunderstruck

If you're a Kevin Durant fan, Thunderstruck is the movie for you!

If not, then you may want to wait 'til this one hits DVD.

Thunderstruck is, essentially, a big ad for Kevin Durant, the star forward of the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder basketball team.

In the film, KD (as he is also known) plays his wonderful, great basketball playing self. Taylor Gray stars as Brian Newall, the klutzy kid, who despite hours of practice can never shoot a basketball in the hoop. KD and Brian meet when Brian gets picked for the half-time show's half-court ball toss. Make a basket from half court and you win $20K. Brian, of course, flubs it big time, but KD signs his ball and Brian walks away with the star's powers.

Well, KD hits a slump and Brian becomes the star of his team.  Even though KD practices relentlessly, he is unable to improve his game. Brian, doing nothing, plays wonderfully, and is so popular as the star of the team that he forgets about his best friend and alienates his girlfriend. 

KD's agent, Alan, figures out what happened, and tries to get the powers switched back. But, will they figure it out in time for KD to help his team make the playoffs? Well, I'm sure you've seen enough of these type of movies to figure out the answer. 

The film is fairly likable for what it is. KD comes off as a nice guy, though a bit stiff acting. This is fine because he's playing himself and we know his talent lies at the hoop, not as an actor. The film is only 98 minutes, but at times--in the middle, when Brian is becoming a superstar--like it's dragging.

For parents out there who see messages in every movie, there is one that you might not like in this one. It's the message that irked my husband a lot:  hard work is meaningless. Neither KD nor Brian improved their game with hard work. Both were utter failures when trying to improve Brian's game with hard work. And that just doesn't seem fair.

Thunderstruck hits theaters today.

 Next week, I'll have a Friday roundup and updated calendar. It's been a hectic week with the start of school.

Have a great weekend!

-Hyattsville Mom

Book Tuesday: Library Lion

Bonjour! Hope your first week of school is getting off to a good start. Ours is going well so far, which is good. We were worried there would be a bit of anxiety over the new teachers, but so far, kids are adjusting well. Fingers crossed for more.

As to the book, I thought I'd mention one of our favorite children's books, Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen.

This is is a wonderful book that tells the story of a lion who loves to come to the library. But, when he roars, he scares the customers, so the head librarian tells the lion that he must not roar or he will have to leave the library. The lion, who loves the library storytimes and padding around, then becomes a quiet, helpful lion. However, when disaster strikes, the lion has to make a choice about how to help.

It's a very sweet book, with wonderfully endearing illustrations by Kevin Hawkes. If you haven't seen this book before, check it out. It really is lovely.


-Hyattsville Mom

Winning Monday!

To pull a page out of Charlie Sheen's book, today is all about WINNING!

Yes, we're having a winning day, all around. First up, I want to thank all the entrants for our first competition. The winner of the free personalized book is Jenna Bishop. Yay! Again, thanks to everyone who entered.

Next up on our winning Monday is free food. Who doesn't love free food? I know I do. There's a new Roti opening in College Park (8150 Baltimore Ave.) on Wednesday. And as a preview, they are offering food to folks on Tuesday. You have to pick a time and sign up in advance. All the details are here: http://events.roti.com/collegeparkevent/default.asp.

That's it for today. I have to get my kids back to school. Another WINNING prospect.

-Hyattsville Mom

Review: The Odd Life of Timothy Green

The Odd Life of Timothy Green opens in theaters today and offers as it's premise the tearjerker tale of a childless couple whose box of wishes buried in the garden grow into a real life boy. It tries to be heartfelt and touching and a triumph in belief that the little guy can change things, but unfortunately falls short of the mark.

The movie feels like a modern day Pinochio retold by Jodi Piccoult. While Picoult had nothing to do with the film (it is the brainchild of Ahmet Zappa [yes, that Zappa! Son of musician Frank Zappa]).

The movie cast is helmed by Jennifer Garner and Joel Edgerton, who play Jim and Cindy Green. The couple learns from their doctor they will never be able to conceive a child. To put the notion of a blood-related child to rest, they write down all the wonderful things they envision for their child, put them in a box and bury it in the garden. Later that evening, after a mysterious storm, Timothy shows up calling Jim and Cindy Mom and Dad.

This movie has heartwarming and funny elements. Timothy's honesty--drawing a picture of his Mom's boss, including her mustache. Timothy encouraging his parents to create a pen out of leaves, and the two working together to capture their dream of creation. 

While the film has some wonderful moments, these parts don't combine to make it a great film. For some reason, they just don't gel in the end. Part of that reason may be Garner, who I typically adore as an actress (I was a huge Alias fan, and have generally liked her movies). But, in this film, she seems stiff and nonmaternal, which is not exactly what you'd expect of someone who desperately wanted a child, and now being given one, seems a little too shocked to embrace it. And while shock may be the true nature of what a person who suddenly gets a child from the garden would feel, it wears thin if that's all you get in a film.

Overall, the movie is fine to see if you're in need of something to do (definitely matinee and bargain pricing only, though).  If you're thinking of this as a flick to take the whole family to, it's probably not for those under 8. It's a little long, and tends to meander from scene to scene, without a lot of excitement. So, not a real attention holder for the young kids.

That's it for today. And don't forget our contest. There is still time to enter.

-Hyattsville Mom

Win a Free Personalized Children's Book

Image courtesy of First Time Books!

It's contest time.  I do hope you like contests! :)

Open all this week, our contest is for a free personalized Zoo Adventure children's book from First Time Books.  

What is a personalized book? Well, basically, you get to insert whatever name you want as a character in the book. This is great for kids because they love it when the book is about them (wait, I love that, too. Maybe I'm a kid at heart; or just really immature).

The book our winner will receive details the journey of two young'uns at the zoo. You can personalize the name of both children in the book, and watch as they visit dolphins, zebras, lions and more. To see the Zoo Adventures book, go to http://www.firsttimebooks.com/ftbooks/UserContentStart.aspx?category=25.

Now, how do you win this fabulous prize for your kids, your niece, nephew, or even you (if you want a book about your own adventures)? It's very simple. Two steps. That's it!

1.  Like our Facebook Page
2.  Email me (hyattsvillemom@gmail.com) your name and e-mail address, with ZOO ADVENTURES in the subject line.

That's it. Do I know how to make it simple or what? Yeah, that's me, the simpleton! (OK, maybe not exactly the best way to express the simpleness of it all, but you get my drift.)

If you want a bonus entry, follow me on Twitter @hyattsvillemom, too.  A bonus entry simply means I'll stick your name in the kitty twice, doubling your chances (OK, wait, the math part of my brain is telling me that won't double your chances), increasing your odds of winning.  One thing: if your twitter handle is something that does not relate to your name (like @coolgirl), indicate what your handle is when you send the prize entry e-mail, so I can be sure to properly credit you.

The contest ends Sunday, Aug. 19 at 11:59 pm. I will randomly select a winner Monday morning.

That's it for today. Have a good one. And Good luck!

-Hyattsville Mom

Fair, Free Music, Step Afrika Highlight Weekend Activities!

Happy Weekend!

Looking for fun things to do this weekend? Lots up, I tell you.

First, I'll start with a couple of things that require venturing out of county, in the event you're up for a little driving or subwaying (spell check is telling me subwaying is not a word; well it should be!). First up, the Arlington County Fair is in town. It started yesterday and runs through Sunday Aug. 12. My favorite thing about the Arlington County fair, and the reason I always mention it is it's FREE. So, you can walk around, see the sites, buy an elephant ear (my favorite; I'm a midwestern girl and we're elephant ear people) or a funnel cake, or check out the free entertainment. They have piglet racing (always fun to watch), basketball trick performances by the Harlem Wizards and outdoor movies (the Muppets on Friday; and Hunger Games on Saturday). A kids court features free inflatables to bounce in and free face painting. There's also an indoor exhibit hall, where companies give out fun trinkets (my kids got some cool games with magnetic balls one year). So, it's worth venturing out of county, if you ask me. Unfortunately, the rides are very expensive, and they never seem to offer bracelet discounts (I guess you can't have everything). More information on the fair is at the website: http://arlingtoncountyfair.us/

.

Next up, if you like Live Music and food truck vendors, you'll love Truckeroo. This fun event takes place in DC on Friday, Aug. 10. For more information, visit their site: http://www.truckeroodc.com. On Sunday, the National Building Museum is starting it's Sunday concert series at 2 pm in the Great Hall. This is a FREE event and will feature Step Afrika!, the nation's leading step troupe. Learn more on their website: http://www.nbm.org/programs-lectures/series/summer-concerts.html. 

Now, if you want to stay closer to home this weekend, there's always FREE  music Friday night at the Montpelier Mansion. The music starts at 7:30 pm and will feature Caribbean, Reggae, Calypso and Soca music. If you love train and carousel rides, check out Fantastic Fridays at Watkins Park, where you can get unlimited rides from 5:30 to 8:30 for just $5 per person.

On Saturday, there is FREE swim for 6-12 year olds at PG County Parks pools, after 4 pm. Call your closest pool for their closing times. On Saturday morning, there's a baseball clinic sponsored by the Washington Nationals in Bowie from 9 am to noon at the Baysox stadium. You can call  301-446-6800 for more information. At 10:30, is a FREE nature program at the Patuxent Wildlife Refuge in Laurel. It's for 5-7 year olds.

On Sunday, you can learn archery from the Parks & Recs department. Lessons are held at the Adelphi Manor archery range, and only cost $5 for county residents. If you want more to do or more information on the events listed in this post, please check out our calendar.

Hope you have a great weekend.

-Hyattsville Mom

p.s. I'll be back on Monday with a contest.

A Free View of Imagination Stage

A glimpse at P.Nokio will be part of ImgagiFest.

On Sept. 8, Imagination Stage in Bethesda, is hosting ImagiFest, an opportunity to take sample classes and see previews of shows that will be playing on the stage this fall.


“We are delighted to be opening our doors again to the community and look forward to meeting many new families who we hope will become a part of the creative hub of Imagination Stage,” said Bonnie Fogel, executive director and founder of the stage.

During ImagiFest, families will be able to take the Seuss on the Loose tour. This interactive tour is described by the theater as, "the Cat in the Hat has run amuck through the shows in Imagination Stage’s season and has tricked all of the characters into thinking they are in a popular Dr. Seuss tale instead of their own story. Families must travel through various settings (including Japan, a giant peach, and a pirate ship) and use their performers’ tools (bodies, voices, minds, and most importantly, imaginations) to save the stories." This program is aimed at families with children's ages 4-10.

There will be several sample classes available, including: You & Me (ages 12-36 months); My Friends & Me (Ages 3-5); Hip-Hop (classes for 3 different age ranges: grades K-1, grades 2-3, grades 4-5); Sing Disney! (grades K-1); FUNdamentals of Acting (Grades 4-5); Song Circle (Ages 0-5); Create a Story  (Grades K-1); and Improvisation (Grades 4-5). A full list of classes and the times they're offered is available online.

There will also be previews of two performances. In the Mouse on the Move preview, two mice try to reach the moon, which they are certain is a big ball of cheese. The P.Nokio: A Hip-Hop Musical  preview will give people a glimpse at this modern adaptation of Pinocchio.

The free event runs from 9 am to 3:30, but requires advance registration.  Classes are filling up quickly, so to register, visit http://communityimaginationstage.org/imagifest. 

That's it for today.

-Hyattsville Mom

p.s. Don't forget, you can get your kid a free haircut at JC Penney Salons all through August. I posted this link on Twitter and Facebook yesterday: http://www.jcpenney.com/dotcom/jsp/browse/category.jsp?id=cat100300164

Book Monday/Tuesday: Meet & Greet Children's Book Authors!

The weekend's over, and I am still recovering. Wow, what exciting things did we do this weekend? Well, not a whole lot to be truthful. We took the kids swimming, watched some Olympics, hung out. Yet, I totally feel exhausted. Probably the impending start of school and all the things we have to do before it starts is probably setting in.

That said, I'm going to be posting every other day this week: Monday/Wednesday/Friday.  So, Book Tuesday has become book Monday/Tuesday. And this is good this week, because for books, I just thought I'd broadcast a cool children's event going on at the library. People can get out and meet the authors of the Deadtime Stories series of books.

Deadtime Stories are semi-scary books written for kids 8 and up. Titles in the series include:  Grave Secrets (January 2012), The Witching Game (March 2012), Beast of Baskerville (May 2012), Invasion of the Appleheads (July 2012), The Magic Shop of Horrors (August 2012), and Grandpa's Monster Movies (October 2012).

The authors, Annette and Gina Cascone, will meet and greet at three library branches this week:

• Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2 pm, New Carrollton, 7414 Riverdale Road in New Carrollton, 301-459-6900.
• Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2 pm, Acokeek, 15773 Livingston Road  in Accokeek, 301-292-2880.
• Thursday, Aug. 9, 2 pm, Bowie, 15210 Annapolis Road in Bowie, 301-262-7000.

Spooky stories aside, I might just take my kids to show them that two siblings can get along so well that they even write a book together!  And travel around promoting it! Oh, if only I could get such concord!   (OK, a little explanation overuse. But, seriously, I would jump for joy if I could get sibling harmony 60 percent of the time.)

That's it for today. Hope you all have an exciting week.

-Hyattsville Mom

Movie Review: Diary of a Wimpy Kid-Dog Days

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days is exactly what you would expect, and for this, I say, it's worth taking your family to see.

The movie, based on the Jeff Kinney book series, follows Greg Heffley on his summer vacation. Greg and his best friend, Rowley, spend much of the summer at Rowley's country club. Greg comes as his guest, and enjoys the smoothies and an opportunity to schmooze with Holly Hills, his dream girl.

Greg's older brother, Rodrick, also comes o the country club a couple times, as Rodrick is smitten with Holly's older sister, Heather Hills (since we know Kinney is from this area, we have to wonder if Heather got her name from the Bowie-based school or it's just coincidence).

Greg's attempts to impress Holly are a miss, while Rodrick's attempts to impress Heather are  an absolute disaster. In one of the movie's funnier scenes, Rodrick tries to get Heather, who is a lifeguard, to notice him by pretending to drown. Heather, who apparently has better things to do, doesn't notice, and a large, hairy, male bystander takes things into his own hands, even offering Rodrick mouth-to-mouth.

The movie takes side trips, with Rowley and Greg heading to the boardwalk together, and inane misunderstandings ensuing. Greg's father, Frank, takes Rowley and friends Chirag and Fregley on a Wilderness Adventures (think Boy scouts, but no trademark issues involved) trip, where more wild, implausible, and even funny things happen.

The actors are likeable and the friendship between Rowley and Greg, like in the past, is the heart of this film. Even though I'm not a huge fan of the books, I really did find the movie enjoyable. I only have one word of warning. During the Wilderness Adventures trip, Fregley tells a scary story about a muddy hand that comes to life and apparently goes on a killing spree. The story is punctuated in a very jump-out-of-your-seat way that could be scary for little kids. Everyone in the theater around me jumped during this scene. So, FYI.

That's it for today. Hope you have a great weekend.

-Hyattsville Mom

Weekend Roundup, Early!

We're doing the weekend roundup a little bit early this week. Tomorrow, I'll be doing my review of Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days.

So, lucky us, because it's a day early, we get to add an extra event. First up is Mambo Combo, a free concert at Watkins Park, 301 Watkins Park Dr. in Upper Marlboro, tonight at 7. If you like some good music, bring a blanket or chairs and head on over.

This weekend is full of fun stuff for the kids. Dinosaur Park, the 41-acre fossil park in Laurel is open for visitors this weekend, with lots of activities (Noon-4 pm Saturday). Also, if you don't mind driving, the Temple Hills Community Center is having a free circus, from Noon - 2 pm (jugglers, acrobats & more). Your older kids can tie-dye t-shirts at the New Carrollton library on Saturday.

Sunday is rife with adventure. For just $5, you can join park rangers on a kayak tour of Berwyn Heights'  Lake Artemesia. Want adventure without  spending any money? Head over to Greenbelt for a free puppet workshop at 1 pm! Stick around for a gymnastics performance at 3 pm. The details on all these events are on the calendar page.

And of course, you could go to the movies over the weekend. Tomorrow, you'll get my thoughts on whether you should add the Wimpy Kid to your weekend lineup.

-Hyattsville Mom

What the Heck is Instagram?

I could've Instagrammed this photo of ducks I took.

Lately on Facebook, I've been seeing these posts that say, "FACEBOOKFRIENDNAME took a photo with Instagram." So, I've been trying to figure out what the heck Instagram is and why people are using it, instead of just uploading their mobile pic like normal.


Well, I thought I'd try the most obvious route to answer this question--check out Instagram's website. Only it was more baffling than these cryptic posts. In the FAQ, What is Instagram, the site says: "Instagram is a fun and quirky way to share your life with friends through a series of pictures. Snap a photo with your mobile phone, then choose a filter to transform the image into a memory to keep around forever."  Umm, yeah, that explains it all. Not.


So, I asked my FB friends and learned it's a new social network. Except it just uses pictures. So, you get to have your Instagram friends and see their Instagram pictures. And Instagram also lets you share those photos on other networks, like Twitter or Facebook (hence all the posts I've been seeing recently).


Now that I know what it is, I'm probably going to pass. Friends say there are great photo editing tools on the site, and it's more cozy than Facebook (as there are fewer friends). But, I just don't think I can swing another social network. I'd have to make friends again. I'd have to answer demands from the software to comb my inbox for possible friends. And most importantly, I'd have another thing to distract me from getting things done during the day. It's hard enough living, blogging, tweeting and Facebooking. I can't add Pinning (Pinterest) and Instagramming, too.


So, what say you? Are you using Instagram? Is it so cool it's worth adding another social network to the cue?


That's it for today. 


Hyattsville Mom


p.s. Breastfeeding awareness week starts today and runs through Aug. 7.  More information is online: http://worldbreastfeedingweek.org/. 

Book Tuesday: A+ Workbooks

Well, bonjour and happy Tuesday to you!

Very quick post today. Both the kids are out of camp, and it's hectic trying to post. Just three more weeks until public schools start again. Summer went by so quickly. I can't believe it's almost time to go back.

Along those lines,  for Book Tuesday today, I thought I'd talk about the books, er workbooks, we've been using lately. I guess you could say I've been a bad parent over the summer, contributing to the hated "summer loss" teachers talk about. We've done nothing school related.

So, at Target recently, I saw these A+ workbooks. And they're great for kids to get them back in the school mindset. I bill them to my kids as "activity books" because they usually have at least one or two fun activities in them, and they are great for recapping math and reading principles kids learned in school. The books are $1 apiece at Target (though if you wait, there's usually a regular $1 bin purge that will put them at half price for even better, 75 percent off).

I got addition and subtraction for my daughter and multiplication and division for my son. They also have interesting books on astronauts, presidents and other interesting topics. We've been doing half-a-dozen pages each day, and so long as I call them "activity books" the kids do them with good cheer.  So, if you're looking for something fun and educational for your kids to do, check these out.

That's it for today.

-Hyattsville Mom

Free Camp for Low-Income Middle School Kids

Innoworks Science Camp still has some slots available for middle school students who receive free or reduced-priced lunches.

At the free camp, students will learn about science, technology, engineering and mathematics through science experiments.  The camp is at the University of Maryland College Park Aug. 13-17. It runs from  9 am to 4:30 pm.

For more information on the camp, or to apply, visit http://www.innoworks.org/newinno/studentapplication.php.  Applicants are encourage to apply as soon as possible.

Weekend: Sharks, Cooking & Flying Phenoms

Photo courtesy of Shiyam ElkCloner via wikicommons

Happy Weekend to you all. Isn't it wonderful when Friday finally rolls around?

So, there's lots of exciting stuff on tap to do this weekend.

Firstly, if you like sharks, check out the National Aquarium DC, which is doing its Shark Weekend. Saturday & Sunday, from 10 am to 4 pm, they'll have family friendly activities involving sharks. They'll have a shark feeding, scavenger hunt and shark-tooth touching (not while the tooth is still in the shark's mouth, though). The DC Aquarium is at 1401 Constitution Ave., and Shark Weekend activities are included in the price of admission. For more information, go to http://www.aqua.org/visit/dc/calendar/shark-weekend?EventID=%7b04CBB577-599C-42F9-ABD3-17F237867FCD%7d.


Next up, the Greenbelt Library branch is having a free show discussing Amelia Earhart, the famous pilot who disappeared on a trip. The show is for all ages, so long as they can sit still and listen, and starts at 2 pm.

Also, this weekend, if your kids like cooking, they can attend a Wegmans Kids in the Kitchen class, at the Woodmore Town Centre location. The theme Saturday is Southwest Fiesta. According to Wegmans, "It’s fiesta time, so come party with some of the yummiest veggies ever! In this class you’ll prepare 2 veggie-licious dishes: Pineapple, Jicama & Cucumber Salad (what’s a jicama? You’ll find out!) and Veggie Queso Nachos." The class is for kids 4 and up and costs $5 per child for those with a Wegmans card. For more information, go to https://www.wegmans.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/PressReleaseDetailView?langId=-1&storeId=10052&catalogId=10002&productId=398972. There are two classes, one at 10 am and one at 2 pm.

Well that's about it for me. We're aquarium members, so we'll probably check out the Shark stuff this weekend. I hope you all have a great one.  More fun things can be found on our calendar.

-Hyattsville Mom

Summer Sickness

Image courtesy Mcrfarlandmo's Photos

The kids have caught a summer cold and given it to me.

I HATE being sick in the summer. A runny nose and cough in 100 degree temperatures is just no fun.

With that info, this is the extent of my post today. I'll have a weekend roundup post tomorrow, with all the exciting weekend happenstances.

-Hyattsville Mom

Happening today: Spinny Johnson will perform at 2pm at the New Carrollton Library, 7414 Riverdale Rd. For more information about the FREE performance, contact the children's librarian, 301-459-6900.

Research Wednesday: Spatial Skills & Internet Signs of Depression

I get lots of news releases about research, but I hardly ever use it. So, I thought I'd take Wednesdays as a day to blurb any interesting research on kids, parents, health, er, anything that looks useful to folks with kids.

So, today I've got two interesting things.

1. Spatial games will help your kids with math. New research from the University of Chicago finds that kids who are good at fitting shapes together to make recognizable objects are also better at the number line and math problem solving. “These results suggest that improving children’s spatial thinking at a young age may not only help foster skills specific to spatial reasoning but also improve symbolic numerical representations,” said Susan Levine, co-author of the paper, "The Relation Between Spatial Skill and Early Number Knowledge: The Role of the Linear Number Line," published in Development Psychology. "This is important since spatial learning is malleable and can be positively influenced by early spatial experiences." For more information on the study, check out the university's news release on the research: http://news.uchicago.edu/article/2012/06/13/learning-about-spatial-relationships-boosts-understanding-numbers.

2. Doing 9 things online means you may be depressed. Researchers at Missouri University of Science and Technology recently found that college students who are depressed use the Internet differently than others. The researchers used real-time network data to suss out 9 things college Internet users who were depressed were more likely to do. Among the culprits are using more file-sharing services, chatting online more often, and frequently switching Internet applications. The last attribute may be caused by trouble concentrating, which is a sign of depression. The study is unique in that it did not rely on self reporting. Instead, it tested its 216 participants for depression, then gave each participant a random id number to use on the network and tracked their usage. The users who had tested positive for depression had the usage patterns mentioned above. More information on the study is available here: http://news.mst.edu/2012/05/internet_usage_patterns_may_si.html.

Have a good one.

-Hyattsville Mom

Happening Today: New Carrollton library's drop in craft series. Stop by the library, 7414 Riverdale Rd., from 2-4 pm today to make a craft. For kids of all ages.

Book Tuesday: Bared to You

I received a pitch letter for Sylvia Day's book that described it as erotic fiction along the lines of Fifty Shades of Grey. The plus on this being that Day has been a finalist for the RITA award, the top writing prize for the Romance Writers of America.  So presumably Bared to You would be pretty well written, as that is one of the common criticisms of Fifty Shades--intense, compelling but not the best written.

With those things in mind, I sat down and read Bared to You.  The book is an easy read and moves well enough to keep you from setting it down for long stretches.  It follows the romance of Eva Tramell, a young wanna-be ad exec in New York and the fabulously rich Gideon Cross.

Like all good romances, Eva and Gideon cross paths and feel an instant attraction, but do nothing about it. Gideon propositions Eva on their next meeting, which she finds sexy, yet offensive at the same time. The two eventually become lovers and endure and up and down relationship that would rival even the best yo-yoist (I'm hoping that's a real word; if not, what do you call a yo yo operator?).   There are a host of other characters that pop up in the book-- Eva's neurotic, mother; Eva's filthy rich step father; Eva's working class father; Eva's best friend Cary; and Gideons ex girlfriend; and Gideon's odd family.

Overall, I'd say the book is an easy breezy summer read. But, having the book compared to Fifty Shades in the sales literature made me compare it to the book, and I must say the characters are not as well drawn or memorable as those in Fifty Shades. Also, because of this, it's a bit hard to understand why the characters are acting the way they do. They seem flighty and fickle. The writing is well done, comparatively, but I don't think Bared has the same intensity or pull as Fifty.

Bottom Line: If you're looking for a quick read that's enjoyable, but not particularly memorable, check it out.

That's it for today.

-Hyattsville Mom