tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8471130902777085332024-03-05T06:58:06.716-08:00Fun Stuff for Bay Area KidsReviews and Information about fun activities and places for families and kids in Solano, Napa, Contra Costa, Alameda counties and beyond.Catherine Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522757152413011335noreply@blogger.comBlogger140125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-847113090277708533.post-69458475445882378852014-08-01T18:28:00.001-07:002014-08-01T18:28:10.121-07:00Free Book Promotion Extended<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KV4O8SU/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00KV4O8SU&linkCode=as2&tag=akarcre-20&linkId=IQLGSWHDAS7FPK2J"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00KV4O8SU&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=akarcre-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=akarcre-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00KV4O8SU" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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Day Jobs and Dreams and other stories by cara Roberts will contine to be free to download for a few more days if you missed it when first announced. </div>
Catherine Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522757152413011335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-847113090277708533.post-29533054855877765962014-07-26T20:41:00.003-07:002014-07-26T20:43:56.287-07:00Free Book from My Sponser<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KV4O8SU/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00KV4O8SU&linkCode=as2&tag=akarcre-20&linkId=T23IPVPO5RVERKYI">Day Jobs and Dreams and other stories</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=akarcre-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00KV4O8SU" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
by Cara Roberts, an ebook availble from Amazon.com, and a sponser of this blog, will be availble for free for one day only, tomorrow 7/27/14.<br />
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To be clear, Day Jobs and Dreams is <b>not </b>a childrens book, although there are a few cute stories that are <i>about </i>children that parents would enjoy.<br />
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Go grab yourself a free ebook, and have fun reading!Catherine Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522757152413011335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-847113090277708533.post-33538420457281578662014-01-31T22:05:00.000-08:002014-01-31T22:05:19.551-08:00Outside the Bay: Circus Circus Reno<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Outside the Bay: Circus Circus Reno</b></div>
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We recently took a road trip to Reno, and decided to stay at
Circus Circus because we thought it would be the most fun for the kids. While
the Circus Circus Midway and games were a huge hit with the kids, we had many
other disappointments with the rest of the hotel.</div>
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<b>The Pros:</b></div>
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The kids enjoyed the Circus Circus Midway games and short
circus shows just as much if not more than we thought they would. I was
additionally happily surprised with the cost of the games – none were more than
$2 for a play, most were $1, and some were even less. There are competitive
games, the sorts that players race by rolling balls to move their icon along,
or squirt water into a clown mouth to see who can pop their balloon first, that
had only one winner. Other games guaranteed a win every time. Still others were
more challenging with rare winners. Even on the competitive games, my kids won
regularly. While the quality of the prizes did vary somewhat, they also ended
up with some nice plushes that they have been thrilled with well after the
trip. There are also games for winning tickets that can be turned in for other
prizes. </div>
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The circus shows in the midway were short but fun. We saw a
group of performing dogs, a trampoline team and an acrobat. All were fun to
watch. We would have preferred more frequent shows since they are so short, if
you are not nearby at the right time it is easy to miss them. </div>
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We ate several times at Circus Circus’s Americana Café. Our
kids are the kind that can be frustrating to dine out with since they usually
don’t eat well in restaurants. However, both kids ate their whole dinner, and
breakfast the next day. I ordered a simple sandwich, but it was very good. We
also visited the sweet shop for breakfast sandwiches and donuts one morning, and
we enjoyed it very much.</div>
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<b>Cons:</b></div>
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Most of the adults in our group found the beds uncomfortable
and the blankets inadequate. We also had problems with a lot of noise from
other guest late at night in the halls. It was amazing how well sound came into
our room from out there. The kids slept happily the way only kids can do.</div>
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Circus Circus also has a strange policy for their internet
connection. They only allow one device per room to use the internet connection
for free. At check in, we were given a code to use to connect with for each
day, with no further instruction on how to use it. In this day and age when
every member of the family may have their own device, the one device only
policy could be a problem for some. I understand that additional devices could
be connected for an additional fee, but we were unwilling to pay extra
considering how spotty and difficult the free connection was. </div>
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Overall, when we stay the weekend in Reno again, I would definitely
take the kids back to spend a fun couple of hours in the midway, but we would choose
to stay somewhere else to sleep. </div>
Catherine Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522757152413011335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-847113090277708533.post-59511019720697350602014-01-07T23:33:00.000-08:002014-01-07T23:33:19.295-08:00The Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose: The Star Wars ExhibitThe Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose: The Star Wars Exhibit<div>
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<a href="http://www.thetech.org/plan-your-visit/special-exhibitions/STAR-WARS">The
Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose’s</a> current special exhibit is Star
Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination through the end of February. Star Wars themed things usually disappoint
me, as a die-hard, and old school Star Wars fan, so I was happily impressed
with this exhibit. There are lots of original models, costumes and props from
the movies. The models are very impressive, even by our more modern standards.
I could really get on a much deeper level than I did before why they had been
so groundbreaking back in the 70’s and 80’s. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The hands on activities are a lot of fun too. We
experimented with magnetic lego hovercrafts, droids that needed to move across
uneven ground, and lots of others. There is also a real (although small)
hovercraft to ride on. The exhibit was not very busy when we were there, our
group was the first in of the day, and we still had to work our way in to a
spot for some activities. I can easily imagine that on a crowded day it could
be tough to get a turn, although I do believe they limit entrances to the
special exhibits to keep crowds under control. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Within in the larger Star Wars exhibit there is what they
call the <a href="http://www.thetech.org/plan-your-visit/special-exhibitions/STAR-WARS#Millennium-Falcon%20Experience">Millennium
Falcon experience</a>. It is an additional small cost. Basically, you get to
enter a wonderful replica of the bridge of the Millennium Falcon where you
watch a 4 ½ minute video through the cockpit window about our real universe and
all the planets and galaxies that have been discovered. The actual video wasn’t
anything too thrilling, but the Millennium Falcon was fun. There were even some
switches to flip, although most of the buttons were fake, and couldn’t be
pushed, I found one that was pushable. And, most importantly, it does the
jumping into hyperspace bit at the beginning of the video. Still, if getting to
sit in the Falcon isn’t worth five bucks to you, then skip this extra bit.
There is only seating for four inside, and it runs nearly five minutes. So you
can imagine that could lead to quite a wait. For example, we were in the first
group into the Star Wars exhibit, and had about a 40 minute wait for our turn
in the Millennium Falcon. I do have to give kudos to the staff for their
solution to the wait. You can leave a cell number and get a text when your turn
is up. So you don’t have to stand in line the whole time. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Catherine Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522757152413011335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-847113090277708533.post-25985176092606080332013-12-29T23:12:00.000-08:002013-12-29T23:12:02.606-08:00The de Young Art Museum in San Francisco<div class="MsoNormal">
The de Young Art Museum in San Francisco</div>
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<a href="http://deyoung.famsf.org/">The de Young Museum</a>
exhibits a combination of modern and ancient art from around the world. It is
located in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco across from the <a href="http://cabayareakids.blogspot.com/2009/03/california-academy-of-sciences.html">California
Academy of Science.</a></div>
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They are closed on Mondays, but admission is free on the
first Tuesday of every month. Kids under 12 are always free. Active military
and their families receive free admission from Memorial Day through Labor day.
If there is a special exhibit with an additional fee, the free admissions do
not include the special exhibit.</div>
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The day we visited the de Young Art Museum we spent a couple
of hours there at best. While I might have enjoyed a more leisurely stroll
through the exhibits, children have a different time table. Some areas sparked
their interest and they looked at everything in the room, other areas seemed to
overwhelm them and they moved more quickly through. </div>
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One tip we got before going did really seem to help engage
the kids and keep them a little more focused than I’m sure they would have been
otherwise. We went to the gift store first and each child picked out two
postcards that featured art pieces in the museum. Then, one of their tasks as
we walked around was to try to find the pieces on their postcards. It really
did get them more invested in the tour. </div>
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Also, I noticed again what I observed when we visited the <a href="http://cabayareakids.blogspot.com/2012/11/legion-of-honor-museum-in-san-francisco.html">Legion
of Honor</a> several years ago – the time periods or places that we had studied
ahead of our visit were much more interesting to the kids than new things. <a href="http://deyoung.famsf.org/">The de Young website</a> can help out with
that. A tab at the top labeled ‘Education’ has resources to prepare for a
visit. </div>
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One of the hits of the trip for my kids was the observation
tower that offers a spectacular view. It’s worth the elevator ride up. A
warning to those with fear of heights, the windows up there are floor to ceiling.
It adds to the beauty of the view, but I couldn't make myself stand too near
the edge, even knowing there was glass there to protect me. </div>
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Generally, the older the kids, the more they will likely
appreciate the art, but there is such a variety, even younger children will
find something interesting at the de Young Museum. With kids getting free
admission, and free days offered monthly, it is worth the time to visit. </div>
Catherine Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522757152413011335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-847113090277708533.post-87247943886802515492013-08-01T06:00:00.000-07:002013-08-01T06:00:01.172-07:00Primates: The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Birute Galdikas by Jim Ottaviani and Maris Wicks - Book Review<div class="MsoNormal">
Primates: The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey,
and Birute Galdikas by Jim Ottaviani and Maris Wicks - Book Review</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1596438657/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1596438657&linkCode=as2&tag=akarcre-20"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1596438657&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=akarcre-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=akarcre-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1596438657" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div>
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Primated by Jim Ottaviani and Maris Wicks tells the story of
Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Birute Galdikas. Considering that each could
only get a third of the book, I think their stories were well summarized. </div>
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I got this book mainly for myself, since I am a big fan of
Fossey and Goodall. Birute Galdikas was new to me, and I was very interested to
learn a little about her. My girls enjoyed to book as well, although I'm sure
they are a little too young to appreciate how revolutionary these scientists
were for their time. </div>
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My kids are big graphic novel fans, but I have never loved
the format myself. That, in combination with the fact that I have already read
a great deal about these women, at least two of them anyway, left me slightly
disappointed at the lack of depth. But stepping back, I see that there is no
way a book like this could include every wonderful and interesting thing about
these researchers and their discoveries. This book does present an interesting
introduction. </div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The artwork was poignant and silly in the right places
for me, and open and fun enough to draw in my kids. </span><br />
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I think this would be a great book for a child, or teen who
is interested in this sort of research, or any of these scientists, but does
not yet know much about them. I enjoyed the last section about Birute Galdikas
the best; I suspect because I didn't already know anything about her, so could
enjoy the story fresh. There is also a nice list of resources at the end if a
child would like to learn more. </div>
Catherine Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522757152413011335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-847113090277708533.post-4394881728483823672013-07-16T06:00:00.000-07:002013-07-16T06:00:12.299-07:00Audiobooks – Fun Stuff to Do Anywhere<div class="MsoNormal">
Audiobooks – Fun Stuff to Do Anywhere</div>
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We've been listening to audiobooks with our kids since the
oldest was a toddler. Then we listened to things like "The Wizard of
Oz" by L. Frank Baum and "Catwings" by Ursula K. LeGuin. We
spend more time driving around in the car than I care to think about, and
listening to audiobooks makes all that time feel somewhat more productive.</div>
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Not every audiobook we've tried has been a winner. Sometimes
the stories just don't capture the kids, sometimes the narrator is difficult to
understand, or the kids just have other things on their minds and are
daydreaming out the window instead of listening. That's why we now take breaks
between books, and don't listen every single time we get in the car. Sometimes
we need music, or just some quiet time for our own thoughts, but before long,
we are all ready again for a new story.</div>
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Since we are all at the same place in the story, it is easy
for us to talk about it together too. </div>
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Long road trips can be a great time to try out a family audiobook.
Because they can be pricey, we usually borrow cds from the library. </div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=akarcre-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=078618034X" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></span>Catherine Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522757152413011335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-847113090277708533.post-69842786094057958862013-07-11T06:00:00.000-07:002013-07-11T06:00:05.033-07:00The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate – Book Review<div class="MsoNormal">
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate – Book Review</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061992259/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0061992259&linkCode=as2&tag=akarcre-20"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0061992259&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=akarcre-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=akarcre-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0061992259" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div>
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The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate with Illustrations
by Patricia Castelao was a surprising hit recently with our book club. From our
youngest member, at 6 years old, to the elementary kids, the young teen, and
even the parents all were enthusiastic and excited for our discussion. It was
one of the most positive responses we’ve had to any of our titles so far.</div>
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I believe it works so well for so many different ages and
people because it has subtle layers. The story is told from the point of view
of Ivan, a gorilla who lives in a roadside mall arcade attraction. He doesn’t
like to remember things, and so he doesn’t dwell too deeply on any of the
issues or events that come up, but for all the simplicity of how events are
told, there is still an emotional power to them.</div>
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For our youngest member, it was a straightforward story of
Ivan and his quest to keep a promise. For the older members of our group, we
could see beyond the simpler story to the bigger internal struggles that many
of the characters fought with as Ivan describes their actions.</div>
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Another aspect that gave the book an additional level of interest
is that Ivan was a real gorilla. He did in fact live at a roadside animal
attraction, was originally captured with his twin sister, and spark the
community to work for his release to a better home. Although I believe, the rest
of the actual events of the story are fictional. The real Ivan eventually was
moved to the Atlanta Zoo where he lived out the rest of his life. The zoo
website has a nice page about his life: http://www.zooatlanta.org/ivan</div>
Catherine Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522757152413011335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-847113090277708533.post-60317790418156738152013-07-09T06:00:00.000-07:002013-07-09T06:00:08.636-07:00Stay Cool Indoors with Building Blocks – Fun Stuff to Do Anywhere<div class="MsoNormal">
Stay Cool Indoors with Building Blocks – Fun Stuff to Do
Anywhere</div>
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I was going to write another post today about building with
Legos with your kids. We are big fans of Legos in our house. Yet as I thought
about what I wanted to write, I realized that any sort of building block would
work. </div>
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When the heat is keeping you stuck playing indoors, building
blocks can be a ton of fun. Especially if the whole family gets into it
together. Especially if you aim for a creation on as grand a scale as your
building materials allow.</div>
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My girls once used every type of building block they had,
along with most of their little plastic animal toys, to build a zoo that took
up their whole room. I think the Ikea wooden train even got involved (mimicking
the train ride at the Oakland Zoo, I’m sure.) On another occasion, they recreated
Ponyville from their beloved TV show and Comic series ‘My Little Pony:
Friendship is Magic’. </div>
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What your family chooses to create is entirely up to you and
the things you love, but make it big! If the kids (and the parents) aren’t
ready to let it go when it is time for clean up, try taking a few snapshots of
it to remember it. Or, if you can still make it to the beds and the bathroom,
consider leaving it up another day. It’s something your family created all
together – just be proud of it and have fun!</div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=akarcre-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B000068CKY" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div>
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Catherine Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522757152413011335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-847113090277708533.post-45826313260861358562013-07-04T06:00:00.000-07:002013-07-04T06:00:06.256-07:00Happy Fourth of July!Happy 4th of July everyone!<br />
I hope you will have a great day having fun with your families.<br />
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If you are looking for some last minute ideas of things to do today, I can suggest my Sunday post about 4th of July events going on around the Bay Area today:<br />
<a href="http://cabayareakids.blogspot.com/2013/06/fireworks-displays-around-bay-area-2013.html">http://cabayareakids.blogspot.com/2013/06/fireworks-displays-around-bay-area-2013.html</a><br />
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Or, if you want fun stuff to do at home, you can check out my most recent "Fun Stuff to Do Anywhere" posts for some ideas:<br />
<a href="http://cabayareakids.blogspot.com/search/label/Do%20Anywhere">http://cabayareakids.blogspot.com/search/label/Do%20Anywhere</a><br />
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The regular Book Review will be here next week instead. Have fun!<br />
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<br />Catherine Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522757152413011335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-847113090277708533.post-37606956510790186692013-07-02T06:00:00.000-07:002013-07-02T06:00:09.504-07:00Backyard Wading Pools – Fun Stuff to Do Anywhere<div class="MsoNormal">
Backyard Wading Pools – Fun Stuff to Do Anywhere</div>
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My kids are of an age that I would have thought that little
backyard wading pools would no longer hold an interest for them. I was wrong.
Both their grandparents have small inflatable pools, the kind that don’t really
hold much more than a foot of water or so, and the girls can happily spend the
whole day out there, sitting in the shallow water with some bath toys, or
splashing around. </div>
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We still have to be careful on these 100+ degree days, to
not let them spend too much time in the sun; an umbrella for shade can be great
help. Also, it is easy to let the shallowness of the water lull the grownups
into a sense of complacency – so we must remember that drowning can happen even
in a very small amount of water and there is no substitute for adult
supervision. </div>
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Still, these pools can be found very inexpensively. If the
prices seem high to you right now, watch for clearance sales at the end of the
season, and you’ll be able to pick one up for next summer for almost nothing.
We have no real yard space to speak of, it’s twelve feet square at best and
completely paved in concrete, so it is not a yard that screams ‘summer fun’,
yet a little pool out there makes even my tween as happy as a clam for a few
hours on the hot days. </div>
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Well worth the investment in my opinion. </div>
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Catherine Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522757152413011335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-847113090277708533.post-75614863255192243372013-06-30T15:01:00.000-07:002013-06-30T15:15:07.846-07:00Fireworks Displays Around the Bay Area 2013<div class="MsoNormal">
Fireworks Displays Around the Bay Area 2013</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So many communities have discontinued their fireworks
displays over the past several years, it can be hard to know where to go
anymore to see a nice July 4<sup>th</sup> display. Below are the best links I
could find that list various 4<sup>th</sup> of July events, including fireworks
displays. The list also include carnivals, parades, and other events, so make
sure, if you are just looking for a place to watch fireworks, that the location
you pick actually includes a fireworks display as well on their list of
activities.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In Alameda County:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.americantowns.com/ca/alameda/4th-of-july-2013-fireworks-parades">http://www.americantowns.com/ca/alameda/4th-of-july-2013-fireworks-parades</a></div>
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In Contra Costa County:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://eastbay.connectaround.com/looking-for-local-fourth-of-july-fireworks-shows/">http://eastbay.connectaround.com/looking-for-local-fourth-of-july-fireworks-shows/</a></div>
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<br /></div>
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Marin County:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.marinmommies.com/marin-4th-july-parades-fireworks-and-more">http://www.marinmommies.com/marin-4th-july-parades-fireworks-and-more</a></div>
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<br /></div>
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San Francisco County:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://sf.funcheap.com/san-francisco-4th-july-fireworks-show/">http://sf.funcheap.com/san-francisco-4th-july-fireworks-show/</a></div>
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Solano County:</div>
<br />
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<a href="http://dixon.patch.com/groups/volunteering/p/where-to-go-to-enjoy-fourth-of-july-fireworks">http://dixon.patch.com/groups/volunteering/p/where-to-go-to-enjoy-fourth-of-july-fireworks</a></div>
Catherine Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522757152413011335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-847113090277708533.post-40171825493730427752013-06-27T06:00:00.000-07:002013-06-27T06:00:05.894-07:00Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton<div class="MsoNormal">
Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton</div>
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<br /></div>
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We are not able to attend the <a href="http://www.alamedacountyfair.com/2013fair/index.php">Alameda County Fair
in Pleasanton</a> this year, so I can’t give a personal review, but my friends
that have visited recently, all reported positive experiences. The Alameda Fair
has a nice long run, compared to many other county fairs, and will go through
July 7<sup>th</sup>, although they are closed on Mondays. </div>
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<br />
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If you have been to the Alameda County Fair this year, leave
a comment on your thoughts, and any must see attractions there!</div>
Catherine Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522757152413011335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-847113090277708533.post-83255421625966066342013-06-25T06:00:00.000-07:002013-06-25T06:00:03.002-07:00Make a Scale Model Solar System - Fun Stuff to Do AnywhereMake a Scale Model Solar System - Fun Stuff to Do Anywhere<br />
<br />
Back when my oldest wanted to learn about the solar system for the first time, I obviously thought we should make a little model. Once I actually got a closer look at all those kits they sell in craft stores and elsewhere, I was disappointed. There was never any sort of consistent scale. For example, in most kits Jupiter is bigger than Earth, but sometimes, not by much. In some kits the sun was even smaller than Jupiter.<br />
<br />
Now, I know making a scale model solar system is hard, but I felt so many of these kits would be misleading to young kids who don't realize how different these packaged solar system kits are from reality. They just don't do justice to the vastness and the amazing sizes they way they should. They certainly don't do much to inspire awe and wonder of the natural universe.<br />
<br />
Thanks to Google, I was able to find this wonderful website for making your own scale model solar system:<br />
http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/solar_system/<br />
<br />
You can plug in a size (the diameter) for the Sun you want to make, then it will tell you what the diameter each of the planets should be, and their orbital distance from the Sun. Your sun will need to be big if you don't want tiny dots for planets. We were going to use a hula hoop, but ended up just making a big circle with a piece of cord so we could have bigger planets. That way, our Jupiter came out to be about the size of a Frisbee, and we then measured and cut the other planets out of paper. Then we taped the planets to sticks so they would stick up out of the ground as we placed them in their orbits.<br />
<br />
This is one caveat of the scale model solar system - Keeping the size of the planets in scale isn't too hard, nor is keeping the orbital distance, but doing both at the same time can be very tough. For example - in our model where the Sun had a diameter of 46 inches, and our Earth's diameter came out just under a half inch, if we kept the orbital distances consistent with that scale, Pluto would have to be over 16,000 feet away from our Sun. So we ended up with two scales, one for planet size, and another for orbits. The kids looked at the numbers with me, so they sort of knew that we were changing things from what they really should be.<br />
<br />
Still, we found the biggest park we could, and laid out our circle for the Sun, then measured off the distances to stick our planets in the right places. Even though we had to plug in different numbers until we had Pluto no more than 50 or so feet away, the final model was very impressive, and illustrated much better the amount of 'space' in the Solar System.<br />
<br />
It was a very fun and educational afternoon for us all. I am actually looking forward to doing it all over again in a year or so for the younger kiddo. She helped the first time, but she was so little, I don't think she could appreciate it yet. It really isn't as much work as it sounds like, with the help of the calculator at the Exploratorium website linked above. It is a very worthwhile activity.<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=akarcre-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=0679891153" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br />
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Catherine Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522757152413011335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-847113090277708533.post-25897795067889197512013-06-22T21:47:00.000-07:002013-06-22T21:47:21.785-07:00Sutter’s Fort – Outside the Bay<div class="MsoNormal">
Sutter’s Fort – Outside the Bay</div>
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<br /></div>
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Sutter’s Fort in Sacramento was a hit with our girls. It
isn’t large, and you could probably zip through it quickly, but we took our
time, and tried to read as much of the signage as we could, and so spent maybe
just over an hour there. </div>
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<br /></div>
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They have done a lot to try, through the restoration, to
give a feel of what life was like living at the fort. We let the kids take
charge of the map, and they enjoyed taking our family from one room to then
next and announcing what each room was for. </div>
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<br /></div>
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There was a video presentation that appeared to run on a
loop. We had previously visited other Gold Rush Era historical sites, and so it
didn’t provide us with much new information, and they kids lost interest in it
quickly. However, the parts I watched would have been very informative if we
had come in without all our prior knowledge. </div>
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<br /></div>
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The gift shop was tiny, but surprisingly reasonably priced
compared to gift shops in general. Parking was also not a problem for us the
weekend day we visited. I’m not sure how much this varies from day to day.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Outside the Fort itself is a short path around a small pond.
It felt like the kids wanted to spend almost as much time at the pond watching
ducklings and turtles as they did in the fort itself. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Next door, there is a Native American museum. I regret that
we did not have time to visit it as well while we were there. There is a
reduced price for admission if you choose to visit both the museum and the fort
on the same day. As great as our day was, I think combining these two
attractions would have been even better.</div>
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<br /></div>
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You can get the most up to date hours and prices at the <a href="http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=485">Sutter’s Fort website</a>. </div>
Catherine Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522757152413011335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-847113090277708533.post-77266780638785901042013-06-18T05:30:00.000-07:002013-06-18T05:30:03.521-07:00Color – Fun Stuff to Do Anywhere<div class="MsoNormal">
Color – Fun Stuff to Do Anywhere</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Coloring is often viewed as a preschooler activity. However,
it can be a surprisingly fun activity for older kids too. There are even some
coloring books that are designed for adults. Younger kids love for their parent
to color with them. Sure, sitting a filling in a coloring page may not feel
terribly productive, but it can be bonding time with your kids, and can be
relaxing.</div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=akarcre-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=0486447014" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><iframe p=""><p class="MsoNormal">
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Catherine Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522757152413011335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-847113090277708533.post-46286242597375385872013-06-13T06:00:00.000-07:002013-06-13T06:00:02.940-07:00Summer Reading Programs 2013<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Summer Reading Programs 2013</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">It is time once again for Summer Reading programs to begin. As
always, I think you should sign up for summer reading at your local library.
They usually have other fun events to go along with their summer reading programs,
and my kids think they also offer the best prizes. For more information about
library programs, I have links to some county library systems programs below:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="http://nt-evanced.ccclib.org/evanced/sr/homepage.asp?ProgramID=5">Contra
Costa County</a> Library<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="http://guides.aclibrary.org/summer" target="_blank">Alameda
County Librar</a>y<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="http://sfpl.org/index.php?pg=2000341901" target="_blank">San Francisco Library</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="http://www.smcl.org/en/content/summer-reading-program-0" target="_blank">San Mateo County</a> Library<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="http://www.marinlibrary.org/events-and-programs/summer-reading" target="_blank">Marin County Library</a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="http://solanolibrary.com/kids/events/template.cfm?id=12790" target="_blank">Solano County Library</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">These bookstores are running their usual
summer reading programs as well:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">At<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/container/stores.asp?PID=43671" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a>, kids can earn a free
book (from a pre-selected list) for reading 8 books over the summer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="http://www.hpb.com/fyb/" target="_blank">Half-Priced Books</a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>is offering kids a $5.oo gift
certificate to kids who read for 300 minutes for the months of June and July.
Kids who read their 300 minutes each month can also enter to win a bigger gift
certificate. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Catherine Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522757152413011335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-847113090277708533.post-91710136917389780432013-06-11T06:00:00.000-07:002013-06-11T06:00:04.134-07:00Wash the Car – Fun Stuff to Do Anywhere<div class="MsoNormal">
Wash the Car – Fun Stuff to Do Anywhere</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Washing the car may sound more like a chore than a fun thing
to do, but it’s one of the easiest chores to turn into a good time if you try.
First, swimsuits are required. When you have fun washing the car – you get very
wet. Some of the washing and rinsing time should be dedicated to squirting each
other with the water hose. Water guns can get involved too if there are more
kids than can comfortably take turns with the hose. A big bucket of soapy water
and a couple of big sponges are tons of fun as long as you aren’t trying to
stay dry or clean. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Expect that washing the car in the fun and wet way will take much longer than
washing it in the efficient, tidy way. The key to the fun is taking the time to
let some water play happen. When the car is fully washed and rinsed, then there
can be a short period of more serious time to possibly dry or wipe windows. But
my kids even like that part. </div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=akarcre-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B0058O0U76" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=akarcre-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B003CT4X3Q" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div>
Catherine Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522757152413011335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-847113090277708533.post-20612057117253230852013-06-09T15:20:00.002-07:002013-06-09T15:20:37.040-07:00One Dollar Crafts at Beverly’s Fabric and Craft Stores<div class="MsoNormal">
One Dollar Crafts at Beverly’s Fabric and Craft Stores</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
June 3<sup>rd</sup> thru the 20<sup>th</sup> at Beverly’s
Fabric Stores they are offering “Once Upon a Time” crafting session for kids
ages 6 through 12 from 1pm – 2pm Mondays, Tues, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. The
cost for supplies, etc. is $1.oo. </div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are several Beverly’s stores around the Bay Area. If
you go to the <a href="http://www.beverlys.com/store-locations.html">Beverly’s
Website Store Locator Page</a>, you will be able to see if there is a store
near you, and if they are participating in the kids crafting times.</div>
Catherine Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522757152413011335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-847113090277708533.post-57769028376580562862013-06-04T06:30:00.000-07:002013-06-04T06:30:00.809-07:00Make Ice Cream – Fun Stuff to Do Anywhere<div class="MsoNormal">
Make Ice Cream – Fun Stuff to Do Anywhere</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Even without an ice cream maker there are ways to make ice
cream easily at home (Plus, you can control the ingredients!) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We have used the ice-cream-in-a-bag technique and it really
is as easy as it sounds:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://crafts.kaboose.com/ice-cream-in-a-bag.html">http://crafts.kaboose.com/ice-cream-in-a-bag.html</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You can also add some flavoring like cocoa, strawberries,
etc. The bag technique for ice cream making is only good for a small serving
(each kid can make their own), but if you want to make a big batch – I was
surprised to find out how affordable the bigger ice cream makers can be.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=akarcre-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B003FA830G" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></span>Catherine Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522757152413011335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-847113090277708533.post-27142284397519701152013-05-30T06:30:00.000-07:002013-05-30T06:30:04.711-07:00Geocaching Part 2 – What to Take With You<div class="MsoNormal">
Geocaching Part 2 – What to Take With You</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
For beginning geocaching with kids, you really don't need to
bring much. The most important items are:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
a GPS device of some sort</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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a pen or pencil</div>
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<br /></div>
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'swag' or small items for trade</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That is really all you need for basic geocaching with kids.
We use a low end basic dedicated GPS device when we are heading out on a hike,
and we use a geocaching ap on my smart phone for urban, or city geocaching. I'm
not really qualified to review or recommend GPS devices, so I won't do that
here. I'll just say that my kids don't have trouble using my little Garmin
etrek 10. There are many other choices, some with much fancier features, like
color maps and all kinds of cool things. However, price goes up quickly with
the features, so you probably want to make sure you really love geocaching
before you invest in a pricey GPS just for that purpose. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When we use my smart phone, we use a free ap called c:geo.
Geocaching.com has it's own ap that is supposed to be very good, but I have not
tried it. I just tried out c:geo because it was free, and it usually works well
for me. When it doesn't it is usually because we are out of phone reception
range – that's why we generally use the phone only for city stuff. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have read that the geocaching experts say that a GPS
designed for car navigation usually do not work well for geocaching. I think
they are good at getting you to a general address, but for geocaching you need
to get to within at least a few feet of the hide for the best chance of finding
it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Regardless of what type of GPS you use, you should sign up
for a geocaching.com account. Most aps will need to sync with your
geocaching.com account to work and if you're using a dedicated GPS device,
you'll need to account to download the cache data into your device. There is a
free option, as well as a paid option that includes a few perks. The free
account is plenty to get you started geocaching.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It's good to bring a pencil or pen with you in case the
cache you find doesn't have one, or the one in it is bad. There will be a log
in each geocache for you to sign in order to get credit for making the find. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
'Swag' is the term used for the tradable stuff inside many
geocaches. It's usually small, and cheap stuff. My husband calls it junk, but
the kids love looking through it and picking out something to trade. The
geocaching community policy is that you should trade 'even or up' when trading
swag. This is to prevent the quality of the swag declining even further. So for
example, it would be considered very bad geocaching etiquette to take a mini
maglite and leave a nickel. As an example of the sorts of things we often find,
and leave: stickers, buttons, plastic craft jewels, small toys (happy meal type
stuff), coins, rubber bouncy balls, etc. You should never leave candy or food
because that will only attract animals and bugs. </div>
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Next time: Part 3 - The search!</div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=akarcre-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B00542NV32" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=akarcre-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B004HQ9G1C" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></span>Catherine Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522757152413011335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-847113090277708533.post-43902277066321740242013-05-28T06:30:00.000-07:002013-05-28T06:30:01.726-07:00Run Through the Sprinkler – Fun Stuff to do Anywhere<div class="MsoNormal">
Run Through the Sprinkler – Fun Stuff to do Anywhere</div>
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Running around in the sprinkler was a staple of my childhood
summers. I really don't hear about kids still doing this. Maybe I travel in the
wrong circles. Tell me do your kids still like to play in sprinklers?</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">A week or so ago though, our plans to visit the local
pool fell through and my oldest suggest getting the sprinkler out, and they had
a blast jumping around in the water. So if you haven't dragged the old lawn
sprinkler out in awhile, give it a try on the next warm day.</span><br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=akarcre-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B001RE30A0" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=akarcre-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B002VED43S" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div>
Catherine Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522757152413011335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-847113090277708533.post-1924304336444934982013-05-26T13:13:00.002-07:002013-05-26T13:13:44.401-07:00Low Cost Summer Movies for Kids 2013<div class="MsoNormal">
Low Cost Summer Movies for Kids 2013</div>
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This year, in my Summer Movie research, I only found two
theater chains that are offering cheap summer movie programs. Both of these offer
their movies on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10am. Tickets are $1.00 per person –
adults and children are the same price. </div>
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Cinemark Summer Movie Clubhouse starts June 18<sup>th</sup>
and 19<sup>th</sup> </div>
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They also offer a 10 movie pass for $5</div>
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Check the link for the schedule of the theater near you –
each one appears to offer different titles.</div>
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<a href="http://www.cinemark.com/summer-movie-clubhouse">http://www.cinemark.com/summer-movie-clubhouse</a></div>
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Regal Summer Movie Express</div>
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Each participating theater has different start dates. Some start
as soon as June 4<sup>th</sup>, others begin June 18<sup>th</sup>. </div>
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There are two movies to choose from each week, usually one G
choice, and one PG choice.</div>
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<a href="http://www.regmovies.com/Movies/Summer-Movie-Express">http://www.regmovies.com/Movies/Summer-Movie-Express</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">If there is a chain or independent theater near you
offering summer movie deals for kids, please let us know in the comments!</span>Catherine Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522757152413011335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-847113090277708533.post-90070773766189517262013-05-21T06:00:00.000-07:002013-05-21T06:00:02.721-07:00Start a Summer Book Club for Kids - Fun Stuff to do AnywhereStart a Summer Book Club for Kids - Fun Stuff to do Anywhere<br />
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There are a bunch of resources that encourage kids to read over the summer. <a href="http://cabayareakids.blogspot.com/2010/06/summer-reading-programs-around-bay-area.html" target="_blank">Libraries and book stores </a>offer summer reading programs with prizes. Having a group of friends to share your favorite books with, though, can make reading that much more fun.<br />
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If you want to start a children's book club for the summer, I suggest keeping it fun. Pick books that the kids would probably not read in school, and don't worry if they have a lot of 'literary value'. If your child is interested, you could pick a theme, like books about dragons, or superheros, or books with strong girl leads. Think about what the kids you want to invite like. Maybe you pick books that have a film adaptation you could watch after you finish the book. Let the kids talk about what they want, and just be ready to throw out a question or idea if they run out of things to discuss on their own.<br />
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Maybe have a snack or craft to go along with the book if it lends itself to such things.<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=akarcre-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B0017I2DDG" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br />
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Catherine Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522757152413011335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-847113090277708533.post-3952912640992824522013-05-19T18:58:00.000-07:002013-05-19T18:58:13.644-07:00Contra Costa County Fair 2013We have missed the <a href="http://www.contracostafair.com/fair/" target="_blank">Contra Costa County Fair in Antioch</a> the last couple of years because it has been moved so early in the year. It feels strange to have a county fair while school is still in session.<br />
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The fair runs from Thursday May 30th through Sunday June 2nd.<br />
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Opening day, Thursday the 30th, Seniors (62 and over) and folks in the military receive free admission. You can also get in free if you bring 3 canned goods.<br />
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Friday June 31st is Family day, and children 12 and under get in free.<br />
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Also, if you buy your tickets or ride wristbands in advance, you can get a <a href="http://www.contracostafair.com/fair/savings" target="_blank">discount here</a>.Catherine Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01522757152413011335noreply@blogger.com0