Sunday, October 16, 2011

Don't miss the last night of the Lake Mary Ghost Tour!

A bunch of us headed out last night to our back yard of Lake Mary for a reasonably priced ($14 for a family of four) Ghost Tour put on by the Lake Mary Historical Museum.  It was dark, there were ghosts and even a cookie at the end! 

The Ghost Tour was a tour of the downtown area of Lake Mary, near City Hall, to the cemetary and back.  It consisted of walking to different ghost stations with a tour and sometimes getting a little spooked.  Ok, the adults weren't spooked but the kids were.  Anyway, at each station you were told different stories about people who were from Lake Mary and their lives and how they became ghosts.  There was one station about zombies that had nothing to do with Lake Mary or ghosts but the boys loved it. 


This tour is appropriate for ages 7 and up.  I heard a rumor that it made a couple young 6 year olds from another group cry so if you child is extremly sensitive about scary things then you might want to pass.  The area that caused the tears was the police station and without giving anything away, it's the part of the tour where you go inside the station where things might "happen" while you are there.   Even though this made a few little ones cry, this was definitely a favorite part of the tour for our group, aside from the zombies!  >: o

The ghost tour is only happening one more night, October 23 so get on the phone and call or shoot an email to make reservations now.

Here is the information that I received from the Lake Mary Museum. 

"The Lake Mary Historical Museum’s Annual Ghost Walk is filling up fast!  Make your reservation soon, so you don’t miss your chance to meet some of Lake Mary’s ghosts!  Tours leave the museum every 10 minutes beginning at 7PM for a trip to the cemetery and back.  The Ghost Walk is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 16 and Saturday, Oct. 23 only.  Closed to shoes are strongly recommended
The cost is only $5 for adults and $2 for children under 18.  To make your reservation or for more information, call 407-585-1481 or email info@lakemaryhistory.org.  The museum is located at 158 N. Country Club Rd in Lake Mary."

Friday, October 14, 2011

My baby is nine years old....don't let him hear that I called him my baby!

So, my first born turned 9 and I am shocked and stunned and amazed. 

Everyone always says "they grow up so quick", "before you know it they are off to college" and things like that.  I would always look at my little babies and try and understand but time always seemed to go slowly as I watched each milestone, sitting up, crawling, walking, etc.  Now, I have a 9 year old little man who wants to be treated like the big kid that he is.  It's hard.  Extra hard when you show up at school to surprise him with a special lunch with his Mom and he walks toward you with a look of horror on his face.  WHAT happened to my little baby who wouldn't leave my side and told me that "I never want a wife when I get older, just you mommy!!!"?  Ok, so I am getting over it slowly that he is growing up.  I will be ok.  This is what they are supposed to do.  This is what all that hard work is for.  One day they grow up and feel good about going out on their own.  They are supposed to get older, independent and closer to you in height.  It's ok.  I'm ok.  I will be ok.

ANYWAY, so it was birthday party time last week.  I love parties and I can't have a small party.  BUT I have never had to plan a big "BIG kid" party.  It's a different type of party.  It should be "cool" and fun and ALWAYS something active.  Again, if you know me and my boys then you know it's always about GO GO GO.....and always "the more the merrier"!



So, my son wanted a pool party and wanted to invite everyone so we used our local pool and we did what he asked....pool party.  You don't have to do a lot for a pool party as the kids are swimming and having fun on their own so I didn't plan a lot of games.  I must interject here and say that my Mom is awesome at planning kids parties and kids games and knowing what kids like to do.  She gave that gift to me and I just realized it at this last party.  Thanks Mom! 

My Mommy doing what she loves...reading a book and sitting under her umbrella at the beach!
 Anyway, I had two organized games and even got to borrow the lifeguards bullhorn.  The first game was a boogie board relay race.  I had two teams and each team had about 6 two person racers.  The way it worked was two kids hung onto the board and kicked back and forth across the pool and the first team to have all their people race and back to the wall won.  I grouped the kids boys and girls so that there wasn't any "I like him", "I don't like her", "she's too slow", "he's too short", etc.  I think it worked out well and the kids really got into cheering their team on.  And the kids that weren't strong swimmers didn't have to feel uncomfortable about swimming because they had a teamate and they were hanging onto a board.  And I gave out prizes of water guns to the winning team.

The second game was a money dive.   My husband and I got about $30 in change, mostly pennnies but there was a little silver in there, too.  I spray painted 12 pennies in red paint and had "pool" related prizes for those 12 pennies.    We spread the money all over the shallow end and then gave the kids zip lock bags and let them lose.  It was lots of fun and the kids were allowed to keep the money they found.  We didn't have any injuries just one person who got out of the water crying so I guess it went well. 



I see Aggie from http://www.aggieskitchen.com/
Candy, Candy, Candy!
The last thing about the party that my son loved was the Candy Bar.  It was a bar set up with all his favorite candy.  Each child came up to the bar and filled their goody bags (chinese takout containers) with candy. 

In addition to the fun size candy bars, I made personalized candy bars with my son's pictures on them and some cute words.  They were so easy to make and everyone just loved them.....particulary my son. 
Who wouldn't want a candy bar that was named after you?  I made enough so each child could have one.  Here is the site to download the template.  Candy Bar Wrapper FREE Template  And I made sure the candy bar happened when it was time to go home so those sugar crazed kids went home to their parents!!!  : )

Anyway, my son said it was the best birthday ever and one of his classmates even told me that it was the "best day of their life".  Whoa.  Success!

I always prided myself on planning my little boys parties.  But I guess I can now say that I am good at planning big kids parties, too!  Happy Birthday to my lovey Christian!  Don't tell him I said that!


Thursday, October 6, 2011

Student Daytime Shows

Have you ever been to the Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center

If not, you are missing out.  The WDPAC is located in downtown historic Sanford and literally in my backyard!    I first visited this theatre when my youngest was three.  I was looking for a show for Grandma and him to go to and stumbled upon their Student Daytime Program.  It was a play done by a traveling group and was a combination of a couple fairytales with a modern twist.  It was AWESOME and my normally loud and squirmy little boy was silent, aside from laughing, and glued to his seat.   There is plenty of interaction with the actors and the audience and being quiet is NOT a requirement.  They must know me and my boys!  Anyway, I didn't even know my son liked watching anything other than PBS.  He LOVED the show and we now make sure to hit ALL the local kids musicals and plays.  Of course, I see Broadway in his future.  Until then, we will continue to visit our local community theatre, particulary the WDPAC!

So, check out the two upcoming shows.  If you child is school age, feel free to share with his teacher as this makes a great field trip and close to home.  If they are preschool age, grab their little hands and come out to one of the productions.  I promise you won't be dissapointed (unless you forget to make reservations and they sell out!)  Each ticket is just $5! 

PS.  These shows sell out early and are first come, first serve. 


The Lady of Bullyburg

Thursday, November 3, 2011
10:00AM & 12:00PM

From the National Theatre in Washington, DC to hundreds of schools across America, our anti-bullying fairytale is back! Join Lady Kindness as she works to save her town from a visiting bully. With help from the audience and a friendly merchant, she discovers the strength within herself to stand up to the bully, learning a variety of useful tools in the process. This interactive production allows audience volunteers the opportunity to join Lady Kindness on stage and work with her to transform the bully into a friend! The perfect kick-off to the school year, this production includes themes of respect, compassion, kindness and responsibility! (Grades K-5)

Aesop’s Fables
Thursday, January 26, 2012
10:00AM & 12:00PM


These 2600-year-old gems have never been as entertaining as this! Join our Elizabethan actors as they stumble upon your assembled crowd and decide to put on a showcase of Aesop’s greatest hits! The result is a fast-paced, high-energy production that has left audiences shouting for more! From "The Fox and the Grapes" and "The Tortoise and the Hare" to "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" and "The Lion and the Mouse," these animal-filled adventures focus on honesty, compassion, hard work and kindness. (Grades K-5)

All Tickets ONLY $5.00


Call 407-321-8111 to reserve your seats today!

This program is sponsored in part by Orange County Public Schools, Seminole County Public Schools
and United Arts of Central FL.
Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center
 201-203 S. Magnolia Ave, Sanford, FL
407-321-8111
http://www.wdpac.com/