This week's tip is from experience.
Yesterday, Memaw and I took the kids to the airport via public transportation. We took the local train to the transfer station where we picked up a bus. At the airport, we ran around in the play area, had lunch, and reversed our trip with bus than train. Now, mommy is a complete lunch snob, so we bought lunch but if you took a lunch, obviously the cost would be much cheaper-basically just the cost of two bus tickets.
Asa thought this was the neatest activity. He looked out the window, talked about Thomas the Train, and waved at people. He like the bus as well. Part of this was his age-I just can't see an older kid having as much fun. But the big thing is novelty. In talking to my sister, who has her kids riding the bus weekly, I realized that for my nephews and niece, this activity would not be as much fun for them. However, for my little suburbanite, the train and bus are truly special.
I have to be honest, the experience was not as much fun for me. Going was fine but coming back everyone was tired and cranky. It was raining cats and dogs waiting for our transfer, and when we got on the train all the seats were taken but one. Of course I let wiggly Asa have it to keep an eye on him. God Bless the woman who got up to give me her seat. Truly, God Bless her. I thanked her MANY times, and profusely. With a 20 pound baby in my arms, I must have looked as tired as I felt. And for the record, not one of the men stood. Half way home, the train had to wait due to police activity on the tracks ahead. Oh joy-one crying baby, one cranky toddler-I counted to ten over and over and over and over again. Then I notice that the guys across the aisle are laughing, and I hear snickering from down the way. I look at Asa and he is LICKING the plexi-glass. The guy DIRECTLY behind him was not amused, and I realized I was cranky AND grossed out. But it did keep Asa quiet and isn't this why we have immune systems?
So the tip this week is bus/train/mass transit rides for kids who never get the chance. I guess for the kids who ride mass transit a lot, maybe a car ride would be fun for them?
Friday, March 27, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Entertainment Tip o' the Week- Part IV
Memberships, Memberships, Memberships.
A lot of people don't consider this a cheap tip. And clearly, the intial pay-out can be daunting. Bust the question to ask is: how often will I use it?
I got a membership for a great, local institution but it wasn't age appropriate for Asa and the distance was kind of far for a small child. After the first year, I dropped that membership. The zoo however is always a hit and we have the benefit of not feeling pressured to see the whole thing in a single shot. We also have a place we can always go in and utilize the facilities if we need too (restrooms, stretching legs, etc.)
Another thing to keep in mind is if the facility has partnerships with other institutions. We have a membership to a museum an hour away, but it is partner's with a nearby museum and we can use that for free now. Basically the use of two museums for the price of one. Aslo on our trip to Canada last year, we used our Portland zoo membership to get a discount at a zoo in Washington. A great benefit when planning a low-cost vacation.
Another tip-thanks to "blended families", the whole family doesn't have to have the same last name. Do you have another family you do acitivites with often? A grandparent in the area that tags along all the time? One thing my mom and I did was split memberships. I got the forestry museum membership, but put her name on it (Nick hates that place). My mom got the history museum membership and put my name on it. We got two museums, but we each only paid for one.
Also check how many kids can be on a membership. Often, the family memberships allow up to 4-5 kids. If you have a small family, you can buddy up with another small family and add extra kids onto a membership, getting at least part of the second family in for free.
When deciding if a membership is good for your family, do the math. It would cost our entire family about $25 a visit to the zoo. That is just admittance fees. Without a pass, we would go to the zoo at least three times a year. At $75, a membership makes total sense and we visit more because we have already paid for it.
A lot of people don't consider this a cheap tip. And clearly, the intial pay-out can be daunting. Bust the question to ask is: how often will I use it?
I got a membership for a great, local institution but it wasn't age appropriate for Asa and the distance was kind of far for a small child. After the first year, I dropped that membership. The zoo however is always a hit and we have the benefit of not feeling pressured to see the whole thing in a single shot. We also have a place we can always go in and utilize the facilities if we need too (restrooms, stretching legs, etc.)
Another thing to keep in mind is if the facility has partnerships with other institutions. We have a membership to a museum an hour away, but it is partner's with a nearby museum and we can use that for free now. Basically the use of two museums for the price of one. Aslo on our trip to Canada last year, we used our Portland zoo membership to get a discount at a zoo in Washington. A great benefit when planning a low-cost vacation.
Another tip-thanks to "blended families", the whole family doesn't have to have the same last name. Do you have another family you do acitivites with often? A grandparent in the area that tags along all the time? One thing my mom and I did was split memberships. I got the forestry museum membership, but put her name on it (Nick hates that place). My mom got the history museum membership and put my name on it. We got two museums, but we each only paid for one.
Also check how many kids can be on a membership. Often, the family memberships allow up to 4-5 kids. If you have a small family, you can buddy up with another small family and add extra kids onto a membership, getting at least part of the second family in for free.
When deciding if a membership is good for your family, do the math. It would cost our entire family about $25 a visit to the zoo. That is just admittance fees. Without a pass, we would go to the zoo at least three times a year. At $75, a membership makes total sense and we visit more because we have already paid for it.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Xanadu
When I was 10 years old, I remember going to see "Xanadu", with Olivia Newton-John, Gene Kelly, and a bunch of people I had never seen before. I thought this movie was the bomb!! Cool clothes, roller skating, and a cute leading guy-we were besides ourselves with the coolness of this movie. Thanks to the beauty of cable, Nick and I saw part of this "classic" last weekend.
Gene Kelly, as always, was a class act. People wonder why he did this film-for the love of his job. Acting is acting and he still shined, even in this. The music still rocks. Jeff Lynne did most of the music and if you love ELO, go get the soundtrack.
The rest of the movie? Other than Olivia Newton-John, who the hell were these people? And who thought that was acting?!?!?! I have heard better script writing on "Sponge Bob Square Pants" and my 3 year old puts on a better act when he is trying to con me. When I think back to when I was 10, I can still feel the magic, but I have to ignore the grown-up side that says "pee-ew-eeeee". Watch "Grease" if you are having Olivia Newton-John withdrawl's (do those exist?) and watch "Singing In The Rain", "Anchors Aweigh", or "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" if you need to see Gene Kelly.
I feel better now. Thanks Blog!
Gene Kelly, as always, was a class act. People wonder why he did this film-for the love of his job. Acting is acting and he still shined, even in this. The music still rocks. Jeff Lynne did most of the music and if you love ELO, go get the soundtrack.
The rest of the movie? Other than Olivia Newton-John, who the hell were these people? And who thought that was acting?!?!?! I have heard better script writing on "Sponge Bob Square Pants" and my 3 year old puts on a better act when he is trying to con me. When I think back to when I was 10, I can still feel the magic, but I have to ignore the grown-up side that says "pee-ew-eeeee". Watch "Grease" if you are having Olivia Newton-John withdrawl's (do those exist?) and watch "Singing In The Rain", "Anchors Aweigh", or "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" if you need to see Gene Kelly.
I feel better now. Thanks Blog!
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Father's Day Early
I just finished reading Tim Russert's book "Wisdom of our Fathers: Lessons and Letters From Daughters and Sons". People sent Tim Russert's letters that they wrote their father's and he compiled them into a book. It was pretty good, and a nice read for someone with two young kids. It got me thinking about what I would write, or say to my dad. Isn't that the point of books like this?
So, I gave it a lot of thought. There are a lot of things I could say but why state the obvious. Yes he was kind, and there for us. He was loyal, and fun to be around. But when I thought really hard there were really only two things I could say about my dad that didn't also describe the family dog.
My dad taught me that success isn't measured by achievement, but by trying even if you fail. Hip hip hooray for losers!! Just kidding dad.
My dad is an only child. My dad didn't date much. My dad's knowledge of women is a lot less than what he knows about hunting and cars. And yet God blessed him with two daughters. It is what we call "irony". Growing up in the 1950's and '60's did not help his cause. Sexism was taught, accepted, and totally legal. In the 1970's when I was born, a "modern" dad hugged, told his kids he loved them, and that was the end of the expectation. Oh, sure, many, many dad's did more than that, but just as roles for women have changed, so to have they changed for men, and in the '70's, I had a lot of friends who didn't do much with their dad beyond simple conversation. My dad may have been clueless about girls, but that didn't stop him from forging a relationship with us. He stole our toys, took us camping, and came to our piano recitals. We did his hair, made fun of his clothes, and asked him to buy us stuffed animals. He was way out of his league, but he still kept plugging along. As he said to me once, what else could he do? It wasn't perfect. There were some tears when the wrong things were said, and Pollyanna could have given us a lesson or two. But I will always, always be glad and grateful that my dad gave it his best shot and stuck in there, even when the going went through puberty (ugh-not doing that again)!
So, dad is an only child. My husband is an only child. My mom has two sisters, neither of who had children of their own. I have a sister. My mom was raised by her single mom after grandpa passed away when my mom was young. My family is female orientated. It wasn't planned, it just happened. I have two little boys. God must be in hysterics by now. This was brought home to me one night when Noah was first home from the hospital. Asa runs by me drooling. Why, I thought, why is he drooling!? Then just as I catch a whiff of what is in Asa's pants (oh yeah) Noah does a big "sssqqquuiirt" on my lap. Who knew being a mother could be so much fun. I caught myself saying "now what?" and almost immediately it was followed by my dad's voice saying "...you do what you have to." I may not know jack diddly about boys, but by golly, I won't let that stop me. Having girls didn't stop my dad, and my sons will have a relationship with me, even if it involves tears.
The second thing my dad taught me was that no matter what the outside says about you, it is how you feel on the inside that determines our age. My mom has taught me this to, but with less scaring involved. My dad is forever 21-drinking beer and doing dumb things. He was well over 50 when he fell off the houseboat and bounced off the deck below, only to land in the water with a broken femur. He was past 60 when he biffed it on his new ATV and had the thing land on him. He cracked his helmet and bruised so badly he had a pint of blood rolling around under his skin. The dog was never that dumb.
I hope my son's get the same things from me.
So, I gave it a lot of thought. There are a lot of things I could say but why state the obvious. Yes he was kind, and there for us. He was loyal, and fun to be around. But when I thought really hard there were really only two things I could say about my dad that didn't also describe the family dog.
My dad taught me that success isn't measured by achievement, but by trying even if you fail. Hip hip hooray for losers!! Just kidding dad.
My dad is an only child. My dad didn't date much. My dad's knowledge of women is a lot less than what he knows about hunting and cars. And yet God blessed him with two daughters. It is what we call "irony". Growing up in the 1950's and '60's did not help his cause. Sexism was taught, accepted, and totally legal. In the 1970's when I was born, a "modern" dad hugged, told his kids he loved them, and that was the end of the expectation. Oh, sure, many, many dad's did more than that, but just as roles for women have changed, so to have they changed for men, and in the '70's, I had a lot of friends who didn't do much with their dad beyond simple conversation. My dad may have been clueless about girls, but that didn't stop him from forging a relationship with us. He stole our toys, took us camping, and came to our piano recitals. We did his hair, made fun of his clothes, and asked him to buy us stuffed animals. He was way out of his league, but he still kept plugging along. As he said to me once, what else could he do? It wasn't perfect. There were some tears when the wrong things were said, and Pollyanna could have given us a lesson or two. But I will always, always be glad and grateful that my dad gave it his best shot and stuck in there, even when the going went through puberty (ugh-not doing that again)!
So, dad is an only child. My husband is an only child. My mom has two sisters, neither of who had children of their own. I have a sister. My mom was raised by her single mom after grandpa passed away when my mom was young. My family is female orientated. It wasn't planned, it just happened. I have two little boys. God must be in hysterics by now. This was brought home to me one night when Noah was first home from the hospital. Asa runs by me drooling. Why, I thought, why is he drooling!? Then just as I catch a whiff of what is in Asa's pants (oh yeah) Noah does a big "sssqqquuiirt" on my lap. Who knew being a mother could be so much fun. I caught myself saying "now what?" and almost immediately it was followed by my dad's voice saying "...you do what you have to." I may not know jack diddly about boys, but by golly, I won't let that stop me. Having girls didn't stop my dad, and my sons will have a relationship with me, even if it involves tears.
The second thing my dad taught me was that no matter what the outside says about you, it is how you feel on the inside that determines our age. My mom has taught me this to, but with less scaring involved. My dad is forever 21-drinking beer and doing dumb things. He was well over 50 when he fell off the houseboat and bounced off the deck below, only to land in the water with a broken femur. He was past 60 when he biffed it on his new ATV and had the thing land on him. He cracked his helmet and bruised so badly he had a pint of blood rolling around under his skin. The dog was never that dumb.
I hope my son's get the same things from me.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Tip o' the Week-III
A lot of times, when you say the word "volunteers" people either conjure one of two images. 1) You are a do-gooder, out to change the world with your super good ways, or 2) the old Tom Hanks movie where he heads off into the Peace Corp with John Candy and a good looking woman at his side. However, volunteering is a grat way to do things on the cheap.
Volunteering is a great way to check out a new activity, without paying a new price. When I was in middle school, I remembering being the usher at plays in downtown venues, so we could see them for free. And when I got out of college, and had lots of student loans, I volunteered at the local art musem and science museum so I could see their exhibits for free. Most public institutions of any kind have some type of volunteering opportunities, including those for families. Make sure to check the age though-for insurance purposes, often times it is only older children that are allowed to volunteer, although I have seen things for all ages. It just depends.
The hidden bonus of volunteering is that you do help the community at large, and for kids it can be a great way to explore a career. I have heard of teenagers volunteering at both, the Oregon Humane Society and the local zoo, to see how much they enjoy working with animals.
Do not let living in a small community deter you. Although a metro area will provide more opportunities, smaller communities have the luxury of working with you. For example, I did an internship at a rather small nature center in central Pennsylvania. Although small children could not do much, they were free to play around the kids area while their parents volunteered, giving the whole family access to a great resource. Believe me, a big metro musuem would not allow that.
And this is another area where doing something old, but in a new place (like playing with toys at someone else's house), is going to go along way. Think outside the box. Hate the mess of crafts at your house? See if a senior center is looking for a regular arts-n-crafts activity. Want to sing? Check out local religious institutions. Coffee bars are also starting to have open mic nights-without the stale cigarette smoke of tavern! Does your garden runneth over from to much love? See if a neighbor might like some help in landscaping. The same neighbor might love help with home repairs if you liek woodworking/fixing things.
A lot of groups are always looking for leaders so you can probably find an organization to fit your hobby with a little research. The local Audobon chapters hold annual plant sales-a great time to volunteer and talk about the love plants all rolled into one.
Volunteering is a great way to check out a new activity, without paying a new price. When I was in middle school, I remembering being the usher at plays in downtown venues, so we could see them for free. And when I got out of college, and had lots of student loans, I volunteered at the local art musem and science museum so I could see their exhibits for free. Most public institutions of any kind have some type of volunteering opportunities, including those for families. Make sure to check the age though-for insurance purposes, often times it is only older children that are allowed to volunteer, although I have seen things for all ages. It just depends.
The hidden bonus of volunteering is that you do help the community at large, and for kids it can be a great way to explore a career. I have heard of teenagers volunteering at both, the Oregon Humane Society and the local zoo, to see how much they enjoy working with animals.
Do not let living in a small community deter you. Although a metro area will provide more opportunities, smaller communities have the luxury of working with you. For example, I did an internship at a rather small nature center in central Pennsylvania. Although small children could not do much, they were free to play around the kids area while their parents volunteered, giving the whole family access to a great resource. Believe me, a big metro musuem would not allow that.
And this is another area where doing something old, but in a new place (like playing with toys at someone else's house), is going to go along way. Think outside the box. Hate the mess of crafts at your house? See if a senior center is looking for a regular arts-n-crafts activity. Want to sing? Check out local religious institutions. Coffee bars are also starting to have open mic nights-without the stale cigarette smoke of tavern! Does your garden runneth over from to much love? See if a neighbor might like some help in landscaping. The same neighbor might love help with home repairs if you liek woodworking/fixing things.
A lot of groups are always looking for leaders so you can probably find an organization to fit your hobby with a little research. The local Audobon chapters hold annual plant sales-a great time to volunteer and talk about the love plants all rolled into one.
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