Helpful Mom

Here’s a special limited-time offer for Facebook fans and Club Seabreeze members of all ages. It’s good this Saturday & Sunday Sept. 4 – 5 only. Ride & Slide all day for just $17.99 +tax when you buy your tickets online and use Promo Code 2461. To get the deal, go to the park website’s Online Ticket Center and to the Group / Special Events page. Buy “Club Seabreeze Last Splash” tickets and enter promo code 2461.

So maybe you read my posts about my heading off to Buffalo or Syracuse for the day with just me and my kids.  Or perhaps longer trips like to Marineland, African Lion Safari, and Toronto with the whole family and you wonder how we survive the drives and actually do it again.  Well I’m no expert but I can share from our experience of what we do.  The number one thing we use for long trips is our dual screen dvd player for the girls.  I only pull it out for trips that take more than hour to drive so it’s something special for roadtrips.  I also have all our DVD movies in a book in our car and that’s the only time they get to watch those movies.  In the house we have only VHS tapes, or DVDs from the library.  That is another great way to keep the movies in the car current, borrow from the library if you can return them before they are due back, or rent from RedBox and return at your destination city since you can return RedBox movies to any Redbox anywhere.

But we do more than just plug our kids in to a TV of course.  Unfortunately even a TVs lure only holds for so long.  So I pack surprise bags for the trip.  The kids are always so excited when we go on a trip long enough for surprise bags.  I save them for trips 2 hrs long or longer to keep them extra special.  I typically pack a simple craft, a small toy, and a small treat in each bag.  One bag per hour of the trip, per child.  I number the bags because sometimes items will build on something they received in an earlier bag, like once I gave them baby dolls in one bag, and then later in the trip they received bottles and change of clothes for the dolls, which if given in the wrong order would be disappointing.  Since I have two girls I make sure to get 2 of everything when I’m out shopping and I find something trip worthy, that way there’s no fighting over who gets what, everything’s the same.

By crafts I mean the kinds of premade ones you can buy at AC Moore or Michael’s for about $1.  There are usually lots of mini posters of popular characters like Tink, Cars, Spiderman, and Princesses that come with a small set of markers.  Books with magic markers with invisible ink are a big hit.  The craft stores usually have an aisle or bins near the front of the stores with items for about $1 that make great prizes.  Party store favors like bubble rings(so small that even if spilled the mess is minimal) also make cheap, fun toys for your bags.  Target has those great $1 items right inside the front door, you can find great toys, dress up jewelry, books, and stickers.  I also collect toys after Christmas, Valentines Day, and Easter when they are on clearance and stash them away for trips.  I only pay about $1.50-$2 per bag but it’s well worth it.  The kids just love it and it’s fun putting the bags together because I know how much they will enjoy opening them.  Right now my girls are sleeping with their pig and kitty puppets I gave them on their last trip.

Some toys that I have found that are small that work well are things like a ViewMasters(found at garage sales), hand puppets, bubble toys, small cars, small stuffed animals, dolls, dress up items, etch-a-sketch, magna doodle, flannel boards, paper dolls, magnetic doll scenes, binoculars, my little ponies, and many more.  The binoculars I gave them with “The Scavenger Hunt Race” board, it has a map with things that you are looking for along the way on your trip.  I found it on Ebay for a couple dollars, but it can be reused on multiple trips, which of course lots of the toys can be too.  I am guilty of taking toys back after a trip and regifting them to the kids on future trips.  There is also a great book called Water WOW! that comes with a little squeeze bottle that you fill with water and the kids “paint” the pages of the books, it’s like the old water paint books but the great part is that when the water dries the page goes back to clear and so your kids can use the book over and over again.  Costs $4-6 each but with multiple uses it’s a great investment.

And don’t forget to prepare for those rest stops.  I keep chalk, bubbles, and punching balloons in my glove box, doesn’t everyone?

Sunday, August 29 from 1-4pm at Cummings Nature Center, learn about the amazing honeybee and the art of beekeeping. At 2pm witness the honey extraction process from hives the Baldecks placed at the nature center two years ago. Admission is $3 per person, free for science museum members. $10 max per family

The RMSC Cumming Nature Center is a 900-acre preserve located 40 minutes south of Rochester, New York in the Finger Lakes region near the village of Naples.

The center features  groomed trails for hiking in spring, summer, and fall, and for snowshoeing and  classic cross-country skiing in the winter months.

Restrooms and snacks are available in the visitors center.  Group visits can be arranged on weekdays as well as weekends by reservation only. Please leave your pets at home.

In spring, summer, and fall, walk six miles of gentle hiking trails through woods and wetlands. Bring a snack or lunch to enjoy in the Visitors Center where restrooms are available.

Seasonal weekend programs include maple sugaring in spring and a timber sports competition among college woodsman teams in October.

In the winter months, 15 miles of groomed trails welcome cross-country skiers. Snowshoers enjoy a 2-mile loop trail of their own.

Children will enjoy Leap Frog Pond – a permanent play space designed especially for preschoolers. Over-sized frogs, turtles, tadpoles, lily pads and mushrooms fill a make-believe pond.

Cumming Nature Center
6472 Gulick Road, Naples, NY 14512
(585)374-6160

CUMMING NATURE CENTER HOURS

TRAILS OPEN FIVE DAYS A WEEK:
Wednesday through Friday, 9am–3:30pm
Saturday and Sunday, 9am–4:30pm

I’m so excited, we’ve decided to take the kids to African Lion Safari next weekend.  I was doing research for a trip to Syracuse to visit a friend there and the zoo and found out that with Seneca Park Zoos membership the African Lion Safari this summer is 100% free as a reciprocal zoo.  You see I’m so excited because in the past the most off they offered was 15% off the tickets which run from $25-$30 per person so 100% off is an amazing steal not to be missed.  So off we go…

I’m such a huge fan of memberships and season passports, we have memberships nearly everywhere because it saves us so much money.  My kids aren’t huge fans of staying at home so we go somewhere nearly everyday, sometimes more than one place in one day.  Like Monday we are going to go to the library for a program, then they are going to the Y for an afternoon camp and then who knows what we’ll do before heading home for the day.  By the time we head home they are ready to settle in with a  movie and some cuddling.  Anyways we use our memberships quite a lot as you may have noticed and part of the reason we have the memberships is because of the reciprocal programs that we can take advantage of on vacations.  Last year we went to Virginia Beach and we were able to go to at least 5 different museums and they were all free using our science and zoo memberships.  Plus part of the cost of the memberships is tax deductible, they will usually send you a receipt telling you what amount is deductible.

We have gone to African Lion Safari a few times before and it’s one of my favorites.  We are big fans of animals around here and any chance to see them so up close is just too fun.  See the unique thing about the Safari is their drive thru wildlife park.  Our favorite is the monkeys who literally climb all over your car and hang on your windows.  But you also see lions, zebras, rhinos, giraffes, ostriches, and many more different animals from around the world.  You can either drive your own car through or pay to ride their buses for an additional fee.  We like to drive our own car so we can go at our speed and take great photos, but the monkeys like to eat the glue that holds the trim around the windows in place so if you are concerned about your cars safety the bus is the way to go.

They have numerous animal shows as well as play areas for the kids, including their new water park area.  The park is about a 3 1/2hr drive from Rochester and not hard to find.  We have done it 2 different ways in the past, either getting up early and driving straight there, spend the day and then drive home; or what we are going to do this time, drive to the falls, spend the night beforehand at a hotel and spend the whole day at the park before driving home that evening.  It just depends on the ages of your kids and their tolerance of long drives and how well they travel.  But most important to note is that African Lion Safari is in Canada so you do need passports for everyone in your family to be able to go.   Or if you only ever plan on going into Canada and Mexico you can opt for the less expensive ID card.  Either way be prepared.  And have fun.

I’m a little slow on the uptake with this one but I really wanted to be able to include photos of the new location and just could never remember to bring my camera, but I was determined to update my previous post about Haircuts for Peanuts.

In case you missed my previous post, Haircuts for Peanuts specializes in haircuts for children, and the occasional adult.  Although they prefer to only do childrens hair I like to get my hair cut there too because my kids can play in the waiting room while I get my haircut and I don’t have to worry about what they are getting into.

I found Haircuts for Peanuts about 3-4 yrs ago after trying to get the kids hair cut at Supercuts(that didn’t work so well)  I will never go back.  My girls just love Ms. Aprile and get very excited about going to get their haircut.  The experience starts in the waiting room which is bright and colorful with huge murals on the walls, and of course filled with toys for the kids.  They even have a TV with game system for older kids.  Also they have a popcorn machine for the kids.

They have 4 different stylists that are specially trained to deal with children.   All of their hair stylists are trained by licensed speech and occupational therapists and are very familiar with the techniques in dealing with children with special needs For example, they have toys used especially for autistic children at each hair station and they have learned special techniques for calming children down when they get upset.

They have different rooms to have your hair cut, each decorated in a different theme and has TVs so your kids are completely distracted from what is going on.  The cuts are quick and cute.  Girls can have ribbons put in their hair for free if they like.  And each child gets a quarter to pick a treat from the vending machine after their haircut, and a free balloon.  For us, we make it part of our day, we are in no hurry so we can stay and play in the waiting room after we finish.  The kids just love it there.

Their new location is in Perinton Square Mall  6720 PITTSFORD-PALMYRA RD., FAIRPORT, NY 14450

They are open Monday through Friday: 9am to 7pm
Saturday - Sunday: 9am to 4pm
They have cut as young as 3 weeks old on up.  Haircuts cost $15, and they can wash hair which is an additional $7 and needs to be requested when making your appointment.  Walk ins are welcome but appointments are preferred.

One way to save money is with their Haircuts Club card.  It costs $150 it lets you get 12 haircuts for the price of 10!  To purchase this card you have to pay cash so come prepared.  For individual haircuts you can charge it but they do prefer cash or check.

The Ronald McDonald House sale is coming, the Ronald McDonald House sale is coming!  This is my favorite garage sale of the year.  It’s unbelievably huge and the prices are fair.  I love that they actually test everything, all the games, toys, and puzzles have been tested and marked if any parts are missing.  I love that, I hate buying a toy getting it home to find out you put batteries in it and it doesn’t work.  This way that never happens, it’s awesome.  They run it out of the former Dick’s sporting goods store in Henrietta so you can kind of picture how huge it is, they fill the entire store packed to the gills!

What I like to do is donate to the sale in September so I get a special donor ticket which allows me into the donor sale which is before the public is allowed into the sale on Oct 14.  But be prepared for Black Friday type lines and crowds.  For the donor sale I usually show up an hour before the doors open and have to wait in a line that goes all the way to the back of the building and loops back to the front.  Inside isn’t much better once the doors open, security telling people not to run and crowds of people with their carts loaded up.  Then once you’re done you have to wait in a line that stretches to the back of the store.  It’s unbelievable!  But I love it, I go every year without fail.  I go for the donor sale and then again on Saturday afternoon for the bag sale where you can fill a large bag with anything for $5 a bag.  I did this when I was pregnant and had a whole wardrobe for $ for my first baby.

Because of the crowds I leave the kids at home with my husband or a babysitter.  And I bring my own cart with me because they don’t have any there for you.  A shopping cart, or a stroller is a must have because you can’t possibly carry that much stuff in your arms.  But despite the craziness this is also the most organized garage sale you’ve ever seen.  Everything is sorted into departments, like Toys, kids clothing, housewares, books, etc.  There are numerous checkout lanes and they do accept credit cards for purchases over $10.  They also have a number of people available to help you get big items out to your car too.

And it’s all in the name of charity, the Ronald McDonald House which helps families who have children in the hospital.  The sale starts Oct 14-16 at the former Dick’s Sporting goods store in Henrietta across from Walmart on Marketplace Dr.  When more details come out about donating I’ll be sure to let you know, but for now make sure to save the dates this is not to be missed.

Looking for affordable hot weather activities the whole family can enjoy? Visit MAG and our neighbor, George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film. At the admission desk, request a half-off coupon (available with paid or member’s free admission). Then present the coupon at the Eastman House within seven days for half-price admission. Eastman House visitors heading to MAG will receive the same courtesy.

MAG Offers Free Admission to Military Personnel and Families

The Memorial Art Gallery is pleased to be part of BLUE STAR MUSEUMS, a summer-long partnership of the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, and more than 600 museums across the country. Blue Star Museums, including MAG, are extending free admission to active duty military personnel and families from Tuesday, June 1 through Sunday, September 5, 2010.

Half-Price Thursdays

Looking for things to do that won’t break the bank? Journey through 5,000 years of human creativity at MAG, which now offers half-price Thursday evening admission. The reduced admission, in effect every Thursday from 5 to 9 pm, is $5; senior citizens $3; college students with ID $2.50; and children 6-18 $2.50. Admission is always free to MAG members, University of Rochester students, and children 5 and under.

I love to travel, anywhere and everywhere, so I don’t need much excuse to take a daytrip with my girls.  We’ve been so busy with vacation bible schools that we haven’t made any trips in a while so this being their first week with no VBS we had a whole day free so we decided to drive off to Buffalo to visit their zoo.  We went there once last fall and had a good time and figured it was about time to go again.  From our house there it takes just over an hour to get there and they have nice zoo, we spent almost 4 hours there.  One of the reasons we chose to go there is with our Seneca Park Zoo membership we get a 50% off discount on the admission there making it a cheap day out. 

It’s a really nice zoo, not a really big zoo, but it does have a number of animals that we don’t have at the Rochester zoo like zebras, giraffes, and lions, among others.  The zoo is laid out in a circular pattern so you don’t have to travel back and forth to make sure you see all the animals.  And most of the animal habits are fairly small so you get a better chance of seeing the animals then in some larger more modern zoos where the animals have plenty of room to hide.

Some of our favorite things were the Wings & Things bird show, the carousel, feeding the Lorikeets, and the tropical rainforest building which is beautiful.  There are various animal encounters that they charge extra fees for, and a few tours that are free, along with the sea lion demonstration and bird show.  Katrina loved the bird show it was her favorite thing seeing the smallest owl(weighs the equivilent of 100 paperclips), miniature ducks and chickens.  Feeding the Lorikeets costs $1 per person who’s feeding the birds and is well worth the money if your kids are patient enough to wait for the birds to come out of hiding.  They limit the feedings to 3 times a day so that the birds will be hungry when it’s time.

I say to be appropriately prepared to visit this zoo you should bring along lots of $1 bills because your kids will want to ride the carousel, train, and feed the birds.  The carousel and train each cost $1 per kid per ride and you have to buy tokens from a machine which only takes either $1 or $5 bills and doesn’t give you change.  At the birds you can pay cash and get change from a person so that’s easier.  Of course all three of these things are seasonal, feeding the Lorikeets runs through Sept 6.  Also they do charge $3.25 to park your car in their parking lot but there is plenty of free parking in the surrounding area, in both my trips there I haven’t paid for parking yet.

Located just a few minutes from the thruway at:

Another Fantastic Free Facebook Friday
We are once again inviting all of our friends to come and play with us for free. On Friday 8/6, people can take advantage of free admission and free pizza.  This Facebook Friday, however we want to take advantage of the support of our friends to raise awareness for a couple of great charities. The Cancer Wellness Spa of Greater Rochester and Better Day Buddies are great programs that help patients right here in the Rochester area.
The Cancer Wellness Spa of Greater Rochester provides diversionary activities for patients while they are receiving chemotherapy treatments. Chemotherapy can be emotionally, mentally and physically taxing. It is commonly associated with unpleasant side affects. Providing activities allows the patients the opportunity to have a more positive experience. Some of the spa services provided are manicures, makeovers, skin care, scarf and wig demonstrations, personal training and hearty snacks.
Better Day Buddies is a program that pushes into the outpatient treatment room for children ages 2-20. For 4-days a week and with 2-volunteers a day Better Day Buddies provides craft bags which include a book and project which the child takes home. The volunteers read the stories and facilitate the craft project with the children. Better Day Buddies also provides lunch for the kids receiving treatment and their families.
For more information on Cancer Wellness Spa and Better Day Buddies visit:
http://www.cancerwellnessspa.com/

At Kango, we love the idea of helping families, and we think these programs do some great work. A portion of all food and game sales will go directly to funding these groups.
For Facebook Friday, you can get free admission and a free slice of pizza for every child in your family. All you need to do is make your personal status (the box that says, “What’s on your mind”):
Kango Supports The Cancer Wellness Spa and Better Day Buddies and So Do I.
Print out your Facebook page and bring it in as your coupon. Play Center members will receive 500 game points for each child instead of admission.
If you are not already, please be a fan of Kango Academy and Play Center on Facebook. It is a great way to keep up with everything we have going on.

General Admission - $8 Per Child
Annual Membership $80 per Family
Hours: Sunday - Thursday 10 am –7 pm
Friday and Saturday 10 am - 8 pm
Kango Play Center and Academy
1565 Jefferson Rd
Suite 180
In the Eagles Landing Business Park
585-235-PLAY(7529)
www.KangoPlay.com
ICanPlay@KangoPlay.com