I’ve been watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade every year since I was a child. I love checking out all the floats, and the big balloons floating down the street. It’s definitely a tradition at our house while we’re getting ready to head out to make our family rounds for the day.
This year we will be watching the 83rd edition of the Macy’s Parade. This year’s parade will be setting another new milestone, it’s marched down parts of Broadway for 82 years, the 2009 procession will be the first to bypass Broadway during the route.
Joining Macy’s parade favorites this year …read more

The other day I talked about our family having a weekly family game night, usually on Fridays, today I want to tell you about National Family Game Night coming up on September 23rd. Hasbro is challenging families to turn off their TV’s and play a game together as a family on the 23rd.

I know schedules are hectic, both children and parents are busy, but why not devote one night to getting “unplugged” and enjoying each others company over a game? If you can’t do it on the 23rd set aside a day and hold everyone in the family to making …read more

Microsoft Xbox just announced it is partnering with The Children’s Miracle Network in the “Gameroom Giveaway,” to bring gameroom makeovers to reward the best hospitals in the network. The “Gameroom Giveaway” contest encourages America to vote for the Children’s Miracle Network hospital they think is the best.

At the end of voting the three hospitals with the most votes will receive a gameroom makeover, valued at $10,000 each. The contest is part of Xbox’s larger effort with the Children’s Miracle Network to raise funds for the 170 children’s hospitals in the network and to provide new equipment to create a more …read more

Crayola has a whole line up of gift ideas for creative kids coming this holiday season. I know when I go shopping for my son and my nephews the first place I look is in the art supplies, or for gifts they can use to create. They’re always a hit. It’s gives them something to stay in touch with their creative side, even when they’re on the go.

One of my favorites is the Crayola Portable Art Studio. Kids can have all the art supplies they need all in one place. The best part for us is when we’re heading out …read more

Denny’s restaurant updated its children’s menu to include several healthy alternatives with their kid’s meals. The healthy changes are part of Denny’s Better For You campaign launched in June of this year.

Denny’s new Better For You choices for kids include Tumbling Vanilla (vanilla yogurt with strawberry topping), “High Diving Veggies” (carrots, celery and cucumber), Apple Dunkers, Jell-O®, “Spaghetti, Set, Go!” (spaghetti with marinara sauce), and pudding.

Denny’s also took several items off their kid’s menu, including Big Dipper French-Toastix™ (French toast sticks), hot dogs, and “D-Fusion™” sugar beverage packets.
Denny’s is trying to be proactive in adding healthy alternatives to their menu, …read more

When I was growing up I was a total farm girl (tom boy). I loved growing up on the farm, and I loved animals (especially horses). I used to beg for farm sets, or horses when we went to the store. Sometimes I came home with a new one to add to my collection. I would spend hours setting up farms on the floor, outside in the dirt, or on a large piece of board my parents gave me.

After I set up my little farm towns I would spend hours in my make believe world moving the animals and the …read more

We love our local county fair. I grew up going to the fair, and taking different 4-H, and open class projects to the fair to exhibit or show. Now my son is in 4-H and taking his own projects to the fair. It really is great family fun. The kids learn from their project, and for us it’s a great time to spend time together as a family.
Saturday my son showed his dog in obedience and showmanship, and even won a couple ribbons! This was his first year to work with the dog, and he was stoked after the show, …read more

Amusement parks can be great family fun, especially during the summer. With the tighter economy an amusement park visit can be part of a shorter vacation, or a family staycation. You usually don’t have to go far to find family fun at an amusement park.
We have several parks here in Ohio, including a couple giants, King’s Island, and Cedar Point. Most amusement parks offer discounted tickets if you look around. You can find even better deals toward the end of the summer.
Here are a few more tips for saving money at an amusement park:

You can pack your lunch or …read more

This summer we’ve had rain, rain, and more rain! So what do you do when you have whole days indoors because it won’t stop raining. So what have we been doing when it’s too cold and rainy to hit the pool or the park?

Hit the local library, most have summer reading programs for kids with daily or weekly activities. There are also tons of books and magazines to browse through and talk about.
Go bowling! Many bowling alleys have discounted rates during summer weekdays, since it’s their slow time.
Go see a movie, there are several summer blockbusters for kids this year. …read more

Today was my son’s last day of school for the summer. He came home with a really cool class book to remember his classmates. All of the kids in his class filled out one sheet of paper and answered several questions.

Favorite food
/li>
Favorite book
Favorite color
Favorite subject
Funniest thing that happened this year
This summer I will…
Liked most
Liked least
Nickname
Favorite song
What I want to remember…

Each student also had space at the bottom of the page to draw a picture. Some drew a picture of something that happened during the school year, and others drew pictures of what they will do this summer.
The teacher bound all …read more