Hello Friends
It has been a long time since I updated this blog and I do miss it. It was a nice way to share my thoughts. However, since my website (www.kidsinstl.com) has taken off and I update a blog to go with the work web site, I just don’t have time.

So, I have come to a compromise to make me happy and still do both blogs. I am going to put just little personal bits about my life, day, family or just whatever. Then I am going to copy the info from my work blog. Please don’t let my work blog turn you off from stopping by, it is just about stuff to do with your family and kids…. Actually pretty useful stuff.

So that is it for now.. and here is some of my ‘work’ blog. It is good to be back!
Renee

St Louis Family and Kid Activities from December 22 - December 28

Want to check out the best web site for families with kids in St Louis! There are so many things to find on this site: Kids Events Around Town, Kids Birthday Party Venues , Travel Tips, Kids Eat Free Restaurants , Daycares and Preschools , Kids With Special Needs, Daily Activity Calendar, Sensory Recipes, Kids In the Kitchen, Area Parks, Everything Holiday and much more. Here is a sneak peek of the activities for the week and some info from the site. Just go to http://www.kidsinstl.com/for the full list with details.

Play Date Anyone???
This week we are going to spotlight a part of our site a little differently. Have you heard of the company Little Fishes Swim School? Not only are they one of our new advertising friends, but they are a great swim school that has a special offer for our members.

Little Fishes wants to open their doors to offer a free venue to host a very neat play date for any group of Mom’s. Your group can be an official Mom’s Club or just a few moms who want to hang out together. They have a super warm pool, a nice play area and even a snack room for enjoying your lunch. All they ask is if your call and set-up your date and time for your play date. Make sure to tell them you are a kidsinstl member!

Time for a Party….. Over 210 Places to Go!
When we started this site, we were able to compose around 50 fun places to host a kid’s birthday. Now many months later we are totally floored to see our list soar to over 210 places around town. Who would have guessed there are so many great places around town for a kid’s party? If you have not checked the list out lately, take a peek. We bet there will be at least a couple of places you are unfamiliar with and are quite surprised to see.

Monday ~ December 22
9 AM - 10 AM
Infant Play Cooper Ella
9 AM - 5 PM
Gardenland Express Botanical Garden
10 AM - 11 AM
Storytime at WholeFoods Market
10 AM - 11 AM
Paint me a Story - The Painting Paw
11 AM - 1 PM
Imaginary Theatre Company - The Little Fir Tree
2 PM - 4 PM
Imaginary Theatre Company - The Little Fir Tree
5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Wild Lights at the Zoo
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Dinner with Santa at the Zoo
7:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Dinner with Santa at the Zoo Tuesday ~ December 23
9 AM - 5 PM
Gardenland Express Botanical Garden
9:15 AM - 10:15 AM
Creation Station Museum of Transportation
10 AM - 10:30 AM
Story Time at Pottery Barn
10 AM - 11 AM
Childrens Morning Storytime Barnes & Noble Ladue
10 AM - 4 PM
Winter Celebrations - The Childrens Museum
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Preschool Story Time Brentwood Library
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Preschool Story Time Brentwood Library
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Creation Station - Transport Museum Association
11 AM - 1 PM
Imaginary Theatre Company - The Little Fir Tree
11 AM - 12 PM
Tuesday Morning Storytime Ballwin Borders
11:45 AM - 12:45 PM
Creation Station - Transport Museum Association
5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Wild Lights at the ZooWednesday ~ December 24
Christmas Eve Thursday ~ December 25
Merry Christmas Friday ~ December 26
9 AM - 5 PM
Gardenland Express Botanical Garden
9:15 AM - 10:15 AM
Creation Station Museum of Transportation
10 AM - 4 PM
ZOOmagination Station St Louis Zoo
10 AM - 11 AM
Childrens Morning Storytime Barnes & Noble Ladue
10 AM - 4 PM
Winter Celebrations - The Childrens Museum
10:30 AM - 11 AM
Babymoon Boutique Story Time
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Creation Station - Transport Museum Association
11 AM - 11:45 AM
Drop-In Play Date Babymoon Boutique
11:45 AM - 12:45 PM
Creation Station - Transport Museum Association
5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Wild Lights at the Zoo
6 PM - 7 PM
Kwanzaa: A Cultural Celebration -St Louis Art MuseumSaturday ~ December 27
8 AM - 10 AM
Musical Merry-Go Round FM 88.1 KDHX Program
9 AM - 5 PM
Gardenland Express Botanical Garden
10 AM - 4 PM
ZOOmagination Station St Louis Zoo
10 AM - 4 PM
Winter Celebrations - The Childrens Museum
10:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Penguin Pals & Polar Bear Fun Days Brentwood Library
11 AM - 12 PM
Children's Story Time! Barnes & Noble Cross Keys
12 PM - 2:30 PM
Penguin Party - Missouri History Museum
5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Wild Lights at the Zoo
7:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Saturday Night Storytime Ballwin Borders
7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
St Louis Symphony Orchestra Oz with Orchestra Sunday ~ December 28
9 AM - 5 PM
Gardenland Express Botanical Garden
1 PM - 4 PM
Art that Glitters and Glows -St Louis Art Museum
3 PM - 5 PM
St Louis Symphony Orchestra Oz with Orchestra
4 PM - 5 PM
Joga Yoga for Kids
5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Wild Lights at the Zoo

When Daddy Thinks No One is Watching

Today was one of those days that you catch a sneak peek of you husband and all those totally annoying things he does just doesn’t really matter.

It was a beautiful day out today, so the kids were playing in the backyard while I cooked dinner. My husband came home and went straight to the yard to play with the kids.

As I spent the next 50 minutes cooking dinner, I would occasionally peek out in the yard. Here are some of the things I saw and it made me smile from the inside – out.

- Daddy and Soph sitting on the ground making flower crowns so they BOTH could wear one.
- Daddy taking turns swinging each of the kids around and around even though I could tell his arms were hurting him
- Daddy playing hide and seek and acting like he could not find the kids even though they hid in the same spot the last 8 times.
- Daddy playing hopscotch, boy that was a scary
- Daddy scooping the sand out of the mouth of the little guy and not even scolding him once (that kid has such a taste for sand, ugg)
- Daddy dancing around with bubble wands making bubbles everywhere

So… tonight I pushed aside the dirty socks on the floor, shrugged off the dinner dishes left on the table and didn’t even say a thing when my loving husband blew his nose and left the tissue on the end table. Without even trying, he reminded me that all those little annoying things he does can be overlooked or forgiven… because he is a wonder Daddy and Husband… and those are qualities worth their weight in gold.

Here are two of my favorite pictures! Daddy with both his kids when they were just born.

Hey if you got a minute, check out my web site http://www.kidsinstl.com/

There is a ton of great stuff – Great Present suggestion for Mothers Day, Kid Recipes, St Louis Birthday Party ideas, Parenting Tips, Children’s Books, Travel Tips and much more.

Here is a sample of some of the Travel Tips:
Traveling with a Toddler

- Use a lightweight umbrella stroller verses a cumbersome stroller

- Make sure that you have lots of magazines, crayons (if you child is ready), and of course books and toys

- Ensure that you have an extra change of clothes

- Check your stroller in at the gate verse at the check-in counter, so that you can push your child around while waiting for the plane to arrive

- Have a good supply of snacks and cups

- Walk your child up and down the airport terminal to burn energy

www.kidsinstl.com

Thank God for the Teachers that Go that Extra Mile

Thank God for the Teachers that Go that Extra Mile

My daughter is in her first year of preschool and loves it. She goes three days a week, but would be perfectly happy to go 5 days if it was offered. My daughter goes to a small private preschool with only 9 students and 2 teachers. First let me explain the ‘private’ part of the school. It is private because it is at a Methodist church and I started out picking this preschool only because it was half the cost of the local public preschool. However after almost ¾ of a school year over, I would never send either of my kids any where else.

What is so cool about this school is that since it is private the class rules and curriculum is more flexible. Once a month each student is required to bring in the snack for the class, however it can be homemade. It is so fun to bake cookies or cupcakes with my daughter for her to bring to her friends at school. Also, the class can celebrate any holiday. We dressed up at Halloween, had a Christmas pageant, and the Easter Bunny made a personal appearance. However, my favorite thing is the curriculum and how the teachers make it fun.

For example, February was Cowboys and Indians month. Yes you read correctly, they learned about Indians, not Native Americans. I know some people think that is politically incorrect to say Indians and not Native Americans. The kids learned about horses, cowboys, western attire, Indians, and wonderful Indian folklore and it was all taught in the most respectful manner.

This last month the class learned about Scotland. Each week my daughter came home with wonderful knowledge about bagpipes, kilts, thistles, the Loch Ness Monster and much more. The most unbelievable thing that the teachers did for these kids was to give them first hand experience about what they learned was by signing them up as participants in the Scottish festival. These teachers personally made each student special outfit, including a kilt, to wear while marching in the parade. These kids had a great experience they will never forget.

So, I will wrap up this entry with a big THANK YOU! To all those teachers out there that go the extra mile, love our children and often use their own time and money to make lifelong memorable learning experiences for our kids.

What Is Happening at – www.kidsinstl.com
We have changed the format of the Parent Forum to make it more user friendly, check it out. Here is a sneak peak of what is going on around town for the next few days. Go to http://www.kidsinstl.com/ to see a detailed list of all the kids activities around St Louis.
Tuesday ~ April 15th
10 AM - 11 AM
A Storytime Classic- Borders Chesterfield
10 AM - 11 AM
Borders Storytime - Classic Story about Corduroy
4 PM - 5 PM
Club Read: Chinese 'Good Luck Knot' Key Rings.
Wednesday ~ April 16th
10 AM - 11 AM
Baby Storytime Sachs Branch
10 AM - 10:45 AM
Toddler Storytime Mid County Library
7 PM - 8 PM
Family Night: Science Fun - Lip Gloss/Putty
Thursday ~ April 17th
10 AM - 10:30 AM
Storytime: Toddler/Preschool - Schlafly Library
10 AM - 11 AM
Borders Storytime - I Want a Pet!
6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Bed Bugs Bedtime Story Hour
Friday ~ April 18th
10 AM - 1 PM
Earth Day Extravaganza
11:15 AM - 12 PM
Drop in Play Date Baby Moon Boutique
11:45 AM - 1:45 PM
Farm Fair

Nothing but the Girls!

I have been out of the blogging world for the last week or so because my 4 year old daughter and I took our first girls trip. We flew out to San Francisco to see a friend’s new baby. I also must tell you that I left my 2 year old son with my husband for a week of male bonding.



This was a trip I was not only was excited about but I also needed for a mental health break from the home front. Overall the trip was wonderful! The baby is super sweet and my daughter had a blast.

Here are a few things I have learned about taking a girls trip with a 4 year old and leaving your son and husband on their own for the week.
- Take a lot of little snacks for the plane ride. I say little because it keeps things interesting if they can have many different snacks instead of just a big bag of chips or something.
- Apologize to the person that is sitting in front and on the side of your child at the beginning of the flight. No matter how much I told my daughter not to kick the seat or yell, she still did it. Now I must say she was pretty good, but there were still some moments.
- Buy some new little toys or games for the plane. Since these were all things she had never seen or played with just getting them out of the package and open was an adventure. (and took up time)
- When leaving your husband and your 2 yr old son to fend for themselves make sure there is a lot of easily prepared foods that are nutritious… or they will just live off of Hardees.
- Do not expect to come home to a clean house. Just be happy that everyone is safe. However I must tell you.. when we walked in the house I immediately smelled gas. I ran to the kitchen to find the knob on the stove top turned. My husband then comments …’Oh that is where that smell is coming from, I thought I smelled gas when I woke up’ OMG!!! I am so thankful that my house did not blow up or that the dogs didn't take a nap and never wake up!

Wellp, we are back and look forward to getting back to the normal daily routine!

My Web Site – http://www.kidsinstl.com/

Added a bunch of activities to the calendar. Trying to get it pumped up with activities for spring and summer. Go to the site http://www.kidsinstl.com/ and check it out!!

Here is a preview of what is on our Recommended Toys Page:

RECOMMENDED TOYS FOR THE YOUNG CHILD - 24-36 MONTHS
SPORTS:
Little Tikes TotSports T-Ball Set
Mini Gertie Ball
TENTS/TUNNELS:

Thomas the Tank Engine

Find Me Multicolor Play Tunnel
ALPHABET:

LeapFrog Fridge Farm Magnetic Animal Set
SENSORY:

Little Tikes Bubble Bellies Bubble Saurus

Wordless Wed - Birthdays are Never your Own, Once you have kids

Dance Party With Dr Seuss

Yesterday my kids school celebrated Dr Seuss’s 102nd Birthday. What a guy that Dr Seuss and what a wonderful author. Everyone has a favorite Dr Seuss book, mine has to be ‘A Fly Went By’. My son’s favorite is ‘Go Dog Go’ and my daughter likes ‘Inside your Outside’.

It is sort of funny if you really look at the books each of us likes, ‘A Fly Went By’ has a part about the little boy getting a switch and whipping the fox chasing the pig and that always makes me chuckle because now a days a children’s author would never write something so non-PC in a book.

My Son likes the ‘Go Dog Go’ book simply because he digs doggies. The thing I find funny is he always inquires why the dogs are blue and green, not why are the dogs driving cars. Just shows what is important in his little mind.

Now my daughter just turned 4 so she is a little sponge for knowledge, which is why ‘Inside your Outside’ is her favorite. She just loves to ask questions about red and while blood cells and other body stuff the book talks about. I often have to go to the internet to find the answers to her questions.

The school went all out with crafts, story time, dancing and specials guests like – Clifford, The Cat in The Hat and Mother Goose. It was a great day and we had a blast. What a wonderful way to pay tribute to a guy we forget played such a big role in many of our young lives.

Here is a little clip of my daughter dancing at the party. This clip is a little over 2 mins long, but I promise you will be smiling by the end.

My Web Site – http://www.kidsinstl.com/

Added a bunch of activities to the calendar. Trying to get it pumped up with activities for spring and summer. Here is a list of some of the activities going on around St Louis the next couple of days. Go to the site http://www.kidsinstl.com/ for more detail.

Monday Mar 17th
9 AM - 10 AMInfant Play Cooper Ella
9 AM - 1 PMEASTER BUNNY HUTCH
10 AM - 11:30 AM'It's Easy Finding Green' Hike
10:30 AM - 11:30 AMRocking Chair Story Time

Tuesday Mar 18th
9:15 AM - 10:15 AMCreation Station Museum of Transportation
10 AM - 10:30 AMStory Time at Pottery Barn
2:15 PM - 3:15 PMShoemaker And The Elves - Kramer's Marionette Theater
4 PM - 5 PMClub Read: Xbox 360 - Got Game?

Hey for all of you that are not in St Louis, I want to share one of the many other parts of my site that can be used by anyone regardless of where they live. Here is a partial list of some of the books we recommend for children. From the home page click on the Recommended Books button– To see the whole list check out our site. http://www.kidsinstl.com/
BOOKS RECOMMENDED FOR THE YOUNG CHILD (24-36 MONTHS)
COUNTING: Baby Buddies: Can You Count (Baby Buddies)
INTRODUCTION TO SPANISH: My First Spanish Word Book / Mi Primer Libro De Palabras En Español
INTERACTIVE/PROPS: Hide-And-Seek With Leo: A Hand-Puppet Book
RHYMING/SONG: Baby Beluga (Raffi Songs to Read)
ANIMAL CHARACTERISTICS: My Jungle Pop-up Book
SELF-ESTEEM: The Mixed-Up Chameleon

FACT or FICTION ...........Make it stop!

With my crazy kid schedule and the closing in holiday I have not had much time to get on the computer. However, many things have happened in the last few days to give me plenty of data for this little blog I will call Fact or Fiction.

1) When you sit on a ball of Silly Putty and smash it all over your living room chair and pants – both are ruined forever. FICTION
~ Actually Silly Putty rubs off pretty easily, you just have to take your time. However, I was still pretty mad and threw the Putty away.

2) Markers that claim to be ‘washable’ will not stain the white fur of a dog when the kids decide to color him. FICTION
~ Boy my poor doggie … the kids colored his legs and part of his back. Now this may be a Fact if I would have gave him an intense scrub down, but it is winter here so I was only able to wipe him with wash rags and soap. He is still a bit pink and green.

3) With a determination a 2 year old can actually put on his own diaper. FACT
~ I refused to put a diaper on my little guy until he at least tried to pee pee on the potty. He walked into his room, shut the door…then walked out with a diaper that was put on totally correct. Wellp, I guess we will try potty training again in a couple months.

4) If you eat a handful of sand it will come out the looking almost the same as it went in. FACT
~ A little nice weather makes the kids go crazy. After a long winter, I let the kids go out in the yard on a day it warmed up. I stepped inside to get some drinks and in that short time my little guy ate at least one huge handful of sand. Ick.. that can’t taste good. (Side note – I did call poison control and the only real hazard with sand is chocking.) Well the next morning I changed a diaper full of poopy sand. Yuck!

5) Finger Nail Polish remover will eat the polish on a wood table almost immediately. FACT
~ My little girl wanted her nail painted for her 4 yr pics. So we had to take of the old stuff. I walked to the counter to get a napkin (4 seconds) came back to see my daughter squeezing the cotton ball with the remover in it on the table. Well I quickly wiped it off, but there is still 3 circle marks on my table…bummer.

6) The Easter Bunny will know where to bring your basket, even if you are not at home on Easter Morning. FACT
~ My little girl verified this with the Easter Bunny today when she sat on his lap today. We are doing a girl’s trip to San Francisco…. Can’t wait!

Check out my web site - www.kidsinstl.com
It is a wonderful resource for anyone with kids! It is jam packed with fun things to do with the kids while on spring break.