Things to do:

Monday, February 20, 2012

CONTEST! Family 4 Pack of tickets to see the Fresh Beat Band - take 2!

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Check out their new website -- http://www.freshbeatbandlive.com/ , Facebook page www.facebook.com/freshbeatbandlive and for more Fresh Beat activities and fun go to http://www.nickjr.com/the-fresh-beat-band



SUNDAY, MARCH 11, 2012 3:00 P.M.

TICKETS: $39.50 / $32.50

TICKETS AVAILABLE VIA LOUSIVILLEPALACE.COM, TICKETMASTER OUTLETS, THE PALACE THEATRE BOX OFFICE OR CHARGE BY PHONE  1-800-745-3000


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GOOD LUCK!!!

The Mommy Nest Mondays - Lessons of Motherhood

Of all the milestones in my life becoming a mother has taught me the most important lessons. On March 3, 2006 I became a mother to a beautiful little girl that we named Lindsay. After 16 hours of labor the first lesson I learned from motherhood is patience. Since that date I have also learned more about my priorities, as well as a greater appreciation for my own parents.

Waiting for my daughter to make her appearance that day was only the first of many lessons in patience I would learn. I had no say in when she would come and I just had to accept it. As with most babies, Lindsay also objected to mommy and daddy getting a full 8 hours of sleep. In the beginning we thought we were lucky, she would only wake once a night. At about four months old she started to sleep though the night. Hallelujah. It was to be short lived. Lindsay started to get her first tooth and again we are up in the middle of the night. This lasted until she was 4 and half. I relied on my patience to know that the sleepless nights wouldn’t last forever and that helped me get through those rough nights and long days that follow.

Unlike patience, which was there the moment Lindsay was born; my priorities seemed to take a little longer to go into effect. Her health and happiness have always been a main concern, but beyond that I really had not set any major priorities for myself for motherhood. I was kind of winging it. That all changed the first time she spoke the word momma. Strangely that little word made me realize that in order to meet her concerns I needed to change my priorities. My first priority was to obtain my degree to set a good example for her about learning and school. So a month before her first birthday this momma went to college for the first time. I am now happy to report that my graduation happened to fall just 3 days after her first day of kindergarten. Her playing around dressed up in my graduation gown was enough to tell me that I had set an important priority for myself.

Patience and priorities are wonderful lessons motherhood has taught me, but the greatest lesson so far is the appreciation I found for my parents. A Chinese proverb says “To understand your parents’ love, you must raise children yourself.” As the years fly by I find that this proverb is so true. I understand more and more, all the things my parents did. The rules that I once thought were so strict and unfair as a child are the exact rules I now have in place. I have those rules because I want to love and protect my little girl like they did their own little girl.

Patience, priorities, and appreciation are a few of the lessons motherhood has taught me so far. I am sure as Lindsay continues to grow up, there will be many more lessons and I welcome them all.

The Mommy Nest- Misty McCubbins for The Mommy Nest

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Review of Busy, Busy Airport and Curious George Hide and Seek Zoo from Wonder Forge

Recently, I got 2 games from Wonder Forge and they have easily become my kids' favorite games!

PhotobucketWhat I love about both of these games is that they both encourage the kids to get up and move!

PhotobucketFirst, the Busy, Busy Airport game is themed around the Richard Scarry books.  My kids know these books and love all of the pictures so they took to the game with zeal.  The box serves as the airport.  The kids spread the destination boards around the house, we kept them on the same level.  All of the little passengers take their places at the airport, the souvenir cards get stacked at the destinations and everyone gets an airplane.  The kids roll the dice by dropping them down the control tower and the dice have pictures on them.  There will be two options and they get to pick which one they want to do.  They can pick up passengers or fly them to their destinations.  If kids have passengers, they can fly them to the beach, mountains, city or forest.  They drop off passengers and pick up souvenirs.  The passengers and souvenirs all slide into the airplanes.  We play until all of the passengers have left the airport and the winner is the one with the most souvenirs.  It is such an adorable game!
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PhotobucketThe Curious George Hide and Seek Zoo is great for kids that love the show or kids that just love animals.  There are sections of the zoo with cards.  There's also a little bus that kids can move and when it reaches the end of the road, that's how you know the game is over.  The best part is the walkie talkie.  Kids press the button and it tells them to do 1 of 3 things: move the bus, flip a card or that the animals have escaped!  When kids flip the cards, it shows an animal with a problem (like their cage is broken, they are out of food or they are thirsty).  They place the card down and then spin.  The spinner allows them to help the animals! When kids help the animals, they keep a card. If they move the bus, they still get to spin to help an animal. If the walkie talkie siren goes off and the animals escape, everyone except the player with the walkie talkie grabs an animal mask, puts it off and has 30 seconds to hide.  Then, the sounds on the walkie talkie changes and  the player can go find the animals.  They collect cards for each animal they find.  At the end, the player with the most cards, wins!
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Both games are complex enough to keep it interesting, but simple enough for younger players (like a 3 year old) to still participate.  We have played the games over and over, even taken them to playdates.  They are really well made and fun for everyone!

Stephanie

SURPRISE!  We have a game to give away! It's the Busy, Busy Aiport Game!
I suggest you"Like" Wonder Forge on Facebook, they run giveaways! That's how I got the Curious George game!

PhotobucketThen, visit their website and post a comment on this blog post telling us which other games you see look like ones your kids would love! The contest will close at midnight on 2/23 and we will randomly select a winner on 2/24 and announce the winner on THIS POST.  Comment once using an account or type in your name and last initial.  Winner must be able to pick up the prize at a time we arrange, location will be Vint Coffee Northfield.

Saturday, February 18, 2012

WINNER! 4 Tickets to see the Fresh Beat Band!

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I am so excited to announce the winner of this contest! The winner gets 4 tickets to the March 11th Show at the Louisville Palace.

And, the groovy winner is:  Judy Frazier

Judy- please email info@louisvillefamilyfun.net
to claim your prize!

No worries!  We are giving away another family 4 pack of tickets next week! Stay tuned

CONTEST! KidStuff Sale! Prize for Consignors / Sellers

WINNER! Cyndi Whitworth email info@louisvillefamilyfun.net to claim!!

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NEW KidStuff Sale Consignors / seller prize!

New consignors: It's your chance to win a FREE registration fee at any of our 3 upcoming KidStuff Sale spring/summer events.  Sellers receive 70-85% of their personal sales!  This is a great way to clear out your closets and get some cash to put toward your growing child's wardrobe.  If you haven't ever sold at a consignment sale, give it a try!

I encourage you to Follow the KidStuff Sale on Facebook and Twitter. This way, you can stay up to date on deadlines for registrations, shopping dates and special deals!


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Good luck!

Stephanie

Friday, February 17, 2012

Things to do in and around Louisville this weekend February 17,18,19

Check out my new fancy-schmancy video!




Farm Machinery Show info - Click HERE


Farmer Jason Concert at Uncle Slaytons - Click HERE


Derby City Film Festival info - Click HERE

Summer Camps in Louisville 2012: Art, Music, Dance, Theater

Art, Music, Dance or Theater summer day camps in Louisville / Kentuckiana for 2012


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PhotobucketSummer Camps at The Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft


KidArt Camp- The Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft is excited to offer a new format for summer camps this year. We will be offering both morning and afternoon sessions; Morning sessions will introduce kids to a variety of media with a different project each day. Afternoon sessions will offer more in-depth learning on a focused subject. Kids will have the option of attending one or both sessions each week. Kids staying all day will have lunch from 12:00-1:00.


$85 Members/$100 non-members per half-day session


June 11th-15th
Morning session (9:00-12:00) – Grades K-2nd
Afternoon session (1:00-4:00) – Clay Focus (grades 1-6)

June 25th-29th
Morning session (9:00-12:00) – Grades K-2nd
Afternoon session (1:00-4:00) – Fiber Focus (grades 1-6)

July 9th-13th
Morning session (9:00-12:00) – Grades 3rd-5th
Afternoon session (1:00-4:00) – Printmaking and Graphic Arts Focus (grades 1-6)

July 30th-August 3rd
Morning session (9:00-12:00) – Grades 3rd-5th
Afternoon session (1:00-4:00) – Clay Focus (grades 1-6)


In addition, we will be offering a week at the end of the summer where kids can register by the day, for those who are unable to attend for an entire week.
Cost: $20 member/ $22.50 non-member
August 6th-10th
Morning session (9:00-12:00) – All ages (register by the day)
Afternoon session (1:00-4:00) – All ages (register by the day)

BLACKACRE ART WEEK - July 23rd-27th - Grades 6th-8th - 9:15-4:15 - $160 without bus, $180 with bus. Blackacre Art Week is a week long day-camp for middle school students with an interest in art and nature. Set at beautiful Blackacre Nature Preserve in eastern Louisville, this exciting summer camp gives kids the opportunity to create art with four professional artists, while exploring the beauty of the preserve.
To register or for more info, call 502.589.0102 or go to www.kentuckyarts.org/education-camps


PhotobucketH.O.P.E. Percussion Camp- The Johnny Lee Lane Hands On Percussion Experience (H.O.P.E.) at the University of Louisville is designed for middle school and high school percussionists. Dates are July 15 – 21, 2012. The areas of focus include drumset, concert percussion, marching percussion, Latin percussion,electronics and percussion ensemble. Please follow the provided link for more information and registration. Johnny Lee Lane is Director of Education for REMO, Inc.. Dr. Greg Byrne, Director of Percussion Studies at the University of Louisville, is the Founder and Host of H.O.P.E.

Visit www.louisville.edu/music/hope for more information.


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Art @ the Beach-  www.dupontmanual.com/art  (2012 dates not listed yet)

Assumption High School-  http://www.ahsrockets.org/  Art, Graphic Design, music theatre, drama and more!

Bellarmine University- bellarmine.edu/ce/summeryouthcamps.asp
They have some fun art options like cartooning!  (2012 not yet listed)

Camp Shakespeare
St. Francis High School
Age: 4 - 14 Summer Camp: June 6 - July 17  $200
http://www.kyshakespeare.com/Kentucky_Shakespeare/Camp_Shakespeare.html

Earth and Fire Pottery By You  http://www.earthfirepottery.com/  2012 Dates not yet released

Jewish Community Center of Louisville-  http://www.jcclouisvillecamp.org/  - variety of options for all ages

Louisville Nature Center-  http://www.louisvillenaturecenter.org/  Options for age 4-12, ranges from $115 to $200

Oldham County Schools Arts Center -  http://www.ocsartscenter.org/  Half day options for ages 4-17, can combine for a full day

Presentation Academy- http://www.presentationacademy.org/  2012 camps not listed yet

Sacred Heart School for the Arts- http://www.sacredheartschools.org/arts/summer_camps.php  2012 dates not yet listed

Southern Indiana Center for the Arts- http://www.soinart.com/artcamps.html 2012 Dates not yet listed

Spot 5 Art Studio - http://www.spot5artstudio.com/  2012 Dates not yet released

Squallis Puppeteers- http://www.squallispuppeteers.com/ 2012 Dates not yet released

Star Bird Pottery- http://www.starbirdpottery.com/  2012 Dates not yet released

The Speed Art Museum- http://www.speedmuseum.org/SummerCamp.html 2012 Dates not yet released

Walden Theatre-http://www.waldentheatre.org/summer.asp Camps for kids age 5-18 for art, imagination, theater, acting, comedy and more. Fees starting at $125

Gheens Science Hall and Rauch Planetariumplanetarium.louisville.edu  Camps for grades 1-6, 2012 dates notyet released

Louisville Visual Art Assoiciation- http://www.louisvillevisualart.org/summercamps.html - Classes for elementary, middle and high school students, fees start at $110


Click HERE for our Sports Camp listings!

Click HERE for our Academic Camp Listings!

Click HERE for General Camp Listings!

Please let us know if there are others to add!  You can get a featured spot for your camp by emailing tiffany@louisvillefamilyfun.net
Note, this is published in February and some businesses have not updated their information. Also, we will add to this list as we find more!

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Review of Culver's

PhotobucketCulver’s is a great family restaurant whether you are just looking to pick something up for home or have a sit down meal together. They have chicken, burgers, and fish sandwiches or dinners with a variety of sides: fries, soup, salad. And let’s not forget the CUSTARD - always having a flavor of the day! If you have never been before, you order your food at the counter, they give you a plastic number, and then they will bring the food to you.

PhotobucketTheir website - http://www.culvers.com/ - is full of information. You can find a section call mindful choices where you see all the calories on the food. Another helpful tab is the allergen grid. It tells you what allergens are present in their food: corn, dairy, egg, fish, gluten, MSG, peanut, shellfish, soy, tree nut, and wheat.

We recently ate there and had a good meal. I had the butterburger and a salad. I was impressed with the salad that it seemed really fresh and green. My husband had the fried chicken sandwich with fries which you can’t go wrong. My kids split a kids meal with chicken fingers which they enjoyed and that also comes with a scoop of custard. That scoop of custard was huge! We recommend checking out Culver’s even if it just for a special treat of custard.
 
By guest contributor: Jeanette

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Summer Camps in Louisville Kentucky 2012: General Day Camps

General summer day camps in Louisville / Kentuckiana for 2012

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Jewish Community Center of Louisville

PhotobucketExperience the magic of JCC Summer Camp with something for every child.
JCC Summer Camp offers traditional camp for kids 20 months through 6th grade with arts ’n’ crafts, sports, free swim, swim lessons and more!
Children 2 years old receive private swim lessons twice a week, children 3 and 4 years old receive group
swim lessons three times a week and children in Kindergarten through 3rd grade receive group swim
lessons daily.
Specialty camps are also offered which include: Football, Soccer, Theatre, Dance, Horseback Riding, Lego, Sailing and more. All specialty camps swim once a day.
Also, Middle School students have their own camps which include: Community Service, and Counselor
in Training program.

Beautiful campus with two outdoor pools, baseball and soccer fields, basketball and tennis courts, as
well as indoor gymnasiums, auditorium and more! Call for brochure and information.
3600 Dutchmans Lane, Louisville, KY 40205 •   502.459.0660 • http://www.jcclouisvillecamp.org/




PhotobucketHwang’s Summer Camp helps kids develop life skills such as confidence and respect in a fun & positive environment. Campers learn Taekwondo from the best instructors, trained by Olympian Grandmaster Jung Oh Hwang. Each week offers exciting field trips, and everlasting friendships.
Signups for camp is flexible. Try one-week of all day summer camp or sign up for the entire summer. Drop off times are between 7:30 A.M.-9:00 A.M. Pick up times are between 5:00 P.M.-6:00 P.M. For more info visit us at http://www.alldaycamp.com/ and connect facebook.com/Hmalouisville

2931 S. Hurstbourne Parkway
502.499.-7787

2813 N. Hurstbourne and Westport Road
502.412.7755

7321 Preston Highway
502.966.5222

4226 Shelbyville Road
502.893.6000


Oldham County YMCA : variety of programs

Camp HiHo for 5-13 year olds.

Frazier Museum Camp for rising 1st graders through 6th graders

Jefferson Memorial Forest - summer camps for ages 5-12.

Kentucky Humane Society – Camps for Kids ages from 6-16 (2012 info not listed at of Feb '12)

Locust Grove Day camps for ages 7-14 various themes throughout the summer  (2012 info not listed at of Feb '12)

Springale Church has affordable day camps for kids 3 and up (potty trained)

Louisville Nature Center - Day camp for ages 4-12 providing lots of hands-on learning about the local wildlife and habitats found in Beargrass Creek State Nature Preserve

Louisville Science Center has a camp available June to August 12.

Louisville Zoo - has variety of day camps throughout the summer for all ages.

Planetarium - Website says it offers summer camps, but the information has not been released yet.

Rocksport - rock climbing daycamp

YMCA - variety of ages.

EP Tom Sawyer State Park offers camps in June & July. For more information contact the Recreation Office at 429-7270.

Lego camps!  For ages 5-12 at various locations! (2012 info not listed at of Feb '12)


Click HERE for our Sports Camp listings!

Click HERE for our Academic Camp Listings!

Click HERE for our Art, Music, Dance and Theater Camp Listings!

Please let us know if there are others to add!  You can get a featured spot for your camp by emailing tiffany@louisvillefamilyfun.net
Note, this is published in February and some businesses have not updated their information. Also, we will add to this list as we find more!

Summer Camps in Louisville Kentucky 2012: Sports and Fitness Camps

Sports and Fitness summer day camps in Louisville / Kentuckiana for 2012

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PhotobucketHwang’s Summer Camp helps kids develop life skills such as confidence and respect in a fun & positive environment. Campers learn Taekwondo from the best instructors, trained by Olympian Grandmaster Jung Oh Hwang. Each week offers exciting field trips, and everlasting friendships.
Signups for camp is flexible. Try one-week of all day summer camp or sign up for the entire summer. Drop off times are between 7:30 A.M.-9:00 A.M. Pick up times are between 5:00 P.M.-6:00 P.M. For more info visit us at http://www.alldaycamp.com/ and connect facebook.com/Hmalouisville


2931 S. Hurstbourne Parkway
502.499.-7787

2813 N. Hurstbourne and Westport Road
502.412.7755

7321 Preston Highway
502.966.5222

4226 Shelbyville Road
502.893.6000


PhotobucketKentucky Coutry Day Summer Camps

Girls' athletic summer camps:
Field Hockey - Bearkitten - for grades K-4
Field Hockey - Elite - for grades 5-9
Girls Basketball Fundamentals - for grades 5-9
Bearcat Girls Lacrosse - for grades 6-12
Bearkitten Girls Lacrosse - for grades 1-5

Boys' athletic summer camps:
Football Future Champions - for grades 1-8
Middle School Boys Basketball - for grades 5-8
GameBreaker Boys Lacrosse - for ages 8-16



Co-ed athletic summer camps:
Tortoise and the Hare Running - for grades 2-5
Physical and Mental Games Camp - for grades 3-8
Junior Bearcat Basketball - for grades 1-4
Tennis Camp - for grades 1-4
Bearcat Baseball - for grades K-4
Cheer and Tumble Camp - for grades K-2
Dance Till You Drop - for grades K-2
Bearcat Junior Soccer Camp - for grades JK-3

KCD Field Hockey Camp
K-8th grade
June 4th - 7th
Grades K-4 9:00am – 11:00am
Grades 5-9 9:00am – 11:30am
$150 before May 21st, $165 after May 20
The KCD Field Hockey Camp is designed to assist elementary and middle school players in the evelopment of their field hockey skills. The KCD Field Hockey Camp Staff will assist camp players in
learning and developing stick skills, field hockey fundamentals, and team strategies. A basic overview of
field hockey rules and their effect on team play will be discussed.
Players are encouraged to wear cleats and are required to furnish their own stick, mouth guard, shin
guards, and water bottle. If your daughter needs equipment, please call Amy Charasika, 262-3513.



Variety
The JCC offers a variety of summer sports camps for kids in kindergarten and up.

Assumption High School hosts many different sports camps for girls. Note: it is unclear on their site if the dates listed are for 2012, check with them

All About Kids has day camps during the summer called Camp-A-Bunga.  Kids will be able to enjoy a variety of activities including swimming and gymnastics.

KGA  is offering 'Big Kid Kare' where kids learn some soccer, tumbling, gymnastics, karate and also do arts & crafts!  Flexible scheduling.

Your child can attend sports camps at U of L, they have a wide variety

Summit Academy has a "Just Move It" Camp

St. Xavier (St. X)  has a variety of sports sports camps
Baseball

Bellarmine offers baseball camps for kids in grades K-8 for $125

Kentuckiana Baseball day Camps for ages 7-13

Soccer

Charlie's Champion Soccer School offers camps for kids during the summer, ages 5-13, in Fern Creek and Shelbyville. 

The Louisville Lightning soccer team also offers summer camps for kids ages 4-15. 

Mockingbird Soccer Club also offers a range of soccer summer camps

Kentucky Youth Soccer hosts a camp at the Buckner Soccer complex in June for kids on U6-U16 teams.

4 Kicks for Kidz offers summer camps for younger children to learn and enjoy soccer

Thoroughbreds Soccer club has camps and clinics for different age groups. 


Basketball
There are camp sessions at HOOPS for basketball
 
Higherlevel Basketball holds basketball camps 
 
Basketball Academy also offers summer camps.

Kentucky Country Day
Where: 4100 Springdale Rd. 40241
Email: judy.ambach@kcd.org
Web: http://www.kcd.org/content/summer-programs

Springdale Church
Last year, they had Basketball camp

Scuba camp

Paradise Divers has offered scuba camps for kids ages 8-14 during June and July.


Click HERE for our General Camp Listings!

Click HERE for our Academic Camp Listings!

Click HERE for our Art, Music, Dance and Theater Camp Listings!

Please let us know if there are others to add!  You can get a featured spot for your camp by emailing tiffany@louisvillefamilyfun.net
Note, this is published in February and some businesses have not updated their information. Also, we will add to this list as we find more!