The Boy and His Daddy

Michael keeps checking to make sure Daddy is real. 

Welcome Home Daddy!

Grace

I Heart the Circus

I have written to you all about the circus before. I heart the circus. Everything from the clowns to the acrobats to the elephants - especially the elephants. I can't wait to take the kids. 

I recently received a program (and some pretty fantastic clown noses) from the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and I would love to tell you everything that is in it. The problem is that the girls got ahold of it and I have not seen so much as a peek at what is inside. Annabelle actually took it to bed with her tonight, so perhaps I could try and pry it out of her sleeping fingers. It seems that the girls heart the circus, too.

Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus has a couple special offers right now that I would love to share with you. 

Offer #1: Get 4 tickets for just $44 by entering the code "MOM" (when purchased at Ticketmaster). Offer good on all performances, minimum purchase of 4 tickets required; additional tickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each. Offer not valid on Circus Celebrity Seating, Front Row and VIP seating or combinable with other offers. Other Restrictions May Apply.

Offer #2: A select amount of Front Row and VIP seats have been reserved for you to buy before they go on sale to the public - just enter the code "MOM" when purchasing those seats. Dates and cities where families can use the national MOM discount code this spring are as follows:

Newark/East Rutherford/Uniondale/NYC
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® presents ZING ZANG ZOOM
March 5 - April 13
Offer not valid on performances from April 10 - 13 at Madison Square Garden

Washington D.C./ Fairfax, VA/ Baltimore, MD
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® proudly presents Over The Top
March 18-April 19

Philadelphia
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® presents ZING ZANG ZOOM
May 13-May 25

Phoenix
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® presents ZING ZANG ZOOM
June 24-June 28

Houston
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® proudly presents Over The Top
July 15-July 26

Anaheim/LA/Ontario
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® presents ZING ZANG ZOOM
July 8-August 2

San Francisco
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® presents ZING ZANG ZOOM
August 12-August 23

Dallas/Ft Worth
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® proudly presents Over The Top
July 29-August 16

Sacramento
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® presents ZING ZANG ZOOM
August 27-August 30

Kansas City
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® proudly presents Over The Top
September 16-September 20

To see which Ringling Bros. tour is coming to a town near you, visit www.Ringling.com. Visit Ticketmaster to use the 4 tickets for $44 code, MOM.

Please excuse my lack of attention to the blog lately. To say that we have had a lot going on is an understatement (to say the least). Some things are going to change around here (here meaning both at home and on the blog). One of these things will become pretty clear on Friday. 

There will be a whole other person included in pictures and stories. Someone who hasn't been around since the beginning on August. Yes, that's right. Eric is coming home. Friday. 

I am still in "I'll believe it when I see him" mode. The kids, however, are in "is he here yet? is he here yet? how about now? how about now?" mode.

In case you have forgotten, this is what he looks like

This is probably exactly what he will look like when we see him Friday, except I expect the smile to be much bigger, as he will be arriving home (he was about to leave in this picture). And he will probably have three children and one wife hanging on him. 

Happy Valentine's Day

NetSmartz

Everyone is online these days. There are online sites geared to even the youngest web surfers, and I have to be honest - as a parent, thinking about what sort of things my kids can stumble upon online it is a huge concern. While it is tempting to keep the kids as far away from the internet as possible, I think the more sensible choice it is to educate them on how to use it safely. 

NetSmartz is a great resource for parents, kids and teens to learn how to use the internet safely. "Stranger danger" has a whole new meaning in the internet age, and NetSmartz helps parents and their kids learn how to navigate the web safely. Tutorials on instant messenger, password safety, downloading files and cyber-bullying are a just some of the resources available. 

The internet isn't going anywhere anytime soon, so you need to check out NetSmartz. Let's educate and empower kids, and allow them to benefit from all the world wide web has to offer. And at the same time, let's keep them safe from the dangers that lurk there as well. 

 

Making Valentine's Day Cards

'Tis the season for covering everything with pink and red, inhaling sugar coated jewelry, and making cards for your friends. Yes, Saturday is Valentine's Day and the girls have been busy making cards to take to their friends at school. 

Annabelle is content to writing names in pink and red. Grace, on the other hand, wants to write a little something to everyone. Her idea of a Valentine greeting is pretty unique. Here are a few examples of the messages she has written to her friends at school:

"You bring the same kind of juice as me!"

"Your hair is brown."

"You are a boy, but I still like you."

"You are taller than me,  but that's ok"

Perhaps she has a future in card writing. Or perhaps not...

The Boy Gets a Haircut

Park City Mountain Resort

Right about now, a lot of people are getting sick of the snow. Being in North Carolina, I can't relate to that (sorry Northerners) but with family up north I have heard from just about everyone how they are DONE with winter. 

Well, winter isn't exactly over with yet so how about you find a way to make it fun? Park City Mountain Resort can help the entire family love the snow again. How about skiing their 13 Signature Runs instead of shoveling the driveway? Or putting the kids of on the Alpine Coaster instead if the school bus? Book the family trip of your dreams and feel free to leave your shovel at home. 

Even if you aren't stuck in the blistery north,  a trip to Park City Mountain Resort could be the snow white getaway your family needs. And it is not just about the skiing. There is tubing, snowmobiling, sleigh rides, shopping, 6 on mountain restaurants, catering available for special events, and more. 

Need a little inspiration? Check out their blog. You'll find great tips and insights on Park City Mountain Resort and how your family can create a trip to blast away the winter blues.

The Boy