Some Family Fun

Looking for some family fun this weekend?  Here are a few things you can do with your family-
Wednesday, July 13th-Head down to the riverfront and listen to the Peoria Municipal Band.  The performance starts at 7:30 at the CEFCU Center Stage and best of all it's FREE.

Thursday, July 14th-Another FREE concert along the riverfront at the CEFCU stage.  David Hoffman and Friends  will entertain you with some jazz music from 7-9 p.m.

Friday, July 15th and Saturday, July 16th-The Peoria Chiefs are at home on Friday and Saturday.  Go to http://peoria.chiefs.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t443 for times, promotions and ticket prices.

Love hot air balloons?  Balloons at the Park is held at Three Sister Park in Chillicothe  on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Lots and lots of fun family activities- www.balloonsatthepark.com for times, events, bands and ticket prices. 

Have a great weekend!

Nine Things...

Great article I read on www.cnn.com    Nine Things You Shouldn't Say to Your Child   I have said several...a good article to remind us how much of an impact our words have on our children (or anyone for that matter).

http://www.cnn.com/2011/LIVING/07/12/dont.say.to.child.p/index.html?iref=NS1

River City Rhapsody

We have company!  MTHS is hosting the River City Rhapsody tomorrow night (Tuesday) at 6:30 p.m. Have you seen or heard the bands practicing around town?  I have been driving back and forth on 116 and getting brief glimpses of a band practicing at GHMS. It is pretty amazing. We had a wonderful time with our music unit this past spring and if your child loves music this is a wonderful opportunity to see our nation's best drum and bugle corps.   For information and ticket prices- http://www.rivercityrhapsody.com/metamora

Read the article from the Peoria Journal Star-http://www.pjstar.com/entertainment/x1850043061/Seven-of-nations-top-drum-and-bugle-corps-to-compete-in-Metamora

I also did a quick look on YouTube and each band has several clips from years past if you would like to preview. Bands are listed on both websites.

History Comes Alive!

FREE is such an awesome word when you are planning a trip.  This summer Springfield, Illinois has lots of free live performances and activities for visitors. You can 'meet'  President Lincoln, General Grant, make 19th century crafts, listen to the Lincoln Troubadours or attend an ice cream social...all at no charge. Springfield is an easy day trip and this is a good trip for children and adults.  For more information-http://www.visit-springfieldillinois.com/historycomesalive/

Moonlight Madness

Here are couple of fun ideas to try this summer-

Moonlight Melts-This works on either gas or charcoal grills.  It's a banana, chocolate chips and marshmallows.  YUM-O! For complete directions click-http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/choco-banana-melt-1015740/ and they ain't kiddin' when they say LOTS of napkins.

Tin Can Lantern-This is a super fun craft for a variety of ages.  Younger children can hammer holes around the can and older children can create patterns, designs, letters or words.  If you 'google' tin can lanterns or tin can lantern patterns, you will have more pattern ideas than you will know what to with. :-)

This is a fun activity for a family reunion or birthday party. Go to  http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/tin-can-lantern-665426/  for all the details.

Happy Fourth of July!

                                                        Have a safe and happy Fourth of July weekend!

Summer 2011

Summer is my favorite season.  Summer has an energy unlike other seasons.  We ask 'What are you doing this summer?' and 'How is your summer going?' We tell each other to 'Have a great summer.' and upon the return of school students will write about their summer vacation.

We kick off and end summer with a three day holiday. The Fourth of July holiday is  fast approaching and that means summer is about half way over!!!

Have you done anything besides run your kids to camps and ball games :-) Try to plan some fun outings with your children.  Don't let the summer days slip by without some good family fun.  Get a mom or two and try to plan an outing as a group.  Go to the zoo, Wildlife Prairie Park, a Chiefs game, spend the day at the park or go to Splashdown.

Have a great summer!