Savvy Chic Kids Consignment Sale

http://www.savvychickids.com/
I've never been, but it looks like it would be neat to check out!

"You want your kids to have the best, but being a savvy shopper is a must, especially in this economy. Don’t miss this chance to participate in our giant Fall Consignment Sale to find amazing brand name, gently used children’s items for a fraction of the cost."

SAVVY CHIC KIDS SALE
FALL 2008 SCHEDULE
FRI, OCT 3 - 8am-10am NEW MOM SALE
FRI, OCT 3 - 10am-4pm PUBLIC SALE
SAT, OCT 4 - CLOSED ALL DAY!
SUN, OCT 5 - 10am-6pm PUBLIC SALE
MON, OCT 6 - 10am-5pm 1/2 PRICE SALE (Most Items)

LA SIERRA UNIVERSITY CHURCH SOCIAL HALL
4937 SIERRA VISTA, RIVERSIDE CA 92505
(SALE IS CASH ONLY)

L.A. County Fair

Runs from September 7th -30th. There are many different competitions going on for children to participate in. The exhibit below looks great!!

http://www.lacountyfair.com/2008/AttractionsCompetitions/AmericasKidsCompetitions.asp

America’s Kids & Education Expo
“Wild Things” Backyard Fun

This attraction features the wild side of your very own backyard. When you enter the America’s Kids exhibit, prepare to enter a world of imagination, discovery, and adventure. Children and adults will use their imagination and sense of wonder to uncover the wonderful world of science in our new Big Backyard exhibit. This new exhibit will take you through the scientific wonders of natural history, biology, entomology, and more. In this oversized backyard, be amazed as you discover what creatures you may find lurking in your very own environment. Observe America’s Kids first giant ant farm, incredible 8’ flowers, and unique robotic animals including a praying mantis, a scorpion, and a dragonfly. Who knows, you just might meet up with giant robotic carpenter ants along the way. You can even view objects through insect eyes, and examine how insects chew plants and sip nectar. See arachnids, butterflies, moths, beetles, and much more as you journey through the hidden world of insects.
Have fun experimenting with the different tools of science as you count the rings on a tree stump, match up the different parts of an insect, and feel the differences between tree bark and flower petals.
Children can enter their creative writing and favorite book jacket art in these new competitions: “My Favorite Backyard Adventure,” a writing competition for 1st through 8th grade students in public, private, or home schools; and a book jacket competition entitled “Backyard Fun” for ages 5 through 18. You can also view the oversized ant and butterfly displays that have been created by children throughout our community.
Children and science come together in the Science Discovery Lab where science and imagination merge into one fun exhibit. Have you ever wondered what the study of trees or the study of grasses is called? You can learn this and more in the “Guess the -ology” activity station. You can enter your Science Fair project into competition before the Fair starts and then come to the Fair in September and see it on display. Participate in hands-on experiments and workshops in this fun and educational science lab.
In the new “Backyard Buddies” exhibit and show you will learn all about the animals you might discover in your very own backyard such as squirrels, opossums, butterflies, ladybugs, raccoons, owls, worms, walking sticks, and more. Learn to find the prints left behind and figure out which “wild thing” left them.
Every Saturday afternoon, the entire family can get creative in our Family Fun Days competitions. Your family can decorate a pumpkin or scarecrow, share your family talent, or paint a family portrait. You’re never too old to have an imagination!
America’s Kids will be the host to Discovery Town, where one of the first stops will be the Museum of Art & Photography. In these galleries, you can view the art and photography competitions entered by children from all over California. Stop at the Imagination Station-Create and try out some arts and crafts of your own. Turn virtually anything into something else; a rock will become a lady bug, a piece of paper will become a boat, a simple squiggle will become a monster, and a napkin will become a flower.
The adventure continues as you visit the Fire Station exhibit staffed with some of L.A. County’s finest in their field. View the creative competition entries throughout the building including: monsters made out of socks, hand sewn adventure vests, decorated butterflies, and more. Then move on to Imagination Station-Pretend where you will be able to color and read, build giant insect puzzles, play dress up, build Lego creations, explore the mini-kitchen, and simply let your imagination soar. America’s Kids isn’t just fun and interactive; it provides a valuable educational experience full of “wild” backyard fun.

Read to Ride

The Read to Ride Program is a special reward program for kids who read books over their summer vacations. Kids will receive free carnival ride vouchers good at the 2008 L.A. County Fair Carnival.
http://www.lacountyfair.com/2008/AttractionsCompetitions/documents/27-ReadToRide08_3_.pdf

Thanks to Bethany for the information!

REI Kids' Passport Program

We picked these up the other day at REI and the boys have enjoyed filling them out! http://www.rei.com/stores/kids_passport.jsp

Local family hikes
http://www.rei.com/ultra/pdf/kidsPassport/hike/Arcadia.pdf

Show kids how rewarding it can be to spend time in the outdoors. That's what our Kids' Passport to Adventure program is all about. Designed for kids age 5-12, it's a fun way to connect them to the natural world and start them on a lifetime of outdoor recreation and stewardship.

Here's How it Works: At the center of the program is the Adventure Journal, where kids can document their adventures—from bird watching and hiking to kayaking and climbing. Stop by the Customer Service desk in any REI store to pick up an Adventure Journal, or download one online.

Earn a Prize: After at least one outdoor activity, send in the tear-off postcard from the journal to get a certificate of completion and a special prize—a multifunction whistle that includes a thermometer, magnifier and compass.

Movies in the Park- Victoria Gardens

Warm nights are upon us, which means one thing. Spring Movies in Town Square are back! The spring movie series will include 5 weeks of family entertainment. The Lewis Apartment Communities, in association with Victoria Gardens and the City of Rancho Cucamonga, will sponsor a series of family movies in Chaffey Town Square each Tuesday evening May 20 through June 17. Victoria Gardens invites families to bring their lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy a movie under the stars. Each movie will be preceded by games, activities, and prizes. Spring Movies will begin at dusk.

The movie schedule features:

• Surfs Up (PG) on May 20
• Bee Movie (PG) on May 27
• Daddy Day Camp (PG) on June 3
• Little Rascals (PG) on June 10
• Shrek the Third (PG) on June 17

For more information please contact Guest Services at (909) 463-2830.

Thanks Wendy S. for the info!

Jet Propulsion Lab Open House in Pasadena FREE

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., will welcome members of the public to its Open House on Saturday, May 3, and Sunday, May 4. Children will be able to participate in many hands-on activities.

At this free, all-day event, visitors can watch 700-pound robots glide under artificial stars in JPL's Robodome, get an up-close view of full-scale models of Mars rovers, and learn how spacecraft are prepared for their journeys in special clean rooms.

They will see numerous solar system, robotics and Earth science exhibits and learn about various space missions, including the Mars Phoenix Lander, scheduled to land on the Red Planet on May 25. Visitors can also see how NASA instruments measure greenhouse gases, which will help scientists better understand global climate change.

JPL's Open House begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. on both days. JPL is located at 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, Calif. Parking is free.

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2008-067

thanks to Areli for the info!

Air Fest '08 FREE

March Air Force Base Air Show
Saturday May 3

http://www.marchfieldairfest.com/

BYU Singers at Victoria Gardens

BYU Singers at the Victoria Gardens Cultural Center

Wednesday May 7, 2008 - 7:00 pm

General: $14.00, Youth: $10.00

http://www.vgculturalcenter.com/

Summer Sounds at the Hollywood Bowl

"Presented each year at the world-famous Hollywood Bowl, SummerSounds is the premier summer music festival for children in Los Angeles. It features great concerts created especially for kids and a Fine Arts Outdoor Studio where they can let their imaginations soar!

Join Cap'n Dave and the Professor as they set sail on the good ship Global Harmony for another summer of adventure, docking in each port for two weeks. Our intrepid crew travels to Peru, Zimbabwe and the Louisiana Bayou to bring harmony to the world."

Tickets go on sale on April 26, 2008.

http://www.hollywoodbowl.com/tickets/summersounds.cfm

Protect Marriage in California Petition

Did you know…?
…that just eight years ago, California voters overwhelmingly passed Proposition 22, by 61.4% of the vote, to keep marriage only between a man and a woman.

So why do we now need to amend the state constitution?
Prop 22 added a regular statute to the California Family Code (not the state constitution) to keep marriage between a man and a woman and prevent the state Legislature from redefining marriage without a vote of the people. Since then however, politicians and judges have chipped away at Prop 22 and ignored the will of the voters.

For example:

• In 2004, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom thumbed his nose at California voters by issuing marriage licenses to thousands of homosexual couples in open defiance of Proposition 22. Ultimately, the courts declared those so-called “marriages” to be invalid, but left the door open to a future constitutional challenge against traditional marriage.

• Additionally, the courts have undermined Proposition 22 and marriage by upholding an act of the Legislature that gave homosexual “domestic partners” the full legal status of married spouses. A San Francisco judge ruled that Proposition 22, a regular statute, violates the California Constitution and ordered the licensing of same-sex “marriages.” That decision is currently being appealed before the California Supreme Court.

• The Legislature is again considering legislation to allow licensing of homosexual “marriage.”

An amendment to the California Constitution, which requires a vote of the people, is the only way to stop the politicians, and especially the courts, from re-defining marriage against the will of the majority of Californians.

http://www.protectmarriage.com/index.php

California Oranges

Thanks Bethany for the information on getting fresh California citrus!

http://www.inlandorange.org/

The three seasons to choose from:

$65 for Late Valencia/Grapefruit Season (September through November 2006)

$65 for Navel Orange season (mid-January through mid-April 2007)

$65 for Summer Valencia Oranges/Grapefruit Season (late May through end of August 2007)- OR$185 annual membership (all three seasons listed above)

Take Charge!—By belonging to IOC you can join with others in taking concrete action now to save grove and get a grove conservancy started.

Your "Share of the Crop"—IOC Citrus Supporters get a free share of the Inland Empire orange harvest! You'll get up to two five-pound bags each week of the world's best tasting oranges, absolutely fresh, for the run of the season- usually 14 weeks (this works out to approx. $0.46/lb.). As with a vintage wine, you'll be able to taste oranges from different farms; you'll be able to see how the oranges' taste matures through the length of the season.

Oranges to the Needful—Thanks to you, IOC contributes thousands of bags of oranges to the community's needy, community charities, and community events. IOC also sponsors Citrus Heritage events with area elementary schools to teach the next generation.

Orange Fun—IOC is hoping to arrange some special fun for its Citrus Supporters this year: A "U-Pick" day for Citrus Supporters to bring their families and try their hand at picking their own oranges. A "Grove Walk", where Citrus Supporter families can come stroll amidst a blossoming grove, smell the fragrance, and meet the next year's crop!

Classical Conversations Conference Notes, part 1

This was a local homeschool convention that I attended part of. This was my favorite lecture at the event- it made me think of President Thomas S. Monson- he is such an amazing speaker/ writer. He has such an amazing memory- of personal experiences, great literature, poetry. It makes me wonder what his education- at home and school- was like. I also think if Sister Hinckley, another great communicator and someone who understood people. She also was very well read- much done on her own as an adult when she had to drop out of college to help support her father and his family.

Classical Conversations Convention
Andrew Pudewa http://www.excellenceinwriting.com/
Classical Conversations http://www.classicalconversations.com/

2-28-08 Andrew Pudewa: Nurturing Competent Communicators

You can't get something out of your brain that is not in there! (In reference to writing/speaking- you can't write/speak something using words you don't have IN you mind)

What are the main sources of "input" in our children's lives:
1. Media! Media in its various forms (I would add culture) are one of the greatest influences of English going into our children's brains. Most newspapers are written at a fourth grade level.
2. Peers: Children who spend time with other children + or – 2 years from their own age have better vocabulary, syntax (learn from older, teach younger). Worst situation is to always have them always with children the same age. Less learning opportunities and opportunities to teach.
3. "Busy" Adults: We are all busy- we teach our children by the way we speak. (think of how your kids imitate what you say!)
4. Books: Usually the best source for reliably correct English patterns. We MUST keep reading aloud to our children. Most parents stop reading aloud when children learn to read themselves, but ironically that is when they need it the most. They need to hear books to get sophisticated and reliably correct information, language, and sentance structure.

Reading "whole" books to the whole family:
- Good writers have been read to a lot through childhood. They have those patterns in their minds.

- Choose books you enjoy. Your children can feel your passion/fun and it's contagious. They will know if you don't enjoy it.

-Family reading time is NOT optional. All family must be in the room, no electronics (texting, email, etc.). If you have children who have a hard time sitting still and listening, give them something to do- like legos, knitting, etc. so their hands are busy.

-The "Golden Age" of literature is 1840- 1940. America was at its highest literacy rate. People with only a few years of education could read/write better than high school seniors today. (I came across this trying to check the literacy fact: http://www.audiblox2000.com/learning_disabilities/illiteracy.htm.) Earlier books are fine to read, but the syntax is different. After 1940 literature was split into adult (which was spiced up) and children's (dumbed down). But, during this golden time period books were written for the general public. Books were becoming more readily available. Families (without electricity) would read together. There are lots of great books before and after this "golden age", but recommends you choose most for family read-alouds from this period.

-Kids need about 3 hours a day of reading aloud. Supplement with audiobooks (in the car, around the house, ipods). Make use of the technology around you. Reading is not an academic subject, but a rather a brain function. It comes at different times with each individual. Someone is not necessarily smarter if the read earlier- like learning to walk. You do it when all developmental abilities are capable.

Memorization:-Very important- grows the brain. Precise memorized patterns help learning. Kids who do better on the SAT tend to have a background in music (instrument or choral) or drama. They have experience with memorizing patterns.

-Memorized language patterns build templates for speaking/ writing.

-Story of Andrew learning Japanese "Suzuki" style. (referring to Dr. Shinichi Suzuki: http://www.amazon.com/Nurtured-Love-Classic-Approach-Education/dp/0874875846/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1204669239&sr=1-2). He went to Japan to train to be a Suzuki violin teacher, taught by Dr. Suzuki. He really wanted to learn Japanese during his three years there so immersed himself in the culture. Feeling frustrated he decided he need to learn "Suzuki" style- which is a lot of memorization. To learn Suzuki violin you learn a piece by memory, then when you learn another piece you repeat what you have learned first. He listened to a tape of "Jack and the Beanstalk" everyday, memorizing the first line, then second- repeating the first- first. And so on until he had the whole story memorized. The sentences in the story gave him syntax for him to use as a template for communicating in Japanese.

-Andrew previously taught a preschool class and had them memorize poetry. He began with one poem, repeated 3 times a day until it was memorized. Then added a new one, repeating the first one first.

-Memorizing linguistic poems create patterns for communicating.

Jim Trelease "The Read Aloud Handbook"

Jim Trelease, author of the "The Read Aloud Handbook", spoke in southern CA at the conclusion of his final circuit of lecturing before retirement. Here are my notes, but you can get much more information from his website: http://www.trelease-on-reading.com/ and even more from reading his book: http://www.amazon.com/Read-Aloud-Handbook-Sixth/dp/0143037390/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1204674596&sr=8-1
But you don't have to take MY word for it...

1/30/08

*Children spend 900 hours in school a year… and 7,800 hours out of school. Schools should not be held responsible for all learning. Home is where learning starts.

*In the 70's collage attendance was 43% female, 57% male- now reversed.

*Reading is an acquired skill. The more experience we have with it, the better we get. Read to your children, especially when they can read themselves. Read to teens while they do dinner dishes.

*We only choose to do things we like. Reading needs to give more pleasure than pain for children to choose it.

*Listening vocabulary (what we gain from listening) pours over to our speaking, reading, and writing vocabularies. We can say or write a word that we've never heard. Example: Man in audience asked if he spoke Chinese. He said no. Why not? He doesn't hear Chinese regularly- wouldn't know the words he never hears.

*"Meaningful Differences in the Everyday Experiences of Young American children: by Betty Hart and Todd Risley http://www.amazon.com/Meaningful-Differences-Everyday-Experience-American/dp/1557661979 Read to children from birth so they regularly hear spoken word- vocabulary grows.

*Three B's for a good reading environment at home:B- Books (have a good variety in the home)B- Bedlamp (What kid doesn't want to go to bed? Let them stay up to read for a set amount of time)B- Baskets- keep books all over the house, in places kids are sitting (bathroom, kitchen table)

*Story of Ben Carson- http://www.usdreams.com/Carson.html

*TV- can be good- like medicine, TV needs to have access limited and dosageElementary children get 1460 hrs of screen time/year.Finland has highest literacy rate, yet children are not allowed to be taught to read until they are seven years old, and then only half day school. Finland uses closed captioned TV to watch US television shows. The children learn to read fast so they can know what is going on in the shows. We can also used cc on our TV's for everyday watching and the words will become more familiar to children watching.

*Book updates- some books not in the anthology-
The Luck of the Loch Ness Monster: A Tale of a Picky Eater
A Day's Work by Eve Bunting (Jim: "There is no shortage of smarter people. The real shortage is in better people")
Henry's Freedom Box by Kadir Nelson
The Water Horse by Dick King Smith
The SOS File-Deltora Quest by Emily Rodda (for children too young for Harry Potter)
Invention fo Hugo Cabaret by Brian Selznick
Thomas in Danger
Tucket's Travels by Gary Paulsen
Where the Sidewalk Ends (classic poetry for kids)

The Odyssey

Encore - On Tour! THE ODYSSEY Homer's Classic, adapted for Children by Falls/ Beattie A Journey to the Sturges Center... Friday, February 22 at 9:30am Saturday, February 23 at 2:00pm The Sturges Center for the Fine Arts 780 N. E Street, San Bernardino

Odysseus' epic journey home from the Trojan War is a fanciful adventure features the man-eating, one-eyed Cyclops, the twin Sirens, the sorceress Circle, King Aeolous, and the trickster god, Hermes. Using puppetry, masks, songs, and mime, this realization of the Homeric classic will intrigue both children and adults, while remaining faithful to the poetic original. General Admission $5 :: CHILDREN FREE School Groups WELCOME! Call (909) 537-5884 for information and reservations.

***We saw this 2/2/08- the boys loved it, Spencer sat through it, Tyler and I were impressed. Maybe a tiny bit scary- we first listened to Mary Pope Osborne's Odyssey series on tape and then read Wishbone's version of the story so we were prepared and understood what was going on.

Kids Fitness Challenge- Fontana Speedway 5K

This is FREE to participate- register here:
http://fitnesschallengefoundation.org/

ALL 5K PARTICIPANTS WILL START AND FINISH AT CALIFORNIA SPEEDWAY: Experience the feeling of coming out of the tunnel and onto the NASCAR track!

Date: Saturday, April 19, 2008

6:00 AM - Registration Opens.
6:15 AM - Get Healthy California Expo Opens.
7:30 AM - 5K Program Begins with Special Guests.
7:45 AM - 5K Start
12:00 PM - Event Concludes.

A 5K is 3.2 miles- last year it was lots of fun, great pictures, but a pretty long run with kids- many people were on bikes, scooter, rollerblades, and using strollers. Bring water and plan accordingly!

Schools can earn money by number of participants- be sure to register online (it's FREE!) and then check in that morning. Even if you don't run, check in so your school gets credit for you being there. The Healthy California Expo is going on all morning and had some fun booths and freebies (I got my pedometer there!).

"The Fitness Challenge Foundation is dedicated to a comprehensive national vision to reverse the rising rates of obesity through Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Positive Mental Health initiatives, including the development and implementation of policies and programs that promote regular physical activity and nutrition.

Please join in the effort to create a new generation of healthy Americans by addressing one of the nation’s leading public health threats – obesity. "

Mrs. Nelson's Toy and Book Shop

1030 Bonita Avenue
La Verne, CA 91750
http://www.mrsnelsons.com/

"Bring the family for a storytime, meet a children's author or illustrator,
or just browse through our wonderful selection of books and toys."

One of my secret wishes has been to have my own toy and book shop. Mrs. Nelson's is a wish come true (except that it isn't mine.. oh well!) This shop has an amazing selection of toys and books- it is so fun to browse you just might want to go without your children. Many children's authors or illustrators regularly stop by Mrs. Nelson's for signings. One of your favorites is sure to be visiting- check the events calendar to see.
We have participated in their "parties"- stories, crafts, and yummy treats- all for a reasonable fee. Look at their events calendar for upcoming parties.
Mrs. Nelson's also has weekly storytimes for free- craft included.