HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

I will be taking a little break to spend some time with my husband and two sons. I’ll be back to writing on Monday, January 5th. Meanwhile…

HAPPY CHANUKAH!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

HAPPY KWANZAA!

AND

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Holiday House Party WITH Dan Zanes and Friends Review

(Crossposted from www.mominthecity.com)

The New Victory Theater is presenting Grammy® Award winner, former Del Fuego band member and beloved Brooklynite Dan Zanes for an all new celebration of the season during Holiday House Party WITH Dan Zanes and Friends at The New Victory from December 19, 2008 through January 4, 2009. Below is Mom in the City reviewer Alexandra’s thoughts…

On Friday my daughter and I had the privilege to go see the HOLIDAY HOUSE PARTY WITH DAN ZANES AND FRIENDS a New York performance. The setting of the stage was an inviting living room with different Christmas decorations from a Christmas trees to a Hanukah chamber stick. This reminded us all that these are times to remember traditions and celebrate with family and friends.

As the different special guests arrived to the stage they just kept adding their own cultural touch to this wonderful musical journey, which was a celebration of diversity. There were musical artists joining Dan with Palestinian Arabic-jazz, tap dancing, Mexican Mariachis and more. One by one, they all delighted the audience with fascinating music that was filled with flavor and rhythm from their countries and culture.

The audience varied in age (predominately children). But the music and dancing kept everyone young and old dancing and singing. My daughter Liana is only three and she danced to every single song. To the point that at the end of the performance the band and special guest marched down the aisle of the theater. Liana just stood behind the last guest and marched with them down to the lobby.

That was one of the things that I feel the children mainly enjoyed - the warm and friendly atmosphere that was initiated by Dan and his crew with their first song and preserved during the whole presentation with different invitations to join in on the fun and celebration.

As a viewer, you are able to sense an excellent spirit of friendship and unity from the members of Dan’s band with the different performers that were brought on stage. I feel that children recognize this and feel motivated and invited to join the fun.

This is a fun and enchanting musical experience that I would recommend to everyone. Especially if you have children, this is a perfect age to introduce and expose them to the diversity that music can offer.

Dan Zanes & Liana

Picture for Holiday Cards

Last year after taking the photo for our holiday cards, I made a mental note that I should stick with a professional photographer in the future. I guess that I’m a glutton for punishment though, because for some reason, I thought that it would be easier to take the boys’ picture for our holiday card this year. “They’re older/better able to take direction,” I (erroneously) reasoned.

So, on Saturday evening my husband and I “tackled” the holiday picture. We dressed the boys in their new, cute Coco Bonbons outfits and we were all set. Or so, we thought. I think that the boys must have drunk some “silly juice” right before the shoot. Michael kept making faces. Sean kept running away. Then, they started laughing and wrestling each other. My husband was trying to act like he was a photographer – using the camera to try to get a good shot. (He didn’t get one.) Meanwhile, I went the Flip route. Even though the resolution of Flip “photos from video” isn’t as great as shots from a regular camera, I reasoned that I would at least get one good frame in the midst of the madness. I did! It took many different shots to get one though.

We took:
-horizontal shots / vertical shots
-shots in front of / to the left of / to the right of the Christmas tree
-shots of the kids leaning against the sofa with their backs to the tree

Here are a couple of the outtakes:

(Suffice it to say, we won’t be trading in our “day jobs” in order to become children’s photographers!)

At the end of the day, we were able to get one (that’s all that we needed!) picture that we liked enough to use.

(I even like the “vintage” feel of the picture due to it being from the Flip camcorder.)

Happy Holidays!

Family/Kid Friendly Videogames

While you are on holiday break, try out some of these great family/kid friendly videogames from Electronic Arts …

-Boogie Superstar (Wii): This is a hit with groups of up to four players (especially “tween” girls). They will have so much fun singing and dancing along to almost 40 international music hits. They will enjoy customizing their characters, singing into the (included) microphone and practicing the on-screen dance moves. (Players can also create their own choreography.) Future “superstars” will also enjoy competing against other players in their quest to become the next “Boogie SuperStar”! (Parents with the urge to perform will also enjoy this game - I did!)

-Hasbro Family Game Night (Wii/PS2): Game night is a big deal at our home. The thing that I don’t like the most (keeping track of all of the pieces!) is done away with on the video version. Mr. Potato Head plays the host while players choose between six popular family games: CONNECT FOUR, BATTLESHIP, YAHTZEE, BOGGLE, SORRY! And the all-new SORRY! Sliders. You can play the games onscreen using the traditional game mode. There are also other ways/”modes” to play. Other fun things to do with this videogame are to “unlock” various accessories in order to decorate various rooms.

-Nerf N-Strike (Wii): Now, this is a great game especially for “tween” boys. Up to four players can battle to blast through a “top-secret NERF facility”. They can play alone or together. Of special note: this game comes with the first-ever SWITCH SHOT EX-3 NERF blaster that plugs into the Wii remote. (When not playing, kids can take it outside to use like a traditional NERF blaster - it comes with darts.)

And

-Travel Games For Dummies (DS): When it’s time to settle down a bit (or while traveling), this is a great on-the-go game. Three popular games (Solitaire, Sudoko and Crossword Puzzles) are featured in this videogame.

High School Musical 3 & Hannah Montana Trading Card Sets Giveaway

We're giving away two trading card sets (High School Musical 3 & Hannah Montana) in a special one week giveaway!

"Rock on! High School Musical 3 and Hannah Montana are all the craze, and now even parents on a budget this holiday season can afford to bring the fun home! Topps is proud to introduce two new

lines of cards, High School Musical 3 and Hannah Montana.

The cards feature fabulous photos and fun facts from the movie, so kids can relive their favorite High School Musical 3 moments. In addition to the cards, the High School Musical 3 packs also include:

-Sticker Cards to deck out your notebook or school locker

-Foil Stickers featuring the High School Musical Characters at Graduation

-Glitter Foil Cards-Sparkling stickers featuring awesome pics of the High School Musical 3: Senior Year cast on prom night

Price per Collectible Box: $48.00 (includes all 24 sets of cards)

Price per Pack: $1.99

Ages: 6 to 12

Girls will also be able to get into the groove with the all-new line of Hannah Montana Pop Star Quiz Cards. Cards include cool questions and awesome pics from the hit TV show. Each pack of cards also includes sassy cell phone stickers.

Special for the holidays, Hannah Montana Pop Star Quiz Cards can be purchased in a collectible holiday tin.

Price per Collectible Tin: $9.99

Price per Pack: $1.99

Ages: 6 to 12"

To enter, leave your name in the “Comments” section below or by sending an email to contests@mominthecity.com with “Trading Cards” in the Subject line by noon on December 21st. Winners must send me their contact information by noon on Monday, December 22nd.

Free (NYC) Holiday Family Events

There are so many events going on during this holiday season. Below are seven great free events taking place throughout the city over the next week. Enjoy!

1. The entire family will enjoy the Washington Market Park “Christmas Party” on December 13th from 2 - 3:30pm. There will be Christmas caroling by Stuyvesant A Cappella, a sing along with Richard Younger, crafts, refreshments and a visit from Santa Claus at this free event. (The main entrance to the park is on Greenwich Street at Duane.)

2. Families will enjoy “Snow Comes in Many Colors” by the Youth Theatre. This original Christmas play features drama, music and dance. This free event takes place on December 14th at 2pm at Riverside Theatre (91 Claremont Avenue at 120th Street). For more information, call (212)870-6784.

3. On December 16th at 12:30pm, take the entire family to see the “New York African Chorus Ensemble” at WFC Winter Garden (Battery Park City). They will teach about the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa through music and poetry readings from James Stovall of works by poet Langston Hughes at this free event. For more information, call (212)945-0505.

4. Enjoy “Winter Holiday Crafts for Tots” at the Chess & Checkers House (mid-Central Park at 64th Street) on December 17th from noon to 3pm. Kids (ages 3 and up) can celebrate with seasonally-themed arts and crafts at the Conservancy’s new monthly series, Crafts for Tots. For more information about this free event, call (212)794-4064.

5. You can take the kids to see the “Kaleidoscope Light Show” any time between December 1st and January 1st at Grand Central (42nd Street between Lexington and Vanderbilt Avenues) on the Main Concourse. The free light shows run every half hour from 11am to 9pm daily.

6. While you’re at Grand Central, you can visit the “NY Transit Museum’s 7th annual Holiday Train Show” at the NY Transit Museum Annex. It is being held from November 24th to January 19th. The show includes a train layout with stops at subway stations, bus stations, gas stations and Santa’s workshop. This year’s new features include Lionel’s brand new models of Metro North’s M7 train and New York City Subway’s R27. The hours for this free show are Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; closed on Christmas and New Year’s Day. For more information, call (212)878-0106.

7. Catch the final season of “The Station at Citigroup Center” at the Citigroup Center Atrium (53 St. and Lexington Ave.). The station will be open from November 28th to January 2nd. The hours for this free exhibit are 10am through 6pm Monday to Saturday including New Year’s Day and noon to 5pm on Sunday. It is closed on Christmas Day. The display features a Victorian station building with clock tower with clocks on all four sides topped off by a locomotive weathervane. Victorian-themed decorative fences (topped with seven lighted Christmas Trees and ending in a forty foot long Victorian cutout train) surround the station building.

Easy, Nutritious and Economical Family Meals

Here are some meal ideas courtesy of Stop & Shop Consumer Advisor Andrea Astrachan. A link to Andrea’s monthly column online can be found here.)

Quick and Easy Chicken Caesar
Wraps
Tortillas
Creamy Caesar dressing
Romaine Lettuce
Chicken Breast

Charbroiled Veggie Burgers served with Edamame or Green Beans
Wheat Hamburger Rolls
Frozen Char Grilled Burger
Frozen Edamame or Frozen Green Beans

Italian Stuffed Shells with Sauce served with a Salad
Frozen stuffed shells
Pasta Sauce
Spring Salad Mix with Low-Fat Italian Dressing

Traditional Chili Served over Brown Rice and Topped with Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Canned diced tomatoes
Canned kidney beans
Brown Rice
Shredded Mild Cheddar Cheese
and Chili Seasoning

Veggie Stuffed Baked Potatoes
Bag of Potatoes
Canned Diced Tomatoes or Medium Salsa
Shredded Low-Fat cheddar Cheese
Canned Black Beans

Soft Tacos Served with Rice and Corn
Tortillas
Salsa
Ground Beef or Ground Turkey
Low fat Shredded Mexican Blend Cheese
Frozen Corn
Rice

Chipotle Chicken Fajitas
Chicken Breast
Tortillas
Chipotle Salsa
Shredded Mexican Blend Cheese
Fresh Green and Red Peppers and
Seasoning

Chicken Broccoli Penne
Chicken Broth
Chicken
Whole Wheat Penne
Frozen Broccoli Florets

Bugaboo Friends Giveaway

Recently, someone from Bugaboo contacted me. They wanted to let me know about Bugaboo Friends, a new community where parents share their experiences (photos, videos, daily rounds, etc.). Here’s the thing, as my regular readers know, I’m so NOT a stroller person, even less a Bugaboo stroller person. However, I responded “Many of my NYC area readers are Upper East Siders (where the Bugaboo is the “standard” stroller), so tell me more…”

Overall, I like the site. My favorite part is the gallery. I like looking at pictures of “on the go” parents and their kids from around the world. I also like the Bugaboo Challenges where an activity challenge (with prize rewards) is set out each month. For example, this month’s challenge is to photograph your city - and capture what makes your city - your city. It’ll be interesting to see how creative everyday people get with the various challenges.

The only thing that I don’t get is that (in theory) the site is dedicated to parents, but when you click on “become a friend”, it says that you don’t have to be a parent or own a Bugaboo stroller to join. Personally, I don’t see the appeal of being on a social site if I don’t have the common bonding thread (in this case, the Bugaboo) in common with the rest of the community. That’s just me, though. In sum, if you have a Bugaboo or aspire to the Bugaboo “lifestyle”, this is a great site for you. To join, visit http://www.bugaboo.com/ and click the ‘friends’ button at the top of the page.

So, do you have (or aspire to have) a Bugaboo? If so, I have a dark khaki Bugaboo Micro Fleece Blanket that I’m giving away to one of you. It’s soft, water repellent and warm, so it will help to keep your little one warm. To win it, simply leave me a comment or send me an email (contests@mominthecity.com) telling me one thing that you like about the new Bugaboo Friends site by December 31st. The winner will be chosen in a random drawing.

WINTUK from Cirque du Soleil

I (Kimberly) had a chance to see the show this past weekend. It was amazing! This is Cirque du Soleil’s first family show and they did a wonderful job. The dogs, cranes, snow giants and skateboarding acrobats were just a few of the standout performances that kept the entire audience’s attention (the show is about 2 hours). There was also a surprise at the end of the show that brought squeals of delight from adults and kids alike. After we left, Michael said, “That was AWESOME”. There was so much to see that it’s hard to describe the show in words, but you can catch a little snippet of it here at this video link.

Here are a couple of pictures (from the audience) at the show:

It's Snowing!

It's Snowing!

Macy’s Believe Campaign

This holiday season, Macy’s wants everyone to believe in and embrace the holiday spirit of love and charity. For more information, you can visit their Macy’s Believe site.

Since writing letters to Santa Claus is a tradition that many children all over the world enjoy, Macy’s is collecting these letters in a special Santa letterbox at each of their stores. Macy’s will donate $1 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation for each letter that they receive. (Make-A-Wish makes wishes come true for children with life-threatening medical conditions.) In addition, Macy’s “Believe Meter” will measure belief, based on our collective spirit – including the amount of letters received and other current events that “reflect the season’s generosity”.

Because I like this cause, I’m going to let Michael write his first letter to Santa. (The letter will probably be addressed to “Santa Daddy” though. We don’t really push the whole Santa story around here. Our policy is neither to confirm or deny.) If it will help make another kid’s dream come true, why not write a letter? We do try to promote love and charity at our home and in our community.

National Influenza Vaccination Week

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced the week of December 8-14, 2008, as National Influenza Vaccination Week. It’s so important to take precautions against the flu! Here are some tips from Clorox and the national PTA to help prevent the flu at home and in the classroom:

• Get Vaccinated: Effectiveness varies from 70 percent to 90 percent. It is recommended for children 6 months through 18 years of age.

• Wash your hands frequently: Germs are the culprit in causing flu. Take time and thoroughly washing hands.

• Help Stock Up: More than 56 percent of teachers buy their own cleaning supplies. You can help by donating cleaning supplies, such as Clorox disinfecting wipes, to help your teacher stock the classroom and keep it clean.

• Take Five: Experts believe that up to 80 percent of infectious illnesses are spread by touch and students can touch up to 300 surfaces in just 30 minutes. Take 5 minutes to wipe down commonly touched surfaces in the classroom such as desks, pencil sharpeners and keyboards to help reduce the spread of germs

• Teach Healthy Habits: Remind kids to share wisely. It’s great to share items like books, toys and pencils, but not items like combs, brushes, hats, toothbrushes, tissues, whistles, cups and forks.

• Do the Elbow Cough: Cough into your elbow, not hands (where you’re more likely to spread germs through touch).

• ABCs of Sneezing: Keep tissues handy and teach kids how to blow their noses early – instead of doing the icky sleeve swipe. The key is tossing tissues in the trash right away to keep germs at bay.

• Sleep is Key – for parents and children, earlier bed times mean better performance the next day.

On a personal note, I was so happy when my kids finally received their flu shots last week! It took so long, because Michael has been bringing home all of these little colds and viruses from preschool and “sharing” them with Sean. You’re not supposed to get the flu shot while you have a cold, so the timing was tricky. Fortunately, since both kids were fine last Monday, I called their doctor and asked if I could bring them in on Tuesday for their flu shot. So (hopefully!) they’re safe for the season. I think that they received their shots just in time. Michael and I went to see a show with a friend and her daughter on Saturday. On Sunday, we received a call from my friend’s husband…my friend has the flu! Yikes – Michael should be ok, but I still haven’t made the time to get my flu shot this season. Hopefully, the flu will pass me by….I really can’t afford to get sick this week. Oh well, I’ll see what happens.

Kick Like a Girl

We’re giving away a Kick Like a Girl DVD a new film coming out on HBO in the Spring of 2009.

“The film, presented by CITI is called Kick Like a Girl and is a documentary about The Mighty Cheetahs, an undefeated third grade girls soccer team in Salt Lake City , Utah and what happens when they competes in the boys division. The documentary reveals the reality of boy-girl issues and what "Kick Like a Girl" really means on and off the playing field. The 25 minute documentary follows the team as they talk about entering the boys league and then into the actual competitive season.

The film is narrated by 8-year-old Lizzie, a self-described soccer girl who doesn't let juvenile diabetes, elbow blocks or grass stains interfere with her desire to compete.

It's a remarkable film that reminds us all of the lessons learned in competitive athletics and how sports has been one of the most effective instruments of social change in our lifetime.”

Enter to win the DVD by leaving your name in the “Comments” section below or by sending an email to contests@mominthecity.com with “Kick” in the Subject line by December 31st

Happy Thanksgiving/ I’m Thankful…

I’m thankful for many things in 2008. Here is my Top 10 (so far…)

1. Faith: Nothing is impossible with God.

2. Family: I’m so grateful to have a wonderful husband and kids whom I both like and love! I’m also very fortunate to have great relationships with the rest of our family, both immediate and extended.

3. Friends: The older I get, I have fewer but much more meaningful friendships – many acquaintances but a special, few friends.

4. Health (physical and emotional): It’s such a gift that I and my loved ones are in good physical health. Also, I don’t think that I really realized before how much of a treasure emotional stability is!

5. Education: Irregardless of what I choose to do at the various stages of my life, it can never be taken away.

6. Current Career: Being a parenting writer/blogger/speaker is the ideal job at this stage of my life. I basically get paid to live my life and share about it. How great is that?! I’m especially happy about some of the longer term relationships that I have built this year with moms and marketers – especially Nintendo (we’re a Wii family!); method (they’ve helped us to live a little bit more “green” AND they threw my 35th birthday party!; and Disney (they treated me to a fabulous weekend and - more importantly - listened to African American mom concerns regarding their brand).

7. Financial Stability: We’re not (financially) rich, but we don’t have to choose between gas in the car and food on the table. That’s no small thing in today’s economic environment.

8. Home: I’m glad that at the end of the day, there’s no place that I, my husband and our kids would rather be.

9. Learning to Drive: Although, I don’t especially love driving yet, it’s a great skill to have. It “frees” me in new ways.

10. Family Vacations: I love when we get at our destination! Both the family wedding in North Carolina and our off-season Jersey Shore getaways were great. (In addition, with all that there is to do living in NYC, it’s like we’re on “vacation” year-round!)

What Are You Most Thankful For This Thanksgiving?

Walt Disney World: Disney “Insider Tips”

This will be my last post about my AWESOME Disney trip. I thought that I’d have more insider tips, but it turns out that many of the things that we experienced aren’t really available every day. (We all joked that it’s going to be difficult to go back to the Parks as “regular” visitors after being treated so “VIP” for those few days…)

I did pick up a few tips though:

-You can cut the wait time for rides with Disney’s FASTPASS. All you do is insert your Park ticket into the FASTPASS kiosk at the various rides. You’ll get a ticket with a return time when you come back and get in the FASTPASS line (which is a little to no wait time). Best of all, it’s totally free.

-You can leave your camera at home with Disney’s PhotoPass Service. Basically, professional photographers throughout the various parks will take pictures of you that you can claim online later. (You get the PhotoPass card -which has a unique i.d. number - from the first photographer and reuse it for the rest of the day throughout the Parks.) After your visit, you can order prints and/or various photo items online and have them delivered to you.

-September and January are the best (rate-wise) times to visit the Parks. Since there are less people, the rates are the lowest. They also offer various special promotions during those months (i.e. in September, there was a free dining promotion when you stayed at one of the Disney resorts…).

-You can find some of the best offers directly on their website.

-Don’t assume that you can’t afford Disney. A family of four can stay for as little (or as much depending on who’s doing the budget!) as $1700 which includes a Disney hotel, Park admission and airport pick-up.

And my favorite tip…

-Use Disney’s Moms Panel when planning your trip. You can ask specific questions on a wide variety of topics (including budgeting!) and they’ll get you the answers. (Laura S., a panelist who was with our group throughout the weekend, was like a walking Disney encyclopedia!)

In any event, I had a blast at Walt Disney World and I’m looking forward to returning with my family within the next couple of years.

Q&A About Boys (Part III): Michael G. Thompson, Ph.D.

This is Part III of a Q&A with Dr. Thompson, a psychologist, school consultant and author/co-author of eight books including the classic bestseller, Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys and It’s a Boy!: Understanding Your Son’s Development from Birth to Eighteen. (You can learn more about Dr. Thompson and his works on his website www.michaelthompson-phd.com.)

When is the best time to put boys in full day school? (It seems like the majority of schools aren’t geared to physically active boys.)
There is no formula to help you with this decision. Some boys need more quiet play time at home; other boys are ready to wade into a social and school situation. You can figure that out by watching your son and taking your cues from him. If you have a very active boy and you have some school choice, it is important to choose a school that is tolerant of boys, has plenty of outdoor time and isn’t constantly scolding boys. Such a school is likely to be a hell for boys.

In regards to discipline/setting limits, how much should “let boys be boys” really be applied?
The phrase “letting boys be boys” is an unclear guide to parenting. Obviously, you need to stop boys from doing reckless and dangerous things. However, because boys like creative, challenging play that sometimes involves play fighting, danger is often in the eye of the beholder—the parent. In my book, “It’s a Boy! Understanding Your Son’s Development from Birth to Eighteen,” a Kindergarten mother told me that she and the other mothers learned to turn their backs and NOT watch when their sons were playing in a field after school. She said that the moms had a tendency to intervene constantly when they saw their boys pick up sticks or play a hard-charging form of tag. I don’t believe that you should constantly intervene in boys’ play, because free, undirected play is the purest expression of childhood creativity and imagination.

When it comes to moral matters all children need to learn respect, empathy and good manners. You probably should let some boy shouting or bad language pass because you understand it was impulsive and over-excited; however, rudeness, cruelty and destructiveness must always be addressed.

Why are boys considered to be so much more challenging to raise during the early years than girls?
I think it is the boy activity level that keeps moms on their toes for the early years. When his son was between two and three years old, my friend, the child psychiatrist Ned Hallowell, called him “The Terminator.” His son would walk into or over anything, break anything and listen to no one. There was no way to stop him from danger other than to grab him. These boy behaviors are scary for parents, mothers especially. It is worth remembering that at sixteen years old “The Terminator” is quiet, a hardworking student, a gifted singer and a wonderful friend to his friends. The only sign of his early hard-charging behavior is that he is that he is a good wrestler on his school wrestling team.

(To see the introduction and the first set of questions, please visit Q&A About Boys: Michael G. Thompson, Ph.D.. For Part II, visit Q&A About Boys (Part II): Michael G. Thompson, Ph.D.)

On a side note, Dr. Thompson was quoted earlier this week in the AP article Serious business: Childhood experts step up campaign for more free-wheeling play time. It’s an interesting, informative read.

Mmmm - M&M’S World New York

Walt Disney World Trip: Extra “Magic”

Next week, will be the last (for now anyway) entry about my Disney Parks trip. I’ll be sharing some “Insider Tips” that I learned. Today, I’ll be sharing about some of the other miscellaneous things that I enjoyed during my stay.

-For the weekend, we stayed at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn. It was beautiful. This is definitely the place to go when you’re going all out for a deluxe family trip (currently, rooms range from $325 - $620/night). Here are some of the pictures that I took. I especially liked the Disney touches sprinkled throughout the room.

Did you see how big my bed was? One of the things that I was looking forward to (in regards to traveling alone) was having a bed to myself to stretch out on. Guess what? I didn’t stretch out at all. Rather, I stayed huddled up on “my” side of the bed. Oh well, I’m a creature of habit sometimes.

-Several of the mom bloggers went out to various clubs each night. I’m not a “clubber” – never have been and probably never will be – but I did go to one of the local (not Disney-owned) clubs on Saturday night. I don’t remember the name (which is probably good). It reminded me of why clubbing isn’t my thing. For one thing, you can’t control the music and the club’s dj wasn’t very good. The most notable “song” that he played all night was the theme to The Jeffersons and Good Times (?!) Our group started cracking up, because we were the only Black people in the club. It was one of those, “Did I just hear what I thought I heard?” moments. Secondly, I don’t like people whom I don’t know touching me. There was this one woman who just kept coming over to our group dancing with us (which was fine), but then she just kept touching us – not in a weird way, but in an overly familiar way. Coupled with the fact that she had obviously been drinking, I wasn’t too pleased.

On the positive side, it was fun hanging out with the other moms and some of the Disney marketing people – they could dance! It was also nice to have a “grown-up” drink. I don’t really like the taste of alcohol, so Midori Sour was my drink of choice. (It tastes fruity, so I have to remind myself not to drink more than two because it does contain alcohol!)

And

-On Sunday, we went to the Gospel Brunch at House of Blues in Downtown Disney. The all –you-can-eat feast was great. (I made certain to not eat anything that morning so that I would have “room” to sample everything!) I especially enjoyed the Macaroni & Cheese, Honey Baked Ham, and Cheesecake.

The music was even more amazing than the food. They sang one of my favorite songs, “I Surrender All”. (It was my “church service” for the weekend.) What I found especially interesting was that people from all faith backgrounds enjoyed the gospel performance. After the concert, we were able to meet the performers. They were so sweet, humble and talented. If you’re ever in the Orlando area, don’t miss this – it’s a special treat!

Guitar Hero On Tour: Decades Giveaway

RedOctane / Activision is giving away five game and grip bundles of their newest Guitar Hero game: Guitar Hero On Tour: Decades which was released yesterday (November 16^th). This game - exclusively for Nintendo DS - is perfect for holiday travel.

“Guitar Hero® On Tour: Decades™ allows gamers to unleash their inner rockstar anytime, anywhere and for the first time ever share their music with friends as they embark on a tour through the decades of rock. Compatible with the smash hit Guitar Hero®: On Tour™, the game leverages the technology of its predecessor and expands the experience with a new progression taking players on a musical journey from the classics of the 1970’s through today’s greatest hits. With a new library of music, characters and venues, the game delivers a portable way for gamers to unleash their inner rockstars while playing through the history of rock ’n’ roll.”

Enter to win one of the game bundles by leaving your name in the “Comments” section below or by sending an email to contests@mominthecity.com with “Guitar Hero” in the Subject line by November 23^rd. (Please note that this is a one week only giveaway!)

(To see other contests & giveaways around the web, visit Contesting Monday.)

Walt Disney World: Disney’s Hollywood Studios

On Saturday, we had the opportunity to have lunch at the Hollywood Brown Derby. This American restaurant is famous for their Cobb salad, but I’m not a salad person. I had a shrimp appetizer, a shrimp main course and pistachio cheesecake for dessert (yum!). While there, we met and spoke with a couple of the Disney Imagineers, Mark R. and Diego P. Diego (whose enthusiasm I have mentioned before) sat at our table and shared various behind the scenes design facts with us. He seemed to be especially proud of the lengths that Disney went in order to make the various areas of the Parks “culturally correct” (i.e. getting plants/etc. that are authentic to the African and Asian regions).

After lunch, I had time to go on three rides – Toy Story Mania!, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™ and the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster® Starring Aerosmith. Toy Story Mania! is a ride that I know my boys would love. Riders wear 3-D glasses before shooting virtual darts in midway-style games hosted by Toy Story characters Woody, Buzz, Rex and Hamm. For the record, the Tower of Terror lived up to its name. The thing about this ride was that I couldn’t brace myself for the next stomach dropping fall. Basically, you’re zooming up and falling down again and again. Sometimes, you have a couple of moments to settle yourself at the top, but sometimes you don’t – (by design) there’s no rhyme or reason to the drops. I don’t think that I’ll go on this ride again! The Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster was much more my speed. It was fast (0-60 mph in a flash) and loud with upside down loops and turns. It didn’t have any steep (stomach churning!) drops though, so I loved it!

Toy Story Mania!

Tower of Terror

After the rides, we went to the Block Party Bash. (I missed a lot of it, because I was on the Aerosmith ride, but the part I saw was fun.) Basically, it was a lot of the Pixar Film characters dancing and parading in the street. Here are a few of the pictures that I was able to take:

Q&A About Boys (Part II): Michael G. Thompson, Ph.D.

This is Part II of a Q&A with Dr. Thompson, a psychologist, school consultant and author/co-author of eight books including the classic bestseller, Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys and It’s a Boy!: Understanding Your Son’s Development from Birth to Eighteen. (You can learn more about Dr. Thompson and his works on his website www.michaelthompson-phd.com.)

Who has the greatest influence on preschool aged boys - the mother or the father?
In both single-parent families and in traditional, two-parent families (and there are fewer and fewer of them), it is the mother who provides the moment-to-moment, day-to-day care for her son and daughter, and thereby provides the foundation of their emotional lives. A mother’s love is, I believe, the bedrock of a child’s personality. Military histories tell us that when men are dying on the battlefield, with their last breaths they cry out for their moms.

That said, both parents are extremely influential in the life of a child, and I believe nature provided children with two parents for a reason: kids benefit from having two different approaches and two people who can support each other in loving a child during the difficult moments. A boy is profoundly influenced by how his mother treats him and responds to him, and he is equally influenced by the ways in which his father loves him and celebrates him.

Many mothers feel a bit jilted when their three- or four-year-old son, with whom they have spent a long day, suddenly seems incredibly excited by his father coming home. They want to wrestle with their dads, hang on their dads, and do everything their fathers do.

It is normal for a boy to love his mother, but to take her a bit for granted. After all, she’s the one who is usually there; she’s the one who reminds him to bathe and brush his teeth, etc., etc. In a little boy’s world, the fact that his father works outside the home tends to be a novelty, but also a boy needs to start constructing a male identity and it is his father on whom he is going to model himself. I’m sorry when mothers compete with fathers for a boy’s affections. A boy’s love for his father should be a source of pride to his mother; after all, she married his father because she thought he was a good man.

What should moms and dads do/how should they interact with their young sons to best meet their child’s needs?
The most important thing a mother and father should do is to enjoy their sons. Boys are fun, full of energy, sometimes wild, mostly loving and ultimately rewarding. You need to keep them safe, and they need to learn to be well-mannered, but mostly you just have to enjoy what they enjoy. Seeing the world through a boy lens can be pretty illuminating.

When (around what age) should boys be expected to control their physical selves (sitting still; play fighting a lot of the time, etc.)?
I hope no one expects boys to ever “control their physical energy” like girls. Three-quarters of boys are more physically active, more impulsive and developmentally immature in comparison to girls of the same chronological age. Boys in groups are rowdy, loud, and active, and they engage in play fighting right through college. Women who have two or three brothers tell me that they continue wrestling and play fighting into their thirties and even forties. If you are waiting for most boys to calm down and be like girls, you are in for a long, long wait.

(To see the introduction and the first set of questions, please visit Q&A About Boys: Michael G. Thompson, Ph.D.)

Disney Games

On Wednesday evening, I had a chance to drop by a Disney Interactive Studios Blogger Night event.

It was nice to reconnect with some people that I hadn’t seen in a little while including Maral (from Disney), Beth - who is an amazing karaoke singer!, Kim and Liza. I love the various conversations that come about when you get a group of women together. I talked about politics (Liza), twitter (all), adoption and moving for school systems (Beth).

Oh yes, and there was great food, fun new games to try out and a great bag of goodies on the way out. The games that stood out the most were Bolt (for ages 10+, this game is based on the upcoming movie starring John Travolta and Miley Cyrus); Club Penguin (designed for 6-14-year-olds, this game is based on the now-covered, virtual world where children play games and interact with friends as penguin avatars) and Ultimate Band (for ages 10+, this is Disney’s first band performance game – and you don’t need extra instruments!). In any event, any of these games would make great holiday gifts!

Football Season Reviews & Giveaway (Football and Cheerleading Wii Games)

When the cold weather hits, it always reminds me of football season. To get you in the spirit also, we’re giving away two great Wii games – THQ’s All Star Cheer Squad and Atari's Backyard Football '09.

All Star Cheer Squad is a fun game that players of all levels will enjoy. There’s a variety of routines – dance and squad teamwork- that are choreographed by popular choreographer Tony G. (of the “Bring it On” movies). You can compete against individual team members or against other squads. (Ultimately, you want to become the captain of the winning squad.). You can either play it while standing on the floor (my preference) or the Wii fit board. After playing this game, I remembered why I was a flag girl rather than a cheerleader - learning all of those dance and cheer moves isn’t easy (even though it is a lot of fun)!

Backyard Football ’09, is such a great game -kids (ages 6 to 12) will love it! It has NFL players from all 32 teams in the game as kids (how cute is that?!). This game (the best selling kids’ football game of all time) is easy enough for all players, from rookies to more experienced football veterans. Players can play with 7 on 7 teams, in Pro Bowl and tournament modes, season play or single games, custom teams and players, etc. Suffice it to say, there are a variety of game modes to keep the play interesting for the young ones.

Enter to win the games by leaving your name in the “Comments” section below or by sending an email to contests@mominthecity.com with “Games” in the Subject line by November 30th.

(To see other contests & giveaways around the web, visit Contesting Monday.)

Walt Disney World: Magic Kingdom

On Saturday, we had a little bit of free time to visit Magic Kingdom. I think that this is the park that I’ll take my family to first. I went on the following three rides:

1. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin: This ride was a lot of fun. Since I knew that Michael would have loved this ride, it made me miss my sons while I was there. (On this attraction, riders fire their personal laser cannons at various points as they cruise through a space mission adventure.)

2. Space Mountain: For this ride, I would have to leave the kids with my husband - none of them like roller coasters anyway! I had forgotten how much I LOVE roller coasters. (I don’t think that I have ridden one in over a decade?!) I had so much fun on the ride. I laughed so hard that tears were streaming down my face. It was fun and fast with several twists and turns (but none of those stomach-killing steep drops).

And

3. Mickey’s PhilharMagic: This was another point when I was missing my kids. They would have loved this show – especially Sean – he loves, loves, loves Mickey Mouse. Basically, this is a 3-D screen show starring Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and many other Disney characters (i.e. the Lion King, Ariel, etc.). Not only was the show in 3-D, but other elements were added so that all of the moviegoers senses were stimulated (i.e. you could smell the scent of the on-screen apple pie; you could feel the wind; there were light splashes of water; etc.). The kids (as well as the adults) in the audience loved it.

(Below are a few pictures that I took while there….)

Holiday Toy Guide 2008: Infants

1. Alex Toys’ ‘ROUND THE FARM : Suitable for ages 6 months+, this award-winning toy is great for helping babies learn better motor skills (i.e. catching, rolling, grabbing, etc.). Little kids will especially enjoy hearing the different animal (dog, cat, pig and frog) sounds as they learn to press each animal’s ear.
Price $24.99

2. baby Zoobies : The perfect size for children under 2, these stuffed plush animals are adorable. They convert to very comfortable pillows. Also, there are very soft, warm blankets inside that can be used separately (the blankets feature a “comfort corner”).
Price: $25.00

3. Fisher-Price‘s Laugh & Learn™ Learning Home™ : For ages 6 months to 36 months, this little house will help your little one learn in a variety of ways. It not only teaches academics (letters, numbers, colors, shapes, etc.) but also everyday experiences (dropping, spinning, sorting, etc.). Both sides of the house are filled with activities including 21 “sing along” songs. Note: 3 “C” alkaline batteries are required for this toy.
Price: $70.00

4. Infantino’s Play Time Activity Center: For newborns +, this 4-sided center will grow with your baby. It’s great for playing on the floor during “tummy time”. It’s also fun for infants to play with as they grow older. Activities include a peek-a-boo mirror, put-and-take bird’s nest and more. There are many different variations of this type of toy (for obviously good reasons!) but this is my pick for 2008.
Price: $29.99

5. International Playthings’ Yookidoo Discovery Playhouse: Ages 12+ months will love this roomy playhouse. They will have fun playing with the various built-in games (i.e. ball play, sorting shapes, peek-a-boo, etc.) on both the inside and outside. It is also a great hiding place for when the kids get a bit older (there’s space for several children to play in it). One of the things that I like the most about the playhouse (as a city dweller) is that it’s sturdy but easily folds up so that you can tuck it away.
USD$ 99.99

6. Leap Frog’s Learn & Groove® Counting Maracas: Appropriate for ages 6 months to 3 years, these little maracas are a lot of fun for the kids. There are three different “modes”: 1.Counting - each shake allows the child to count to 10 in both English and Spanish. 2. Colors - introduces the colors red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple in English and Spanish. 3. Music Play – music plays when the infant shakes the maracas. This is another toy that parents can see their kids grow with. (Initially my kids would just mouth the maracas, look at the lights and enjoy the music. As they grew older, the playtime became more meaningful. This is one of my favorite gifts to give to parents of small children.)
Price: $16.49

7. Melissa & Doug’s ABC Blocks : Recommended for ages 1+, these three plush blocks are great starter toys for the little ones. I especially like their bright colors, the different textures and the jingling sounds. (Moms will also appreciate that the blocks’ carrying case is phthalate-free.)
Price: $19.99

8. VTECH’s Sit to Stand Alphabet Train™ : For ages 12 months to 24 months, this little train teaches a lot! There are letter blocks, a small book, number buttons and much more. I like that this toy can grow with your child. When they’re younger, they can play with the different parts on the floor. Later, they can use it as a walker or as a ride-on toy. Once again, there are many different variations of this type of toy (for obviously good reasons!) but this is my pick for 2008. Note: 3AA batteries are required for this toy.
Price: $49.99