Lowe's Reminder

Lowes Build and Grow is such a great opportunity for the kids to do some hands-on crafts, and the best part is it's FREE! How did your Pirate Ship turn out? What is a Pirate Ship without a Treasure Chest?! Arggg ye mateys... Stop by your nearest Lowes this Saturday (July 11) from 10am - 11am to finish this set!! Sign up and print your waiver ahead of time. It's super fast and easy.

I love that when the kids complete their project, the receive a patch to go on their aprons (that are also free), a certificate with their name on it, and a candy! What a fun time!

Home Depot Reminder

It's that time again! Grab your orange aprons and head on down to Home Depot this Saturday for their monthly workshop. Bring your kids to any Home Depot from 9am to 12pm to build a Picnic Caddy just in time for a picnic right before the fireworks!! And as always.... it's FREE!! Happy 4th everyone!

Lowe's Remider

I am SO behind with this....SORRY!!

Tomorrow at Lowe's is the FREE Build and Grow Activity for the kids. Get your little Buccaneers out of the house to build an awesome Pirate Ship!

The class is from 10am-11am. You will want to sign up ahead of time to save yourself from filling out permission slips while juggling babies and holding the rest back from starting their projects (clearly speaking from experience). Signing up is a 3 step process that begins....HERE.

Splash Pads Open

OK - This post is a bit late, but Memorial Day marked the opening of the parks in the area with water features. I thought I would make the search easy for you by linking each park to it's mapped location. Hope this helps & don't forget your sunscreen!!!

Boulder City:
Veteran's Memorial Park - 1650 Buchanan Blvd (I hear this park is fantastic)

Henderson:
Acacia Park - 50 Casa Del Fuego, 89012
Esselmont Park - 2725 Anthem Highlands Drive, 89044
Hayley Hendricks Park - 811 Ithaca Ave, 89015
Mission Hills Park - 551 E Mission Drive, 89002
Paseo Vista Park - 2505 Paseo Verde Pkwy, 89074
Saguaro Park - 600 Pounds Way, 89015

Las Vegas:
All-American - 1551 S Buffalo Dr, 89117
Angel - 241 S Durango Dr, 89145
Bob Baskin - 2801 Oakey Blvd, 89102
Bruce Trent - 8851 Vegas Dr, 89128
Centennial Hills - 7101 N Buffalo Dr, 89131
Gilcrease Brothers - 10011 Gilcrease Ave, 89149
Justice Myron E Leavitt Family - 2100 E St Louis Ave, 89104
Polly Gonzalez Memorial - 5425 Corbett St, 89130
Rainbow Family - 7151 W Oakey Blvd, 89117
Sunny Springs - 7620 Golden Talon Ave, 89131
Winding Trails - 7250 N Ft. Apache, 89149
Woofter Family - 1600 Rock Springs Dr, 89128

Clark County Parks:
Alexander Villas Park - 3620 Lincoln Road, 89115
Duck Creek Park - 8650 Pollock Dr, 89123 (not in the best shape now)
Meyer Park & Center - 4525 New Forest Dr, 89147
Molasky Family Park - 1065 E Twain, 89169
Mountain Crest Park & Center - 4701 N Durango, 89129
Nicholas E. Flores Jr. Park - 4133 Allen Lan, 89032
Joe Shoong Park - 1503 Wesley St, 89104
Somerset Hills Park - 10717 Valencia Hills, 89141
Spring Valley Park - 7600 W Flamingo, 89147
Winchester Park - 3130 S McLeod, 89121

(If you know of any others, leave a comment and I will add them - thanks)

Rave FREE Movies

As if we don't have enough FREE movies this summer! The Rave Theatre is also participating in a Free Family Film Festival for 8 weeks this summer. If you have ever been to this theatre, you will know that it is AMAZING - so comfy! The movies start at 10am, but you will want to arrive early to get a seat - it is first come, first serve. Also, the theatre offers a $1 off movie lunch special. I'm not exactly sure what is included in that, but I love coupons so there ya go.

The Rave Theatre is located at Town Square (click link for map). If you want to make a fun afternoon, there is a splash pad and huge tree house/play ground in the middle of the area.

June 9 & 10 - Kung Fu Panda PG
June 16 & 17 - Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa PG
June 23 & 24 - Surf's Up PG
June 30 & July 1 - The Tale of Despereaux G
July 7 & 8 - Horton Hears A Who! G
July 14 & 15 - Space Chimps G
July 21 & 22 - Igor PG
July 28 & 29 - Shrek the Third PG

Home Depot Reminder

Don't forget... This Saturday is the first Saturday of June & it's Kid's Workshop time at the Home Depot! This month's project is a Hardware Sorter - just in time for Father's Day!

Simply go to any Home Depot on Saturday between 9am and noon for your project. I want to see some pics when they are done! ;-)

Let's Play

Some great ladies at a blog I love, Self Reliant Sisters, have put together a great little booklet of things to make and do with your kids. I just had to pass it along since I am sure there will be afternoons I still need to fill this summer.

(I really love the homemade guitar - cause you know we have tons of cereal boxes laying around)

Click here to view the booklet in pdf form and to print it out for yourself. Send me some pics or comments about how your kids liked these projects.

Fun at Sun Kid's Club

Need to do some mall shopping? Why not go on the first and third Tuesday of the month? Why you ask? On these days at the Galleria Mall in Henderson, is a neat little program Fun at Sun Kid's Club. Each day they have a different themed activity. Here is list of what they have for the next few months - enjoy & happy shopping!

5/19/2009
Our Pets - Fur, feathers and scales. BOO will bring in photos of his pets- let's see yours'. How to love, protect and look after our faithful friends!Food Court, 10:30am

6/2/2009
Dental Health Day - When we grow up we only have one set of teeth. Let's learn how to look after them with flossing, brushing and dental visits. Lower Level, next to Gordon's Jewelers, 10:30am

6/16/2009
Let's show our Dads' how much we love them. BOO has a Father's Day card for you to give Dad on his special day! Lower Level, next to Gordon's Jewelers, 10:30am.

7/7/2009
Celebrate our country's birthday-music, flags, and parades. Let's see how many Presidents we can name! Lower Level, next to Gordon's Jewelers, 10:30am.

7/21/2009
Fun in the Sun!! Enjoy summer but let's be safe. What to wear....sunglasses, lotions, hats and plenty of water and being safe at the beach. Lower Level, next to Gordon's Jewelers, 10:30am.

Anderson Dairy Tour

Take a field trip! One of the best I have been on, is this little tour at Anderson Dairy. The Barnyard Buddies Tour. The kids get to tour the facility and even see some penguins helping out with the ice cream packaging - very "cool" (ha I crack myself up). Anyway, after a darling video presentation about the history of the dairy and the tour, the group meets back in the "tree" room for a cool treat - Free ice cream!

This tour has to be scheduled in advance. I am planning on scheduling at least 2 tours this summer, so keep an eye out for the dates. Otherwise, plan your own tour. Simply call 642-7507, extension 264.

When scheduling your tour, keep in mind driving time, so you aren't late... Anderson Dairy is located at 801 Searles Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89101. Guess what is down the street? The Natural History Museum, and Children's Museum. This tour only lasts about an hour, so there's plenty of time for a second stop! Have fun - out of the sun!

More Cool Pools

For all my friends in 'Las Vegas' and 'North Las Vegas', I don't want you to feel left out! Here is the information about cool activity pools in your areas too.

Carlos L. Martinez and Darrio J. Hall Family Pool at Freedom Park

Silver Mesa Activity Pool - North Las Vegas

If you want information about other pools or parks in Las Vegas - check here.

Our friends in North Las Vegas - parks and rec - click here.

Pools Are Cool

The City of Henderson has some great programs for your family. This post is all the info you need for the pool/aquatic festivities they have to offer. Click here for times, locations, and prices of admission. Our family loves the activity pools since there is something for everyone. It is most advantageous to get the punch pass if you plan on making more than a few trips over the summer. I may plan some playgroups at the activity pools - bring a lunch and lots of sunscreen and let the kids wear themselves out! (I am beginning to think this is my underlying goal here)

If your child needs a little extra help with his/her swimming techniques, check out the many different swim classes they offer as well.

Summer Reading Program

I am a huge fan of reading with the kids and I love that the libraries have a great Summer Reading Program. From June 1st - July 31st kids can read books and earn prizes! It has been my experience that the sooner you get done the better (meaning you will actually get the prize at the end and not an i.o.u). This is a FREE program so much fun!

For Las Vegas-Clark County program details, click here. If you want to add storytimes and other free activities, check out this great list of fun and free things at these libraries! I don't think I will post all the activities on the main calendar since there are so many location options. Oh, I almost forgot, they also have a Teen Summer Reading Program if you have older kids too!

The Henderson Summer Reading Programs do not begin until June 13th. They do not have information up yet as far as the types of prizes the kids will earn. In the past, there have been free passes to the Children's Museum, or Shark Reef. I will keep an eye out and post again with the details. In he meantime, check HERE to create a personalized calendar of events for your family. This calendar is for the Green Valley and Paseo Verde libraries. To make one for your area, simply select your library in the top left box.

Lakeshore Learning Center

MORE FREEBIES!!

Get those creative juices flowing... Every Saturday from 11am to 3pm at Lakeshore Learning Center, kids can make a fantastic craft to show off to their friends! Click HERE for a location near you...

Upcoming Activities and Crafts:

Home Depot Kid Workshops

It's the first Saturday of the month... where should you be? Well, Home Depot of course! On the first Saturday of the month from 9am-12pm you can take the kids to any Home Depot store and let them bang on some wood and create a great little project! There are no sign-ups necessary for this project. Your children will receive their own Home Depot apron and each project they complete, they will earn a pin to attach to their apron (just like the big kids who work there).

I love that this is a project for most ages, and both boys AND girls! Which makes it extra special for me!

They say ages 5-12, but Jarrett, 3 1/2 did just fine his first time out (ok - I may have had a bit of fun myself helping him along).

The next workshop day will be June 6th. The kids will make a Hardware Sorter. What a perfect gift for Father's Day!

Lowe's Build and Grow

Did you know that Lowe's does a workshop for kids too - and it's FREE!!! It is held twice a month with a different project each time. Sign up here to reserve a spot and make sure your child gets his/her apron, safelty goggles, and patch of that project! I even hear they get suckers & there is a $10 coupon or moms and dads too - and you KNOW how I feel about coupons - yipee!!

(Here is my nephew sporting his new Lowe's gear - nice flower pot little man!!)

You will have to follow a few steps:

#1 Select which clinic & number of kids attending

#2 Select your store

#3 Sign up with your email address, phone number, etc and print out a waiver for your children

#4 - Show up and have a GREAT time!!

The next clinic will be on May 23rd from 10:00am -11:0am. Thy will be making a "Ready to Go Kit"

FREE MOVIES

This has GOT to be my favorite thing to do in the summer! At the Regal Cinemas during the summer, you can take all the kids to the movies for FREE on Tuesday and Wednesday at 10am!!! Here is a quick rundown of what they are showing this summer at the Regal Colonnade 14 (Eastern and Pebble):

06/16/2009-06/17/2009
Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: Veggie Tale Movie (G)
Evan Almighty (PG)
06/23/2009-06/24/2009
Kit Kittredge: American Girl (G)
Nim's Island (PG)
06/30/2009-07/01/2009
Horton Hears A Who (G)
Inkheart (PG)
07/07/2009-07/08/2009
The Tale Of Despereaux (G)
Kung Fu Panda (PG)
07/14/2009-07/15/2009
Everyone's Hero (G)
Surf's Up (PG)
07/21/2009-07/22/2009
Igor (PG)
Journey To The Center Of The Earth (PG)
07/28/2009-07/29/2009
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (G)
Bee Movie (PG)
08/04/2009-08/05/2009
Curious George (G)
Alvin And The Chipmunks (PG)
08/11/2009-08/12/2009
Space Chimps (G)
Madagascar 2: Escape To Africa (PG)

They play both movies both days. I would suggest getting there at least 15 minutes early. It is first come, first serve & they fill up fast. I love that I can take all the kids, and if they are noisy - who cares! The place is chock FULL of kids!! We'll see you there!

p.s. if you go to the Colonnad on Easter, there is little park with a water feature across the street. Watch the movie, eat lunch at the park, let the kids run in the water, and enjoy a quiet afternoon after they pass out from all the excitement! ;-)

Natural History Museum

My boys call this the "Dinosaur Museum", which is funny because half the time we go they are still terrified of the dinosaurs!

The LV Natural History Museum is a fun place to go for a quick morning activity. We usually can get through everything the kids want to see in under 2 hours. Just in time for a lunch at the park across the parking lot and get home in time for naps.

Some cool things about this place:

• Every Saturday at 11:00 and 1:00 they will bring a "critter" out to visit the kiddies
• Every Saturday at 2pm you can go watch them feed the sharks and sting rays!
• Every Saturday at 11:30 and 1:30 kids can participate in Weekend Science activity. May is Archaeological Awareness and Preservation month, so the activities they have planned are all about fossils!

Check here for prices and hours. I would definatly suggest buying a family membership though! It only costs $45 for the entire family (regardless of how many kiddies you have)! If that deal doesn't strike you, print this coupon (you know I can't resist a good coupon) for one free admission... Enjoy!

Children's Museum

If you haven't been to the Lied Discovery Children's Museum lately, you are missing out. The museum got a much needed face lift earlier this year and it looks amazing! There are several new exhibits including games about food groups, a whole new town center that teaches the kids about being "green" and until the end of May - Clifford!!

I have found that this is one place I can take all my kids, ages 8-1, and there is something for all of them! We purchased an annual membership which for us works out to be quite cheap - since we go severl times during the year. Click HERE for prices and times.

There is always something fun going on at the museum. May is Asian Pacific Heritage Month, and every Saturday in May your kids can go learn about a different Asian cultures though arts and crafts. Check out the schedule, you don't want to miss this!