And, of course, I’d just finished this week’s feature article on www.MomsOutLoud.com called Four Steps to Summer Water Safety for Kids, during which I’d learned of the new research study published in March that says swim lessons in children ages 1-4 years significantly reduces drowning risk.  Not to mention fear of the water.  So for all those 20 minutes – and several hours following – I kicked myself for not starting him in lessons earlier.

But as a good friend (and great mother) once told me:  “Don’t beat yourself up on your parenting decisions.  Your kids will blame you for all their problems later in life no matter what you do.”  Ahhhh – that takes the pressure off!

One of my earliest writings in 2008 was the list of 25 Free or Cheap Things to do with Kids in DFW.  It was really popular.  And I was very happy.

But – now I’ve learned a lot more about all the fun things to do with kids and fun events for families in Dallas-Fort Worth.  So, the new list is bigger (if you really count, there’s lots more than just 25 things to do – - I’ve taken the liberty of bucketing them!) and better (i.e., more free stuff!!).

From free days at museums, free petting zoos, free concerts, free festivals, and free outdoor activities to activities that are just very well priced (nothing on the list is over $5 per person), MomsOutLoud.com has got it all.

Go here to see the full list:  http://www.momsoutloud.com/momsknow/highlight/id/25-free-(or-cheap)-things-to-do-with-the-kids-this-summer-66/articletype/1/

But I can’t resist this one.

In doing some research on the web today (actually trying to select some relevant parenting news feeds for the upgraded and AMAZING soon-to-be-launced MomsOutLoud.com website), I saw a few snippets on the Jon & Kate Plus 8 “controversy”.  As every working Mom on a deadline would, I tabled my interest just then, only to be picked up once the kids were in bed, dinner dishes cleaned up, and living room/kitchen tidied.  Well….at least the kids were in bed.

I stopped watching Jon & Kate Plus 8 a few years ago because it made me uncomfortable.  I hate the way she treats him.  I hate the way they talk to each other.  They snip and snap, sit with arms crossed as far apart from each other on the sofa as possible.  Talk about tension you can cut with a knife!  Clearly they are not happy people, and honestly I’m not sure how anyone could be happy living with her.  Sorry, I hate to talk bad about another woman, but really …. she is over-the-top.

Anyway, so much to my surprise, I’m reading tonight about Jon’s “outing” with a former college “friend”, the rumors about divorce, speculation about Monday night’s season premiere.  Best article, by the way, is from the Vancouver Sun – “Jon & Kate Plus 8:  Is Kate Grosselin No Better than the Octomom?”.

And the only thing I can say is:  is anyone surprised?  Could you NOT see this coming with all the bites back and forth between them, all the dagger-eyed looks from her to him across the couch, the “beaten-down” look Jon generally wears?

Well, maybe there is a second thing I can say:  who really cares?

Why we as a society prefer to spend our evenings peering inside other people’s dysfunctional homes instead of staying in our box of our own (sometimes) dysfunctional ones is beyond me.  Maybe it makes us feel better somehow?  (I personally have not seen Kate’s haircut, but maybe I should because it possibly would make me feel better about my own 15-years-running-straight-hair-mostly-in-a-ponytail look.)

I, for one, will NOT be watching the season premiere.  I will probably be cleaning up the house, doing laundry, or some other task in my own reality vs. watching someone else’s.

But, I likely will be checking the headlines Tuesday morning for what I missed.

Or, if you’re just looking for something to do with the kids, you can look at their highlights on that same page, or search their event listings by type of event, age appropriateness for you kids, zip code and distance you’re willing to travel.

Have fun!!

Ask a Mom or a teacher in Texas what she thinks of the TAKS test and you will no doubt hear a long diatribe of all of its faults.  Even Moms who don’t have elementary-aged children (yet!) like me have heard enough from our friends with older kids to instill fear of the dreaded TAKS test and how it impacts everything about a school – teacher lesson plans, class content, teacher performance scores (and bonuses), school funding….yes, just about everything.

After hearing another rant about the test from a Mom-friend with elementary school children, I decided to investigate.  Immediately after I found in my research what the controversy around TAKS was all about, I also saw that the two leaders of the Education committees of both bodies of the State Congress have just presented proposed bills to their Houses to fundamentally change the TAKS system. And yes, if you are not a fan of TAKS, you will love these new proposals, so read on.

Why Hate TAKS?

This was my first question when I heard all the concerns from my friends about the test.  So I jumped on Google to see what caused such universal hatred.  I first had to swim through posts on message boards that must have been made by disgruntled students (quoting one of my faves:  “I hate the taks test, I fail them, I thought skool was for tests and homework, not sume dumb test that determines if yu go to the next grade …” Really, dude, I’m thinking you need to be held back for some remedial spelling and English lessons.  You arguing against it with those writing skills makes me want to be a champion for it).

Then, I was able to find some thoughtful, organized rationale for why many think TAKS is bad for Texas education.

First, some don’t like it because they think it is too easy….that it creates an arbitrary “floor” that requires teachers to teach to, making sure all students get the basics that are tested on the TAKS test vs. challenging students with more complicated concepts and advanced information that won’t appear on a standardized test.  As one of my teacher-friends describes it, “I feel such pressure to teach to the ‘lowest’ student in class because I am legally obligated to help him succeed, as well as document everything I teach him and how many minutes.”

Secondly, many parents don’t like the TAKS system because of the stress it places on students themselves.  One Mom I know tells me that her son has become physically ill the night before every TAKS test throughout his education – and he’s now 14 years old. And if your child has any learning “differences” that cause standardized testing to be difficult, it can be even more harrowing of an experience.

But, in fact, most of the hatred has nothing to do with the standards on the actual test itself – it is fueled by the use of this test being the single measuring stick for school districts around the state.  The system now uses the TAKS test as a “single high-stakes test that determined whether students advanced, teachers received bonuses and principles and superintendents kept their jobs.” (Source: Houston Chronicle) This forces such pressure on teachers and administration to ensure their students perform well on the TAKS test that it actually causes negative behaviors.  Some of these are the counter-productive side effects from the incredible stress that the students and teachers feel around TAKS time.  Others are the previously mentioned teaching to the “lowest common denominator” in the classroom vs. challenging students more individually.  Still others include ignoring other potentially important measures in the decision to move students forward grade levels because the decision under current law relies solely on TAKS performance. The same teacher-friend told me:  “Third graders are NOT, as a whole, ready for such a high-stakes test!”

Finally, what may be the death knoll for TAKS is the lack of improvement in objective measures on readiness of students for college and the “real world”.  Overwhelmingly, it doesn’t appear to work.  Two condemning statistics: Texas ranked 46th in the country last year in the Scholastic Assessment Test scores and last among all states in the percentage of adult population with a high school diploma.  (Source:  Houston Chronicle) More than 40 percent of Texas high school graduates were not college-ready in at least one subject area, according to a recent study by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.  (Source:  Moak Casey & Associates, Texas School Finance & Accountability Experts)

Proposed legislation to reform TAKS

Earlier this month (on Thursday, March 5), Senator Florence Shapiro and Representative Rob Eissler, both of whom chair the Public Education Committees of their respective Houses of Congress in Texas, introduced bills that propose a major overhaul in the way TAKS is used.  While the bills do not suggest getting rid of the test itself, they suggest alternate ways to assess performance of individual students and school campuses.

The biggest changes would be:

• Under the newly proposed system, students in grades three, five, eight and 11 would not have to pass TAKS exams to be promoted to the next grade level.

• Standardized tests would be given at each grade (instead of the current 3rd/5th/8th/11th grade schedule) to measure progress and learning year to year.

• Two types of diplomas could be issued to students upon high school graduation:  a “Texas diploma” for college-bound students, or a “standard diploma” for those pursuing technical or trade careers following high school with lessoned academic requirements.
  

• No longer would districts earn distinctions in aggregate, but individual campuses would earn them – and not based solely on their TAKS results.  These distinctions could be given to high school, middle school and elementary school campuses and include a variety of areas, such as growth in student achievement, workforce readiness, second language learning, fine arts and physical fitness.

Changes would take effect during school year 2011 – 2012.

What’s next?

The legislation was introduced jointly by the heads of the Public Education Committees of both sides of the Texas Congress, indicating a strong alignment between both the House and the Senate.  However, in an interview, Governor Rick Perry said in the past couple of weeks that he didn’t believe the TAKS system needed reform.

This current legislative session runs to June 1.  That’s only approximately 60 days to get these bills passed into law.  Will they make it?  I know a lot of parents and teachers who are hoping so.

In the meantime, if you want to hear a little bit of dry humor around TAKS, check out this website: http://www.notonthetest.com/.  Apparently, it is a song a lot of Texas teachers know well.

Read more at:

Austin News KXAN:  Massive Bill Attempts Education Reform, March 5, 2009 ***Includes link to actual 118-pg bill that has been presented to this legislative session.

Houston Chronicle:  Legislators may make TAKS a thing of the past. March 5, 2009

Houston Chronicle:  Say Goodbye to the Detested TAKS Test, March 27, 2009

MyFox Houston:  Some Lawmakers:  Nix TAKS Testing, March 5, 2009

Written by Rebekah Cooksey, Plano Mom of 2 (almost 3!!) and founder of MomsOutLoud.com.  She welcomes your comments and ideas to add to this article (or any others on MomsOutLoud.com!).  You can reach her at rebekah@momsoutloud.com.

Yes, Spring has come to DFW!

And the Easter Bunny is not far behind!

As one of the first signs of Spring, we are heading into several weekends with a wide variety of annual Easter activities hosted by our cities, community centers, and family businesses.  Whether it’s an “eggstravaganza”, and “eggcelent” celebration, or an “eggtacular”, you’re sure to have an “eggs-tremely” good time at one of these events. Read below for a weekend-by-weekend, city-by-city guide to what’s happening between now and Easter at a park near you.

Weekend of March 28/29

Dallas – Tale of Peter Rabbit, Dallas Children’s Theater

Date and Time: Running March 20 – April 19

Location: 5938 Skillman, Dallas, 75231

Cost: $14-19

What is is: The award-winning musical adaptation of Beatrix Potter’s beloved and bestselling rabbit tale! New puppets based on Miss Potter’s charming illustrations spring to life to re-create the tale of the naughty little bunny who has captivated our hearts for over 100 years.  Kathy Burke’s Theater of Puppetry Arts performing.

More Info: Click link above or call Dallas Children’s Theater Box Office at 214-740-0051

Frisco’s Easter Eggstravaganza

Date and Time: Saturday, 3/28/09 from 9am-12pm

Location: Pizza Hut Park, 9200 World Cup Way, Frisco, 75034

Cost: $10

What it is: This family favorite also features face painting, games, crafts, bounce houses and a chance to see – and take a photo with – Mr. and Mrs. Peter Cottontail. Most of the festivities will be located in the parking lot near the Dr Pepper Victory Center concession area. Bounce houses and photos with the Easter Bunny can be found on field 10. Parents will enjoy stopping by the Summer Programs Expo where Parks and Recreation Department staff will share information about upcoming athletic, aquatic and recreation programs and leagues, as well as special events, services and summer camps. Instructors will be on hand to answer questions, too.

More Info: Click link above, or call Frisco Parks & Rec at 972-292-6520

Keller Pointe Underwater Egg Hunt

Date and Time: Saturday, 3/28/09 from 9am-12pm

Location: Keller Pointe, 405 Rufe Snow Dr., Keller, 76248

Cost: $10

What it is: The Keller Pointe will host its fourth annual Underwater Egg Hunt where children who are ages 12 and under can enjoy searching the pool for eggs filled with special prizes.

More Info: Click link above, call 817-743-4FUN (4386), or E-mail: thekellerpointe@cityofkeller.com

Plano – Breakfast with the Easter Bunny

Date and Time: Saturday, 3/28/09 from 9am-11am

Location: Journey of Grief & Hope Support Center, 1901 E Spring Creek Pkwy, Plano, 75074

Cost: $25

What it is: Breakfast with the Easter Bunny will include: * Delicious Buffet Breakfast * Fun Crafts for Kids * Goodie Bags * Silent Auction * Photos with LIVE bunnies * Kids Entertainment * Fabulous Raffle Items ** An Appearance by the Easter Bunny! **

More Info: Click link above, or call 972-964-1600

Weekend of April 3rd – 5th

Allen – Eggcellent Family Adventure

Date & Time: Saturday April 4th,  9am to noon

Location: Civic Plaza, 305 Century Parkway, Allen, 75013

Cost: FREE

What it is: Take a stroll through the Civic Plaza and hang out with the Easter Bunny and his friends from all over the local community. “Trick-or-treat” Easter style and collect eggs, candy and other valuable information from tables hosted by civic organizations and businesses. Other activities include games, crafts, face painters and a bounce house.

More Info: Click the link above, or call the City of Allen 214-509-4100

Bedford – Easter Egg Celebration

Date and Time: Saturday, April 4, 10am-12pm

Location: Bedford Boys Ranch Pavilion, 2801 Forest Ridge Dr. Bedford, 76021

Cost: $5/child, reservations required.

What it is: The city of Bedford sponsors an egg hunt each year. Starting at 10 a.m. at the Bedford Boys Ranch Pavilion, kids ten and under can enjoy crafts, pictures with the Easter Bunny, a snack, and an egg hunt involving more than 10,000 eggs. The egg hunt starts at 10:20 a.m., so don’t be late.  Call (817) 952-2323 to pre-register.

More Info: Click link above, or call (817) 952-2323

Flower Mound – Underwater Easter Egg Hunt

Date and Time: Friday, April 3, 5pm

Location: Community Activity Center

Cost: $5/CAC member, $6/non-member

What it is: The Underwater Egg Hunt Extravaganza is for kids 3 to 10 years old who want to hunt for eggs in the indoor pool, eat candy, and enjoy splashing around the pool. The Hunt begins at 5 p.m. with staggered times for different age groups. Cost is $5 per participant for CAC members and $6 for non-members. Register at the CAC front desk.

More Info: Click link above, or go to Flower Mound website.

Flower Mound – 25th Annual Easter Egg Scramble

Date and Time: Saturday, April 4th.  Activities at 2pm, scramble 2:30pm

Location: Jake’s Hilltop Park, 4975 Timber Creek Road (across from Lamar Middle School)

Cost: Free

What it is: Lots of candy will be available for the taking and a special appearance by the Easter Bunny will highlight this free family event.

More Info: Click link above, or go to Flower Mound website.

Frisco – Aqua Egg Hunt

Date and Time: Saturday, April 4, 11:30am – 12:30pm

Location: Frisco Athletic Center, 5828 Nancy Jane Lane, Frisco, 75035

Cost: $10/child

What it is: The Easter Bunny spilled his eggs in the pool and he needs your help to clean them up! Join us at the Frisco Athletic Center for an eggxtremely good time of egg hunting and swimming. Admission includes: egg hunt, swim pass for the day and a special treat from the Easter Bunny. Don’t forget to bring your camera! All participants must preregister on the Frisco Athletic Center website.

More Info: Click link above or see the Frisco Athletic Center website.

Grapevine – Easter Egg Hunt

Date/Time: Saturday, April 4 at 10:00am

Location: Grapevine High School practice fields (off of Hwy. 26)

Cost: FREE

What it is: Mr. & Mrs. Bunny will be hiding thousands of eggs at the City’s annual egg hunt.  A couple of special eggs that have tickets for prizes will be hidden in each age group.  Other free activities will include: face painting, popcorn and more!  Bring your camera and have your photo taken with the Easter Bunny.

More Info: Click link above, or see the Grapevine website.

Highland Village -Easter Egg Hunt

Date/Time: Saturday, April 4 at 10:00am

Location: Unity Park baseball field

Cost: FREE

What it is: The city of Highland Village presents an Easter Egg Hunt each year at the Unity Park baseball field two Saturdays before Easter. There will also be a bounce house, a fire engine and an a chance to have your kids’ pictures taken with the Easter bunny. This Easter event is absolutely free.

More Info: Click the link above, or visit the Highland Village website and click on “Events.”

Keller – Tree-Mendous Easter Egg Hunt

Date/Time: Saturday, April 4 from 9am-11:30am

Location: Bear Creek Park Pond, 400 Bear Creek Park, Keller, 76248

Cost: FREE

What it is: Bear Creek Park will be hoppin’ with fun as every ’bunny’ gathers for the annual Egg Hunt. There will be plenty of actvities and games on this morning of fun, and a very special Bunny will be available for photos. Don’t forget to bring your basket to hold all of your goodies! Celebrate Arbor Day with us and pick up and plant a free tree, while supplies last.  Easter Egg Hunt is organized by age group, so check website for specific times!

More Info: Check City of Keller website for more information.

Little Elm – Eggspedtion

Date/Time: Saturday, April 4 at 9:30am

Location: Little Elm Library, 100 W. Eldorado Parkway, Little Elm, 75068

Cost: FREE

What it is: 8,000 eggs will be divided between three fields for three different age groups (0-3), (4-6), and (7-adult). The egg hunt starts at 9:30am sharp. Tip for that day, make sure to give yourself plenty of time to find a place to park, get the kids out of the car, and find your fields. Once the sign is given to start, it is over in less than two minutes so come early so you don’t miss out on the hunt.

More Info: Click link above, or see Little Elm City Website.

Richardson – Evening with the Easter Bunny

Date and Time: Friday, April 3rd, 7:30 – 8:30pm

Location: Huffhines Park Pavilion

Cost: $10

What it is: Boys and girls ages 2-6. Bring a parent and join us for this unique event. Children will create an Easter craft and enjoy refreshments, storytime, meeting the Easter Bunny, and going on a night egg hunt with glowing Easter eggs. This will definitely be a one-of-a-kind event! Don’t forget to sign up now! Limited enrollment.  Registration #48139, pre-register with Richardson Parks & Rec

More Info: Click link above, or see Richardson’s “Recreation Today” online catalog.

Southlake – Eggtacular

Date/Time: Saturday, April 4, 10am-2pm

Location: Durham School

Cost: $35

What it is: Children ages 3-5 will enjoy four hours of games, arts and crafts, and lots of surprises in a well supervised environment. Pizza, juice boxes and a special treat will be provided. Parents are not required to attend but do need to sign-in and sign-out their child. Register online, www.SouthlakeParksAndRec.com or Come to the Community Center in Bicentennial Park, 400 N. White Chapel.

More Info: Click link above, or call 817-748-8019 or 817-748-8203

Southlake – Easter in the Park

Date/Time: Sunday, April 5, 1:30 – 4:30pm

Location: Bicentennial Park (Whites Chapel Blvd. entrance), Southlake, 76092

Cost: Free

What it is: Free event that includes egg hunts, inflatables, live entertainment, face painting, petting zoo, cotton candy and more!

More Info: Click link above, or: call 817-748-8019 or 817-748-8203

Easter Week and Weekend (April 9 – April 12)

Allen – We Love Allen

Date: Saturday, April 11th, 11:00am – 2:00pm

Location: 700 Rivercrest Blvd., Allen, TX  75002

Cost: Free

What it is: ‘We Love Allen’ is a Free Community Event hosted by The Harvest to celebrate the community of Allen, Texas, by providing a fun afternoon for the family and a great way to get to know members of the community better. * Free burgers and hot dogs * Prizes and give aways * Egg Hunts (bring your baskets!) * Children’s games and activities * Special Guests * Bounce House and Inflatable Sumo Wrestlers * Show Cars and Motor Bikes * Adopt a Pet from SPCA * Blood Drive by Carter Blood Care * Photo Opportunities * Allen Fire Department and Police Department * National Award Winner Competitive Cheer Squad Presentations

More Info: Click link above, or see We Love Allen website.

Carrollton – Good Friday Bounce and Egg Hunt

Date & Time: Friday April 10th,  2:30 – 4:30pm

Location: Bounce U, 3050 N Josey Ln #110, Carrollton, 75007

Cost: $7 first child/$6 per sibling

What it is: Kids of all ages think our bounce parties are unbelievably cool, and most of them can’t wait for their next trip to BounceU. With our All-Ages Open Bounce sessions, they won’t need a special occasion to enjoy incredible inflatables, exciting games, and non-stop fun.

More info: Click link above, or call Bounce U at 972-939-5000

Dallas – Arboretum Easter Events

Date & Time: Friday April 10th – Sunday April 12th, time varies by day

Location: Dallas Arboretum

Cost: Children under 3 free; 3-12 $6, Adults $9.50, Seniors $8

What it is: Eddie Coker’s children’s concert will be on Fri, Apr 10 at 11 a.m. and again at 2 p.m. There will also be a petting zoo on Sat, Apr 11, noon-4 p.m. and Sun, Apr 12, 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Photos with live bunnies, a silhouette artist, and live music round out the entertainment.

More info: Go to the Dallas Arboretum website for more details.

Fort Worth – Stockyards Easter Parade & Egg Hunt

Date & Time: Saturday, April 11th, 11am starts

Location: Ft. Worth Stockyards

Cost: Free

What it is: Buckaroos (12 and under) grab your baskets and head to the FUN Fort Worth Stockyards for an super-fun egg hunt you will not want to miss. Hunt starts at High Noon, on the Lawns of the Stockyards Visitors Center and the Historic Livestock Exchange Building on East Exchange Avenue. Egg-hunters will be divided into groups Visit with the Easter bunny and have your picture made between noon – 2 p.m. Parents please bring your own cameras. Don’s miss live bunnies and chicks too, until 3 p.m. Parades start at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Pawnee Bill’s Wild West Easter Weekend Show is at 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

More Info: Click link above, or visit the Ft. Worth Stockyards website.

Mansfield – Country Critters Farm Easter Egg Hunt

Date & Time: Saturday, April 11th, Call for times

Location: 3709 County Rd. 617  Alvarado, 76009

Cost: Children up to age 12 are $7 (18 mo. and under FREE), Adults $5.  See website for what special activities are included in admission as well as other activities available for small additional fee.

What it is: Country Critters Farm is now open to the public on weekends!  We will have a special Easter Egg Hunt on April 11th.  We have our annual Peter Rabbit Trail running from now through April 26th. The Peter Rabbit Trail is a quest that we lead the kids on to find Peter Rabbit. The kids follow Peter Rabbit’s footprints that lead us through his vegetable garden, giant eggs, the bird and butterfly garden, and finally to Peter Rabbit himself. The kids learn about gardens, insects, birds, and of corse, rabbits! Peter Rabbit also has prizes for each kid.

More Info: Click link above, or call 817-477-3060

McKinney – ’Egg-Stravaganza’ Egg Hunt

Date & Time: Saturday, April 11th at 11am

Location: Al Ruschhaupt Soccer Complex, 1986 Park View Drive

Cost: Free

What it is: Enjoy a morning of family fun filled with games, arts & crafts, and entertainment.  Don’t miss McKinney’s largest Easter Egg Hunt!

More Info:  See McKinney’s website

Plano – Eggs Over Easy Egg Hunt

Date & Time: Saturday April 11th,  10:00-10:45am

Location: Liberty Rec Center, 2601 Glencliff Drive, Plano

Cost: $4

What it is: The event includes an egg and candy hunt, as well as a visit from PAR D. Duck and the Easter Bunny! Children will be divided for egg hunting by age groups (2-3 years, 4-5 years, 6-7 years). Hunt will take place at Liberty Park. Don’t forget to bring a basket and your camera for photos! Space is limited, so register early! Sign up by visiting Parks and Recreation LEISURE Catalog online at www.planoparks.org and selecting Course #97783.

More Info: Click link above or see Plano Parks & Rec Website.

Plano – KidsFest

Date & Time: Saturday, April 11th, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

Location: Downtown Plano (around 15th and Ave. P)

Cost: Free

What it is: Features an Easter Egg Hunt, pictures with the Easter Bunny, characters from McDonald’s, bounce houses and petting zoo.  Opportunity to shop the great shops of downtown Plano, including arts & crafts and gourmet foods. Sponsored by the Historic Downtown Plano Association and the City of Plano.

More Info: Click link above, or go to www.visitdowntownplano.org.

Richardson – Flashlight Egg-streme

Date and Time: Friday, April 10th, 7:30 – 9 p.m.

Location: Breckinridge Park Pavilions, Entrance “C”

Cost: $8/child, adults free

What it is: Boys and girls ages 7-11. Bring a parent, your Easter basket and a flashlight to our annual night Easter egg hunt. You will enjoy a craft, a snack, and a unique night-time hunt. The Easter eggs will be hidden at Breckinridge Park by participating parents and staff. Register now! Registration #48140. Limited Enrollment! Pre-register with Richardson Parks & Rec.

More Info: Click link above, or see Richardson’s “Recreation Today” online catalog.

The Colony – Easter Egg Hunt and Spring Festival

Date & Time: Thursday, April 9, 6:30 – 9:00 pm

Location: Five Star Complex

Cost: $3/child in advance; $5/child day of (tickets can be purchased starting 3/30 at The Colony Recreation Center, 5151 North Colony Blvd.)

What it is: 0-3 and 4-5 hunts will begin at approximately 6:45pm, all others will follow immediately.
Please arrive by 6:30pm to ensure participation.

More Info: Click link above or call 972-625-1106

Our son Jack has become a bedtime stall artist on the grandest scale.

I am thankful for the three years of (relatively) easy bedtimes we’ve had with Jack, don’t get me wrong.  Other than two short but tramatic periods – when we had to let him cry it out to learn to soothe himself to sleep (20 min for 2 nights and totally worth it for all family members), and when we had to wean him from the pacifier (another 20 min of crying for about 2 nights and totally worth it for future orthodontia work) – he’s been a dream boy at bedtime.

We didn’t even transition him to a “big boy” bed from his crib until he was almost 3 years old because there was no need…not once did he ever try to climb out of it or do any of the stunts you hear of kids trying in their cribs when they get more adventurous.  And then, when we did transition him to his big boy bed, it took him another ~6 months to figure out that he could actually get out of bed once we’d tucked him in and kissed him goodnight (even though he climbed into it on his own, and out of it on his own in the mornings).

But – wow! – once he realized he could climb out of it at night after he’d been tucked in….that’s when all the fun started!

At first, it was manageable…a couple of extra kisses goodnight and tucks back into bed.

Soon, however, it turned into multiple trips out into the hall, standing at the balcony railing, looking at Mom and/or Dad down below, and trying to come up with excuses of why he needed to get out of bed.

Some of my favorites have been:

• “I just wanted to say ‘night night’ one last time.” (This one is generally used at least three times in a given evening).

• “I drank my water down to [there] and I want more.” (Usually used when he’s drunk around a quarter of his full sippy cup’s worth of water.)

• “My sock came off.” (He’s known how to put his own socks on since he was 2 1/2 yrs, but somehow at night he can’t seem to remember …. even though getting them off is no problem, apparently.)

• “I have a bruise and need cream on it.” (We make sure he’s all creamed and bandaged up as needed before saying goodnight, so he fabricates ouches frequently.  Unfortunately for him, sometimes he forgets just what gets cream (itches and rashes), what gets bandaids (cuts and scrapes), and what just gets some extra kisses (bruises and bumps).

But tonight, as I was getting into my own post-kid-bedtime routine of kitchen clean up, mail sorting, email checking, etc., I heard the best one of them all:

“Robots are not fun.”

He is standing on the balcony, his teddy bear in his hand and blonde hair already ruffled from tossing in bed, wearing his robot pajamas.  This is his fifth trip out, so I’m already a little (OK – a lot) frustrated.

“Jack, go back to bed,” I say in my firm Momma voice.

“But I don’t want to wear robot jammas,” he says in his lightly whiny voice.

“Jack, you specifically chose those pajamas tonight.  Daddy had your truck jammas picked out but you insisted on robots.”

“But robots are not fun.” He’s now using his highly whiny voice.

“Jack, we’re not changing your pajamas.  You need to get back in bed.”

“But I want to wear my truck pajamas.” He’s escalated to his fake crying that he uses when he wants to get his way and he’s starting to realize he might not.

Lots of things are going through my head.  Not one of them includes actually going up and getting him in new pajamas, but I do consider suggesting he change himself (which he can do).  I eventually just decide to dig in, because I have learned when you give an inch, kids take a mile, and if I go up and change him, I’ll be regretting that decision for weeks to come.

“Jack, we are not changing your pajamas.  I’m not going to talk about it anymore.  These are the pajamas you chose tonight and we are not changing them.”

“But robots are not fun,” he repeats, still fussy-crying.

“I’m sorry, honey, that you don’t like these pajamas anymore.  We’ll wear different ones tomorrow night.  But right now you need to get back in bed and go to sleep.  I love you very much.” I start backing away toward my bedroom where he won’t see me anymore, waving and saying “Goodnight.”

As I walked into my bedroom, stopping right where I was just out of his sight, I listened.

“Robots are not fun…..Robots are not fun…..Robots are not fun….” He repeated the phrase over and over.  Just as I walked out again so he would know I was still there, and still wanting him to go to bed, I heard him shut his bedroom door.

Over the monitor, I heard:  “Robots are not fun…..robots are not fun…..”

Soon, he was singing the words in some silly tune.  As I watched him on the video monitor, I saw him throwing his teddy bear up in the air while lying down on his bed kicking his feet, all the while repeating:  “Robots are not fun…..Robots are not fun….Robots are not fun.”

He was asleep within five minutes.

So much for really hating those robot pajamas, my little sweetie.

Well, I’m now around the same point in my third pregnancy….and guess what?  Anxiety is back.

I haven’t had many … really any … moments up until now where the thought of a third child has sent me to the panic room.  Having a third was a decision Jim and I made together, because we thought it was the right number for our family and that we had enough of everything to go around … love, time, attention, and in the grand scheme of things, money (though college funds will have to be a bit lighter for sure than with only two).  However, as my body gets more tired, my business and my goals for it get bigger, and my belly gets larger, my unwavering optimism about turning our family of four into a family of five starts to….well….waver.

Today was the first day when I thought of the upcoming addition to the family with a bit of fear.  The first wave happened just after breakfast, which really in our house shouldn’t be called breakfast as much as it is the first “graze-a-thon” of the day.  Both boys are mobile enough now that we have them eat at either a small child-sized table in the kitchen or at the island counter – either of which they have free ability to move in / out of at will.  So, breakfast tends to be an exercise of running into the kitchen, grabbing a bite, going into the living room, playing for a minute, then repeating the loop over and over until they are either too engrossed in playing/full enough not to care for the food or Mommy says it’s time to get dressed for the day.  (Getting dressed, by the way, brings an entirely different scene of chaos to the morning.)

The scene this morning was pretty much like any morning:  toys strewn pretty much everywhere, various plates/bowls/cups all half-filled with various food and drink covering much of the counter space, and the items used to prepare breakfast covering the rest of the counters.  This morning brought the added knowledge that I would need to give my 3 yr old a breathing treatment with the nebulizer for his bronchitis soon, and the worry that the yellow crusted eyes of my 19 month old was worse than the normal first-thing-in-the-morning sleep and that he’d actually caught the pink eye my 3 yr old (yes, the same one with bronchitis) had come down with 5 days before.

The combination of all of this made me wonder:  “how in the world are we going to manage with three little ones?”

And unfortunately, I haven’t been able to shake that thought.  Its been a constant companion today, through all our normal weekend errands as well as our not-so-usual events:  through the visit to the urgent care clinic with my 19 month old that confirmed he’d contracted pink eye, through the unexpected and expensive fix to my car that was required 2 years before it should have been needed.

Were we crazy to think we had enough of everything to go around for 3 kids?

I believe the real answer to this question is no…we weren’t crazy.  And although days like today have me calling into question this decision, they are a blip in the radar screen relative to the more normal times when I feel like a third child – while certainly presenting challenges, especially in those early months – will be a huge blessing to our family.

And when days like this, and thoughts like this, happen….I just need to be prepared with my reinforcing thoughts of all the reasons why we “went for the third”: so our children would live with the wonderful kind of chaos that comes with multiple siblings and so Jim and I would have another baby/kid/teen/adult to love with the most powerful love that could ever exist.

And if that doesn’t work, I can also remind myself that I am the youngest of seven.  When you ask my mom today how she did it, she says she honestly can’t remember, but that now (at 73 yrs) she is incredibly happy that she did.  Which I take to mean that the first few, hardest years will be a blur, but over time the joys will far outweigh the work, so that when I’m her age and can look back at all that’s behind me, I’ll be so thankful that we made this choice.

And if those two fail, I’ll just have to practice my deep breathing.  It will come in handy in about 10 weeks, anyway.

Well, today, I was happily reminded that our schools, at least, have not forgotten about Thanksgiving.  I attended the Thanksgiving Feast at my 3-yr old’s pre-school, where all 125 or so children joined together for a true childhood Thanksgiving tradition – sitting Indian-style on a shiny gymnasium floor side by side with their classmates.  As they filed in one by one to take their place along the two rows of plastic tablecloths running the length of the gym, I saw head-dresses labeled with names like “Fast as a Rabbit”, “Strong as a Bear”, and “Quick as a Fox”.  Feathers, leaves, construction paper tee-pees, and toilet-paper-roll turkeys decorated the “tables”.  Some of the kids wore beaded necklaces, and teachers wore traditional Native American beads.

After all the classrooms were seated, the parents were treated to a mini-concert of Thanksgiving songs.  I was impressed with the patience of the kids to sing the few songs — they were probably very hungry and had some food already on their plates waiting to be eaten.  But as a parent who wonders what her 3-yr-old does at school all day, and whose only answer when asking him what he did during the day is “nothing” (albeit sweetly), I appreciated hearing the songs.  And when all the kids belted out “5 Fat Turkeys Are We”, my heart lept to see my little boy smiling and singing and doing the actions to the song along with his friends.

After the turkey was eaten and dessert “gobbled” up, some of the kids left home with parents and some returned to their classrooms.  I got a very hyper Jack buckled up in his carseat and we headed for home together.  He re-sang some of the songs to me, and I joined in where I could.  As we pulled into our neighborhood, I thought I’d turn this into a learning opportunity and so I asked him what he was thankful for.

• Me:  “Honey, what are you thankful for?”

• Jack:  Blank look from the backseat.

• Me:  “What are you so thankful to have?  Like for me, it’s to have Daddy, you, Luke, and our wonderful family.”

• Jack:  Still looking blankly at me – clearly did not understand or relate to what I was talking about.

• Me:  (Trying to bring the examples down to something more easily relatable by a 3 yr old…)  “I’m also thankful for our beautiful home, for the doggies and the kitties, for my work, for Grandma & Grandpa.”

• Jack:  Big smile as understanding set in.  “I’m thankful for playing!”

Well said, honey!

His simple comment made me think how important it is on Thanksgiving to remember all that we’re thankful for …. and to not forget to play with kids, which will create a more lasting memory for them than the turkey, casseroles, or pie.

Recently, he decided to trade in his gas guzzling full-size SUV for a sedan.  With a commute of over 20 miles, and gas prices hovering just below $4/gallon at the time, I was all for the switch.  So he researched.  And he test drove.  And he came home with a sedan.

A “performance” sedan.

Or, as one neighbor put it, a “souped up” sedan.  With something called “4 piston Brembo front brakes.”  And something called “steering wheel mounted magnesium paddle shifters.”  And a satellite-linked navigation system that includes a backup camera so you can see behind you when going in reverse.

During the first week my husband had the car, after his constant encouragement to “take it for a spin,” I went out after the boys were in bed and drove it.  The sun was still out (it was summer), so I rolled down the windows and rolled back the sunroof.  I turned the radio up loud, to help drown out the loud hum of the engine (and my own singing).  I drove it around the nearby neighborhoods, relaxing for these few minutes, the wind blowing my ponytail and forcing thoughts of laundry to be folded and toys to be picked up out of my head.

When I got home, my husband asked me if indeed that was not a very “fun ride.”

I conceded, it was fun.  I didn’t tell him that the fun was actually the few moments of peace between getting boys to bed and picking up the nightly routine of housekeeping, versus the drive of the car.

It turns out, a few days later, the time came to turn my youngest son’s car seat forward.  He was about at the one year mark, and was so long that his legs were getting uncomfortably bent up as he sat in his convertible seat facing the rear of the mini-van.  The first day we turned his seat forward was a new experience for everyone in the car.  Luke no longer had to crane his neck to see Mommy or Daddy driving, Jack and Luke were seated basically side by side, and I – always in the passenger seat on the weekends with Daddy driving – got to see the faces of my two beautiful boys anytime I wanted to just by turning in my chair.

On this first day, driving home from some errand, sippy cups in the hands of both boys, Luke out of the blue spit water out of his mouth (the first time he’d ever done so).  Not far, and not a lot…the water just dribbled down his chin.  He was so pleased with himself, though, he did it again.  Without thinking, I laughed.  So, of course, Jack copied him and did it, too.  Soon, we had two boys in the backseat, looking at each other, laughing, having a very unsuccessful (thank goodness) spitting contest.  I laughed, too, because the way they were laughing together, it was impossible not to.  And before you know it, the whole car was in hysterics.

At some point, Jim and I came to our senses about encouraging spitting inside the car and we got the boys to be distracted by making some other funny noise with their mouths.  Fortunately, we weren’t far from home, so the boys didn’t make it back to the original source of hilarity before we hit the garage.

Later that evening, after the boys were asleep, the house picked up,  and dinner dishes cleaned, Jim and I sat in bed.  I told him, “Hon, now that was a fun ride.”

He looked at my quizzically at first, but then he understood.

A mom’s definition of a “fun ride” is her whole family in the car together, enjoying a moment of hilarity, not a care in the world.  Seeing two sons share a moment of innocent conspiracy.  Catching a glimpse of what the next several years would be bringing in terms of chaos, sloppiness, and boys being boys.

Yep, now that’s what I call a “fun ride.”