When is your Next Family Adventure?

Springtime activities for the family can be the highlight of your kid's year if you take a little time to plan ahead. There are lots of great ideas floating around for weekend getaways for families, one day trips, even short outings that can be done in a hour or two. Here in the heart of FL tourism, we have endless options for fun & entertainment with places like Disney, Universal, Seaworld, Gatorland, & the Holy Land Experience if you're interested in a family vacation or have the blessing of living here already & just want a day trip. Not everyone in the country is privileged to such a vast number of family fun options right in their town, but if you look hard enough you are sure to find a large span of delightful choices to refresh your spirit & enhance your family togetherness. Upon a thorough brainstorming session & some passionate searching you will probably find some of these choices available during parts of the year that are suitable short excursions: some type of park, playground, lakefront, beach, movie theater, mall, traveling carnival, library event, circus, concert, broadway style show or school play, dinner theater, miniature golf, go carts, arcade, indoor playland, magic shows, community dance class like Zumba, or you may even have to get creative & take the kids on a nice picnic somewhere & go fly kites. Day trips could include places of interest that are either local or within an hour or two of your hometown. Here are a few suggtested themes to look into: sporting events such as baseball, basketball, football, or hockey games; Nascar races, horseback riding on trails, train ride tours, Disney on Ice, special public speakers, town fairs, trade shows, health & fitness events, zoo, aquarium, children's museum, botanical gardens, or other historical or educational museum. No matter how much time you have available to invest into a family activity, the point is to have one and try to have them often. It will go a long way towards your child's happiness & yours. Now go ahead & have fun planning that next family adventure together! You'll be glad you did!

Previous KIDS CORNER Pages: Japanese homes, Webkinz recipes

KIDS CORNER: EARTHQUAKE, BUT THE JAPANESE DON'T FEAR!
In Ancient Japanese civilizations I learned they constructed some earthquake resistant buildings that were used as houses. Most of the houses were built the same way to help protect their families. They had constructed these buildings to have a pillar in the center and 5 or 6 floors connected by strong wires. If you pushed on the pillar the building would shake but not fall. An earthquake would only shake it too, but not knock it down. In modern day Japan, they still make these earthquake resistant houses. (by JH)

KIDS CORNER- Webkinz Secret Recipes!
Calling all Webkinz fans! We gathered a few wonderful recipes for you to use on your Webkinz stove or grill to make these delicious secret recipe foods! Your pet will love them. You can make them and send them through the Kinzpost to your friends. Enjoy! http://www.webkinz.com/
*Strawberry Kiwi Tart: strawberries, kiwi, animal crackers
*Shepherd's Pie: hamburger, baked potatoe, peas
*Mushmallow Frosty: marshmallows, ice cream, mushrooms
*Rollsrice Cream: rice ice cream, peppermint
*Smores: chocolate chip cookies, marshmallows, chocolate bar
*Blucocrunch Bread: potatoe chips, blueberry pie, chocolate bar

KIDS CORNER - JOKES & RIDDLES - About Space

What type of baseball game is held in a planetarium?
Answer: An All-Star Game

Why did the astronomer hit himself on the head in the afternoon?
Answer: He wanted to see the stars during the day for a change?

What do you call a star with a tail? A comet?
Answer: No, Mickey Mouse!

Why couldn't the astronaut land on the moon?
Answer: Because it was full!

Who was the first settler in the west?
Answer: the sun!

What does an astronaut do when he gets dirty?
Answer: He takes a meteor shower!

*If you enjoyed these jokes & riddles, check out the book called: 101 Outer Space Jokes by Sonia Black and Devra Newberger

LEAP DAY 2008 & March Comes Roaring in Like a Lion

Hello Friends! They say March comes roaring in like a Lion, well tomorrow being March 1st and all I thought I'd check the weather. Surprise, surprise...windy, snowy, and cold! A very appropriate entrance for our "Lion" month. (Actually, I just wanted a really good excuse to show my nieces KS and MS this photo of the Lion at Busch Gardens I took last time we went! ) Well for today, since its a VERY SPECIAL day....February 29th (Leap Year Day as kids tend to call it), I thought we should have a PARTY!!! Hey! This is only the 2nd time this has happened in JH's lifetime so why not make it fun, right? All night I've been crafting up some grand plans for our special Leap Year Day. Why not join us in the fun? Feel free to leave a comment below by clicking on the comments link under this blog and share with everyone your ideas for a party or fun day activity for February 29th Leap Year Day or for March 1st coming in like a Lion. It'll be grrreat! Even if you're not having a Leap Year party today, all weekend long can be a fun time to celebrate Leap Year or March roaring in like a lion! Buy some of the Eggo jungle waffles at your local grocery store and eat the Lion ones for a photo op. Why not plan to go to the zoo on March 1st every year so the kids can enjoy having their picture taken near the Lion exhibit? If you are big into scrapbooking, you know this would make a really cool opportunity for a creative page layout! Get out some jungle animal toys and play zoo or safari with the kids. Watch the Lion King dvd together. Observe the wind and get out some pinwheels or weather vane to use. Just make it special in your own way...the kids will have lots of exciting memories til the next March 1st rolls around.

Pictures can be cheerful and uplift the spirits when shared in a happy light. I hope you enjoy future blogs with pictures and captions, or stories revolving around them as I continue to learn more about blogging and website creation. I am thankful for any and all input you share. Express yourself anytime. Other readers will enjoy your comments too! For now, here are some fun suggestions to make the most of today: Visit a pottery/ceramics art store and let the kids create a Leap Year 2008 mug, plate, picture frame, magnet or other memorable keepsake to treasure. Try designing t-shirts (blank t-shirts sold fairly cheap at Michael's craft store in all sizes along with fabric paint) and you can have them say, " Where were you on Leap Day 2008?" or "Leap Day Party 2008". Make them as a family or have a party with friends and make them together to remember the fun occasion. Rent a bounce house for the yard or visit one of those Bounce House Kids Playlands and call it a Leap House. My son, JH, wants to go bungee cord "Leaping" at our local mall where the kids are strapped into a harness and are hoisted up in the air over a trampoline between the 1st and 2nd floor of the mall and continue to "leap" their little hearts out while doing flips and tricks for about 5 minutes time. (cost about $6) This "leaping" event can be enjoyed in your own back yard if you have a trampoline to let the kids leap on at home. Make it into an Olympic event and have a medal for the winners that say, "Leap Day Olympic Champion" or "Leap Day Olympics - Gold, Silver, or Bronz". Construction paper medals work fine for younger kids and can just say, "Super Leaper! - Leap Day 2008". Make a special meal or take the kids out to eat somewhere fun. Have a potluck traveling meal where you write down one part of the meal on 4 different note cards and let the kids pick a card to find out which fast food restaurant they go to first and the card will tell them what part of the meal they are buying there. We tried french fries at McDonalds, Frozen Coke (for the drink) at Burger King, Taco from Taco Bell, and apple turnovers from KFC for dessert. Make up your own menu of restaurants and meal choices and have some fun. Luckily for us all our fast food places are within a few yards from each other...be careful not to make your journey too far in between courses or the "little leapers" will get hungry or thirsty waiting to drive to the next place. This is a fun date idea for teens or couples who just want to have some fun today and mix things up a bit. Remember...today only comes every 4 years so enjoy it while you can! Have fun and don't forget to share your ideas or experiences with us in the comment section today or tomorrow. Thanks for reading!