Posts from — February 2011

Cute W worked late last night, so we slacked off, skipped the bedtime stories (in spite of their schedule), and watched the red carpet arrivals for the Oscars instead.

This was the girls’ first encounter with the Oscars, and their questions and comments were pretty amusing.

I said that I thought Jennifer Hudson looked great in her dress, but M disgreed: “I don’t like the way the dress is. I just don’t like how you can see her boob cracks.” Well, yes. It’s a new term for me, but point taken.

J didn’t understand the whole award concept. While explaining, I said that each winner was going to get a statue that they call “Oscar” who looks like the gold one that people were posing near (Jennifer’s photo works to illustrate this one, too). “Ohhhh,” J breathed. “It’s going to be really hard for people to take them home.” I had to explain that they got smaller, trophy-sized guys.

We all oohed and ahhed over Anne Hathaway’s first dress, and the girls were excited because she was practically the only celebrity that they actually knew, since they’ve seen  The Princess Diaries. They were paying close attention to the tv chatter, and when they heard that she was hosting the evening, one of the girls asked, “You mean she owns that whole place?”

Of course, I thought that the show started at 8 and it wasn’t until 8:30, and I’d already promised that they could watch the opening schpiel before heading to bed. By 8:45 pm I was mightily regretting that I’d let them watch any of it because it was so late, and my stress level combined with their overtiredness to create one extended crying jag. Or it would have been extended, if they hadn’t fallen asleep within five minutes of their heads hitting their respective pillows.  Funny: I’d promised them that after the opening act it was all completely boring, but then I sort of wondered if James Franco had heard me and was doing his best to prove me right. I thought that the most entertaining part was the Twilight bit at the end of that silly song.

It was our last day before getting back to school, and the girls decided to write out a schedule to follow. It was:

• Play outside in the snow
• Drink cocoa
• Read book
• Eat icicles
• Lunch
• Polly Pockets
• J: shower, M: whatever
• Watch tv (Shirley Temple)
• Dinner
• Read
• Bed

With a special note: Do not hug each other.  I don’t know what that‘s about. They’ve pretty much followed the schedule, although the Polly Pockets were scrapped in favor of more playing outside. Now they’re watching Shirley Temple and with Cute W gone for the evening, there will be a lazy dinner, so I’m pretty much coasting.

So, how’d everybody do for the break? Are you ready to hop back into the schedule? I’ve been sleeping in every day, so tomorrow morning will be difficult. It seems the extra time in the morning has allowed for an extra REM cycle, because I’ve been having vivid and memorable dreams. This morning I dreamed that I was giving Obama a personal tour of our neighborhood, and he confided that he, as an out-of-touch Washingtonian, no longer knew the going rate to purchase a new trumpet. But surely I did? And I had no idea what a trumpet costs, and I was deeply ashamed. And then J woke me up.

By the time I was fully operational, I realized that the Parentology show was already going on, except that when we ran to the tv, it was an infomercial! I emailed the reporter who said, “something happened with CW’s master control.” I have no idea what that means. But I have a strong hankering to buy this miracle course in mathematics now.

The week’s a bit quiet. Here’s what I’ve found:

All Week:

• Disney’s The Lion King continues at Proctors.

Monday, February 28th:

• At 6:30 pm it’s Pajamarama at the Bethlehem Public Library.
• From 7-8:30 pm there’s a Birthday Celebration for Dr. Seuss at Crandall Public Library.

Tuesday, March 1st:

• Candyland in Schenectady has a free Kindermusik class at 11 am.

Wednesday, March 2nd:

• At 2 pm at the Children’s Museum at Saratoga, it’s a Seussian Celebration featuring special guests Thing 1 and Thing 2. Free with admission.
• From 6-7:30 pm, you can participate in Amphibian Monitoring Training at Grafton Lakes State Park.

Thursday, March 3rd:

• Preschoolers can do some Insect Investigations at 11 am at the Children’s Museum of Science and Technology. Pre-registration is required, and it’s $2/non-member.
• At the Children’s Museum at Saratoga from 4-5 pm, there’s one of a six-week session called Explorations in Art. It’s $12/non-member for the whole session, and pre-registration is required.
• From 6:30-8 pm, Clifton Park has a Cross Country Skiing Lesson. It’s $12/person.

Friday, March 4th:

• At 11 am it’s Story Art at the New York State Museum. Incidentally, they also have what sounds like a groovy exhibit on ants, which I’d like to attend, because J’s quite interested. But I’m afraid, because she’s still mourning the two farms’ worth of ants we managed to kill. As regular readers know, she mourns long and deeply.
• At noon, take a First Friday Hike at the Albany Pine Bush and learn about frozen flora. It’s $3/person or $5/family.
• Cornell Cooperative Extension of Albany is having a 4H Super Science Night from 5-9 pm. It’s $10/non-members. For more information on local 4H activities, see this post.
• It’s First Friday in Albany from 5-9 pm.
• It’s Ballston Spa First Friday from 6-9 pm.
• Riverdance is playing at 8 pm at the Palace Theatre. Tickets are $34.50 and up.

Misc. Notes:

• Just fair warning, the New York State Museum will be closed this weekend for some electrical work.
• Albany Art Room has a new set of classes beginning, although it’s not reflected on the website. For kids there are classes on portraits, preschool pottery, and drawing for older kids.

Since the girls were teensy, I’ve kept a running list of the silly, sweet, or irritating things that my children say or do. Actually, I’ve slacked off a bit since I started the blog, but I do my best to keep up with the notes. I started with a small spiral notebook, and currently I type them directly into a draft email. That’s convenient because it provides a text for my delightful husband to add to his photo books, and it’s easy to access from anywhere. Plus I can periodically send my dispatches to the grandparents or an aunt who needs a laugh on a bad day.

Photo from approximately day before yesterday

Anyway, if you’ve still got very little ones, may I suggest a system like this? You’d be surprised how many unforgettably adorable things your child does now that you’ll manage to forget if you don’t get them documented. Here are a few selections from our archives:

M at 2 years old:

At the end of a car trip, M complains, “I’m tired of the car! I want to get out.” I reply, “We’re almost home–look, do you recognize this area?” M retorts, “I recognize that we’re not home yet!”

M notices that her butterfly puppet doesn’t have a tail. “Why not?” she asks. I answer, “He just doesn’t. You don’t have a tail, do you?” M answer, “No–I have a vagina! And Mommy has a vagina, and J has a vagina. . . but not Daddy! He has a penis! Poor Daddy!”

M at 3 years old:

M tells me about her trip to Lowe’s with W. “So, there’s a swing set in front of Lowe’s but you’re not allowed to play on it unless you take it home and then you can, and I don’t know what’s the deal with that.”

M has a pair of Hello Kitty loafers, but M only wants to wear sneakers. I grouse, “I don’t know why we bothered to buy these shoes. You never wear them, you must not like them.” “No,” M counters adamantly, “I like them. I like to look at them, not wear them.”

M at 4 years old:

We’re visiting relatives. M is exhausted after a long day and has already crawled into her sleeping bag when I enter and ask her to please brush her teeth. M answers, “I already did.” I pick up the bag with health and beauty aids and ask, “Really? That’s funny. How did you find the toothbrush?” M says, “It was in the bag.” “Wow!” I exclaim. “And here’s your toothbrush still at the bottom of the bag.” M explains, “Yes, I put it back.” I keep playing along, “Oh, so I guess that the brush will still be wet. . . wait, it’s dry.” M explains, “I dried it off.”

M is coloring and J wants to join in. M doesn’t want to share. After a discussion, I insist that M must give J a crayon. M chooses and hands over a white one.

M at almost 4, J at 1 1/2:

J won’t stop banging her spoon at dinner. After several “No bangs,” we change to “No bang or bye-bye spoon.” After her spoon is taken away, J proceeds to have her milk sippy, then her water sippy taken away as well. J then begins pounding her fist on the table. “You can’t take away her hands,” M points out to W.

J at 3 years old:

At church, someone’s playing the harp.  J leans over and whispers, “It sounds like butterflies.”

J pronounces “chipmunk” “chick-munk”

J brushes her teeth by herself and is proud.  She crows, “I can hear my teeth sparkling!!”

J at 4 years old:

Out of the blue: “Mommy, I love you so much.  You are like a jewel.”

J is deciding between dresses.  One by one, she holds each up against herself and studies her reflection.  I’m getting impatient, so I suggest that I can unzip/unbutton all of the backs so that she can put any of them on herself while I head downstairs.  “Thank you, Mommy, you are SMART-A-RIFFIC!” she gushes.

J, wearing a spring dress and two braids, is looking particularly adorable.  “Oh, J!  I just want to eat you up!” I say.  “I think that you’d taste like a little marzipan doll!”  “No, Mommy!” she corrects me, “I’d taste like blood.”

J at 5 years old:

J is scooping out the kitty litter.  She enjoys this.  Afterward, as she is washing her hands, she says, “Ah, this is like a dream come true again.”  “What is?” I ask. “Remember, Isis used to always use her litter box [when she was an indoor kitty] and then she didn’t [three seasons of the year she'd rather take it outside], and now she’s doing it again?”  “Yes,” I agree.  J says, “Well it’s a real treat for us, to get to clean it again.”

Jeepers. That’s plenty of snow.

The good news? We finally have decent packing snow suitable for snow people and snow balls. It’s about time! Also, remember how I said that Collins was a little iced over for sledding? Ta da! Problem solved!

Of course, the bad news is that there’s a lot of snow clearing.

Our long driveway

Perversely, I enjoy clearing the snow. I know it’s strange. I crank up some music on the ol’ MP3 and dance and sing as I shovel and snow-blow. I’m probably singing loudly, but usually the snow blower drowns me out. At least, I hope.  Generally I’m unenthusiastic about everything even vaguely mechanical, but I was enjoying myself so much today that by the end I decided that I should name the snow blower. I’m calling him Sparky.

Note the snow piled higher than Mary's fence

The only thing that gets old is the sheer amount of time it takes. I spent about two and a half hours outside doing driveway, sidewalk, and porch clearing, or approximately as long as it takes for a charming tot to play matchmaker between her older sister and the wealthy, kind trustee of an orphanage and for a lighthouse keeper and an irrepressible orphan to outwit a mean truant officer. That’s right: Nana Honey & Pop sent a fabulous set of Shirley Temple DVDs, so after some outside time and an extended playdate, the girls happily plopped on the sofa with  Shirley while I danced outside in the driveway. The perfect antidote to the Disney Channel. Which my children don’t get, anyway, because they are deprived.

Anyway, I was almost done with the snow when I noticed this:

Yep, it’s recycling day, but the town snowplow must go on. Super-awesome! Lucky it wasn’t the trash.

We stayed at home all day long. In fact, we’re due to go to a friend’s for dinner, and I’m supposed to bring salsa, and I called her to see if she wanted to cancel, because I had none of my ingredients for my usual salsa. And I am pretty much the biggest wimp driver ever. So I was stumped: hike with my two children to the co-op grocery which probably didn’t have tomatilloes, anyway? Get Cute W to stop even though his commute home was likely to be hellish already? Luckily I found a salsa recipe that I could concoct entirely from my pantry, since I happened to have a can of chipotles in adobo sauce and I always have Muir Glen tomatoes in the house. It’s pretty tasty, too.

All in all, I was fine with the snow today. But now I’m good. Seriously, I don’t need any more.

I can’t believe February’s almost over! Plus the break’s just flown by for us– hope you’re all enjoying it.

Oh, and guess what? I’m going to be on local tv talking about cold-weather fun. Because, you know, I’m all about the fun. It’s on Parentology, a parenting show that airs at 8:30 am on Sundays on the CW, which is cable channel 15 or channel 45 if you’re a rabbit-ears-using-Luddite like me. I’ve never done anything for tv before, so I’m sort of excited about–and sort of dreading–watching it. We’ll see how it goes. If you don’t know me personally and you watch it, I’m going to make a prediction that I’m just like that except prettier, thinner, and less dorky in person.

Shooting Parentology segment in my glamorous dining room

Here’s what I’ve found for this weekend. Oh, and if you’re looking for an outing,  All Over Albany recently posted about visiting Howe Caverns. There was also some comment-love for Secret Caverns. I’ve never visited either, but it did make me think that I’ve got to add it to my list of things to do.

All Weekend:

• There’s a Home & Garden Show in Saratoga Springs. Malta Mama’s got the scoop.
• Disney’s The Lion King continues at Proctors.
• The New York State Museum‘s annual New York in Bloom continues. It’s $5 admission, kids 12 and under free.
• Sesame Street Live presents Elmo’s Green Thumb at the Palace Theatre in Albany. Tickets range from $15 to $67, and shows continue through the weekend.

Evening of Friday, February 25th:

• Candyland in Schenectady will have a Parents’ Night Out from 5:30-8:30 pm. It’s $25/child, and $15/additional sibling, and you have to pre-register and put down a $10 deposit.
• It’s Troy Night Out from 5-9 pm.
• Sesame Street Live present’s Elmo’s Green Thumb at the Palace Theatre in Albany at 7 pm. Tickets range from $15 to $67, and shows continue through the weekend.
• At 7:30 pm there’s a Homespun Barn Dance in Delmar.

Saturday, February 26th:

• From 9-11 am, they’re reading stories at Target as part of Read Across America.
• Take a Snowshoe Walk at Thacher at 10 am.
• There’s a Mohawk Language Workshop from 10 am to noon at Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site. It’s billed as appropriate for all ages, and it’s $5/person.
• It’s Cherry Plain State Park Winterlude Outdoor Day from 10 am to 3 pm. Bonfire, cocoa, snowshoes, and other activities.
• At 11 am, take a Snowshoe Walk at the Albany Pine Bush at 11 am. It’s $3/person, $5/family, and snowshoes will be provided.
• Take a Snowshoe Hike at 1 pm at Up Yonda Farm. $7/person includes snowshoe rental.
• It’s Family Saturday at the Tang Museum from 2-3:30 pm. Free, geared for kids ages 5 and up.
• It’s the Russian Winter Festival from noon to 6 pm in Troy. $5/adult, $3/kids 5 to 12, kids under 5 free.
• Does your kid love dogs? Check out Barking at Bach at the Bach Branch Library at 2 pm.
• At 7 pm, the College of Saint Rose presents Freedom Summer. It’s free.

Sunday, February 27th:

• At 8:30 am it’s the Parentology show!
• There’s a long winter walk looking at Porcupine in the Woods at Thacher beginning at 10 am. I think this one’s probably only appropriate for older kids.
• From 1-3 pm, the main Albany Public Library will have a variety of fun activities to teach kids about finances, including a performance by Mr. Magicman. It’s not on the website, but they sent out an email about this event.
• They’re showing Free Willy at 1 pm at the Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center.
• The Harlem Globetrotters are performing at 2 pm at the Times Union Center. Tickets range from $20 to $124.
• At 2:30 pm, Jackie Morse Kessler, author of Hunger, will be at Bethlehem Public Library.
• Octavos Vocal Ensemble will be performing at 2:30 pm at the downtown Schenectady Public Library.

What a beautiful day! We spent tons of time outside, most of it at Collins Park. In fact, M got a sunburn. Because I’m a bad mother who didn’t put sunscreen on her child.

Well, really, who would’ve guessed that the girls would spend, like, 4 or 5 hours outdoors? After Collins I was sure that they’d collapse on the sofa, but Mary’s granddaughter was visiting and playing outside, so after some food they trooped out again.

Anyway, I’ve suggested Collins Park in Scotia as a sledding destination before, because the parking is right there, and there’s the nearby library and a Dunkin’ Donuts for thawing out/cocoa drinking. I remembered it as a small hill, but it seemed almost treacherously steep today. There’s been a ton of sledding, so it was a quite iced over. I hadn’t noticed, before, that there’s a convenient staircase as well.

The kids loved sledding, but while everyone was sledding, we noticed that the snow was being cleared off of part of Collins Lake.  All of that gleaming ice was calling to us. Pretty soon we were heading to the lake for some sledding and/or sliding.

Look at the huge amount of cleared ice! Do you see the truck-with-plow in the upper left and how teensy it looks? I know!

And of course, on the border there were nice piles of fresh snow to play in. M found it irresistible, even mid-skate. There were some huge piles for a little snow-mountain climbing, which all the kids enjoyed. With all the activity and our winter gear, it felt downright balmy, and one of our friends had brought along a picnic blanket, so we all plopped down and snacked right out on the ice.

It was a wonderful day. Of course, that playroom’s still a pigsty.

Oh, two quick things I’ve been meaning to pass along:  First,  I’ve seen people sledding on what looks like a huge and fun hill just off Hetcheltown Road in Glenville, a bit north of Indian Kill Preserve. Second, you might recall that I was blogging a bit at CBS 6 as katies. I’ve decided to stop because I’ve been busy with other things, but if you’re interested in dabbling in a bit of blogging, I think that they’d love a new volunteer or two. Email me if you’d like details.

Before it starts February break always seems like a long stretch, and now I already feel like it’s going to fly by. . . am I nutty, or does anyone else feel like that?

Today was sort of our “business” day, because we had two classes from our usual routine that were scheduled for the same day over break. We still managed to fit in 4 different books, several rounds of 3 different games, a  Moon Sand sculpting session, a screening of Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie, one errand, and a walk outside. Mysteriously, the girls also spent some time in self-motivated independent study: J slowly leafed through an animal encyclopedia and peppered me with questions like, which one is the predator, the whale or the squid? (the whale), while M pored over the super-cool Brainiest Insaniest Ultimate Puzzle Book.  I’m also pleased to report that although M beat me repeatedly again at the Uglydoll Card Game, she is no longer wiping the floor with me, and it’s possible that, with training, I may win a game someday.

I asked the girls about what they’d like to do most with their week o’ freedom, and the answers were ski, ice skate, and watch television. So my current plan is sledding/outdoor skating on Wednesday, skiing on Thursday, and indoor skiing on Friday. Fitting in tv is easy, although today I flubbed it. Usually I tell them that they can turn the tv on after they’ve tidied the playroom or put away their clean laundry or done something useful around the house. Today I was distracted and just waved them toward the tv when they asked, thus squandering my opportunity for cheerfully compliant household helpers. Ah, well. Tomorrow is another day, and all that crap in the playroom isn’t going anywhere.

At least, you know, not at this rate.

Sunday was Cute W’s birthday, and we ended up having an impromptu lunch party at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in Troy. We’d visited the one in Rochester, but this was my first time here in Troy.

Yes, I know: I try all these vegetarian and vegan recipes (like here and here), but the truth is, I love me some BBQ. So I was excited to visit and it didn’t disappoint. If you’re BBQ-inclined, I presume that you have your favorites already. Among our party, the adults were enthusiastic about the appetizer sampler platter, especially the fried green tomatoes and wings.  Here are some kids-in-the-restaurant-specific information that I gleaned from our visit.

First, they officially open at noon, but when I arrived at 12:01 pm there were people already seated with food, so you do the math. They don’t take reservations and they’re always busy, so timing is crucial. My more-prompt friend said that she saw people literally running through the parking lot to beat out other diners. It’s pretty frightening what big slabs of smoked pork can do to people.

Anyway, we were quite fortunate because with a grand total of 20 people, they opened up the small party room to the right of the foyer. There were three large tables, two small tables, and just enough space for a small conga line when the kids (10 of them altogether) got rowdy toward the end.

Obviously, we wouldn’t normally allow such shenanigans, but the room gave us a little freedom and made lunch much more relaxing in general.

The service was excellent. First the servers doled out coloring page/kids’ menus & crayons, and the children fell upon them with such concentration that it was comical. Seriously, I’m wondering if modern children have been trained to have this Pavlovian response when they get to chain restaurants, as if perhaps they fear that the food won’t arrive if they haven’t colored the placemat menu with proper diligence? The servers were also attentive with kid-savvy details like determining who got custody of the pitchers of drinks (not the kids), putting the kids’ orders in first, and providing little wet-naps for a pre-lunch wipedown.

I couldn’t find the kids’ menu online, so from what I remember, there were cheeseburger, pulled pork, or brisket sliders; chicken fingers; macaroni & cheese; and a couple of other options that I can’t remember as main dishes, along with two sides. For the kids, food received mixed reviews.

Chicken Fingers, Fried Rice, Fries

The chicken fingers, fries, and beans were enjoyed by all. The fried rice was just too weird-looking for most of the kids to look beyond for the try.  Usually my girls will give it a shot, but they focused on other options. They missed out, but I was happy to polish off their leftovers.

Cheeseburger slider, Macaroni & Cheese, Fries

The sliders were yummy but small. I know they’re sliders, but I had expected (without asking) two. The result was that the main dish was less than the sides, although, in fairness, it’s not as if the main dish is particularly more healthful than the sides, anyway. I mean, one doesn’t go out for BBQ for one’s health. But if you have a bigger kid, I’d ask for two sliders if that’s what your child wants to eat. Adults relished the macaroni & cheese, but it was too spicy and peppery for most of the kids. In fact, one of our young friends had recklessly ordered mac & cheese as both a main dish and one of her sides, so she was quite brutally disappointed. However her dad and (currently nursing) mom were happy to take on the burden of finishing it off for her. If your child’s a mac & cheese enthusiast, I’d suggest that you let her try some of yours before making a commitment.

By the end of the meal we were all too full for dessert. Cute W even waved off his free birthday pie, which is just inexcusable, in my opinion. But meanwhile the kids were getting antsy, as you can tell, and there were roughly a gajillion people waiting to sit down and eat. But it was so tasty and enjoyable that people were scheming to plan a regular party–the only way to reserve the room–and get together every few weeks.  The servers left us with a stack of temporary tattoos for the kids. Who doesn’t like temporary tattoos?

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I only want a week off from school in the middle of February if airplane tickets to someplace tropical come with it.

Yeah, I know, I know: embrace winter! I’ve really enjoyed this winter, but those two days of balmy weather were just plain cruel. I was skating and skiing and throwing boiling-hot syrup out the door and generally enjoying myself more than usual. Then suddenly the heat wave reminded me of how delightful it can be to take the recycling outside without shivering, to go for a run in my practically-barefoot shoes, to crunch melting old ice into oblivion on warm asphalt. And now I’m trying to work up enthusiasm for fresh snow tomorrow, but I just can’t. I’ve got spring fever.

Well, we’ll do our best, right? I’ve already done two posts on February break that take a bit more financial/chronological/emotional commitment here and here. But we need more, right? Luckily I’ve found a crazy number of things to do, and there are probably typos because I can’t possibly look at this screen another moment for a thorough proofread. As always, please do share any fun stuff that I neglected to mention in the comments.

All Week:

• Sewing Sisters on Central Avenue in Albany has a number of different classes available, too many to list. I put two of the most appealing easy classes into the week listing.
• Disney’s The Lion King begins at Proctors this week and continues through March. By about March 5th, you’re going to begin thinking that you are the only people in the universe who don’t get to see the show. They’re so clever. Just a reminder, in case you want to get some tickets.
• Proctors will also be showing Molecules to the Max! in 3D at 11 am & 1:30 pm, and it’s recommended for ages 5 and up.  Dinosaurs Alive will show at 12:15 pm & 2:45 pm, and it’s recommended for ages 7 and up. These are short shows–40 minutes– and tickets are $8/adult, $7/child 12 and under. They show these often, but I wanted to remind y’all just in case you’re feeling desperate!
• I’ve listed the Steamer 10 Theatre performances below, but you know I’m a fan, so I’m pointing out that you should call them now to reserve tickets, and it might be worth your while to do the Steamer 10 Pass and go to more than one show.
• Keep in mind that many regularly scheduled events will not be happening because it’s vacation week, so call to double check. Others, like those at the Children’s Museum at Saratoga, will continue as usual.
• Pine Ridge Cross Country Ski Area has deep discounts in rental/lesson/access passes  for kids ages 6 to 12 this week.
• Colonie Library has several fun programs that are register in-person only, so if it’s your go-to library, check it out.

Monday, February 21st:

• Wilton Wildlife Preserve in Gansevoort has a different outdoor activity each day at 10 am. Today’s program is learning to cross country ski or snowshoe, and you can rent snowshoes for $3 or skis for free.
• At Steamer 10 Theatre, Theatre des Petites Ames presents Pekka at 10 am, 1 pm, and 3:30 pm. Tickets are $10 purchased in advance.
• Kids 5 and up can participate in City by Design at the Children’s Museum at Saratoga. Free.
• Create a Flower Corsage at Sewing Sisters from 1-3 pm for $20.
• At 1 pm, go on a GPS Adventure at the Albany Pine Bush. Please pre-register; $3/person, $5/family, kids under 5 free.
• From 1-4 pm, it’s School’s Out, the Museum is In! with free drop-in activities each day Monday through Thursday at the New York State Museum. Today’s activities include creative arts and learning about prints.
• Learn some Glowing Science Fun at 1 pm at the Children’s Museum of Science and Technology. Ages 5 and up, $2/non-member.
• Elementary school kids can learn Healthy Money Habits at 3 pm at the main Albany Public Library.

Tuesday, February 22nd:

• The Albany Institute of History & Art has special program from 9 am to noon for 6- to 8-year-olds and 1-4 pm for 9- to 13-year-olds. $20/non-member per class. The theme is Design and Print for 3 all days, but each day can be standalone, too.
• The Friends of Pruyn House in Colonie are hosting a Children’s Tea Party from 9:30-11:30 am and 1-3 pm. It’s for kids ages 8 to 12, and registration is required.
• A 2-day Art Workshop for kids ages 8-12 begins at 10 am today at the LARAC’s Lapham Gallery in Glens Falls. It’s $35/non-member child, $30/additional sibling. Registration is required, and they wanted folks to register by today, so call them ASAP–sorry that I didn’t notice this one earlier.
• Go to Moreau Lake for a Beginner Snowshoe. But you must pre-register.
• Colonie Library has Family Yoga at 10 am. It’s a drop-in program.
• At 10 am and 1 pm today, it’s Ventriloquist Steve Charney performing at Steamer 10 Theatre. Tickets are $10 purchased in advance.
• At Thacher Nature Center at 10 am, it’s Preschool Story Fun with The Mitten. They’re promising activities and cocoa, too.
• From 10 am to noon, it’s a Family Tracking Day at Dyken Pond. $6/non-member, $15/family, includes snowshoes. I had this event from a while back, but I don’t see the listing on the website now. I’d call to confirm & reserve the snowshoes.
• Wilton Wildlife Preserve in Gansevoort has a different outdoor activity each day at 10 am. Today’s program is a nature-collecting walk and craft.
• Make Handwarmers at Sewing Sisters from 10:30 am-12:30 pm for $15.
• BabySmartees is doing a Homemade Baby Food Class at 10:30 am in Glens Falls. It’s $10.
• At the East Greenbush Public Library at 11 am, learn about Animals in Your Backyard, and see them up close. This is for ages 5 and up, and pre-registration is required.
• At 11 am, kids ages 8 to 12 can learn Cartooning at the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library. Registration is required.
• There’s a program called Follow the North Star and the Underground Railroad at 11 am at the Albany Visitor’s Center’s Henry Hudson Planetarium.  Appropriate for grades 2-12.
• Crandall Public Library has a Preschool Art Time at 11 am as well as a Twisted Tales story and craft activity at 1:15 pm. Their regularly-scheduled activities continue all week as well.
• Up Yonda Farms in Bolton Landing has an activity each day at 1 pm from Tuesday through Saturday. Today’s is a Snowshoe Hike. $7 with snowshoe rental, $4 without, but you should call ahead to reserve snowshoes.
• At Thacher Nature Center at 1 pm, it’s A Snowshoe Walk. They’re promising activities and cocoa, too. Call to register and reserves snowshoes.
• At 1 pm, learn the Scoop on Poop at the Albany Pine Bush. Please pre-register; $3/person, $5/family, kids under 5 free.
• From 1-4 pm, it’s School’s Out, the Museum is In! with free drop-in activities each day Monday through Thursday at the New York State Museum. Today’s activities include a sky show, indoor snowshoeing, crafts, a healthy kids skit, and more.
• Learn about Sweet Science at 1 OR 2:30 pm at the Children’s Museum of Science and Technology. Pre-registration is required for this one, and it’s for ages 6 and up, $2/non-member.
• Kids can play Monopoly at 1 pm at the Pine Hills Branch Library. There’s a prize for the winner.
• At 2 pm, it’s Preschool Naturalists at Saratoga Spa State Park. Registration is required, and it’s $3/person, $5/family.
• At 2:30 pm, it’s Dino-Palooza at the Bethlehem Public Library.
• Elementary school kids can learn Healthy Money Habits at 4 pm at the main Pine Hills Branch Library.
• There’s a free Cloth Diapering Class at 6 pm at St. Peter’s Hospital.

Wednesday, February 23rd:

• The Albany Institute of History & Art has special program from 9 am to noon for 6- to 8-year-olds and 1-4 pm for 9- to 13-year-olds. $20/non-member per class. The theme is Design and Print for 3 all days, but each day can be standalone, too.
• At 9:30 am at the Crandall Public Library, there’s music therapy for kids with special needs brought to you by NY Upstate Autism Awareness.
• Look for Animal Tracks and Traces at 10 am at Grafton Lakes State Park. $3/person includes snowshoe rental, and registration is required.
• At 10 am, do a Critter Scene Investigation at the Albany Pine Bush. Please pre-register; $3/person, $5/family, kids under 5 free.
• At Thacher Nature Center at 10 am, it’s Preschool Story Fun with Keep Looking! Then make a pinecone bird feeder.
• At 10 am, 1 pm, and 3:30 pm today, the Zucchini Brothers are performing at Steamer 10 Theatre. Tickets are $10 purchased in advance.
• Wilton Wildlife Preserve in Gansevoort has a different activity each day at 10 am. Today’s program is The Lorax.
• At 11 am, it’s Winter Challenges at Saratoga Spa State Park. Pre-register, $5/person includes snowshoes.
• It’s Kraazy Chemistry at 1 pm at the Children’s Museum of Science and Technology. Pre-registration is required for ages 6 and up, $2/non-member. Why, oh, why do people so enthusiastic about science have such a blatant disregard for spelling?
• At 1 pm at the Albany Visitor’s Center’s Henry Hudson Planetarium.  Kids in pre-K to 3rd grade can find animals in the night sky.
• Up Yonda Farms in Bolton Landing has an activity each day at 1 pm from Tuesday through Saturday. Today’s is Starlab Planetarium. $4/person.
• From 1-4 pm, it’s School’s Out, the Museum is In! with free drop-in activities each day Monday through Thursday at the New York State Museum. Today’s activities include  a winterscape craft and programs about migration and hibernation.
• At 2 pm, kids in grades 2 to 5 can learn about spinning wool and make their own bracelets at the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library. Registration is required.
• Kids ages 7 and up can learn about World History Through Crafts at 2 pm at the East Greenbush Public Library. Call to register.
• There’s a Rainbow Fairies Ball at 2:30 pm at the Bethlehem Public Library. Wow, do they know how to push those little-girl buttons or what?
• Kids 5 and up can learn Dollar Bill Origami at 3 pm at the main Albany Public Library.
• At 3 pm, Get Crafty with the folks from The Tang Museum at the downtown Schenectady Public Library.
• At 4 pm, kids can do a Make-a-Bank Craft at 4 pm at the main Howe Branch Library.
• Watch Toy Story 3 at the East Greenbush Public Library.

Thursday, February 24th:

• The Albany Institute of History & Art has special program from 9 am to noon for 6- to 8-year-olds and 1-4 pm for 9- to 13-year-olds. $20/non-member per class. The theme is Design and Print for 3 all days, but each day can be standalone, too.
• Wilton Wildlife Preserve in Gansevoort has a different outdoor activity each day at 10 am. Today’s program is a story hour with milk and cookies.
• At 10 am, 1 pm, and 3:30 pm today, magician Jim Snack is performing at Steamer 10 Theatre. Tickets are $10 purchased in advance.
• At 10 am at the  Thacher Nature Center, learn about animal tracks and make a plaster cast. Pre-register so they’ll have enough supplies.
• There’s a free, drop-in concert by Tommy Gardner from the Uncle Brothers at 11 am at the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library. Recommended for ages 2 to 10.
• Watch Horton Hears a Who at 1 pm at the Albany Pine Bush. Please pre-register, but it’s free.
• Find out Is It Alive? at 1 pm at the Children’s Museum of Science and Technology. Ages 6 and up, $2/non-member.
• Up Yonda Farms in Bolton Landing has an activity each day at 1 pm from Tuesday through Saturday. Today’s is Build a Birdfeeder. $12/kit, and you can pre-register online.
• From 1-3 pm, it’s a Moreau Lake Snowshoe Hike. Registration is required.
• From 1-3 pm, it’s Beads! Beads! Beads! at the Children’s Museum at Saratoga. Free.
• From 1-4 pm, it’s School’s Out, the Museum is In! with free drop-in activities each day Monday through Thursday at the New York State Museum. Today’s activities include making snow angels and learning about bird migration.
• Learn to Make Your Own Organic Smoothie with folks from Honest Weight at the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library. Registration is required. 2 pm for grades K-2, 3:30 pm for grades 3-5. This made me giggle, because I love smoothies, but I always try to make them away from my children so that they won’t notice the ingredients!
• At 2:30 pm it’s Kids Cooking Club at the downtown Schenectady Public Library.
• At 7 pm, adults and young people can learn Pet First Aid at the Bethlehem Public Library.

Friday, February 25th:

• The New York State Museum‘s annual New York in Bloom begins today. It’s $5 admission, kids 12 and under free.
• Kids 4 to 8 years old can be Pups on Snowshoes at 11 am at the Albany Pine Bush. Snowshoes will be provided, and the pace will be slow. Please pre-register; $3/person, $5/family, kids under 5 free.
• Wilton Wildlife Preserve in Gansevoort has a different outdoor activity each day at 10 am. Today’s program is a guided nature hike.
• At 10 am, Puppet State Theater Company presents The Man Who Planted Trees at Steamer 10 Theatre. Tickets are $10 purchased in advance.
• At 10 am it’s a Kids’ Snowshoe and Eagle Watch at Moreau Lake at 10 am. Registration’s required.
• Sesame Street Live present’s Elmo’s Green Thumb at the Palace Theatre in Albany at 10:30 am. Tickets range from $15 to $67, and shows continue through the weekend.
• At 11 am at Saratoga Spa State Park there’s Hug a Tree and Survive, a wilderness safety program for kids 6 to 12. Registration is required and it’s $3/person, which includes a take-home survival pack.
• Watch Beezus and Ramona at the Bethlehem Public Library at 11 am.
• Up Yonda Farms in Bolton Landing has an activity each day at 1 pm from Tuesday through Saturday. Today’s is Starlab Planetarium. $4/person.
• At 2 pm it’s Lego Club at the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library. Registration is required.
• Candyland in Schenectady will have a Parents’ Night Out from 5:30-8:30 pm. It’s $25/child, and $15/additional sibling, and you have to pre-register and put down a $10 deposit.
• It’s Troy Night Out from 5-9 pm.
• Sesame Street Live presents Elmo’s Green Thumb at the Palace Theatre in Albany at 7 pm. Tickets range from $15 to $67, and shows continue through the weekend.

Those oh-so-helpful folks at All Over Albany shared that a bunch of videos are available from the recent TEDxAlbany event. I’m excited to check these local ones out, because I love me some TED Talks.

Speaking of things I love, I also love Girl Power Books, so I was excited when Lisa Belkin over at Motherlode kicked off what she calls “the start of a list of books for young girls that turn more than a few stereotypes on their heads while remaining fun reads.” Lucky for us, plenty of folks continued the list in the comments. I’m going to have to take notes for my next trip to the library.

Finally, tonight we were walking around downtown Schenectady and there were folks from the new Paul Mitchell school were creating a nutty-artistic hairdo in honor of Art Night. I’m still regretting that I didn’t pull out the camera and get a picture for the blog. Anyway, if anyone’s feeling adventurous, you can get super-cheap services (like $10 for a manicure or $12 for a hair cut) by students there. I’d be interested to see how it goes.

Have I mentioned that I’m sort of phobic about getting my hair cut? Well, that’s not the right word. I guess I just don’t really love staring at my wet-headed self in a big mirror while wearing a gigantic hairdresser’s smock in unflattering lighting while making polite chitchat with a near-stranger. Each new person “discovers” the single wave in my otherwise straight hair and announces it to me with the fervor of Ponce de Leon announcing that the fountain of youth is right there! Which gets old. Plus I always feel like the person doing my hair is disappointed in my lack of devotion to the care and upkeep of my hair. Which, of course, is silly. It’s not like it’s my job or anything, right?