Posts from — December 2011

I don’t know exactly how it’s happened, but the four of us are all here watching New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. I was too passive. It honestly didn’t occur to me that the girls would stay up until midnight. When we’re home, we head upstairs early. Like, 8:30 pm is late for them. But since it didn’t occur to me, I didn’t think to say ahead of time that they couldn’t, or confer with Cute W about our plan, and Cute W assumed that they’d stay up because it’s New Year’s Eve. So here they are, watching vaguely inappropriate network tv in their footie pajamas.

We started the evening by watching Star Wars Episode 3. I had never seen it. If I’d thought about it, I would have realized: things end badly. Poor J takes these things to heart. She cried. No, she sobbed. And sobbed some more. And sniffled. And whimpered. And finally said (spoiler alert for anyone years behind like me), “I HATE THIS ONE! Almost all the Jedis are dead! And she died! And Anakin turned bad! It’s TERRIBLE!!” And a bit more crying.

Now it’s Rockin’ Eve, and the show is pretty awful. It’s like commercial piled on commercial. Is it always this bad? Is anyone craving lip gloss right now?

But the girls have been entertaining.

J, during the Mariah Carey clip: “Mommy, is that outfit appropriate?”

Regarding Pitbull:

M: “What’s his name?”

me: “Pit bull.”

J: “What kind of name is that?”

M: “Wait, what?”

me and W: “PIT. BULL.”

M: “That’s like, the worst name ever.”

J: “Why would his parents call him that?”

me: “No, it’s not like a real name. Actually, I think it’s the band’s name. You know, like a stage name”

M: “It’s stupid and awful.”

J: “Wait, what is it?”

me and W: “Pit. Bull. Like the dog.”

M: “OOOOOOOOHHHHH. . . I thought it was pimple.”

Watching Nicki Minaj, there’s quite a bit of commentary.

M: “That dress should be against the law!” (I looked and didn’t find a link for you yet, picture a Judy Jetson dress).

J asks, “Is her hair naturally that color?” No, I explain.

M says, “It’s supposed to be style.”

J: “I think I just don’t understand style.”

M: “That’s not style, that’s an error.”

J: “What’s an error?”

M: “A mistake. A mishap.”

We’ve never all watched the ball drop on tv before. We’ve always either been at a party or we’ve sent the girls to bed. The Jenny McCarthy patter with the crowd is making us a little crazy.

Still, the kids are in it for the long haul. Earlier today J said, “What’s the big deal? It’s just a bunch of people yelling and a ball?”Now both of them have hunkered down and they’re eagerly awaiting  Lady Gaga. I wonder if the girls will like her outfit?

Ha, J just asked, “Wait, does the ball go down or up?”

Although I talk a good game, offering all sorts of ideas for having fun throughout the week, we’ve been slobs at our house. There’s been pajama wearing past noon, lots of reading Harry Potter, constructing Star Wars Legos, and general slobbing about. Yesterday I took the girls to Barnes & Noble, where they managed to burn through one hundred bucks’ worth of gift cards in an unbelievably short time. We also updated our ice skates: J’s wearing M’s old ones, and M decided it was worth her own money to upgrade from the perfectly acceptable used ones that we found in order to have extra-comfy, shiny-bright white skates (plenty of  options at Play it Again). The girls each played with friends today, and I took M and her friend ice skating at Union, which was the most activity we’ve had since we returned home from Vermont.

It’s been a lovely time, but for me, December break’s losing some of its charm. We’ve still got holiday decorations and even gifts littering the common areas of our house, and with the girls around and interested in reading books, playing games, and trying out new crafts, it feels as if I’ve traveled back in time to when they were younger. I’m occupied all day without anything tangible to show for all the business, and I’m like the  Sisyphus of housecleaning. And yes, I’ve been slack-tastic with the blog. I’d had the vague notion that I’d look around for interesting weekend events that might turn up since my last listings post, but now that Friday’s snuck up on me, it somehow feels like a better idea to just go to bed early.

Tomorrow’s the last day for your discount at Trendy Tots.

Oh, and did anyone notice that I completely blew off my blogiversary? I hear that it’s perfectly appropriate to offer blogiversary gifts up to one month late, if you’d like to get on that.

So, perhaps a bit more academic than pure fun, but I’ve put together a list of places that rent musical instruments in our area. It’s below, and it’s also included, now, in the Big Ol’ List of Links as well.

I’m adding the section because I ran into troubles with my own attempts at renting M’s cello. Our school handed out a paper with a list of different businesses, but they didn’t offer any editorial comments. They’re Switzerland. They’re neutral. So if, like me, you happen to be clueless about this sort of thing, they were not conveniently handing out clues. So. I made a random guess that, since the businesses were not alphabetized on the sheet, the order in which they appeared might provide secret hints about their quality. That information remains uncertain.  I tried calling Cellos 2 Go a couple of times, and no one ever got back to me.

I ended up renting from John Keal Music. Over the course of a couple of months, I found them irritating. I didn’t like that they told me that I needed to bring my daughter with me when I rented, and then when I schlepped my children there, no one looked at her or spoke with her, anyway. I didn’t like that they had unfriendly “Watch Your Children!” signs in their store. Believe me, I am in favor of adults watching their children. I just prefer it when we’re all offered the benefit of the doubt before being admonished, because a sign like that makes me super-tense about my children’s and my own behavior. It’s just unwelcoming. Once home, we found that the bridge may or may not have been put in incorrectly (this was a matter of debate: long story), and then it fell off for no apparent reason, and then one of the strings was so frayed that M’s cello teacher sent a snippy email requesting a replacement. Also, as I recounted these misadventures to People Who Knew About Cellos, they all rolled their eyes about John Keal and said that they were absolutely fine for other instruments, but not for cellos. So I gave up. In their favor, I will say that they were quite polite when we decided to cancel after the trial period, they picked up the cello at M’s school, so I didn’t have to schlep there, and any of these little issues, I was told, might potentially happen with any cello. I asked those eye-rolling People Who Knew where I should get my cello, and they suggested Francis Morris.

So, we met up with Francis Morris, who is based in Great Barrington but generally treks to his Colonie office once a week. Turns out that the rental cost was lower, and he spent quite a bit of time chatting M up, adjusting things to ensure that she could hold her cello comfortably, and praising her successful rendition of Mary Had a Little Lamb after only 3 months of school lessons. We went home and ran into one little issue, which was that her end pin was so spiky that it was gouging our hardwood floor, and when I called to leave a message requesting guidance, Francis jumped on the phone to ponder with me the relative merits of a spiky end pin, a rubber stopper thingy, or a strap to hold the cello in place as if she were a concert pianist. In the end, he popped a rubber stopper in the mail to me right away: problem solved. M and her teacher both think that this cello’s working better for her than the one she had before.  Phew.

Anyway, that’s my own very limited experience in the world of Musical Instrument Rentals. If any of you have had experience with any of these places–good or bad–or if you know of other places that I should add to the list, I’d love to hear it, and I’m sure it will help anyone who’s Googled up this post.

Places in the Capital District to Rent Musical Instruments:

A Violin Shop (Schenectady: violins, violas, and cellos)
Blue Sky Recording (Delmar: strings, wind, drums, & bells)
Burnt Hills Music Store
Cellos 2 Go (Schenectady)
Drome Sound (Schenectady: sound, lighting, & DJ equipment, percussion, wind, & string instruments)
Francis Morris Violins (Colonie: violins, violas, and cellos)
Hermie’s Music Store (Schenectady: band instrument rental)
John Keal Music (Albany:  strings, wind, & drums)
Kniskern Music House (Clifton Park)
Rock Bottom Guitars (Scotia)

Don’t forget about the Trendy Tots discount this week. Scroll to the next post for more info.

I’ve been so discombobulated by the holiday and related travels that I’ve lost track of time, and I forgot to remind you that Natalie at Trendy Tots in Schenectady is offering a special discount to all of you.  If you go from Tuesday December 27th to Saturday December 31st, you can get  20% off  your purchase if you tell them that Katie from Capital District Fun sent you. I visited Trendy Tots and told you more about it in a previous post.

Did you know that 4th graders can ski or snowboard for free at many New York State resorts with the $20 NY 4th Grade Ski & Ride Passport Program? Kids can get a free learn to ski passport or 3 free lift tickets (with an adult ticket purchase) to each of the participating mountains for $20 (or both of the deals for $39). I heard about this awesome program from Sandra at Albany Kid–thanks, Sandra! I’m finally getting around to putting our application for M in the mail tomorrow. Now all we need is some snow. Yeah, I said it. I’m ready.

Oh, and speaking of outdoor winter fun, did you already hear that the Empire State Plaza skating rink will reopen this year? They were aiming for January. I’m excited about this, and I couldn’t remember if I’d mentioned in here already. But hey, free! And thus worth another mention as a  super deal for you!

We spent Christmas morning and early afternoon at our house, then journeyed up to Vermont, where many members of my family and snow awaited us for merry-making. Christmas dinner is traditional with my family, with potato leek soup to start, steak with a sauce that takes 2 days to prepare, and my beloved broccoli-stuffed tomatoes. I just went to add the link, and I realized that I’ve never posted that recipe, which is crazy. They’re so good.

So we’ve been with the family for about 24 hours, and it appears that many of them have appointed themselves to the Capital District Fun Editorial Board.  On several occasions I’ve had suggestions about exactly what should be featured on the blog. At one point my sister came into the house with instructions to get outside and take a photo for the blog. Then, when I went outside, I met a passerby who knew that I’m “the one who blogs.” In Vermont. What? Oh, of course: she’s friends with my mother.

Without further ado, here are just a few items that I should cover according to my new Editorial Board.

Grab Bag: One of the joys of Christmas dinner is that it’s followed by a grab-bag/Yankee Swap style game. Gifts are $10 and under and supposed to be anonymous, and all other rules tend to be discussed at length and re-confirmed by a bunch of adults who’ve already had too much wine and a bunch of children who are looking at the pile–and it’s a pile–of presents and just want to get started. Much laughter, occasional tears, and under-the-table deals follow. Here are a few of the items that were passed around last night:

Candles,  M’s gift that she contributed (penguin, chocolate-covered nuts, and a fish), rubber ducky headphones, an Eric Clapton CD, a Star Wars lunch box, and a Scrabble game.

Book Swap: Another tradition of any family gathering is the book swap, which usually includes my sisters, my mom, and me. Here are some of the piles being swapped around:

My sister B (who comments as Big Sister) has instituted a grading system, now, so the inside cover of the books has the owner’s name (if she wants it back eventually) as well as a letter grade and any additional comments.

Snow Pants Alternative: Another sister sent me outside to take a picture of M:

That’s M wearing trash bags on her legs. Yesterday we couldn’t find her snow pants, and I finally brought along an outgrown pair–nope, didn’t work. So she came up with this idea herself (while I was away taking a walk): she put a bag on each leg, then used Christmas ribbon to tie them on. Meanwhile I did have her bring along her winter coat and waterproof mittens, but since she received a North Face fleece and cloth, non-waterproof gloves for Christmas, she decided to complete her Completely Inadequate For the Conditions outfit with those instead.

That’s what’s happening with us. Cute W, M, and cousins are playing Small World and I might try a quick nap before I report to the late-afternoon cheese spread.

Merry Christmas Eve!

We’re enjoying a lazy Christmas Eve at our house. We even broke with tradition and went to see a movie. I’d always sort of scoffed at people who went to movies on Christmas Eve or Christmas, but come on, it’s The Muppets. Cute W and I are both big fans, and with all the other activities going on, it’s tough to find enough free time for a frivolous movie outing. So it’s been a non-traditional Christmas. For example, we also gave poor Isis the “traditional”Christmas flea bath. Don’t get me started: it’s not a tradition that I’d like to continue.

But the rest of the day, I expect, will be much more predictable, in a good way. Cute W brought home a ginormous wheel of Brillat-Savarin cheese from Honest Weight, and we have every single Chrismas goody from my page of linked recipes (and holiday lights, and other holiday stuff), so there’s serious eating ahead. We’ll head to a candlelight service at FUSS tonight and then chase those kids to bed immediately. We were all up late last night with a neighborhood caroling party, so hopefully their resistance will be low.

Do the rest of you do this? I squirrel away gifts in all sorts of places, and then on Christmas Eve I often spend quite a bit of time trying to remember where the heck I put it all. I try to make a spreadsheet with all of the information, but this year’s been so busy that I haven’t kept up. So I’m just crossing both fingers that once I ferret it all out, there will be the right combination and it will look like both children are equally loved. One thing that Santa puts in our stocking is some fresh produce. Cute W grew up receiving an apple and an orange in the toe of his stocking, and we did that for years, but let’s face it: we often already have apples in a basket, so it doesn’t feel that special. So my prediction is pomegranates and an artichoke for little J. In fact, I was at the grocery store pondering exactly what Santa could possibly bring for M that would receive as passionate a reaction from her as J’s reaction to an artichoke when it struck me. Of course: an avocado. So hopefully Santa will be that clever.

Earlier today M was reading Harry Potter to J. I have to say that some of my very favorite moments in life are when M reads to J. It’s still a recent enough phenomenon that I’m excited that my kids would read for pleasure, and having big sister help little sister, and little sister accept that help, is just wonderful. And then, Harry Potter? For years, we tried to get M to try the Harry Potter books, and she was not interested. Mostly because everyone told her that she should, and she’s her own girl, and stubborn. We were torn between wishing she’d give it a shot and admiring her ability to stick to her guns. Finally, in her own time, she tried them and is loving them, and J’s an eager follower. J’s only problem is that she must know what happens next, and even though she can read, too, a big chapter book like that is still too laborious for her. So M’s reading to her–especially when she’s got her own books to read–was an astonishing act of charity. I felt like slapping a bow on the two of them right there because, you know, that’s the only gift I need.

Hope you’re all getting joy out of the last days of 2011.

Today I’m just sharing a bunch of holiday links. Because I’ve got Ewok cloaks to sew. Ready?

The TU’s Parent to Parent blog has Tips for a Toddler Christmas.

Mamatoga has Ten Chanukah Crafts.

Albany Kid’s got a post full of cold, hard facts about Santa’s sleigh.

The Bloggess proves that Santa is real.

So. . . are you ready?

Ugh, my pictures have been rare and poor since my point-and-shoot camera broke. I'm really hoping that Santa comes through with a replacement!

I’m doing pretty well, actually. I’ve done all of my shopping except for my last pre-holiday grocery shopping, which will be tomorrow.

We’re mostly ready except that I have to sew a couple of Ewok cloaks. You heard me. No, I’m not kidding.  Remember that I said that J has become interested in Star Wars because of her recent Baby Ewok adoption? Well, Baby Ewok needs a couple of new cloaks, and believe it or not, this is a difficult-to-find item. So I’ve got some lovely patterned felt made out of recycled plastic bottles, and I’m going to have to get crafty. We’ll see how it goes.

I’m trying to work like crazy, crazy, crazy so that I can relax beginning Christmas Eve Eve. Cute W’s taking the day off from work and I have this fantasy that we’ll cuddle up on the couch in front of a fire and watch It’s A Wonderful Life together. I watch it every year and cry like a baby every time. And this makes me sound horrible, but I don’t really like watching movies with my kid. Either I think it’s boring, and I desperately want to get out my little Netbook computer and work on blog stuff but feel like it’s too rude, or it’s a movie that I like, and then I have to stop and answer questions along the way, thus ruining my movie fun. I realize that this makes me a bad, bad person. Also, as long as I’m confessing: it’s just so much more relaxing to eat a meal all by myself with a good book. There. I said it.

But, anyway, I want to check everything off my list so that I can live out this glorious fantasy of sitting around and doing nothing with my husband while my children are in school. If we pull this off without breaking down and doing some last-minute shopping trip or having–I don’t know–a household crisis of some sort, then I’m going to shoot for this to be a new holiday tradition. Meanwhile I’ve completely blown off Christmas cards (hello? I blog practically every day) and the buttermints this year (when both kids ranked them 5th on the Christmas Cookie Favorite list, I lost all motivation).

How’s everyone else doing? Did you blow off any old stressful traditions this year, or are you starting up anything new?

So what’s everyone doing next week? It doesn’t look too good for sledding, does it? But there’s tons going on, so even if you’re not emotionally prepared at this time to think about next week, I’m putting it out there.

But before we get to all the different programs and events, Natalie at Trendy Tots in Schenectady is offering a special discount to all of you.  If you go from Tuesday December 27th to Saturday December 31st, you can get  20% off  your purchase if you tell them that Katie from Capital District Fun sent you. Hooray!

I’m posting quite a bit way ahead of time, which means I’m likely to update this post, and I might even re-post listings if there’s enough added. But I’m thinking that getting this stuff out earlier will make your lives easier and my lives easier, so as long as you know that there’s going to be more, probably, we’re golden.

So here’s what’s coming up for the week of December break:

All Week:

• There’s a different School Break Camp each day at CMOST. They run from 9 am to 4 pm and they’re for kids ages 5 to 11. It’s $55/day for non-members, and many of them are full at this point.
• Cars 2 is playing at Proctors, and tickets are $5.
• Steamer 10 Theatre has different shows at 10 am and 1 pm Tuesday to Friday. Details on each show below. Tickets are $12 at the door or $9 if you pre-purchase a 10-ticket Steamer 10 Pass. Call to reserve a spot, though, because shows sell out.
• Tumbling Tykes has a Winter Break Camp. It’s for 3- & 4-year-olds on Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursdays and for 2-year-olds on Friday.   $20/child, from 9:30 am to noon. Call to reserve a spot.
• The Albany Institute of History & Art is having a Vacation Art Break: A World of Toys. It’s a 3-day program from Tuesday through Thursday, and kids ages 6-8 go from 9 am to noon, kids ages 9-13 go from 1 to 4 pm. The cost is $60 for non-members, $45 for members for all three days.
• From Tuesday to Friday at the Schenectady Museum, there are hands-on science activities from 12:30-2 pm and challenges in the FETCH! Lab from 2-3:30 pm. Free with museum admission ($7.50/adult, $5/kids 4-12).
• Kidzart has art camps that run Monday to Friday from 9 am to 3 or 4 pm in Colonie and Clifton Park. Cost is $225.

Monday, December 26th:

• It’s a Science Make & Take: Snow Globes at 1 pm at the Children’s Museum of Science & Technology. For ages 5 and up, pre-registration is required, and it’s $2/non-member.
• The Palace Theater is showing Mary Poppins at 3 pm. $5/adult, $3/kids 14 and under.
• The Trans-Siberian Orchestra are at the TU Center at 3 & 8 pm.
• At 4:30 & 7 pm, they’re showing a film of the Bolshoi Ballet’s Nutcracker at Proctors. It’s about 2 hours, and tickets are $15/adult, $10/kids 17 and under.

Tuesday, December 27th:

• At 10 am, Five Rivers has a Family Fun program called Birding for Kids. They want you to call and register by Friday the 23rd.
• From 10:30 am to noon, go on a GPS Adventure at Albany Pine Bush. It’s best for 3rd grade and up, but everyone’s welcome. $3/person, $5/family, and you can reserve online. Also at 1 pm.
• From 10:30 am to 12:30 pm, learn about European Holiday Traditions at the World Awareness Children’s Museum. Today’s program includes Polish traditions like paper cutting. Program included with $5 museum admission.
• Steamer 10 Theatre   presents Catskill Puppet Theater‘s Hiawatha  at 10 am and 1 pm.
• Kids ages 4 to 8 can learn how to Tracking the Trail at 1 pm at the Children’s Museum of Science & Technology. Pre-registration is required, and it’s $2/non-member.
• From 1-2:30 pm, go on a GPS Adventure at Albany Pine Bush. It’s best for 3rd grade and up, but everyone’s welcome. $3/person, $5/family, and you can reserve online.
• From 1:30-3:30 pm, you can learn about OP Art and create your own at the New York State Museum.
• At the New York State Museum, the Winter Stars Starlab has shows at 1 pm, 2 pm, and 3 pm. It’s free, but pick up tickets at the front desk.
• There’s a Kwanzaa Celebration from 3-8 pm at the New York State Museum. African marketplace, singing, and traditional foods. Hosted by Hamilton Hill Arts Center.

Wednesday, December 28th:

• Steamer 10 Theatre   presents  Music and Comedy with Keith Munslow at 10 am and 1 pm.
• At 10 am there’s a Kindermusik Playdate for kids 0-7 years at Calvary Methodist Church in Latham. $12 for first child includes class and an instrument, $3 each additional sibling, $2 each additional instrument. Call Laura at 209-4258 for questions or to tell her you’re coming. Also on Thursday and Friday.
• From 10:30 to noon or 1-2:30 pm, go on a Critter Scene Investigation at Albany Pine Bush. $3/person, $5/family, and you can reserve online.
• From 10:30 am to 12:30 pm, learn about European Holiday Traditions at the World Awareness Children’s Museum. Today’s program includes Lithuanian traditions like straw ornaments. Program included with $5 museum admission.
• At 1 pm, you can drop in to watch Cars 2 at Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library.
• Go on a Turkey Trail Hike from 1-3 pm at Moreau Lake State Park. Pre-register.
• Learn All About Whales at 1 pm or 3 pm at the New York State Museum.
• It’s the  Winter Stars Starlab at 1 pm, 2 pm, and 3 pm at Huxley Theater at the New York State Museum. For ages 7 and up, and there’s a limit of 30 tickets.
• At the New York State Museum, there are Winter Time Tales for preschoolers next to Sesame Street from 1:30-2:30 pm.
• Learn about Brainy Networks at the New York State Museum from 1:30-4 pm.
• At 2 pm, Five Rivers has a Family Fun program on River Otters. They want you to call and register by Friday the 23rd.
• At 2:30 pm at the downtown Schenectady Public Library, it’s Tales from Aunt Helen’s Closet.
• From 6:30-7:30, David Gleason and Sensemaya are playing Latin Jazz at the Delaware Branch Library.
• There’s a Phantoms Hockey Game at Glens Falls Civic Center at 7 pm.

Thursday, December 29th:

• At 10 am, kids 7 and up can learn about Fantastic Furbearers at Thacher Nature Center at 10 am.
• Steamer 10 Theatre   presents  The Dan Foley Juggling Show at 10 am and 1 pm.
• From 10:30 am to 12:30 pm, learn about European Holiday Traditions at the World Awareness Children’s Museum. Today’s program includes German traditions like making a German nutcracker. Program included with $5 museum admission.
• At Saratoga Springs Public Library, the Puppet People are performing A Christmas Carol at 11 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm. This is for ages 5 and older.
• It’s the  Winter Stars Starlab at 1 pm, 2 pm, and 3 pm at Huxley Theater at the New York State Museum. For ages 7 and up, and there’s a limit of 30 tickets.
• From  1:30-11:30 am, they’re showing A Winter’s Tale: A Musical Puppet Show at the Discovery Center at Albany Pine Bush.  $3/person, $5/family, and you can reserve online.
• From 11 am-12:30 pm, the Saratoga Spa State Park has planned a Beginning Snowshoeing program–wonder if we’ll have any snow for it? It’s $5 per person with snowshoe rental.
• Kids ages 5 and up can learn about The Science of a Snowflake at 1 pm at the Children’s Museum of Science & Technology. Pre-registration is required, and it’s $2/non-member.
• From  1-2:30 pm, they’ve planned a Snowshoe Adventure at Albany Pine Bush. The website doesn’t say what they’ll do if there’s no snow. $3/person, $5/family, and you can reserve online.
• At the New York State Museum, there are a variety of different crafts going on from 1:30-4 pm.
• The First Israel African Methodist Episcopal Church is having a Kwanzaa Celebration from 5:30-8 pm.
• Zumba in the new year starting at 5:30 pm at Proctors. $5/person.
• At 6:30 pm there’s a Kindermusik Playdate for kids 0-7 years at Calvary Methodist Church in Latham. $12 for first child includes class and an instrument, $3 each additional sibling, $2 each additional instrument. Call Laura at 209-4258 for questions or to tell her you’re coming. Also on Friday.
• At 7 pm, they’re showing Mr. Popper’s Penguins at the East Greenbush Public Library. Kids and grown-ups must pre-register.

Friday, December 30th:

• It’s a GE Kids in Free Friday at the Children’s Museum of Science and Technology.
• Go on an Eagle Watch at 9:30 am at Moreau Lake State Park. Pre-register and bring binoculars.
• At 9:30 am there’s a Kindermusik Playdate for kids 0-7 years at Calvary Methodist Church in Latham. $12 for first child includes class and an instrument, $3 each additional sibling, $2 each additional instrument. Call Laura at 209-4258 for questions or to tell her you’re coming.
• Steamer 10 Theatre   presents  Magic with Melvin the Magnificent! at 10 am and 1 pm.
• From  10 am to noon, go on a Cookie Burner Stroll at Albany Pine Bush. What the heck are they talking about? Has someone out there been eating cookies? It’s $3/person, $5/family, and you can reserve online.
• From 10:30 am to 12:30 pm, learn about European Holiday Traditions at the World Awareness Children’s Museum. Today’s program includes Romanian traditions like making a hedgehog bauble. Program included with $5 museum admission.
• At 11:30 am, it’s Happy New Year’s @ Your (East Greenbush) Library. Balloons drop at noon. For ages 3 and up, pre-register.
• Kids ages 2 to 5  can do a Color Fun Lab at 1 pm at the Children’s Museum of Science & Technology. Pre-registration is required, and it’s $2/non-member.
• From  1-2:30 pm, they’ve planned a Snowshoe Adventure at Albany Pine Bush. The website doesn’t say what they’ll do if there’s no snow. $3/person, $5/family, and you can reserve online.
• Kids can Dissect Owl Pellets from 1:30-3:30 pm or Create a Paper Sculpture of the World Trade Center Plaza from 1:30-4 pm, or there are Winter Time Tales for preschoolers next to Sesame Street from 1:30-2:30 pm at the New York State Museum. At 1 pm, they’re showing The Second Day, a child’s view of September 11th.
• The Whale is playing several times today at Proctors. Tickets are $5.
• The Albany Devils are playing at 7 pm at the TU Center. Tickets are $15 to $30.

Saturday, December 31st:

• From 10 am until 1 pm it’s the 7th Annual Noon Year’s Eve Celebration at the Children’s Museum of Science & Technology.
• At 10 am, Five Rivers has a Family Fun program called Watchable Wildlife: Weasels. They want you to call and register by Friday the 23rd.
• At Thacher at 10 am, it’s a “Wish it Would” Snowshoe Walk (or regular hike). Snowshoes are available for rent, but call to reserve.
• From 10 am until 1 pm, it’s the 7th Annual Noon Year’s Eve Celebration at the Children’s Museum of Science & Technology.
• At 11 am, it’s the Holiday High School Hoops Classic at the TU Center.
• At 2 pm, learn about Endangered Species at Five Rivers.
• From 5:30 pm until 12:30 am it’s First Night Saratoga. Tickets are $15 and kids 5 and under are free.
• At Maple Ski Ridge, there’s  a family  New Year’s Eve party. Skiing till 11pm, DJ with Karaoke, Buffet and all the party favors.  This party will be suitable for the entire family.

Sunday, January 1st:

• At Thacher at 11 am, it’s a 2-hour  “First Day” Snowshoe Walk (or regular hike). Snowshoes are available for rent, but call to reserve. Hot chocolate when you’re done. Pre-register.
• Take a First Day Hike from 11 am until 2 pm at Moreau Lake State Park.
• Take a First Day Hike from 11 am ’til 1 pm at Saratoga Spa State Park.
• It’s a First Day Guided Snowshoe (or regular) Hike from 1-4 pm at Mine Kill State Park.

The winner of the Laurie Berkner Band Giveaway has been emailed. Our winner Sara entered on both Capital District Fun (comment #28) and on KidsOutAndAbout.com which absolutely helped, since it was the KOA entry that won the random drawing.

As always, thanks to everyone who took the time to comment. I appreciate hearing from everyone: not just knowing that you love Laurie Berkner, too, or what kind of  music that you like, but just knowing that you are out there. I love doing the blog and other writing, but it is sometimes pretty lonesome here at the computer. So you’ve done a good deed just by throwing me a little shout-out, and I thank you.

And of course, for those of you who didn’t win, you can take this opportunity to share a link  to this post with your husband, wife, parents, in-laws, or other loved ones who have procrastinated and need gift ideas. Or you can send out a random call to the universe in the form of a Facebook post. Your status? “So, so, so sad that I didn’t win the tickets giveaway. I never win anything. Sigh. . . .” Hey man, it’s worth a shot, right?

For your loved ones’ convenience, here’s the link again: they’ll be at Proctors on Saturday, January 7th at 11 am, and tickets are $25 to $35.