Judy Moody Sneak Preview Movie Ticket Give-away!

Ok, if the monster truck madness wasn't your thing, here's a truly kid-friendly give-away that might be more your style.  The winner will receive four tickets to an advance screening of Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer.  The tickets are good for the showing Saturday June 4 at 10am at the Ritz East Theater.  

Many of you have already met Judy, I'm sure.  If you're not familiar, Judy Moody is the uber-popular series written by Megan McDonald and centered around a quirky, adventuresome, and feisty 3rd grade girl.  The eight-book series has sold more than 12 million copies in 23 languages (I told you it was popular).  The books are aimed at kids from 2nd-4th grade, but the movie will likely have an even broader appeal for the early elementary/young tween crowd.  The movie plot chronicles Judy's suddenly not boring summer with a surprise visit from her way-cool (and irresponsible) Aunt Opal.  The movie also highlights the trials of dealing with Judy's younger brother, Stink,  who now has his own spin-off series of books.  It's rated PG for some mild rude humor and language.

So if you have either a Judy Moody or a Stink fan and would like four free tickets to Saturday's screening, here are the contest rules... this giveaway will take place on Germantown Avenue Parent's Facebook page:

1. If you haven't already, click the "like" button to the right of this post to "like" GAP on Facebook.
2. Enter a comment under the Judy Moody Giveaway post.  Your comment is your entry.
3. You can enter more than once if you refer a friend to GAP's Facebook page.  Just have your friend leave a comment with your name under the Giveaway post.

That's it! We will again use our extremely scientific method of randomly drawing a winner at 12:01 am on Thursday June 2.  The winner will be announced and contacted through Facebook.  Good luck!

This Weekend...

After the recent heat we've experienced, my first bit of advice would be to stick by a pool, ocean, or at least a some large water fountain.  I personally recommend the Swann Memorial Fountain downtown in Logan's Circle.  Love that place!

no swimming or wading allowed.  oops.

Speaking of fountains, and also fitting in under our "worth the drive" category, Sunday night is Longwood Garden's Firework and Fountain Show.  If you've never been to Longwood, it makes for a fabulous day trip.  It's a bit less than an hour's drive.  Once there, you'll find over 1000 acres of gardens and inviting children's spaces, with fireworks and fountain light shows that have long been crowd pleasers for my crew:
http://www.longwoodgardens.org/FireworksandFountains.html

And another one "worth the drive" (if you like horses and/or carnival rides): The Devon Horse Show runs all weekend and is only a 30-45 minute drive away.  Horses, carnival rides, yummy treats, clothing and household item booths.  The show runs from 8am-10pm all weekend long (and for another week after that).  This Saturday, the first 700 kids twelve and under are free!  http://www.thedevonhorseshow.org/country-fair-hours.php

And sadly, this is the last Friday night to grab and decorate a free cupcake from Bredenbeck's Bakery in CH.  From 6-8pm, weather permitting, though last week they were cool enough to still be serving in the rain- maybe the rainbow inspired them?

But when one door closes, another opens, right?  This weekend is the start of the Morris Arboretum's Garden Railway exhibit.  The theme for 2011 is Painted Ladies, replicas of Victorian Homes.  Why fight the shore traffic to see Cape May's beauties when you can spot some right here in GAP's backyard?  Saturday is the Grand Opening of the exhibit with free ice cream and crafts for kids starting at 1pm.  Included with membership or admission.
http://www.business-services.upenn.edu/arboretum/gardens_railway.shtml

It's almost here: The unofficial start of summer... OUTDOOR POOLS OPENING!

thumbs up for the slide at flourtown swim club!

There were 69 pools open across the 10 districts in Philadelphia last year. Here's the list of Philadelphia Public Pools that opened in 2010; the list should be almost identical this year:

http://www.phila.gov/recreation/sports/Pool_Locations.html

As you figure out your own summer swimming plans, please consider contributing to the Splash and Summer Fund to keep ALL of the city's functioning public pools open in 2011:

http://phillysummerfund.org/

There are also private and semi-private alternatives for families looking for swim teams, swim lessons, snack bars and other amenities.  Here’s a start list of some local swim clubs that families in the GAP area have enjoyed.  If you can add to the list, please leave a comment below, and we’ll be sure to update.  

Flourtown Swim Club:

1528 Bethlehem Pike

Flourtown, PA 19031-2025

http://www.flourtownswimclub.com/

Offers regular membership, evening & weekend membership, weekday afternoon membership, and weekday baby pool memberships.  

• Day Camp, swim lessons, swim team, adult tennis league
• Four HEATED Pools 
• Water Slides
• Three Tennis Courts
• Basketball/Volleyball Court
• Kiddie Playground
• Restaurant
• Screened Snack Bar
• Locker Rooms

Abington Community Pools

Resident and non-resident summer-long memberships, or daily admission pass (pay $35 for season, then just $3.75-$4.25 per visit)  Affordable fees.  

http://www.abington.org/parksrec/pool.htm

Crestmont Pool - 215-659-9840 or 215-659-5259
Reservoir Road and Rubicam Avenue
Willow Grove, PA 19090

Penbryn Pool - 215-884-8907
Mount Carmel & Egerton Avenue,
Glenside, PA 19038

Plymouth Meeting Swim Club

1724 Gallagher Road

Plymouth Meeting,  Pa.  19462

http://plymouthswimclub.com/

• 3 pools with diving pool, lap pool, and baby pool
• new playground
• Locker rooms
• Volleyball, basketball and tennis
• Swim Team
• Snack Bar
• Swim Lessons

Beachcomber
652 DeKalb Pike  
Blue Bell, PA 19422  
http://www.beachcomberswimclub.org/

• 3 pools
• Swim Team & lessons
• Full Time Lap Lane
• Water  Polo games daily
• Dive tank                                              
• Mini Golf Course
• Playgrounds and Giant Sandbox
• Activities and Classes
• Grills and Snack bar
• Tennis, Volleyball and Basketball

School Lane House offers community swimming memberships, with the season starting the last week in June.  Call 888-251-2206 for more information.  


There are also pool memberships available at the Chestnut Hill Village Apartments, though no online information was available. 

Pastorius Park: gone to the dogs?

see?  plenty of room for everyone.

When we began looking to move Chestnut Hill almost two years ago, we were attracted to many things.  We loved how green it is while still being a party of the city. We loved its history and proximity to both Mt. Airy and Germantown.  We loved that it is a “walkable town.”  And most of all, we loved how kid-friendly it is.  Yet a big part of that “green” beauty we so admired was nestled on the West Side, in Pastorius Park.  This park is a gorgeous landscape of wooded areas, open areas, a pond, and even an outdoor amphitheater.  A virtual treasure trove.  So we hoped to find a home in close proximity to Pastorius, and as luck (and patience) would have it, we did.  While we were in the months-long process of buying, I went online to ask locals about the park.  The most common answer/warning I received back was that it was great for dogs and not so great for humans without them. 

I found that difficult to believe.  It’s such a big park with plenty of room for everyone, there are laws in Philly that all dogs be leashed in public spaces, and I hoped that I was just getting a slanted view of the situation.  But since moving here, that has pretty much been our experience too.  It is a big, beautiful park, but definitely one with a reputation of welcoming unleashed dogs.  We really only use it to walk through on the way into town, because even with limited use, our children have been jumped on, knocked over, and threatened by unleashed dogs... their owners ever assuring me that the dog is “friendly.” Now, I like dogs.  I even LOVE some dogs.  I grew up with dogs.  We’d have one now if I thought we were responsible enough to raise one.  But honestly?  I don’t care if your dog is “friendly” if he is knocking over my five year old or ripping the beloved stuffed bear from the hands of my three year old, or barking loudly and running full force at my eight year old as she screams and tries to run away (and yes, we've tried to teach her to stand still and be calm, but it's tough to pull off when you're being lunged at by a big, unfamiliar growly dog).  

I know, you’re thinking I’m just against the dogs, but I’m all for the dogs.  This is NOT an anti-dog story.  I repeat, this is NOT an anti-dog story.  I know dogs should be free to run and that cities are a tough place in which to make that a reality.  That’s why there are official dog parks (with runs or off-leash allowance) in the city.   Here is a start list, but feel free to add others in the comments if you know of more:

Chester Avenue Dog Park -Chester Ave and 48th

Eastern State Dog Pen -Corinthian Ave & Brown St

Orianna Hill Dog Park -North Orianna St, between Poplar and Wildey

Pretzel Park Dog Run, 4300 Silverwood St, located between Cotton, Rector and Cresson Streets - one block above Main Street.

Schuylkill River Park Dog Run -25th St between Pine and Locust

Segar Dog Park -11th Street between Lombard and South St.

Pastorius is a wonderful dog-friendly park, and I hope it always will be.  The thing is, I’d also like it to be more people-friendly.  I think that the dogs should be able to enjoy the park and that people and other dogs should also be able to enjoy the park without the threat of off-leash dogs.  I would even support a dog run in the park so that dogs could run off-leash in a restricted area (though I know that's an unpopular idea in many circles).  But as it stands now, we have several neighbors who end up not using the park because of the off-leash dogs... some with children, some with dogs, and some who are elderly.   So one of those neighbors and I thought it would be a good idea to advocate for enforcement of the leash law.  This neighbor has two kids and two BIG (leashed) dogs.  He suggested that we start by asking for support from the “Friends of Pastorius Park”; so we attended their board meeting last night.  

The Friends of Pastorius Park is a volunteer advocacy group that works to preserve the park as it was designed to be used.  Which in case you were wondering, was not as a dog park, but as a spot for human reflection.  The Friends also work to fill in the gaps between what the city will fix/do and what the organization deems to be the park's needs.... a very thoughtful and vital community service.  I was pleasantly surprised by a good turnout for the meeting- I think there were twelve or thirteen people in attendance.  (I wish I’d counted and paid better attention to names).

We listened to current business discussed, the consideration of fixing the steps in the amphitheater, and then moved on to new business. I thought my neighbor did a great job of framing the dog issue (again, he has kids AND dogs).  We were told that the issue has been discussed many times over the years.  There were arguments on both sides of the issue, of course.  Several people argued that the park is perfectly usable by anyone who wants to use it and that the unleashed dogs were not an impediment to enjoying the park.  Yet roughly half of the people in attendance had stories of themselves, their children or neighbors being physically struck in Pastorius by unleashed dogs.  To some people, that is a significant impediment.  Count me as one of them.

As I was sharing my own experience, concerns, and my hope that the Friends of Pastorius would support the leash law being enforced, I was shocked when one of the members angrily told me that I should not have moved to Chestnut Hill in the first place and that I was the problem.  Not exactly what I expected to encounter in my first foray into local advocacy and issues, but I'm pretty thick-skinned. The board then voted on a motion to write a letter to the Parks and Recreation Department to request enforcement of the leash policy.  Only three members voted to support it, so the motion was defeated.  Shortly after, the board did vote in favor of supporting my neighbor’s other request to work to curb teenage loitering and drug & alcohol use in the park.  A good move.  Unless that was your son's plan for Senior Week.

And that’s the way boards work: either majority or consensus rules; you win some and you lose some.  Yes, I was surprised that the Friends of the park were not interested in curbing its reputation and use as a “dog park”; it seems contrary to their mission to me.  But they do plenty of other good work, and it still leaves me back at square one, wishing the park was usable for all.  I’m now hoping there are like-minded locals interested in making the park more comfortable for all of the community members.  If you are so moved, or have suggestions, please contact me.  And if you are horrified that I would suggest leashing your dog while in the park, apparently you are far from alone!   

Monday Mix: Frida Kahlo Coloring Book and Hundertwasser Create Your Own City

Frida Kahlo has been one of my favorite artists throughout my life for her bold choices in life and art. Her magical realism partnered with identity explorations of what it means to be a strong woman, especially in the art world, is so compelling. Friedensreich Hundertwasser is another personal favorite- his art and activism were amazing. He dedicated his life to a strong mission of ecological awareness which followed through in his art, even to the choices of materials he used to create his art (he made his own paints out of earth based dyes and substances). I was thrilled to see both of these artists appear in kid-friendly book versions - Frida and her life and art as a coloring/activity book (Coloring Book: Frida Kahlo), and Friedensreich Hundertwasser's art and architecture as stickers in a create-your-own city book.


These will totally be my go-to gifts for any upcoming birthday parties (they're inexpensive, too...). Wrap them up with cool paper and a bow, add some art supplies and you have a wonderful little bundle for any burgeoning little artist in your life.

AND THE WINNER IS: MONSTER TRUCK TICKETS...

It's official.  The hat and husband have spoken.
Drumroll please...
And the winner is:
F.O.!
Please use the "Contact Us" tab to email us and claim your winnings.
Congrats!  We hope your boys enjoy the BIG LOUD TRUCKS, and that you remember the earplugs!

This Weekend: EVERYbody. must. get...

to one of these events:

cute kids.  messy cupcakes. good fun.

Start the weekend off right with a FREE decorate-your-cupcake night at Bredenbeck's.  Cupcakes are free to children under 10 years old, and $1 donation for everyone else.  Friday night, May 20th from 6-8pm in Chestnut Hill.

Saturday is a chance for prospective Henry families and soon-to-be Henry kindergartners to join in a potluck get-together on the grounds of Henry's kindergarten playground. 2pm until 4pm.  Families are asked to bring folding chairs or a blanket, as well as one shared item (entrée, salad, dessert, drinks, or paper products).  Rain date is Sunday from 2-4, C.W. Henry School in Mt. Airy.


Saturday also brings a new dance studio to Germantown!  Free to Be Dance (I LOVE that name) is hosting its Grand Opening  from noon to 4pm.  45 E. Church Lane in Germantown: check out their upcoming opportunities for all sorts of dance classes and camps!

And Saturday night, you can check out the Little Treehouse Cafe's outdoor dining.  Live music on the terrace and a new barbecue menu!  Sidewalk chalk and bubbles to keep the littles entertained.

Sunday is the Fresh and Local Fair at all THREE Weaver's Way Locations!  Grilling and live music, with lots of samples to try from local vendors and farmers.  Noon-4pm.
http://www.weaversway.coop/

On Sunday afternoon, get all tangled up in blue when you celebrate Bob Dylan's 70th birthday at the FREE Tribute Concert.  3pm at Christ Ascension Lutheran Church, 8300 Germantown Ave.  Freewill donations also accepted.

CHICKEN!

Nope, not nuggets.  And not the flinching game.  This post is hereby dedicated to our new family favorite picture book: Interrupting Chicken, written by David Ezra Stein (2010).

This is one of those magical children's books that is as entertaining for the adults reading it as it is for the children for which it was designed.  All four of my kids (3,5,8 and 12) think it's a riot.  Their parents agree.

Little Red Chicken's Papa just wants to read a story and get his dear sweet chicken to fall asleep.  Who among us can't relate to that?  But as the title suggests, his wee one LOVES to interrupt.  Every time Papa starts to read a classic tale (Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, and of course, Chicken Little), his darling interrupts and spoils the story.  "Don't go in!  She's a witch!  She'll eat you!".  Every time, Little Red Chicken PROMISES not to interrupt again, but every time, she finds the opportunity too tough to resist.

They finally compromise when Papa wisely asks Little Red Chicken to tell HIM a story.  The result is both clever and sweet, but I'll let you read that part yourself.  No spoliers here.

The illustrations remind me of The Little Red Hen Makes a Pizza (another absolute favorite).  This book is a quick read with engaging pictures and a playful dialogue.  My three year old had Little Red Chicken's lines memorized after hearing the book twice.  But then again, she was made for the part.

This Weekend...

Friday Night is CUPCAKE night!  Decorate-your-own cupcakes at Bredenbeck's Bakery in CH.  Outside, so weather permitting.  FREE for kids, $1 for adults.  Yummy for all.  6-8pm.

On Saturday, The Miquon School is hosting their Spring Fair.  We here at GAP are partial to Miquon, but even so, it's a fun event.... great live music, delicious food, games for the kids, all on a beautiful campus (nice way to check out the school).  11am-2pm.

And if the weather holds up on Saturday night after dinner, put the kids in their Buzz and Woody PJs and head out to Temple's Ambler Campus for a Drive-in Movie!  Toy Story 3 will be showing at dusk (8pm).  Pull into the commuter lot after 7:30pm and enjoy the show!  FREE.

CHYSC Soccer. Sign-up.

I know, it's difficult to believe.  Now, just when we've finally seen our first taste of real spring weather, it's time to sign up for fall soccer.  And yet, it's true.  The Chestnut Hill Youth Sports Club registration for fall soccer is now open.  It will be open for a few months, but if you're like me, you'll forget, and then you'll be begging for a spot after registration is closed or your kid will never forgive you.  So my advice?  Do it now while you've got this nifty reminder.  Or just start noticing the lawn signs.
http://www.chysc.org/soccer/index.php

Intramural soccer starts at age 5 and goes through age 16... boys and girls, from the week after Labor Day through sometime in early November.  Yes, that means the last few games are played with unfashionable underclothes and cold, soggy parents, but it's all worth it in the end, right?  Games are all played in or around Chestnut Hill. The league is open to CH, Mt. Airy, Germantown, and other local residents.  It's a friendly league for the most part, at least as far as we've aged... through the U12 league.

If you're raising a budding Bekham, your child can try out for the travel team, but you must register by THIS FRIDAY for travel soccer.  Tryouts will be posted after registration, and any child who does not make the travel team is invited to do intramurals.  (U9-U15 levels)

MONSTER JAM GIVE-AWAY! FOUR FREE TICKETS. LOUD TRUCKS.

BIG. LOUD. TRUCK.

We know you're out there.  Either you, as the grown-up, or the minions in your charge... you MONster (MONster) Truck (Truck) fans!  C'mon, who doesn't want to "eyeball the track" and watch  the trucks "grab a footful?"  Admit it, it's ok.  But to win, you have to admit it publicly.  Here.  But that's ok too, we're still growing our fan-base.  Your secret is still relatively safe.

The Monster Truck Jam will be held at the Linc on June 4.  From the event website: "Monster Jam is an incredible family-friendly experience starring the biggest performers on four wheels: Monster Jam monster trucks! These twelve-feet-tall, ten-thousand-pound machines will bring you to the edge of your seat, racing and ripping up a custom-designed track full of obstacles to soar over - OR smash through! The biggest names in the sport are all here, straight from their TV show on Speed and their popular toy line from Mattel toys."

Ok, so loud trucks, smashing and mucking around.  It just screams "family friendly". The big show is on Saturday June 4, 7pm.  If you just want to purchase tickets, use code BLOGGER for discounted tickets:
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/02004531F03F7362

But to enter our give-away contest for GAP's FOUR FREE TICKETS, just follow these simple directions:

1. Click "comments" below to leave a comment ON THIS POST.
2. Leave at least your first name and tell us one thing you've enjoyed about GAP.
3. That's it.

We will use the very scientific method of husband choosing a number out of a hat.  The winner will be announced on May 20.  You'll be asked to email back to confirm.  Tickets will be held under your name at Will Call the night of the big event.  Good luck!  I'll be the one nearby with a couple of five year olds and some earplugs.

And yes, I was bored and played with the template.  Nice to see the juxtaposition of salmon-colored bird images alongside the monsta trucks.

Two More ideas for Saturday....

Meant to put this in the weekend post, but I forgot.  Today (Saturday May 7) is Mt. Airy Day!  11am-5pm along the Avenue... 6400 section, on the Clividen grounds.  Bands, food, shopping, and a rockin' kid zone (very bounce-friendly).  We went last year and had a lovely day... should be cooler weather this year than last!

And after you hit the festival, come chill out in Pastorius Park in Chestnut Hill.  Rock the Park! will be held from 6-9:45pm with live music.  $5 entry fee goes to benefit Operation Smile, an organization dedicated to providing life-saving and life-changing cleft palate surgery to children around the world.  Outdoors, weather permitting.

Did someone say FREE CUPCAKES? and more this weekend...

Tonight is FREE CUPCAKE night at Bredenbeck's Bakery in Chestnut Hill.  Seriously yummy.  Friday nights through the month of May.  I think we made every one last year... highly recommended!  The kids get to choose their own cake... vanilla or chocolate, and then icing and bling to top their creations.  Quick, simple, fun.  But mostly, we just wanted to eat them.  6-8pm, weather permitting.

Friday and Saturday: the annual plant sale at the Morris Arboretum... a great spot to get Mom flowers she'll swoon over.  Saturday is for members only, Saturday is open to the public.  And don't forget, you can get free admission for National Garden Day all day Friday by checking out this link:
http://npga.bhg.com/?ordersrc=rdbhg100989

And speaking of Mom swooning, check out this GAP post from this time last year... ten local ideas for Mother's Day.  (Most still good, I hope!) Shop Local for Mother's Day!

If you're a mom who likes chalk, or murals, or just pancakes... try having Mother's Day lunch at the Trolley Car Diner.  Sunday May 8 is Chalk Art Mural Day.  Kids and guest artists fro Artsphere will work to create a chalk mural in front of the diner.  12-2pm.

Enjoy. Save.

Star Wars fans, UNITE! In case you missed it at the bottom of the post yesterday, the Please Touch Museum is hosting unofficial Star Wars Day on May 4.  (May the Fourth be with You... get it?).  "From 5PM to 7PM Darth Vader, Boba Fett, Darth Maul and Stormtroopers will leave the Empire and join forces with Please Touch Museum’s own Jedi members for a Far, Far Out Dance party and lead guests in the End-of-Day-Imperial-March-Parade!"  AND get this, it's part of Target First Wednesday... enjoy the mayhem and fun of the museum for just TWO DOLLARS from 5-7pm.  That's $13 per person off regular admission price.
http://www.pleasetouchmuseum.org/events/may4th/

now which one is the professor?

Speaking of Target.  I mean, who doesn't love Target anyway, but their support for the arts?  Yay!  Target is also sponsoring select performances of the new children's production of The Flea and the Professor at the Arden Theatre.  We have attended several previous shows   there, and they are WONDERFUL.  The performances are so well done, the acting and sets are fabulous, and the after-show Q&A rocks.  My kids have absolutely enjoyed every show we've seen there, so I have no doubt this will be another winning run.  The Flea and the Professor runs from May 4 - June 12, and tickets are normally $16-$32, but with the Target Two for One Performances, yep... $8-$16:

     Fridays at 7pm: May 6, 13, 20, June 3, 10
     Saturdays at 12pm: May 7, 14
     Saturdays at 4pm: May 14
     Sundays at 12pm and 4pm: May 8, 15
http://www.ardentheatre.org/2011/flea.html

After the fourth, it's Cinco de Mayo, of course.  Avenida restaurant has $5 specials for the grown-ups (drinks, calamari, cake & quesadillas), and between 5-7pm , there is also a Kids Happy Hour with $1 off all kids entrees, free ice cream sundae, and Dora & Diego-tinis.

cherry tree at tyler... go see it in person!

And then? Yep.  It's the 6th.  Ok, what's the 6th, you ask?  Why it's National Public Gardens Day!  What this means to you is FREE passes to gorgeous local gardens.  Just click on the link below and choose a nearby garden to enjoy.  Longwood is sold out, but there are still tickets available for several local gardens (including the Morris Arboretum, The Shofuso House & Gardens, Bartram's Gardens and the Tyler Arboretum ).  So go enjoy the spring, the flowers, and the FINALLY decent weather.
http://npga.bhg.com/?ordersrc=rdbhg100989

We had a ball!

yep, this ride expires at midnight.

I recently realized that we often skip reporting back on the fun things we post here on GAP (aside from theater/movie reviews).  Well, that's about to change.  I think the Chestnut Hill festival (which was just perfect, aside from all those bouncy things I secretly want to pop, but my kids seem to love) was covered pretty well elsewhere.  So I'll focus on the other highlight of our weekend: the Please Touch Museum's Storybook Ball.  It may not have been a Royal Wedding, but it definitely had some young couples who could give Kate and Billy a run for their titles.

SB/PC

Now I know this might seem a bit hypocritical, given my last post about fanciness, but really, it's not.  This is BOOK-related fanciness, not mass media-related fanciness!  Or, in my house, it seems as though it may have been ipad-related fanciness.  My 5 year old (Star Wars lover) fell in love with the Sleeping Beauty book app.  In fact, when the topic of the ball came up, he was adamant that he would go as Prince Charming, and he had VERY strict costume requirements.  As the app showed him, Prince Charming MUST have a fancy shirt AND a jewel with a very fancy blazer and pants.  The last two pieces were easy to find, and the first two came by way of Nana's trip to Goodwill, thank goodness.  The result was pretty damn cute.

two Cinderellas... mine's the one on the right

No convincing necessary for his little sister to perform her duties as Sleeping Beauty.  His older sister originally wanted to go as Harry Potter, but I wasn't kidding when I said she also likes a good dress for the right occasion.  She quickly realized she would rock the Cinderella look way better than just throwing on her Hogwarts robe and some glasses.  (Showing her Brandy's version of Cinderella, might possibly have tipped the scale on that one).  And we even found glass slippers in a woman's size 8.  whew!  Anyway, what's a ball without Cinderella?

We had friends join us as well.... two extra adorable three year olds.  Five kids, 3 Mamas.  It was exhausting, but over-the-top fun.  This was the museum's second year to host the event, and they added a very classy extra touch: a carriage ride.  Now normally we don't do the horsie rides since I'm pretty sure the horses would rather be doing other things, but on this special night, I caved.  It was a GORGEOUS night, and the ride up to the arch and back was very sweet.  The museum had also planned hot air balloon rides, which had to be cancelled due to the breeze.  I'm sure some were disappointed, but that was fine by me.  Hot air balloon ride with 5 young kids?  Um, maybe next year.

2 wild things

As we walked up to the Carousel House, we were greeted by several literary celebrities.   Cinderella (same gown as my own Cinderella), Little Nutbrown Hare (or was it Big Nutbrown Hare?) Curious George, Alice and Friends, and Spot (with his very small but efficient vocabulary).  There were many other book characters throughout the museum.  Every child received a Passport (notice the GAP sponsorship on the back?), and the food was yummy and easily made available at stations in each "country" visited.

that smile says it all.

Once inside, the delights of the world's coolest children's museum were highlighted with all of the adorable attendees in costume.  My kids played in all their favorite exhibits, but really loved that there was actual dancing at the ball.  Especially Prince Charming, who had worried all week about who would dance with whom.  And I wish I knew the name of the world's best dance partner who had all three of my kids mesmerized as he danced with each of them for at least one song.  Cinderella reported dancing with him as her favorite part of the night!

We arrived as early as possible and stayed almost until close.  The Mamas were exhausted, but the kids were chatting away about the reception line on the way out (where you said goodbye to many of the wonderful PTM folks dressed as their favorite storybook characters).  Once outside, they were eagerly glancing into their "swag bags".  Those swag bags contained some fun goodies and two fabulous hardback children's books that are quickly becoming favorites in our house: Brontorina (guess whose favorite that is?) and Interrupting Chicken.  Really great books, but we'll save those reviews for another post.

All in all, 'twas a night fairy tales are made of!  In fact, we are headed back this Wednesday night, May 4.  If Prince Charming thought the ball was divine, wait until he gets to see his Star Wars friends at a dance party/parade.  AND it's Target 1st Wednesday to boot... tickets are TWO DOLLARS from 5-7pm!  That's a $13 savings from regular admission price,  Star Wars mayhem included.  Another happy ending.