Pretend City: {December} Activities & Toy Drive

The Holidays are a blast at Pretend City!

We went to a lot of the celebrations last year and they were all so fun!

This year they have even more fun things to celebrate all the

holidays and special events from different cultures.

Don't miss out!

Last year at the holiday celebrations!

Sunday, December 9 – Saturday, December 15: Lil’ Me Mornings – Hooray for Hanukkah 

Time: Monday – Friday 11:00a.m.; Saturday & Sunday 10:30a.m.

Celebrate Hanukkah at Pretend City! These rich and diverse circle times will work to explain and teach your child about the Hanukkah miracle and the importance of many of the traditional symbols of the holiday. Games, finger play rhymes, art projects and activities will ensure that your child has fun in the process.  

Sunday, December 16 – Sunday, December 23: Engaging Afternoons – Las Posadas Fiesta! 

Time:  Tuesday – Friday 3:30p.m.; Saturday & Sunday 2:30p.m.

This week we partake in a Las Posadas Celebration! Every afternoon your child will engage in activities that will help them have an understanding of the cultures that celebrate Las Posadas and some of the regional traditions associated with the holiday. Activities include “Bunuelos” cookie art, piñata party, glitter poinsettia art and the traditional Mexican game of domino trains.

Sunday, December 16 – Sunday, December 23: Lil’ Me Mornings – Christmas Countdown

Time: Monday – Friday 11:00a.m.; Saturday & Sunday 10:30a.m.

The countdown to Christmas has begun! The week that leads up to Christmas is an exciting and magical time for young children. The wait for Christmas Day can seem endless! This week’s daily morning activities will help to channel your young child’s anticipation into simple activities that celebrate the holiday.

Wednesday, December 26 – Monday, December 31: Lil’ Me Mornings – Festival of Kwanzaa

Time: Monday – Friday 11:00a.m.; Saturday & Sunday 10:30a.m.

Kwanzaa is here, and there are so many fun things to do! Each day, children will have the opportunity to participate in lighting another candle on the Kinara. Then, we will celebrate the Kwanzaa principle of the day through a variety of activities, including: working at the family stand, making gifts for family and friends, playing African games, and even having a “feast”! These morning activities are a perfect way to begin teaching your children about the meaning and traditions of this joyous holiday.

Holiday Open/Close Schedule:

• Monday, December 17 – Pretend City Open Full Day
• Monday, December 24 – Pretend City Closed Full Day 
• Tuesday, December 25 – Pretend City Closed Full Day 

In addition to the above activities - Pretend City has a Toy Drive for CHOC going on right now.
Don't miss seeing Santa on his motorcycle - it's so cool!

Friday, December 14: CHOC Toy Drive Pick up by Orange Coast Harley Owners Group

Time: 12:00p.m

Join us for a special visit from hundreds of Harley Davidson riders as they come to Pretend City to pick up all of the toys we’ve collected for the children at CHOC Children’s Hospital. Watch your child’s eyes light up as Santa comes riding in on his motorcycle. The sound of hundreds of motorcycles cruising around the corner is one your child will surely remember! They’ll even have a chance to come out and look at the motorcycles up close. With parent supervision of course!

Christmas at the OC Zoo

Don't forget that the OC Parks have several great things going on this weekend.

First is Christmas at the Zoo - come see the animals get their gifts!

And there is also the Candlelight Walk at Heritage Hill Historical park.

Don't miss out!

December 8 – Christmas at the Zoo

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Location: OC Zoo (inside Irvine Regional Park)

1 Irvine Park Road, Orange, CA 92869

Cost: $2 per child over age 3 (includes 1 adult) Parking: $5 per vehicle

Contact: (714) 973-6847

http://www.ocparks.com/oczoo/

December 8, 9 – Candlelight Walk

5:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Location: Heritage Hill Historical Park

25151 Serrano Road, Lake Forest, CA 92630

Irvine Park Railroad Christmas Train 2012

Although we are big fans of the Irvine Park Railroad and have taken

the kids to the train since JT was little, we've never been on the Christmas Train.

This weekend we had the chance to experience the train for the first time

and I have to say that it was magical!

There is something special about twinkle lights, trees, and a train that takes you to Santa.

I felt like I was a kid riding on the Polar Express.

The kids loved it too!

It was exciting to begin a new Christmas tradition and share

the experience with the kids and see how excited they were to visit

with Santa and share their Christmas wishes.

Irvine Park Railroad Christmas Train

1 Irvine Park Drive

Orange, CA 92869

2012 dates

December 7th through 9th

5:00 pm – 8:00 pm. 

activities open at 4:00 pm.

December 14th

5:00 pm – 8:00 pm. 

activities open at 4:00 pm.

December 14th & 16th

2:00 pm – 8:00 pm. 

activities open at 1:00 pm.

December 17th through 21st

4:00 pm – 9:00 pm. 

activities open at 3:00 pm.

December 22nd & 23rd

4:00 pm – 9:00 pm. 

activities open at 1:00 pm.

Tickets for the Christmas Train 2012

$10.00 per person — Children younger than 24 months ride free.

Activity tickets — $4 or 15 tickets for $50

(Parking is $3 on weekdays, $5 on weekends, and free after 5:00 p.m.)

Purchase your tickets online NOW - the event is known to sell out.

 

Activities during the Christmas Train include:

Story Time with Mrs. Claus
Christmas Cookie Decorating
Carnival Games
Santa Claus Moon Bounce
Christmas Coloring Corner
Picture Stands

One of my favorite parts of the evening is the twinkle lights tunnel.

It is so cool! I could drive through it over and over again.

Remember to bring your camera to snap pictures and jackets to keep warm.

Disclosure: I was given tickets for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Giveaway: Discovery Science Center Private Holiday Event

I am so excited for this giveaway today!!!!

The Discovery Science Center is throwing a fabulous holiday party for bloggers and

local media on December 12th from 6-8pm and I get to give away a family four-pack of tickets

for one lucky family to be able to attend this exclusive event!

That night you'll be able to explore the Indiana Jones and the Adventure of Archeology exhibit

as well as see the over 100 entries in the annual gingerbread competition at the Science of Gingerbread exhibit.

There will also be the opportunity to decorate cookies and snap pictures with Santa.

This is an exclusive media event, but I'm excited to be able to offer 4 tickets to one lucky winner today.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

How to Train Your Dragon: Exclusive Behind the Scenes Sneak Peek

Remember when I told you that the How to Train Your Dragon Live Spectacular
is coming to the the Honda Center in January?!

Well, I have a discount code for your so you can order your tickets

and make that little dragon lover in your life VERY happy.

Use the promo code MOM to purchase tickets at up to 25% off 

on the Ticketmaster website.

I've also got some fabulous behind the scenes pictures to share with you,

so you can check out how some of the magic of this LIVE show is coming together.

Enjoy!

To see if How to Train Your Dragon is coming to an arena near you - check HERE!!

Disclosure: I am working with PR with advertising. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Holiday Events at the OC Parks

 

 

I feel so blessed to live in Orange County and to enjoy wonderful weather
through the Holiday Season.
It means we can get out and enjoy all the fabulous things that the
that the OC Parks have planned for the holidays!

Below you'll find information on the great things there are to do
and enjoy with your family thank to the OC Parks throughout the holidays.
We attended most of them last year and the kids LOVED them!
I can't wait to experience them again this year and build more great family
memories and traditions.

November 29 – Holiday Tree Lighting

5:30 – 7 p.m.

Location: Irvine Ranch Historical Park

13042 Old Myford Road, Irvine, CA 92602

Cost: FREE Parking: FREE

Contact: (714) 973-6609

http://www.ocparks.com/irvineranch  

December 1 – 31st Annual Victorian Christmas

11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Location: Heritage Hill Historical Park

25151 Serrano Road, Lake Forest, CA 92630

Cost: $4 Adults, $3 kids ages 3-12 Parking: FREE

Contact: (949) 923-2230 or (949) 923-2232

http://www.ocparks.com/heritagehill/

December 8, 9 – Candlelight Walk

5:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Location: Heritage Hill Historical Park

25151 Serrano Road, Lake Forest, CA 92630

Cost: $4 Adults, $3 kids ages 3-12 Parking: FREE

Contact: (949) 923-2230 or (949) 923-2232

http://www.ocparks.com/heritagehill/

December 8 – Christmas at the Zoo

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Location: OC Zoo (inside Irvine Regional Park)

1 Irvine Park Road, Orange, CA 92869

Cost: $2 per child over age 3 (includes 1 adult) Parking: $5 per vehicle

Contact: (714) 973-6847

http://www.ocparks.com/oczoo/

November 30 - December 2, 7-9, 14-23– Christmas Train

Location: Irvine Park Railroad (inside Irvine Regional Park)

1 Irvine Park Road, Orange, CA 92869

Cost: $10 per person (children under age 2 ride free) Parking: $5 per vehicle and free after 5 p.m.

Contact: (714) 973-6835 or (714) 973-3173

http://www.irvineparkrailroad.com/

Santa's Wonderland: Giveaway!!!

Over the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend we had the opportunity to visit
the magical Christmas experience that is Santa's Wonderland!
Nestled just off the freeway in Irvine - at 2719 White Road - is a place
where your childhood dreams of visiting the North Pole and seeing Santa's
workshop can become a reality.

Santa's elves greeted us at the door and led us to the main room where
we were introduced to this Christmas dreamland and told about all
the amazing things there were to experience.

The kids wanted to head upstairs to find the Snow Room,
but were enchanted by Gingy's Gingerbread House Making on the way.

So we stopped to fulfill candy dreams and sweet tooth wishes with the help
of a very kind elf.

The kids loved decorating their own gingerbread houses by choosing their own candies,
squeezing out the frosting and making them look just so.


Then it was off to the Snow Room - which was pure magic for these Southern Californian kids.
They made snow angels, played with arctic animals, and just generally
enjoyed the magical twinkling of the lights in the frosty synthetic snow.

We found Santa's stables and met the reindeer.
The kids even got to ride one of them!
 
 
We took a tour through Mischief Maze and wrote our letters to Santa
and checked out the elves putting the finishing touches on the Cityscape Light Show.
Then a friendly elf gave us a tour of the Control Room and challenged JT to a
toy packaging race to see who could get Santa's toys ready to go the quickest.
 

We hit up the Reindeer Games on the way to Elf Makeover Magic.
Here the kids checked out what it takes to look like an elf and then got
their faces painted by one of the elf beauty experts.

Isabella chose snowflakes and JT wanted to be a reindeer.


The Elf Academy leads participants through several challenges to earn the
right to be called an Honorary Elf.

And what would Santa's Wonderland be without Santa?
The kids first met with an elf to see if they were on the Naughty or Nice list,
and once they received their Nice seal of approval they were off to
see Santa and have their pictures taken with the special guy.

You can even check out Santa's office while you're there.


The experience was amazing and we all had a wonderful time.
We spent a full 2 hours - at least - discovering all the Santa's Wonderland had to offer.

Santa's Wonderland is located at 2719 White Road in Irvine.
You can purchase tickets HERE.

Use the code MOMS10OFF for $10 off
admission.
The code is good for tickets purchased for
M-F 10:00am-6:00pm December 3rd-December 31st.
The tickets must be purchased by November 30th.
 
GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!!
I'm so excited to be able to give away 2 tickets to Santa's Wonderland.
One lucky winner will win two tickets!!!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: We were invited by Santa's Wonderland to attend and experience the magic. I attended because I was wanted to create fun memories with my family. I received admission for free. All thoughts & opinions are mine.

Giveaway: Tickets Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker in Theaters

I remember the first time I saw The Nutcracker was as a student teacher

and we took a group of 2nd graders to see it at the local University.

It was the first ballet I'd ever seen, but since I'd grown up with a mom that

loves Tchaikovsky, the music was very familiar to me and I enjoyed seeing

the scenes and images associated with the melodies I'd grown up loving.

The Nutcracker ballet returns to NCM Fathom Events this holiday season and for the first time ever will be shown in RealD 3D in select locations. In collaboration with More2Screen and EuroArts Music, Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker will be broadcast to movie theaters nationwide on Monday, December 3 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. (local time). 

CLICK HERE to find a theater near you.

The Russian Imperial Mariinsky Theatre was the original home to Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker in 1892, when it made its worldwide debut. Movie theater audiences will experience the marvelous talents of two of the Mariinsky Theatre’s rising stars – Alina Somova as Clara (Masha in the original Russian ballet) and Vladimir Shklyarov as the Nutcracker. Conducted by Valery Gergiev, this timeless production of The Nutcracker opens with a Christmas Eve party and a young girl, Clara, being given a nutcracker doll by her godfather, Drosselmeyer. Later in the evening when Clara sleeps, she finds herself in the midst of the Nutcracker’s battle against the Mouse King and his army of mice. Coming to Clara’s aid, the Nutcracker is transformed into a Prince and journeys with her to an enchanted island where spectacular celebrations are held in their honor.

I have tickets to giveaway to you!!!!

It's open to Orange County residents that will use the tickets.

Please only enter if you're able to attend the showing.

There are two separate giveaways - one for the 2:00 showing and one for the 7:30pm showing.

Please feel free to enter both if you can attend both.

Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker performed by the Mariinsky Ballet Theatre
Monday, December 3 at 2:00pm and 7:30pm

AMC Tustin Legacy 14

Enter here for the 2:00 showing at the Tustin Legacy 14

. a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Enter here for the 7:30 showing at the Tustin Legacy 14

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Celebrate Thanksgiving a Day Early at Pretend City!

We have the entire week off school - woohoo!!!

But that leaves me with a lot of time to keep my two littles engaged and out of trouble.

So, we're headed to Pretend City to celebrate Thanksgiving a day early!

You could join us!

Here's an outline of the day's festivities:

• Art Studio - Smart Art – Have a gobbling good time with this funny smart art activity. You and your child will learn a little bit about turkeys, while having a fun snood to smile with at Thanksgiving.
• Sensational Story Time - Gobble gobble up these books for a Thanksgiving treat! From hilarious turkeys to holiday history, your children will learn and engage.
• Good To Go Game - It wouldn’t seem like Thanksgiving time without post-feast football activities. Join us in fun, physical, activity games, like Free the Fowl and Turkey Trot, to develop gross motor skills and get ready for a full holiday belly!
• Listen & Learn – Join us to Do the Turkey Poke while learning about the farm in these fun listen and learn music and movement times.

 All the day's activities are included with paid admission for the day.

Hope to see you there!

The OC Zoo Gets SPOOKY: {Halloween} Zoo-tacular!

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Come join in the Halloween fun at the OC Zoo in Irvine Regional Park 

on Saturday, October 27 10am to 4pm.

At Halloween Zoo-tacular kids ages 12 and under will enjoy trick-or-treating, 

a scavenger hunt, themed crafts and face painting. 

The darling zoo animals will receive treat-filled pumpkins throughout the day! 

The first 100 children that visit the OC Zoo in costume on October 27th will receive a free gift.

The Halloween Zoo-tacular is free to visitors with paid zoo admission.

Parking at the venue (Irvine Regional Park) is $5 per vehicle.

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted at the LA Zoo!

This Saturday Radio Disney will be at the Los Angeles Zoo

to celebrate the Blu-ray and DVD debut of Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted!

And don't forget to enter my giveaway to win your own copy!

Pretend City: {October} Activities

Woohoo!
It's October at Pretend City and the city and it's "crawling" with exciting things to do.
There are creepy crawlers and cool creatures at Pretend City Children's museum
this spooky month of October. The kids can explore the craggy caves, grassy meadow,
and frightful farm shed to find the squirmy bugs and reptiles.
There is a special activity each day of the week throughout the month.

• Mondays: Art Studio Sessions – Baby Bugs

Squishy, Slimy, Creepy Crawly art projects are in store for little ones every Monday! These activities are geared to help children improve fine motor skills through the manipulation of art materials, like paint brushes and pencils.

• Tuesdays: Engaging Afternoons – Build-My-Skills Bugs (Time: 3:30p.m.)

Watch children’s skills grow as they progress through bug-themed activities. Each week’s activity will gradually increase in difficulty. These activities will utilize social interaction to support a little learner’s development and provide the support structures necessary to get to the next challenging level or stage. Children will stay engaged as they find continuously challenging bug battles to win!

• Wednesdays: Lil’ Me Mornings – Read It! Sing It!  (Time: 11:00a.m.)

Read it, Sing it Lil’ Me Mornings is the coolest thing to happen to bugs! Stories and songs are second to none in their ability to inspire and energize children while enhancing the learning process. Every Wednesday children will have the opportunity to delight in a reading of a bug poem. The poems will transform into songs as they are sung to familiar children’s tunes. With lots of rhyme, rhythm and repetition they will build phonemic awareness as they follow along.

• Thursdays: Engaging Afternoons – Sensational Science (Time: 3:30p.m.)

Get an up close and personal look at incredible insects during these sensational science afternoon activities! Children will be introduced to and explore specimens that they may have never known of – from a tiger beetle to a lantern fly. As your children participate in a variety of activities, such as matching and sorting, they will build their vocabulary while learning about life cycles, bug body parts, and more!

• Fridays: Art Studio Sessions – Frightful Flyers

On a special night with the moon shining bright, what will come lurking out of the shadows and sights? All of these frightful flyers are signs of the Halloween holiday. Children will enjoy using these characters and symbols as inspiration for their art.

• Saturdays: Lil’ Me Mornings –Insect Investigation (Time: 10:30a.m.)

As children explore and examine fascinating insect specimens, they’ll feel just like real scientists making incredible discoveries! Every Saturday they can use the magnifier to investigate amazing specimens—from a silkworm cocoon and a stag beetle to a super-realistic dragonfly fossil. Corresponding activities will follow to help a child remember the exciting facts that they just learned.

• Sundays: Art Studio Sessions – Halloween Haunts

Bring on the Halloween fun with these ghoulishly great art activities for children of all ages! These take home activities are sure to help you create eerie exteriors and rooms with a boo!

 

In addition to the daily activities, there are some special events:

 

Monday, October 15: Baby Steps through Pretend City!

Time: 2:00-3:30p.m.

Specifically for: Infant (0-18 months), Grown-ups. For the comfort of our infant guests, no older siblings please.

RSVP: Maximum 60 adults

Fee: $10 per adult, infants and Pretend City Members are FREE!

Sunday, October 21: Pumpkin Carving Workshop (Time:  1:30-3:30p.m.)

Who doesn’t love carving pumpkins for Halloween? Families will have the opportunity to learn to carve pumpkins like a pro!  Visit Pretend City to learn specialized tips and tricks from the pumpkin carving master, Jim Morey of VIP Carvings.  Our Pumpkin Carving Workshop includes all of the supplies needed along with a pumpkin to take home! With the tricks learned the workshop, and a little bit of patience, this year you will be wowing your friends and neighbors with your awesome looking pumpkin carvings!

Fee: $15 per child

  

Wednesday, October 31: Halloween Bug Bash

Time:   A.M. activities: Kiosk Café, Music & Movement (morning times may vary)

P.M. activities: Kiosk Café, “Good To Go” Game (afternoon times may vary)

Little ghouls and boys will have a howling good time at our Halloween Bug Bash! 

There’s something for every little trick-or-treater – two-legs and all! 

Come dressed to thrill in our creepy, creaky, critter city.

• FREE Dental Screenings- 10a.m.-12p.m. (first come, first served)

Creep and crawl your way through the city as you Trick-or-Treat at each of our exhibit spaces every 2 hours. This party is bound to start off with a scream!

Wednesday, October 24: Pretend City Symposium: Understanding Challenging Behaviors

Time:    6:00 – 8:30p.m.

Specifically for:  Parents, caregivers, early childhood educators, healthcare professionals in the pediatric field. For the comfort of our guests, no children please.

Why do challenging behaviors occur? Children often use challenging behaviors when they lack more appropriate behaviors or skills to accomplish the same goal or to communicate the message. Join our panel of experts as they share ways to understand challenging behaviors and offer helpful tips to address these behaviors. Each panelist will discuss an age range of challenging behaviors for children from birth to 10 years of age. Professional growth hours will be offered.

 

Panel of Experts:

• Craig Childress, Psy.D., Psychologist
• Kai Kaiser, M.A., WestEd Center for Child & Family Studies
• Sandi Walters, M.A., WestEd Center for Child & Family Studies

RSVP:  Maximum: 100 adults

Fee:  $10 per person / $8 per person for groups of 10*

*light beverages and handouts included