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.

Family Movie NIght with The Amazing Spider-Man #SpiderManWMT #CBias

JT is a big fan of super heroes and Spider-Man is one of his current favorites.

He loves pretend play and on a weekly basis he can be found at the park

playing super heroes with his friends or his little sister - 

she is always gladto play the damsel in distress .

So I thought it would be fun to head to Walmart and pick up a Marketside pizza

to help us unlock and use The Amazing Spider-Man Augmented Reality App. 

We found the pizza right and away and it looked delicious!

JT was at school, so this was all a surprise for him, but Isabella knows

her brother and was insistent that we get pepperoni - his favorite.

When we got home I opened up the Web-Slinger app that I downloaded

to my Samsung Galaxy Tablet from the Google Play store.

While the pizza cooked, JT got into the spirit of the Spider-Man evening

and put on one of his favorite Spider-Man t-shirts.

While the pizza cooked the kids each got to choose a Spider-Man tattoo

to sport and show that they are team Peter Parker :)

JT also took advantage of the option to turn himself into Spider-Man

in the Web-slinger Augmented Reality app - he thought it was so cool!

We started with only one page unlocked, but by scanning different Spider-Man signage

at Walmart with the Augmented Reality app we were able to unlock the rest of the

comic story along with the fantastic cover.

What's super cool is that you have the option to share it on Facebook or email

yourself a print quality copy of the personalized comic book.

Nothing motivates a 1st grader to practice his reading skills than trying

to read a comic book starring himself!

I also tried out the portion of the Augmented Reality app that allows you

to scan the cover of your Spider-Man DVD/Blu-ray and Marketside pizza box

to create a fight scene between Spider-Man and the Lizard man.

The pizza came out of the oven and looked delicious and we were

ready to eat and enjoy our (rad) advanced copy of The Amazing Spider-Man.

I used the cutout from my Marketside pizza box as a centerpiece and used the

cool Spider-Man plates I picked up on my shopping trip to Walmart.

(You can read about my entire shopping experience on Google+)

The kids had a fantastic time and it was nice to have dinner and a movie as a family.

Do you want to watch The Amazing Spider-Man before it's official release date on November 9th? 

 If you pre-purchase the DVD/Blu-ray you'll get access digitally through vudu.com Ultra Violet

and then Walmart will mail you a hard copy.  

Be sure to connect with The Amazing Spider-Man on Facebook and Twitter. 

I got the the Augmented Reality app from Google Play but it is also available on iTunes.  

I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community.  This content has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.  #CBias #SocialFabric #SpidermanWMT

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!

How to Train Your Dragon Coming to the Honda Center January 2013

I am so excited about this - you don't even know!

The Dreamworks movie How to Train Your Dragon has been made into

a live action show by the same masterminds that created Walking with Dinosaurs.

It features more than a dozen dragons, some with wingspans of up to 46 feet,

Viking warriors and world-class circus artists and acrobats combined with a
heartwarming story that truly delivers a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the entire family.

This fantastic show is coming to the Honda Center in Anaheim in January 2013

and pre-sale tickets are available today!

If your child loves Toothless the Night Fury dragon as much as mine does,

then this show is not to be missed!

GO HERE for ticket information and dates and locations.

Pretend City is Turning Three!

 

 

Pretend City is turning THREE!!!!

To celebrate they want children to explore what they want to be when they grow up.

A firefighter, dentist, chef, doctor, dancer, athlete…

have you asked your child what they want to be when they grow up? 

Right now I have an artist/painter and a scientist that learns about animals.

I love it!

 

 

As children become more aware of the world around them and all that is available to them, 

they are able to explore, create and discover in a way that prepares them for a successful future.   

I hope you'll join Pretend City for this very special “When I Grow Up Day” and celebrate its birthday and welcome special guests from our community including police officers, firefighters, dancers, doctors, beekeepers, lifeguards, chefs and more!

 

Friday, August 24: 3^rd Annual “When I Grow Up Day!”

Time: Specific offerings throughout the day

Specifically for:  Children of all ages; Grown-ups

Programs available on a first come, first served basis. 

Fee:  Included with museum admission

 

 

 

Additional August activities:

 

Monday, August 20: Baby Steps through Pretend City!  (2:00 – 3:30pm)

Specifically for: : Infants (birth -12 months), Young Toddlers (12-18 months), Grown-ups. For the comfort of our infant guests, no older siblings please.

Pretend City is an exciting adventure for all children, however, there are times when it may be tough for infants to get around and explore. This is why we have created this special time dedicated to all those infants who want to move around the city freely. This exclusive, infant only event offers great resources for parents, an environment that is better suited to your baby’s needs, age-appropriate facilitated activities and a clean, safe, tactile space for infants to explore. Ages & Stages Questionnaires* will be offered to all attendees to ensure your little one is developing on the right track!  They're FREE, fast and easy! * Available for Orange County residents only.

Play Partner: Help Me Grow, Orange County 

RSVP: Maximum 60 adults 

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

 

Friday, August 31: Parent’s Night Out, Children’s Night In – Treasure Hunt! (6:00pm – 9:00pm)

Specifically for: Preschoolers (4-5 years), School Ages (5-8 years)

*All children must be toilet trained.

Calling all cartographers (map makers)! Tonight is your night at Pretend City to have a little map making and reading fun! Enjoy a variety of map based activities that allow our cartographers to explore the city. Tonight’s fun twist will have children creating their very own treasure map of Pretend City. They will have the opportunity to hide their treasure and then make a map of where it is to give to a friend. The night will end with a mini showing of Muppet’s Treasure Island. 

RSVP:  Reservations required by Wednesday, August 29, 2012 (10:00am deadline) to secure your space. 

• On-site registration will not be permitted. 
• Event is subject to cancellation should the minimum amount of attendees not be met. 
• Maximum: 35 children; Minimum: 20 children
• Adult/Child Ratio: 1:5

Fee:  $35 per child, $30 per child for two or more children from the same family, $25 per child for members

'Til We Meet Again Grandpa Meyer

My wonderful, amazing, fantastic, loving, strong,
kind, hard working, funny, sweet, darling
Grandpa passed away early yesterday morning
from complications due to angioimmunoblastic t-cell lymphoma.

The great grandkids had taken to calling him Grandpa Great.
It was the perfect name for him.
He was great in every aspect of his life.

I remember once saying that I was very lucky.
He quietly corrected me by saying - You are very blessed.
Truer words were never spoken.

JT's middle name was chosen after him.
Theodore.
It's a strong German name.


(Grandpa at about 5 years old)

JT is proud to have it.
In the last 2 years, he had taken to calling him Grandpa Theodore.

I remember calling him to ask if it was ok to name JT after him.
He was very quiet, didn't say much, got off the phone quickly,
but told me that would be "just fine".
A few minutes later my Aunt called to tell me
that he was so emotional he just couldn't talk.
That it meant so very much to him.
It meant so very much to me.



JT usually goes by his initials,
but often I call him by his full name for various reasons:)
Once someone asked him what his name was and he said,
"JT. But my mom calls me Jason Theodore a lot."
It's true.
I'm proud of the name.
I love how it sounds.
I love that it reminds me of such a great man.

He just might be called by his full name a lot for a few weeks :)

Thank you, Grandpa.
Thank you for the sweet memories.
For the summers pruning sweet peas and working on the "crick".
Thank you for trips to the Tee Box and fresh raspberries and milk for breakfast.
Thank you for the 24/7 orange juice and ice cream after dinner.
Thank you for the laughs and jokes.
Thanks for taking lots of pictures of a little girl that once loved having her picture taken.
Thank you for always taking the "shortcut" to wherever we were going :)
Thank you for trips to Downata Springs and adventures at the park.
Thank you for Braves baseball and the Union Pacific Railroad.
Thank you for walks in the neighborhood and drives "around" town.
Thank you for the stories and family history.
Thank you for your legacy of fortitude and faith.
Thank you for the love.


(Grandpa and The Boy when he was 6 weeks old)

9 Years Baby!

Just want to give a shout out to my hubby on our 9th anniversary.
I love you babe!