DC Metro Mom

Our family has been visiting Medieval Times pretty regularly since 2006 when our oldest son developed an intense interest in all-things-knights.  And for a little boy who loves all-things-knights, there is no better place than a ringside seat at a Medieval Times banquet.  But it's an experience that grown-ups will enjoy too, with plenty of action, good food, fine displays of horsemanship, pageantry, and falconry.  The new show has returned to its roots, focusing more on the horsemanship and less on Hollywood lighting and smoke.  We also found it to be even more kid-friendly than previous shows, with a lighter story line that was more about the tournament between the knights than the punishment of a dark villan.  

My husband came home Friday exhausted and went to take a nap while one of our twin boys was still asleep. I heard his phone vibrate up on the shelf in our entryway but I didn’t pick it up. After it stopped, my phone immediately began ringing and I answered. It was my mother-in-law and she had two Washington Capitals tickets for that night’s game that a coworker was trying to give away. It was 5:00pm and the game started at 7:00pm.

I didn’t know what to expect when my friend said, “Let’s go to the farm museum!” What’s that? A farm with placards? Taxidermy cows and chickens? I had no idea. Is there manure involved? She described it as kind of a mini children’s museum. Today we went to the Heritage Farm Museum in Sterling, and I was pleasantly surprised. It’s like one big display room of a normal, adult museum that has quite a few hands-on elements for kids. It’s the perfect blend of children’s and adults’ museums. For DC moms, it’s about 40 minute drive, and of course less for most NOVA moms. We spent over an hour and a half inside and about 15 minutes on the big tractors out front with our almost-three year-olds. Here’s the lowdown:

Barn: Inside the barn, kids can not only milk a pretend cow (water comes out) and gather wooden eggs in baskets from a plastic hen house, but they can also dress the part. There are overalls and bonnets and such for children who want to look the part.

Come one, come all to the lil omm Holiday Party this Sunday, January 8 from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm! Connect with other lil omm students, teachers, family and friends!

A $5 donation is suggested to benefit our after-school yoga program at Wilson High School.

Drop-ins welcome or you can RSVP here: https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/ASP/home.asp?studioid=8811

Adventure Theatre's world premiere production of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas began with a distinguished gentleman (DC actor Gary Sloan) in a richly appointed parlor, reciting from the classic poem by Clement Clarke Moore in a Shakespearian voice.  (Uh-oh...is this going to be a full reading?  Am I going to have to carry a fidgeting-wriggling child out to the lobby?) But WAIT!  The first line barely left his lips when a giant mouse in suspenders leapt out stirring some cookie batter.  My daughter's eyes widened...o.k. this is going to be good!  From there the mouse, Amos, and the gentleman argue about the poem, including misconstrued visions of "pigeons" dancing in their heads.  Emily, a little girl eagerly waiting for Santa joins the fracas, as well as some holiday visitors, and a hilarious rapping Jewish elf named Calliope.  And so the grand adventure begins!

Join the stars of Nickelodeon, "Lets Move", and the President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition at the Worldwide Day of Play this Saturday, September 24, 2011, at the Ellipse on the National Mall.  Joined by 50 partner organizations, this is Nickelodeon's largest event ever!  Kids can enjoy an entire day of physical activities, sports, and games with their favorite Nickelodeon stars including characters and casts from Dora the Explorer, SpongeBob SquarePants, Big Time Rush, iCarly, Supah Ninjas, Victorius, and Bucket & Skinner's Epic Adventures!

Let The Fun Begin!

ADVENTURE THEATRE LAUNCHES 60^TH ANNIVERSARY WITH 
LILLY’S PURPLE PLASTIC PURSE

Lilly loves all sorts of things. She loves school, she loves dressing up, and she even grows to love her "stinky baby brother," Julius. In fact, Lilly loves everything! At least, she loves everything most of the time. Even Lilly has some bad days, but when you have movie star sunglasses and a purple plastic purse, how bad can it be?