Fun Pajamas

Fun Dog Book- Dear Mrs. LaRue, by Mark Teague

Our son and dog have enjoyed reading "Dear Mrs. LaRue" together.  A short book by Mark Teague, it compiles a series of letters written by "Ike" the dog to his owner, Mrs. LaRue, after Mrs. LaRue sends Ike to an upscale training school...

MLK Day at MOAD in San Francisco

We went to the Museum of the African Diaspora in San Francisco to celebrate MLK Day today.

Here are some photos of the chalk drawings outside:

We followed the rules and didn't take pictures inside the galleries of the museum, which had free admission today.  But we did take a few pictures looking out onto Mission Street.

MLK Memorial at Yerba Buena Gardens, San Francisco

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration 2015, March to Freedom, Yerba Buena Center, San Francisco, CA - FREE

The Northern California Dr. martin Luther King Jr. Community Foundation presents a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration  tomorrow on Martin Luther King Day.

Yerba Buena Center and surrounding neighborhood is where activities will take place
YBCA
www.ybca.org/
http://www.ybca.org/mlk-2015
701 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA
94103
(415) 978-2787

FREE day of free exciting events, festivals, and programs

11:00-5:00PM there is free admission to YBCA galleries
1:00PM is a celebration program

Theme:  50 years from Selma to the Ballot

2015 marks the 50th anniversary of the civil rights marches from Selma, Alabama to Montgomery, Alabama that helped to spur the passage of the historic 1965 Voting Rights Act.

MOAD - Museum of the African Diaspora - Free Admission on January 19, 2014

Tomorrow, January 19, 2014 is a free day at the MOAD (Museum of the African Diaspora).  There will be talks, music, a scavenger hunt, and other events.

Resources:

MOAD
Museum of the African Diaspora
Free Day on January 19, 2014
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Day of Service
San Francisco, CA

Tonight - Concert tribute to Martin Luther King at the Scottish Rite Center in Oakland, CA at 7:00PM

Tonight is the "In the Name of Love" 13th annual musical tribute honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Resources:

"In the Name of Love"
Concert honoring Dr. Martin Luther King
Sunday, January 18, 2015
Scottish Rite Center
(510) 832-0819
1547 Lakeside Drive
Oakland, CA
94612

General Admission:
$23.00 in advance/ $25.00 at the door
$8.00 for children for ages 12 and under

Martin Luther King Day- Kids activities at Yerba Buena Center

Martin Luther King Day- Kids activities at MOAD In San Francisco, CA

Recommended Book of the day - Locomotive by Brian Floca

We got this book at the Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI.  This book has both the Caldecott Medal award and the Robert F. Sibert award.



Locomotive
Brian Floca
ISBN # 978-1-4169-9415-2

Recommended book of the day - Doctor on an Elephant by Steven Kroll

This book is about John Symington, a real person whose experiences in India are the basis for their tale.      John Symington was a medical missionary in Gwalior, in the middle of India.  This tale is about one of his adventures working to serve as a doctor during his three-and-a-half years in the country.



ISBN  0-8050-2876-5

Recommended book of the day - Tanuki's Gift, A Japanese Tale, by Tim Myers

My son and I discovered the book, Tanuki's Gift- A Japanese Tale by Tim Myers.
ISBN  0-7614-5101-3

This is a story about friendship- between a Buddhist priest and a tanuki, a small badger-like animal, who visits him every winter.  The tanuki brings firewood and little gifts.  The priest offers him shelter and listens to his stories.  But when the tanuki disappears to search for three pieces of gold, the priest discovers how much he values their friendship.

We found this book at the library at the Royal Park Hotel in Rochester, MI.  It is such a sweet tale about friendship, love, and what is really important.  It brought tears to my eyes!

La Casa Adormecida ("The Napping House") - Great Bedtime Book

My favorite bedtime book for my son, for both home and travel is La Casa Adormecida, The Napping House.  Whether we are at a hotel, in our own bed, or at family's this book is so relaxing, that we can't help but fall asleep!  We particularly love the version that has both Spanish and English.

"It is raining outside.  Inside, a grandmother snoring in a cozy bed is joined by a dreaming child, a dozing dog, and a sleepy cat and mouse, but when a wakeful flea gets into bed, everyone gets a surprise!"

This book is translated by Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy.

La casa adormecida

Audrey Wood

Don Wood

The Napping House

ISBN:  978-0-547-71920-7

2014 Gingerbread House at Royal Park Hotel in Rochester, MI

Here are several pictures of the large gingerbread house at the Royal Park Hotel in Rochester, Michigan.  Our son was absolutely amazed and captivated by it.

Parenting Book Recommendation: Parenting in the Present Moment by Carla Naumberg, Ph.D.

The book, Parenting in the Present Moment:  How to Stay Focused on What Really Matters by Carla Naumburg, Ph.D. was recommended by Gina Hassan in Berkeley, CA.

Gina Hassan- http://www.ginahassan.com/
(Gina leads mindful mom's groups for 1st time and 2nd time moms.  She is also a mom and practices what she preaches!)

Haircuts for children in Rochester, MI - j.r.'s for hair & more - Troy, MIchigan (cuts for men, women, and children)

My son got his hair cut at J.r.'s for hair & more in Rochester, MI.  She did a great job!  She was also really patient!

Stylist, Candice McCallister

j.r.'s for hair & more
6025 rochester rd.
troy, MI
48085
jrsforhair.com
(248) 879-5616

Candice recommended the "wet" brush for my son.  It works so well in combing his medium length wavy hair!  He has even been brushing his own hair!

The "Wet" Brush
PRO SELECT WET BRUSH Metallics Collection
Best Detangling Brush Ever!
The Healthy after shower brush
No tears, no snags, no clumps, and no tangles.
$12.50
LUXOR PRO
J & D Beauty Products, Hauppauge, NY

This brush works great on wet or dry hair!

Skiing with children at Pine Knob in Clarkston, MI

Pine Knob is only 30 minutes from Detroit, MI.  I took my son skiing there and we had a great time!

Pine Knob
7777 Pine Knob
Clarkston, MI  48348
www.skipineknob.com
(248) 625-0800

[picture from www.skipineknob.com]

Michigan in the Winter with children

Going to Michigan in the winter with children?  I'd recommend bringing the following things:

ice skates, many parks with lakes have ice skating, but do not rent the skates or helmets!  The local rinks generally do not rent helmets.  The skating rink I called recommended bringing my son's bike helmet.

jacket, hat, scarf, snowpants, snowboots, gloves- a need as it is below zero sometimes!

extra warm socks

warm pajamas

layers

undershirts

blowdryer as you don't want to go out with wet hair here in the winter!

goggles, in case you want to skii

helmet, for ice skating or skiing.

Book Recommendation about friendship - Tanuki's Gift, A Japanese Tale by Tim Myers

We found the book, Tanuki's Gift in the library while having coffee at the Royal Park Hotel, in Rochester, MI.  This is a wonderful multicultural tale of friendship, I want to add it to my personal collection!

Resources:

Tanuki's Gift
A Japanese Tale by Tim Myers

Cranbrook Institute of Science - Bloomfield Hills, MI

My son and I were in Michigan recently due to a family emergency and I wanted to take my son somewhere special.  We spent a wonderful day at the Cranbrook Institute of Science.  They had a 12:00 planetarium show that wasn't scary and was perfect for the k-1-2 set!  My son loved learning about the stars and planets, and it wasn't frightening.  Also, the museum has a gorgeous rock collection and several rooms of exhibits.  The museum had a cafe, and we had lunch.  I would highly recommend this museum to families!

We also loved the museum store, and we enjoyed the collection of books about Michigan.  These are a few of my favorites that I saw there and I couldn't resist taking home!

The Michigan Counting Book
Autographed Copy
Written by Kathy-jo Wargin
ISBN-13:  978-1-58536-003-1
Sleeping Bear Press, Ann Arbor, MI




The Legend of Mackinaw Island
10th Anniversary Edition
By Kathy-jo Wargin
ISBN-13-:978-1-58536-517-3
Sleeping Bear Press, Ann Arbor, MI
(This is my son's favorite.  It also includes a DVD , with story read by Jeff Daniels)




Exploring Michigan, Great Lakes State
by Colleen and Michael Glenn Monroe
Autographed Copy
ISBN  978-0-9754942-2-6
(A fun and interesting fact from this book is that astronauts, flying hundreds of miles above the Earth, often send back pictures of the famous mitten shape of Michigan.  No other state is as easily identified.)




These books and other educational gifts can be ordered by phone or online.  I highly recommend this bookstore.  The museum store manager, Joy  Corneliussen, was really helpful!

Cranbrook Institute of Science
Joy Corneliussen
Museum Store Manager
Phone: (248) 645-7710


Resources:

Cranbrook Institute of Science
39221 Woodward Avenue
Bloomfield Hills, MI  48303

Recommended Hotel in Rochester, Michigan - The Royal Park Hotel and the Brookshire Restaurant

Recently, due to a family emergency where a family member was staying at Crittendon Hospital, we stayed for a few days at the Royal Park Hotel in Rochester, Michigan.

The Royal Park has a shuttle that takes you anywhere within 5 miles of the hotel.  This includes downtown Rochester, the hospital, and even an outdoor mall.  We even took the shuttle to Onyx Ice Skating Rink, where my son went ice skating one day!  The hotel is a short walk to a wonderful indoor play place, since it was winter and below zero, we took the shuttle.  The indoor play place had a cafe with adult and children's food, with comfortable chairs for parents.

The hotel has free bottled waters, apples, oranges, and even a beautiful coffee, tea, and milk service each morning in the library.  Also, every evening in the lobby, there are cookies and lemonade available for a treat!

Every morning the library at the hotel offers free coffee, tea, and milk. My son and I sat there and enjoyed our morning beverages and read a book in the library called Tanuki's Gift, a beautiful Japanese tale by Tim Myers!  It was very peaceful.

My son loved The Brookshire Restaurant, which he loved for breakfast, brunch, or lunch by the fireplace.  They have delicious regular and gluten free pancakes, as well as his favorite dish, grilled cheese sandwiches with whole wheat bread with American cheese and french fries, plus freshly stirred chocolate milk!

Elliot's lounge is a more casual place for dinner.  Once again, he loved the Kids Grilled Cheese with french fries and chocolate milk, and fruit.  Also, we both loved the beer fondue with freshly baked pretzel sticks.  Though Elliot's is a lounge, it is very family friendly in the early evenings.

Though we personally came to the hotel and restaurants because of a family emergency, and I shed quite a few tears during my visit, I was amazed at how comfortable the hotel was!

Traveling with children can be challenging, as children can be picky eaters, for special requests I'd recommend calling ahead.

Resources:

Royal Park Hotel
Matthew Prost, Director of Restaurants
600 E.  University
Rochester, Michigan
48307
Hotel phone number - 248-652-2600
Special Requests - 248-453-8767
fax - 248-652-8903
email- mprost@royalparkhotel.net
web-www.royalparkhotel.net

Onyx Ice Skating
52999 Dequinare Rd.
Rochester, MI

My son's typing, a sample - htregkutyetyreuyttuyitiruyyeytirweiwtytywetytwuytirtyiyuitwtruyetiutueytyuwrtuyetutrtytytwrtgdgkghdghghdhfgdffsadhjfddgsfhhafsgfdfjfgahdfgfjhadfgfsrredfw

vEWEWEWRRRETRETRWQERTYEUQTETFDEFGYFJDFUETDETFDFEDFFEDFFDDDGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGTYRFYTETYDFETDETRTRUTIUWYIETYFWRFTETYEFYTERYTFETYFETRTEFFDTYFDEFFERTIFDERRTYEFTQETEWRQTWERWEFEQTWFQTWFQTGQYTEFQWERTYUIOJUJJJFDFEWKDYDFDGFSHGJGDFHAFTRETRTEDYEFTCTEDFSCAFDEDGFFDTFFFGGGHHHFTTDTFYDFFTFDFYFFDTYFFYFFITWFADEDxgasafdsdfGSFDJGJDSJFXTSDCXGSCFSGWFQNGHGDFDDFGSDJFSCKGHDCKJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJGQWYUSDUYGKEFYDGWAEDGYUEYGFEFYEFWDFEFEYKDFTXDSDWWWWWWWWWWWHDEGQFIYUEFTTYFTW4ETRWE4WWREWTEWEWWEW


My son  says, "Do you like my typing?"

Talking to children about death

How do I talk to my son about death?  I have to really think about this as my uncle passed away a few days ago.  Not quite sure still what to write.  After several days of asking friends who I respect, these are the things I have heard....

• be direct

• convey the finality of death, unlike the way some video games or media portray death

• avoid euphemisms, such as the person is in a deep sleep,or has gone away for a long trip.

• some children need to talk about the practical aspects of what happens to the body, in a way they can feel comfortable with and understand, such as burial or cremation.

• children process grief differently then adults, and may seem unaffected at first, sadness and questions may arise at unexpected times, so be prepared.

• ritual is important, for adults and children, such as funerals, shivas.  This can be as simple as saying some words or as complex as planning a funeral.

• read age appropriate books such as Badger's Parting Gifts, or the The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore (following the Oscar winning short film).  This book, recommended by a friend, is more about legacy, but is appropriate she said during a loss, such a  death.

• give yourselves time to grieve  (let children see you cry, this is more useful than shielding them).

• Talk about memories, take a drive down memory lane.  My family did this growing up, taking a drive to our family farm, this is something I share with my son.

• One thing that has helped for me is that my uncle has been taking us for rides to the family cemetery for as long as I can remember.  Therefore, cemeteries were never scary for me.

• A friend recommended talking about the circle of life, such as discussing seasons of a tree life cycle, leaves falling, decomposing, etc.  I haven't discussed this.

• Another friend discussed sharing how she discusses how grateful she is the person was here with us for so many wonderful years, and how he lives in our hearts.