Birthday parties at the Farm

by Brie The excitement of our kids getting older is often tempered by the horror of having to plan another birthday party. Themes? Games? Activities? What to do.

Here's an idea.

We went to a great birthday party at the Canada Agricultural Museum this past summer. I was so impressed with the entire party. The kids had a great time and were kept busy from the moment they arrived. It would be a great location for birthday parties in the colder months, thanks to the larger indoor party room.

Want to know what we did? Since we were the first guests to arrive the kids ran around the party room and played some of the games set up, like this one where you throw the bean bag through the animals mouths.

While we waited for the other kids to arrive, my two coloured and decorated their party hats. These hats were a big hit and the girl was still wearing hers when we left the party and headed home.

With the guests all there the party leader taught the kids how to make ice cream and let them help by stirring and pouring the ingredients. When all the ingredients were mixed together the ice cream maker was turned on and we headed off for a guided tour of the farm.

The first stop was the cow barn. This picture may not look like much but it was proceeded by some very exciting back-end activity from the cows. There was the expected pointing and yelling from intrigued 3 and 4 year olds.

The tour of the barn took some time what with the kids saying hi by name to every cow we passed. A real highlight of the tour was that the kids all got to take turns brushing and petting a calf. The calf was very good natured about it all.

And just in case the kids ever need to know how to milk a cow, they had a chance to practice on this display. 

After we left the cows we toured the rest of the farm, making sure to say hi to all the animals. The kids were pretty tired by the time we made it back to the party room, but they quickly perked up with cake and yummy homemade ice cream.

Brie is the mom of a 4 year old daughter “the girl” and 2 old son “the boy”. You can read her blog at Capital Mom.

Trick-or-Treating with a Halloween posse

 by Brie I love Halloween. I loved dressing up as a kid and, after checking that my costume fit over my parka, wandering the dark streets with friends in search of candy. Now I love watching my own kids dress up and wander the dark streets with friends in search of candy.

The girl was only two months old her first Halloween. Still, I dressed her up in a little leopard outfit and touted her to the door every time kids yelled trick-or-treat! They might not have been very excited to see a baby leopard, but I was excited to show her off.

 For her second Halloween we invited some friends to come trick-or-treating and unintentionally started my new favorite holiday tradition: the Halloween posse. That year the girl ate pizza in her pig costume and then walked, okay was carried, the streets in our neighbourhood along with her little dressed-up friends.

When she was two the girl dressed up as a mouse and her brother wore the little leopard costume. We ate pizza and then the girl ran ahead with her dad while I carried the boy in a sling on the front of my chest. It was a full house of excited kids and parents that night, but the most memorable part for me was the fact that the boy had an unheard of two hour nap in the bassinet in the middle of the living room. Obvious the key to getting a baby to sleep is throwing a Halloween party!

When the girl was three she wore a Snow White costume handed down from my cousins and her brother was a pig. This night the girl and her friends managed their longest trek yet, hitting up houses on  both sides of the block. The boy was uncertain about what exactly to do, but he soon saw that his sister was getting candy if she went up to the door and so he followed her lead.

This year we will be hosting friends again. Some of the friends have joined us before, some will be new. We will have a potluck, take pictures of all the  kids sitting on the front steps and then wander the dark streets together looking for candy. Because while the candy and the costumes are all fun, the best part of Halloween is hanging with your posse.

What are your plans for Halloween? Will you be hanging with your Halloween posse?

Brie is the mom of a 4 year old daughter “the girl” and 2 old son “the boy”. You can read her blog at Capital Mom.

Spooks, Spirits, & Spectacles

by Kari I love Halloween, always have.  It's magical to me.  I love the crisp air, the crunch of the leaves, the colourful costumes, and excited chatter of wee ones.  Although I intend to win Kids In the Capital's Trick-or-Treat to a Wicked Beat giveaway, I've made my list of just-in-case other events ;-)

The Canadian Children's Museum in the Museum of Civilization is offering a host of Halloween themed activities over the weekend.  On Friday, the Theatre is putting on an interactive puppet show, The Pocket Witch .  On Saturday, they introduce an international flair with their Dia de los muertos, or Day of the Dead program.  Children and their families can take part in some of the rituals practiced on this holiday in Mexico.  While Sunday's storytime asks Where Do Witches Go? .  This special programming in included with regular price of admission, $30 per family.

If free admission is what you seek, the City of Ottawa can help!  Several Halloween-themed library programs can be found throughout the city on Saturday, some feature Halloween parades, while others include spooky stories, activities, and crafts.  Older children, and less spookable children, might enjoy the Main library's 'A World of Ghosts' program on Sunday...especially the creepy snacks.  These programs require pre-registration so pull out your library card and reserve your spot.  

On the other hand, if you don't mind open admission with line-ups for your mostly free entertainment, Trick or Treat with the Mayor returns to City Hall.  For a donation to the Baby Supply Cupboard of the Ottawa Foodbank, children will walk the spooky cemetery to enter the haunted house, eventually making their way to the Halloween Party.  I've been told from previous participants, that the 6-8 year-old age range will get the most out of this evening, but even the younger ones will enjoy it.  You might want to check out your local community centre for events too.  The Sandy Hill Community Centre is handing out treats and providing activities on the day from 6 - 8 pm.

Lastly, if you cannot make the Kids in the Capital Halloween Meetup at Boston Pizza, two local museums are hosting Halloween Themed events.  The Cumberland Heritage Museum is hosting a Vintage Halloween Party encouraging homemade Halloween costumes and providing Halloween crafts and games from the 1920's and 30's.  While Billings Bridge Estate is encouraging the city's youngest ghouls and goblins to enjoy some old-fashioned Halloween games, and learn their fortune using apples and candles.  Both these events take place on Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm and regular admission fees apply, $15-18 per family.

Happy Halloween!

Kari is the mom of two girls, a 4 year old and 10 month old.  She can be found frequenting free activities throughout the city in hopes it’ll tire them out enough to sleep through the night.

Lowe's Build & Grow Clinics

by Joanne We have been renovating our house since we moved in 6 years ago.  Little by little we are making our Money Pit into our dream home.  Which means that we spend a lot of time (and money) in home improvement stores.  A few months ago, a Lowe's opened in Orleans so my husband eagerly went to check it out!  He came home excited and full of great ideas for our next batch of renovations.

On one of of many trips to Lowes since it opened we were introduced to the Lowe's Build and Grow clinics designed for children in grades 2 to 5 - they do not restrict the age of the participants - my 5 year old just loves every project and looks forward to the next.

There is a maximum of 50 kids per session and they are held every other week.  I suggest calling in advance or stopping by the customer service desk to inquire about the next available clinic.  Upcoming projects include Halloween theme - like a fun house mirror or Christmas projects like a Holiday Train.

Together we have made a firetruck, a ball and cup game as well as a school bus.   The kids enjoy building these great toys and are so proud of the finished project they made themselves!

Joanne the proud mom of Amélie (8 years old) and Mathieu (5 years).  She is new at blogging and you can find her at Our Money Pit.

Sunday October 17th 10am- 3pm The Glebe Community Center 175 Third Ave @ Lyon St in The Glebe

Costume Swapping for Halloween

by Laura October 9th is National Costume Swap Day in the United States.  This green event is promoted by Kiwi Magazine, Green Halloween, and Swap.com.  It is a simple idea to save money and the environment too.  Children are encouraged to swap costumes and keep old ones out of the landfill. 

Some children lose interest in dressing like Luke Skywalker or Cinderella.   My kids are happy to reuse costumes but this year they have both outgrown their outfits.  I am not handy with a sewing machine or a glue gun and have purchased costumes in the past.  Instead of spending money or trying to create something in the wee hours of October 30th, simply trade/borrow costumes with fellow trick-or-treaters.     According to the National Costume Swap website, “swapping half the costumes kids wear on Halloween would reduce the annual landfill waste by 6,250 tons, equal to the weight of 2500 mid-sized cars”.   In addition, swapping reduces packaging, transportation, and manufacturing impacts too.     A costume swap can be as simple as sending an email to friends/classmates, or organizing something larger at a brownie/cubs meeting, local library or recreation facility.  I imagine that even folks with little interest in eco-friendly ideas might be keen to save a few dollars.  It is a win/win idea.    Why limit it to children’s costumes?  Adults attend Halloween parties and dress up to hand out treats at the door.  I wonder if my pal Kelly is growing tired of her pink pig costume and would like to dress this year as a defeated Leafs fan?  Perhaps our neighbour Steve wants to swap his vampire cape with my husband and dress as scary mask guy.   Oh, the possibilities are endless.

Although it is not a national event in Canada, a costume swap puts a fresh spin on an old tradition.   It is an opportunity to make a difference, save money and enjoy some holiday fun.   Happy Halloween!

Laura is a wife and Mother to beautiful 8 and 10 year old girls.  She describes herself as an eco-advocate and moderate neat freak with a recessive frugal gene.  Laura provides light-hearted commentary for every day, practical green living on her blog the Mindful Merchant.

Sunday October 17th 10am- 3pm The Glebe Community Center 175 Third Ave @ Lyon St in The Glebe