North Texas Kids November 2008

North Texas Your Family Guide to Raising Happy, Healthy Kids

Kids

Waverly Wang, at age 6

In this issue: Giving Instead of Gimmee! / Spotlight on Dallas / Holiday Shopping Tips / Create Thanksgiving Place Cards / November Calendar of Events November 2008

FREE

North Texas Kids • November 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com www.northtexaskids.com

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North Texas Kids • November 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

All Aboard!!!

Start a New Family Tradition This Year American Clean Skies Foundation Presents

Come See The Trains at NorthPark -

The Largest Model Train Exhibit in Texas.

All proceeds benefit

The Ronald McDonald House of Dallas.

The Ronald McDonald House of Dallas is a home-away-from-home for families of seriously ill children who are hospitalized or receiving treatment in a Dallas-area hospital.

Dates...

November 22, 2008 - January 4, 2009 Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, Open New Year’s Day

Hours of Operation...

Monday - Saturday: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. / Sunday: Noon - 6 p.m.

Early Closings...

November 26, Thanksgiving Eve, 6 p.m.

December 24, Christmas Eve, 4 p.m.

December 31, New Year’s Eve, 6 p.m.

Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day January 1, New Year’s Day, 6 p.m.

Cost at Exhibit... $5 for adults, $3 for children (ages 2-12) and seniors (65 and older), free admission for children under 2

Discount Tickets...

Available at all Tom Thumb Stores - $4 for adults and $2 for children (ages 2 -12) and seniors (65 and older)

Location...

NorthPark Center, near the Boedeker Street entrance between Neiman Marcus and Barneys New York, Level Two

Pantone® Reflex Blue CMYK 100-82-0-2 RGB 0-51-153 Hex 003399

Pantone® 186 CMYK 0-91-76-6 RGB 228-23-32 Hex E41720

White CMYK 0-0-0-0 RGB 255-255-255 Hex FFFFFF

For Information: Please visit us online at www.rmhdallas.com North Texas Kids • November 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

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Contents November 2008

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Volume 6 No. 9

6

14

8

6

Giving Instead of Gimmee!

11 Emma’s Kid-Friendly Restaurant Review

10

Create Your Own Acrostic Poem

8

Spotlight on Dallas

19

Healthy KidCast

11

Turkey Day Word Scramble

12

NTK Expo Info & Activities

21

Simple Concepts, Outings & Adventures

11

Turkey Day Fun Facts

14

Home Control of Allergies

24

Enrichment Directory: Classes & Activities

15

Gift Wrapping Contest

15

7 Ways to Save: Holiday Shopping Tips

26

Family Resource Guide

17

Craft: Thanksgiving Place Cards

23

A Clown Named Zoe

27

Get to Know... Tonia Tomlin

21

What Tools Do You Use?

28

Holidays With Family Miles Away

38

Alexandria’s Book Review

22

Kids in the Kitchen: Carrot Raisin Muffins

30

Great Gifts

39

October Calendar of Events

23

January NTK Cover Coloring Contest

35

PSA Babies

44

Focus on our Advertisers

28

Thanksgiving Word Search

36

Tutoring Chart

45

Index of Advertisers

38

Be Thankful

32

Specialized Sports

33

The Best Time of the Year

34

Sports & Fitness Programs

4

North Texas Kids • November 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

Note from the Publisher

Minette Riordan, Ph.D.

Life’s Many Blessings My children, my husband, our families, my staff, my clients, my friends, our readers, fall weather, pumpkins, piles of leaves, good health, a passion for life...my list of blessings is endless and I am extremely grateful for the life that I lead. This time of year always lends itself to thinking about gratitude.

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, not just because of the yummy food, but because it brings family and friends together to share food, football, fall walks or whatever fun your family loves. Togetherness for me is a huge blessing. I live far away from all of my family and my husband’s family and I miss them terribly. This time of year I think of them even more and make that effort to send a note, an e-card or make a phone call to say I am thinking of them. We usually travel at Thanksgiving to San Antonio to spend time with family there. I love San Antonio in the fall and look forward to the time away.

Giving thanks for me is also about giving back to our community through volunteering, donations, attending charitable events, or participating in a food drive or book drive. We have decided to dedicate this issue to “giving back.” There are so many ways we can be involved in our local community and lots of opportunities to teach our children about giving being as important as receiving, especially as we move into the gift-receiving holidays like

Hanukah and Christmas. Read the wonderful article by Colleen O’Donnell and Lyn Baker, authors of Generous Kids, on page 6. They offer great ideas for teaching kids “Giving instead of gimmee.”

In our own efforts to focus on giving back, we are hosting the 1st annual North Texas Kids Family Expo on Saturday, November 15 benefitting the programs of CITY House. Read the article on pg. 12 to learn more about the phenomenal programs that CITY House brings to families in Collin County. The expo is a free family fun day with lots of entertainment and education.

We hope you will come out and join us. Radio Disney will be there from 2pm to 4pm, along with Ronald McDonald. My staff has done a great job on this event and we will be presenting a large check to CITY House at 1pm, come and share our excitement as we get to give time, money, energy and enthusiasm to CITY House.

Finally, we are also sponsoring the North Park Trains at North Park mall this month. This is one of our favorite events to sponsor every year and we hope you get the opportunity to go and see this amazing project. If you have never been, North Park Trains is an entire walk-through exhibit of model trains with amazing landscapes, skyscrapers, people, mountains, work sites with big machines, and the Golden Gate Bridge, too. All

the funds raised go to support Ronald McDonald House of Dallas, another organization that gives so much back to our community by helping families. Learn more about RMHD and the train exhibit at www. rmhdallas.com.

On a personal note, I told you last month that I am on a quest to get healthy and lose some weight before my brother’s wedding in March. I want to thank Pamela Micks, the personal trainer who helped put together a manageable plan that I could follow, even with my busy life.

As of writing this note, I have lost 12 pounds and am working hard to reach my goal. Pamela keeps me motivated with fun cartoons each week and lots of positive reinforcement.

If you are looking for help in reaching your health goals, I recommend Pamela. This is an email support plan that I do on my own from my own home, which fits my schedule perfectly! Pamela can be reached at pamela@realbodyfitness.com.

I cannot end without saying a very heartfelt thank you to all of the readers who pick up our magazine every month. Without you, we would not be here.

Gratefully yours,

Publisher/Editor

Minette Riordan minette@northtexaskids.com

Web/Media Designer

Brad Dobson bdobson@northtexaskids.com

CMO

Cindy Watts cindyw@northtexaskids.com

Editor of Sports Scoop Mike Kravik

mike@northtexaskids.com

Office/Sales Manager Heidi Schlabs

heidi@northtexaskids.com

Account Executives

Tari Jacobs Cindy Johnson Nancy Luttinger Michelle Simms Cindy Watts

Creative Dir. /Designer Brittany Allen

2nd Story Design brittany@2ndstorydesign.com

Printed by

Midway Press, Dallas Tx

Mailing Address

Scissortail Publishing

700 E. Park Blvd. #110 Plano, Texas 75074

Phone

972-516-9070

Fax

972-516-9048

North Texas Kids is a Division of Scissortail Publishing LLC. North Texas Kids is published 10 times a year.

Copyright 2008 by North Texas Kids©. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission prohibited. North Texas Kids encourages your submission of articles, children’s artwork, photographs and ideas. We reserve the right to edit all submitted material. All submissions will be considered for publication. Recommended article length is 500 to 800 words. Viewpoints of the articles are not necessarily the viewpoints of North Texas Kids. Materials will not be returned.

Advertising is accepted at the discretion of the Publisher. Advertisers assume all liability for the content of their printed advertisements and agree to indemnify North Texas Kids and its publisher for any and all claims and expenses arising therefrom.

Cover Artist...

Your child will receive $50 when we use his/her artwork Waverly Wang 7 year old Waverly calls this picture her “Pirate Turkey”, thus, the eye patch over one of the turkey’s eyes. She is in the second grade Trinity Christian Academy in Addison, TX. She enjoys drawing and playing piano and also takes Chinese dancing lessons. She would like to be an artist someday and is already thinking about her first exhibition.

on the cover of NTK. North Texas Kids loves kids’ art. Feel free to send us your child’s Masterpiece.

We are looking for covers that are unique, bright and colorful. Each child that appears on our cover receives $50.00 along with their picture and story in the paper. Submissions may be digital or print. Email pictures to info@northtexaskids.com or mail them to Scissortail Publishing, LLC. 700 E. Park Blvd., Ste. 110, Plano, TX 75074.

North Texas Kids • November 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

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Giving instead of

Gimmee!

by Colleen O’Donnell No one wants to be around a selfish kid – especially during the holidays!

During the time of year when we are to be giving thanks and counting our blessings, who wants to be bombarded with “I want a Barbie doll!”, “Why can’t I have all 50 things on my list?”, “Why does he get a new bike for Hanukkah?”. It would certainly be a refreshing change to hear things like “I made a Happy Holidays card for my teacher today” or “Can you help me think of something special I can do for Grandma this year?”

How do we refocus a child’s “ME-mentality” to a “WE-mentality”? It’s simple, though not easy…we teach them to Get into Giving.

By making giving simple, intentional and habitual, it becomes an everyday part of a child’s life. n Make it Simple by teaching kids the Three T’s…Time, Talent and Treasure.

• Time – How can a child best use their time to give to others? Collecting food items, making simple blankets for new babies, visiting patients in the hospital or even drawing a picture for a neighbor are all uncomplicated ways for a child to share their time.

• Talent – Allow them to do what they really enjoy. Singing in church, helping out at a local Christmas tree lot, wrapping holiday gifts, helping to decorate a friend’s home (inside or out), baking holiday treats…let them decide how best to utilize their own talents.

• Treasure – Our children have so many ‘things’; many of which would be treasures to others. Encourage them to donate toys, clothing and books.

Let them use their own money to purchase (or help purchase) gifts for family members and special friends. Open their eyes to the abundance that is all around them. n Make it Intentional so that it transitions seamlessly to a habit. Pick one act of giving and make it a part of your daily routine. Shoveling snow, setting the dinner table, helping a sibling with homework, listening to a friend… these simple acts of kindness make a world of difference in the lives of others.

Mark your family calendar to spend at least 30 minutes each week in an intentional act of giving. You will be amazed at the difference it makes in your children (and YOU)! n Make it a Habit by teaching them to give not only during the holidays but all year long. Why give only on special occasions? Point out to them the simplest acts of giving…opening a door for a stranger, helping to carry in groceries, watering a neighbor’s plants or just doing something completely unexpected. Daily practice of the giving habit lightens our hearts and the hearts of others.

Teaching our children that the gift we give is much more important than the one we receive is one of the most important principles we can instill in their lives. The act of doing something for someone else is the best gift of all.

As 13 year old LJ said “Giving means you offer something to people from your heart.”

So, during this Holiday Season, let’s make a commitment to spend a few minutes every day, along with our children, in an intentional act of giving of our Time, Talent or Treasure. This Habit of Giving would truly be the best gift of the season and the one to outlast all others!

Colleen O’Donnell and Lyn Baker are Co-Authors of the book, Generous Kids. To learn more visit, www.generouskids.com.

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North Texas Kids • November 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

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Spotlight on Dallas fun events...

Event:

Capital One Bank Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot Cited as the single largest Thanksgiving Day event in the nation, Dallas’ Turkey Trot offers up a great way to burn those holiday pounds, while helping out the youth of Dallas through the Dallas YMCA. An eight mile run is the highlight of the day, but there is also a three mile run as well. The 8 Mile Race begins at 9am. The 3 Mile Fun Run/Walk begins at 9:15am. www.thetrot.com.

City Hall Plaza at the corner of Young and Ervay • November 27, 2008

Event: The Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker

There’s nothing like the beauty of the Nutcracker Ballet to get you in the Christmas spirit. The timeless story is brought to life by the ac acclaimed Moscow Ballet, in a production highlighted by wonderful costumes and inventive staging, including elaborate sets and large puppets to portray some of the characters. While the production is distinctly Russian, many of the children’s roles are filled by local

dancers, as part of the Russian Ballet’s educational outreach. www.nutcracker.com

Majestic Theatre Dallas, 1925 Elm Street, Dallas, TX 75201 • November 20 - 23, 2008

Event:

Madeline’s Christmas The classic children’s book by Ludwig Bemelmans comes to life in this musical presented by the Dallas Children’s Theater. Everyone knows (or at least should know) about the old house in Paris that was covered in vines and the 12 little girls in two straight lines. The smallest girl, of course, was Madeline, who managed to get into a series of misadventures at the convent school where she lives.

Children ages five and up, and adults for that matter, will enjoy the stories and songs as everyone’s favorite French redhead discovers the spirit of Christmas. www.dct.org.

Dallas Children’s Theater, 5938 Skillman Street, Rosewood Center for Family Arts • November 21 - December 21, 2008

Event:

Trains at NorthPark The Trains at Northpark Center Mall is an annual tradition dating back over twenty years. Located in a court between Neiman Marcus and Barney’s New York, over thirty miniature trains run through an impressive model landscape depicting some of America’s greatest landmarks, including the Golden Gate Bridge, Mount Rushmore, Washington D.C., and Times Square. In addition, local artists volunteer their talents to custom paint miniature train cars that can be purchased as keepsakes. The Ronald McDonald House of Dallas is the beneficiary of funds raised from sales of the cars and admission tickets. Lines can be long during the Christmas shopping season, but it is well worth the wait. www.rmhdallas.com/trains/index.html.

NorthPark Center, 1030 Northpark Center Dallas, TX 75225 • November 22, 2008 - January 4, 2009

mommy’s picks on where to go and what to do in Dallas... llas.

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visit to the h Market, e c lo was th son ha wns Dallas specially are pump e bes d in the fall h is kins every birtht part when the where! Th y eve to re c For ho h o ere is alw r! ose from m ays too m and every love all of uch thing is so sphere e-style coo -S th u e fresh. My san king & samples o , we lik kids f the fresh

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Lovers -Sarah M. g o to North Lane and turtle Park Mall in s and slide to see the on the sc ducks free activ -Nata ulptures. Th ity, the kid lie is is a grea s get exerc spend seve t ise

a ral hours th nd we ca n easily 8 North Texas Kids • November 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com ere!

-Linda R.

around town...

Slappy’s Playhouse

magic, mayhem, and monkey business

214.369.4849 dallas galleria mall www.slappysplayhouse.com

courtesy of DA

quick facts... l Nickname: Big D l Motto: Live Large. Think Big. l As of June 23, 2007, the United States Census Bureau estimates the population of Dallas at 1,232,940 people. l More than 30 museums ranging from art, baseball and sewing machines to railroading and more, can be found in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area. l Dallas is the ninth-largest city in the United States.

“Thanks to all of our Dallas Advertisers: Adventure Kids Playcare, Drama Kids, Gray School of Music, Healthy Texan Pediatrics, I Heart

Classical

or

Rock-n-Roll

Yogurt, Inwood Soccer, It’s a Sensory World, Music Together, Smashing Times, Spanish Schoolhouse, State Farm Insurance, Stroller Fit, The Gymnastics Place, The Purple Cow, and Therapy 2000.”

coming next month... Spotlight on McKinney

Which one is your child? is like 2th time for the 1 ren o o ild Z h s c a y ll g the Da st time. M 1 in c e d n n th e a r ri Expe e zoo fo up close ncing th animals 4, has experie ing the e is now 1 se o d h e y w , jo n n a e d e ver the n v o ha rs. Bre vements n for yea o’s impro favorite.

Zo in perso e th ays a seeing - Cindy ibit is alw enjoyed Tiger exh e Th . rs yea

The N asher Sc family outing ulpture Ga rden is s. My k garde id one o n, esp ecially s love the o f our fa ing to utdoo Jonath vorite the Sk re an Bo y.” On admis rofsky’s xhibits and the firs sion is t p S F ie a R

EE and tu ce “W

alkthey h rday of the month ave g reat k The D ids’ ac allas tivities Fire Fig espec . hte iall -Lisa W Park a y for boys w r’s Museum . nd the ho lov is a hid yh e truc all ove den g

ks. It is em, r. This a ave a fire near F truck favori th air te for e kids my so ’ can n Jac climb k!

-Kristi B .

Gray School of Music offers lessons for All Ages 6 months to 100 years We Offer Private Lessons and Classes for All Instruments: Drum • Guitar • Piano • Violin • Voice Musikgarten Classes for ages 6 months to 5 years All teachers have Graduate Degrees in Music

214-369-7772 Southwest Corner of Preston Rd. and Forest Ln. 11661 Preston Rd., Ste. 136 • Dallas, TX 75230

Bring in this ad for a FREE introductory lesson.

Exp. 12-31-08

www.GraySchoolofMusic.com North Texas Kids • November 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

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dallas fun facts...

Apparantly Dallas does things

BIG!

l The Six Flags Over Texas theme park is larger than Disneyland.

Music Together Dallas is licensed by Music Together LLC www.musictogether.com

l The “welcome” statue at the Dallas Zoo is the tallest statue in Texas,

soaring 67.5 feet tall. Naturally, it’s a giraffe! l The “Texas Star” Ferris wheel at the State Fair of Texas is the tallest in

North America. l The 52-foot “Big Tex” statue that greets visitors at the annual State Fair

of Texas is the tallest cowboy in Texas. l Dallas’ Farmers Market is the largest working farmer’s market in the

United States, with more than 1 million visitors annually. Located in Downtown Dallas.

dallas fun game...

Create your own Acrostic Poem about “Big D”

308 Preston Royal Shopping Center Dallas, Texas 75230 Tel: (214) 363-2088

www.smashingtimes.com 10

North Texas Kids • November 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

11/26/08 - 1/2/09

Birthday Parties for Kids Ladies Night every third Thursday WALK-INS WELCOME

With this coupon. Not valid with other offers.

Mosaic Art Studio

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Emma’s Kid Friendly Restaurant Review

Napoli’s Pizza & Restaurante 2320 Los Rios Blvd. (Park@Los Rios) Plano, TX 75024 • 972-758-5300 Allen (Exchange@Angel) 214-495-8524 Corsicana (Beaton@Collins) 903-874-9004

by Emma Bonin For this month’s restaurant

My mom got her favorite, Chicken

review we went to Napoli’s. We have

Napoli. She ate about half of it. My

probably been there ten times or more.

dad, on the other hand, ate all of his

My brother’s friend, Mike, came with

Chicken Sorentina and the rest of my

us this time. We like Napoli’s because

mom’s. The menu includes all of the

it has nice waiters and GREAT food.

traditional pasta dishes, chicken and

They recently remodeled and added

veal specialties, salads, hot and cold

on to the restaurant, so now it looks

subs, and pizza. They are well-known

really nice, too.

for the pizza, but we always get pasta.

The kid’s menu has 10 things to

Oh, and if you are a bread lover like

choose from. I think that is the most

me, you’ll want to know they’ve got

I have seen on a kid’s menu, but I got

delicious lightly garlic-buttered bread.

the spaghetti with meatballs, as usual.

My parents say the prices are very

It was great. I ate all of my meatballs.

reasonable and you can bring your

My brother got the same thing, but

own wine and beer.

I don’t think he ate all of his. Mike

We always enjoy this place and

ordered a medium cheese pizza, but

will be back again soon. Our Napoli’s

changed it to a small when we found

is located in Plano at 2320 Los Rios

out how big the small is. It was huge,

Blvd. #103. They also have locations

but he still ate it all because he is

in Allen and Corsicana.

on the football team. Other choices

Emma Bonin is a fourth-grader at Hughston Elementary. She lives in Plano with her mom, dad, and brother, Jack.

She is an avid soccer player and enjoys swimming, computer games, baking, and getting together with friends.

on the kid’s menu include chicken strips, cheese sticks, ravioli, manicotti, fettuccini Alfredo, lasagna, stuffed shells and tortellini.

Turkey DAY fun FACTS....

1. Americans feast on 535 million pounds of turkey on Thanksgiving.

2. In the US, about 280 million turkeys are sold for the Thanksgiving. There is

no official reason or declaration for the use of turkey. They just happened to be the most plentiful meat available at the time of the first Thanksgiving.

3. The first Thanksgiving celebration can be traced back to the Plymouth Pilgrims in the fall of 1621.

4.

It was not until 1941, that congress declared Thanksgiving as a national holiday. It was declared to be the fourth Thursday in November.

5.

Word Scramble

ifmayl yukert blssgines ngiivg nifftsgu ipe plgsiirm gngsnkiiatvh

The largest turkey on record was 86 pounds, the size of a large dog.

6.

The average person consumes 4,500 calories on Thanksgiving Day. (Now that’s a lot of turkey!)

answers: family, turkey, blessings,giving,stuffing, pie, pilgrims, thanksgiving

Turkey DAY

North Texas Kids • November 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

11

Benefiting the Programs of CITY House Saturday, November 15 from 10am to 5pm A FREE fun-filled day of entertainment, education and information for the entire family Plano Centre•2000 East Spring Creek Parkway, Plano 75074

About City House...

Our Mission The mission of CITY House is to protect children and strengthen families by helping children, youth and families resolve physical and emotional crises. We provide a complementary suite of intervention and prevention services at no cost to our clients.

Our Services include: • an emergency shelter for the teens (10 to 17 years) • an emergency shelter for the children (newborn to 9 years) • family counseling • life skills education • parenting skills group • crisis intervention Our goal is to enable families to function more effectively within the family unit and the community.

Our Vision Our vision of success is that every child, youth and young adult develops the skills and confidence he or she needs to succeed in life, especially while coping with difficult relationships and circumstances.

Join CBS 11 Chief Meteorologist Larry Mowry at 1pm for a presentation to CITY House

12

North Texas Kids • November 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

Entertainment & Fitness Demonstrations provided by: Backstage Dance Studio KLAK Radio from 10am to 2pm

Just added!

Plano Sports Authority - Martial Arts Demonstrations

FREE bilingual concert with Kenya

Power Kids - Kids aerobic & fitness demonstrations

and F Troop at 4:30pm

Radio Disney’s Jay Jensen from 2pm to 4pm Revelation Dance

Educational Seminars presented by: Nancy Barry, author of When Reality Hits, What Employers Want Recent College Graduates to Know Children's Medical Center - Kids' Health & Fitness Ecoquest - Your Indoor Pollutions & Solutions Juice Plus - Traffic Light Eating for Kids Learning RX - Brain training fun!

Maid Brigade - The ABCs of Green Cleaning March of Dimes - Preventing Prematurity Medical Center of Plano - Creative Solutions to Childhood Obesity Nexus Advisors - Financial Planning for Special Needs Colleen O’Donnell, author of Generous Kids Our Childrens House, Baylor - Backpack Safety Peppermint Baby Boutique - Baby wearing demonstration

Other Fun Events:

Texas Star Pharmacy - Trends in children’s medication

Sign up to win an ATV with trailer - sponsored by KLAK Photography contest sponsored by Metroplex Baby & Kids Meet Ronald McDonald & other characters from around town Arts & Craft Zone sponsored by US Toy Co. Face painting Door prizes drawn every hour

Watch our website, www.NorthTexasKids.com, for updated schedules and specific times of presentations and entertainment!

Thank you to our sponsors!

North Texas Kids • November 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

13

Just Because Summer’s Over Doesn’t Mean Allergies Are

Home Control of Allergies

By Michael Hollman

Just because the flowers are no longer blooming and the temperature is about to start dropping doesn’t mean your children with allergies are done suffering. The biggest culprits in our area this time of year are ragweed, mold, and dust mites.

Schools are notorious incubators of mold and dust mites, but you can do some things at home to give your kids some relief. As with anything medical, you want to consult a physician for treatment options and programs.

Did You Know?

Children inhale 50% more air per pound of body weight than adults and are especially sensitive to air quality. (They breathe faster.)

Most homes generate about 40 pounds of dust per year for every 1,500 square feet.

The EPA ranks indoor air pollution among the top five environmental risks to public health.

The Good News

The good news is, you can do some things yourself to ease the allergy misery in your home. Controlling your home environment to greatly reduce the allergens that float through your indoor air is a major step you can take yourself.

Air Filters

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LearningRx can help your child, too!

If tutoring is not working for your child, LearningRx may have the answer.

LearningRx is NOT a tutoring program, it is 12-24 weeks of intensive one-on-one training that helps children with learning or reading difficulties attend to and process information. The majority of the children who complete our program improve from 3 to 5 grade levels.

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North Texas Kids • November 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

Separate room or area filters are more effective than whole house filtration units. A HEPA filter (High Efficiency Particulate Air-filter) can only cover a certain number of cubic feet. Separate units need to be installed throughout the house. They’re helpful in filtering pollen, mold spores, animal dander, and fumes.

Another type of filter is the electrostatic filter that catches smaller particles than regular filters. So far, these have not been shown to be as efficient as the HEPA filters.

Air Conditioners

Air conditioners are critical in filtering air for children and adults allergic to ragweed, molds, and pollens. They also function as excellent dehumidifiers, thus limiting the growth of dust mites and molds.

Particles of mold and other allergens can become trapped in the vents around your home over the Summer and will fill your home the first time you turn the system on. Before it gets cool enough for you to need to turn your heater on this season, consider having your ducts cleaned.

Remember that your filters on all air conditioning units require frequent changing and/or cleaning to remain efficient and prevent mold growth.

Vacuum Cleaners

A good vacuum cleaner used frequently can offer a healthy way to clean up dust, dirt and allergens. Make sure your vacuum cleaner is allergyfriendly. You might even consider a central vacuum that exhausts particulate outside the home.

Be Diligent

I’ve given you some tools to help your family get through the season.

Please remember that there is no ultimate solution to the problem of indoor allergens. You can take measures to reduce allergens, but they do not replace cleaning, temperature and humidity reduction, clutter removal, and avoidance of allergens such as pet dander and smoke.

Michael Hollman owns MATCO Services, a 35-year-old full-service Residential and Commercial Air Conditioning, Heating, and Plumbing Company serving DFW. He can be reached at 972-292-1880 or michael@matcoservices.com.

7 Ways

to Save

Holiday Shopping Tips from

Peppermint Natural Baby Boutique Peppermint Natural Baby Boutique knows parents will be on a budget this holiday season. Owner Marni Matyus provides the following “ 7 Ways to Save” holiday shopping tips:

1.

Set a budget. Include everything: gifts, decorations, baking supplies, cards, gift wrap, hostess gifts.

2.

Brainstorm gift ideas and make a list.

3.

Shop online. Since you’ll probably be ordering gifts from the

comforts of your home, the temptation to eat out or to make unplanned purchases will be greatly reduced.

4.

Save on extra baggage fees, don’t take the stroller on vacation.

Instead, wear your baby in a sling. Detailed instructions can be found at www.peppermint.com.

5.

Spend money only on your closest family and friends. Send a thoughtful note expressing your appreciation for friendship and family to everyone else.

6.

Shop early.

7.

Have your kids wrap their gifts for friends and family with items that can be found around the house: comics, art work, brown paper bags.

See Gift Wrapping Contest below.

Peppermint Natural Baby Boutique is the Dallas retail location to www.peppermint.com and features the largest sling showroom in Dallas, as well as gifts solutions for new moms and their families.

Peppermint makes the mothering experience tremendously rewarding by helping moms find the right baby sling, prenatal and parenting classes, as well as a wide variety of organic and natural parenting products. Located at 1778 N. Plano Rd., Suite 100. Richardson, TX 75081. 214-623-5080.

“Eco-Friendly, Wallet Friendly, Kid Friendly” Gift Wrapping Contest!

To celebrate the season, Peppermint Natural Baby Boutique is hosting an “Eco-Friendly, Wallet Friendly, Kid Friendly” Gift Wrapping Contest!

Open to families with children ages 4 – 12 who live in the DFW area. Using items around the house, families are encouraged to wrap an empty box in their most creative, holiday way. Judging will be based on creativity and originality. Three winners will each receive a $20 gift card to Peppermint.

Drop off your Gift Wrap entry to Peppermint Natural Baby Boutique at 1778 N. Plano Rd., Suite 100. Richardson, TX 75081. 214-623-5080 between 10:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Contest ends at 5 p.m. on Friday, November 21.

Details and the contest entry form can be found at www.peppermint.com.

North Texas Kids • November 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

15

CHILDREN’S HOME HEALTHCARE Caring for those who need it most.

We provide a wide variety of services including skilled pediatric and neonatal care, ventilator and tracheostomy care, nasogastric feedings and education, respiratory care and information, phlebotomy services, wound management and medication administration, patient compliance programs, infusion therapy, respiratory services, and patient education and training. n

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Thanksgiving Place Cards My daughter and her grandmother had a great time making place cards for our Thanksgiving feast. Kids love to help and play a part at family get togethers, and this is a perfect way for them to do just that!

Supplies needed: Cardstock Patterned papers brown ink pad black marker adhesive

Instructions: 1. To create table tent, cut cardstock 4" width x 8" length. Fold in half to create a 4" square tent. Ink edges with brown ink pad.

2. Cut 3 3/4" square of patterned paper, ink edges and adhere to front of table tent.

3. Cut turkey feathers approximately 1.5" width x 4" length. Ink edges and adhere to front.

4. Create turkey body, ink edges and adhere to front on feathers.

5. Cut turkey beak from cardstock and adhere.

6. Make eyes and write name with black marker.

Happy Turkey Day! North Texas Kids • November 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

17

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Great stocking stuffer, birthday gift or teacher gift.

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Great new book for young readers who love a good mystery!

Written by local author Glo Jenkins Brown This is a fantasy mystery novel about Joey Taylor and his lovable rescue dog Max, who witnesses a hit-and-run accident.

Schedule an author visit today! glo@wordsrme.com

Buy it today on Amazon.com!

With Nurse Christie “we talk about everything from croup to poop”

When our children are sick, it is natural for us as parents to want to DO something or GIVE them something to make them feel better. In the past, physicians and nurses have recommended over-the-counter cold medications for children of all ages to help ease stuffy noses, coughs and congestion.

Those days are pretty much over. Earlier this year, the FDA warned against giving OTC cold medicines to children younger than 2 year old. This month, drug companies have voluntarily issued a warning against giving these medications to children less than 4 years old.

Many physicians have never been convinced of the effectiveness of these OTC’s so these new warnings are considered a step forward. With over 7,000 children being seen in hospital emergency rooms for problems associated with these cold medicines, the benefits do not seem to outweigh the risks.

Excessive drowsiness, hives and unsteady walking are a few examples of the symptoms being seen as a result of these medications.

The main concern here is that the FDA set standards for cold and cough medications 30 years ago without any separate studies done for kids. More studies need to be done in the safety and efficacy of the medications in children less than 12 years old and gathering this data could take some time.

So, what are parents to do to help relieve cold symptoms?

Learn to Swim & Fitness Classes

Aqua - Fit Swim & Wellness Center 214-257-7637

•Learn to Swim…Children & Adult •Swim Team Skill Training •Aquatic Fitness, Arthritis, Fibro, Diabetes, MS and Joint Wellness classes •Adaptive & Special Need Classes •Home School Programs •Birthday Parties and Pool Rental •Discount for Siblings

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Try these remedies: • Utilize a cool mist humidifier

• Instill saline drops and suction the nose of infants • Safely raise the head of bed when sleeping

• Encourage fluids to thin secretions to keep things “thin and moving” • Warm fluids to relieve a cough or sore throat • Encourage older children to blow their nose • Allow plenty of time to rest

• Sit in the bathroom with a steamy shower running to help relieve a cough and congestion

Parents should never: • Give adult medications to children

• Give two or more meds with the same ingredients at the same time • Give antihistamines to make a child sleepy

Parents should: • Give the exact recommended dosage of medications using the measuring

device that comes with the medicine • Keep all medications out of sight and reach • Consult your doctor with any questions

For more information about child health and safety, join us at www.HealthyKidCast. com. You can listen to our show directly from the website (for free, of course) or download it to your iPod and take us with you! Our topics include a wide range of information such as Breastfeeding, Boogers and Colds, Teens and Technology, Soothing a Cranky Baby….basically “everything from croup to poop!” Just remember the information given here or via our podcast is not meant to replace medical attention so if you have specific concerns about your child’s health, please see your healthcare provider.

Does your child need a boost with...

social skills acquisition, making new friends, paying attention or impulse control?

Social Thinking Classes Now Available New groups are forming every month Ages Pre-school through High School

Individualized and comprehensive assessments: Reading Skills and Comprehension, Dyslexia, Language Processing, ADD/ ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders and Sensory Integration.

Visit our website for other services.

Rich Educational Consulting

Where the Only Limitation is the Imagination!

Locations in Dallas, Collin and Denton Counties 972-447-8390 c www.richeducationalconsulting.com

North Texas Kids • November 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

19

Holiday Shopping Guide ❄

Give the gift of McDonalds ❄

FreckleBasket.com Unique gift baskets for children & babies for any occasion!

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The Arch Card has arrived just in time for the Holidays.

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FREE Personalized Note Card Enclosed With Every Gift Basket & FREE Custom Gift Wrapping Diaper Cakes Theme Baskets Neutral Baskets

Purchase Arch Cards at ANY one of the 13 O’Reilly McDonald’s locations in Allen • McKinney • Plano • Richardson

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Locally owned and operated by Chuck and Julie O’Reilly

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SAVE THE DATE! Saturday November 15th 10am - 5pm

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North Texas Kids • November 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

Simple Concepts

For the 4 year-old:

within

Outings & Adventu res

By Lynda Morley

• Draw pictures of specific tools and add these to a “Tool Journal”.

• Talk about a tool’s energy source or what powers the tool.

• Identify tools that are man-made and those machine-made.

The

• Design your own tool to help with a specific task.

children are exposed to a myriad of tools everyday. They just

don’t always think of the items as tools. You can find tools everywhere and everybody has them; carpenters, painters, computer analysts, bankers,

or grocery store employee about the tools they use in their jobs. Come by the Farmstead for a curious look at farm tools. Remember, the purpose of these activities is to encourage the development of critical thinking skills, allow for exploration of the world close by, and facilitate a strong bond between adult and child. Visit your local visit the library and read a few books on this theme before and after your adventure. Bring with you a backpack filled with

• Visit an historic site and compare tools of that time period to today’s tools.

• Research tool inventions that were accidental.

November simple concept of tools may seem trivial but young

simple concept to your child with a visit to the dentist, a talk with a hairstylist

Ask: Which everyday tool do you think is the most important or valuable for you?

For the 5 year-old:

athletes, race car drivers, teachers, mothers, and even farmers. Introduce this

• Compare weights and features of similar tools. (i.e. nail hammer and tack hammer, pickle fork and dinner folk, etc.).

Ask: Can you identify specific tools that are used in different cultural activities? [I.E. chopsticks (Asian), rebozos (Mexico), or rockers (German)]

Lynda Morley, former Director of Education at the Heritage Farmstead Museum in Plano and author of the 5th edition of Outings and Adventures Everywhere!

(2006, ISBN 0-9662888-6-6) has experienced hundreds of fieldtrips and adventures throughout the metroplex. For more information about this theme or other related Heritage Farmstead Museum activities, please contact Lora Forsyth at 972-881-0140 or lforsyth@heritagefarmstead.org. © 2008 Lynda Morley All Rights Reserved.

educational tools: color pencils, clip board, plain paper, ruler, scissors, first-aid kit, wad of string (– hey, you never know…) and anything else you think you might need.

Theme:

The simple concept of tools; defining, identifying, and

experiencing how they are used.

What tools do you use: 1. In school?

Where: Explore kitchen drawers, family garage, restaurants,

2. In the kitchen?

For the 2 year-old:

3. In the garden?

organizational stores, medical facilities, etc.

• Touch a variety of safe tools.

• Identify each by name and demonstrate how it is used correctly.

• Allow use of several tools to create a project or activity (i.e. plastic

clay sculpting tools to create a simple art form or organizational tools to help tidy a bedroom).

For the 3 year-old:

• Define tool: “a devise used to perform or facilitate manual or mechanical work” or in simple terms “an object used to help get a job done”.

• Listen to a professional about which tools she/he uses at work

and identify three tools used for that trade.

• Using a picture book or other illustrations, explain that some tools

can be dangerous without adult supervision. Identify some in this category.

Protection for your family, peace of mind for you.

Wills Living Wills

Trusts • Guardianships • Powers of Attorney • Probate

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Law Office of Lorie L. Burch, P.C. 7920 Belt Line Road, Suite 750 • Dallas, TX 75254 (Beltline at Coit) 972.385.0558 • lorie@burch-law.com • www.burch-law.com

North Texas Kids • November 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

21

Visit www.NorthTexasKids.com to

WIN TICKETS to or

Kids in the kitchen

Yummy Carrot Raisin Muffins (Note/Suggestions: makes 24 regular sized muffins or 72 mini muffins) Ingredients:

Directions: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8)

1 ½ cups Unbleached all-purpose flour 1 ½ cups White Wheat Flour 2 Tbs. Baking Powder 1 tsp. Ground Cinnamon ½ tsp. Salt 4 Large Eggs 1 cup Light Brown Sugar 1 ½ cups 2% milk ½ cup Butter, melted 2 cups Carrots, pureed or grated or a mixture of the two* ¾ cups Raisins (optional) craisins or other dried berry can be substituted ¾ cups Chopped Nuts (optional) almonds, walnuts, pecan, cashew

Optional Frosting:

Combine one 8oz container of light whipped cream cheese, ½ tsp of vanilla and 3 Tbs. of powdered sugar. Spread on top of muffins. Decorate if desired with nuts, raisins, etc.

Tips:

You can add more powdered sugar to your own personal liking. Use a standard ice cream scoop to fill muffin tins, it will give you uniform sized muffins as a finished product.

Pre-heat oven to 375F. Prep muffin tins by greasing the tins with butter or Pam or using a muffin liner.

Sift first five (5) ingredients together. Note: if you do not have a sifter or a sieve put all ingredients in a bowl and use a whisk to mix well and aerate.

In bowl of a mixer, mix eggs and sugar until smooth. Add milk and melted butter and mix until well blended. Add carrots and raisins and nuts if desired.

In two batches, add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in the missing bowl. Mix well but do not over beat.

Spoon muffin mixture into tins. Fill a little over ½ of the way full.

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until springy to the touch.

Let cool for 5 minutes in tin and then transfer to a cooling rack. Let cool completely before frosting or dusting with sugar.

* Pureed carrots: grate about 2 – 3 cups of carrots or cut carrots into small pieces, about the size if your thumb nail. Put in a sauce pan with 4 tbsp of water and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer and continue to cook for about 30-45 minutes covered or until the carrots are very soft. Let cool and purée in a blender or food processor. This puree can now be used in all sorts of recipes from muffins, cookies, pancakes, pound cakes, etc.

www.iLunchBox.com is an online resource center and portal of information for parents and caregivers dedicated to the pursuit of a healthier lunch for school aged children. It is once again lunch made easy.

22

North Texas Kids • November 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

A clown named

by Brittany Allen I am a caring clown named Zoē, whose mission in life is to make little hearts happy.

I’m often asked, “What made you want to be a clown?” It goes back to my high school years when I decided that I wanted to bring joy and happiness to sick children. After graduation, I took my first clown class. It was a flop… the teacher hardly ever showed up and it was filled with kids taking a class for easy credit. After all, they thought, how hard is being a clown? I dropped the course after 2 useless weeks and tucked away my dream of working with sick children for a very long time.

I’ve always known in my heart that I needed to work with children in need, be they sick, abused, homeless, or just in need of a little sunshine in their young lives. Last year I decided it was finally time to take action.

In 2007, I hosted a hat drive for children with cancer and met some really amazing kids. They totally tugged at my heartstrings and I realized it was time to find a way to connect with these children more often. I felt they needed me and in a way, I really needed them. Around this time, I was at a children’s event and met a clown…oh my gosh, there was my sign! Bells, whistles, and fireworks went off in my head as old thoughts of wanting to be a clown came rushing back. This was it! This was how I was to achieve my dream of working with these children I so desperately wanted to help. I raced home to my computer and started looking up clown schools. The first one that popped up was Mooseburger Clown Camp in Minnesota…. MINNESOTA? Never been to Minnesota. It looked amazing, a summer camp for clowns. This was too cool! One week with 80 other clowns, how fun was this going to be?

So, with support from family and friends helping me realize I wasn’t totally crazy, I decided to go for it. Camp was just a few months away and I couldn’t wait; what was this new adventure going to be like?

The first thing I had to do was figure out my clown name. I came up with “Zoē” because it is fun to say and just makes me happy. Ok, now I was ready for camp. Finally, the day arrived and I packed up my excitement, my enthusiasm and my desire to be the best clown I could be, and headed to Minnesota for my introduction into this wonderful world of clowning. WOW! There aren’t words to describe my experience. The best week ever? Amazing?

Beyond incredible? Spectacular? Simply said, it was the most magical week of my life. The teachers were “the best” and I learned everything from how to apply clown makeup, to clown movement, to costuming, to how to be a great hospital clown and more. I also made some incredible new lifelong clown friends.

I’ve been lucky enough in the past year to work with some great charities that help children in need and “Zoē” is a proud member of the Humorology Clown Troop at Medical Center of Plano and really enjoys visiting patients.

Right now I am looking for more opportunities to work with children in need, in a group setting, to bring much needed smiles to their little faces.

Clowning has brought more joy than I could have ever dreamed into my life. When I put on that big red nose and my big shoes, I am transported into a magical world of play, and when I make that wonderful connection with a child who needs a bit of “happy” in their day, it makes me know that I am on the right path with my life. One day I was at an event and a little girl about 7 years old came up to me and said, “Clown, you’re the best clown I ever met.

Do you know what good you are doing?” Need I say more?

I recently got back from my second amazing year at Mooseburger Camp. Once again, I came home filled with tons of new information, new skills, new clown friends and bursting with happy from this awesome experience.

Zoē comes out to play just a couple of times a month. Perhaps one day she will play more often, but for now I’m so incredibly grateful for this journey. Just knowing that when I take off my big red nose at the end of a “play date”, that I’ve made a difference in a young life, well…It doesn’t get better than that.

North Texas Kids • November 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

23

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North Texas Kids • November 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

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NTK Family Resource Guide North Texas Kids is committed to bringing you the resources you need to simplify your life and raise happy, healthy kids!

Simply Pretend

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Providing individualized speech and language therapy.

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North Texas Kids • November 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

Isabella is coming to the store everyone is talking about!

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Nov 1, 2 Nov 27 - 30

Nottingham Station “The Thomas Store”

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www.nottinghamstation.com

Get to know... Tonia Tomlin Catching up with Super Mom Tonia Tomlin

by Minette Riordan, Ph. D. I had the opportunity recently to catch up with my friend, author and organizing expert Tonia Tomlin. Tonia and I met at the Plano Chamber of Commerce about 4 years ago. I was proud of her when she told us she would be appearing on HGTV’s Mission Organization for the first time and excited for the growth it would bring to her organizing business, Sorted Out. Then I found out she was having twin girls and I wondered how it would affect her life and her business. That was 2 1/2 years ago and Tonia has learned a lot about being a supermom since the last time I saw her.

Tonia found herself on bed rest in the hospital for weeks before the twins were born. Not one to lounge about, doctors orders or not, she had her husband go out and buy her a laptop. She ran her business from there, and she started making notes for what would eventually become her first book, Chaos 2 Calm: the moms-of-multiples’ guide to an

organized family, which was released in September of this year.

In her new book, From Chaos 2 Calm, Tonia combines her professional experience with her experience of being a mom of multiples. She has a series of charts to help parents keep track of everything from child care to meal planning. She includes a CD version of all the forms so that parents will be able to recreate and reuse each form. One of my favorites is a standardized letter that new parents of multiples can send to companies requesting discounts, gifts and coupons for parents of multiples.

She has even done all of the research for you on what companies to send the letter to. All you have to do is make copies of your children’s birth certificates, copies of the letters and address the envelopes.

Tonia told me that being a working professional woman may not prepare us for motherhood but in her case it certainly helped. Chaos 2 Calm covers everything from sharing the chores and clarifying family

values, to creating a simple budget.

One entire chapter is dedicated to child care, forms with questions to ask a potential nanny, emergency contact information and an entire nanny binder of forms and to-dos. This book is an invaluable tool for parents who need help getting organized! Starting when your children are young allows you to have a great plan in place as they grow up and get busy schedules of their own.

I asked Tonia to name her top two tips for moms and her first one surprised me but it makes perfect sense. Her number one tip for moms is to make an appointment with themselves for at least one hour each week. Schedule it in your calendar, whether it is for an hour sitting on the couch reading (ask your husband to take the kids to the park) or an hour out of the house doing something you love.

Her second tip is to create a family communication center to save yourself time and the endless frustration of trying to find things.

This might include bills, kids’ homework, artwork, schedule for activities, etc. It generally becomes the go-to place for all of your paperwork. She says that you can create the communication center on

the wall where you can see it, tucked away in a bin or a cubby, wherever you will check it regularly. As your kids get older, they can participate in keeping the information organized and available.

On a personal note, Tonia’s goal is to spend more time with her children by being more organized. She makes sure to focus on her daughters when she is home with them and tries not to be doing laundry or dishes.

Another goal is maintaining her relationship with her husband. They have a regularly scheduled date night every two weeks that is written on the calendar and the babysitters are scheduled ahead of time. Her purpose is to help herself and her family stay focused on their core values and not overcommit themselves.

This book will get you organized as soon as you hear those magical words, “Congratulations, you are having twins.” I recommend you go buy a copy for yourself today and for your friends. This is a great baby gift idea, too, for a new mom-ofmultiples. But don’t think it is just for moms-of-multiples, it’s for all moms who need a little help getting from “Chaos 2 Calm.”

To find more about Tonia Tomlin, visit her online at www.momsofmultipleguide.com or www.sortedout.biz.

North Texas Kids • November 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

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THANKSGIVING WORD SEARCH D D S I Q X Y Y W Q B K Y W P

W E N X U W L F S I D E K I D

D O S Z M E I N D T K O L J W

C T R S J T M W F R R G Q M P

G B B C E Q A R U P R O O Q R

T R L D E R F T N I Z F P L A

M H Q T Q R T P M I W I M S Y

D M L A W K A V N L R L H J I

F M O M C R E C R L Q U B V N

L L A B T O O F S T P V H Y G

Q T P M C E F R S M T T K V I

O H K O Z U L H G E X N F Q O

V A P J P Z A Y C O J U E W A

P M X P U M P K I N P I G O I

M G I D O O F W V N O B N E W

TURKEY PUMPKIN DESSERT FAMILY PILGRIM FOOD SCARECROW SPORTS PRAYING FOOTBALL

A Unique Way to Celebrate the Holidays with Grandparents Who Are Miles Away My name is Jeff Cooper and I am a divorced dad with two daughters aged 10 and 11. My parents live 220 miles away, and my sister, brother-in-law and their two children 2 and 4 years of age live 620 miles away. Our story is not uncommon. So many families are fragmented and live across country from each other. With the cost of travel and the amount of time involved, families are lucky to see each other once or twice a year.

I recently started working with a company that changed my life in unexpected ways. I have been in business for myself before.

My dad and I had a store in Oklahoma and I have also worked in corporate America. I decided that I wanted the opportunity to spend more time with my family, so I began working with a company that has a great product, the ACN Video phone. I had no idea what a positive impact this product would have on my family.

The Christmas I’ll never forget: This past year my daughters spent Christmas day with their biological mom and came back home on December 26th. As we have in years past, we re-celebrate Christmas on the 26th, normally we have family in town but this year we found ourselves home alone. When it came time to open the presents the girls asked me if we could call their grandparents on the video phone so that they could be with us. I called my parents to see if they were home but had to let the girls know that they weren’t available and wouldn’t be for a while. I suggested that we just start opening presents.

Tiffany said. . .”Daddy can we please just wait and open our Christmas presents when Grandmommy is available. We want her to be able to see the looks on our faces when we open the presents from her!” So per the request of a 9 year old girl and her 10 year old sister they waited an additional 45minutes for their grandmother to call back before opening their Christmas presents.

I had the video phone set up in the living room, and plugged it into the TV so that the picture would be ‘larger than life’. Now, we were able to experience Christmas together. Although we were 220 miles apart, it didn’t feel like it. I could see the joy on my mother’s face and on my daughters’ faces. Nothing could replace the feeling. The girls received outfits from their grandparents, so they proceeded to try on all the outfits and get feedback from their grandmother on how wonderful they looked. For the next hour it was literally as if they were in the same room together, well I guess they were. As both a father and a son there is no gift that I could give that could replace or would be more appreciated then the hour on Christmas day that they were able to spend together.

We don’t see them in person any less because of the video phone, but the time in between visits doesn’t seem as long any more. Being able to maintain that connection makes a difference that can’t be described. Especially with the price of gas and my grandmother being ill, my parents have probably made a few less trips to Allen this year; however, because of the video phone it’s not as painful for the girls as it would have been otherwise.

Who would have thought that starting my own home-based business would impact/change my life in so many different ways. This changes everything.

Because of the anticipated growth and exciting things to come our business will be expanding in a major way over the next 6 months! If interested in participating in the expansion or just learning more about this exciting technology contact ACN Independent Representative Jeff Cooper at 972-670-1684 or online: www.TheFuture.acnrep.com.

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North Texas Kids • November 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

‘NEATH THE WREATH 2008 HOLIDAY GIFT MARKET

Collin County’s

Premier Family Entertainment Center 8789 Lebanon Rd. Frisco, TX 75034

JUNIOR LEAGUE OF PLANO

PROUDLY INVITES YOU TO THE

Thirteenth Annual ‘Neath the Wreath Holiday Gift Market

NOVEMBER 7 - 9, 2008 Plano Centre %2000 East Spring Creek Parkway

HOLIDAY MARKET HOURS

November 7 - 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (extended evening hours) November 8 - 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

November 9 - 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

HOLIDAY MARKET TICKET PRICES

Advanced Ticket $8 %Ticket at the door $10 Three-Day Advanced Ticket $16 %Three-Day Ticket at the door $20 ‘Neath the Wreath advance tickets are sold at select Tom Thumb stores. A list of participating stores is available online. For safety reasons, strollers, carts, wagons, and rolling bags are not allowed.

LADIES NIGHT OUT

Plano Centre %November 6, 2008 %7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Be the first to shop the 2008 Holiday Gift Market at our annual Ladies Night Out. Admission $35 %VIP Admission $75 Tickets are available for purchase online.

For Silent Auction item donation, please email ntw@jlplano.org. Go online or call 972-769-1142 for more information.

www.neaththewreath.org

Junior League of Plano 5805 Coit Road Suite 301 Plano, Texas 75093 972-769-1142 www.jlplano.org

FLU SHOTS

North Texas Kids • November 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

29

great gifts...

Peak Products: Starplex First-ever full-size, wood, Guitar Hero/Rockband controller with the authentic look and feel of a real guitar. Compatible with Guitar Hero/Rockband games on PS2/PS3 Available at: Circuit City and Go-Peak.com www.go-peak.com • $179.99

Disney’s It’s a Magical World Disney characters come to life on your Windows XP desktop. A variety of custom wallpapers that include Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy, Goofy, Pluto, Stitch, Peter Pan and Tinker Bell. www.Hyperdesk.com • $14.95

Pulse Kick ‘N Go & Nitrous Scooters Reengineered from the original Kick ‘N Go scooters of the 1970s, the all new Pulse Kick ‘N Go offers a fast, smooth ride in a new high-tech design. Pulse is introducing the Nitrous in response to retailer and consumer demand for a version of the cool new kick-arm scooter for the baby brothers and sisters in the house. www.pulsekickngo.com • Xcelerator: $119.99 / Nitrous: $89.99

Global Wonders The first entertainment and educational DVD series of its kind, developed specifically to encourage children to share, compare and discover the cultures of their family, friends and the world. Designed for children ages 2-7 years www.globalwonders.com • $19.99

Space Flight to the Unknown Your Imagination Presents takes children’s audio to a place its never been before by introducing a new form of storytelling.

Using a unique combination of dramatic music and innovative writing techniques, Your Imagination Presents helps stimulate children’s creative thinking in ways that video games and television can’t. www.yourimaginationpresents.com $14.95

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North Texas Kids • November 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

Roku The Roku Player is designed for easy viewing: sets up in less than 3 minutes – consumer friendly, compact design, and priced for mere mortals. It is a small box that augments your existing Netflix service (as low as $8.99 per month). Instantly watch more than 13,000 movies and television programs. www.roku.com • $99.00

Hugg-A-Planet’s Organic Foundings Safe, adorable and all-natural toy animal shapes created with the environmental concerns of our fragile planet in mind. Your choice of teddy bear, elephant, rabbit, bunny, dog, puppy, whale and turtle. 100% organic, pesticide-free, unbleached cotton shell and interior produced in the United States. www.peacetoys.com • $9.95 - $29.95

Balanzza: Digital Luggage Scale Pack smart and avoid overweight luggage fees at the airport. Weighs up to 100 pounds.

Compact and only 10oz. allows you to bring it with you and assist you on your way back.

Available at: Target.com, ebags.com, Balanzza.com www.balanzza.com • $24.99

iPig “Cute Just Got Powerful”. The New iPig is compact in size and packed with defining technology. It is not only an iPOD docking station; it is THE speaker that will bring life and an awe-inspiring experience to most of your audio, video and gaming devices. www.speakal.com • $139.99

Flashcar Zibra: Open It The only tool that has everything you need to open any package. Perfect for the craziness of Christmas morning. Combines a cutting tool, dualhead screwdriver and retractable cutting blade in one safe and easy to use tool.

Easily opens clamshells, toy packaging, boxes, CDs, DVDs and battery compartments.

Available at: Home Depot, Walgreens, Canadian Tire, Bed Bath & Beyond, and enjoyzibra.com

New board game uses Racecar Numerics to teach mathmatics: learn adding, subtracting, multiplying & dividing. Help with retaining focus. Encourage group interaction and learning. www.kids-learninggames.com • $24.95

Little Harper Grace and the Hummingird Little Harper Grace and the Hummingbird, written by Jessie Preza, is a great little book, not only for children, but a wonderful gift for moms, sisters, friends, daughters and other loved ones.

For every book sold, 5% of the purchase price will be donated to the March of Dimes. This heartfelt story reminds all of us that big things do come in small packages and that sometimes being different is what makes us special. www.littleharpergrace.com • $9.95 Paperback

www.enjoyzibra.com • $11.99

North Texas Kids • November 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

31

Sports Scoop

by Mike Kravik

Thank You To Our PSA Volunteer Coaches!

PSA Needs You! Make a Difference to a Child’s Life Volunteer to Coach!

6500 Preston Meadow Plano, Tx 75024 972-208-5437 fax 972-208-3801 www.psaplano.org info@psaplano.org

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North Texas Kids • November 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

One of the biggest issues many parents of young athletes in North Texas face is when to have their kids make the transition to specializing in one sport. My son is an 8th grader in the Plano school system and has played a wide variety of sports since he was four years old.

Along the way he’s played soccer, hockey, football, golf, basketball, and baseball.

Did we do it right? I don’t know but next year he is in high school and probably has to decide which sport he will specialize in for the next four years. I’m glad he was able to play as many sports as he could because I believe kids who play several sports when they are younger become more well-rounded as athletes.

I’m not a fan of soccer but I realize that sport helped him with his coordination at a young age.

Hockey not only honed his handeye skils but it taught him how to play a sport that required equal parts toughness and grace to be successful. Football taught him how far he could push himself physically and to respect but fear nobody. Golf taught him about mental toughness and what a wonderful thing mulligans are. Basketball taught him the importance of staying in shape because basketball (like life) is a lot more fun when you are in shape.

Baseball has taught him how to handle and learn from failure...and then turn the page.

This fall my son entered 8th grade and I encouraged him to play on a more competitive basketball team as a good way to prepare for his middle school team. He also plays select baseball which has made for some wild scheduling and lots of carpools but he has stood up to the challenge. Was it too much to handle for an 8th grader? Maybe, but this may also be the last opportunity he has to play for his school and sitting on the bench or in the stands cheering is not as fun as actually playing.

We did it our way and I have no regrets but I also know that next year he will enter a high school that will have more than 5000 kids to choose from for their athletic programs.

Those numbers are daunting when you realize basketball teams use five

players at a time and baseball teams play only nine. The huge amount of talent available helps explain why the high school teams in Plano are so dominant and it is a testimony that competition does make everybody better.

With kids facing such intense competition at the high school level, the temptation to specialize in a single sport at an earlier age exists.

There is a lot of good that comes from kids playing sports at a young age but the pressure of competition has two sides. Unless one is blessed with an inordinate amount of physical talent, a child needs to play a sport almost year-round if they want to keep up with their peers.

Yet playing a single sport nearly year-round and not working other muscles (and giving other muscles and joints a break) will increase the chances that their bodies will break down. Young middle school boys don’t have knees that can stand up to 10-12 months of basketball. Their arms are not meant to withstand pitching 80-100 innings in one calendar year.

What’s the right answer? My take would be to have your kid find a couple of different sports where they have talent and interest... and then do everything they can to become better. You should want your child to have options but you should also want your child to have both physical and emotional balance.

I’m probably guilty of having their child do too much when it comes to sports. He will play close to 100 baseball games and 50 basketball games this year. When you factor in private lessons and practices, that’s a lot. He seems to be having fun and he knows that he needs to play as much as he can to keep up with the competition. These days when he tells me he is sore, I believe him.

I usually tell him to rub some dirt on it and take the day off because I know he’s earned it.

by Mike Kravik As a sports fan, my favorite corridor of the calendar begins when October ends and November opens the front door. Sports freaks in North Texas are in heaven because this year for two wonderful weeks, all four major sports will be in full swing.

Some of the best sports theatre occurs every fall during post-season baseball. Whether it’s Bill Buckner having a ball go through his legs, Kirk Gibson limping off the bench to hit a home run or the Boston Red Sox ending the “Curse of the Bambino,” a dramatic narrative of some kind always happens in the World Series.

The possibility of Manny Ramirez and the Los Angeles Dodgers going back to Boston and playing the Red Sox in the World Series has been stirring my sports soul.

The Dallas Stars will be three weeks into their season by the time November starts while the Dallas Mavericks will just be tipping off their season. The Stars believe last season’s playoff run makes them contenders for the Stanley Cup while the Mavericks will discover whether or not their window of opportunity to win an NBA title really did close when they lost to Miami in 2006 NBA Finals.

Football is still unquestionably king in Texas and if you’re a fan, there may not be a better place to be in 2008 than North Texas. The journey will be long and many things can happen but the Dallas Cowboys are on everybody’s short list to win the Super Bowl.

The wonderful aspect of being a fan of the Dallas Cowboys is that the ride is never boring. Seeing Terrell Owens catch a touchdown pass is fun because you never know how he is going to celebrate. The November games against divisional foes New York and Washington will serve as a nice barometer for the Cowboys chances to win it all but I can’t wait until they play the Seattle Seahawks on Thanksgiving.

The Cowboys should smoke the Seahawks that day quite easily but one of my favorite annual traditions is to stuff myself silly full of turkey and then staple myself to a chair in front of the television. A visit to the Land of Nod with the white noise of a football game in the background is inevitable.

The NFL is not the only brand of football people in North Texas

are interested in following this fall.

Several Big 12 teams, riding the on the coattails of some of the best quarterback play in the country, are dominating the college polls. It surely won’t last but Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri and Texas Tech have been anchored in the Top 10 all season and alums from these schools are all primed for a great stretch run in November.

As a Texas Tech grad I cannot believe my alma mater has been rated above such traditional juggernauts as USC and Georgia. I keep waiting for Alan Funt to come from behind the curtain and tell all Tech fans that they have been on Candid Camera, that the show is over and will you please pick up your parting gifts in an orderly manner. This season has been incredibly exciting but I’ve learned that the rarefied air that comes with being in Top 10 is becoming increasingly difficult to breathe.

Locally, fans of high school football in North Texas get to see some of the very best players and coaches in the country. Braving the first hints of chilly weather, burning the roof of your mouth with hot chocolate and eating soggy nachos while taking in high school football in the state of Texas is traditional and always a guilty pleasure.

Among the top 5A teams in the area are Euless Trinity, Southlake, Plano, Allen, Garland Naaman Forest. All these teams are ranked highly and will be battling for the state championship in November and December. I can only imagine the combination of pride and sadness many parents will have as they watch the last games of their son’s high school football career.

One of the very best football players in North Texas is Plano High School’s Rex Burkhead.

This is the type of kid who will have songs written about him.

His nickname is “Superman” and with good reason. As a freshman Burkhead was 5’9” yet could do a 360 and slam dunk a basketball. That athleticism helped Burkhead make the varsity squad as a freshman, which is a nice accomplishment made ridiculous when you consider that particular Plano basketball team had enough talent to win the 5A State Championship.

in Garland, Rowlett and Sachse dreaming of playing for their football championship in the Turkey Bowl this month. Other kids from Frisco, Rockwall, Carrollton McKinney, Plano, Richardson, Southlake and Celina will also be playing championship games for what they consider to be “all the marbles.”

As you get older you gain perspective and realize all the championship games you played for when you were younger were not life and death. It’s a coping mechanism that helps you rationalize, but still, Herb Brooks said it best when he spoke to the USA hockey team in 1980 as they were about to play Finland for the Gold Medal. “If you lose this game, you will take it to your grave.”

We eventually learn to deal with whatever happened but the memories of championship games never fade away. If Terrell Owens, Graham Harrell, Rex Burkhead, the boys from Renner or any random youth football team from North Texas Suburbia plays for a championship this year, every one of them will remember what happened and carry it with them forever.

It is a glorious month for sports in North Texas, so be thankful.

Ages 18 mos to 6 yrs • Child Physical Development Program • 9:1 Student to Instructor Ratio • All Registered Kids Engage in Our Games • Over 80 Fun Games & Activities • Structured Curriculum • Develops: Soccer Skills, Social Behavior & Motor Skills • 15 Indoor Facilities East of Dallas N. Tollway

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Ages 2 to 6 yrs 469-834-8450 Register online at www.lilsluggersdallas.com North Texas Kids • November 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

33

Sports Scoop

The Best Time of the Year

The greatness of Burkhead is that basketball is not his best sport.

His best sport is football. The 2007 Plano football team had a monster playoff run in 2007 and made it to the semi-finals before absorbing a gutwrenching loss to Euless Trinity. A big reason why Plano was so good last year and is a favorite to repeat this year is because of the presence of Rex Burkhead.

If the high school talent in North Texas is considered some of the best in the country it only stands to reason that the upcoming talent in North Texas middle schools feeding into the high schools would be some of the best as well..

Last year the Renner Middle School 7th Grade team cruised through an undefeated season. This year Renner almost took a tumble in their first game of the season as they fell behind Schimelpfenig 20-8 at halftime. Renner dug deep and rallied to win 23-20. Schimelpfenig served notice with this game and will be looking to avenge this loss come November if they get a rematch with Renner in the 8th Grade Plano City Championship.

As you read this article, there are young 4th and 5th grade boys

Sports & Fitness Programs Register Now For Basketball

Everyone Plays At SVAA SVAA’s goal is to create an environment where every child will play and learn the game. No tryouts are required.

10 Game Schedule – Games Run Dec. 6th Through Feb. Practice time and gym provided for all teams Follows Richardson Independent School District Calendar Separate Leagues by Grade for Boys and Girls: K – 6th Grade – Register By November 9th, 2008 7th – 12th Grade – Register By November 16th, 2008

Visit svaa.org and click on Register Online or call 972-238-9728 for details SVAA * 1968 - 2008 * Celebrating 40 Years Of Providing Recreational Sports Programs

Year-Round Volleyball for all Junior Athletes

Frisco Athletic Network, Inc. www.FriscoVolleyball.net www.LoneStarVolleyball.net email: info@FriscoVolleyball.net

Providing junior athletes with a positive environment to learn and compete while instilling discipline, teamwork, sportsmanship and integrity.

Frisco Youth Volleyball League

Recreational, Competitive & Co-ed Intramurals 1st through 12th grade

LoneStar Volleyball Academy

Hey Batta Batta...

Club, Competitive, Recreational & Intramural Volleyball

Advanced volleyball training 1st through 6th grade

LoneStar Volleyball Club

Competitive volleyball club program 10 to 18 years of age

Spring Registration Opens November 1st Spring Registration Opens November 1st

Tryouts for Club 10s, 11s, 12s 11/03 & 11/04 13s, 14s, 15s 11/10 & 11/11

Advertise your Sports & Fitness program here!

Call us for details!

972-516-9070

www.NorthTexasKids.com

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North Texas Kids • November 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

Martial Arts Will Help Your Child: Develop Confidence, Learn Discipline and Improve Grades

Eagle Martial Arts

Karate Lessons for Ages 3 1/2 to Seniors Ask us about our Little Ninja classes!

972-943-8899

4701 West Park Blvd Suite#210 Plano, TX 75093

www.eaglemartialartstx.com

Special Offer: $99.00 to start* Call to register today! *$90 savings. FREE uniform included.

Exp: 12/31/08

Plan to spend your Winter at the RISE! Recreation & Competitive Leagues

Register online today! www.riserockwall.com 972-772-9061 Youth Soccer Register on MySAM by 11.2.08 Youth Basketball Register on MySAM by 11.7.08 Mention this ad & receive a $25 discount Good on any team fee or field rental. Coupon code RISE/NTK001

@^ Y d `^ c Zi ^ X h 7^gi]YVn EVgi^Zh

2 Hours of fun-filled fitness & games

Give your child the gift of fitness.

Allow us to plan your next birthday party.

Perfect for ages 2 to 12.

We come to you!

(Your home, park or rented facility)

Reserve your party date at: Phone/Fax: 214-484-4734 KidokineticsDallas@kidokinetics.com www.Kidokinetics.com

“Parents want to know when your registration deadline is.

Let us get the word out for you.”

www.NorthTexasKids.com

PSA Babies

by Jenny Seabaugh For the past 20 years I have been known as a “PSA Baby”. A PSA Baby is somebody who has grown up living at PSA and spending almost every day helping out. Plano Sports Authority is a non-profit youth sports organization that has been around for over 30 years which I have grown up in. I have had the great benefit of being taught some of life’s most important lessons from the volunteers and employees of our big family within the company.

Growing up, my parents coached almost all of my sisters’ and my sports teams. We did everything from volleyball, basketball and softball, to track. My three older sisters and I were constantly busy with games and all played at PSA. I don’t know how my parents did it but we always had one of them at each of the games! Seeing my parents and the other coaches so dedicated to what they were doing influenced me more than they know. My Dad would be up at Hendrick Middle School at 7 am, roping off the empty field next to the school to make sure nobody would park on the grass. My entire family would be out all day raking the softball fields getting them ready for the weekend games. Taking care of PSA came very naturally for me as I grew up. It’s become an instinct to protect PSA in every way possible; from kids throwing balls at windows to parents getting a little out of hand at the games. I don’t regret one hour I have spent up at the StarCenter doing what I can to help out. Many years including everything from coaching girl’s volleyball since I was 17, to helping out in the Food Court since I was 15, to sitting down and labeling mailers since I was 5! But seeing the look on my 1st grade Crush volleyball team when they win or my smallest girl Katie gets all three serves over is one of the greatest feelings I could ask for. To know they are being successful because of my help is reward enough. I have been volunteer coaching volleyball for 3 years now and it’s my passion in life. Volleyball and teaching are my loves and PSA allows me to combine them into a wonderful coaching position. I have also been able to help with the Team PSA Volleyball Club and help run practices and clinics. With over 500 volleyball teams a year in the program, I have plenty of time to help young girls fall in love with volleyball. I couldn’t ask for a better position than that.

The opportunities and possibilities at Plano Sports Authority are endless. It’s not everyday you come across a program so dedicated to the happiness and education of children. Over 2.5 million people a year come through our doors and our endless family is able to run the programs and make almost 50,000 children a year love sports everyday. I am so proud I am able to be a part of PSA and the great joy they spread through the North Texas Region.

Plano Sports Authority is more than basketball courts or an ice rink. It’s a place where children can feel safe and the parents know their kids are going to have a good time and learn valuable lessons. I would not be the person I am today without my family volunteering at PSA. I appreciate everything it has taught me and I will be involved in this program as long as possible. It’s a place where I want my future kids to play and be able to give back to.

North Texas Kids • November 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

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Tutoring & Educational Services y an

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Dr. Derrick Blanton

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36

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Addision

1 to 1

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Varies from 1:1 to 4:1 depending on need

Pre-school to college

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8811 Teel Parkway - Next to WingStop Frisco, TX 75034 469-362-7300

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PreK 4s to 5th grade

Reading & Writing Inventory Assessment or Dyslexia Identification

Allen & Plano

1 to 1

Pre-K - College

Yes

North Texas Kids • November 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

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Yes

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Bio-Neuro Feedback, Behavior Modification, Memory & Learning Skills

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ADD/ADHD/Learning Disability Testing (LD)

www.drblanton.net

www.clubz.com

All subjects, including test prep for TAKS, ACT, SAT, GRE, GMAT and other standardized tests

Based on Student’s Needs

Yes

We customize schedules, lesson plans and sessions to the student’s needs and choose a tutor who can work best with the student.

Yes

Reading, Math, Writing, Study Skills, Phonics, SAT/ACT/ISEE/TAKS exam prep

2 to 4

N/A

Established over 30 years ago with 400 locations nationwide

1-800 CAN LEARN www.HuntingtonLearning.com

No

Reading, Language, Gross motor, Fine motor

1 to 2

No

We specialize in tutoring children with special needs and developmental delays

972-239-8100 www.itsasensoryworld.com

All staff members trained by Kumon, some certified teachers also

Math and Reading fundamentals

1-4 times per week

Homeschoolers welcome

Award winning center, over ten years of success in Southlake area.

817-421-6500 www.kumon.com

All degreed professionals

Attention, Memory, Reading, Organization

3 to 5

Yes

Help you understand why your child is not succeeding

972-267-8900 www.learningrx.com

Combination of Math-Qualified and Certified Teachers

Math Only

Unlimited visits

Yes

*Diagnostic Fee waived ($199 value) when mentioning “North Texas Kids

469-362-7300 www.mathnasium.com

Reading Specialists & Language Therapists

Reading, Writing, Phonics Enrichment, TAKS prep, Handwriting Lab, Dyslexia Porgrams & Study Skills

1,2, or 3

Yes, Language Therapy

No Contracts.

AM, PM & Sat. Classes Orton-Gillingham/Multi-Sensory Method

972-396-7323 www.readingranch.com

Yes

Tutors in all subjects

1-2

Yes

PSAT/SAT/ACT/TAKS Study Skills Enrichment

Allen 972-359-0222 Plano 972-985-3276

Degreed professionals and certified teachers

North Texas Kids • November 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

37

Effective communication is the ultimate key to success in life and in business.

Looking for a dynamic speaker for your next Mom’s Club, Play Group, Church event or Corporate Lunch-n-Learn?

Minette’s passion to improve communication in all walks of life drives her presentations, whether speaking to a group of parents, a business organization or to a sales force. In her speeches, Minette focuses on skills that anyone can use to become a compassionate listener and a passionate speaker.

Sample Topics: 10 Steps to Improving Communication at Home or on the Job Heart-Centered Parenting: Connect to Your Child By Listening to Their Feelings Life is Too Short to Wear Diamond Studs: How to Live a Bolder, Brigther Life For descriptions of these topics, testimonials from groups she has spoken to, or to read Minette’s bio, please visit her website at www.MinetteRiordan.com.

To schedule Dr. Riordan for your next event, please call her office at 972-516-9070 or email her directly at minette@minetteriordan.com.

Speaker

Trainer

Mentor

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire.

If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don’t know something, for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.

During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations, because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge, because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.

They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you’re tired and weary, because it means you’ve made a difference.

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.

Find a way to be thankful for your troubles, and they can become your blessings. author unknown

Author

Alexandria’s Book Review

Abby Hayes: Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining A Review by Alexandria Battle

on the soccer field!

Abby’s troubles really draw you

in; and once you’ve seen her through one adventure, you can’t wait to

by Anne Mazer 128 pages • Ages 9-12 • Scholastic Paperbacks (August 1, 2000)

settle down with the next one.

Fortunately, Abby is very busy, and her days spread not only through fifth grade but through middle

Anne Mazer is a writer who can

claim mastery of her art from the

very start of her life—her parents,

both writers, immersed her and her siblings in every aspect of writing

books that there could be. Ms. Mazer herself spent much time reading

(she liked many types of books),

and went through many dreams and

types of jobs (from a receptionist to a tutor and even as an au pair) before she realized her dream: to write, just as her parents did. Now she

has written over thirty-five books,

always ready with her opinion, and

new creative writing teacher, Ms.

“odd one out”. With two older twin

every day instead of just one; and

very aware of being the family’s

sisters, Isabel and Eva, who excel

in sports and academics, a younger brother named Alex who’s a

computer genius, and two perfectlycontent parents who work in court and on the Web. Abby sometimes

wonders where her place is among the amazing Hayes’—especially as the sole redhead, writer and calendar collector.

In this adventure, Abby is

including Abby’s interesting stories.

starting fifth grade full of goals and

favorite characters—she’s spirited,

her wear earrings; she wishes her

Abby Hayes is one of my

38

wishes. She wants her mother to let

North Texas Kids • November 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

Bunder, could come to her class

her biggest current aspiration is

to earn a place on the soccer team

and go from a novice to a superstar.

Though she can’t change the first

two in a hurry, she decides to train, go on a diet, and get her hands on every bit of soccer lore she

can find—with some motivation included from those calendars.

And in the midst of it all, Abby

must deal with a shy new friend and how to win a long-time one

back—in addition to preventing any embarrassments in math class and

school, too.

NTK Calendar of Events

Looking for Something to Do in Your Own Backyard or Around the Metroplex? You Will Find it Here!

Find these events and more online at www.northtexaskids.com.

November

1 Saturday

Southlake 60 Day Fall Fitness Challenge: Complete nutritional guidance-let us show you how to make correct eating choices for your life. Several at home or travel workout programs you can follow. www.velocitysp.com/southlake/adult_fitness_challenge Southlake Youth Baseball/Softball Performance Prep Camp: With the help of our professionally certified and degree coaches, you will experience accelerated gains in speed, power, agility, core stability, balance and movement. For ages 8 - 13 years old. www.velocitysp.com/ McKinney Dinosaurs Alive!: Dinosaurs Alive! Life-size Animatronic Dinosaurs at the Heard. Due to popular demand, these 12 life-size animatronic dinosaurs are coming back from total extinction just for your family to experience and enjoy! Watch our website for updates at www.heardmuseum.org Plano Food Drive: We have set aside November 1- 15, for your friends and family members who have not been patients before to receive all first day services. The only thing we ask of them is that they bring a minimum of three canned goods or non-perishable items. These food items will be

given to The Giving Movement and Minnie’s Food Pantry. Please schedule your appointment by calling us at 214-862-5581. Dr. Amy Wood & Dr. Matt Wood located at the Wellness Solutions Chiropratic 2301 West Parker Rd.

Frisco Gary Burns Frisco Fun Run - Sat Nov 1 7:00 AM: 5K run/walk and 1-mile walk at Frisco Square, Frisco, TX. www.friscoisd.org Plano PAMOM (Plano area mothers of multiples) Fall Garage Sale - Sat Nov 1 8:30 AM: Rain or Shine.

Bob Woodruff Park. 2601 San Gabriel Dr. Plano, TX 75074 Tons of baby, toddler and children’s items. Everyone is welcome.

Plano Prenatal Yoga - Sat Nov 1 9:00 AM: Prenatal Yoga Saturdays at 9 a.m.Cost: $60 for 6 weeks Postnatal Yoga Saturdays at 10:30 a.m.Cost: $60 for 6 weeks. Peppermint Baby Boutique is located at 1778 N. Plano Rd., Suite 100 in Richardson, 75081. Registration information can be found at www.peppermint.com or by calling 214-623-5080.

Plano Suzuki Cup Karate Tournament - Sat Nov 1 9:00 AM: The Suzuki Cup is a national level karate competition. Admission Charge: $50 for competitors; $30 per 3 man team; $6 Spectator; $4 12 and under; Free for 3 and under.

Contact for more information Brody Burns @ 469-233-0968 or email bburns@planodojo.com

or visit www.planodojo.com Plano Centre, 2000 E. Spring Creek Parkway

between Nordstrom and Macy’s at 2:00 pm. www.northparkcenter.com

Plano Arbor Day Celebration - Sat Nov 1 9:00 AM: Celebrate tree planting season in north Texas along with the Plano Parks Foundation, Plano Garden Club and the Parks and Recreation Department. A short ceremony and activities for children included. Contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 972-941-7250 or visit www.planoparks.org Old Shepards Place Park, 1301 Winding Hollow Ln

Roanoke Star Wars Museum Party - Sat Nov 1 2:00 PM: Anne & Phillip Wise have a private commercialsize museum entirely dedicated to Star Wars; their collection is considered one of the top in the U.S. Museum location: 101 Marshall Creek Rd. Roanoke. Tickets may be purchased at: 1) Southlake Library 2) Community Services Bldg at Bicentennial Park 3) Online at www.SouthlakeDPS.com

Dallas Texas Trees Garden Walks & Plant Sale - Sat Nov 1 10:00 AM: Go native at Texas Discovery Gardens! Join Randy Johnson, director of horticulture, as he leads you on a tour of Texas trees. Children age 12 and older are welcome. Texas Discovery Gardens at Fair Park Cost: General Garden Admission. Adults $3, seniors (60+) $2, children (ages 3-11) $1.50. www.texasdiscoverygardens.org

Flower Mound & Highland Village Excite! Friday & Saturday Nights Out - Sat Nov 1 6:00 PM: Open gym play, inflatables, trampoline, foam pit, games, and pizza dinner.

Ages 3 - 11.Fridays at Excite! Flower Mound 972.874.9663 for reservations. Saturdays at Excite! Highland Village 972.874.8500 for reservations. $18 Excite! members / $20 non-member. www.excitegymandcheer.com

Lewisville Thanksgiving Story-time - Sat Nov 1 10:30 AM: SEPTSA and Borders Bookstore will co-host a Story-time on Saturday November 1st starting at 10:30a.m. at the Vista Ridge Borders location, 2403 Stemmons Fwy. in Lewisville. Come hear Thanksgiving stories and visit with a therapy dog! Story-time is for all ages and everyone is welcome regardless of ability to sit or listen quietly. Fun for all! www.lisdseptsa.txpta.org Lewisville Barnes & Noble story-time - Sat Nov 1 11:00 AM: Saturdays at 11am. Please join us for storytime each week with a new featured story. Call 972-315-7966 or visit the 2325 South Stemmons Frwy Lewisville 75067 location for weekly titles.

Bring your family and friends each week.

Mckinney Bennett Elem. Fall Carnival - The excitement starts at 11:00am and lasts until 4:00pm. Are you brave enough to climb a 30’ rockwall or race your friends down a 24’ slide? You won’t be believe all the exciting games you will find.

Local vendors will be set-up so parents can shop! Tickets for games/food can be purchased at the entrance. To sponsor a game or become a vendor please call Angie @ 972-658-7636 Frisco The Frisco Ballet presents Mother/Daughter Tea - Sat Nov 1 11:00 AM: At Plantation Golf Club.

Tickets $10 per child and $10 per mother. www. thefriscoballet.org Carrollton Model Train Display - Sat Nov 1 12:00 PM: Rosemeade Recreation Center. 1330 E. Rosemeade Parkway Bring the whole family! View over 300 feet of HO scale model train layouts featured at the Spring Creek Model of steam, diesel, freight and passenger model train display. visit www.SpringCreekRailroad.com or call 972-4669809.

Dallas SPCA Grief Counseling Group - Sat Nov 1 1:00 PM: The SPCA of Texas’ Pet Grief recovery program is designed to help those who are grieving the loss of a beloved companion animal. Free and open to the public. SPCA of Texas, 2400 Lone Star Drive, Dallas, conference room. www. spca.org (214) 742-SPCA Dallas Dallas Public Library Children’s Activity Series - Sat Nov 1 2:00 PM: This fun, hands-on activity program for elementary school age children takes place at North Park Mall in NorthCourt

3 Monday Dallas Organic in the City - Mon Nov 3 6:00 PM: Organic in the City is an urban environmental education and entertainment series at Texas Discovery Gardens at Fair Park. Texas Discovery Gardens at Fair Park. To register, call (214) 428-7476 ext. 23 or visit www.texasdiscoverygardens.org.First Tuesday of the month. Cost: $10 per person; $8 for members

4 Tuesday Dallas Leonardo’s Workshop - Tue Nov 4 2:00 PM: Each Tuesday and Thursday afternoon from 2-4 pm a museum educator will be on hand to assist you in the Children’s Museum galleries.

You can explore your creativeness or build science readiness through fun innovative activities. www.natureandscience.org Lewisville - en español Barnes & Noble weekly event for Spanish speaking toddlers and preschoolers - Tue Nov 4 4:00 PM: Tuesdays at 4 pm. Please join us for a new weekly event, especially for Spanish speaking toddlers and preschoolers. We’ll read a book, have a snack and make a simple craft all in Spanish. Located at 2325 South Stemmons Frwy Lewisville 75067 (North West corner area at Central & Round Grove Rd) 972-315-7966 Garland Coyle Middle School Presents ‘Baby Talk’ - Tue Nov 4 7:00 PM: Plaza Theatre . You think baby talk is just jabber? Anyone who’s watched Rugrats knows babies have a lot to say to each other and possess distinct personalities. The same is true in this hilarious comedy. Nine graduating high school seniors flash back in time to when they were one-year-olds at daycare. Tickets will be on sale at the door and are $6 for adults and $3 for students. Children 4 and under are free.

5 Wednesday Plano Free Scoliosis Screenings - Scoliosis Center of Excellence - Wed Nov 5 By appointment for children and adolescents up to 18 years of age. www.mcpscoli.com Dallas Hand in Hand - Wed Nov 5 10:00 AM: Hand in Hand. A children’s program that takes place each Wednesday morning from 10-11:30 am during the school year. Preschoolers and their adult companions can explore, imagine and discover together - hear a story, get your wiggles out to

North Texas Kids • November 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

39

music, create theme-related crafts and enjoy fun activities. www.natureandscience.org

Wylie Moms & More Monthly Meeting - Wed Nov 5 10:00 AM: Moms &amp; More offers support and activities for parents and kids in Wylie and the surrounding communities. Please call for more info: 469-361-6468. URL: www.wyliemomsandmore.org Irving JumpstART - Stories & ART - Wed Nov 5 10:00 AM: 3333 North MacArthur Blvd, Irving, TX 75062, FREE, Box Office: (972)252.ARTS. FREE family story time with a hands-on art activity to follow. Explore new themes, books and fun projects each month. JumpstART family story time takes place at 10 a.m. on the first Thursday of each month through April at the Irving Arts Center.

JumpstART will break for the summer and start again in August. Open to children of all ages.

Groups of 15 or more must pre-register - contact Jennifer to pre-register at (972) 252-7558 x1226.

Dallas Dallas Public Library Children’s Activity Series - Wed Nov 5 10:30 AM: This fun, hands-on activity program for pre-schoolers takes place in NorthCourt between Nordstrom and Macy’s at 10:30 am. www.northparkcenter.com Grapevine Rainforest Cafe Family Nights - Wed Nov 5 5:00 PM: Rainforest Cafe is hosting Family Nights every Wednesday night. Enjoy a WILD night of family fun in the jungle! Family Night includes activities like face painting and balloon animals.

Receive discounts on Kid’s meals and hand out with Cha! Cha!, our very own red-eyes tree frog.

It’s an adventure for the whole family! www. rainforestcafe.com 972-539-5001 Richardson Elimination Communication/Infant Potty Training Workshop - Wed Nov 5 5:30 PM: Elimination Communication is a natural approach to responding to your baby’s elimination needs. The

ancient art of Elimination Communication involves observing one’s baby’s signs and signals, providing cue sounds and elimination-place associations, and can be done with or without any diaper use. The rewards of closer communication and understanding your baby are very much worth it. www.peppermint.com

6 Thursday Lewisville Barnes & Noble story-time - Thu Nov 6 10:00 AM: Thursdays at 10 am. Please join us for storytime each week with a new featured story. Call 972-315-7966 or visit the 2325 South Stemmons Frwy Lewisville 75067 location for weekly titles.

Bring your family and friends each week.

Dallas Jon Hart Design Holiday Trunk Show at Kid Biz - Thu Nov 6 11:00 AM: A Jon Hart representative will be on hand to help with fabulous Texasmade leather and durable vinyl-coated canvas goods from collegiate items and elegant travel totes to picnic and sporting pieces. Please visit www.kidbizusa.com or call 214-692-5437 for details on the event and what Jon Hart styles are available in the store.

Addison New & Expectant Dads/Couples -It will go back to the way it was, won’t it’ - Thu Nov 6 6:30 PM: At the Dream Café in Addison. The very animated Alan Huber tells dads what they want and need to know. The first 6 to purchase a ticket will receive at the event a copy of the soon-to-be released Being Dad DVD. Cost:$35 parent/$45 couple includes dinner, gift bag and raffle entry, which includes incredible prizes just for Dads - DadGear, the Stokke Xplory, and more.

Visit metromomsevents.com for more information or to purchase tickets.

Richardson Baby Sign Language - Thursdays at 7 p.m. starting October 16 (8 week session, 300 signs) Peppermint Baby Boutique is located at 1778 N.

Plano Rd., Suite 100 in Richardson, 75081. Registration information can be found at www.peppermint.com or by calling 214-623-5080.

7 Friday Plano Neath the Wreath - Fri Nov 7 - Sun. Nov. 9 A North Texas holiday tradition, find unique and unforgettable items at over 120+ merchant booths at the thirteenth annual ‘Neath the Wreath Holiday Gift Market. Child care provided by Adventure Kids at the Plano Centre or any other Adventure Kids location for a special ‘Neath the Wreath discounted rate (first come-first served.)

All proceeds benefit the Junior League of Plano projects and programs. Tickets will be available at all Collin County Tom Thumb stores. Visit www.neaththewreath.org for more information.

Plano Centre, 2000 E Spring Creek Pkwy Plano Cloth Diapering Workshop - Fri Nov 7 10:00 AM: Every 2nd Saturday of the month. FREE. Peppermint Baby Boutique is located at 1778 N. Plano Rd., Suite 100 in Richardson, 75081.

Registration information can be found at www. peppermint.com or by calling 214-623-5080.

Southlake First Friday Women’s Event - Fri Nov 7 11:00 AM: First Friday of Every Month. Harkins Theatre, Southlake Town Center. Admission is free. Arrive early to ensure seating. Childcare is provided through Harkins Theatre for a fee by reservation only. Contact the Play Center at 817-310-0245 two days prior to the event to reserve your child’s place. firstfridaywomen.com Flower Mound Otaku Kyokai No Flower Mound (Teen Anime Club) - Fri Nov 7 1:00 PM: (Monthly at 1pm on the second Saturday). Flower Mound Public Library Plano Downtown @ Sundown - Fri Nov 7 5:30 PM: All of North Texas is invited to come see what downtown Plano is all about during this excit-

ing evening of food, entertainment and shopping! Historic Downtown Plano, 15th Street, between K Avenue and J Place. For more information call 972-941-5260 or check out www.visitdowntownplano.com

McKinney Second Saturdays - Fri Nov 7 7:00 PM: “Second Saturdays” is a celebration of the arts and the community with live entertainment, spirits, and food where featured artists debut their latest creations. From Hwy 75, exit 40A, head east on Louisiana Street for 1.5 miles. For further information call 972.547.2660 or visit www.downtownmckinney.com

8 Saturday Colleyville Canton in the City - Sat Nov 8 All day event: Holiday Gift Market. Colleyville Center, 5301 Riverwalk Drive, Colleyville, TX. Shopping Hours (all shows). Saturdays 10-5 / Sunday 10-4.

Admission: Adults $5 / JH &amp; HS Students $1. Children to age 11 admitted Free / Parking is Free! www.cantoninthecity.com Plano FAAN Walk for Food Allergy: Moving Toward A Cure in Dallas - Sat Nov 8 9:00 AM: Please join us for the 3rd Annual FAAN Walk for Food Allergy in Dallas at Bob Woodruff Park in Plano and check-in begins at 9:00 a.m. To register or find out more about this great event please visit www.foodallergywalk.org Dallas Reptile Fest - Sat Nov 8 10:00 AM: Explore the cool, cold-blooded world of snakes, lizards, turtles, and other reptiles. Touch incredible critters from Texas and around the world. Saturday, November 8, 10-5pm. Sunday, November 9, noon5pm. Museum of Nature and Science (1318 South Second Avenue) and Nature Building (3535 Grand Avenue) www.natureandscience.org Farmers Branch Fall Festival - Open House - Sat Nov 8 11:00 AM:

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North Texas Kids • November 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

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Come & join Us for some family fun at our 1st Annual Fall Festival! We will have bounce houses, carnival games, face painting, arts &amp; crafts, DOOR PRIZES, food, family photos, a TRAIN and MORE!! www.itsasensoryworld.com

Frisco Frisco Community Parade - Sat Nov 8 11:00 AM: Bring on the marching bands, drill teams, cheerleaders and football players too! Parade Route: East on Main Street from the southeast corner of Pizza Hut Park to Downtown Frisco. www.friscoparade.com

10 Monday The Colony The Colony Early Childhood PTA - Mon Nov 10 9:15 AM: For Parents of Children ages 0-5yrs.

Meets the 2nd Monday of the month at 915am, September-May at the LDS Church at 6800 Anderson Dr The Colony Tx. Outings, playgroups and more! Childcare provided for a nominal fee $5 for 1 child and $8 for 2 or more of the same family. Email membership@tcecpta.org www.tcecpta.org Plano Newcomer Friends of Greater Plano - Mon Nov 10 9:30 AM: Join us at one of our regular program meetings on the second Tuesday of each month. Please join us at SMU-in-Legacy, 5228 Tennyson Parkway, Plano. Look for our signs!

(West of Preston Road on the SE Corner of Tennyson &amp; Democracy) www.newcomerfriends.org Coppell/Valley Ranch Coppell Valley Ranch Early Childhood PTA - General Meeting - Mon Nov 10 9:30 AM: At the Coppell Family YMCA. Speaker Debbie Castellanos from The Heidi Group. The Heidi Group assists girls, women and their families that are dealing with an unplanned pregnancy and are seeking self sufficiency.

Childcare is provided at no charge during the general meetings, you just need to register online by 5:00pm Thursday, November 6, at www.cvrecpta.org

12 Wednesday Richardson International Babywearing Week - Sling Donation Drive - Wed Nov 12 All day event: To celebrate International Babywearing Week (November 12-18, ), Peppermint Baby Boutique is hosting a baby sling drive and seeks gently used baby slings. The sling drive will benefit No Mother Left Behind ( www.nomotherleftbehind. com.) Please mail or drop off your gently used slings at: Peppermint Baby Boutique Attn: Sling Drive, 1778 N. Plano Rd., Suite 100 Richardson, TX 75081 www.peppermint.com

13 Thursday Dallas LUXE Showhome benefiting Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children - Thu Nov 13 All day event: Advanced tickets will be $15, and tickets at the door will be $18. Tickets will be sold in advance online at www.jld.net For more information about the event, please visit www.tsrhc. org or contact Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children at (214) 559-7656. The Creeks of Preston Hollow,5020 Elm Hollow Drive, Dallas Lewisville What Every Parent Needs to Know About Transition Planning - Thu Nov 13 6:00 PM: The Greater Lewisville Special Education PTSA will hold its November Meeting. Please note our NEW LOCATION - Trietsch Memorial United Methodist Church, 6101 Morriss Road in Flower Mound (by Marcus High School). Go to the lower level, Room 115. Childcare is now available to Members by Reservation ONLY. www.lisdseptsa.txpta.org or 469-293-6343.

Dallas Shooting Star Celebration: A Student Success Showcase - Thu Nov 13 6:30 PM: Be our guest at the Dallas Learning Center, located at 4514 Travis St. Suite 302. Meet other parents and professionals as we hear some inspiring stories of student achievement! You can RSVP to Debbie Toon by calling (214) 358-0688.

14 Friday

17 Monday

Carrollton Carrollton Early Childhood PTA 18th Annual Silent Auction - Fri Nov 14 9:30 AM: The public is invited to come and bid on a variety of items, including gift baskets, toys, family vacation packages and gift certificates from local and national vendors. This event is free and open to the public. Childcare is available for a nominal fee and reservations are recommended. Holy Covenant Church, 1901 E. Peters Colony in Carrollton. www.cecpta.org

Frisco EMPOWER ACADEMY Buddy Week - Mon Nov 17 All day event: Bring a friend to class and your friend gets in FREE! Located at 2833 Eldorado Parkway, Suite 303 75034 Tel: 214.618.0032 www.empoweracademy.net

Argyle Parents Night Out - Fri Nov 14 5:00 PM: Wazoo’s - Indoor Inflatable Center 2126 Hamilton Dr #100 Argyle , TX 76226940-380-0300 www.wazoospartyargyle.com 5pm to 10pm.

Please call to register. 4 - 12 years old (potty trained)

15 Saturday All Texas Recycles Day - Sat Nov 15 All day event: www.texasrecyclesday.org/ Grand Prairie The Backyardigans Live! Tale of the Mighty Knights - Sat Nov 15 All day event: The Backyardigans is an animated musical-adventure series for children ages 2 to 5. www.nokialivedfw.com Dallas The Great Pumpkin Race and Haircut - Sat Nov 15 7:00 AM: 1 Mile Fun Run, 5k,15k. Start growing your hair out now in order to receive a free haircut on race day! All hair will be donated to make wigs for young cancer patients. Hair donations must be at least 10 inches measured from tip to tip. For a complete list of guidelines for hair donations, please visit www.childrenscancerfund.net.

Plano North Texas Kids Family Expo - Sat Nov 15 10:00 AM: Join us for a FREE day of fun. Entertainment and education for the whole family! Door prizes, games, Radio Disney, Ronald McDonald, book signings, face painting, arts &amp; crafts and 100 vendors with great ideas and information for your family! www.northtexaskids.com Plano Centre, 2000 E. Spring Creek Parkway

Southlake Turkey Treats & Eats - Sat Nov 15 10:00 AM: Join us for tons of holiday fun! Children will be supervised in a 1:5 ratio. Pre-registration is required. Durham Elementary/Intermediate School www.cityofsouthlake.com Grapevine Working Together for our Children’s Success!

- Sat Nov 15 11:00 AM: Program for parents, deaf and hard of hearing children and hearing brothers and sisters! First Baptist Church, 301 E Texas St. Grapevine, TX 76051 www.txhandsandvoices.org To register, contact Lisa Crawford at 512-462-5447 or email at lisa.crawford@ tsd.state.tx.us Frisco The Frisco Ballet presents The Nutcracker - Sat Nov 15 2:00 PM: Tickets are available for purchase at Sheena’s Dance Academy, located at 7975 Stonebrook Pkwy in Frisco or by calling The Frisco Ballet, (972) 371-0361. $15 ages 13 and up and $10 ages 12 and under. www.thefriscoballet.org Southlake Southlake Saturday Nite - Sat Nov 15 7:00 PM: Calling all 4th, 5th & 6th graders for a night of fun! A uniformed DPS officer is on site to ensure a safe environment. Pre-registration and a fee of $8 dollars is required. Durham Elementary/Intermediate School www.cityofsouthlake.com

16 Sunday Dallas Truck Time - Sun Nov 16 11:00 AM: Rain or Shine. Climb aboard your favorite large trucks, tractors, earth movers, fire trucks and police vehicles. Admission $5 per person 2 and up. 9401 Douglas Ave., Dallas 75225

18 Tuesday Various Word of Mouth Productions Presents: Aesop’s Fables - Tue Nov 18 All day event: An updated version of the timeless storyteller’s most popular tales, Aesop’s Fables is a fast moving play in which four of his best loved fables “The Fox and the Crow,” “The Hare and the Tortoise,” “The Donkey In the Lion’s Skin” and finally, “The Fox and the Sour Grapes,” are delightfully re-created in this interesting approach to storyteller’s theatre. November 18th & 19th at The Courtyard Theater, 1509 H Avenue, Plano. Box office (214) 544-4630 or visiting our website: www.womproductions.com

21 Friday Dallas MADELINE’S CHRISTMAS - Fri Nov 21 All day event: Dallas Children’s Theatre. Joyeux Noel and Bonne Annee! Celebrate the season in picturesque Paris with the famous and precocious little sweetheart adored by generations for her bravery and kindness. Bakes on the book, this holiday musical adventure is a French delight filled with surprising miracles. Join us for a merry magic carpet ride! This production presented at Baker Theater/Rosewood Center. www.dct.org/ Coppell/Valley Ranch Coppell Valley Ranch Early Childhood PTA Kid’s Outing - Fri Nov 21 10:00 AM: Art in the Park. Bring the kids and create some ‘Art’ at the Coppell Rec/Aquatic Center Pavilion. For more info www.cvrecpta.org Lewisville Brown Bag Lunch - The Hanen Program - Fri Nov 21 12:00 PM: In the small conference room of the Student Services Building at 400 W. Main St. in Lewisville. The topic will be The Hanen Program for children age 3-5 years with an identified language disorder, presented by Lisa Bell.

Bring your own lunch. No child care will be available. www.lisdseptsa.txpta.org Frisco EMPOWER ACADEMY Parents’ Night Out! - Fri Nov 21 6:00 PM: Wear your PJ’s and bring your pillow & sleeping bag! Located at 2833 Eldorado Parkway, Suite 303 75034 Tel: 214.618.0032 www.empoweracademy.net Cost $25 - 1st child, $15 - 2nd child

22 Saturday Plano Tried & True Children’s Consignment Pre-holiday Toy Event - Sat Nov 22 All day event: Quality Toys, Children’s Books, Puzzles, Games, Videos, etc. Admission is free For more information contact Melissa at 214.946.7946 Or Visit www.

TriedandTrueSale.com Plano Centre, 2000 E. Spring Creek Parkway Dallas The Trains at NorthPark - Sat Nov 22 All day event: Benefiting Ronald McDonald House of Dallas. The Trains at NorthPark is the most elaborate toy train exhibit in Texas, with vintage locomotives whizzing by on a journey across America. www.northparkcenter.com Southlake Holiday Celebration - Sat Nov 22 5:30 PM: Join the City of Southlake and Southlake Town Square, Inc. for a night of holiday magic as we light up Southlake Town Square and welcome in the season with lots of family fun! Southlake Town Square Plano Mom’s Rock Fashion Show - Sat Nov 22 7:00 PM: Mom’s Rock Fashion Show is an event to celebrate motherhood. There will be lots of entertainment and gifts for all guests that attend.

Admission is $35.; Please visit our website at www.coutreproductions7.com for pre-sale ticket information or call Couture Productions at 972-748-6966 or 214-453-9367. Plano Centre 2000 E. Spring Creek Parkway

23 Sunday Richardson Eisemann Center’s Family Theatre Series presents “Pinocchio - Sun Nov 23 2:30 PM: Pinocchio is a production of American Family Theater, Inc., the nation’s premier producer of musicals for families and young audiences as part of their Broadway For Kids series. Tickets range from $10-$20 and are available online at www. eisemanncenter.com or by calling the Eisemann Center Ticket Office at 972-744-4650.

26 Wednesday Plano St Paul Community Trunk & Treat - Wed Nov 26 4:00 PM: Boys and girls, mom and dads, dress up in your favorite Halloween costumes and travel from car trunk to car trunk (or truck beds) to hear short Bible stories of faith, love, power and strength and receive treats at each stop. The event will be located in the parking lot at St Lutheran Church located at 6565 Independence, between Spring Creek and Legacy. Come early and stay late while enjoying a great evening of family Christian fun, excitement and education. For more information go to www.stpaulplano.org

28 Friday Dallas Scrooge Puppet Theatre - Fri Nov 28 All day event: Scrooge returns with his acerbic wit and humor in his unique NorthPark Center theatre.

Enjoy Scrooge’s free daily performances of this hilarious interactive puppet show located in EastCourt near Dillard’s and Banana Republic.

Shows are hourly on the half-your as follows. www.northparkcenter.com Dallas Storytime with Santa Claus - Fri Nov 28 All day event: Twice daily, Monday through Saturday, and once on Sunday, free of charge, children of all ages gather to hear Santa Claus’ tales about life at the North Pole with his elves and reindeer.

11:00 am and 5:30 pm Monday through Saturday, and at 12:00 noon on Sunday. www.northparkcenter.com McKinney Dickens of a Christmas - Fri Nov 28 10:00 AM: Friday, November 28: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Saturday, November 29: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Sunday, November 30: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m. Downtown McKinney’s premier festival, the 28th Annual Dickens of a Christmas. An old fashioned, Victorian Christmas atmosphere with horse drawn carriages, traveling carolers, visits with Santa Claus, a Christmas Tree lighting ceremony and activities for all ages. Historic Downtown McKinney. mcanter@mckinneytexas.org

29 Saturday Grapevine Canton in the City - Sat Nov 29 All day event: Welcome to the 6th annual CANTON IN THE CITY “Holiday Gift Market”. At the Grapevine Convention Center, 1209 South Main Street, Grapevine, TX 76051 972-471-0601. Shopping Hours (all shows). Saturdays 10-5 / Sunday 10-4.

Admission: Adults $5 / JH &amp; HS Students $1. Children to age 11 admitted Free / Parking is Free! www.cantoninthecity.com

Ongoing Fun Classes & Activities Carrollton AW Perry Homestead Museum 1509 N. Perry Rd 972-466-6380. Free Admission and Tours, Mon Sat 10 - 12 & 1 - 5 www.cityofcarrollton.com

Dallas Every Friday 6 - 10 Parents’ Night Out hosted

by The Gymnastics Place. Kids will enjoy pizza, drinks, entertainment, and special kid fun. RSVP preferred, but walk-ins are welcome. Sibling

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discounts available. Check schedule for exact dates and times. www.thegymnasticsplace.com 972-248-2805 www.thegymnasticsplace.com

Dallas Lakeshore has FREE crafts for kids on Saturdays. Located just north of the Galleria on Dallas Pkwy (13846 Dallas Pkwy ) 972-934-8866 for more information.

Dallas Dallas Arboretum. Mommy & Me Mondays 10am - 2pm. 10am - 2pm: Tiny Tots Tuesdays presented by Children’s Medical Center. www. dallasarboretum.org Dallas Outstanding family entertainment is abundant at Slappy’s Puppet Playhouse. New Vaudevillians, Slappy & Monday, reach wider audiences in their newly improved and expanded Slappy’s Puppet Playhouse on the third level of the Galleria Dallas next to Nordstrom’s and Children’s Play Place. Continuing their mission of highquality, parent-friendly programs, the theatre offers a vibrant array of European-style puppet shows as well as a unique variety show brimming with the talents of world-class clowns and other circus artists, musicians and magicians. www.slappysplayhouse.com Flower Mound Preschool Story-times at the Library 3 - 6 years, Monday & Tuesday, 10:00 am & 2:00 p.m. every week. Bring your children and friends to enjoy our weekly theme for Story-time. Located at 3030 Broadmoor Ln, Flower Mound 75022. Visit the Town of Flower Mound Web Site for more information. Registration not required.

Flower Mound Toddler Time at the Library 18 - 36 months, Wednesday & Thursday, 10:00 am & 11:00 am every week. Bring your children and friends to enjoy our weekly theme for Story-time. Located at 3030 Broadmoor Ln, Flower Mound 75022.

Visit the Town of Flower Mound Web Site for more information. Registration not required.

Flower Mound Mother Goose Time at the Library Babies under 18 months, Monday & Tuesday, 11:15 am every week. Bring your children and friends to enjoy our weekly theme for Story-time. Located at 3030 Broadmoor Ln, Flower Mound 75022. Visit the Town of Flower Mound Web Site for more information. Registration not required.

1st Wednesday of each month 4:30 p.m. Rainforest Cafe is hosting the Grapevine Mills Mall Kids Club storytime. Bring your family and friends to enjoy some great stories and eat dinner at Rainforest Cafe for Family Night. Contact 972-539-5001 for more information. No reservation required. www.rainforestcafe.com www. rainforestcafe.com

drama trophies and awards. Visit our website www.dramakids.com

Flower Mound Rockin’ Readers Returns at the Library Second Wednesday of every month from 4 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.. Attendance is limited to children kindergarten through Grade 5. Call 972-874-6167 for more information. Located at 3030 Broadmoor Ln, Flower Mound 75022. Visit the Town of Flower Mound Web Site for more information.

Highland Village Acting Classes for Kids. Studio B is offering a wide range of acting classes for ages 3 and up.

1 Nelson Parkway at 2400 FM 407 in Highland Village. 972-966-2787 www.studiobtheater.info

Various REGISTER TODAY for Kids First Ice Hockey Program. A totally FREE, get-acquainted program that offers boys and girls, ages 4-8, the opportunity to ‘try’ the game of hockey at NO CHARGE. The first week each player is given a full set of hockey equipment to use during the program. Kids will skate (4) 45 minute on ice sessions designed to introduce kids to the excitement of the sport. (214) GO SKATE www. drpepperstarcenter.com

Flower Mound Anime Daze! Middle school anime and manga fans! Check out Anime Daze at the library the first Wednesday of each month from 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.. Join us to watch the latest movies, share your original artwork, eat snacks and win prizes! For more information, call 972-874-6167.

Located at 3030 Broadmoor Ln, Flower Mound 75022. Visit the Town of Flower Mound Web Site for more information.

Frisco Moms Eat Free & Jersey Night. GattiTown. Mondays are Moms Eat Free (with the purchase of a kid’s buffet). Tuesday Nights are Jersey Nights (3pm-close). Kids, wear your practice or game jersey and receive a FREE $5.00 game card and a $5.00 gift certificate to Dick’s Sporting Goods (with the purchase of a buffet). www.gattitownfrisco.com Frisco Wiggly Play Center weekdays 3:00pm - 5:00pm.

Arts & Crafts Mondays, Storybook Tuesdays, Monster Mash Wednesdays, Dancing with Dorothy Thursdays, Wiggle with Wags Fridays. 4944 Preston Road, Suite 100 Frisco (469) 633-0676 www.wigglyplaycenter.com Grapevine

Irving JumpSTART Stories and Art. The Irving Arts Center and Irving Public Library now offer FREE family storytimes at the Arts Center on the first Thursday of every month (through December) at 10 a.m. Stories are followed by a fun craft. ‘Seafaring Tales’ is the July theme. Call (972) 252-7558 x221 for more info.

Little Elm Wednesdays 10:15 - 10:45 & 11 - 11:30 am Toddler time (ages 1 - 3) & Storytime (ages 4 - 6) Bring your family for a special reading time in the Little Elm Library. Located in the Town Hall building at 100 W. Eldorado Pkwy 75068. Contact 214-975-0430 or visit www.littleelm.com to verify changes. www.littleelm.com Little Elm 2nd & 4th Thursdays 5:30 - 7:30 pm Chess Club for ages 7 to adult. Join us at the Little Elm Library and bring your friends. Located in the Town Hall building at 100 W. Eldorado Pkwy 75068. Contact 214-975-0430 or visit www.littleelm.com to verify changes.

Little Elm Saturdays 10:30-11 am Family Story Time for all ages Bring your family for a special reading time in the Little Elm Library. Located in the Town Hall building at 100 W. Eldorado Pkwy 75068.

Contact 214-975-0430 or visit www.littleelm.com to verify changes. www.littleelm.com

Little Elm Saturdays 11-12 Chidren’s Film Festival Bring your family for a special time together at the Little Elm Library. Located in the Town Hall building at 100 W. Eldorado Pkwy 75068. Contact 214-975-0430 or visit www.littleelm.com to verify changes. www.littleelm.com Little Elm Saturdays 1 - 3 pm Saturday Movie Matinee.

Call the library for Movie titles each week. Located in the Town Hall building at 100 W. Eldorado Pkwy 75068. Contact 214-975-0430 or visit www.littleelm.com to verify changes. www.littleelm.com McKinney McKinney Farmers’ Market, Every Saturday 8AM - 1PM. Downtown McKinney at the southeast corner of Church Street & Louisiana Street.

Locally grown produce, flowers, herbs, local honey, farm fresh eggs, chicken, turkey, beef and pork from grass-fed animals, a natural soap and lotion-maker and chair massages. For information on becoming a vendor call 214-850-0886 Princeton Groove Kids, Every Sun & Wed. Absolutely free to kids newborn thru 6th grade - Groove Kids is the place to be to have fun, hang out with Christian friends, enjoy Bible stories, cool music, and more! Every Sunday 10:45-12:00 and Wednesday 7-8 at Family Worship Center in Princeton, TX on Highway 380 @ Tickety Drive. (Call for directions 469.450.7437) www.groovekids.com Various Drama Kids International is designed to develop students speaking skills, presentation abilities, acting skills and confidence. Our developmental drama program includes speech training, creative movement, structured improvisation, character & script comprehension, dialogue development, auditioning & performance techniques and theatre games and activities. We offer parent presentations, spring performances, spring break and summer camps and speech and

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Various Dallas / Fort Worth Cocker Spaniel Rescue Hosts special Meet & Greets scheduled in the area. Over 90 rescued Cocker Spaniels are available for good homes. Visit www.dfwcares.org for more information.

Various Meetup Group for the Entire FAMILY. This is a fun and exciting meetup group for couples and families to fulfill all of their social needs! We have family nights, couple only nights, playdates for kids of all ages, mom’s night/day out, and of course daddy days! If your looking for the perfect meetup group to make new friends for yourself or for your family this is the place to be! groups.yahoo.com/group/familiesonthego Various Baylor Medical Centers provide ongoing classes in Irving, Frisco, Dallas, and Fort Worth. Classes include Baby Care Basics/Infant Safety and CPR, Prepared Childbirth Class, Infant/Child CPR, Car Seat Safety and SIDS Class, Breastfeeding Class, Sibling Class, Baby Care Basics, Cesarean Birth Class. 1-800-4-BAYLOR www.baylorhealth.edu/

Support Groups

Allen MOMS CLUB OF SE ALLEN - Are you a SAHM? Need some support, come join this welcoming group and get acquainted with great MOMS! We offer Playgroups, MNO’s, Monthly meetings and load of activities for you and your child. www.allenmoms.com Allen MOMS club of Allen - West. Fun group of stay at home moms offering support to each other and fun activities with our children. Weekly playgroups and events. Contact Michelle Suastegui at 214-383-3517 or email momsclub_allenwest@ yahoo.com.

Allen Allen Early Childhood PTA. Meet the second Friday of every month from 9:30am to 11am during the school year at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, 821 S. Greenville Ave. information@aecpta.com www.aecpta.com Allen We are the MOMS Offering Moms Support Northeast Allen MOMS Club - Christy Youens at 469-675-6652 email momscluballenne@yahoo.com Arlington MOMS Club of North Central Arlington Open House - Are you a SAHM living in Arlington between I-30 and Pioneer Pkwy? We offer activities for moms, kids, and families. E-mail: support.mom@hotmail.com or call Emily at (817)276-2589 www.momsclub.org Carrollton The Carrollton Early Childhood PTA is an organization dedicated to providing activities, support, friendships and education for parents of children age newborn through preschool.

Become involved is to meet, socialize and network with other parents in the Carrollton area.

For more information about the Carrollton Early Childhood PTA please visit our website www. cecpta.org.

Collin County The Autism society of Collin County is an organization dedicated to providing support and resources to those families affected by Autism. Sign up for ASCC’s Group E-mail list:groups.yahoo.com/group/ascc2/join Visit www.autism-ascc.org or call 214-925-2722

for more information and meeting locations. groups.yahoo.com/group/ascc2/join

Collin County The Collin County Moms Meetup group is a fun, down-to-earth group of moms dedicated to friendship and support. As the most active moms group in North Texas, we offer daily playdates, field trips, supper get-togethers, Mom’s Nights Out and family events too! Whether you work outside the home or stay at home with your kids, there’s something for you. moms. meetup.com/994/ Coppell/Valley Ranch The Coppell/Valley Ranch Early Childhood PTA (C/VR ECPTA) is a non-profit support organization for parents of infants and children age 5 and under. Everyone is welcome at our General Meeting on the 2nd Monday of every month, 9:30am-11:00am at the Coppell Family YMCA, 146 Town Center Blvd., Coppell Texas. www.cvrecpta.org.

Dallas Dallas Dyslexia Information Group (DDIG) provides information on Dyslexia, Learning Differences, and related topics. This group meets at The Winston School, 5707 Royal Lane in Dallas, 75229 from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. on the second Monday of the month except for December. For information regarding the monthly speaker, call Bob 214-351-1985 or visit .

Dallas Moms Club of Dallas: North Central Chapter boundaries are I-30 to the south, I-635 to the north (exception: Addison), Marsh Lane to the east, and Garland Road to the west. info@momsclubofdallas.org Dallas/Plano/Frisco Far North Dallas Early Childhood PTA (FNDECPTA) is dedicated to facilitating an educational and supportive network of parents of infants, toddlers and pre-school aged children.

We are the only early childhood PTA (for families with children under age 6) in Plano ISD. We meet in Room 133 at St. Andrew United Methodist Church, 1401 Mira Vista Blvd. at Plano Parkway, and offer free childcare. www.fndecpta.txpta.org

Denton The Denton Area Mothers of Multiples (DAMOM) is a support group located in North Texas for anyone who has, or is, expecting twins, triplets, quads or more! Our club’s vision is to provide support, encouragement, helpful information, listening ears, friendship, food and fun to all of our members who are “multi-blessed.”

DAMOM meets on the 2nd Thursday of every month from 7pm - 9pm at First Baptist Church of Denton, located at 1100 Malone Street Room 216. damoms.clubspaces.com/Default_css.aspx Farmers Branch My Place - We have early intervention play & communication group classes on Mondays Thursdays (please contact us for times). North Texas Therapy & Associates (972) 385-0006.

14580 E. Beltwood Parkway; Farmers Branch 75244 www.northdallasspeech.com Farmers Branch My Place - Tuesdays & Fridays. It’s an early intervention play & communication group. North Texas Therapy & Associates (972) 385-0006.

14580 E. Beltwood Parkway; Farmers Branch 75244 no website given Frisco Frisco Cares Children’s Clinic is a low-cost health clinic for uninsured children, 18 and younger, living in or attending school in Frisco, Celina or Prosper. The primary focus of Frisco Cares Children’s Clinic is to provide acute health care for uninsured children. The Clinic is held at Primera Bautista Iglesia each Wednesday (September - April) located at 8581 5th Street, in Frisco (corner of 5th and Ash). Appointment cards available at 5 PM. The doctor sees patients beginning at 6 PM. Cost per child is $5 to see the doctor. Medications are available at no cost. Proof of residency (utility bill) or proof of school enrollment (report card) is required. www.friscocares.org

Frisco Frisco Early Childhood PTA. Meet at St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 8000 Eldorado Parkway, Frisco, 2nd friday of the month @ 10am. membership@friscoecpta.org www.friscoecpta.org Frisco The Early Childhood Intervention of LifePath Systems Inc. at 2611 Internet Pkwy, suite 107, Frisco. Texas Interagency Council on Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) is a statewide program for families with children, birth to 3, with disabilities and developmental delays. Call 972-377-7289.

Garland Garland Area Early Childhood PTA. Meetings are held on the first Friday of each month, September through May, from 9:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at NorthLake Baptist Church, 1501 N. Country Club, Garland. 972-412-8540. www.earlychildhoodpta.com Lewisville Greater Lewisville Mothers & More is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of mothers through support, education, and advocacy. Meetings are held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month from 7:00-8:30pm at a restaurant in Flower Mound. For meeting locations, membership info or a current schedule of events please visit www.mothersnmore.com or call 1-888-535-7118. www.mothersnmore.com Lewisville The Greater Lewisville Special Education PTSA is an organization for parents, loved ones, and educators of children of all ages with special needs in the Greater Lewisville Area. Please visit us online at www.lisdseptsa.txpta.org or call (469) 293-6343 for more information. www. lisdseptsa.txpta.org Little Elm The Little Elm Epilepsy Support Group meets on the 2nd Thursday of every month from 7:008:00pm at the Little Elm Public Library. If you have any questions about the Little Elm Support Group, you may contact our facilitator, Tracy O’Mara at 972-987-4010.

Little Elm Writer’s Support Group 3rd Thursday of each month 6 - 8 pm Join us at the Little Elm Library and bring your friends. Located in the Town Hall building at 100 W. Eldorado Pkwy 75068.

Contact 214-975-0430 or visit www.littleelm. com to verify changes www.littleelm.com

McKinney DivorceCare and DivorceCare 4 Kids are programs offered regularly at McKinney Fellowship Bible Church. Learn more about the programs at www.divorcecare.org, but call 972-547-7000 to register. McKinney Fellowship Bible Church is located at 2801 Orchid Drive, McKinney, TX 75070. The church website is www.mcfbc.org McKinney MOMS (Moms Offering Moms Support) Club of McKinney Central. Come join us for fun daytime activities where you’ll find the support you need, and build long lasting friendships for you and your children! Visit us at www.geocities. com/mckinneymoms.com or contact us at mckinneymoms@yahoo.com www.geocities.com/ mckinneymoms

McKinney La Leche League of McKinney. Meetings are held 3rd Thursdays at 5871 W Virginia Pkwy, 10:15am to 12pm. Dee Dee 972-838-9135, Holly 214-385-0063 or Ricki 214-684-3966. www.lllusa. org/web/McKinneyTX.html McKinney MOMS (Moms Offering Moms Support) Club of McKinney East. Meet other moms who share your interests and concerns and join in enriching activities for you and your children. We plan a choice of activities every week including playgroups, park days, and outings as well as a monthly MOMS Night Out. For more info, email momsmckinneyeast@yahoo.com www.momsclub.org.

McKinney Grandparents Raising Grandkids Support Group. Meetings are held on the first Tuesday

every month from 7-8 pm at Academics Plus, 1831 W. Louisiana, McKinney, Tx. Contact us at 972-548-8788 for more information. www.academicsplus.com

Murphy/Sachse MOMS Club of Murphy/Sachse if a non-profit support group for at home mothers living in the cities of Murphy/Sachse Texas. Activities include monthly business meeting, park outings, play groups, MOMS Night Out, and field trips as well as many more. Children are always welcome! Contact us at murphy_sachse_moms@ yahoo.com for additional information. murphy_ sachse_moms@yahoo.com North Coppell MOMs Club of Coppell - NORTH (boundaries are north of Sandy Lake to 121). Join us at Going Bonkers in Lewisville for our monthly meetings.

We meet on the first Wednesday of every month at 10AM. Please call us at 866.841.9139 ext. 3555 or send us an email at momsclubofcoppell@onebox.com. Check out our Web site at www.momsclubofcoppell.org www.momsclubofcoppell.org North Dallas Mocha Moms of North Dallas meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at the Douglass Community Center on Ave. H in Plano. www.mochamomsnorthdallas.com North Richland Hills Asperger’s Support Meeting. 1st Wednesday of each month from 7:00 - 8:30 pm. Come join us! Childcare available with limited space.

Please RSVP you and your child’s attendance by emailing events@featnt.org. Located FEAT-NT Resource Center and Library, 4239 Road to the Mall, North Richland Hills 76180 www.featnt.org 817-849-1122 North Richland Hills Autism Support Meeting. 3rd Wednesday of each month from 7:00 - 8:30 pm. Come join us!

Our group has started to grow. Parents of children of all ages are welcome. We are hoping that you will find encouragement and useful resources and information when you attend.

Childcare available with limited space. Please RSVP you and your child’s attendance by emailing events@featnt.org. Located FEAT-NT Resource Center and Library, 4239 Road to the Mall, North Richland Hills 76180 www.featnt. org 817-849-1122 www.featnt.org Plano The Scoliosis Center of Excellence at Medical Center of Plano is offering free diagnostic scoliosis screenings the first Wednesday of each month by appointment for children and adolescents up to 18 years of age. www.medicalcenterofplano. com or 1-877-24-SCOLI. www.medicalcenterofplano.com Plano Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) Parent Support Group. Meets every first Monday at Schimelpfenig Library 504 Custer Rd. in Plano. Meeting time: 6:30-7:30. No children allowed at the meeting. There will not be a September meeting due to the holiday. For more contact Alinda Ford at: parent_connections@verizon.net www.spdnetwork.org/parentconnection/us.html Plano Mothers and Others. Meet the second Tuesday of the month at 9:30 in the room 230 of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church Activity Building. Call Trish Scogin 214-504-0640.

Plano The Plano/Collin County branch of the AAUW. Monthly meetings at the Davis Library, 7501 Independence Parkway, Plano the 2nd Monday of each month. Contact Carol at 972 862 3460 for more info. www.aauwplanocc.org Plano CHILD & FAMILY Guidance Center. Contact our Plano Office at 4030 West Plano Parkway, Suite 211. 972.612.5989 www.childrenandfamilies.org Plano Collin County Early Childhood PTA. Monthly meetings on the 2nd Monday of the month, 9:45 a.m., at Parkway Hills Baptist Church, located at

2700 Dallas Parkway, in Plano. Call Karen Maddox at 972-491-0260

Plano Plano Kiwanis Club meets each Wednesday for breakfast at 7:00 AM (always over by 8:00 AM) at La Madeleine Cafe, 5000 West Park Blvd at Preston Road. www.kiwanis.org/club/plano Plano La Leche League of Plano meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month from 10:30 to 11:45 am at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 3601 West 15th Street, Room 105. Call Beth 972-747-1297, Cleo 972-208-0158, or Emilie 469-366-7205, www.lllusa.org/web/PlanoTX.html Plano MOMS Club of Plano North Central chapter.

Meeting the first Thursday of every month, at 9:30 AM, at the Atonement Lutheran Church on Legacy just west of Coit. For more information contact 214-473-4144 momsclubnc@yahoo.com Plano MOMS Club of Plano-North. Monthly Social Meeting is the first Wednesday of every month, at 10:00am, at the Baha’i Faith Plano Center at 4200 Hedgcoxe (just West of Coit Rd). For more information contact membership@momsclubplanonorth or 972-464-1958 www.momslubplanonorth.com Plano MOMS (Moms Offering Moms Support) Club of Plano Central Are you a stay at home mom living south of Spring Creek? Please join us for weekly playdates and monthly Mom’s night out! We are small but growing and would love to have you. momsclubplano_central@yahoo.com Plano Own my own mentoring program is a mentoring program for children with incarcerated parents sponsored by Dedicated Women of Christ.

Contact Latahra Smith, 972-3778254 Plano Collin County Homeschool Playgroup. geocities.com/collincountyhomeschoolplaygroup/ Richardson La Leche League Of Richardson meets every 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month at 7pm.

Call Jayne 972-758-7236, Tiffany 972-234-5853 or Mary 972-907-9079, www.lllusa.org/web/RichardsonTX.html Richardson Post Partum Depression Support Group. Nonprofit group Dallas Association for Parent Education will hold a free, monthly Post Partum Depression Support Group at their office in Richardson. This also offers network support for moms and families. To sign up or for more info call the DAPE office at 972-699-0420, Mon. - Fri., 9am - 3pm. dallasparents@hotmail.com www. dallasparents.org Various RISE was organized “To help persons with physical challenges gain independence through a learning experience in adaptive outdoor adventures and sporting programs.” RISE membership and programs are FREE for qualified participants. Visit www.riseadventures.org or contact Joel Hendrix at jhendrix@riseadventures.org 469-762-5075 www.riseadventures.org Wylie Moms & More: Be you a Mom, Dad, Aunt, Uncle, Grandparent or Nanny, we welcome all caregivers from Wylie and the surrounding communities. Our Monthly Convergence is held on the first Thursday of each month. Children are always welcome to all our activities. Drinks and snacks will be provided. For more information and directions, please contact our Membership Chair, Grady at 972-941-8597 or visit our website www.wyliemomsandmore.org Submitting Events All events must be submitted online at www. northtexaskids.com. Click on the submissions button and follow instructions. Please keep entries short and to the point.

North Texas Kids • November 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

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Focus on our Advertisers...

Here at North Texas Kids, we take our advertisers very seriously. We want to make sure that the companies we work with and the companies you are using provide quality,

reliable services. As moms and dads ourselves, we have visited most of the facilities mentioned in our publication and used a lot of these businesses for our own children. It is a parent’s job to be as well-informed as possible about the decisions they make for their children. We hope that our newspaper helps make that job a little easier by providing you

with quality information! Want to share with other moms about an experience you had with one of our advertisers? Please email the publisher and we will be happy to share your

opinions with our readers. Want a personal referral to one of the places mentioned in our paper? Email us and we will share that, too! Our email address is info@northtexaskids.com.

Amy Columbus Photography But what do I wear? A guide to being ready for your close-up with Amy Columbus

“What on earth are we going to wear?” Not long after scheduling a professional photography session, this dreaded question arises. You can’t go wrong with solid colors. You don’t want 40 photos of Aaron in his day-glo Sponge Bob shirt. And that huge bow on Violet’s head will draw attention away from her sparkling hazel eyes. But where do you go from there? Worry no more – that’s where this guide enters the, ahem, picture.

Maternity: There are many simple wardrobe options that result in the gorgeous and popular bare belly shots. Try a fitted tank top and low-waisted yoga pants (black looks especially sleek). The “fitted” part for any wardrobe choice is key. A few fun shots with hip tees with clever proclamations on them are always nice as well! I also like to use fabric wraps to add elegance to maternity shots. Be sure to keep tightly-fitted elastic waistbands and socks far away for a few hours before your shoot to avoid indentations in your skin.

Wristwatches are also best left off for the session.

Newborn: Newborns are absolute perfection when they wear nothing at all. Shots with a bare bottomed baby in mom or dad’s arms are breathtaking.

Long-sleeved black shirts for Mom and Dad provide a sophisticated, dramatic “backdrop.” For variety and some fun pops of color, I also like to use the swaddling blankets that give the images a personal touch.

Siblings & Families: Wardrobe choices for sibling and family portraits should be complimentary and coordinated, but not uniform. The cardinal rule of family wardrobe for portraits is simple: choose items for the group as if you were creating one outfit. If all your color choices were on one person, would the result be pleasing? For those who are hesitant to break away from the monochrome madness, choose one simple patterned item (for example, a print dress for your daughter) and then select the rest of the family’s clothing from complementary colors.

Putting it all Together: Now that you know the basic wardrobe tips for various types of portrait sessions, how do you put it all together? Start by defining the style sensibility you want your portraits to reflect. Do you want to capture your typical style, or perhaps a more formal or casual version of that? Look at your furniture or a magazine spread that catches your eye. Get inspired! These preferences will reflect your own style and point you in the right direction for your wardrobe choices. Following these simple rules will result in elegant portraits that tell the story of your family.

Spicar’s Martial Arts You can’t go wrong with Spicar’s Martial Arts in Southlake Texas. We are a professional martial arts center serving communities in and around Southlake. We are a certified member school of Taekwondo America, a national organization and a leader in martial arts education for kids, teens and adults. Our students develop self-discipline, patience, focus, respect as well as self-defense in a fun and safe environment.

Mr. Spicar and Ms. Stolkova, owners of the center, are senior certified instructors with Taekwondo America and have years of teaching experience.

“We are a positive school” says Mr. Spicar “and we always try to bring out the best in each of our students. Be it a child, a teenager or an adult”.

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North Texas Kids • November 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

We are a classical school. We have very high standards for our students.

We have strict uniform requirements and code of conduct in class. We have a strict hierarchy and students must earn their way up the hierarchy. We teach the oldest style of Taekwondo, a Korean martial art and also the most practiced martial art in the world, and we teach a very self-defense oriented version of the art. But most of all we use martial arts training to help people be better rounded individuals in their daily lives.

However we have Americanized our approach to students and how we relate to them. In other words, we do not adhere to all the customs and practices of eastern training. We hate being bowed to every ten seconds. We do not teach our classes in Korean language, teach Korean culture, or oriental philosophy. Not only have we forgone some cultural differences over the years, we have kept up to date with the science of exercise to find better ways to train safely and motivate our students. Old training drills deemed to be potentially harmful are done away with and better methods for achieving the same results are used. In those terms, we are more modern and American in our approach. For more information visit us at www.powerofkarate.com or call 817-488-6009.

Planet Pizza Wow! Time flies when you’re having fun. We are beginning our fourth year as the owners of Planet Pizza and it’s time for some changes. If you have not visited the new Tot Spot for our friends under 2 years you should stop by to check it out. It’s a great place for mom’s groups to gather and get to know one another.

New in the works is the addition of a bounce house for our more active customers and Wi Fi for those busy moms and dads. We will also be adding new redemption games in a few weeks.

Now that school has started for some of our customers we are working with their elementary school PTA’s for Family Fun Night Fundraisers and PTA Silent Auctions. Last year Planet Pizza donated over 100 parties to local Nonprofit Organizations.

If you haven’t been to Planet Pizza before we invite you to come and play. When you enter Planet Pizza Plano, you walk into an indoor carnival.

Purchase a day pass and your kids can ride (inside) to their hearts content.

Parents are never charged an admission price just to walk in the door. The rides are geared for younger kids (two-eight), but older kids might also be entertained for an hour or two. Rides include bumper cars, a pirate’s ship, jet planes, flying tea cups, and a roller coaster. Some say that the big attraction here is not the rides, but the pizza itself. Forget about preconceived notions of a microwaveable frozen pie. Other options include sandwiches, hot dogs, and salads. Plenty of tables fill the front half of the facility so moms and dads can strategically congregate and chat while keeping a watchful eye on the kids.

Birthday parties are a natural and we have packages that include unlimited rides and softplay, a reserved table for one hour (during the 2nd hour of party), a Planet Pizza party specialist, game tokens, soft drinks (free refills during table time), and a gift for the birthday child. Plates, cups, napkins, and utensils are also provided. Come on in and play anytime. For more information visit www.planetpizzaplano.com or call 972-985-7711.

Index of Advertisers 911 Sitters

26

Inwood Soccer

A & J Hair Designs

26

It’s a Sensory World

A Child Safe Home

19

Jump Town

46

SoccerTots

33

A Therapy Connection

26

Jump Zone

23

Spanish Schoolhouse

29

2

K12 – Texas Virtual Academy

2

Speaker Coop

42

35

Spectacular Cakes

46

14, 36

Speech TX

26

Adventure Kids Playcare Amy Columbus Photography Aqua Fit Swim & Wellness

15 19, 25

Kidokinetics

35 9, 36

Learning RX

Slappy’s Playhouse Smashing Times

9 10, 25

Art A Rama

24

Let’s Pretend

26

Spicar’s Martial Arts

24

Babies R Us

28

Lorie Burch, Attorney

21

Spring Valley Athletic Association

34

Boomerangs

16

Made of Sugar & Spice

26

SS Noah

7

Bright Women

26

Maid Brigade

20

State Farm Insurance

6

C & R Medical

14

Matco Services

11

Strikz

29

Canton in the City

20

Maxim Healthcare Services

46

Stroller Fit Dallas

22

Child Play Music

25

Menarche Parties R Us

26

Sweet & Sassy

17

Children’s Home Healthcare

16

Minette Riordan, Ph.D

38

Teasserts

18

24, 36

Music Together

10

The Artist Within

22

Custom Sports Products

34

’Neath the Wreath

29

The Gymnastics Place

25

Dr Pepper StarCenter

47

NexGym

15

The Ice at Stonebriar

11

Drama Kids International

24

Noah’s Ark Animal Workshop

27

The Purple Cow

10

Eagle Gymnastics

6

Nokia Theater

3

Eagle Martial Arts

34

North Texas Kids Expo

48

The Trains at North Park

Eisemann Center

46

Nottingham Station

27

The Shady Lady Teacup Antiques

26

ER Centers of America

29

O’Reillys McDonald’s

The Wiggly Play Center

19

Evelyn’s Janitorial

40

Paige’s Swim School

24

Therapy 2000

For those About To Rock School

25

Peppermint Baby Boutique

15

Truck Time

18

Freckle Basket

20

Planet Pizza

18

Turning Point Gala

46

Frisco Athletic Network

34

Plano Sports Authority

32

Ultimate Body

34

Frisco Sports Authority (PSA)

32

Princess & Pirates Dress Up Parties

26

Under the Umbrella

24

Gotta Dance

25

Pump It Up Jr.

7

Gray School of Music

9

Rainforest Cafe

17

Velocity Sports

16

Gymboree Play & Music

16

Revelation Dance

25, 47

Words R Me

18

Healthy Texan Pediatrics

10

Rich Educational Consulting

19

Work at Home United

26

Help the Homeless Walk-a-thon

39

Rockwall Indoor Sports Expo

35

I Heart Yogurt

10

Simply Pretend

26

Club Z

20, 47

The Reading Ranch

18, 36

US Toy Company

3

7

7

Please tell our advertisers you saw them in North Texas Kids!

Find links to all of these businesses on our website at www.northtexaskids.com North Texas Kids • November 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

45

Plano’s Favorite Place to Celebrate!

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Call us for daycare, church and fundraising specials.

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3045 W. 15th St. Plano, TX 75075

Coit

972-867-JUMP(5867)

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N

North Texas Kids • November 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

Join the hottest dance classes in town!

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Revelation Dance Studio is home of the remarkable “F Troop,” our competitive Hip Hop dance team under the leadership of choreographer Fenton Fulgham. F Troop has achieved many awards gaining both recognition and honor in the dance industry. Call for more information.

972-596-1400 Check out our schedule online to find the perfect class for you and your friends.

www.RevelationDanceStudio.net 2001 Coit Rd. Suite 210 (NW corner of Park/Coit) Plano, Texas 75075

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North Texas Kids • November 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

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"ENElTING THE 0ROGRAMS OF #)49 (OUSE Saturday, November 15 from 10am to 5pm A FREE fun-filled day of entertainment, education and information for the entire family 0LANO #ENTRE s %AST 3PRING #REEK 0ARKWAY 0LANO *UST ADDED &2%% BILINGUAL CONCERT WITH +ENYA AND & 4ROOP AT PM $ANCE WITH 2ADIO $ISNEY 0HOTO CONTEST SPONSORED BY -ETROPLEX "ABY +IDS 0LAY WITH 2ONALD -C$ONALD AND THE GANG

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North Texas Kids • November 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com