Birmingham Parent Magazine - June 2014

THE PREMIER PARENTING MAGAZINE FOR CENTRAL ALABAMA

FREE

JUNE 2014

Summer Training, Camps & Exercise for

YOUR CHILD ATHLETE

Carly Chandler: CHANGING LIVES AND LAWS

What Do All Those

GAME RATINGS Mean?

ANNOUNCING OUR 2014 FAMILY FAVORITES WINNERS page 37

Supporting our Community.

LOCAL SPORTS

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EDITOR'S NOTE Happy Father’s Day

I

often see wonderful tributes to moms and dads on their special days. But how do you celebrate Father’s Day when your dad was less than “fatherly,” when many of your memories are less than special?

My dad passed away in 2000, and we had a tumultuous relationship at best. I know I made mistakes – but he had trouble getting along with anyone. His closest relationships were his mom and mine, and my mom was a saint, the most self-less person I’ve ever known.

It’s often easy to dwell on the bad, when there’s more bad than good. But as I try to teach my children to try to find the best in people, I need to lead by example, and this is one place I’ve struggled to do so. But I’m doing better as each year passes.

Old wounds don’t sting as much, and good memories tend to float to the surface more quickly now.

As I look back on my dad, I think maybe he really did the best he could. Maybe his version of love was the only one he had the ability to give. I’d like to think so.

I now like to remember the times when I was a very little girl. I loved to ride in his work truck, how my friend and I would chase him down the street in it, wanting him to blow his horn, and do the same if we could catch him on his way back home.

How’d he let us play in the back of it in the driveway.

I remember our yearly treks to Daytona Beach, Florida. He believed it was the only beach to go to, and every year, no matter what our budget, we managed to go there. My walks with him on the beach brought us closer, for a few minutes, that the great ocean that divided us years later. He loved the ocean, and he passed on his love of it to me.

I remember times I sat in his lap in his recliner, and those snuggles are the best I can remember. Yes, he’d let me take a puff on his cigar. It was the late 1960s, and I thought it was cool.

I can remember times when my children were mad at their dad – my husband – and I would make the comparisons, which I know I shouldn’t have done. But I wanted them to know I knew what a “bad” dad and a “good” dad were. I wanted them to know what a treasure they had in David Evans. And they do, as do I. This Father’s Day I’ll celebrate my husband, a great dad, and my father, who did the best he could with what he was given and I know loved me as much as he could. I hope your Father’s Day is wonderful, and you can celebrate the special father figure in your life, and that of your child’s.

Thanks for picking up this issue!

Carol Muse Evans, Publisher/Editor carol@birminghamparent.com

4 | birminghamparent | june 2014

3590-B Hwy. 31 S. #289 Pelham, AL 35124 205-987-7700 205-987-7600 FAX www.birminghamparent.com

editorial Publishers David & Carol Evans Editor Carol Muse Evans Associate Editor Lori Chandler Pruitt Calendar & Business David Evans Contributors, Dr. Vivian Friedman, Christopher “Bull” Garlington, Matt Cox, Michelle Shirk J.D., Paige Townley

sales Special Events Coordinator Sharon Menachemi Account Executives Kayla Fricks, Melanie Cade Webmaster David Evans Social Media Melanie Cade

art & production Art Director Hilary Moreno Distribution T&P Deliveries Legal Counsel Balch & Bingham LLP

BIRMINGHAM PARENT IS A PUBLICATION OF EVANS PUBLISHING, LLC. Publishers: Carol Muse Evans, David K. Evans Sr. Birmingham Parent (EIN20-0694149) is published monthly by Evans Publishing LLC. www.birminghamparent.com or editor@ birminghamparent.com. Birmingham Parent is © 2013 by Evans Publishing LLC. Family Connections Media ©2011 by Evans Publishing LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Editorial submissions are welcome. For back issues, please send a self-addressed 10” x 13” envelope with $4 for postage and handling.

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JUNE2014

11

FREE

THE PREMIER PARENTING MAGAZINE FOR CENTRAL ALABAMA

JUNE 2014

Summer Training, Camps & Exercise for

YOUR CHILD ATHLETE

38

38 CARLY CHANDLER

34 What if you had a great list of recommended places to make purchases, get repairs and a referral system from area parents, just like you?

Now you do.

Our readers have spoken.

It’s Birmingham Parent’s Family Favorites Awards 2014, the first awards presented BY parents to their FAVORITES in Birmingham.

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR FARMERS MARKET VISIT

36

Mean?

departments

04

Editor’s Note Happy Father's Day

07

Parenting with Dr. Friedman

08 24 26 42 46

Short Stuff June Pull Out Calendar June Expanded Calendar of Events School News Death by Children: Shower Scene

THE CHILD ATHLETE SUMMER TRAINING, CAMPS & EXCERCISE

Jacob, 6 and Ava, 4 of Birmingham take a swim at the Levite Jewish Community Center. For more information about membership, camps and aquatics visitwww.bhamjcc.org or call 205-879-0411. PHOTO BY DONALD LOVE PHOTOGRAPHY, 205-902-5357; www.dlovephotography.com.

6 | birminghamparent | june 2014

GAME RATINGS

ANNOUNCING OUR 2014 FAMILY FAVORITES WINNERS

CHANGING LIVES AND LAWS

2014 FAMILY FAVORITES WINNERS

What Do All Those

Carly Chandler: CHANGING LIVES AND LAWS

GREAT AND 32 THE POWERFUL M

36 32 11

parenting

Parenting with Dr. Friedman My 3-year-old daughter spends weekdays with me and weekends with her father. This is a court ordered temporary arrangement until the divorce trial. How do I explain why she has to leave her mom at the end of our week together? She cries each time. This arrangement is new to her and to me and we need help in adjusting.

Q:

answer: Simple factual explanations tend to work best with toddlers.

Explain to her that she will spend time with both mommy and daddy. Tell her that she will have a bed and toys in both places (if this is true).

Tell her that you will be waiting for her and happy to see her when she comes home.

Tell her this in time units that she can understand. “One day” means less to a toddler than “You will eat breakfast, lunch and dinner with your dad. Then you will

go to bed and come back to mommy when you wake up.”

Send a teddy bear or a favorite blanket with her.

Psychologists call these special comfort toys “transitional objects” because they help the child to transition from being with the parent to being alone. While a stuffed toy won’t take the place of her parent, it may give her some comfort.

The key is to express confidence that she will be safe when she is not with you and that you will be there for her when she returns.

A male friend of mine won custody of his child. His wife has drug and alcohol problems. She has a child from her first marriage that is not my friend’s biological child. He did not seek custody of this child. If the court found the mother to be unfit, why didn’t they take the other child away too?

Q:

answer: Although I am not an attorney and do not give legal advice, I will attempt to answer this question from my experience as a child psychologist.

The court is a process, not a person. It considers only the motions filed before it. It does not look at issues it is not asked to address. Your friend, I presume, did not file for custody of the other child. The divorce court does not ask questions about issues in the community outside the specific situation it is addressing.

In a divorce, the parents are separating and the child must go to one home or the other.

The court is forced to look at which parent can better serve the child. Without a custody dispute, there is no mandate to evaluate the quality of parent-

ing. While we require a license to drive a car, parenting requires no license. Just because a parent is not a good parent isn’t grounds for removing a child from his home.

Unless your friend seeks custody of this non-related child, divorce court is not the correct agency to address your concerns about his safety. If you are worried, speak to the teachers or guidance counselor at his school. They can then observe the child to determine if he is being harmed and they can take action if necessary.

If the situation is severe and you have direct knowledge, you can contact DHR yourself. Do not call them simply because you do not like the mother’s morals or parenting style. DHR deals with abuse and neglect.

Vivian K. Friedman Ph. D. is a child and family psychologist at UAB, Department of Psychiatry. Send questions for response in this column to Viviankf@gmail.com. No personal replies are sent.

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DENTISTRY FOR

short stuff

CHILDREN & SPECIAL NEEDS PERSONS

Dr. Tabitha Jarman Gatrey, DMD

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PHOTO COURTESY BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM OF ART

Lethal Beauty: Samurai Weapons and Armor at the BMA Lethal Beauty: Samurai Weapons and Armor at the Birmingham Museum of Art offers visitors the opportunity to see actual arms and armor made for use by the samurai. The 63 objects in the exhibition date from the 13th to the 20th centuries and feature five full sets of armor complete with masks and helmets.

Remarkable weapons include long and short swords – the oldest of which dates to the 1200s 8 | birminghamparent | june 2014

– daggers and even a few examples of early Japanese rifles. In addition, a brilliantly painted pair of folding screens illustrate samurai battles in the famous warrior epic Tale of Heike.

Lethal Beauty, as the title evokes, contrasts the deadliness of samurai weapons and the artistic beauty with which they were made. An education space designed especially for children will feature a Design Bar where kids

can design their own armor, a large magnetic haiku board for poetry, a reading space, and children’s sized samurai suits that kids can try on.

Docent-led tours are available July 1 through September 7 for groups of 10 or more adults or students. For more information or to book a tour, please call 205-328-7628. Admission is free for children 12 & under; $5 for kids 13-18; $10 for adults.

Barber Museum Named World's Largest Motorcycle Museum

by Guinness World Records®

short stuff

PHOTO COURTESY OF BARBER MUSEUM

Guinness World Records recently named the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum the “Largest Motorcycle Museum” in the world. The 144,000-square-foot, five-story museum is home to nearly 1,400 motorcycles, of which about 700 are on exhibit.

The museum opened in its current location at the 830-acre Barber Motorsports Park in 2003.

George Barber, Alabama native and third-generation owner of Barber Dairies, began collecting motorcycles 24 years ago. The Barber Museum is a 501(c)(3) Not For Profit Foundation and is considered the largest philanthropic project taken on by an individual in the history of Alabama.

According to London, England-based Guinness World Records Ltd, “The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum houses the world’s largest collection of vintage and contemporary motorcycles. The 1,398 unique exhibits are displayed over 144,000 square feet in a five-story building set in the Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, as verified on 19 March 2014.”

SHERIFF’S CORNER: Stopping Senior Citizen Abuse Senior citizens are the fastest growing segment of our population. Protecting these valued people continues to be one of the most important responsibilities we have.

Abuse tends to take place where the senior lives. Abusers can often be adult children, other family members or spouses and partners. Senior abuse can also occur in institutional settings, especially long-term care facilities.

Don’t be dismissive of a senior’s complaints or signs of abuse. If things just don’t “feel” right to you, don’t hesitate to contact the authorities to discuss.

If you suspect abuse, call the DHR Adult Abuse Hotline at 1-800-458-7214 or contact the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Try to provide as much detail as possible, especially the elderly victim’s name and address and any information you may have about the offender.

Courtesy of Jefferson County Sheriff Mike Hale

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2014 FAMILY FAVORITES WINNERS Here’s A List of Favorites from Families Like Yours You’ll Want to Keep All Year Long!

What if you had a great list of recommended places to make purchases, get repairs and a referral system from area parents, just like you?

Now you do. Our readers have spoken. It’s Birmingham Parent’s Family Favorites Awards 2014, the first awards presented BY parents to their FAVORITES in Birmingham. We continue to shine a spotlight on the best of the best – you nominated them, and you voted for them!

Here are the winners from this year’s contest. Last year we had a record number of votes, and this year we surpassed that number by almost 400 votes!

Since some of the voting was close, we have continued with an “honorable mention” in those categories.

So, when you see our logo in a place of business, you’ll know it’s a great place to do business.

You’ll know other families like you liked it enough to vote it a BIRMINGHAM PARENT FAMILY FAVORITE.

PHOTO BY DONALD LOVE

birminghamparent.com | 11

FAVORITE AUTO SERVICE

-

Express Oil Change & Service Center

Whether it’s a simple oil change or other auto maintenance and repair work, this repeat winner is a longtime family favorite with Birmingham Parent readers. There are more than 170 locations of Express Oil over 10 states, so it’s easy to find a location convenient to where you live or work. Every location also houses a full-service automotive mechanical department. Find out more at www.expressoil.com.

HONORABLE MENTION: Firestone,

www.firestonecompleteautocare.com.

FAVORITE CAR DEALER

- Hoover Toyota

Well-known for serving the Birmingham area, Hoover Toyota is one of Alabama’s oldest Toyota dealers, offering more than 20 years of sales, service and parts expertise to its customers. Their philosophy is to “give, give, give information.” Whether it’s a new Toyota or a used car, Hoover Toyota is a great Birmingham area Favorite. www.hoovertoyota.com.

HONORABLE MENTION: CarMax, www.carmax.com; Tameron Honda, www.tameronhonda.com.

FAVORITE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM

- Hoover City Schools The Hoover City School System has been a big draw for people moving into the area. And it’s no wonder – Hoover City Schools provide each student with opportunities to develop exemplary character and achieve personal excellence through a rigorous and relevant curriculum. Their motto is “Learning for Life.” www.hoovercityschools.net.

HONORABLE MENTION: Vestavia Hills

City Schools.

FAVORITE PRIVATE SCHOOL

- Briarwood Christian School

To prepare its students to serve Christ faithfully and effectively in the 21st century, Briarwood Christian School is committed to providing them with a comprehensive, Christian, and college preparatory educational program of uncompromising quality within a stimulating and nurturing environment.

From its Foundations and Frameworks program, an instructional reading program for elementary school children, to its advanced placement classes, BCS is providing students with an education that develops the Christian mind, nurtures the soul, and 12 | birminghamparent | june 2014

shapes the character ... for today and for the future. www.briarwoodchristianschool.org.

their thorough house cleaning services. Learn more at www.maids.com..

HONORABLE MENTION: Covenant

- Pump It Up

Classical School, http://www.covenantclassical.com.

CHILDCARE

OR PRESCHOOL

- Covenant Classical School This non-denominational Christian preschool’s educators hold to core Christian beliefs and use the A Beka system, a proven and trusted curriculum for early learning. With four campuses in the Birmingham area, it’s not hard to find a conveniently located Covenant Classical School – where children really do learn early. www.covenantclassical.com.

BIRTHDAY PARTY PLACE Repeat winner Pump it Up, with two locations in Trussville and Pelham, is a longtime favorite among our voters.

There’s fun for all ages in their private, indoor arenas with gigantic inflatables.

A Pump It Up party combines imagination and inflatables to create the most exciting party your child has ever had.

It’s always stress-free and personalized to your child’s needs. In addition to parties, Pump it Up has many open events where your child can play all through the year. Learn more at http:// www.pumpitupparty.com/al.

HONORABLE MENTION: Chuck E

Cheese, www.chuckecheese.com.

HONORABLE MENTION: Odyssey

Early Schools, www.odysseyearlyschool.com.

BEST COMMUNITY IN WHICH TO LIVE

- Hoover The city of Hoover, just south of Birmingham, was incorporated in 1967 and is in both Jefferson and Shelby counties. It is known for its beauty, excellent public schools, shopping, great restaurants, beautiful neighborhoods and more. It is the sixth largest city in Alabama, and boasts a population of more than 83,000. www.hooveral.org HONORABLE MENTION: Vestavia

Hills, www.vhal.org; Homewood, www. homewoodal.net.

REALTY COMPANY

- RealtySouth You see their signs everywhere, and it’s no wonder. Offering home sales, mortgages, title insurance, relocation and a closing center, and multiple offices and agents, RealtySouth is a one-stop shop for buying and selling a home and more. www.realtysouth.com.

HONORABLE MENTION: ReMax,

www.remax.com.

MAID SERVICE

- The Maids That little yellow car – and the fourperson cleaning powerhouse inside it – are always a topic of cleaning conversation amongst friends and family. These experts at The Maids deliver quality, trust, professionalism and attentiveness each and every day.

They’ve built their business over the past 32 years one satisfied customer at a time – relying on positive recommendations to spread the word about

BIRTHDAY PARTY ENTERTAINER

- The “Clown”

There were a lot of votes in this category, but no clear winner, other than simply, “a clown.” It’s an age-old type of performance, and many of today’s clowns do anything from slapstick comedy to balloon animals. Check out www.birthdaysinbirmingham.com for a great list of party performing clowns, as well as the July issue of Birmingham Parent!

BIRTHDAY PARTY RENTALS

- Fun Source Rentals Fun Source is a great source for the everyday backyard party or birthday party. They carry the largest variety of licensed Disney moonwalks, bouncers and inflatables in the state. Fun

Three Years in a Row is something to

SMILE ABOUT!

Thank you for voting Covenant Classical Schools & Daycare® as Favorite Preschool and Favorite Parent’s Night Out! We’re honored to have been chosen as your Family Favorite! ®

BIRMINGHAM LOCATIONS

Trace Crossings Pelham Valleydale Homewood Coming Soon!

999 %%5.+10 %1/

birminghamparent.com | 13

Source also carries a full line of tents, tables, chairs, linens, and accessories to accommodate all weddings, corporate events, tailgating functions or large gatherings. www.funsourceinc.com.

FAVORITE BIRTHDAY CAKE

- Edgar’s Bakery

Edgar’s Bakery and Café has a long history of being the Cadillac of cakes in Birmingham, so it’s no wonder that they are a Birmingham Parent family favorite. Whether it’s a simple cupcake or a special order birthday cake, Edgar’s delivers on beauty, quality and taste. Multiple locations. www.edgarsbakery.com.

HONORABLE MENTION: Publix, www.

publix.com; Dreamcakes, www.dreamcakes-bakery.com.

FAVORITE KIDS DAY CAMP

-

Birmingham YMCAs

With several locations of the Birmingham-area YMCA, you don’t have to look far to find a great facility or a great camp. Maybe that’s why our readers voted the Y day camps the best this year - again! Check out locations and camps at www.ymcabham.org.

HONORABLE MENTION: Mountain

Brook Gymnastics, www.mountainbrookgymnastics.com.

FAVORITE GYMNASTICS/ DANCE CLASS

- Mountain Brook Gymnastics This second-time Favorites winner, more than 30-year-old Mountain Brook Gymnastics is known for excellence, dedication and outstanding

Favorite In-state Vacation GULL SHORES / ORANGE BEACH

dreds of years of martial arts tradition to provide you with the most effective experience available. Multiple area locations. www.tigerrockmartialarts.com.

FAVORITE EXERCISE FACILITY OR GYM

- Birmingham YMCAs

With several locations of the Birmingham-area YMCA, you don’t have to look far to find a great facility. Known among our readers as a great fitness location for kids, it’s obvious it’s a great facility for families and adults, as well. Find exercise programs, classes, workout equipment and more. Check out locations and fitness programs at www.ymcabham.org.

HONORABLE MENTION: Life Time Fit-

ness, www.lifetimefitness.com; Planet Fitness, www.planetfitness.com/AL/ Birmingham.

FAVORITE DANCE CLASS

- TIE: Corky Bell and TeriDona School of Dance

The Corky Bell School of Dance represents more than 50 years of dance tradition in and around Birmingham, offering all levels of instruction from child beginner to adult. Classes are offered in tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, gymnastics and creative movement. Also workshops in drama, personality singing, ballroom dancing and pageant prep. Visit the website to find a school near you. www.corkybelldance.com.

TeriDona School of Dance in Hueytown is a new Family Favorite, owned by Renee Morris Lamar and Heather Goolsby Roberts. Offering all types of dance, as well as pageant prep and even birthday parties, check out their website to find the class that’s right for your child. http://www.teridonadance.com.

FAVORITE KIDS’ OVERNIGHT CAMP

- Camp Cosby

Since 1922, Camp Cosby has helped set the standard of excellence in resident camping through programs that match the interests and abilities of each camper. At Camp Cosby, boys and girls have the opportunity to build self-esteem, grow, learn, and challenge themselves. Campers also learn to develop values such as caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. www. campcosby.org.

HONORABLE MENTION: Camp Win-

nataska, www.winnataska.org.

14 | birminghamparent | june 2014

results in the community. Mountain Brook Gymnastics is recognized as one of the finest gymnastics programs in the nation and currently boasts an enrollment of close to 800 students. www.mountainbrookgymnastics.com.

HONORABLE MENTION: Head over

Heels Gymnastics, www.headoverheelsgyms.com.

FAVORITE MARTIAL ARTS CLASS

- Tiger-Rock

The first winner in this category, TigerRock Martial Arts is part of a national company providing health, skills and fitness training and Martial Arts programs for members of all ages. Tiger-Rock programs are a blend of modern sport science, the latest research, and hun-

FAVORITE AREA FAIR OR FESTIVAL

- Magnolia Festival - Gardendale This long-running, annual, two-day April festival north of Birmingham is a great family event at the Gardendale Civic Center. The festival features family activities, live entertainment on several stages, Midway Carnival, pooch parade, more than 200 food and shopping vendors and more with FREE admission. www.magnoliafestival.org

FAVORITE IN-STATE VACATION

- Gulf Shores/Orange Beach This multiple-year winner is no surprise. Gulf Shores and Orange Beach is a destination families never tire of.

Visitors and newcomers to Alabama

THANK YOU FOR VOTING US

#1 FAMILY

FAVORITE

DENTIST!

www.alpediatricdentistry.com DR. CLARK THOMAS DR. LAUTEN JOHNSON Welcoming children 6 months & older.

KIDS LOVE US, PARENTS TRUST US!

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HOOVER LOCATION

MONTCLAIR LOCATION

1015 Brocks Gap Pkwy Hoover, AL 35244

3918 Montclair Rd. Suite 206 Birmingham, AL 35213

205.982.0112

205.879.6150

Dr. Clark Thomas

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birminghamparent.com | 15

don’t always realize we have wonderful beaches right in our state. Just a short drive away, a visit to Orange Beach and Gulf Shores offers the perfect balance of non-stop activity and lay-around, doing-nothing time.

There are the beautiful beaches, great golf courses, deep sea fishing, fun water adventures, great seafood, and historical attractions such as Fort Morgan, the site of the Civil War Battle of Mobile Bay. Hike wildlife trails gazing at shorebirds. Learn more at www. gulfshores.com.

FAVORITE LOCAL FAMILY ATTRACTION

- Birmingham Zoo

Go outdoors to the Birmingham Zoo, where there is also always something fresh and different to see and do. Don’t miss the new “Born to Be Wild” exhibit, including the Soaring Safari Zipline Adventure and The Baby Bunch. Then there are the longtime favorites – the butterfly encounter, sea lion feedings, elephants and giraffes, predators and more, along with fun extras like the carousel, train and camel rides. www.birminghamzoo.com.

HONORABLE MENTION: McWane Sci-

ence Center, www.mcwane.org; Alabama Splash Adventure, Waterpark, www.splashadventurewaterpark.com.

FAVORITE BOOK STORE

- Books-A-Million

Favorite Local Family Attraction BIRMINGHAM ZOO

FAVORITE OUT-OF-STATE VACATION

- Destin, Florida

Destin is our part of the country’s little piece of paradise, with sugar-white sands and emerald waters, all within a five-hour drive of the Birmingham area. Once a sleepy fishing village, it’s now a bustling family destination. It’s definitely a family favorite. www.emeraldcoastfl.com.

HONORABLE MENTION: Walt Disney

World, disneyworld.disney.go.com/.

FAVORITE KIDS MEAL

- Chick-fil-A

What family hasn’t spent money at Chick-fil-A, driven through their superefficient drive through or had children play on the super-clean indoor play place? Affordable food, fast and family friendly make Chick-fil-A kids meals your family favorite. And of course, don’t’ forget the cool prizes. Chick-fil-A offers more nutritious offerings and sides with their kids’ meals, still at affordable prices. www.chick-fil-a.com.

HONORABLE MENTION: McDonald’s,

www.happymeal.com.

16 | birminghamparent | june 2014

There’s nothing like turning the pages of a real book and browsing through real books in a bookstore. Based in Birmingham, Books-a-Million offers the real bookstore experience along with the opportunity to shop its vast selection online. www.booksamillion.com

FAVORITE CHILDREN’S BOOK SECTION IN STORE

- Books-A-Million

Books-A-Million serves the children’s book community with its Kids-A-Million in store and online. Find just the right books for your child. Also a Family Favorite general bookstore. www. booksamillion.com/kidsamillion.

HONORABLE MENTION: Barnes & Noble, www.barnesandnoble.com.

FAVORITE FREE THING TO DO

- Birmingham Botanical Gardens

Alabama’s largest living museum, with more than 12,000 different plants in its living collections, is this year’s Family Favorite. The Gardens’ 67.5 acres has more than 25 unique gardens, more than 30 works of original outdoor sculpture and miles of serene paths. www.bbgardens.org.

HONORABLE MENTION: Railroad Park,

www.railroadpark.org.

FAVORITE MOVIE THEATRE

- Carmike Cinemas

Carmike Cinemas is a national movie theater operator headquartered in Columbus, GA. It purchased Rave Theatres more than a year ago and has five locations in the Birmingham metro area. For a great place to see all the latest movies, it’s Carmike. www. carmike.com.

FAVORITE FAMILY DINNER PLACE

- TIE:

Olive Garden and Logan’s Roadhouse

There’s an Olive Garden convenient to just about every neighborhood, and with great food, great specials and good value, it’s no wonder Olive Garden is a Birmingham Parent Family Favorite. www.olivegarden.com Who doesn’t love a great steak? Logan’s Roadhouse provides great food, great value and a kid-friendly atmosphere, with a kids’ menu that actually contains their specialty – steak – along with other kids’ favorites. www. logansroadhouse.com.

FAVORITE PARENT & CHILD CLASS

- Mountain Brook Gymnastics Mommy & Me Classes

From walking to Kindergarten, Tumble Buddy 2s to Fantastic 4s, MBG’s preschool program has something for everyone. MBG’s age divisions allow coaches to focus on the developmental needs specific to each group, and with levels based on age, your child will progress both personally and athletically. Their gym is full of specially designed preschool-sized equipment just right for the growing bodies of our smallest athletes. Check the website for classes. www.mountainbrookgymnastics.com/preschool-classes

FAVORITE FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER

- Portrait Innovations With studios across the country and two in the Birmingham area, Portrait Innovations is a second time Family Favorite. Trained photographers use professional hand-held digital cameras, allowing them to move and interact with you and your family. Get photos printed in minutes! Great prices and wonderful packages. www.portraitinnovations.com.

FAVORITE SWEET TREAT

- Yogurt Mountain

Yogurt Mountain, this year’s Family Favorite once again, is the ultimate self-serve frozen yogurt experience.

Explore your creative side with 16 rotating flavors and more than 50 toppings! Multiple area locations means you can find a shop not far from you. www.yogurtmountain.com.

HONORABLE MENTION: Steel City

Pops, www.steelcitypops.com.

CAHABA HEIGHTS CRESTLINE PARK GREYSTONE HOMEWOOD HOOVER INVERNESS THE NARROWS OAK MOUNTAIN VESTAVIA

Brookwood Primary Care is an extension of our physician family, with convenient locations all over town, backed by all the resources of Brookwood Medical Center.

Now book your appointment online at BirminghamDocAppts.com, or call 205-877-2726.

1HZ 3DWLHQWV :HOFRPH

birminghamparent.com | 17

Multiple Winner of Family Favorite Dentist

michael s. anglin, d.d.s pediatric & adolescent dentistry

Thank you for voting us your #1 Family Favorite for Kids Haircuts the past two years!!

erin nelson, d.d.s family dentistry 3825 Lorna Road, Suite 206, Hoover, Alabama 35244 205-988-9800 . www.BirminghamKidsdentist.com

The Ultimate Frozen Dessert Destination in Birmingham!

Explore your creative side with the ultimate self-serve frozen dessert experience featuring 16 rotating flavors of delicious, authentic frozen yogurt, ice cream, custard, tropical ice and sorbet with more than 60 toppings!

BIRMINGHAM AREA LOCATIONS Cahaba Village Plaza 205-970-7778

ill ? w t ate Wha e r c you

Trussville Promenade 205-655-0150 Hoover/Riverchase 205-733-1433

Market Square 3175 Green Valley Rd. Cahaba Heights

Valleydale Village 5192 Caldwell Mill Rd. Birmingham

Colonial Promenade 100 Colonial Prom. Pkwy Alabaster

Wilkommen Centre 1839 Patriot Way SW Cullman

Hoover Place 1960 Braddock Dr., Hoover

Trace Crossing 2539 John Hawkins Pkwy Birmingham

Colonial Promenade 4933 Promenade Pkwy Bessemer

Oxford Commons 119 Commons Way Oxford

Bazaar 280 5361 Hwy. 280 Hoover

Chelsea Publix 605 Chelsea Crossroads Chelsea

S. Shades Crest Center 3421 S Shades Crest Rd. Hoover

Opening Soon!

2902 18th Street S Homewood

Calera Publix 56 MarketPlace Cir Calera

Leeds Village 8525 Whitfield Ave. Leeds

Pell City Publix 2042 Martin St S Pell City

r Togethe rain t we can ancer. c t a e b to

leave impossible behind. meet like-minded people. create a world without cancer. get off the couch. be someone’s hero. find your inner athlete.

save lives one mile at a time. be extraordinary. be inspired.

Alabaster Books-A-Million 205-663-9017 Gardendale Coming Soon

Run, walk, cycle, tri or hike & raise funds for lifesaving blood cancer research.

THANK YOU FOR VOTING YOMO A FAMILY FAVORITE!

205-989-0098 www.teamintraining.org/al

FAVORITE PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT

-

Covenant Classical School

A surprise favorite in this category, who knew Covenant Classical had a great Parents’ Night Out Program? Apparently our readers did, and now they are sharing this information with you. With locations in Birmingham around Valleydale Road, Trace Crossings, Pelham and now Homewood, you can find a location not far from you. Get details on the Parents’ Night Out by calling your closest location for details, www.covenantclassical.com.

FAVORITE GROCERY STORE

-

Publix

Customers love Publix, which is why it is again a Family Favorite this year. From friendly, helpful employees to fresh, clean stores and merchandise, Publix is the right place for shopping pleasure. Don’t miss their great deli, bakery and pharmacy. www. publix.com.

FAVORITE HEALTH FOOD STORE

- Whole Foods

Whether you are shopping for a child with food allergies, special dietary needs, trying to diet or simply eat better, Whole Foods has a lot to offer the health-conscious shopper. They are known to seek out the finest natural and organic foods available, maintain the strictest quality standards in the industry, and have an unshakeable commitment to sustainable agriculture. www. wholefoodsmarket.com.

HONORABLE MENTION: Earthfare, www.earthfare.com.

FAVORITE PHARMACY

- CVS

With multiple locations in the Birmingham area and nationwide, CVS is the drugstore to get everything from prescription medication to helpful customer service in several areas. It offers the best and latest in toiletries and other personal care products, food and more. CVS also offers great sales weekly, and customers like saving money and getting more coupons via its extra care card. www.cvs.com.

Congratulations Greenvale Pediatrics

HONORABLE MENTION: Walgreens, www.walgreens.com.

FAVORITE TOY STORE

-

Toys ‘R Us

Giving hope to parents and providing care to children is what we’ve done for over 100 years. Our nationally ranked healthcare team treated children from 42 states

Toys R Us is a longtime favorite of Birmingham Parent readers – after all, it’s a store filled with almost every toy you can think of! Kids know it’s a treat. Toys R Us also offers online shopping. www.toysrus.com.

is recognized locally and around the world as providing

HONORABLE MENTION: Learning Express, www.learningex-

a level of care that presents children with a much brighter

press.com, Homewood Toy & Hobby, www.homewoodtoyhobby.com.

FAVORITE KIDS SHOE STORE

and 4 foreign countries just last year. Children’s of Alabama

future.1600 7th Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35233 (205) 638-9100 ChildrensAL.org

- Sikes Shoes

Sikes Children’s Shoes in Homewood has been a longtime favorite of Birmingham parents, many of whom wore shoes from the store themselves! Sikes is known for quality products and clerks who know how to fit a child’s foot properly. www.facebook.com/Sikeschildrensshoes.

HONORABLE MENTION: Kicks Shoes for Kids, www.kickss-

hoesforkids.com.

birminghamparent.com | 19

FAVORITE OPTOMETRIST

-

Schaeffer Eye Center

A repeat Family Favorite, Schaeffer Eye Center has been Alabama’s leader in vision care for more than 25 years under the direction of Dr. Jack Schaeffer. Schaeffer focuses on science, design and its patients.

It has grown to more than 15 clinics across Alabama. Each eye care center is equipped with the latest technology and offers the latest fashions in frames and sunglasses, with eye doctors and eye care experts on staff. www.schaeffereyecenter.com.

HONORABLE MENTION: Dr. Rebecca Doss at Vision First, www.

visionfirsteyecenter.com;Day Eye Center, www.dayeyecenter.com.

FAVORITE DENTIST

-

TIE: Pediatric and Adolescent Dentistry and Vital Smiles

Dr. Clark Thomas and Dr. Lauten Johnson of Pediatric & Adolescent Dentistry in Hoover and on Montclair Road are a family favorite among dentists this year. They believe superior oral health is vital to a child’s development, and they are there for your child every step of the way, trying to make a trip to the dentist and enjoyable experience.

Vital Smiles of Birmingham has two locations in Midfield and Centerpoint, as well as locations in Huntsville and Mobile. At Vital Smiles, they believe quality dental care is vital to your child’s overall health and happiness, so they work hard to make it available and affordable for every child age 20 and under in each of their children’s dental offices. In addition to many types of commercial insurance, Vital Smiles also accepts Medicaid and ALL Kids.

HONORABLE MENTION: Dr. Michael Anglin, www.birmingham-

kidsdentist.com; and Dr. Angelica Rohner,www.drrohner.com.

FAVORITE ORTHODONTIST

- PT Orthodontics

MAKING BRACES EASY AND AFFORDABLE FOR EVERYONE!

No Down Payment Options FREE Initial Exam

Braces starting at

$129 per month

Thanks for voting us your Favorite Orthodontist Again!

PT Orthodontics, this year’s Family Favorite, is a practice with seven locations around Birmingham - Hoover, Mountain Brook, Leeds, Pell City, Hueytown, Oak Moutain/280 and Gardendale, and they provide affordable orthodontic treatment for patients of all ages. Drs. John Phillips III, Mark Todd, Wendell Taylor Jr, Erin McAtee, James Phillips and Greg Osborne work together to offer the best care and highest quality. www.ptortho.com

FAVORITE HOSPITAL

- St. Vincent’s Health System St. Vincent’s Health System, a repeat winner, is made up of five facilities in the Birmingham metro area. Together, it provides a special brand of high-touch, high-tech quality care to people in more than 40 different zip codes. Its healthcare family has an extensive network of skilled physicians and associates, and well as the most advanced technologies available. www.stvhs.com.

HONORABLE MENTION: Brookwood Medical Center, www.

bwmc.com; UAB Women’s and Infant’s Center, www.uabmedicine.org/location/women-infant-center.

FAVORITE PLACE TO HAVE A BABY

- St. Vincent’s Health System

205.979.9480 • www.PTortho.com 8 LOCATIONS TO SE RVE YOU HOOVER | MOUNTAIN BROOK | GREYSTONE PELL CITY | LEEDS | HUEYTOWN | GARDENDALE | JASPER

20 | birminghamparent | june 2014

St. Vincent’s Health System, “Where Babies Come From,” is once again this year’s Favorite when it comes to where moms want to have a baby. Its cool and informative website is a great resource for moms with questions, covering everything from what to bring to the hospital to a pregnancy calculator. www.stvhs.com/baby.

HONORABLE MENTION: Brookwood Medical Center,

www.bwmc.com.

Thank you for naming us your “Favorite Place To Have A Baby, Best Birthing Suites, and Favorite Hospital”!

At St. Vincent’s, we are thankful every day to have the opportunity to care for your family. Whether we’re helping you welcome a new life into the world, caring for your heart, or providing you with life-saving cancer treatment, St. Vincent’s is here with you every step of the way. It is a blessing and honor to care for you and your family. From all of us at St. Vincent’s, we sincerely thank you.

where parents are born

stvhs.com/baby birminghamparent.com | 21

Celebrations

MAKING YOUR PART Y A RE AL CELEBR ATION!

Celebrating over 20 years of blockbuster fun!

Outdoor movies for private parties, churches, schools & large-scale events.

You name it.

We can do it!

205-595-3549

backyardmovieparties.com

Advertise here! for as little as $195/month Call 205-987-7700 to get started!

205-613-0443 www.magiccityfaceart.com FAC E PA I N T I N G AT I T S F I N E S T

Birthdays in Birmingham Your local birthday party resource Loved by Parents since 1997

birthdaysinbirmingham.com Places to Go Á Entertainment Party Supplies & Rentals Á Facilities Á Coupons

BIRMINGHAM PARENT’S

Congratulations to Jordyn Averhart of Birmingham who will be 8 on June 1.

As the winner, she receives a McWane Science Center Birthday Party

Birthday

Party issue SPONSORED BY S I N C E 19 9 7

OST Providing the tMof lis e et pl com FORMATIO! N PARTY INin our area Deadline for advertising and advertorial packages is June 12, 2014. Call 205-987-7700

July 2014 22 | birminghamparent | june 2014

If you would like your kid to be a Birthday Kids contestant, complete and send this form, along with a recent photograph of your child (photos will not be returned) to Birthday Kids, Birmingham Parent, 3590-B Hwy. 31 S., #289, Pelham, AL 35124. Child must be 13 and under to win. By entering, contestants and their parents or legal guardians release the photo to Birmingham Parent with no further obligation to Birmingham Parent, and give consent to Birmingham Parent to reproduce and publish any photographs submitted whether or not the entry is chosen as the winner. All entries must be signed by parent/guardian. Employees of Evans Publishing and contest sponsors are not eligible.

July entries much be received by June 12, 2014. Entries can be sent ahead for later months.

Child’s Name _______________________________________________ Child’s Age __________ Birthday ______________________________ Address ___________________________________________________ City _______________________________ Zip ____________________ Phone _____________________________________________________ Email _____________________________________________________ Parent/Guardian Signature __________________________________

FAVORITE KIDS CLOTHES

-

Gap Kids

Good quality at a great price with cute designs makes Gap Kids a Family Favorite for kids of all ages and their parents. You can shop online or locally, and they have some great sales. www.gap.com

FAVORITE CONSIGNMENT STORE

- Kid’s Market & Mom

FAVORITE BIRTHING SUITES

- St. Vincent’s Health System

St. Vincent’s Health System “Where Babies Come From,” is the family favorite in this new category this year. Moms and Dads love the birthing suites at St. Vincent’s. www.stvhs.com/baby.

HONORABLE MENTION: Brookwood Medical Center, www.bwmc.com; UAB Women’s and Infant’s Center, www. uabmedicine.org/location/womeninfant-center.

FAVORITE OBSTETRICIAN

- Dr. Ashley Tamucci

Ashley Tamucci, MD is part of the physicians and staff of Alabama Women’s Specialists at Brookwood Medical Center. She, along with her fellow doctors, provides comprehensive women’s healthcare in a professional friendly setting that always emphasizes treating the patient as an individual.

One look at rating boards online, and you’ll know why Tamucci is loved and admired by patients and peers alike. www.alwomens.com.

FAVORITE GYNECOLOGIST

- Dr. Karla Kennedy

Karla Kennedy, MD, is part of Women’s Care Specialists, P.C. She is a female obstetrician and gynecologist. She has 22 years of experience and practices in obstetrics and gynecology. Her practice seeks to provide the highest level of care through highly skilled health care professionals and stateof-the-art technologies. The practice offers a full range of obstetrics and gynecology services from your initial exam, to childbirth and through menopause and beyond; the goal is to offer patient centered medical care based on mutual trust and communication. www.wcspc.com.

This is a repeat winner in the consignment category and it’s a sale that has grown over the years in Birmingham.

You can buy and sell at good prices for good quality children’s, maternity and even toys and accessories. Offered twice a year, many parents plan their clothing shopping around this sale! Now offering a back to school sale! www.kidsmarketandmom.com.

FAVORITE HAIRCUTS FOR KIDS

- Great Clips

This repeat Family Favorite winner caters to the busy family. With several locations, you can pop in and out without an appointment, and shops are also open evenings and weekends.

Get an affordable, quality haircut in a comfortable, friendly salon. For even more convenience, Great Clips offers an online check-in service, to “get in line” before you even arrive. www. greatclips.com.

FAVORITE MATERNITY SHOP

- Motherhood Maternity

Expect great value and selection when you are expecting. Motherhood Maternity has stand-alone shops as well as shops within Macy’s. Find attractive, affordable fashion and necessities.

Learn more at www.motherhood.com.

FAVORITE RADIO STATION

- 103.7 THE Q FM

103.7 is all about the newest, latest hit pop music. “All the hits, all the time” is 103.7 the Q’s mantra. No wonder it’s popular with today’s parents. http:// www.1037theq.com/ HONORABLE MENTION: WDJC, www. wdjconline.com.

FAVORITE TV STATION

- TIE: ABC 33/40 and Fox 6 ABC 33/40 is once again one of this year’s family favorite television stations. It is the local ABC affiliate and features favorite anchor people who are well-known and active in the community, as well as James Spann, chief meteorologist – a weather authority in this region. www.abc3340.com.

Fox 6 is a repeat winner in this category, and is a great Family Favorite.

Known for its morning show, “Good Day Alabama,” and funny weather man Mickey Ferguson, Fox 6 has a strong following in Birmingham, making it a Family Favorite. www.myfoxal.com.

FAVORITE MOM’S SALON/SPA

- The Spa at Ross Bridge

Set in the middle of a Four Diamond Resort, the Spa at Ross Bridge offers a refreshing escape of mind, body and soul. Whether simply for an hour or choosing to make a day of it, the Spa at Ross Bridge enhances your vacation and allows you to escape the demands of everyday life. www. sparossbridge.com.

continued from page 20 READ MORE ABOUT OUR WINNERS ON PAGE 30.

FAVORITE PEDIATRICIAN

- Greenvale Pediatrics – All Locations

Greenvale Pediatrics is a repeat winner, with locations in Alabaster, Hoover and Brook Highland. It provides health care for infants, children and adolescents to age 21 years. It became a part of the Children’s Health System in 1996. www.greenvale.childrensal.org.

HONORABLE MENTION: Birmingham

Pediatric Associates, www.birminghampeds.com; Acton Road Pediatrics, www.actonrdpeds.com.

FAVORITE SHOPPING CENTER

- The Summit

This repeat winner is still a favorite with Birmingham area shoppers. The Summit, with upscale shops and restaurants, fun things to do in the evenings, special events, a movie theater and more, is the place to be. www. thesummitonline.com.

HONORABLE MENTION: Colonial Brookwood Village, www.shopbrookwoodvillage.com; Riverchase Galleria, www.riverchasegalleria.com.

and the winner of our contest is...

Congrats to the winner of the 3-day beach trip for 4 people in a Gulf-front condominium in beautiful Gulf Shores, Jacqueline Atkinson of Helena, Alabama, who was chosen in a random drawing from among the voters.

SPONSORED BY

birminghamparent.com | 23

DONALD DUCK DAY

NATIONAL ROCKY ROAD DAY

Princess Ballerina Robot Tea Party, 4pm, Albert Scott Library, Alabaster.

MONDAY

Family Tour: Africa! 10:30-11:30am, Birmingham Museum of Art.

Family Tour: Africa!

10:30am-11:30am, Birmingham Museum of Art.

The Three Little Kittens, 9:30am,11am, Birmingham Children’s Theatre.

IT’S NATIONAL DAIRY MONTH!

Story Time at the Calera Library, Calera Public Library.

First Thursdays: After Hours at the Birmingham Museum of Art, 5-9pm, Birmingham Museum of Art.

Story Time at the Calera Library, 9am, 10am, 2pm, Calera Public Library.

Free Friday Flicks: Frozen, 6pm, Veteran’s Park in Hoover.

Free Friday Flicks: “Mr. Peabody and Sherman,” 6pm, Veteran’s Park in Hoover.

Turkey Lovers Month

Rose Month

National Adopt a Cat Month

National Accordion Awareness Month

Fight the Filthy Fly Month

Dairy Month

The Three Little Kittens, 9:30am, 11am, Birmingham Children’s Theatre.

Several countries celebrate their flag days during this month including the United States, Sweden,

The Three Little Kittens, 9:30am, 11am, Birmingham Children’s Theatre.

June in the Northern Hemisphere

It is the first month of the summer season.

The longest day of the year occurs on either June 21st or 22nd.

The famous English tennis tournament Wimbledon is played during the month of June.

Candy Month

June is known as a great month to get married.

FRIDAY

Denmark, Romania, and Argentina.

THURSDAY

is similar to the month of December in the Southern Hemisphere.

WEDNESDAY

The month of June comes from the Roman, or Julian, calendar.

June was initially named Iunius.

The name either comes from the Roman goddess Juno, wife of Jupiter, or from the word "iuniores", the Latin word for "younger ones".

In the early Roman calendar June only had 29 days. It was Julius Caesar who added the additional day giving June 30 days.

TUESDAY

june 2014 HIGHLIGHTS 7

BEST FRIEND’S DAY

Vulcan’s 110th Birthday Bash, 12 – 4pm, Vulcan Park and Museum.

SUNDAY

8

1

Pepper Place Market, 7am-noon, Pepper Place.

Super Saturday “Tuscaloosa County Sheriff ’s Dept.,” 10am-3pm, Children’s Hands-On Museum.

Father’s Day at the Zoo, Birmingham Zoo. UAB Gospel Choir presents a Father’s Day Concert, 7pm, Alys Stevens Center.

DAY

14 FATHER’S 15

Bart’s Art Cart: Hope Holders, 11am-1pm, Birmingham Museum of Art.

12th Annual Alabaster CityFest, 9am-11pm, Municipal Park.

The Revenge of the Monster Siluriformes XVII –The East Lake Family Fishing Rodeo 7am-noon, East Lake Park.

SATURDAY

See the daily calendar of events in detail beginning on page 26.

Story Time at the Calera Library, Calera Public Library.

LOG CABIN DAY

Family Tour: Africa! 10:30am11:30am, Birmingham Museum of Art.

Walk About Puppets, 10:30pm, Albert Scott Library, Alabaster

PHOTO COURTESY BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM OF ART

James and the Giant Peach 7:30pm, Children’s Dance Foundation.

GO FISHING DAY

EAT YOUR VEGETABLES DAY

FRESH VEGGIES DAY

Free Friday Flicks – Free Birds, 6pm, Veteran’s Park in Hoover.

James and the Giant Peach, 1pm and 7:30pm, Children’s Dance Foundation.

Free Friday Flicks – Monsters University, 6pm, Veteran’s Park in Hoover.

21

28

Bart’s Books, 11am1pm, Birmingham Museum of Art.

Hikes for Tykes with Fresh Air Family, 10am, Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

Pepper Place Market, 7am-noon, Pepper Place.

James and the Giant Peach 7:30pm, Children’s Dance Foundation.

Grand Opening of the Children’s Control Tower, 10am-2pm, Southern Museum of Flight.

Pepper Place Market 7am-noon, Pepper Place. See June 7.

World Giraffe Day, Birmingham Zoo.

WAFFLE IRON DAY

29

22

James and The Giant Peach 2:30pm, Children’s Dance Foundation.

june

daily calendar of events

Calendar sponsored by

2014 mom is really mad. If she can’t find her mittens, she can’t eat any pie! With the help of her three furry kittens, she travels to the Land of Lost and Found and learns that any problem can be solved with a little bit of thinking! Tickets, adult $11, child $9. www.bct123.org/ThreeLittleKittens.html.

Family Tour: Africa!

10:30am-11:30am, Birmingham Museum of Art. Join museum educators to explore the galleries in a fun, interactive experience! Discover Bart the Art Bat’s favorite artworks during these drop-in tours. After the tour, visit Bart’s ArtVenture to make an art project inspired by what you saw. www.artsbma.org. FREE.

4 WEDNESDAY The Three Little Kittens 9:30am, 11am, Birmingham Children’s Theatre. See June 3.

Throughout June: The Three Little Kittens Birmingham Children’s Theatre. Katie Sue is always losing her stuff. This time she’s lost her mittens and her mom is really mad. If she can’t find her mittens, she can’t eat any pie! With the help of her three furry kittens, learns that any problem can be solved with a little bit of thinking! Tickets, adult $11, child $9.

1 SUNDAY Vulcan’s 110th Birthday Bash 12 – 4pm, Vulcan Park and Museum. Vulcan may be the world’s largest cast iron statue, but he still needs help blowing out his birthday candles! This festive outdoor community celebrated Vulcan’s 110th Birthday. Enjoy an afternoon of fun festivities for the whole family at the biggest birthday bash of the year! $5 all ages 5 and up; FREE for children 4 and under and Vulcan Members.

Sponsored by Birmingham Parent. http://www.visitvulcan. com/eventInfo/BirthdayBash. html. Fee.

Southeastern Outings Dayhike 1pm, Brookside Walking Trail. A moderately easy four-mile hike in Jefferson County, northwest of Birmingham. For the hike requirements, call or consult the website. Depart 1pm from the Kmart Green Springs or 1:45pm from the trail head in Brookside. 205-529-2253, www. southeasternoutings.org. FREE.

3 TUESDAY The Three Little Kittens 9:30am,11am, Birmingham Children’s Theatre. Katie Sue is always losing her stuff. She lost her lunchbox, gym socks and her blue crayon. This time she’s lost her mittens and her

5 THURSDAY The Three Little Kittens 9:30am, 11am, Birmingham Children’s Theatre. See June 3.

Summer Flower Anklet Craft American Girl, Atlanta. his free event lets your child create a tropical anklet for herself and her doll using colorful paper flowers. For ages 8 and up.

See website for store hours. www.americangirl.com. FREE.

6 FRIDAY The Three Little Kittens 9:30am, 11am, Birmingham Children’s Theatre. See June 3.

Free Friday Flicks: “Mr. Peabody and Sherman” 6pm, Veteran’s Park in Hoover.

Grab a blanket, your family and friends, and come for a free family film every Friday night this summer. Come early and visit vendors, grab some food and enjoy fun activities.

Presented by Alagasco and Backyard Movie Parties, and sponsored by Birmingham Parent. Follow us on Twitter for any weather updates a movie @BYMovieParties or friend Backyard Movie Parties on Facebook. Movie begins at dusk. www.backyardmovieparties.com. FREE.

Story Time at the Calera Library 9am, 10am, 2pm, Calera Public Library. Pea Pods for ages 3 and under at 9am, story time for ages 4 and up at 10am and story time for 1st grade and up at 2pm. 205-668-7200, www.cityofcalera.org/index. aspx?nid=102. FREE.

7 SATURDAY

First Thursdays: After Hours at the Birmingham Museum of Art 5-9pm, Birmingham Museum of Art. BMA presents an afterhours experience on the first Thursday of each month. Wander the galleries, sip cocktails in the garden, catch a movie, or sit down with friends for tapas at Oscar’s. Enjoy an evening of English elegance as the museum opens a new exhibition, Hester Bateman: Setting the Table for Female Enterprise. www.artsbma.org. FREE.

The Revenge of the Monster Siluriformes XVII –The East Lake Family Fishing Rodeo 7am-noon, East Lake Park. The 17th annual City of Birmingham Park and Recreation Family Fishing Rodeo is the “largest community fishing event in the state.” Tons of catfish, contests, giveaways, family fun and more. 205-254-2391, FREE.

Pepper Place Market 7am-noon, Pepper Place.

Pepper Place Market brings the best Alabama growers, food producers and artisans to Birmingham each week. Rain or shine. www.pepperplacemarket.com. FREE.

12th Annual Alabaster CityFest 9am-11pm, Municipal Park.

Features country star Rodney Atkins as well as musical acts

Events may change after publication deadline; please phone ahead to confirm important information. The deadline for submitting calendar items for the July 2014 issue is June 3. Mail calendar items to: Calendar, Birmingham Parent, 3590B Hwy 31 S #289, Pelham, AL 35124; fax to 987-7600; e-mail to calendar@BirminghamParent.com; or enter directly to the online calendar at www.birminghamparent.com. Entries added online after the print deadline will not appear in the print version. Information cannot be accepted over the phone. Birmingham Parent publishes a calendar 11 times a year. January events are included in the December issue.

Guidelines: Birmingham Parent’s calendar is designed to be a resource and service to the community and our readers. Events which are open to the public, fund-raisers, free classes, etc., are events that may be included in our monthly calendar. We reserve the right to reject any event or listing due to rules or space restrictions. For questions regarding calendar entries, call 987-7700.

26 | birminghamparent | june 2014

june

Calendar sponsored by

2014 all day. KidsFest area will feature rides and inflatables, art, Lowe’s Build and Grow Workshop. All admission and the KidsFest area are free. http://alabastercityfest. com. FREE. The Three Little Kittens 9:30am, 11am, Birmingham Children’s Theatre. See June 3.

Family Tour: Africa!

10:30-11:30am, Birmingham Museum of Art. See June 3.

Free Classes from Magic City Chess U 10am-noon, Birmingham Public Library, Second Floor. Learn to play or improve your play in these free classes. 205-8622018, http://magiccitychessu.wix. com/magiccitychessu. FREE.

12 THURSDAY

Hikes for Tykes with Fresh Air Family 10am, Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Enjoy a guided tour of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens focused through the lens of preschool children.

This hands-on tour through the Gardens introduces little ones to the wonders of the great outdoors, from worms to tadpoles to flowers. This Saturday, Happy Family snacks will be on hand to give out yummy tastes. Register, events@FreshAirFamily.org.

205-540-6642, www.freshairfamily.org. FREE. Bart’s Art Cart: Hope Holders 11am-1pm, Birmingham Museum of Art. This drop-in art program for kids and families features a different theme from our galleries and art activity each month.

June: summer silhouettes. www. artsbma.org. FREE. Juneteenth Cultural Fest presented by the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute 11am-8pm, Kelly Ingram Park.

Family with food, music, vendors, children’s activities, free admission to BCRI and more.

205-328-9696, www.bcri.org.

FREE. Water Safety Fun Day 10am-4pm, Children’s Hands-On Museum, Tuscaloosa. See Riverboat John, singer and storyteller, and meet Buddy Beaver and his Park Ranger friends. Make a boat craft. 205-349-4235, http:// chomonline.org. Fee.

10 TUESDAY The Three Little Kittens 9:30am, 11am, Birmingham Children’s Theatre. See June 3.

11 WEDNESDAY The Three Little Kittens 9:30am, 11am, Birmingham Children’s Theatre. See June 3.

Story Time at the Calera Library Calera Public Library. See June 5.

The Three Little Kittens 9:30am, 11am, Birmingham Children’s Theatre. See June 3.

Summer Flower Anklet Craft American Girl, Atlanta. See June 5.

13 FRIDAY The Three Little Kittens 9:30am, 11am, Birmingham Children’s Theatre. See June 3.

Free Friday Flicks: Frozen 6pm, Veteran’s Park in Hoover.

See June 5.

June 19-20: James and the Giant Peach 7:30pm, Children’s Dance Foundation. CDF StageDoor Youth

14 SATURDAY

Theatre presents James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl, dra-

Super Saturday “Tuscaloosa County Sheriff ’s Dept.”

10am-3pm, Children’s Hands-On Museum. 205-349-4235, http:// chomonline.org. fee.

matized by Richard R. George and directed by Rebecca Yeager.

Pepper Place Market 7am-noon, Pepper Place.

See June 7.

The Three Little Kittens 9:30am, 11am, Birmingham Children’s Theatre. See June 3.

Free Classes from Magic City Chess U 10am-noon, Birmingham Public Library, Second Floor. See June 7.

Hikes for Tykes with Fresh Air Family 10am Birmingham Botanical Gardens. See June 7.

Bart’s Art Cart: Hope Holders 11am-1pm, Birmingham Museum of Art. See June 7.

15 SUNDAY

FATHER’S DAY

Father’s Day at the Zoo Birmingham Zoo. On Father’s Day, all fathers get in FREE to the Birmingham Zoo with the purchase of a full-price child’s

Tickets $10. 205-870-0073, www.childrensdancefoundation.org.

admission ticket. http://birminghamzoo.com.

UAB Gospel Choir presents a Father’s Day Concert 7pm, Alys Stevens Center.

Conducted by Kevin P. Turner.

Tickets, $7 general admission, $6 for UAB students, faculty and staff; $6 each for groups of 20, advance purchase required. Call for ticket information. 205-9752787, www.uab.edu. Fee.

17 TUESDAY Family Tour: Africa!

10:30am-11:30am, Birmingham Museum of Art. See June 3.

Rebecca Yeager. Tickets $10.

205-870-0073, www.childrensdancefoundation.org.

Summer Flower Anklet Craft American Girl, Atlanta. See June 5.

20 FRIDAY Free Friday Flicks – Monsters University 6pm, Veteran’s Park in Hoover.

See June 6.

James and the Giant Peach 7:30pm, Children’s Dance Foundation. See June 19.

21 SATURDAY 19 THURSDAY Story Time at the Calera Library Calera Public Library. See June 5.

James and the Giant Peach 7:30pm, Children’s Dance Foundation. CDF StageDoor Youth Theatre presents James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl, dramatized by Richard R. George and directed by

World Giraffe Day Birmingham Zoo. Jeopardy-style trivia games, face paintings and “bowl” for the chance to win a print of a Zoo giraffe hoof. From 10am-3pm, don’t miss special Giraffe Keeper Chats and feedings (additional cost applies) at the Kiwanis Giraffe Encounter. http:// birminghamzoo.com.

birminghamparent.com | 27

june 2014

daily calendar of events

Calendar sponsored by

Hikes for Tykes with Fresh Air Family 10am, Birmingham Botanical Gardens. See June 7.

BART’S ART CART

Bart’s Art Cart: Hope Holders 11am-1pm, Birmingham Museum of Art. See June 7.

James and the Giant Peach 7:30pm, Children’s Dance Foundation. See June 19.

Summer Flower Anklet Craft American Girl, Atlanta. See June 5.

22 SUNDAY James and The Giant Peach 2:30pm, Children’s Dance Foundation. See June 19.

23 MONDAY Walk About Puppets 10:30pm, Albert Scott Library, Alabaster. 205-664-6822, http:// cityofalabaster.com/departments/library. FREE.

24 TUESDAY Family Tour: Africa!

10:30am-11:30am, Birmingham Museum of Art. See June 3.

26 THURSDAY June 28: Shelby Humane Society 5th Annual Bark and Wine 5:30-11pm, Pelham Civic Center. The Shelby Humane Society’s Board of Directors invite you to the 5th annual Bark and Wine dressy casual fundraiser. Drinks and silent auction begin at 5:30pm with dinner, program and live auction by Ken Jackson at 6:30pm. Individual tickets are $100; reserved table for eight can be purchased for $1,000. For tickets or information, visit www.barkandwine.eventbrite.com. All proceeds benefit Shelby Humane Society. 334-315-9368, http://shelbyhumane.org. Fee.

Pepper Place Market 7am-noon, Pepper Place.

See June 7.

Free Classes from Magic City Chess U 10am-noon, Birmingham Public Library, Second Floor.

See June 7.

Grand Opening of the Children’s Control Tower 10am-2pm, Southern Museum of Flight. Celebrate the ceremonial opening of the new Children’s Control Tower.

The ribbon cutting will begin at 28 | birminghamparent | june 2014

11am in front of the Little Pilot’s Playroom. The Children’s Control Tower is a multi-level play space for ages 3-6. The tower simulates an observation deck with a control panel equipped with operational lights, buzzers and accurate temperature gauge. Several activities for children include face painting, an outdoor air jump, balloon animals and airplane gliders.

Free light snacks and drinks will be provided. www.southernmuseumofflight.org. FREE.

Story Time at the Calera Library Calera Public Library.

See June 5.

Summer Flower Anklet Craft American Girl, Atlanta. See June 5.

27 FRIDAY Free Friday Flicks – Free Birds 6pm, Veteran’s Park in Hoover.

See June 6. www.backyardmovieparties.com. FREE.

28 SATURDAY Pepper Place Market 7am-noon, Pepper Place.

See June 7.

Hikes for Tykes with Fresh Air Family 10am, Birmingham Botanical Gardens. See June 7.

Free Classes from Magic City Chess U 10am-noon, Birmingham Public Library, Second Floor. See June 7.

Bart’s Books 11am-1pm, Birmingham Museum of Art. Bart’s Books is a storytelling program for children ages 4-7. Bart selects a new book and related work of art each month that he thinks kids will enjoy. This month, Bart has selected “Mama is it Summer Yet?”

by Nikki McClure. www.artsbma. org. FREE. Bart’s Art Cart: Hope Holders 11am-1pm, Birmingham Museum of Art. See June 7.

Shelby Humane Society 5th Annual Bark and Wine 5:30-11pm, Pelham Civic Center.

The Shelby Humane Society’s Board of Directors invite you to the 5th annual Bark and Wine dressy casual fundraiser.

Drinks and silent auction begin at 5:30pm with dinner, program and live auction by Ken Jackson at 6:30pm. Individual tickets are $100; reserved table for eight can be purchased for $1,000.

For tickets or information, visit www.barkandwine.eventbrite. com. All proceeds benefit Shelby Humane Society. 334315-9368, http://shelbyhumane. org. Fee.

30 MONDAY Princess Ballerina Robot Tea Party 4pm, Albert Scott Library, Alabaster. Sign up required. 205664-6822, http://cityofalabaster. com/departments/library. FREE. FREE

Calendar sponsored by

ALDRIDGE BOTANICAL GARDENS 3530 Lorna Road, Hoover. 205682-8019, www.aldridgegardens.com ALABAMA JAZZ HALL OF FAME 1631 Fourth Ave. N., Birmingham.

205-254-2731, www.jazzhall.com ALABAMA SPORTS HALL OF FAME 2150 Richard Arrington Blvd. N., Birmingham. 323-6665, www.ashof.org ALABAMA WILDLIFE CENTER 100 Terrace Drive, Pelham.

205-663-7930. www.awrc.org ALBERT L SCOTT ALABASTER PUBLIC LIBRARY SUMMER READING CHALLENGES:

“Fizz Boom Read” kicks off with a science theme for children of all ages on Monday, June 2.

Come see one of the two shows by comic magician Russell Davis, register, and get a bunch of goodies. Call the library for details.

“Spark a Reaction” is a reading challenge for young people 11-18 years old. Come to the kickoff June 3, 6:15-7:15pm to register and get a swag bag, socialize and enjoy refreshments.

Weekly Story Times Tunes & Tales: Wednesdays at 3:30pm in Library Meeting Room.

Toddler Tales: Fridays at 10:30am in the Library Meeting Room.

100 Ninth Street NW, Alabaster, AL, 35007. 205-664-6822, www.cityofalabaster.com/departments/library.

AMERICAN VILLAGE Highway 119, Montevallo.

205-665-3535, www.americanvillage.org.

BARBER MOTORSPORTS PARK 6040 Barber Motorsports Parkway, Leeds. 205-298-9040, www.barbermotorsports.com.

BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS Be sure to download the treasure map to take with you! www.bbgardens.org/documents/treasuremapforweb.pdf 2612 Lane Park Road, Birmingham. 205-414-3900, www. bbgardens.org.

BIRMINGHAM CIVIL RIGHTS INSTITUTE Courage: The Vision to End Segregation, The Guts to Fight for It. Located in the Woolfolk Gallery.

events & attractions Para Todos Los Ninos. Located in the Vann Gallery. Both exhibits honor the 60th anniversary of Brown vs. Board of Education.

The Archives of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) will be closed to the public through June 30 for a collection storage improvement project.

16th St. N., Birmingham. 205328-9696, www.bcri.org

june 2014

21 SATURDAY World Giraffe Day Birmingham Zoo. Jeopardy-style trivia games, face paintings and “bowl” for the chance to win a print of a Zoo giraffe hoof. From 10am-3pm, don’t miss special Giraffe Keeper Chats and feedings (additional cost applies) at the Kiwanis Giraffe Encounter. www.birminghamzoo.com.

BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM OF ART 2000 Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd., Birmingham.

205-254-2565, www.artsbma.org BIRMINGHAM ZOO In-park Special Attractions Giraffe Feeding & Keeper Chat, Saturday & Sunday 11am-12pm & 2-3pm, $3. See Griffin, the first giraffe born in a North American accredited Zoo in 2014.

Sea Lion Training, Daily 10am & 2pm.

Predator Zone, Saturday & Sunday 11:30am & 3:30pm.

2630 Cahaba Road, Birmingham.

205-879-0409, www.birminghamzoo.com.

HEART OF DIXIE RAILROAD MUSEUM 1919 Ninth St., Calera.

205-668-3435, www.hodrrm.org.

MCWANE SCIENCE CENTER IMAX MOVIES TO THE ARCTIC An extraordinary journey to the top of the world, the documentary adventure “To the Arctic” tells the ultimate tale of survival. Through April 30, 2015.

JERUSALEM This crossroads of civilization and faith is shown for the first time in IMAX. The film conveys the story of Jerusalem in all its beauty and diversity.

Through November 26, 2014.

ISLAND OF LEMURS: MADAGASCAR Academy Award® winner Morgan Freeman narrates the IMAX documentary Island of Lemurs: Madagascar, the incredible true story of nature’s greatest explorers—lemurs. Through June 8, 2015.

ANIMATION featuring Cartoon Network Explore how art, math, science and technology come together in the exciting world of Animation featuring Cartoon Network. Experiment with animation from concept to finished product — from story boarding, character design and drawing techniques to movement, timing, filming and sound. Through September 1.

www.mcwane.org/calendar_ items/1290-animation.

200 19th St. N., Birmingham.

205-714-8300, www.mcwane.org.

through July 31.

3160 Pelham Parkway, Pelham.

205-620-6418, www.pelhamlibrary.com.

MOSS ROCK PRESERVE Preserve Parkway, Hoover.

205-739-7141, www.hooveral.org.

RUFFNER MOUNTAIN NATURE CENTER 1214 81st St. S., Birmingham.

205-833-8264, www.ruffnermountain.org.

OAK MOUNTAIN STATE PARK 200 Terrace Drive, Pelham.

205-620-2520, www.alapark.com.

SOUTHERN MUSEUM OF FLIGHT 4343 73rd St. N., Birmingham.

205-833-8226, www.southernmuseumofflight.org.

PELHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY Adult Summer Reading Program Check out five or more books or audio books at one time per visit ( juvenile and young adult material, games, music, and movies are excluded) to fill out an entry form in the drawing for various prizes. There is no limit to the number of entries. Everyone 18 and older is invited. June 2

TANNEHILL IRONWORKS HISTORICAL STATE PARK 12632 Confederate Parkway, McCalla. 205-477-5711, www.tannehill.org.

VULCAN PARK 1701 Valley View Drive, Birmingham. 205-933-1409, www.vulcanpark.org.

birminghamparent.com | 29

FAVORITE SWEET TREAT

Great Clips understands that with today’s fast-paced lifestyle, you need a salon that fits your schedule. That’s why we’re open evenings and weekends; no appointments necessary.

At Great Clips, you can relax, because you know you will get an affordable, quality haircut in a comfortable, friendly salon.

Putting convenience directly into its customer’s hands, Great Clips launched the industry’s first Online Check-In service,

FAVORITE CHILDREN'S BOOK SECTION

WINNER WINNER

FAVORITE KIDS HAIRCUTS FAVORITE BOOKSTORE

WINNER

What will you create at the ultimate frozen dessert destination? Explore your creative side at Yogurt Mountain with the ultimate self-serve frozen dessert experience featuring 12-16 rotating flavors of delicious, authentic frozen yogurt, ice cream, custard, tropical ice and sorbet and more than 60 toppings and sauces, which can be purchased by the ounce. All of our yogurts are nonfat or low fat and feature probiotics, which can help promote a healthy digestive and immune system—plus a great source of protein and cal-

cium. A freshly -made waffle bowl or a warm YoBake pastry is the perfect backdrop for your dessert creation.

With 5 locations in the Birmingham area, YOMO is a family-friendly environment with spacious seating and patio space—opens daily at 11:30 a.m. and closes 11:00 p.m.

Sunday-Thursday and midnight on Friday and Saturday.

Trussville Promenade 1644 Gadsden Highway, Suite 100 Trussville, AL 35173 • 205-655-0150

Cahaba Village Plaza 3000 Cahaba Village Plaza, Suite 120 Birmingham, AL 35243 205-970-7778

COMING SOON (June): Gardendale, AL 521 Fieldstown Rd. Gardendale, AL 35071

allowing customers to add their name to the wait list of a Great Clips salon—before they arrive.

With nearly 20 locations in the Greater Birmingham area, Great Clips salons employ stylists who receive ongoing training to learn advanced skills and the latest trends.

Taking care of others is an essential part of any service business, but Great Clips has really taken the idea of service to heart. Most important is the

positive impact we try to have on our neighbors in the communities where we operate. Our salon owners get involved in their communities and have a committed focus on philanthropic and volunteer activities.

Riverchase Hwy. 150 3032 John Hawkins Pkwy, Suite 130 Hoover, AL 35244 • 205-733-1433 Alabaster Books-A-Million 300 Colonial Promenade Pkwy, #2200 Alabaster, AL 35007 • 205-663-9017

www.yogurtmountain.com

GREAT CLIPS

Thank you for voting Great Clips your #1 choice for Favorite Kids Haircuts the past two years!

For salon locations visit our website www.greatclips.com

BOOKS A MILLION Books-A-Million, Inc. is one of the nation’s leading book retailers and sells on at online at www.booksamillion.com. It presently operates 258 stores in 33 states and the District of Columbia. The Company operates large superstores under the names Books-AMillion (BAM!), Books & Co. and 2nd & Charles and traditional bookstores operating under the names Bookland and Books-AMillion. Follow Books-A-Million on Twitter (http://twitter.com/

booksamillion) and like us on Facebook (http://facebook.com/ booksamillion).

Kids-A-Million is inside Books-A-Million at Brookwood Village in Birmingham, Alabama. The second floor is a dedicated kids-only retail destination, with space to accommodate approximately 12,000 children’s books as well as an expansive inventory of toys, games, gifts and tech.

The store is arranged by age group to help you shop a little

easier for books and gifts. A kid’s interactive station features new games and activities that kids can play with, including the new Leap Pad. Kids-A-Million specializes in free storytime activities every Wednesday and Saturday morning beginning at 11 a.m. The Brookwood location also offers kids birthday party packages with storybook themes from Princesses to Superheroes. Contact our kid’s specialist for more information 205-870-0213.

www.booksamillion.com

YMCA CAMP COSBY SUMMER RESIDENCE CAMP FAVORITE OVERNIGHT CAMP

WINNER

YOGURT MOUNTAIN

Summer Makes Waves! CAMP ON! YMCA Camp Cosby gives kids a chance to play hard, make new friends, and have the adventure of a lifetime in a safe, fun,

30 | birminghamparent | june 2014

and structured environment. The YMCA of Greater Birmingham’s residence camp, Camp Cosby offers a one-week, co-ed, overnight camping experience for kids ages 6-15 on the shores of Logan Martin Lake.

Located in Alpine, AL, in Talladega County near Pell City and about minutes from I-20 and Highway 280, Camp Cosby exposes kids to a combination of cabin-based activities and free-choice activities such as mini-bikes, zip-line, horseback riding, climbing tower,

archery, canoeing, team high ropes course, and Camp Cosby’s signature lake attraction, the Blob.

All activities are closely monitored by trained and caring counselors ensuring each child will be safe, achieve success, and have FUN! Our promise to you: Your camper will learn new things, gain in confidence, and have an amazing experience.

Weekly sessions available through July 27. Visit Camp Cosby’s website at www.campcosby.org.

www.campcosby.org

FAVORITE HOSPITAL FAVORITE PLACE TO HAVE A BABY FAVORITE BIRTHING SUITES

Birthing Suites.

St. Vincent’s Health System is made up of St. Vincent’s Birmingham, St. Vincent’s Blount, St. Vincent’s East, St. Vincent’s St. Clair, St. Vincent’s One Nineteen Health and Wellness, and the St. Vincent’s Ambulatory Healthcare Network which includes a wide range of additional services and entities from family care locations to home health.

Together, we provide a special brand of high-touch, high-tech

quality care to people in more than 40 different zip codes.

Our healthcare family has an extensive network of skilled physicians and associates, as well as the most advanced technologies available. As part of Ascension Health, the nation’s largest Catholic and non-profit health system, we are committed to providing healthcare that works, healthcare that is safe, and healthcare that leaves no one behind.

www.stvhs.com

FAVORITE VACATION IN-STATE

The transformation begins the moment your toes touch the sugar-white sand and you hear

the sound of waves lapping the shore. Suddenly, you’re in a whole different state of connection. Life seems to slow down, senses are magnified and families are strengthened on the Alabama Gulf Coast. The area boasts 32 miles of pristine beaches and turquoise water, a variety of familyfriendly attractions, numerous restaurants for sampling our fresh coastal cuisine, nearby outlet shopping and more.

Take a dip in our turquoise

Gulf waters, enjoy a day at the zoo or waterpark, step back in time at historic Fort Morgan or feast on local seafood. There’s something for everyone on the Alabama Gulf Coast and with a vast selection of accommodations including condos, hotels and beach houses, you’re sure to find the perfect place for your family to make memories and reconnect. Visit www.gulfshores. com/birminghamparent to start planning your trip today.

COVENANT CLASSICAL SCHOOL

On behalf of Covenant Classical Schools & Daycare, I would genuinely like to extend a heart-filled “Thank You” to all of our CCS Family: our wonderful

parents along with their precious children and our amazing staff.

Parents, thank you for trusting us with your most cherished possessions! We are proud to be a part of your extended family and able to share in the daily joys that come with the encouraging, teaching, nurturing, and loving of your children. Our ultimate goal is to assist you in training these little ones to walk in the Truth – there is no greater joy than that!

Staff, thank you for the dedication to the CCS standard

of excellence! Your love for what you do speaks volumes as you demonstrate patience and kindness in your daily care and classroom instruction to all of the little blessings that fill your classrooms. Your calling is indeed a very special one!

We are truly blessed to have such a strong sense of community amongst our CCS families.

Thank you again for your vote of confidence in naming CCS as Birmingham’s Favorite!

-Mr. John

www.ccslion.com

PT ORTHODONTICS FAVORITE ORTHODONTIST

WINNER WINNER

Since 1898, St. Vincent's Health System has provided exceptional, compassionate care to the greater Birmingham area. From our state-of-the-art OrthoSports Center to our Center for Robotic Surgery, St. Vincent’s offers a variety of programs and services to fit individual, corporate, and community needs. We are proud to have been chosen as a 2014 Family Favorite Winner for Favorite Hospital, Favorite Place to have a Baby and Favorite

GULF SHORES AND ORANGE BEACH & ORANGE BEACH

W FAVORITE PRESCHOOL W FAVORITE PARENT'S NIGHT OUT RU FAVORITE PRIVATE SCHOOL

WINNER & RUNNER UP WINNER

ST.VINCENT'S HEALTH SYSTEM

At PT Orthodontics, we believe everyone deserves a beautiful smile!

We have been providing affordable, state-of-the-art orthodontic care since 1990.

We have eight convenient location in Hoover, Mountain Brook, Greystone/Oak Mountain, Leeds, Pell City, Hueytown, Gardendale, and Jasper.

Our doctors work together to help you achieve a beautiful, confident smile that will make

lasting first impressions. We believe that you deserve the best; that is why our commitment to the highest quality sets us apart.

At our office, you’re more than a number – you’re part of our dental family. We create personalized, individual treatment plans for each patient so that we deliver only the best results.

We offer flexible payment solutions to help keep the cost of braces within your budget!

We offer a full range of braces to meet your individual needs and desires, including metal braces, ceramic braces and Invisalign® clear braces. We offer free initial consultations, no down payment options, and payments starting at $129.

We make braces easy and affordable!

Call us today at 205-9799480 to schedule an appointment or visit our website at www.PTortho.com.

www.PTortho.com birminghamparent.com | 31

WHAT DO ALL THOSE GAME RATINGS MEAN?

By Matt Cox

W

alk into the video game store with your young child, and his eyes light up as he looks at the walls covered with games from floor to ceiling. You begin to think back to the things that got you excited at that age when your retrospective is interrupted by that young voice you love so much calling, “Mommy, I want this one!”

Your young one bounces toward you with glee and thrusts the new Saints Row game into your hand. At the bottom of the game’s box is a white and black rectangle with a capital ‘M’ with ‘mature 17+’ above it. You know your child is not 17, but does it matter? Games are for children right?

It does matter, and games are NOT exactly for kids. That ‘M’ stamp at the game’s base is the ESRB rating for that

32 | birminghamparent | june 2014

game. It denotes that the game contains mature content that is typically unsuitable for anyone under the age of 17. The ESRB is the Entertainment Software Rating Board, and they serve for games the same function that the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) serves for movies. The ‘M’ rating for games is the direct parallel to the ‘R’ rating for films. Basically, if you would not let your child watch an ‘R’ rated movie then it is probably not a good idea to let them play an ‘M’ rated game.

The website www.esrb.org outlines and details the various meanings and qualifications for the ratings. The ESRB ratings are as follows: Early Childhood (eC), Everyone (E), Everyone 10+ (E10+), Teen (T), Mature (M), and Adults Only (Ao).

According to the website, “The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB)

ratings provide concise and objective information about the content in video games and apps so consumers, especially parents, can make informed choices.”

These ratings are not arbitrary stamps; but labels calling attention to the game’s content. This system is in place to ensure that the consumer knows, in a broad sense, what to expect from the game and if they or their child should play it.

From games like Mad World, which involves buckets of blood and casual swearing to Spec Ops: The Line, which examines the stress and psychological torture that war can inflict on the people fighting in it, the Mature stamp indicates games that children should not play – even if Mad World is a 12-yearold’s idea of what mature means. The ESRB website explains the Mature rating as, “Content is generally suitable

for ages 17 and up. May contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language.� Like the games described above this content is, generally, not suitable for children.

According to Kim Coman of Zone 1 Games in Helena and Chelsea, a video game store cannot sell an ‘M’ rated game to anyone under 17. “As someone who has worked in a video game store, I cannot count the number of times that a parent came in with their child and did not realize what the ‘M’ on the box meant, so as a conscientious employee and avid gamer I would briefly explain the rating system, give alternate and age-appropriate game recommendations that would be in line with the child’s interests, and direct the parent toward review and informational websites that could give parents a better understanding of the games their children want before they bought them,� she says. “ Alternatively, if a child were to run up to the counter and hand me an ‘M’ rated game and their parent’s credit card, I would have to decline and ask that their parent come in and buy the game for them.�

An employee at a local Game Stop confirmed that they always ask for identification when someone brings a mature game to the checkout counter and an ad playing over the store’s speakers confirmed this as company policy.

Coman says of the ESRB ratings, “Pretty much, it tells you what you need to know‌ It’s so self-explanatory. It’s so easy; it’s right there.â€? Coman has been running Zone 1 for many years and her kids have grown up around games. If her kids want to play a game outside their age range, she looks into it and decides whether or not her kids should be allowed to play it, as sometimes the ratings are broad and generalized.

Video games are for anyone at any age, which is why we have a rating system to group them together by ageappropriateness. The ‘M’ is not an arbitrary stamp placed on the game to increase its sales but an indicator of the game’s content. Whether or not a child should be allowed to play ‘M’ rated games is ultimately a judgment call for each parent to decide for themselves but bear in mind that those ratings are there for the buyer’s benefit. So, by all means pay attention to that black and white stamp on the game your child hands you.

presents

ǯ (Valleydale Road in Hoover) Grab your blanket, friends & family and join us every Friday night beginning May 30th for a F familynjfriendly Ƥlm on our giant s…reenǨ Come early and grab great food and enjoy fun a…tivitiesǤ Che…k out lagas…oǯs Fa…ebook ’age ea…h ™eek for your …han…e to ™in s’e…ial seatingǤ Film starts at duskǤ isit MyFoš Ǥ…om for …om’lete movie listingǤ Follo™ us on ™itter for any ™eather u’dates aƥe…ting a movie ̝ Movie arties ain dateǣ ugust ͙st

For more information about the ESRB ratings system visit http://www.esrb.org.

For information about speciďŹ c games check http://www.escapistmagazine.com/, http://www.ign.com, or http://www.metacritic.com. Each of those websites has a search bar where you can search a game’s title for reviews and other information.

Matt Cox is an Alabaster-based graduate student working on a Masters in Popular Culture Studies and Literature. He also studies and has written academic essays on video games and interactive narratives. birminghamparent.com | 33

Make the Most of Your Farmers Market Visit

By Michelle L. Shirk, J.D.

Spring has arrived, summer arrives later this month, and with it longer days, warmer weather and the beginning of the season for many area farmers markets. These markets provide shoppers with easy access to fresh seasonal produce, delicious baked goods, locallymade craft items and more. However, to those accustomed to simply grabbing their tomatoes and potatoes from supermarket shelves, the idea of wandering through food-filled stalls while interacting with complete strangers can be intimidating. Fear not – whether you’re preparing for your first trip to a local market or heading further afield, these tips will help ensure you have a successful visit!

Time your trip.

Market offerings typically change as the season progresses. In other words, unlike at the supermarket, you should not expect to see asparagus and strawberries from May through October. While a springtime trip to the market certainly offers its own unique charms, those looking for a broad variety of produce may be better off waiting a few weeks to visit. If you are interested in a particular fruit or vegetable, do a little research to find out when it will be available and plan accordingly.

The best time of day to visit the farm34 | birminghamparent | june 2014

ers’ market depends on your personal situation. If you are a nervous first-timer heading to a small neighborhood market, you may be best served by showing up an hour or so after the market opens. By then, there will probably be enough other shoppers to allow you to “blend in” while still taking advantage of cool temperatures and well-stocked booths. In contrast, a large, popular market will likely be bustling regardless of the time, so consider arriving at the very beginning of the day to avoid long lines. Of course, if you are visiting a market that features prepared

foods, you may wish to schedule your trip to coincide with breakfast or lunchtime!

Gather intelligence It’s certainly possible to enjoy visiting a farmers market without any advance knowledge of its offerings. However, you can save time and confusion by having at least a general idea of the venue’s setup, the parking situation, and what type of wares will be offered for sale.

Many farmers markets offer websites or Facebook pages that will help you prepare for your visit. If you can’t find the

information you seek online, try asking friends and coworkers who have been to the market which specific vendors or products they recommend.

Pack the right gear It’s nice but not necessary to have a sturdy market basket to tote your purchases. A reusable grocery bag or backpack will also do the job. If you live more than a short distance from the market, bring a cooler filled with ice to help you safely transport items that should be kept cold. You may also want to pack a bucket or sturdy vase in case you come across a bouquet of flowers you can’t live without. Finally, cash remains the currency of choice for many vendors, so be sure to stop by your bank and pick up some small bills.

Ask questions.

In day-to-day life, sales pitches often seem to come with a catch, so you may initially feel wary of friendly vendors. Try to turn off this way of thinking at the farmers market, where chatting with sellers while

considering whether to purchase their wares is de rigueur. The folks manning the booths are often very same ones responsible for growing or preparing the food being sold, so feel free to ask them any questions you may have about food safety, ingredients or other concerns.

They may even be able to provide interesting recipe ideas or serving suggestions for their products.

Maximize your return on your investment.

Once you get your precious haul home, don’t let it go to waste! Promptly pick up any additional ingredients necessary to prepare meals using the produce, meats and cheeses you bought at the market. If you find yourself stumped about what to do with your purchases, consider cooking delicious fajitas, shish kabobs, salads or a stir-fry to use up a lot of perishables quickly. Then, fill a vase with your farmers market flowers, pour yourself a glass of farmers market apple cider and enjoy your fresh, seasonal meal!

Michelle Shirk is an attorney, freelance writer and proud mother of one. She writes about family, travel and seasonal events for parenting publications across the United States.

In day-to-day life, sales pitches often seem to come with a catch, so you may initially feel wary of friendly vendors. Try to turn off this way of thinking at the farmers market, where chatting with sellers while considering whether to purchase their wares is de rigueur.

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PHOTO COURTESTY OF COACHUP

THE CHILD ATHLETE: SUMMER TRAINING, CAMPS AND EXERCISE

P

arents will spend more than $600 per child on summer activities, according to a recent survey by American Express. That includes activities such as sports teams, pool memberships and camps. Parents have a number of options for helping their athletes make the most of summer training and a popular choice is enrolling their child in sports camps or clinics.

Summertime is one of the most vital periods in a young athlete’s career. Staying consistently active during summer vacation can be one of the most, if not the most, important determining factor in whether you child establishes healthy living habits and develops general athleticism. Over the summer more competitive teen athletes have a prime opportunity to catch up to their teammates and even surpass competitors in fitness, strength and skill.

Camps can provide consistent activity and routine guidance on various elements of a sport over the course of several days 36 | birminghamparent | june 2014

for the teen athlete. For young athletes, camps are not only an introduction to group training but are also a great way for your child to get socially acclimated to organized sports groups and get more practice playing with other athletes and campmates.

Unfortunately, camps often last just a few days or weeks and mistakenly many athletes and parents think participation at a summer camp checks the box off on summer training. Camps are not the sole solution for keeping your athlete active and working toward their goals over the summer. Camps will not replace three months of consistent training and exercise.

At the youth sports level, parents will need to make a conscious decision on how to keep their athlete active during the offseason. A team coach should provide guidance to an entire team on what athletes can be doing for conditioning, but for young athletes, parents play a crucial role in keeping children motivated and active. Have a discussion with your child’s coach in order

to identify areas that your child should be focusing on outside of conditioning.

Parents can help their athlete by making exercise a routine and daily occurrence. Even parents without a sports background can help their athlete by timing them, counting reps, completing drills alongside their athlete as well as taking their child on bike rides, trail runs or to a local swimming pool for open swim during the off season. Your child will reap the most value from their camps if they are fit going in and reap the benefits maintaining fitness after the camp. Come preseason the transition to regular practice will not be abrupt or a shock. Your athlete will begin his or her season in shape, which will lead to better confidence in play and reduced anxiety.

Coaches will take note.

“For young players especially, conditioning always serves as a giveaway for the type of work that a player has put in during the offseason,” says former NFL player and CoachUp coach Izaan Cross.

“You can also tell if a player has stayed active or participated in summer training camp by questioning their knowledge of the game. If they can answer questions that they wouldn’t have been able to answer the prior season, or they don’t make the same mistakes that they made the prior season, they most likely continued their growth as an athlete during the offseason.”

Beyond impressing the coach, regular exercise completed outdoors will prepare your child for the rigors of pre-season training and reduce their risk of heat related illnesses keeping them safe.

As for the perfect summer training blend, aim to be active every day and have a few days off. Cross says a child age 5-10 years old usually should shoot for hour session of exercise a few days a week. “That can be at a camp or clinic, private coaching, cross training with friends, training individually or with a parent, general exercising,” he says.

Looking at older athletes is also key. Film study, speed training, flexibility work and weight room availability becomes vital for an athlete especially once you get in the upper teenage years,” Cross says.

Potential star athletes often show high general athletic ability before learning the nuances of a sport. Improving general fitness and strength will make your child a contender for making top teams and starting positions down the road. Regardless of a child’s future career as an athlete, adopting a routine of exercise will help your child establish lifelong healthy habits.

PROS

OF SPORTS CAMPS: Camps last a few days or weeks.

Local camps allow your child to practice with nearby athletes he/she might see at practice or at inner-league competition.

Local camps allow your child to spend more time bonding with someone who might potentially be their team coach.

Out-of-state camps provide your child an opportunity to be exposed to different coaching styles or training.

Out-of-state camps allow your child to meet new athletes from other areas, improving their quality of training and potentially creating new friendships.

Courtesy of CoachUp, www.coachup.com

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birminghamparent.com | 37

Carly Chandler: Changing Lives and Laws

By Paige Townley

When little Carly Chandler was born on February 12, 2011, she quickly changed the lives of her family. Like in any other home, welcoming the newest member was a joyful experience for mother Amy, father Dustin and big brother Colton. What the family didn’t realize, however, was how soon Carly would be affecting the lives of so many others.

Carly was born with a rare genetic disorder called cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5, better known as CDKL5. The disorder, which was first discovered in 2004, occurs spontaneously and results in an early onset of hard to control seizures and severe neurodevelopmental impairment. Most children with CDKL5, for which there is no known cure, suffer from seizures from an early point in life and cannot walk or talk.

Carly began displaying signs of the disorder when she was eight weeks old. “I was holding her in my arms one day and she started doing these very odd movements,” says Amy. “I had never seen a seizure before, but it seemed like that’s what she had. So we called the pediatrician immediately.”

Initial testing for Carly’s condition began in April 2011. By that time, she was having 10 to 12 seizures a day at all times of the day. After a stay at Children’s of Alabama, the family was told she had epilepsy and would just need to take medications daily to prevent seizures. “At that time, my worst fear was her going off to college and forgetting to take her medications one day and having a seizure,” Amy says. “I look back to that now and wish that’s all it was.”

Carly was sent home with prescriptions that were supposed to control the seizures, yet nothing changed despite efforts to find a combination of medicines that would work.

A few weeks later, Carly experienced a different type of seizure that the Chandlers luckily were able to get on video and show the Children’s neurologist on call.

The doctor agreed to meet the Chandlers 38 | birminghamparent | june 2014

THER E’S NO GR EATER PLEASUR E THAN SEEING MY CHILDR EN SMILE...

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and spent hours talking with them in the hospital lobby.

“He explained so much and at the end of that conversation we knew he was a godsend,” Amy says. “He became Carly’s doctor and that’s when all of the testing really began.”

For the next few months Carly endured various tests, including EEG, MRI scans, a spinal tap and blood work, but all were negative. In December 2011 she was tested for CDKL5, and a few weeks later, the results came back positive.

“We were so thankful to have that diagnosis, but we knew there was no treatment or cure,” Amy says. “But we at least knew what it was, even though there was nothing we could do about it.” Dustin echoes Amy’s sentiments about being glad to have a diagnosis but feeling helpless nonetheless. “When your child is suffering and there is nothing you can do, it’s a terrible feeling,” he says. “As a parent, you want to be able to fix everything.

You can fix all the bumps and scratches for your child, but this was something we quickly realized that we couldn’t fix. At least not in the short term.”

My daughter can’t talk and probably never will, but her voice is louder than so many people who can talk.

Dustin and Amy’s opportunity to help Carly came about unexpectedly one day in late 2013 when they saw a story on the news about a marijuana-derived substance called cannabidiol, called CBD, which was helping children suffering from seizures in Colorado. The story was about a girl who was suffering from hundreds of seizures a day who began taking the medicine and not only did it stop her seizures, but it also had no side effects.

“As a law enforcement officer, I understood the laws here in Alabama and knew that unless we had some sort of law in place there was no way we could have that drug for Carly,” Dustin says. “We wondered if we should move. But we knew that in addition to fighting for Carly we had to fight for other families in Alabama who had children that could benefit from that treatment too.”

After talking with various lawmakers about potential support for a bill that would legalize CBD-based medicine derived from marijuana for children suffering

To schedule an appt with Dr Miller, contact our Inverness location at 933-2710.

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One-day special education law and advocacy training program for parents, advocates, educators, related service providers and attorneys. The presentation will include issues faced by parents of special needs children and include a particular focus on the acquisition of assistive technology devices and services.

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birminghamparent.com | 39

Photos courtesey of the Chandler family.

from seizures, Dustin sat down with state Rep. Mike Ball to draft “Carly’s Law” in January, just in time for the state’s 2014 legislative session. With bipartisan support, the bill passed.

“We went through so many peaks and valleys in that short period of time thinking it would pass, then it wouldn’t,” Dustin says. “It’s simply amazing it passed the first session it was introduced. My daughter can’t talk and probably never will, but her voice is louder than so many people who can talk.”

Gov. Robert Bentley signed Carly’s Law on April 1, allowing UAB to study the effectiveness of the oil for those with seizure disorders. The legislation went into effect on June 1. But there is still a ways to go before UAB can begin administering the drug to children in need.

“Currently, we are completing the necessary federal, state and institutional approval requirements so that when the treatment protocols have completed development there will be limited delays in beginning the treatment studies,” said Martina Bebin, M.D., associate professor of neurology at UAB and one of the co-directors of the UAB Cannabidiol Program.

“The goal is to have treatment trials open to patient enrollment by the fall.”

In the meantime, the Chandlers are patiently waiting for the research studies to begin and the medicine to become available. Carly still experiences seizures every day, taking medications that have yet to work, but the Chandlers know they are one step closer to finding some peace for their daughter and so many other suffering children around the state.

“Very few people truly learn what their purpose is here on earth, and I feel we know what Carly’s purpose is,” Amy says. “She’s helping so many others just with her story. Because of her story, other children who have gone undiagnosed for years have been diagnosed with CDKL5. She has touched so many families and so many children. And now with Carly’s Law, how many lives will that change?”

Paige Townley is a freelance writer.

40 | birminghamparent | june 2014

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school news

Ultimate Author Day Celebrated at OLS

H

undreds of young student authors participated in their school’s annual Ultimate Author Day (UAD)! Recently, the students at Our Lady of Sorrows (OLS) Catholic School experienced a day full of fun, educational and inspirational activities, as various professionals and volunteers celebrated with them this year’s theme entitled “Heart and Soul.”

Throughout the school year, each OLS student in grades Wee-K3 through eighth grade diligently worked to write, illustrate, and publish their very own book or another form of written medium. On UAD,

Wendy Spratley (left) and Caroline Spears (right) were a couple of the many volunteers who presented a biblical book experience directly from the Bible with the children at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School during Ultimate Author Day. Their activity, as did the activities of other volunteers, related to each biblical story, connecting the readings and life experiences.

Amy Welborn, an international Catholic Author and blogger, shares one of her books translated in Portuguese with the students at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School. She was one of the many professional presenters who attended their Ultimate Author Day.

SCHOOL

NEWS

42 | birminghamparent | june 2014

their work was on display in the Family Life Center, as they participated in a spiritual and inspiring educational day involving various forms of language expression with a particular emphasis on writing.

The entire student body attended class workshops, sharing sessions, special performances and literaturebased activities presented by professionals and volunteers. To help make the day even more distinctive, the school decorated with artwork previously created by each grade in art class.

“This is always such an exciting day for our students,” said Mary Jane Dorn, OLS principal. “It is so refreshing to see these young children believe in their ability to write, as well as express themselves as true authors and artists.”

“We were so excited about this year’s theme for UAD,” says Cindy Westbrook, OLS Teacher and UAD Chairperson. “Our theme “Heart and Soul” was not only inspirational for the students, but most of the professionals who attended were a part of the faith community,” she says. “It proved to be a very enthusiastic and inspirational day for everyone!”

SEND US YOUR SCHOOL NEWS editor@birminghamparent.com We welcome photos, too, but be sure you have the rights to the photo before sending and include any caption or photo credit we should include. There is no guarantee about what news items we will use – we are limited by our space restrictions, but will try to include all we can! Deadline each month is the 10th prior to the month of the magazine.

COVENANT CLASSICAL TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION ON NEW HOMEWOOD CAMPUS

C

ovenant Classical Schools & Daycare announces plans to build a new campus in Homewood. Located near Old Columbiana Road, the new 15,000 square foot building will be built to house 12 classrooms for children ranging from infants through kindergarten.

As standard in all Covenant Classical Schools, the new campus

will include high definition cameras and security systems with secured entry/exit systems. Additional campus amenities will include distinct outdoor play areas, a covered awning, commercial grade kitchen, laundry area, a welcoming lobby, staff office space, a soccer field and a splash pad for water play in the summer months.

Construction is expected to be

ART COURTESY OF CCS

school news

completed by November 2014.

Covenant Classical Schools & Daycare (CCS) is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama with five schools located in Birmingham and Huntsville. It provides quality Christian childcare for families with children from the age of 6 weeks through kindergarten. For more information, please visit www.ccslion.com.

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Congrats to our Cover Kids Search 2013 Winners!

With more than 8,000 votes, it was a tight race for all categories. Watch for each of them on a 2014 Birmingham Parent cover. Congratulations, also, to our many adorable finalists.

special needs

3-5

Walker

Cambree

0-2

Olivia

6-11

Kyle

birminghamparent.com | 45

death by children

SHOWER SCENE

By Bull Garlington

46 | birminghamparent | june 2014

W

e have three perfectly good bathrooms in our house. Three bathrooms – and it’s not enough.

We don’t use the one upstairs because it’s at least 17 steps too high. There’s one in the basement but it’s inhabited by spiders and marmosets. We don’t use it unless we need an emergency science project. So a family of four is left with one functioning bathroom, the guest loo, which we all need at the same time. Every time.

We’re in constant battle for squatting rights to the good bathroom and no matter how long I wait, as soon as I shut the door someone starts pounding on the door and there I am, coffee cup and magazine in hand, glaring at the tiles.

“Dad, I need to get in there.”

“I’m already in here.”

“Dad, seriously.”

“Trust me, son – this is serious.”

“Dad, I reeeeally need the bathroom.”

“There are two other bathrooms in this house,” I say, murderously.

“Dad please!” he says, tapdancingly.

Because I’m awesome I relinquish the lavatory, lug my stuff upstairs, and lock the door.

“Hon, I need to get in there.”

“I’M ALREADY IN HERE!” “Babe, seriously.”

“I cannot tell you just how serious things are about to get in here.

We’re talking foreign documentary serious. We’re talking subtitles.”

“I reeeeeeeellly need to get in there.”

“THERE ARE TWO OTHER BATHROOMS IN TH—“ “You know that picture you won’t let me put on Facebook?”

“I’ll be right out.”

I carry my coffee down two flights into the spider conservatory, wedge the door shut with a piece of cardboard, release the hounds, and prepare to shower. I balance my mug on the edge of the sink and crank up the hot water to “melt steel.” I’m lost in a welcome cloud of

steam, en flagrante ablute, when I hear heavy breathing.

Now this is my basement.

People have gone missing for weeks down there. I lost a friend, a good friend, somewhere near the hot water heater badlands so the sound of breathing stops me mid-scrub, frantically searching for a sharp piece of soap I can use as a shiv when I realize the breathing is in stereo and I take a peek around the moldy curtain to see my dogs staring at me with a look on their face that means they’re about to water the plants – on my laundry. Growling, I wrap a stiff towel around my waist, shuffle over to wrench open the basement door, and scream like a girl as the dogs plow through me to get to the yard so they can pee on my towel.

Which is not on me.

Anymore.

“I reeeeeeeellly need to get in there.”

“THERE ARE TWO OTHER BATHROOMS IN TH—“ “You know that picture you won’t let me put on Facebook?”

“I’ll be right out.”

But hey, it’s the basement, right? If I just duck walk under the windows I can slide behind the bookcase to the bathroom. There’s another towel in there.

With my daughter, who snuck in right behind me (I think she’s in league with the hounds) and stole my shower.

“Sarah, I need to get in there.”

“I’m already in here.”

“I reallllllly need to get in there.”

“Whatever; can you get me a towel from upstairs? I used this one as a rug.”

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SPONSORED BY CHILDREN’S OF ALABAMA

FAMILY FUN ZONE WITH FREE GAMES, FACE PAINTING & MORE

V E N D O R B O OT H S A N D S P O N S O R S H I P S AVA I L A B L E! W W W. B I R M I N G H A M PA R E N T. C O M * 2 0 5 - 9 8 7- 7 7 0 0 * I N F O @ B I R M I N G H A M PA R E N T. C O M

3QL¼[ 5IZSM\ IVL 5WU VOTED #1 CONSIGNMENT SALE for 3 Straight Years!!

Alabama’s Largest Children’s Consignment Store - Nearly 100,000 sq ft NEW Summer Back-To-School

Fall/ Winter 2014

SALE!

SALE!

Accepting clothes sizes 2t-teens ALL seasons!

PLUS shoes, backpacks, lunchboxes, nap mats, art easels, desks, furniture, home school curriculum section, text books, anything back-to-school related.

Accepting top quality, gently worn children’s, juniors and maternity clothing for Fall and Winter.

PLUS shoes, baby items, bedding, toys/games and all furniture.

DROP OFF DAYS

DROP OFF DAYS

Sat., July 19 — 7a-6p Mon., July 21 — 9a-6p

Sat., Sept. 13 — 7a-6p Mon.–Tues., Sept. 15-16 — 9a-6p Wed., Sept. 17 — 9a-3p (Clothing items only on the 17th)

PUBLIC SALE DATES 6 DAYS OF SALE! Mon., July 28 – Thur., July 31 9a-7pm Fri., Aug. 1 — 9a-7p 25% DISCOUNT DAY Sat., Aug. 2 — 9a-7p 50% DISCOUNT DAY Located in the Eastwood Shopping Plaza (in the old K-mart Store) 7845 Crestwood Blvd. (Hwy. 78) Irondale, AL 35210

PUBLIC SALE DATES 2 WEEKS OF SALE! Mon., Oct. 6 — 8a-8p Tues., Oct. 7 — 9a-8p Wed.–Sat., Oct. 8-11 — 9a-6p CLOSED Sun. Oct. 12th Mon. – Wed., Oct. 13-15 — 10a-6p Thur., Oct. 16 — 9a-6p 25% DISCOUNT DAY Fri. & Sat., Oct. 17-18 — 9a-6p 50% DISCOUNT DAY

(% off applies to BLACK tags only. Tickets with Red price remain at normal price)

For more information on becoming a seller or volunteer, visit our website www.kidsmarketandmom.com Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover, Cash and Debit Cards. NO CHECKS!!