Auburn-Opelika Parents June 2014 by KeepSharing

June 2014

Volume 5 Number 4

28 Columns

26 24

Publisherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Note Kendra Sumner

Living With Children John Rosemond

Avoiding the Entitlement Trap

Summer Fun Guide

Raising responsible kids in a consumption-crazed culture.

Discover all that Lee County offers to keep your child busy during the school break!

Kids Health Watch sponsored by Pediatric Associates of Auburn

Get This! Gerry Paige Smith

Dave Says Dave Ramsey

A Page in a Book Gerry Paige Smith

What Dads Do Best

Recognize the unique qualities fathers bring to the family, and compliment him today!

Stay Organized! Dr. Polly Dunn shares tips for keeping your family organized with calendar systems.

The FlyLady Marla Cilley

Parenting on the Plains Polly Dunn, Ph.D.

On The Cover Abby Henderson is the 5-year-old daughter of Alan and Molly Henderson. In the fall, she will be attending Southview Elementary School, Opelika. Some of Abbyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favorites are the color pink, giraffes, cereal, playing outside and taking drum lessons. When she grows up, she wants to be a singer, drummer and a veterinarian.

Departments 6

Bits and Pieces 10

School Bits 42

Family Calendar 48

Movie Reviews www.facebook.com/auburnopelika.parents

Publisher’sNote Happy Father’s Day to all you dads out there! What a great time of year to celebrate dads. Not only are the warmer months of summer finally here, but Father’s Day is June 15. Whether your plans are a big party or just a small, handmade card from all the kids, he is sure to feel loved and appreciated this year! This month’s issue is dedicated to celebrating dad and finding all the fun that summer has to offer for the kids (and dad, too)! D.A.D. should stand for ‘Dads Are Different’, and that’s okay. They think, plan, adjust and even stress (or not) differently than moms do. The way they interact with their children is most often times opposite than our way. It seems, by design, that the differences are there to make sure we all meet in the middle when it comes to raising our kids. Most dads have probably played catch or given horseback rides until his arms and back ache, he has doctored many boo-boos and wiped tears, and given advice about learning to drive a car. While being the best dad (and granddad) in town, it isn’t hard to miss that they somehow manage to do all those skills a whole lot differently than you or I would. Like the ability to take one thing at a time instead of a whole list of to-dos that must be multi-tasked. Don’t get me wrong. When I multi-task and juggle it all at once, that works for me and my personality. But for my husband, he has to take one task at a time, finish it, and then move on to the next. It works for him. And for our kids, they benefit from both by getting to experience and learn from the differing processes, which makes for a well-rounded household and family life. In the feature article, What Dads Do Best, there are some important points that not only highlight parental differences in the home, but offer much needed reminders that mom’s way is not always the only way! Another difference in my home is how we play with our kids. Let me be clear…I don’t like to play. Once our babies moved into the 2-3 year old age, they moved away from me and straight to playful dad. He was always willing to play games, push the toy cars down the ramps, get dirty in the backyard and stimulate their imaginations. This mom is better at cleaning up those dirty knees and hands, organizing the best way to store all those toy cars and feeding them after long days of play. Leave it to super dads to build forts in the trees with two pirates and be comfortable enough to put on that pink tiara and enjoy afternoon tea with his princesses. To their children, dads are heroes with different sets of capes…working dad, playful dad, helpful dad and disciplinarian dad. To help dad out with his ‘playful cape’ this summer, included is the 2014 Summer Fun Guide where he will find fun for all ages. Whether he needs some hands-on, learning fun like Home Depot’s Kids Workshops, an action-packed adventure on top of Stone Mountain, Ga. or a lazy day out by the Auburn and Opelika Parks and Rec pools, he will find it in this month’s edition. How about a daddy-and-me art class or karate lesson? Don’t forget there is still time to sign them up for Summer Camps and VBS. Check out the local events calendar, too. You don’t want to miss the annual festivals, block parties, fishing tournaments or boat shows. From one parent to another, here’s to celebrating all fathers, grandfathers and male mentors in our children’s lives. Without their differing parenting styles and views of the world, this summer would not be near as dirty, loud or action packed. Here’s to a summer of cannonball splash contests, finding the biggest worm in the yard and unending helicopter rides through the living room….and a Happy Father’s Day!

Kendra

kendra@auburnopelikaparents.com

Auburn Opelika Parents I June 2014

Auburn Opelika Lee County’s Foremost Parenting Source

Auburn Opelika Parents Magazine is founded on the principle that parenting is an exciting, diverse, challenging, and significant role in our community. Auburn Opelika Parents Magazine is a community advocate for families and the parenting process.

Publisher Kendra Sumner kendra@auburnopelikaparents.com Editor DeAnne Watson deanne@auburnopelikaparents.com Associate Editor Kelly Watson Contributing Writers Marla Cilley Polly Dunn, Ph.D. Richard Freeman, M.D. Malia Jacobson Heidi Smith Luedtke, Ph.D. Dave Ramsey John Rosemond Gerry Paige Smith Cover Photography Candy Avera www.pictureperfectbycandy.com

President Jason Watson Director of Sales Justin Sumner justin@auburnopelikaparents.com (334) 209-0552 Ad Design Tim Welch

Visit us online at www.auburnopelikaparents.com Auburn-Opelika Parents magazine is published monthly by KeepSharing, LLC. Mailing address: 1204 Owens Road Auburn, Alabama, 36830. The phone number is (334) 209-0552 and fax is (334) 826-7303. Auburn-Opelika Parents is copyrighted 2014 by KeepSharing LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Opinions expressed in Auburn-Opelika Parents magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the owners, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products and services herein.

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LivingWithChildren by John Rosemond

Avoid the Power Struggle Q:

My 14-year-old son does not brush his teeth, except during the week before going to the dentist. He doesn’t have any cavities, his breath is fine, his check-ups at the dentist are at the “acceptable” level (not great, but passable), and his teeth look fine. So he feels like it’s an unnecessary bother. I nevertheless am concerned that he is setting himself up for dental problems. My wife wants to clamp down on this and enforce him brushing his teeth very closely, which would consist of being in the bathroom with him and supervising his brushing. If we don’t watch him, he will go in the bathroom and just do a perfunctory job, or just wet his toothbrush and say he brushed. Any advice?

A: My advice is that you accept you have done and said everything you can do and say to get him to realize the importance of brushing his teeth and stop doing or saying anything. Have you not yet figured out that short of standing over him while he brushes---something that is going to get very tiresome very

Auburn Opelika Parents I June 2014

quickly—you aren’t going to win this battle? And I suspect, by the way, that this has turned into a power struggle that he is winning, he knows he’s winning, and he is going to continue winning no matter what you do. If you stand over him in the bathroom twice a day, you are only going to stimulate more passive-aggressive behavior from him and become increasingly exasperated. He’s going to see to that. Drop it. It is only a matter of time before his peers begin telling him he has bad breath. One cannot neglect brushing forever and not develop halitosis. You can also inform him that if he develops a cavity, it will be his job to pay for the repair, and that his privileges will be suspended until he has satisfied the debt. Let this monkey be on his back, not yours.

Q: Our 4-year-old son (middle child with older and younger sisters) frequently uses “baby talk.” It doesn’t seem to be a way of seeking attention, because when we ask him to repeat in his “big

boy voice” he will do so, and he only does this with us. Is correcting him making a bigger deal out of it than necessary and possibly making it worse?

A: On the one-to-ten scale of important parenting matters, I give this a one. No offense intended, but this is something about which your great-grandmother, when she was raising her kids, would not have given any mental energy. Today’s parents often worry so much about small details, many of which are completely insignificant (as is the case here) that they miss the bigger picture. Beware falling into that trap. My advice is that you give this no attention. In fact, I recommend that you have fun with it. Talk to him in baby talk—not always, but occasionally. Obviously, he can articulate properly, so you have no reason for worry. Be assured, this will resolve itself in due time. I seriously doubt that he will repeat his marriage vows in “baby talk.” Family psychologist John Rosemond answers parents’ questions on his website at www.rosemond.com.

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Alex City Jazz Fest

The 24th Annual Alexander City Jazz Festival is scheduled for June 13th and 14th. This FREE, two day event provides a bit of New Orleans-style entertainment. Bring your family, blanket and picnic, Friday night at Strand Park in downtown Alexander City and Lake Martin Amphitheater on Saturday. For more information, visit the event website at www. alexcityjazzfest.com.

Fabulous Fridays and Farmers Market at Callaway Gardens

Kick off your Summer weekends May 23-August 22 with festivities including the Callaway Gardens Farmers Market (5 p.m. to 8 p.m. through Aug. 29), and continuing into the evening with great food, drink specials, beach activities and the Florida State University Flying High Circus (8 p.m. performances through Aug. 1). Each week, there also will be some musical entertainment, including a DJ, and movie. Bring a chair or blanket to enjoy the music and movie. Admission to Robin Lake Beach is $5 per adult; $2.50 per child age 6-12 beginning at 5 p.m. Free for Annual Pass holders. www.callawaygardens.com.

Summer Splashing and a Movie!

Bring your family and your floats for an evening of swimming and a movie! June 20, Float-In-Movie, Opelika SportsPlex, 7 p.m. and Float-NMovie “Dolphin Tale’, Auburn Samford Pool, 8 p.m. Opelika’s movie is Free to SportsPlex members or $5 per person (children under 6 are free), www.opelika.org, and Auburn’s movie is FREE with 2014 Splash Pass or $2 per person, www. auburnalabama.org/parks.

Father's Day and Military Appreciation Day 2014 at the Montgomery Zoo Free admission for Dads and all Military Personnel (and their immediate family members) at The Montgomery Zoo and Mann Museum. On Father’s Day, June 15, from 9 a.m, - 5:30 p.m., treat dad to a day at the zoo for family fun. Military Appreciation Day will be held June 19, from 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., as a special thank you to military and their families (present valid military identification for entry). Montgomery Zoo, 2301 Coliseum Parkway, Montgomery, AL. (334) 2404900 montgomeryzoo.com.

Educator Appreciation Week at Stone Mountain Park

As a way of showing appreciation and thanks, Stone Mountain Park invites Georgia educators to kick back and relax with us – our compliments! June 15 - 20, Stone Mountain Park is offering all active and certified K-University Level Georgia teachers, principals, and homeschool educators 1 complimentary Adventure Pass and the opportunity to purchase additional Adventure Passes at a discounted rate of $21 plus tax. This offer is limited to 6 accompanying family members. Print off the coupon at www.stonemountainpark. com and bring with your Educator ID to Main Ticket Plaza at Stone Mountain Park June 15-20. You may purchase up to 6 discounted tickets at that time. Educators must pay for parking at the main gate.

Auburn Opelika Parents I June 2014

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The Market at Ag Heritage Park 2014

The Market at Ag Heritage Park will open the 2014 season every Thursday, beginning in May at 3 p.m. Find fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables, baked and canned goods, soaps and honey at the market every Thursday through August 21. The weekly growers'-only farmers market, located on the Auburn University campus at the corner of Lem Morrison and Donahue drives, was established in 2005 and in the years since has become a favorite summertime tradition for the Auburn community. Hosted by the College of Agriculture, The Market features area vendors offering an abundance of seasonal, fresh-from-the-garden fruits and vegetables and other goods that range from fresh-cut flowers to goat cheese. For more information, contact Market manager Laura Herring at 334-321-1603 or herrilm@auburn.edu.

Carmike Cinemas Summer Kid Series

For all ages starting at 10 a.m., every Tuesday and Thursday, all seats $4, which includes admission, small popcorn and a small drink. “Epic” 6/17 & 6/19; “The Croods” 6/24 & 6/26; “Turbo” 7/1 & 7/3; “Despicable Me” 7/8 & 7/10; “Despicable Me 2” 7/15 & 7/17; “The Nut Job” 7/22 & 7/24; “The Lego Movie” 7/29 & 7/31; “RIO” 8/5 & 8/7; “Mr. Peabody & Sherman” 8/12 & 8/14; “RIO 2” 8/19 & 8/21

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Lee County Humane Society Launches Membership Initiative

Lee County Humane Society (LCHS) has launched a membership initiative open to animal lovers everywhere that will run May 1-July 31, 2014. This new membership program is the first of its kind for LCHS, and will allow individuals, families and businesses to show support and advocate for animal welfare through annual membership fees and increased awareness. There are three levels of membership: Individual ($35 annually), Family ($50 annually) and Business ($100 annually). All levels will receive a car or window decal, as well as a 50 percent reduced adoption fee coupon to use themselves or to gift to a friend or client. Funds collected from memberships will help adoptable pets in our area find forever homes, as well as offer support for spay/neuter surgeries, help feed shelter residents and ensure all shelter animals have the wellness care they need. Anyone interested in becoming a member of LCHS or getting more information should visit leecountyhumane.org/membership.

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KidsHealthWatch

Sponsored by Pediatric Associates of Auburn

The Question to ASK on June 21 and Everyday Parenting has never been an easy assignment. Meaningful and joyful, yes. Easy, no. We can all agree that as parents, we need all the help we can get to keep our kids safe and healthy in an increasingly complicated world. Every day across America nine children and teens are shot in unintentional shootings. The majority of these instances go unnoticed. They do not make the headlines or captivate our attention. Nearly 3,000 kids and teens are killed by gun violence every year. Many of these youth deaths and injuries occur because parents, relatives or friends leave guns accessible to kids. They are unintentional shootings and suicides that are looked upon as isolated tragedies, rather than viewed together as the preventable public health crisis that they actually represent. Every day as parents, we make rational choices regarding our kid’s safety—we buckle their seatbelts, make them wear bicycle helmets, and limit their TV time. But when it comes to gun safety, we often do not take the same logical approach.

One out of three homes with children has guns, many left unlocked and/or loaded. Yet, nationally, more than half of parents say it has never occurred to them to ask about the presence of guns where their children play. As parents, we can help protect those we love by asking the right questions about gun safety. This is the simple idea behind the Asking Saves Kids (ASK) Campaign. ASK encourages parents to simply ask if there are guns in the homes where their children play (such as at friends’ or family members’ homes). Just as it has become common to hear parents asking about nut allergies or how the children will be supervised, parents can take an important step to ensure the safety of their children simply by asking, “Is there an unlocked gun in your home?” If the answer is no, then we have one less thing to worry about. If the answer is yes, make sure all guns are stored unloaded and locked, ideally in a gun safe, with ammunition stored separately. As parents, we have a responsibility to keep our kids safe. We need to be

aware of the risks associated with a gun in the home. We need to ASK about guns in the homes where our children play, and if a home has a gun, ensure it is stored locked, unloaded and separate from ammunition. If we can do that, we can make our families safer and prevent many of the firearm-related tragedies that occur every day. On Saturday, June 21, 2014, organizations and individuals around the country will celebrate National ASK Day. Held annually on the first day of summer, a season when children spend more time in other homes, ASK Day reminds parents about the importance of ASKing if there are unlocked guns in the homes where their children play. You can participate in ASK Day by pledging to ASK and encouraging your friends and family to do the same! To pledge to ASK and learn about more ways to get involved in ASK, please visit: www.askingsaveskids.org.

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Dr. Rian Anglin, a board certified pediatrician, was raised nearby in Valley, AL. She attended Auburn University were she graduated summa cum laude with a BS in Molecular Biology. Despite her strong allegiance to Auburn, Dr. Anglin graduated from the University of Alabama School of Medicine in 2007 with her MD. Her passions in practice include promoting early childhood literacy, reducing toxic stress in childhood, and improving the practice of pediatric medicine through office based research. Dr. Anglin is married to her high school sweetheart, Paul. She is delighted to reside in Auburn with her husband and their two sons.

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Autauga County Schools Women’s Lacrosse Team Auburn University Teaches Boys & Girls Club About Lacrosse

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Lee County would like to thank the Auburn University Women’s Lacrosse team for volunteering with the Auburn Unit. The team spent a week teaching Club members the rules and fundamentals of lacrosse. They even participated in a small scrimmage with the kids in order for them to get a feel of a real game situation. The team’s president, Ms. Grace Hoffman, led the way by organizing all of the activities, as well as finding appropriate dates and times for all of her players to volunteer at the Club. Despite beginning the year with only four returning players, the girls managed to recruit enough to have a 22 player team. While being player coached, they ended with a 6-2 record; the best record Auburn Women’s Lacrosse has had in the past few years.

Spring Baseball Opening 2014

Come out and support all the local boys and girls this spring as they swing, run and slide their hearts out! Auburn Parks and Recreation's Baseball, Softball and T-ball games are held most evenings at the ballpark. Pictured, the A's team, Boys ages 9-10, huddle after their game to hear their Coach, Robert McKinnell's, pep talk, recap of all their great plays and teamwork, and congratulations for tonight's win! Way to go A's!

Lee-Scott Academy Golf Team Finishes Season Undefeated

Lee-Scott Academy’s Golf Team had an undefeated season and finished AISA AAA State Champs! LSA's golf team has won the last 3 AISA AAA State Titles. The team is coached by Todd Thompson.

Trinity Christian School Students Serve Community

On March 27, Trinity Christian School had its first Servathon. Throughout the day, the students gave back to the community of Opelika and Auburn by painting, cleanup and food collection. This event embodied our school's Biblical foundation because we are told, "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms" (1 Peter 4:10 NIV). The students of TCS certainly used a great variety of gifts as they served the community of Opelika and Auburn. The students of Trinity were spread across Lee county on the day of the Servathon. Most of the grammar students sang and passed gift bags out at various local nursing homes. The 6th graders planted a garden at the Harvest Evangel Rehab Center. Meanwhile, our high-school painted fences at Storybook farm and others worked at Haddie's home. The school actually had a food drive a few weeks before the Servathon. As a result, TCS was not only able to donate these nonperishables, but also help stack them at the Opelika Food Bank. The community of Opelika was not the only beneficiary of the Servathon. The students of TCS had loads of fun. Whether painting fences or singing their hearts out, each and every student worked hard. The first Servathon was a smashing success. 9

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Autauga Schools Drake Middle School Tours Stone Wrights Mill Road Students Walk County Mountain Park for Wesley6th grade students at Drake Middle School in Auburn went on Kate a field trip to Stone Mountain Park in Georgia. They learned the Fourth grade students from Wrights Mill Road tie orange ribbons to the fence during “Walking for Wesley-Kate Wednesdays”. Students are raising money for WesleyKate, granddaughter to PE coach Mrs. Hodges. Fourth graders in this picture are Kia, Jayden, Milan, Ansley, and Parker-Kate. Every Wednesday students wear orange or their WK shirt and bring change to get a ribbon to tie to the fence.

history of the park, toured the park and climbed to the very top of the stone. It was very exciting and rewarding day for all!

Northside Intermediate Third Graders Perform Musical

Pictured left, Mrs. Lane's third grade class from Northside Intermediate School performs the musical "Education Rocks".

West Smiths Station Elementary Plants Flowers for Earth Day

Pictured right, West Smiths Station Elementary celebrated Earth Day by planting beautiful flowers in the flower beds on campus. Mrs. Boulware's Kindergarten class enjoys the hands-on experience!

Please send your school news and photos by the 20th of each month to: kendra@auburnopelikaparents.com.

Richland Elementary Jumps Rope for Heart

Richland Elementary School’s "Jump Rope for Heart" top five fundraisers were: Eva McGowen, Jackson Morgan, Hannah Hoch, Ella Hatley, and Conner Sack. Eva McGowan was the top champion, raising $250. Our "Champions" raised over $8,900 for the American Heart Association. The top 5 got a chance to throw a pie in the faces of staff members. Auburn Opelika Parents I June 2014

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Trinity Christian School Tennis Team Wins Regional Tournament

On April 16, the TCS tennis team dominated at the regional tournament. The teamed played extremely well, and their efforts paid off. Both of the boys’ doubles teams advanced to state along with the top two players for boys and girls. Hopefully the tennis team's first year in the GICAA tennis league will continue to be as successful as it has thus far. TCS is proud to have such a great tennis team and we cannot wait to see how our tennis team does at the state tournament.

Girls’ Basketball at Lee-Scott Academy

LSA's JV Girls Basketball Team won the AISA 3A State Championship. LSA's Varsity Girls Basketball Team was named State Runners-Up.

TAKE YOUR SWING

TO THE NEXT LEVEL Grand National is offering golf clinics this summer for junior golfers, ages 7-17, taught by PGA Certified pros. The clinics will be held in three, Monday – Thursday sessions from 8:30-11:30 a.m. SESSION 1: June 9-12 · SESSION 2: June 23-26 SESSION 3: July 28-31 · $100 PER SESSION Lunch and a free Par 3 round are included each day. » FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER, CALL 334.749.9042. «

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THE ROBERT TRENT JONES GOLF TRAIL AT GRAND NATIONAL 3000 Robert Trent Jones Trail · Opelika, AL 36801 facebook.com/rtjgrandnational · rtjgolf.com

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Autaugafor County Schools Forty-five OMS Students Qualify DUKE Talent Identification Program

In the 2013-14 7th Grade Duke University Talent Identification Program, Opelika Middle School had 45 students qualify to take the college level ACT or SAT. The students who qualified are: Alexica Barrett, Gus Bell, Garrett Bennett, Lanolan Billingsley, Hannah Brooks, Django Bruce, Reese Butz, Adam Cason, Trey Dowdell, Taylor Brooke Dudley, Colten Dunson, Caleb Eason, Jalen Escoffrey, Keirra Farrow, Keirsten Gamble, Zariyah Greathouse, Caroline Hawkins, Alexandra Henderson, Wesley Herring, Cecilia Hoffpauir, Bradley Hoyle, Demetra Johnson, Aaron King, Parker King, Whitt Krehling, Blake Landers, Cole Lazzari, Lily Ledbetter, Brooklyn Mann, Sierra McCullough, Megan Noon, Hooney Oh, Ishan Patel, Rachael Pitts, Hunter Rider, Patrick Royal, Madison Rush, Jamal Spratling, Anaya Torbert, Jacob Walker, Jada Watson, Jahblyss Williams, Bo Williams, Houston Woods and Kalyn Yountz. According to the 7th Grade Duke University Talent Identification Program, a Duke Scholar is an academically gifted student who has shown exceptional potential on their ARMT (Alabama Reading and Math) test scores. In order to be eligible as a Duke Scholar a student must be a current 7th grader and score 95% or higher on their ARMT in either math or reading. Qualifying as a Duke Scholar provides students with the opportunity to take the college level SAT or ACT as a seventh grade student. Fourteen students took the assessment and four of those students have been invited to the State Recognition Ceremony at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Opelika Middle School is proud to announce that the following students met or exceeded the scores needed to be invited to the State Recognition Ceremony: Adam Cason, Colten Dunson, Whitt Krehling and Jacob Walker. In addition, Adam Cason, was invited to the Grand Recognition Ceremony at Duke University. The Duke Tip program at Opelika Middle School is coordinated by OMS Counselor Emily Finck. Congratulations OMS students!

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New friends are now best friends. New experiences are now the best times ever. No wonder it’s so easy to tell others about it and include them in the fun.

Welcome to Riverview Camp for Girls!

We’ve do put Itogether everything you’re looking for in a perfect“I saw camp onemy of Why choose Riverview each summer? mysetting! first river Recognized on a mountain,as I rode Golf,times Dance, Dance, Outdoor Sports, Soccer,use Beach Volleyball, Basketball, “As go,Stomp it was one of the BEST.”Skills AndClass, what child couldn’t some of that these days?

Riverview Reﬁnement, Program, Campﬁres night,Recognized optional trips and more! We’ve put together everythingCIT you’re looking for in a perfect every camp setting! as one of the Southeast’s best all-around summer camps for girls, Riverview is an oasis of fun, friends and happiness. Spring and Fall &available 2 week Sessions ages to 16... Mother-Daughter Weekends1are also! Registeredfor Nurses and6 Physician on Staff. Entire full-summer staff is First Aid andand CPRFall Certified. Camper/Counselor Ratio 5:1 Spring Mother-Daughter Weekends...

waiting lists start early...sign up soon!... Waitingwww.riverviewcamp.com! lists start early...sign up soon!...

Only 1 /Mountain 2 hours from Huntsville Located on top of Lookout in Mentone, AL. Only a 3 hr drive. 1

Call for FREE DVD and catalog 1-800-882-0722 Accredited by American Camping Association • Members of Christian Camping International

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Dr. Larry & Susan Hooks, Owners/Directors • Donna Bares,Asst. Director

1 & 2Week Sessions for Ages 6-16

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first I had campfires every night. Icamps felt close to God. giggled a lot is with friends and counselors. time flew by! thehorse. Southeast’s best all-around for girls,IRiverview annew oasis of fun, friends andThe happiness... I Exciting felt safe and secure. Iinclude: gained confidence in myselfPool,Tennis, through the world around me.” activities Riding, Heated Canoeing, Ropes Course, Climbing Tower,

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FLAG TWIRLING • CHEERLEADING • RIFLERY • ARCHERY • TRIP DAY • GOLF

We don’t wonder anymore how it happened, that one summer could bring such happy memories.

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Trinity Student Attends Emergency Preparedness Camp in Huntsville

Amelia Graddy is a 6th grader at Trinity Christian School, in Opelika. She recently participated in “Be Ready Camp”, which is held in Huntsville each year at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. As part of her application to the camp, Amelia had to submit a 300 to 500 word essay on “What being a part of a safe community means to me.” Be Ready Camp teaches emergency preparedness to Alabama sixth graders. Be Ready Camp curriculum includes: introduction to survival and first aid, emergency preparedness, developing an emergency kit, creating a family disaster plan, water survival, light search and rescue, disaster psychology, triage, career exploration, and terrorism awareness. Each Be Ready Camp participant received a backpack full of first aid and emergency supplies including: a flashlight, helmet, vest, gloves, medical supplies, goggles and duct tape. The students used the supplies during their weeklong training. Amelia’s favorite part of camp was on the last night when she participated in the mock disaster, which was a simulated helicopter crash. The campers used their new skills to assist and rescue the victims. There were actual firefighters and paramedics on the scene. Amelia helped victims that had minor to medium injuries. For more information on “Be Ready Camp,” go to www.readyalabama.gov.

Lee-Scott Academy Students are Readers

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Caleb Dover and Mackenzie Phillpott were the winners of the LSA Reading Contest. Caleb is in the 4th grade and read 10,589 pages. Mackenzie is a 6th grader and she read a total of 16,608 pages. The divisions were grades 3-5 and grades 6-8. MacKenzie placed 3rd in the AISA State Reading Contest for grades 6th-8th.

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Autauga County SchoolsAcademy Track Stars Lee-Scott

LSA's Varsity Girls Track Team won the AISA 3A State Championship. The team has won the last 5 out of 6 state championships. LSA's Varsity Boys Track Team won the AISA 3A State Championship. The team has won the last 3 out of 4 state championships.

LSA's JV Girls Track Team won the AISA 3A JV State Championship. The team has won the last 4 out of 5 state championships.

Please send your school news to: kendra@auburnopelikaparents.com.

2320 MOORES MILL ROAD, SUITE. 250 AUBURN, AL 36830 • (334) 887-0099

Congratulations to the Liles Smiles no cavity winners! (Wii Drawing for May 1st)

A.G. Henry Aaliyah Simmons AaronDuBois Abigail Chandler Aelisea Harrison Ainsley King Airyana Belcher Aiyana Ranson Akyla Monroe Alana Prince Alecia Williams Alex Body, Jr. Alexis Williams Alicia Peralta Allie Reese Thompson Allison Timm Amerie Redenius Amir Word Amori Word Analyssa McClelland Andrew Barnett Jr. Angelina Jones Anijah Harris Anna Omilian Annabelle Carver Annabelle Woolley Annie Padilla Ansley Caldwell Anthony Ransom Ar’rayah Bailey Ariel Eldred

Armiah Childs Aston Keith Austin Gouker Autumn Harris Ava Caldwell Bailey Clayton Banks Smith Barbara Wilson Ben Eskridge Benaiah Kanyi Bennett Henry Blair Garrett Blakelee Isbill Blu Berry Bonnie Short Braelin Harris Brandon Bell Brandon Cruz Brandy Berry Brewer Smith Brianna Beavers Brianna Key Brittani Thrift Brody Bice Brooks McFadden Cade Pridgen Callie Ray Camille Champion Carter Vann Celina Aleman Charlie Davis

Chloe Jacksland Christian Ransom Christie Heath Christopher Martinez Christopher Sanchez Clete Carlson Cody East Connor Reeder Conteh Warren Cooper Manley Courtney Pugh Cu’Darieus Hale Dailee Plair Dakota Pugh Dalton Ruth Bendinger Dalton Thrower Daltyn Atkinson Danecia Foreman Daniel Champion Daniella Munson Darren Harris, Jr. David Cruz De’Love Shaver De’Shaun Mims DeQuavius Warren Devin McPherson Donye Harris Dylan Landreth Dylan McClelland Dylan Tapley Dylan White

Auburn Opelika Parents I June 2014

Edgar Martinez Eli Taylor Ella Autrey Emma Jacoway Emma Stewart Emma Voss Ephriam Thornton Essense Key Ethan Jacksland Ethan Robinson Eva Caponetto Garner Young Gavin Gibbs Gavin Raines Gavin White Genesis Williams Gracie ( Tonya) Mathis Greer Long Gustavious Davidson Haley Sumner Hannah Cooper Hannah Cottrell Hannah McCoy Harmony Ware Harrison Short Henley Bice Hollis Jones Horacio Gonzalez Hudson Olive Hudson Smith Hunter Clayton

Hunter Rasnick Isabel Aleman Isabel Zouhary Isabella McIntyre Isabella Whatley Isaiah Lyles Ja’Corey Avery JaCarius Gullatte Jack Johnson Jack McPherson Jackson Lovvorn Jade Jones Jaderrious Avery James Hutchinson Janai Gabriel Jane Humphries Jasmine Stokes Jaxon Baker Jaxon Hunkapiller Jaxon Morris Jaylin Cumins Jayna Raines Jennifer Gonzalez Jesus Martinez Jhavian Williams Joanna Sorrells Jocelyn Hayes John Embry Northrup John Simons John Taylor Henry Jonathan Martinez Jordy Martinez Jose Gonzalez Joshua Aleman Julia Johnston Julie Hall Justin Baker Justin Nelms Juyeong Lee Ka’Moreia Love Kaelyn Webster

Kaidan Griffin-Beatty Kaleigha Watson Kamariah Finley Kamarius Griffin-Beatty Kambell Fetner Kannon Fetner Karleigh Whalen Kayla Boutwell Kaylee Eblin Keairra Morgan Kelly Harman Kendarius Bailey Kendrick Manley Kennady Fetner Kenneth Jones Kensley Carter Key’Air Davidson Khloe Drake Kim Harman Kimberly Lopez Kiptyn Mumma Kody Atkinson Kody Shelnutt Kourtney Dowdell Kyara Jane Copeland Kyle Harman Kynlea Peterson La’Daisha Nunley Landon McGregor Landon Nelms Lane McDaniel Laney Futral Lee McCall Leighton Moss Leo Andrzejewski Leslie Paschal Libby Cottrell Libby Williamson Lila McCoy Lilina Aleman Lillian Welcher

Lily Otwell Linnea Redenius Logan Baker Lori Thomas Luke Rudd Macy Parker Maddie Grace Currie Maddison Berry Madison Melton Madison Morgan Maggie Casey Makayla Warren Makenzie Currie Makenzie Denney Makya Boyd Malachi Benford Malik Benford Mallie Cate Jarvis Mariah Ross Markel Straghn Marley Golden Marquavious Hutchinson Marterrious Hutchinson Mary Brantley Moore Mary Kate Melton Mason Hughes Mason Lehmkuhl Matthew Mottern Matthew Roberts Matthew Wright Mattie Johnson Max Autrey McKenzie Maddox Megan Harman Meleah Tigner Melissa Ixmay Melony McCall Memphis Butler Mia Tatum Michaela Knowles Morgan Paschal

Moses Pendleton Nathan Bean Nathaniel Whitlow Noah Chamblee Noah Houston Noah Warren Olivia Johnson Olivia Schwendeler Paeden Rivers Paige Lang Paisley Nicolaisen Parker Bergesen Peyton Harris Pileepae Holloway Preston Harrison Preston Hunt Quentavion Meadows Quinten Copeland Raleigh Anna Harris Ramsey Chandler Rasheeda Abdullah Reagan Butler Reece Brown Reeve Caldwell Reid Brown Richard Lucas Roberto Martinez Roger Perez Ryanne McDonald Sadiah Shamery Samantha Alford Samantha Belcher Samuel Omilian Sashia Martinez Savanna Bridges Savannah Britt Serenity N. Ligon ShaKeira Smart Shelby Chandler Skylar Storm Sloane Petersen

Sophia Pastor Sophia Smith Spencer Caldwell Sydney McReynolds Syrinna Holloway Tanner Woolley Thomas Young Tijah Presley Timothy Hall Tonya Tucker Tre Redden Tre’Kayla Patten Trenise Tigner Treyshun Tigner Tristan Tatum Tucker Thrower Turner Stephens Ty’Rica Giles Tyler Rasnick Tyquavious Barnett Vanessa Ismay Vernicia Evans Victoria Redden Walker McFadden Wells Simmons Wesley Williamson Weston Rice Wyatt Harvill Yusang Cho Za’Kariyya Aikens Za’Quan Boyd Zachary Carter ZaiAsia Jones ZaiQuain King ZaiQuria King Zayden Harris Zechariah Eldred Zeriauna Jackson Zion Rush Zy’Keria Jackson

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Easter Egg Hunt at Kiesel Park

Auburn hosted its 33rd Annual Easter Egg Hunt, sponsored by Wells Fargo, in April at Kiesel Park. The weather cleared just in time and the kids had a blast hunting 35,000 eggs! We had lots of kids decked out in orange and blue on their way out to A-Day festivities immediately following the hunt. Golden egg prize winners received a $25 Visa gift card, courtesy of Wells Fargo, and a Wells Fargo stuffed pony. Pictured is Hayden Waldon, age 3.

A Day at the Ball Park

ARF! (Auburn Reading Friends)

Auburn students, Ryley and her friends, read to Gemini, the therapeutic dog, at the Auburn Public Library. Each Thursday afternoon, a special time for sharing and reading to Gemini is welcomed and enjoyed by all students in the area. Come ready and love on Gemini!

Pictured right, John Connor and Brodie White gear up to watch their brothers play for the Mets at Opening Day at Westridge Ball Park.

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Autauga County Schools OHS Senior Caitlyn Daniel selected as Cheerleader at Troy University

OHS Senior Caitlyn Daniel was recently selected as a cheerleader at Troy University for the upcoming year. Joining Daniel for a recognition ceremony were (front row l-r): Buster Daniel, father and Dana Daniel, mother. Back row (l-r): Dr. Farrell Seymore, OHS Principal, Brandy Riddle, OHS Head Cheerleading Coach, Beverly Belcher, Assistant Cheerleading Coach, and Devin Booth, OHS Assistant Athletic Director.

Auburn Classical Academy’s First Science Olympiad

Unicyles at Ogletree Unicycle club members at Ogletree Elementary are pictured spinning out with their sponsor, Mr. Hooks.

We are proud of Sam Barbaro, Luker Davidson, and Jake Evans for representing Auburn Classical Academy at our first Science Olympiad competition. We anticipate many Science Olympiad competitions in the future!

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Trinity Christian School Soccer Player Joins College Team

On April 8th, former Trinity player Rick Hayley was signed up for Point University's Soccer team. This is not Rick's first athletic achievement. He was placed on the GICCA All-State Soccer Team this year and the NACA AllTournament team last year. He has also won the Amphibious Warrior Mud Run and the Fourth Annual W.E. Winters Amphibious Warrior Mud Run. TCS is proud of Rick and wishes for him to have wonderful future.

Wacoochee Elementary Students Write Essays About Mom

Pictured right, Wacoochee Elementary’s fourthgrade and fifth-grade students participated in the 11th Annual Mother’s Day Essay Contest sponsored by REEDS Jewelers. Students submitted essays written on the topic “Why I Love My Mom”, and were judged on content, grammar and penmanship. The winner was fifth-grader Savannah Powell in Miss Klida’s class. As the grand prize winner from Wacoochee Elementary, Savannah was presented with a gift for her mother by Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Flores, REEDS Jewelers in Peachtree Mall. WES is very proud of Savannah and all students who participated!

Southview Primary Students Learn About Soil and Compost

Pictured left, Ms. Ellis from Auburn University works with Southview Primary Students in the garden. Students are comparing and contrasting soil and compost.

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Autauga County Schools Opelika High School Seniors Awarded 2014 Killgore Scholarships

Congratulations to the following OHS Seniors who received a 2014 Killgore Scholarship. This prestigious scholarship was established by James and Ophelia Killgore and is awarded each year to the graduating seniors with the highest GPA. The recipients and their parents recently attended a reception at OHS to honor their accomplishments. Pictured (lr) are: Dr. Mark NeighborsSuperintendent, Dr. Farrell Seymore-OHS Principal, Kelcie Carpenter, Anna Lazenby, Alyssa Patel, Cha'Kilah Hatfield, Ashley Robertson, Brandon Crowley, April Wade and Mayor Gary Fuller.

Auburn Mixed Martial Arts Holds Anti Bully Demonstration at West Forest Intermediate School

On May 2nd Auburn MMA conducted an Anti Bully demonstration for the fifth grade class at West Forest Intermediate School in Opelika. Fifth graders shared their stories and experiences in bullying with instructors Andy Roberts and Randall Phillips. The kids also learned to recognize and deal with bullying issues, all while learning safe and effective techniques against extreme bullying. The Demo Team from Auburn MMA showed the fifth graders how to escape from common bullying scenarios.

WHAT DOES NIFFER’S OFFER PARENTS? Great family atmosphere for the the whole gang Voted best family restaurant Great kids menus with so many items . . . Special fish drink and the make your own sundaes Kids area to play . . . almost like date night All the comforts every parent wants Great adult food and drinks too!

Auburn • 1151 Opelika Road Lake Martin • 7500 Hwy 49 So. Opelika • 917 So. Railroad Ave. www.niffersplace.com Auburn Opelika Parents I June 2014

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City Church Easter Egg Drop

Approximately 200 people came to the City Church Easter Egg Drop (pictured left) according to Lead Pastor Randy Cowart. Families enjoyed a day in the sun and lots of Easter Egg hunting. Other activities included bounce houses, snow cones, face painting and photos with Aubie!

For over thirty-five years, Trinity has been committed to a biblical Christian world-view, and its classical educational philosophy has been proven through thousands of years of learning experience.

A Classical and Christian Academy 745-2464

www.tcsopelika.org

Elementary Students from Auburn Classical Academy Learn About Honey Bees

Elementary students from Auburn Classical Academy spent an afternoon with the honey bees at the Forest Ecology Preserve. Students visited the hive, learned how bees make honey, and discovered what smoke really does to a honey bee!

Please send your school news and photos to: kendra@ auburnopelikaparents.com. 19

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County Schools Emily Bylsma Selected Autauga as Cheerleader at Columbus State University

OHS Senior Emily Bylsma selected as Cheerleader at Columbus State University OHS Senior Emily Bylsma was recently selected as a cheerleader at Columbus State University for the upcoming year. Joining Bylsma for a recognition ceremony were (front row l-r): Jason Rhodes, father and Julie Rhodes, mother. Back row (l-r): Dr. Farrell Seymore, OHS Principal, Brandy Riddle, OHS Head Cheerleading Coach, Jase Rhodes, brother, Beverly Belcher, Assistant Cheerleading Coach, and Devin Booth, OHS Assistant Athletic Director.

Rock Wall at Ogletree 3rd grade students at Ogletree are pictured enjoying the rock wall!

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Please send your school news and photos each month to: kendra@auburnopelikaparents.com.

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Planting the

SEEDS of LEARNING!

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Technology program for ages 1 & up Solid Rubber Playground Surface reduces injuries Our Character Education program teaches values

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Healthy menu with fresh fruit and whole grain foods Sign Language for all ages Lower Child:Teacher ratios Video monitoring in all classrooms Infant curriculum customized for your baby Infants through School-Age | Care available from 6:30am to 6:30pm Transportation available to most Auburn schools

644 North Dean Road, Auburn, AL | 334.501.2044

www.growingroomusa.com An independently owned and operated location of the Growing Room Franchising System

Auburn Opelika Parents I June 2014

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Graduation at Ogletree Elementary

Emily Coshatt, a 5th Grader at Ogletree Elementary, recites her DARE essay during graduation.

Auburn Classical Academy Hosts Annual Pancake Breakfast Auburn Classical Academy hosted their Annual Pancake Breakfast at Shakey's Pizza Parlor. Fun, food and fellowship was shared by all!

BIRTHDAY PARTIES

Rock

Richland Elementary Jumps Rope for Heart Richland Elementary students raised money for a great cause...Jump Rope for Heart! The top fundraising students were Peyton and Aubrey Leard, both first graders. They raised $200 each!

The birthday girl or boy chooses his or her favorite painting & we teach it step by step!

and...

The studio is yours & each guest will take home their painting, so you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to worry about goody bags!

us ct a t on C pa r to book you rty today!

(334) 363-5257 or spiritedartauburn@gmail.com

Ask us about Summer Camps & Fun Fridays! 21

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Get in the Swing of Things

Recommending the Best Toys and Products for Kids

Moving the play action outdoors is easy if you put the right swing into it! The following items let kids use their own body weight, energy, and momentum to maximize their movement and activity. As they hang, climb, and swing children cultivate a strong sense of balance and control as they mature. For kids whose ‘go-to’ playground equipment of choice has always been the swings, these awesome apparatuses let them enjoy the delights of swinging in their own environments!

Eagle Series 70’ Seated Zipline

(Hearthsong)

No longer limited to the simple back-and-forth of a traditional swing, the Sunburst Swing Chair is a beautiful alternative that lets kids swing, spin or just chill in the shade. Hung from a sturdy tree branch or even below a deck, this chair features a groovy design that enhances the ‘livable’ look of any yard. Two nylon ropes connect to four points around the round elastic seat for maximum stability and angle adjustment. Because the chair’s weight limit reaches 200 pounds, kids may have to fend off parents who’d like their own time in the swing! Equal parts leisure and fun, the Sunburst Swing Chair is the ideal backyard retreat for both riders AND relaxers!

(Slackers)

Zipping along only a few feet off the ground, kids get the sensation of flying by the seat of their pants with the Eagle Series Seated Zipline. Featuring a sturdy seat that hangs from a galvanized steel trolley with adjustable bracket for height, kids have a secure platform for the ride of their life. Properly installed, the 70’ zipline cable provides a smooth consistent speed and creates a natural slack that slows the rider down at the end of the journey. You can also purchase tree protection kits that will keep the cable from damaging the anchor trees’ bark (which is vital to tree health.) Warning: Stock up on lemonade and prepare to become the most popular backyard in the neighborhood.

Triple Wide Climbing Ladder

Aircraft Baby Swing (HABA)

Ready for take-off, baby’s first swing doesn’t get better than the Haba Aircraft Baby Swing. With a strong reputation for well-crafted toys and child gear, Haba’s whimsical soft-sided tot swing propels itself to the front of the pack for lift-off. With all of the exterior airplane elements a young pilot desires (including a rattling propeller), this swing is crafted with brightly colored washable fabric and features straps for back and front support in addition to the seatbelt. Adjustable for height, and offering a weight limit of 60 pounds, the Aircraft Baby Swing can be hung in a protected outdoor area, but is best used indoors. With a soft and secure seat, this little ride soars as an ideal introduction to swinging for the very youngest aeronauts.

(Hearthsong)

Imagination scales new heights as climbers pretend to be pirates, firefighters, circus performers, monkeys and more with the Triple-Wide Climbing Ladder! Smoothly sanded, weatherresistant maple-wood rungs combine with a durable rope structure that will have children testing their talents as they climb up, across and diagonally. Perfect for building arm, leg and core strength as well as honing balance, the 6’ tall climbing ladder can be mounted outdoors or indoors as a great addition to a playroom or indoor gym. With an almost piratical flair, the Triple-wide Climbing Ladder lets kids get physical and plot their course as they swing and climb their way up and across this challenging net.

Paige Smith is a freelance writer and syndicated columnist living in Alabama. More on GET THIS! at www.PageBookMedia.com.

Auburn Opelika Parents I June 2014

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by Gerry Paige Smith

Sunburst Swing Chair

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Q. What do you think about making biweekly mortgage payments? A. I think it’s an awesome idea. By doing

that, you can pay off a 30-year mortgage in about 22.8 years, on average, depending on the interest rate. However, I would never pay someone a fee to set up bi-weekly mortgage payments. All you do on a bi-weekly schedule is make half a payment every two weeks. Since there are 26 two-week periods per year, that equals 13 whole payments. It’s nothing magical, and it’s not difficult. Go for it. Get rid of that house payment as fast as you can. Just don’t pay extra fees to make it happen!

largest, then start with the smallest one and work their way up. This doesn’t always seem to make mathematical sense, but the truth is personal finance is 80 percent behavior and only 20 percent head knowledge. Paying off some small debts quickly energizes you and gives you motivation. It makes you feel like you can really do it. Besides, if you were such a math genius you wouldn’t have debt in the first place. But the IRS is a different animal altogether. Their interest rates and penalties are ridiculously high. Plus, they have virtually unlimited power to collect. So put them at the top of the list, and get them paid off as fast as you can!

Q. I owe the IRS $6,000, and currently I’m making monthly payments. Should I roll this debt into my debt snowball, and then really attack it when it gets to the top of the list?

Q. I noticed that your Baby Steps list puts saving for retirement before saving for your kid’s college fund. Sending your kids to college would come first on the timeline, so what is your reasoning behind this?

A. My advice would be to put the IRS at the

A. I advise this approach because everyone

very top of your debt snowball. Usually, when it comes to paying off debt, I advise people to arrange their debt snowball from smallest to

is going to retire someday, unless, of course, they happen to die before reaching retirement age. Retiring and eating are neces-

sities. College is a luxury. Lots of people succeed in life without going to college, and thousands have worked their way through college. I worked 40 to 60 hours a week in college, and I still graduated in four years. Having a college fund set aside by your parents is really nice, if they can afford that kind of thing. But you can go to school by getting good grades, applying for scholarships, working your tail off and choosing a school you can afford. I believe in education, but there are lots of ways to get a college degree other than having your parents foot the bill. Besides, the last time I checked there weren’t any good ways to retire that didn’t include saving and preparing for retirement beforehand. I mean, you can always try to live off Social Insecurity, but I don’t consider that a plan. In short, college funding is not a necessity. That’s why it follows saving for retirement in the Baby Steps. Should you try to save up for your kid’s college education? Sure, if you can. But there are lots of parents out there who won’t be able to pay a dime toward someone’s college education. And that doesn’t make them bad parents!

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to fut ma Sta ers rec ma res we mo yo so ap sk by Malia Jacobson

We all love giving to our children;

have a sense of entitlement, says

there’s nothing like witnessing the joy

Karen Deerwester, parenting coach

on a child’s face when he receives a

and author of The Entitlement-Free

coveted toy, a favorite meal, or the

Child: Raising Confident and Re-

latest gadget. But parental generos-

sponsible Kids in a “Me, Mine, Now!”

ity has an ugly downside. Experts

Culture. “Our entitlement climate pro-

warn that by giving children too much,

motes quick fixes and easy answers

too often, parents can encourage

that sabotage effective parenting,”

an inflated sense of entitlement that

she says. Want to raise a responsible child

snowballs into demands like, “But I

who doesn’t demand constant grati-

want it…now!”

fication? Read on for expert tips on

In today’s abundant, instant-gratification society, parents must be inten-

curbing entitlement, from toddlerhood

tional about raising children who don’t

to the teen years.

Auburn Opelika Parents I June 2014

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Early Years 0-5 (Waiting Game) Over-entitlement begins in toddlerhood, because two-year-olds are naturally self-interested—it’s normal and natural for them to be concerned with “me, mine, and now.” It’s when parents actually give in to tots’ “now” demands that entitlement can begin to build. “If we constantly overdo and rescue children, they don’t learn to live with those uncomfortable feelings of wanting something and not always getting it,” Deerwester notes. One key to self-control is the ability to wait, a skill strongly correlated with future success. In the famous “marshmallow experiment” first conducted at Stanford University in 1972, researchers offered children a choice between receiving one marshmallow now or two marshmallows after a short wait. The researchers found that children who were able to delay gratification had more success later in life. “Asking a young child to sit still for a few minutes so you can talk to the doctor is ageappropriate and builds those waiting skills,” says Deerwester.

Elementary Years 6-10 (School Rules) Often, the first clues of over-entitled behavior in school-aged children come via a phone call from the child’s teacher or school. “Parents will hear from their child’s teacher that the child has difficulty following directions or challenges authority a lot,” says Barbara LoweGreenlee, Ph.D., a licensed psychologist in private practice in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. These red flags can be signs of a child used to getting things her own way—now. While it’s healthy for children to be assertive, challenging authority on a regular basis signals a problem. Parents can encourage children to question authority in appropriate ways, like asking questions of a doctor at a well-child checkup. “But sometimes, we need to tell children that they need to simply follow the rules, as long as the authority figure isn’t asking them to do anything wrong or illegal,” says LoweGreenlee.

Tween and Teen Years 11-18 (Giving Back) It’s not too late to dial down entitled behavior in a possessions-obsessed teen or older child. But adolescents will feel rightfully jilted if parents implement too many changes, too quickly. If parents have always given in to a child’s wants instead of teaching them to deal with conflicts and mistakes, they need to help teens build those skills, says Deerwester. “It’s about starting where you are.” One way to encourage a less selfcentered worldview? Encourage teens’ natural altruism by asking them to think of ways to contribute to their community. When tweens and teens understand that they can make a worthwhile contribution, their life may stop revolving around the iGizmo, fancy vacation or designer jeans. “Tweens and teens should understand that we all have a responsibility to our family and our community,” says Lowe-Greenlee. “And we don’t just take, we give back.” AOP Malia Jacobson is a nationally published health and parenting journalist and mom. Her most recent book is Sleep Tight, Every Night: Helping Toddlers and Preschoolers Sleep Well Without Tears, Tricks, or Tirades.

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A Page in a Book

by Gerry Paige Smith

Curling Up with Cat Books! Cats. There’s a reason that these beloved companions are favorite leading characters in children’s picture books. Cats’ penchant for curiosity, their knack for making messes, their adventurous spirit and playful nature (when not napping in the sunny spot by the window) distinctly mirror many of the same instincts and behaviors that children exhibit. Cats, children, kittens and kids – they are all ideal candidates for perfect partners in life and in literature. For anyone who has ever been owned by a cat, the attitudes and antics in the following titles will be distinctly familiar and entertaining!

Bits & Pieces

by Judy Schachner (Penguin / Dial) From his cat-like perspective, Tink enjoys all the best things in life with his family. He reads with Dad (from squarely in the middle of the newspaper). He plays with the girls (helpfully scattering chess pieces around the board). It’s paradise for an indoor cat. But when his unapproved (and clandestine) diet of houseplants, rubber bands and packing peanuts sends him to the vet, Tink gets a brief taste of the outdoors through his carrier and bides his time until he can slip outside. But years later when he makes his foray out into the wider world, he finds that the world may have to help him get back home! From the author of the ‘Skippy Jon Jones’, this adorable title will become a favorite read as you and your kids read it to “Bits & Pieces”!

by Alison Murray (Candlewick / Nosy Crow) One day in Royaltown Palace, when Daddy and Mommy are busy with other tasks, Princess Penelope decides to make friends with a mischievous kitten. The kitten is in Mommy’s knitting basket and entangled in bright pink yarn. And when Penelope’s overture to play sends the kitten dashing off leaving a twisting pink trail in his wake – the chase is on! The kitten’s trail through the royal abode is an embossed, pink glittery line that wends its way across the pages, over and under, inside and out of all the places a playful kitten can scamper. Little fingers can trace the path of this precocious pet from beginning to end as the princess pursues her royal runaway playmate!

Naughty Kitty!

by Adam Stower (Scholastic / Orchard) When young Lily’s mother brings her a tiny kitten instead of a puppy (which her mom insists are “smelly”, “messy” and “far too much trouble”), Lily begins her journey of discovery about life with a kitty. She feeds Kitty and leaves him in the kitchen to eat. But when she returns, the kitchen is in complete shambles. Exasperated, Lily puts Kitty in the den while she cleans up the kitchen mess, only to find the den dirty and destroyed upon her return. (NOTE: by this time observant readers may note the book’s endpapers, which indicate that wild animals have escaped the zoo that same day – in particular, an enormous tiger. Glimpses of tiger stripes can also be seen lurking in the backgrounds of these kittenish crime scenes.) Lily is about to decide that kittens are more trouble than they’re worth, until her tiny kitten ‘appears’ to frighten away a threatening dog. Readers will enjoy discovering that a “Naughty Kitty” is sometimes the best kitty! Find more A Page in a Book recommendations at www.PageBookReviews.com.

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Princess Penelope and the Runaway Kitten

Auburn Opelika Parents I June 2014

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TheFlyLady

A Flight Plan For You and Your Home. by Marla Cilley

Parents Should Do Their Best, Losses But NotCut ExpectYour Too Much in Return We all make mistakes! This is a fact of living. So why do we beat ourselves up when we have made a bad choice? I think it is because deep down inside we are doing what has been done to us all of our lives; punishing ourselves. This has got to stop. Instead of admitting that we have made a bad choice, we keep trying to make that decision work. Maybe we should take a lesson from business and cut our losses and move on. Instead, we keep trying to fix things to make them better. Clutter is clutter no matter what form it takes. You can’t organize clutter; you can only get rid of it! I want your home to be filled with things that make you smile. Our lives are too short to continually deal with that pink elephant in the living room. One time a dear friend was moving from a home where she had lived 27 years. It was hard for her to let go of things. Eventually, she came up with a plan. If she had any doubt about whether something should be packed, she would set it in the main path to the truck. On the

first day she would gingerly walk around the item. The next day she pushed it aside, and if on the third day she kicked it, it went to the curb. This showed her that she really didn’t love it as much as she had originally thought she had. We can decorate that pink elephant, but it is still a pink elephant. It is sucking the life right out of you. You spend your whole day doing your best to make it fit. God knows we don’t want to admit that we made the mistake of bringing that pink elephant home in the first place; that we wasted money and, worst of all, our time. We just keep plodding along, hoping that the pink elephant will not get mad and become the bull in the china shop. The sad part is that it already has. Many years ago I had a diseased gallbladder. I was sick all the time. This gallbladder was toxic to me. Once it was removed I was able to get on with my life. Relationships can be like this, too. We have all had people in our lives who suck the life right out of us. You may be with someone right now who is toxic to you. You may have a friend who uses you to

make herself feel superior. You may be struggling with an abuse situation that you hope and pray will get better. They don’t get better. They get worse. This abuse can mean a lot of things: physical, emotional, sexual, drug, alcohol and financial. It is time to cut your losses and strap on your wings to FLY...Finally Loving Yourself. For when you are FLYing, you realize when something is clutter in your life. As nurturers we really do want to help everyone, but in the end, we can only help ourselves. This is not a selfish attitude. It is all about self-preservation. This type of clutter is going to destroy your spirit. Accept that you made a mistake! Forgive yourself and cut your losses by decluttering. In business if you lose a nickel on everything you sell, and you sell a million of them, you are losing a million nickels. Stop the blood-letting!

For more help getting rid of your CHAOS, see her website and join her free mentoring group at www.FlyLady.net. Also check out her books, Sink Reflections, published by Random House, and her New York Times Best Selling book, Body Clutter, published by Simon and Schuster. Copyright 2013 Marla Cilley. Used by permission in this publication.

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Arts/Crafts Auburn Parks and Recreation

Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center - 501-2963 Kids Can Draw Basics- May27-May 30, 3:30-5:00pm; Ages 8-12 years; Fee $45. Kids Can Draw: Amazing Animals- June 16-18, 2:004:00pm; Ages 8-12 years; Fee $55. Kids Can Paint: Basic Watercolors- May 27-30, 1:303:00pm; Ages 8-12yrs; Fee $55. Introductory Mosaic Tile Workshop- June 20-21, 12:002:00pm; All ages; Fee $40 plus materials. Lovely Landscapes- August 4-6, 2:00-4:00pm; Ages 8-12 years; Fee $55. Anime Comics Fan Club - June 13, June 27, July 25, and August 1, 6:30-8:30pm; Free. Anime Drawing: Chibi MangaJune 23-27, 4:00-5:30pm; Ages 10-15years; Fee $55. Anime Drawing: Chibi MonstersJune 30-July 3, 3:30-5:00pm; Ages 10-15years; Fee $45. Fantasy Drawing: Heros and Villans- June 2-6, 3:30-5:00pm; Ages 10-15years; Fee $55. Fantasy Drawing: Supernatural Creatures- June 2-6, 3:30-5:00pm; Ages 10-15years; Fee $45. Design Your Own Jewelry for KidsTuesdays, May 27-August 8, 3:305:0pm; Ages 10-15years; Fee $75 plus supplies. Midnight Madness- July 21-25, 4:005:30pm; Ages 12-17years; Fee $55. Wonderland Madness- July 28-August 1, 4:00-5:30pm; Ages 12-17years; Fee $55. Learn To Knit for Teens- Thursday, June 3-24, 6:007:30pm; Ages 12-17. Fee $70. Art for Young Children- July 22-24, 10:00am12:00noon; Ages 4-6years; Fee $50. Visual Art Workshops- 5 Sessions: July 7-11, July 1418, and August 4-8. Call for ages, times and fees. A Summer Series In the Visual Arts for Teenagers- June 23-27, July 21-25, and July 28-August1. 10:00am-2:20; Ages 13-18years. Fee $100/week/teen. Ceramics Studio- Dean Rd. Rec. Center, 501-2944 By the Book- Wednesdays, July 9, 16, 23, and July 29-31, 10:00-11:30am; Ages 4-6years. Fee $60 plus materials. Inspired By Artists:Creating Artworks From Clay- July 15-24, 9:00-11:30am; Ages 7-14years. Fee $65 plus materials. Bowling With a Twist- Thursdays, July 8-29, 2:003:30pm; Ages 7-14years. Fee $80 plus materials. Throwing Pots- Monday & Friday, July 7-August 1. 3:00-4:00pm; Ages 10-15years. $100 plus materials. Summer Safari Clay Camp- June 17-21; 9:00-10:30am; Ages: 7-14years; Fee $95.

Columbus Museum

1251 Wynnton Road, Columbus, Ga. 706-748-2562; www.columbusmuseum.com Second Saturday- May 10, 10am-12noon, Free. All Star Artists: Painterly Portraits- May 8, 4-6pm. Ages 5-9 years Mini Masters- May 24, 10-11am. Ages 3-4yrears. Art Sampler Camp- June 9-13, Ages 5-7 years; 9am4pm Sensational Sculpture- June 23-27, Ages 5-7 years; 9am-4pm Mixed Media Madness- June 16-20, Ages 8-10 years; 9am-4pm Auburn Opelika Parents I June 2014

Jule Collins Smith Museum Summer Art Clubs

901 East University Drive, Auburn. 844-1484 www.jcsm.auburn.edu State of Create, ARTy Pants, and StART Summer Programs (May 24-August 9) welcomes kindergarten through high school students. Activities are designed for younger students (K-2nd grade), middle students (3rd-6th grade) and older students (7th-12th grade). We invite parents to spend some time with our education specialist to learn techniques for making art part of your family fun. Materials, lesson plans, and ideas will be available at each event for parental consideration. Log onto website for club topics, descriptions and to register your child.

10-13. 3D Art Workshop- July 18. 9am-12noon. Ages 10-13. Cerami Kids I- Mondays, 3:30-4:30pm (8 weeks). Denson Art Center. Ages 6 & up. Cerami Kids II- Tuesdays, 3:30-4:30pm (8 weeks). Denson Art Center. Ages 6 & up. Cerami Kids III- Wednesdays, 3:30-4:30pm (8 weeks). Denson Art Center. Ages 6 & up Cerami Kids IV- Thursdays, 3:30-4:30pm. Denson Art Center. Ages 6 & up. Ceramin Kids (Homeschoolers)- Mondays, 1:002:00pm. Denson Art Center. Ages 6 & up. Father’s Day Ceramics Special- May 10, 1:00-2:00pm. $10 fee.

Sew-thern Belles Sewing Studio

923-J Stage Road, Auburn. sewthernbelles@gmail.com; 229-869-6775 “Kids Can Sew” program for children 3rd grade and up. We offer a structured, fun environment where children learn while having a blast! Summer Camps offered; Spaces are limited.

Uptown Art Uncorked

2436 East University Drive, Auburn and 127 South 8th Street, Opelika. 209-1188, www.uptownart.com; Adult, family and kids classes offered. Classes include all supplies. Kid’s classes are for 5-12 year olds and classes up to 25 kids per session. Birthday, bridal, girls night out parties too. Calendar available on line for class and party registration.

Book Clubs Sprout Children’s Boutique

Rising Starz

2140 East University Drive, Auburn. 209-1464; www.risingstarzofauburn.com Special Project Camps- Each Tuesday, 12:30-3:30pm, ages 8 years and up. Cost is $40.00, may rent a sewing machine from studio for $10, or bring your own. Some classes require Sewing 101 prerequisite. June 3- Sewing 101; June 10- T-Shirt Rug; June 17- Ballet Shirt; June 24- Tote Bag; July 1-Christmas Ornaments; July 8- Christmas in July; July 22- Monogrammed Shirt; July 29- Bow Holder

Spirited Art Auburn

3051 Fredrick Road, Suite 8, Opelika. 363-5257 www.myspiritedart.com/auburn Spirited Art offers three different levels of camp – Matisse, Van Gogh, and O’Keeffe. Decide where your young artist fits best and then choose your date. Matisse Camp: June 2-5 and July 14-17. 10:00am; Ages 5-8 years; 4 days Van Gogh Camp: June 9-11 and August 4-6. 10:00am; Ages 7-12 years; 3 days O’Keeffe Camp: June 23-25. 10:00am; Girls ages 7-12 years; 3 days Santa’s Workshop: July 21-25. 10:00am; Ages 5-12 years; 4 days.

Opelika Parks and Recreation

All classes, 705-5560 or for pottery classes, 705-5558 I Love Art- July 21-25. 9-10:30 a.m. Ages 3-5. Explore art through color studies and by using various types of paint, clay, drawing and mixed media. Art Gallery showing on the last day of class. Parents aren’t required to stay, but are welcome. Watercolor Workshop- July 14. 9am-12noon. Ages 10-13. Recycled Art Workshop- July 16. 9am-12noon. Ages

2436 East University Drive, Suite 2201, Auburn. 329-7111, www.sproutauburn.com Join us for weekly story time groups!

Auburn Public Library

749 East Thach Avenue, Auburn. 501-3190 www.auburnalabama.org/library American Girl Club- Grades K- 5th grade students. Girls, be sure to sign up at the Youth Services desk and come meet with everyone. Magic Tree House Club-K - 5th grade students. Be sure to sign up at the Youth Services Desk.

Lewis Cooper Junior Memorial Public Library 204 South Sixth Street, Opelika. 705-5380 www.opelika.org Kids programs and book clubs offered throughout the year.

Dance Auburn Parks and Recreation

Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center. 501-2963 Pirates & Princesses Dance Theatre Camp- June 2-6, Ages 5-6years and Ages 7-10years. Fee $125. Irish Camp Dance- June 16-18, June 30-July 2, July 21-23, 9:00-11:00am; Ages 6-12years. Fee $75. Beginning/Intermediate/Advanced Dance- All summer, call for dates, time and ages.

Make Your Move

116 Columbus Parkway, Opelika; 705-0205 Valley Sportsplex, Valley; (334) 705-0205 www.makeyourmovedance.com Summer Classes and Intensives offered.

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Rising Starz

2140 E. University Drive, Auburn; 209-1464 or 498-0308; www.risingstarzofauburn.com Summer Classes and Intensives offered. Day Camps are 9am-3pm and cost is $65. July1- Super Hero Camp July 7- Pirates & Princesses July 8- BFF Camp (bring a friend/partner projects this day) For all week long camps, ages 3-6 years meet 10:00am-12:00noon, and 7-11years meet 9:30am12noon. Cost is $150. A $50 non-refundable deposit is due for each camp at the time of registration. May 27-30- Fun, Fun, Fun June 2-6- Tap, Tumble & Tangled June 9-13- Freezinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; June 16-20- Bethany the Ballet Fairy & Teen Beach Party June 23-27- Despicable Me and Shake It Up July 9-11- Competition Team Baton (9am-4pm) July 14-18- Nurse McStuffins and Art in Motion July 21-25- Competition Camp (9am-3pm) July 28-August 1- Buttons & Bows and Sew Much Fun August 4-8- Princess Party & American Girl Camp

Variations Dance

323 Airport Road, Auburn; 275-5013 www.variationsstudio.com

Auburn Pointe

1100 S. College Street, 202. Auburn. 740-5118 www.aupointe.com Full Class Schedule: June 9-26. Fairytale Camp: July 7-10, Ages 3-6yrs; 9:00-11:00am. Junior Dance Camp: July 14-18, Ages 6-12yrs; 11:00am-2:00pm. Intermediate Dance Camp: July 21-25, Ages 12 and up; 11:00am-3:00pm. Classical dance programs for boys and girls in ballet, pointe, jazz, modern, hip hop, lyrical and more.

Celtic Traditions School of Irish Dance

2705 Fredrick Road, Opelika; 705-0303 www.celtic-traditions.net Beginner Camps Ages 5-7: June 3-5, June 24-26, and July 15-17. 9:00-11:00am. Beginner Camps Ages 8-12: June3-5, June 24-26, and July 15-17. 12:00-2:00pm. Ceili Camp: June 10-12 and August 5-7. Ages 6 and up; 12:00-2:00pm. Softshoe Camp: June 10-12 and August 5-7. Ages 6 and up; 9:00-11:30am. Hardshoe Camp: June 17-19 and July 22-24. Ages 6 and up; 12:00-2:30pm.

Columbus State University Dance Conservatory

www.ColumbusState.edu/Ballet; 706-507-8070 The Conservatory offers a two week summer intensive on ballet technique, pointe, variations, conditioning, jazz, modern, and lyrical.

Nix Dance Studio

850 Stage Rd, Auburn; 887-7250 www.nixdancestudios.com Summer 6 week sessions begins June 10: VIP (Very Important Princess) Preschool class ages 3-4yrs, ballet, hip hop, turns & leaps, lyrical/contemporary, jazz, baton, and company auditions prep class.

Opelika Parks and Recreation

SportsPlex, 1001 Andrews Road, Opelika. 705-5560 Itty Bitty Ballet- July 28-August 1, 9:00-9:45am. Ages 3-4 years. Fee $35. Tiny Tutus- July 28-August 1, 10:00-11:00am. Ages 5-8 years. Fee $35.

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Day Trips Callaway Gardens

US Hwy 18, Pine Mountain, Ga; 706-663-2281; 1-800-Callaway; www.callawaygardens.com Summer hours- 9:00 am-6:00 pm daily. Callaway Gardens is a great location for family vacations in Georgia. Your family will love hiking in our gardens, swimming in Robin Lake, exploring the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center, golf, spa and more. The FSU Flying High includes acrobats, juggling and more, teen activities, tennis clinics, water skiing & tubing, camp crafts, nature and wildlife adventures, fishing, archery, beach fun, cookouts, and more!

Chewacla State Park

124 Shell Toomer Pkwy. Auburn; 887-5621 www.alapark.com/Chewacla/ 696 scenic acres are a delightful pause from nearby interstate traffic. Facilities include a 26-acre lake, swimming area, playgrounds, hiking trails, a modern campground, picnic areas with tables, grills and shelters, and newly renovated cabins. Weekdays: $2 for Adults; Weekends: $3 for Adults; Children 6 to 11 years of age and senior citizens: $1.

DeSoto State Park

13883 County Road 89, Fort Payne, Al; 256-845-0051 www. alapark.com/DeSotoResort Nestled atop beautiful scenic Lookout Mountain in northeast Alabama, this 3,502-acre park provides Mountain Chalets, Log & Rustic Cabins, Motel Rooms, Meeting Rooms, and also has both improved & primitive campgrounds. Also features a picnic area with playground, olympicsize swimming pool, nature center with interpretive programs and live animals, & over 19 miles of hiking & mountain biking trails.

Georgia Aquarium

225 Baker St. NW, Atlanta, Ga; (404) 581-4000 www.georgiaaquarium.org With more than eight million gallons of fresh and marine water and more aquatic life than found in any other aquarium, you are sure to see things you’ve never seen before! Admission rates start $18.95 (toddlers 2 and under Free); annual, premium, combo, and group rates available.

Horseshoe Bend Military Park

11288 Horseshoe Bend Rd, Daviston, AL (256) 234-7111; Monday-Sunday 8:00 am-5:00 pm Tour the free museum and view the 22 minute film, “The Battle of Horseshoe Bend”. Then enjoy hiking the trails, a picnic, canoe the Tallapoosa River, and go fishing. Children (6 to 12 years old) with families are encouraged to participate in the Junior Ranger Program. Program booklets are available free at the Visitor Center. Children completing the required activities will be awarded a Certificate and Junior Ranger Badge. The program must be completed while in the Park and is not available for groups. Auburn Opelika Parents I June 2014

Imagine It! Children’s Hands on Museum

275 Centennial Olympic Park Drive NW, Atlanta, Ga; 404-659-KIDS [5437] Atlanta’s only children’s museum, is the perfect place for children age eight and under and their families to learn and explore together in a safe and fun hands-on environment.

Lake Lanier Islands-Chattahoochee Rapids Beach & WaterPark

7000 Holiday Road, Lake Lanier Islands, Ga; 1-800840-LAKE; www.lakelanierislands.com With more than a dozen exciting rides and attractions, Chattahoochee Rapids Beach & WaterPark at Lake Lanier Islands Resort offers summer fun for the entire family. The Beach & WaterPark is a multi attraction interactive family environment that offers endless fun while getting drenched. Come experience Wild Waves, Georgia’s largest wave pool, or take a ride down one of our many waterslides. The Kiddie Lagoon and Wiggle Waves are perfect for pint-sized guests and relaxing is easy on our half-mile of sandy white beach!

LegoLand Discovery Center

3500 Peachtree Rd. Suite G-1, Atlanta, Ga; 404-848-9252; www.legolanddiscoverycenter.com Explore our indoor attractions! 15 rides and attractions including LEGO® rides, soft play area, 4D cinema, MINILAND, guided tours, DUPLO® Village, LEGO® Friends Olivia’s House, LEGO® Ninjago Laser Maze and more, all ideal for children aged 3-10 years. Tickets $15-$19, children 2 years and under free. Hours: Sunday-Friday, 10:00am-7:00pm and Saturday, 10:00am-9:00pm.

McWane Science Center

200 19th Street North, Birmingham; (205) 714-8300 www.mcwane.org Rates range $9.00-$17.00; Children under 2 Free; Monday-Friday 9:00 am5:00 pm, Saturday 10:00 am- 6:00 pm, Sunday 12:00-6:00 pm. June 3-August 9- Summer Camps- half and full day camps available.

Port Columbus- National Civil War Naval Museum

1002 Victory Drive, Columbus, Ga; 706327-9798 www.portcolumbus.org Rates $5.00-$6.50; Sunday-Saturday 9:00 am -5:00 pm. Guided tours, selfguided tours, and group tours available.

Stone Mountain

U.S. Highway 78 East, Exit 8, Stone Mountain, Ga; 1- 800-401-2407; www.stonemountainpark.com Park admission- $22.00- $28.00; Toddlers 2 and under Free, Discounts and annual passes available Lots of fun and activities including the Geyser Towers, Sky Hike, laser shows, hiking, musical entertainment, kids’ foam pit, Summit Skyride, Great Locomotive Chase Adventure Golf, the Antebellum Plantation and Great Barn. May 24-August 3- Summer at the Rock May 25-27- Memorial Day Weekend June 7-Atlanta’s Family Soul Fest. June 11-14- Atlanta Fest. contact Atlanta Fest at 800.783.8839 for additional details. June 15-20- Educators Appreciation Week July3-5- Fantastic Fourth Celebration

July 25-27- DockDogs World Championship Qualifier August 29-31- Labor Day Weekend

Windcreek State Park

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4325 Alabama Highway 128, Alexander City, AL 256-329-0845; www.alapark.com/WindCreek/ This park spans 1,445 acres along the shores of scenic Lake Martin, that is a 41,000-acre clear-water reservoir perfect for fishing, swimming and boating. Park facilities include the largest state-operated campground in the United States with 626 sites.

Education/Tutoring

Auburn University Summer Reading Program

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5040 Haley Center, Auburn University, 844-6934 Twelve 45-minute tutorial sessions; Monday-Wednesday; accommodates kindergartners, first grades, and some second graders: June 4-July 14. Tuesday-Thursday program works with struggling readers in grades 3-6: June 5-July 15. Most sessions will be scheduled between 8:00 and 8:45 AM. Tutors will contact parents at the beginning of June to confirm specific lesson times. For an application form, contact Dr. Bruce Murray.

Kumon

Flint’s Crossing -1550 Opelika Road, Auburn; 501-8586 www.ikumon.com It is the job of our Kumon Center to encourage each individual child to want to learn, to enjoy learning, and to be capable of studying successfully in the future. Kumon method includes free placement testing, Kumon math and Kumon reading, improving concentration and study habits, empower through self-motivation, and test prep. Junior Kumon for preschool and kindergarten too.

Little Language

Littlelanguage@gmail.com Summer World Tour Camp designed to teach children grades completed 1st-5th about the cultures, customs, and languages of the countries along the tour. This year’s journey will include: Mexico, Germany, France, Italy and Korea. Campers will ‘step inside’ each country and learn about the people, places and things that make that area of the world unique. Monday-Friday, 9am-12noon, during June and July.

Science Matters

College of Science and Math, Auburn Campus. 8445769. www.auburn.edu/cosam/outreach 6 Week Long Sessions: May 27-30, June 2-6; June 16-20; June 23-27; July 14-18; July 28-August 1. A summer enrichment program for rising 1st-6th graders offering youngsters a supercharged science experience. The program allows participants to explore the world of science through real experiments, technology and art projects, and hands-on, make-n-take activities. During the week, kids design and build, dabble in the art of chemistry, become a flight specialist, see amazing critters, and more! Day and Extended day hours available.

S.E.E.P. Summer Educational & Enrichment Preparation

Greater Peace Community Development Corporation, Opelika. 334-749-9487 Are you ready for the summer? You may be thinking about what your child will do for activities while school is out. Greater Peace Community Development Corporation will offer a Summer Educational Enrichment

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and Preparation Program (SEEP) for children entering grades 1 through 8. The SEEP program is taught by certified teachers who cover reading comprehension, science, technology, engineering, arts and math concepts.

Tutoring and Test Prep of Auburn

www.testprepauburn.com; 502-3459 Partnering with parents to help students achieve success. Instruction in reading, math, writing, study skills, penmanship; Tutoring for Specific Subjects as Needed, ACT Prep, SAT Prep, ASVAB Prep, MCAT Prep; Call for more information about other test prep programs.

Family Fun Montgomery Zoo and Mann Museum

2301 Coliseum Parkway, Montgomery; 334-240-4900 www.montgomeryzoo.com 9:00 am -5:00 pm. Tickets range $7.00 -$14.00; toddlers 2 years and under- Free; Senior citizens, military and group discounts.

AMF Bowling

719 Opelika Hwy. Auburn. 887-6573 www.amf.com/auburnlanesal Free bowling for kids all summer long! Kids registered in the Summer Unplugged program can bowl two games per day, every day, all summer long! (Shoe rental not included.) www.freebowling.amf.com

Butts Mill Farms

2280 Butts Mill Road, Pine Mountain, Ga; 703-6637400; www.buttsmillfarm.com Discover the farm! We have train rides, go-carts, horseback and pony riding, paint ball games, discovery zone, bounce house, inner tube river float, playground, fishing pond, mini golf and more! Open daily. Call about hours and party reservations. Rates start at $13.95 and up; Toddlers 2 and under Free. Groups and birthday parties welcome!

Carmike Wynnsong Movie Theatre

2111 East University Drive, Auburn. 501-0401 Kids’ Summer Movie Series: Wednesday and Thursday, 10:00am, throughout the summer. $4.00 admission for all includes kids snack tray.

CyberZone

107 North 9th Street, Opelika. 737-5000 www.cyberzone334.com Whether its lasertag, state-of-the-art arcades in The Grind, nostalgic retro games, or getting your snack on at the CyberCafe, we’re bound to have something to keep you entertained for hours! Host your birthday party, event, lock-in or family reunions. Private party rooms available.

Forest Ecology Preserve

2222 N. College Street (Hwy 147) near Hwy 280 and the AU Fisheries. preserve@auburn.edu; 844-8091 May 9- S’more Fun With Mom! June 7- Community Family Fun Day June 21- Member’s Fish and Fun Day July 26- Hunger Games Survival Skills August 23- Caving August 29- AUsome Amphibians Summer Ecology Camps: Ages 1-6 graders; 8:00am12noon. Membership is required for camp registration. Young Naturalists: June 2-6 Hunger Games Training Camp: June 9-13 Young Naturalists II: June 16-20 Explorers: June 25-29

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Frog Legs

467 North Dean Road, Auburn; 745-8737 www.froglegsparty.com Come jump in the indoor playground and party center featuring giant interactive inflatables all in one clean, safe, climate-controlled facility. You can bring your children to play during our OPEN PLAY time or better yet, host his/her next birthday party at our location. 3, 6, and 12 month passes available. Don’t forget your SOCKS!!!

Hollywood Connection

1683 Whittlesey Road, Columbus, GA; 706-571-3456 www.carmike.com 125,000 square feet of state-of-the-art entertainment with movies, amusements, attractions, games, food and fun!

Scutter Putters Mini Golf

1220 Fox Run Avenue, Opelika, 745-9393 www.usaminigolf.com Indoor mini-golf where our theme is “Journey Across America”. Each one of our 18 holes is a place of interest or historic landmark located in the U.S. ranging from the Golden Gate Bridge and Redwood Forest, to Carlsbad Caverns and Cape Cod. At each one of the holes there is a fun little book of trivia and information about the landmark which provides an educational tool that is entertaining. We even offer blacklight capability some evenings and parties which provides another unique feature.

Sports Academy

3768 Pepperell Parkway, Opelika (Midway Plaza) 749-4040; www.sportsacademyauburn.com Auburn/Opelika’s premiere indoor sports training and conditioning facility! We cater to athletes of all sports, skill levels and all ages! Party space available; teams welcome.

The Skate Center

1221 Commerce Drive, Auburn; 821-1128 Tuesday-Thursday 6:30 – 9:00 pm; Friday 6:3010:00 pm; Saturday 12:00-4:00 pm and 6:30-10:00 pm; Sunday 2:00-5:00 pm and 7:30-10:30pm. Prices range from $4.00-$6.00 includes skate rentals. Birthday Parties, Church Parties and Civic Groups, Parties, School Fundraisers, Sorority/Fraternity Socials

Wild Animal Safari

1300 Oak Grove Road, Pine Mountain, GA 706-663-8744; www.animalsafari.com Sunday-Saturday 10:00 am -7:30 pm all summer You can drive your own vehicle (or take the complimentary bus tour- seasonal) thru our Drive-Thru safari and get to experience hand feeding the animals. On the safari the exotic animals will literally come up to your car and eat right out of the palm of your hand. You also get to enjoy our walk-about section (both parts included in your ticket price), here you will find some of our other animals in pens for you to see. Scattered through our entire park we have approx. 650 animals, (and counting!)

Zoo Atlanta

800 Cherokee Avenue, SE; Atlanta, GA; 404-624-WILD Auburn Opelika Parents I June 2014

Monday-Friday: 9:30am-5:30pm, ticket booths close at 4:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday: 9:30am.-6:30pm., ticket booths close at 5:30pm.Tickets- $14.99-$19.99; 2 and under Free; Military, senior citizens discounts. Season passes available.

Gymnastics & Cheer Premier Spirit Academy

923-B Stage Road, Auburn; 821-7300; www.premierspiritacademy.com Kids Camp – June 9-11, Ages 3-6 years; 10:00am12noon. $60 if registered by June 4; $70 after June 4. Tumbling Camp – June 16-19, Ages 7-18 years; 9:00am-12:00noon. All Tumbling Skill Levels. $100 if registered by June 11; $110 after June 11. Regular Monday- Thursday classes offered throughout the summer too! Mom and Tot, Preschool, Youth, Level 1-3, Advanced Tumbling and Cheer Classes.

Auburn High School Cheer Camp

Rachel Stewart, restewart@auburnschools.org May 27-29, 8:30-11:30am. AHS Gym.

riders who can at least walk/trot on the rail and beginning over cross rails. Riders increase their knowledge on horsemanship, safety, and riding awareness. Expand their knowledge on equitation and what is expected in the show ring. On the last day of camp, campers will show off their skills in a Camp Show! Giraffe Camp- June 16-20. 8:00am-3:00pm. For advance riders who can Walk, Trot, Canter, and jumping 18”. Loading, clipping, show grooming, wrapping, first aid, and daily management. Jumping lessons everyday! Seminar with Local Vet and Farrier.

Sandy’s Stables

www.sandysstables.net; 741-0020 sandysstables@bellsouth.net Day Camps- 4 Camps: June 2-6, June 9-13, July 7-11 and July 28-August 1. 8:00am-2:00pm. Day camp will include: 2 mounted lessons a day, 2 unmounted lessons a day, English riding, Western riding, bareback riding, trail rides, grooming, horse safety, horsemanship, horse care, tack, driving a pony and cart etc...Students will also enjoy cooling off on our water slide. Riders are able to set their own goals and accomplish them. $450

Opelika Parks and Recreation

Denson Road Recreation Center. 1102 Denson Drive. Ben White, 705-5547 or bwhite@ci.opelika.al.us Parent and Me Tumbling- May 19-July 17, Monday 6pm, Wednesday 10am, Wednesday 6pm, or Thursday 10am. Ages 2-3 years with parent participation. Tumble Tots- May 19-July 17, Tuesday 6pm or Wednesday 10:30am. Ages 4 years. Level I TumblingMay 19-July 17, Monday-Thursday, 3:30-4:30pm, 4:30-5:30pm, or 5:30-6:30pm. Level II TumblingMay 19-July 17, Monday-Thursday, 3:30-4:30pm or 4:30-5:30pm. Level III TumblingMay 19-July 17, Monday-Thursday, 5:30-6:30pm. Cheer Prep Tumbling- May 19-July 17, Monday-Thursday, 6:30-7:30pm.

Horseback Riding

Ice Cream D Square Donuts

1625 East University Drive, Auburn. 887-1112 www.dsquaredonuts.com Now featuring Frozen Italian Ice and Ice Cream! Of course, still serving donuts and custom cakes!

Bruster’s

2172 East University Drive, Auburn; 821-9988 Monday-Sunday 11:00 am-10: 00pm Homemade ice cream, sherbet, sorbet, Italian ice and no sugar added fat free items, cakes and pies. Free baby cone for toddlers.

Chill Yogurt Cafe

2486 Enterprise Drive, Tigertown Opelika; 745-7715 & 234 West Magnolia Ave, Downtown Auburn; 502-1114. www.chillyogurt.com Pure frozen yogurt, yocakes, custards and sorbets. Nonfat, low fat with many toppings to choose.

SnowBiz Shave Ice

1625 East University Drive, Auburn; 319-0739 & 1607 S College Street, Auburn; 742-0371 Sno Biz shave ice, snow cones, Hawaiian, Italian ice and their tropical flavors have fans around the world dreaming of their next big chill.

Toomer’s Drugs

H & G Horse Quarters

943 Lee Road 57, Auburn; 887-0026 www.hghorsequarters.com An equestrian center located in Auburn offering lessons, boarding, showing, and camp sessions. Joey Camp I – June 23-27; 8:00am-1:00pm. Joey Camp II- July 28-August 1; 8:00am-1:00pm. Joey Camp III- August 4-8; 8:00am-1:00pm. All Joey Camps: Beginner riders ages 5-8: No experience necessary. Students learn safety, grooming, tacking-up and mounting, Walk & trot in balance with their mounts. Fun, informative, hands-on activities follow riding each day, with materials that are designed to be age and skill appropriate. Crocodile Camp-June 2-6. 8:00am-3:00pm. For

Toomers Corner® on the corner of Magnolia Ave and College Street; 887-3488; www.toomersdrugs.com “Preserving an Auburn Tradition.” Old fashion specialties including the world famous fresh squeezed lemonade, banana split, floats, shakes, malts, hot fudge brownie sundae, ice cream cones, ice cream sodas, sundaes, and more!

Libraries Auburn Public Library 749 East Thach Avenue, Auburn (334) 501-3190; www.auburnalabama.org/LIBRARY/ The 2014 summer reading theme for preschool through rising 5th grades is “FIZZ BOOM READ!” For

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rising 6th – 12th grades the theme is “SPARK a Reaction!” We have lots of programs planned as well as our registration for the actual reading program. Registration for ages 3 through rising high school seniors is from May 23rd through June 30th. Kids who meet their reading goals will receive an invitation to our end-ofsummer Ice Cream Party, and earn one entry into the drawing for this year’s grand prizes, a Leap-pad or two Kindles. We have programs for all ages. Below are our activities for June and July: Note: There will be no programs the week of June 29 – July 5. The library is closed on Friday, July 4. WEEKLY PROGRAMS · Baby Time - Tuesdays at 10 a.m. & 1:00p.m. for ages birth – 18 months and their caregivers. · Toddler Time - Wednesdays at 10 a.m. & 1:00p.m. for ages 18 months - 3 years and their caregivers. · Preschool Time - Thursdays at 10 a.m. & 1:00p.m. for preschoolers ages 3 - 5 years and their caregivers. · Legomania – Join us every Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. for “free play” with Legos®. SPECIAL PROGRAMS · Salmagundi, Wednesdays @ 2 pm for rising grades K–5 · LitWits Reading Club Tuesdays 6/10, 6/24, 7/8 & 7/22 @ 3:30p.m. for ages 13 and up. For more information call Youth Services, 501-3196. · SHOUT! Thursdays @ 3:30 for rising grades 5 - 7 · Teen Café, Thursdays @ 6:30 for rising grades 8 - 12 · Batman Day , Saturday, 7/26 – join us to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Caped Crusader with crafts, activities, and more! For more information call Youth Services, 501-3196.

Local Camps Auburn First Baptist Child Development Center

128 East Glenn Ave. Auburn. Milissa, 821-8125 or afbcdc@gmail.com Summer Camp is field trip based, available for children who have completed Kindergarten - 5th grade (entering 6th). May 27-August 8; 7:00am-5:30pm. The Child Development Center is a ministry of Auburn First Baptist Church in which we provide safe, loving, quality care for children in a Christian environment. We strive to provide the best in early education by providing hands-on learning so that each child may develop to his or her highest potential in physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual growth.

Auburn Parks and Recreation

Melissa Weldon, 501-2946 Camp Kaleidoscope- Auburn Jr. High School. Session A: June 2-6; Session B: June 9-13; Session C: June 16-20; Session D: July 7-11; Session E: July 14-18; Session F: July 21-25; 8:00am-5:00 pm. Each week of camp will be filled with games, activities, special guests, and field trips. 6-12 years; $125 per week, $100 per week for each additional sibling and $675 for the entire summer. Junior Camp Counselor Program- June 2- July 25, Ages: 13-17 years; The Counselor position is a volunteer position that teaches teens responsibility and allows them to mentor younger campers at Camp Kaleidoscope. This is a great opportunity for teens to learn invaluable skills necessary for their first “real” job and provides a great atmosphere to socialize with other junior camp counselors in a fun and exciting setting. Also, this is a chance for teens to earn community service credit hours and give back to their community. The deadline for participants to register is May 16. Small Fry Camp- Frank Brown Recreation Center; Monday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: June 2-July

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Op 25. Ages: 3-5 (child must be 3 years by the first class); 8:00-11:00am. Preschoolers will enjoy hands-on activities, music in song and dance, and many other age-related activities. Fieldtrips may be offered. Child must be toilet trained to participate. Summer Therapeutic Day Camp- Alison Hall, 501-2930, ahall@auburnalabama.org, 7 week summer day camp designed for young adults with various disabilities. Program includes lifeskills training such as handling money, team work, social skills, square dancing, swimming, and other physical recreation activities. The campers also participate in field trips. Superhero Training Camp- Monday, Wednesday and Friday, June 9-13, 3:00-5:00pm; Ages 4-6years. Fairy Princess Camp- Monday, Wednesday and Friday, July 21-25, 3:00-5:00pm; Ages 4-9years. Cooking Camp- Monday, Wednesday and Friday, May 23-30, 3:00-5:00pm; Ages 5-9years. Science Camp- Monday, Wednesday and Friday, August 4-8, 3:00-5:00pm; Ages 5-8years. Etiquette Factory Camp- June 9-12, June 16-20, July 14-17, July 21-24, 9:00-11:00am; call about age groups.

Bonnie’s Kids Childcare Center

2314 Enterprise Drive; Opelika. 745-6248 www.bonnieskidschildcare.com “Where children grow.” Closed circuit monitoring; computer & dance programs; pick up from school for Beauregard, Opelika & Auburn for after school programs, and summer camps. We are licensed for up to 200 children / DHR Licensed for 22 years. Summer Activities Program for School Age children; Breakfast,

Lunch, & Snack provided (USDA Food Program), Dance, Gymnastics, and Music Classes offered at the Center.

Growing Room

644 North Dean Road, Auburn. 334-501-2044 www.growingroomusa.com. Exploring the Great Outdoors! Each week activities and adventures related the outdoors such as camping and fishing. Field trips too! The summer curriculum continues to include educational concepts.

Milestones Learning Center

1811 East Glenn Ave. Auburn. 887-4391 www.milestoneslc.com Summer camp- June-Aug; different theme each week: summer fun, summer safety, under the sea, vacations, America the beautiful, creepy crawlers, wild west, summer sports, let’s go fishing, and much more!

Active8- Columbus State University, Continuing Education Summer Camps

www.activ8er.com; 706-507-8070. Genius at Play! 10 weeks of active summer fun! Half day and full day options, before and after care available, new camps to choose from every week. Camps begin June-Aug.

Auburn Summer Youth Programs at Auburn University

www.auburn.edu/summercamps; Outreach Program Office, 844-5100 21st Century- June 8-13.

Architecture Camp- 2 Sessions: June 22-27 & July 13-18. Art Studio Intensive- June 22-27. Building Construction Camp- June 15-20. Design Camp- 2 Sessions: June 15-20 & July 6-11. Engineering TIGERS Camp- Senior camp: July 22-27, (10th-11th); Women: June 15-20. Fisheries Camp- June 22-27. Food Science Camp - June 8-11. Forestry Camp- July 13-18. Loachapoka Explore Auburn Days Camp- June 8-13. Musical Theatre Camp- July 6-11. Project Design Camp- July 13-18. Real Cents, Real Change-June 15-20. Veterinarian Camp-Senior Camp- June 1-6; Junior Camp-June 15-20. World Affairs Youth Seminar- July 6-11.

Camp ASCCA

www.campascca.org; 256-825-9226 Easter Seals Camp ASCCA is a year round camp for people with disabilities located in Jackson’s Gap, Al. Activities include horseback riding, fishing, tubing, swimming, environmental education, arts and crafts, canoeing, a “splash pad”, outdoor adventure elements, like the zip-line, and much more!

Camp Shakespeare at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival

334-271-5393; www.asfeducation.com; A week of acting, stage combat, movement/dance, voice training and technical theatre. June- July. Grades 4-12.

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Opelika Parks and Recreation

Covington Day Camp- June 2-13, June 16-27, June 30July 11, July 14-25. Monday-Friday, 8:00am-3:00pm. Ages Kindergarten-7th graders. This camp will have a wide variety of sport activities, swimming, and weekly field trips both in and out of town. Cook outs and a staff-camper water day featuring a 30 ft. water slide highlights an active summer planned with your child in mind. On rainy days your camper will have a variety of activities inside the gym and game room. Camp includes snack, daily swimming and a t-shirt. PlexCamp- June 2-13, June 16-27, June 30-July 11, July 14-25. Monday-Friday, 8:00am-3:00pm. Ages 1st5th grade (completed). This camp will include a wide variety of activities including arts & crafts, swimming, field trips, water day, wacky day, color day and sports. Many activities will have special emphasis on nature and science. Plex Kids Camp- June 2-July 25. 3:00-5:30pm. weekly sessions. 3:30-5:30pm. Ages 1st-5th grade (completed). After a full day of camp, kids will have a snack, some down time and enjoy the many activities the Sportsplex has to offer. Art Camp-August 4-6. Ages 8-12 years. 8am-12noon. Fee $25. Art Studio Camp- July 21-25. Ages 6-9; 10:45am12:15pm. Fee $40.

P.E.E.P.S. (Poultry and Egg Experiences for Prospective Students)

Poultry Science Building, AU Campus. Amanda Martin 844-2881; amartin@auburn.edu Camp is designed to educate students in the areas of agriculture, food, science and poultry.

Martial Arts Auburn Academy of Martial Arts

323 Airport Rd, Suite J, Auburn, 502-7221 www.auburnacademy.com Summer Camps- Register online or come by the school. $25 deposit, camps $150 with a uniform; $125 without a uniform. Camps are Monday-Friday, 9:00am12noon, includes mid-morning snack. Week 1 - June 9 - 13; Week 2 - June 23 - 27; Week 3 - July 21 - 25; Week 4 - August 4 - 8. Camp themes include: Padded Weapons, Board Breaking, Bully Buster Techniques, Tournament Sparring. Learning, discipline, and FUN! All levels-beginners and advanced. We welcome all interested students to come by to observe a class or just jump right in and try it out.

Auburn Mixed Martial Arts

2515 East Glenn Commerce Park #204 , Auburn 887-0818; www.auburnmma.com Teach realistic, but safe, fighting techniques in the martial arts of: Brazilian Jiu jitsu, Muay Thai, Wrestling, Judo, Kickboxing, Anti Bully Techniques and Submission Grappling. We also teach classes in Fitness Kickboxing and Kettle Bell. No experience necessary!

Music Auburn Parks and Recreation

Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center. 501-2963 Jr. Musical Theatre Camp Jr- June 9-14; Ages 5-7 yrs Musical Theatre Camp II- June 9-14; Ages 8-12yrs Musical Theatre Camp for Teens â&#x20AC;&#x201C; June 9-14; Ages 13-18 yrs Summer Intensive- June 23-28, July 28-August 2; Ages 5-18yrs

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Campers, of all skill levels, improve theater-related skills in voice, dance, and acting while meeting new friends and most important, having fun! There will be a performance at the end of the week for family and friends.

ments, including but not limited to: guitar, bass guitar, upright bass, keyboard/piano, voice, harp, drums, ukulele, banjo, fiddle, violin, cello, harmonica, tin whistle, oboe, didgeridoo, mandolin, dulcimer, clarinet, saxophone, flute, trumpet, and french horn.

Spicerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Music

Auburn Guitar Shoppe

2140 E. University Drive, Auburn. 329-7529 www.spicersmusic.com Rock Band, Praise Band and Advanced Camps: June 2-6 and June 9-13. Morning and afternoon sessions. Attention aspiring musicians, ages 8 - 18! If you love music, and want to play in a rock band, this camp is for you! At Spicerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Garage Band Camp, you will have a blast as you jam daily with your bandmates. You will receive individualized instruction on your instrument, work with other musicians to choose a band name and logo, write your own song, and learn several current songs. After a fun-filled week of jamming, you and your band will perform on stage with professional lights and sound equipment in front of family and friends. Also offering lessons on an incredible variety of instru-

Auburn Opelika Parents I June 2014

758 East Glenn Ave. www.auburnguitar.com; 821-6818

Auburn University Band Camp www.band.auburn. edu June 15-18, June 1822, June 22-25, June 25-28, July 26-28.

Summer Showoffs

www.summershows. com; Email mary@summershowoffs.com July 7-11; Providence Baptist Church, Auburn and July 14-18; Lee Scott Academy. Now Showing!!! Summer Showoffs is a music day camp for ages 1st-12th graders that uses music and performance to build confidence and character. We help students develop their talents on stage! Everyone gets a solo!

Sports/Fitness Auburn Parks and Recreation

Sports Camp- June 9-13, July 14-18, 9:00am12:00noon; Ages 9-12years, Fee $50. Campers will have the opportunity to participate in a different sport each day. Sports include baseball, soccer, tennis, track, basketball. Camp will be at a different location each day. ASA Rising Tiger Soccer Camp- June 2-5, July 7-10. Ages 4-7 years; Fee $70. ASA Junior Soccer Camp- June 2-5, July 7-10. Ages 8-15years; Fee $85. ASA Goalkeeper Soccer Camp- August 4-7, 5:008:00pm. Ages 10-18years; Fee $95. ASA Advanced Soccer Camp- August 4-8, 5:008:00pm. Ages 10-18years; Fee $95. Basketball Camp- June 18-19, 8:00am-5:00pm. Ages 7-12years; Fee $30.

Robert Trent Jones Grand National Golf Clinics

3000 Robert Trent Jones Trail, Opelika. 749-9042, www.Rtjgolf.com June 9-12, June 23-26, and July 28-31. Summer clinics for junior golfers, ages 7-17years, taught by PGA Certified Pros. 8:30-11:30am. $100 per session: Includes lunch and a free Par 3 round each day.

Auburn Thunder

www.auburnthundersoccer.com; 256-655-4448

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Auburn Thunder (part of the Auburn Soccer Association) is an elite soccer club for boys and girls ages 9-18. Team Tryouts: June 2-4; makeup tryouts June 9.

Auburn University Sports Camps

$2.00 per visit. Activities include climbing wall, scooters, basketball, relays, kickball, tag games, dodgeball, jump rope and much more. At the pool, children may swim or play quietly on the pool deck.

Baseball Academy- sctt@throw90.com Basketball- mbabul@auburn.edu Brett Hawke Swim- www.auburnswimcamps.com Equestrian- carolyn031@centurytel.net Football- wbolt@auburn.edu Gymnastics- kurth@auburn.edu Soccer- khoppa@auburn.edu Tigers Golf- www.auburntigers.com Tiger Softball- deeseti@auburn.edu Tennis- www.gteamtennis.com Volleyball- cwc0004@auburn.edu

Opelika Parks and Recreation- SportsPlex

Healthplus

Moore’s Mill Golf Club, Auburn. Will Blackmon 319-0051 or Elizabeth Rodgers, 821-6533; golfhouse. mooresmill@gmail.com; Offering girls, boys and co-ed golf camps.

1171 Gatewood Drive, Auburn; 887-5666 www.healthplusfitness.com Youth Swim for Fitness- This is a chance for kids to learn a lifetime fitness activity. Our hour-long workout will improve endurance; perfect technique and help children learn advanced swimming skills. Children must have completed Snappers Level 3 or be at least 8 years old to participate. Fitness Fun Camp- May 27-August 8; Monday-Friday 8:00 am- 12:00pm (extended day is available through 5:00pm). Ages 5-12 yrs. A safe and fun-filled camp environment that will promote fitness, health, creativity and friendship. Open to members and nonmembers. Kids’ Gym- Ages 5-12. Members free; non-members

1001 Andrews Road, Opelika; 705-5560 Flag Football- June 7-July 9. Saturday mornings 9:00am, 10:00am, or 11:00am. Ages 5-12 years, Fee $35. Karate- Tuesday and Thursday, 6:00pm. Ages 6 and up. T-Ball- Begins June 2. Ages 4-6years. Fee $40. All sports registration now: Football, basketball, soccer, cheer, t-ball, baseball, racquetball, tumbling and more!

Plains Junior Golf

Sports Academy

3768 Pepperell Parkway, Opelika (Midway Plaza) 749-4040; www.sportsacademyauburn.com

Swimming Auburn Parks and Recreation

Summer Swim Lessons and Teams- Beginning June 9, Samford Pool, Auburn. 501-2958 or 501-2930

Swim lessons, Auburn Aquatics Swim Team, and Auburn Dive Team. Morning and evening classes offered. Ages 6 months and up. Participants should wear appropriate swimwear, as testing may be required. For more information, visit auburnalabama. org/pools or pick up a copy of Auburn Parks and Recreation’s Summer Brochure. Sea Babies- Ages 6 months-3 years; Sea Turtles- Ages 3-5yrs; GuppiesAges 6-10 yrs; Dolphins- Ages 11-15yrs; OrcasAges 16-18yrs; Big Fish- Ages 19 and up. Float-In-Movies- June 20, July 18, August 15; Samford Pool, gates open 8:15pm. $2. Friday Night Splash- June 27, July 25. 6-8pm. Samford Pool. Enjoy free swim, games, music, cookout and more. $2. End Of Year Luau- August 22. 6-8pm. Samford Pool.

Healthplus

1171 Gatewood Drive, Auburn; 887-5666 www.healthplusfitness.com Infant Swimming Resource- nationally recognized survival swimming program which teaches infants and toddlers ages 6 months to 6 years using the ISR Self-Rescue™ method. Water Babies- Baby’s first swim lesson. Parents and children participate in eight 30-minute guided practice sessions that help children learn elementary skills, including water entry, bubble blowing, front kicking, back floating, underwater exploration, and more. This is not a Learn-to-Swim class. Learn To Swim- Beginner to advanced sessions.

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Opelika Parks and Recreation

Opelika SeaDawgs Summer Swim Team Mandy Johnson-mjohnson@ci.opelika.al.us, 7052488 Practice May 5-22, Monday-Thursday. Fee $60/ swimmer, $5 sibling discount. Little Dawgs Pre-Team- Fee $60. Summer Swimming Lessons- Ages 4 and up (beginner through advanced classes). $55 fee Session I- June 2-13; Session II- June 16-June 27; Session III- July 7-18; Session IV: July 21-Aug 1. 10:00-10:45am, 11:00-11:45am, or 12:0012:45pm. Parent and Me- June 13-27; Monday & Wednesday, 9:00-9:30am, $30.

Tiger Swim Lessons

737-4427 or asmutjc@auburn.edu Auburn University Aquatic Center- $70/ 2 week sessions with 30 minute classes. Registration April 26.

Swimming Pools City of Auburn Public Pools

Drake Pool- 653 Spencer Ave. next to Drake Middle School; 501-2958 Samford Pool- 465 Wrights Mill Road / 328 Samford Ave.; 501-2957 Auburn City pools will open on May 26. Auburn City Pool Season passes will be sold at the Dean Road Recreation Center. Individual passes are $50.00 and Family passes are $125.00. Daily

admission is $2.00 per person (Children 1 year old and younger are free).

Opelika Parks and Recreation

Covington Pool-213 Carver Ave. 705-5550 SportsPlex Pool- 705-5560. Monday – Friday 5 am-8 am- Member Lap Swim Only 1:00 pm-8:00 pm Open Swim Saturday 8:00am- 10:00 am -Member Lap Swim Only 10:00am-12:00 pm Family Swim 12:00pm- 5:00 pm Open Swim Sunday 1:00pm- 5:00pm Open Swim Splash Park Summer Hours: Monday- Friday 10:00am- 8:00pm Saturday 10:00am-5:00pm Sunday 1:00pm-5:00pm

Tennis Auburn Parks and Recreation

Auburn UniversityYarbrough Tennis Complex; 5012920 Tennis Camps- Call for dates, Ages 2and up.

Opelika Parks and Recreation

Calhoun Tennis Center; 1102 Denson Drive; Opelika. 705-5556 Tennis for Tots- Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:008:30am. Ages 2-4 years. Fee $50 month Pee-Wee Tennis- Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:30-

9:15am. Ages 4-5 years. Fee $50 month Beginner-Intermediate Tennis- Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30-10:30am. Ages 1st-5th grades. $50 month. Jr. High Tennis- Mondays and Wednesdays, 9:3010:30am, Ages 6th-8th grades. Fee $50 month. High School Tennis- Mondays and Wednesdays, 10:30-11:30am, Ages 9th-12th grades. Fee $50 month.

Unique Activities Opelika Parks and Recreation

A Day in the Life of…Police Academy –June 239:30-11:30am. Ages 6-11 yrs. Fee: $10. Spend the morning with members of the Opelika Police Dept. Great opportunity to go behind the scenes. Snack included. A Day in the Life of…Firefighters Academy- June 24-8:30am-2:00pm. Ages 6-12yrs. Fee: $15. Report to the Denson Drive Rec Center-transportation provided to Opelika Fire Dept. training center. Experience first hand what it takes to be a firefighter. Explore the trucks, try on the uniform and hold the hoses! Prepare to ‘get wet’. Lunch and T-shirt included. A Day in the Life of…Power Service Academy- June 25- 9:30am-12:00noon; Ages 6-11yrs. Fee: $10. Have you been in a bucket truck or climbed a Light & Power Pole? Join members of the Light & Power Department as they demonstrate their skills and

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invite participants to have ‘hands on’ fun in this morning academy! Snack included. Adventure Day- July 30- 1:00-4:00pm. Ages 5-12yrs. Fee: $10. Fun activities! You are invited to go on an adventure of food & fun. Back to School Bash- July 25- 10:00am-1:00pm. All Ages, Free. Back to School Ice Cream Social- August 1- 1:002:00pm. Ages 5-12, Fee $5. Boys Night Out- June 27- 6:00-9:00pm. Ages 7-12. Fee $20. Come hangout with the guys. Enjoy food, a movie, basketball and a video games. Covington Movie Club- June 12, June 26, July 10, and July 24. 3:30-5:00pm. Ages 6-12. Fee $7. Hot summer day with nothing to do? Come in and enjoy a movie and popcorn! Girls Night Out- June 13- 6:00-9:00pm. Ages 8-12. Fee $20. Come enjoy food, a movie, jewelry making and makeovers. Don’t forget to wear your pj’s. Goofy Games- July 8-3:00-4:00pm. Ages 6-12yrs. Fee: $10. Enjoy relays, group games, board games & computerized games. Green Thumb Gardening- June 25- 3:00-4:00pm. Ages 5-12. Fee $12. Get ready to bring a new life into this world..plant life that is! Come ready to decorate a pot to plant your new flower in! Junior Bakers- July 15- 3:00-4:30pm. Ages 9-12. Fee $15. Junior bakers will experience baking dishes with a surprise baker! Class max: 6 Kids in the Kitchen- June 3- 3:00-4:00pm. Ages 4-7. Fee $15. Hands on fun making delicious and child-proof foods! Lion Tamers - Kids Fun Day- June 7- 10:00am1:00pm. All ages. Free to public! Games, prizes, food, fun and Free Swim! Summer Crafts- June 11- 3:00-4:00pm. Ages 4-7. Fee $10. Messy Madness- July 24- 3:00-4:00pm. All Ages. Fee: $10. “Messy Projects and Slimy Creations”. Wear old clothing. Pizza Pizzazz – July 10- 3:00-4:00pm. Ages 6-11. Fee: $10. Learn to create various pizzas using bagels, French bread, English Muffins. Wacky Water Games- July 22- 3:00-4:00pm. Age 6-10yrs. Fee: $10. Have fun with bubbles, balloons and water.

Vacation Bible Schools Auburn United Methodist Church www.aumc.net; June 2-6. Cornerstone Church www.cornerstonebuzz.org; June 2-6. Eagle Pointe Church of the Nazarene www.eaglepointechurch.com; Summer long VBS. Farmville Baptist Church www.farmvillebaptistchurch.org; June 23-27. First Baptist Church of Auburn www.auburnfbc.org; June 2-6. First Presbyterian Church of Auburn www.fpcauburn.org First United Methodist Church of Opelika www.fumcopelika.org; June 9-12. Lakeview Baptist Church www.lakeviewbaptist.org; June 6-20 Liberty Baptist Church 749-9632 Opelika First Baptist Church www.opelikafbc.org; June23-27. Parkway Baptist Church www.parkwayauburn.org; June 2-6. Pleasant Grove Baptist Church 749-8507

Providence Baptist Church www.providencealive.com; June 9-13. Purpose Baptist Church www.purposechurch.net; June 2-6. Rock of Ages Baptist Church 727-4179 Trinity United Methodist Church www.tumcopelika.org True Deliverance Holiness Church 502-5209, www.abingdonpressvbs.com/tdhcchurch; June 16-20. Union Grove Baptist Church www.ugbcopelika.com

Watersports Lake Eufaula

Vacation Rentals- Baker Realty; www.bakerrealty.com;

334-585-0748 Lakepoint Resort State Park- The park has a lodge, convention center, modern campground, vacation cabins and lakeside cottages, picnic areas, 18-hole golf course and a marina complete with launch facilities and boat slips. 334-687-8011; www.alapark.com/LakePointResort

Lake Martin

Lakeside Marina- Rentals: boats, watercraft, tubes, boards and skis-Dadeville, Al; 256-825-9286 www.lakesidemarinallc.com Pleasure Point Marina Cabin Rentals; Dadeville, AL (256) 825-9400; www.pleasurepointmarina.com AOP

Happy Summer 2014! www.facebook.com/auburnopelika.parents

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Pop culture doesn’t appreciate dads. Sitcoms make fun of their diapering (in)abilities or portray dads as irresponsible babysitters who feed the kids pizza, ice cream and sugary soda while mom is out for the evening. Personal experience tells me there may some truth in this. My own husband shows our kids zombie movies then acts surprised when they refuse to sleep with the lights out. Really. Stereotypes aside, it can be hard to move past the mom-knows best mentality and make room for dads’ different style of parenting. Mom of four Tsara Shelton of Teague, Tex., says parenting together with her boys’ dad has been the biggest challenge in their happy, 13-year marriage. “I always want to be the one with the answers and insights! But in truth, it’s been co-parenting that’s blessed my boys with the best Auburn Opelika Parents I June 2014

of what both mom and dad have to offer.” All moms can learn valuable lessons from watching what dads do best. Here’s how.

Dads are good with good enough

Most moms I know struggle to drown out the nagging inner critic who says we aren’t good enough. We feel intense pressure to keep the house (and kids!) clean and to respond cheerfully to every social obligation. Our to-do lists never get done. And it’s stressful. Researchers at Auburn University found women are more likely to feel inadequate at home and at work than men because we’re more perfectionistic. Dads recognize the 80% solution is often good enough. They can walk away from a sink full of unwashed dishes – without feeling guilty – to spend time playing with the kids before bedtime. Moms can’t deny there is wisdom in this approach. Dishes don’t grow up and go off to college. Kids do. Being good with “good enough” doesn’t mean dads deny their shortcomings. Tina Bushman, co-author of the family discussion-starting book Table Talk, says she has learned from watching her husband, John, address his missteps. “When it 40

has been a rough parenting day, he will sit on the edge of our child’s bed and explain that even though parents try hard, we aren’t perfect. He apologizes if he got upset or said the wrong thing and asks forgiveness. It takes a humble dad to do that and I love him for it.”

Dads encourage active play

Mud pies, snow forts and do-it-yourself science experiments are dads’ domain, says Wendy Valderrama of Denver, Colo., “They do messy fun really well.” Valderrama watches her 3-year-old daughter’s princess wedding ball with prince Daddy every night. “He lets her take the lead and follows right along with her in the imaginative play,” she says. Dads’ passion for play is a joy to behold. When they aren’t entertaining kids on their own level, dads expose kids to grownup tasks and topics. A dad might teach a child how to mow the lawn or talk about financial matters during informal apprenticeship sessions. Since dads aren’t focused on ages and stages of development, they may share information that is over kids’ heads. There is an upside to this, Valderanna says. “The conversations I overhear between my daughter and her dad are amazing! I see www.auburnopelikaparents.com

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Dads encourage risk-taking

While moms’ protective instincts lead us to discourage kids from taking physical risks, studies show dads give kids more personal space to explore the environment, even if there is risk involved. “At the park, I’m nervous about my 2-year-old going down the big slide, and, at home, I protect my baby from face-planting every time he attempts to crawl,” says San Diego, Calif., mom Anna Crowe. Dads often push kids to go outside their comfort zones. Physical challenges help kids develop strength, coordination and confidence. And, by testing their physical prowess, “kids learn valuable skills that could prevent them from getting into serious trouble in the future,” Crowe admits. Dads allow kids to learn by doing when moms might be more likely to teach by talking. During the anxious moments in parenting, dads maintain a calm composure moms admire. Stacy Lewis of Long Beach, Calif., says her husband changed her perspective on parenting forever during one intense encounter with their three kids. He said, “I don’t get it! You are the mom. Why are you hollering?” And something clicked for Lewis. “He keeps things insanely balanced, and I love him for that.”

Dads set boundaries

Because women are focused on preserving social connections, we may avoid family conflict. The mental and emotional effort of peacekeeping can lead to emotional exhaustion for women, according to research by psychologists at Carnegie Mellon University. Over time, minor frustrations can grow into deep, simmering resentments. Shelton admits she struggles to establish clear, firm rules for her kids. She sees most issues as gray areas and enjoys discussing the connections between kids’ behaviors, social expectations and cultural pressures. While moms might see kids’ behavior in shades of gray, dads can take a more black-and-white view. Men are less likely to shy away from conflict because they don’t take it personally. That means they step in and confront interpersonal issues head-on. Shelton’s two youngest sons – who had symptoms of autism at early ages – learned to be comfortable in their own bodies and brains because of their dad’s black-andwhite boundaries. “If my husband didn’t bring everything down to its simplicity I would get lost loving my boys in the gray,” she says. The key to parenting well is to figure out which situations require a firm, rule-based response and which ones call for

deeper conversation. Dads seem to know this intuitively.

Dads don’t fret

Women often wish men would listen to our problems without trying to solve them, but that’s not how men are wired. When things go wrong, dads jump into problemsolving mode and determine what steps they can take to change the situation. If the first attempt isn’t successful, dads try another approach. Women are more likely to focus on feelings, which can actually amplify distress. We may commiserate with girlfriends or replay worst-case scenarios in our minds. C. Lee Reed of Beachside, Florida recalls her father often told his kids to “suck it up” in the face of disappointment. “It sounds crazy but we learned to put on our big girl panties when things didn’t go our way,” Reed says. Now she uses the same phrase with her own daughter. It lightens the mood when emotions run high. Dads’ emotional balance allows them to keep parenting problems in perspective. Crowe says she often panicked at her son’s inability to sleep through the night or the fact that he didn’t crawl when other babies did. But her husband took a longer view. “He taught me not to worry so much about the little things, unless they become a bigger concern,” says Crowe. A calm response is both comforting and practical.

Dads are present

Moms take pride in our super-human ability to do five things at once, but there is an undeniable downside. Multitasking prevents us from seizing the joys of the present moment. Lauren Nichols of Farmingdale, NY, praises her husband’s ability to be in the moment with their 4-year-old son. “I admire his ability to slow down and listen to everything our son has to say. It is as if he really remembers what it was like to be a little kid. They are two peas in a pod.” Reed is inspired by her husband’s presence as well. While Reed, who calls herself “Helicopter Mom” is busy multitasking, her husband, “Just Plane Dad,” knows how to be fully present in the moment, she says. “When he spends time with our daughter, he’s not worried about the laundry or paying the bills. He is all there.” Tuning in completely allows dads to see children as growing, loving little people. And it reminds us all that we’re blessed by our children – and their dads – in big and small ways every day. AOP Heidi Smith Luedtke is a personality psychologist who has gleaned many practical parenting strategies from her husband’s more laid-back approach. She is the author of Detachment Parenting.

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Family Calendar Ongoing:

A2Z Local Homeschooler’s Association For homeschooling families in the Auburn/Opelika Lee County area of Alabama. A2Z Loop is an all-inclusive support group open to all homeschool families in the Auburn/Opelika area regardless of differences in beliefs, cultures, nationality, race, religion, or method of home schooling. For more information call 334-7281162 or email: momofpnk@gmail.com. Alabama Mentor’s Foster Parent Training Classes Offered in the Opelika Auburn area. Call 334-705-8877 x 18 to register or email: Deanna.Hand@thementornetwork.com. Alabama Shakespeare Festival Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Montgomery. www.asf.net. Birmingham Civil Rights Museum Pieces of a Dream: Mixed Media. June 17 - August 24. Birmingham Civil Rights Museum. www.bcri.org. Bosom Buddies (a breast cancer support group) Meets at The Health Resource Center the first Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. (334) 528-1260. www.eamc.org. Center for Puppetry Arts • “Charlotte’s Web.” Through May 25. Atlanta. www.atlanta.net. Cloverdale Playhouse “Clybourne Park” by Bruce Norris. June 19-29. Cloverdale Playhouse, Montgomery. www.cloverdaleplayhouse.org. DeSoto Caverns Park God and Country Sound, Light, and Water Show. June 8 - July 31. DeSoto Caverns Park, Childersburg. www.desotocavernspark.com. Expressions of a BraveHeart Program A fine arts program for teens and young adults with special needs (ages 11–21), sponsored by Opelika Parks and Recreation, utilizing Auburn University faculty and students, as well as community volunteers. Two 30-minute sessions of art, dance/creative movement and music will be offered and participants will select 2 of the 3 classes. Expressions meets every 2nd and 4th Monday twice a month for 1.5 hours. Opelika Sportsplex, 334.705.5560. www.opelikasportsplex.com. Friday on the Green Town Green at Russell Crossroads. Alexander City. May 23 - August 29. Facebook. Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art • Matt Moulthrop: Auburn Oak and Heartwood: Woodturned Vessels by Ed, Philip, and Matt Moulthrop. May 17-Sept. 21. • Picturing An Era: Art from the Great Depression to the Second World War. May 18-Sept. 21. • John Augustus Walker’s Historical Panorama of Alabama Agriculture. June 1-Sept. 21. Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. www.jcsm.auburn.edu. Lee County Parents of Chinese Children helps children understand, see and grow up with other families that look like their family (white parents/Asian child). The group is 100% free! We try to eat out at Asian establishments monthly and have playdates. Families that are waiting to adopt are welcome! We accept any families with adopted children from all Asian countries. Contact Melody at mmhilyer@bellsouth.net for more information. McWane Science Center • Tornado Alley. Through May 31. • “Island of the Lemurs Madagascar” IMAX. Through January 2015. Birmingham. www.mcwane.org. Meditation Garden and Labyrinth Come and Find the Quiet Center... in the Meditation Garden and Labyrinth, provided as a community service by Village Christian Church, 700 East University Drive, (across from Auburn Early Ed.). 334-887-5111. Try the practice of walking meditation or simply sit and enjoy the sights and sounds. The garden and labyrinth are always open and guests are always welcome. Montgomery Ballet www.montgomeryballet.org.

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Montgomery Performing Arts Montgomery Performing Arts. www.mpaconline.org. Opelika-Auburn Newcomers Club A club for new women in town which offers fun social activities, meets for lunch on the 3rd Thursday of every month. Call Joan at 501-4974. Stone Mountain Park Educator Appreciation Week. June 15-20. Stone Mountain Park, Ga. www.stonemountainpark.com. Strawberry Picking at Backyard Orchards Eufaula. June 1-15. www.backyardorchards.com. Tennessee Valley Museum of Art Helen Keller Art Show of Alabama. June 2-30. Tennessee Valley Museum of Art, Tuscumbia. www. tvaa.net.

Parents Support & Moms Groups

Auburn Mommies, a fun group of moms in the Auburn/Opelika area that meet weekly for playgroups and Mommy and Me walking twice a week. We also have a Mommies Night Out once a month. Http:// groups.yahoo.com/group/auburnmommiesinalabama/. Auburn Mommy and Me Big Dog Running Co, Auburn. 10–11 a.m. Social time, story time, music/movement, arts & crafts. Ages 9 months–3 years. Free! 334-209-2580. Auburn MOPS 1st Wednesday of each month, September-May. 9–11:30 a.m. Trinity United Methodist Church, Opelika. Meetings open to moms with preschool children ages 5 years and under. $5 per meeting; childcare $5 per child. $25 yearly membership dues. Weekly playdates, monthly moms night out, resources, and more. www.facebook.com/ AuburnOpelikaMOPS; AUMOPS@yahoo.com. Breast Feeding class meets the second Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to noon on EAMC’s third floor. Call 528-1260 to register. La Leche League, a support group for nursing moms, meets the 2nd Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. @ CORNERSTONE Family Chiropractic, Airport Plaza, 323 Airport Road Suite E, Auburn. For more information call Josie at 257-3950. Lee County Autism Support Group meets every other month. Call Julie Brown 887-3903 or Florence Evermom 887-5005. Covenant Presbyterian Church on Shelton Mill Road in Auburn. MOMS Club of Auburn, a group of stay-at-home moms that meets about twice a week to provide support for each other and fun interaction for kids. New website is www.auburnmoms.com. Moms In Touch. Do you worry about your children? Come experience how you can replace your anxiety and fear with peace and hope by praying with other moms. Moms In Touch International gathers moms together for one hour, once a week, to pray specifically and scripturally for our children and school. Won’t you join with us in prayer for this next generation? Please contact Julia Farrow at julia@cornerstonebuzz. org for information about our local groups. For more information about Moms In Touch International, visit www.MomsInTouch.org. Single Moms Outreach of East Alabama Single Moms Outreach of East Alabama offers 2nd Saturdays, group classes, and more. Contact Penny Messer at 334-444-6827. Email smoea@bellsouth. net. Website www.smoea.vpweb.com or find us on facebook. Teen Moms (for moms under 20) is a ministry that connects trained adults with pregnant girls and teenage moms. Support meetings, classes, job preparation, devotions and games. Call Laura Fuller at laura@insideyfc.com or 334-501-5637. www.insideyfc.com.

Mom’s Morning Out

Auburn United Methodist Church, Children’s Day Out Program, every Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m.–12

noon. $10 per child for the entire morning, $2 each additional child. Attendance will be on a first come-first served basis. Contact Barbara Dawsey at 826-8800 for more information. Trinity United Methodist Church (Opelika) Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:45–12. $15 per child, $5 each additional.

Support Groups

Caregiver Support Group Caring for a family member or friends can be rewarding, but it’s not easy. Whether you are the caregiver for your parents, spouse or a dependent child, this group is for you! Learn ways to cope with every day stresses of caring for someone you love. Gain tools and resources to help you on your journey. This program is supported by the Opelika Sportsplex, Lee-Russell Agency on Aging and HomeInstead Senior Care. This group is open to the public. Meets the last Monday of each month at 12:30 p.m. at Opelika Sportsplex AAC. Instructors are: Valeri White (Sportsplex), Bridgette Sager (Home Instead Senior Care), Lisa Askew (Lee-Russell Council of Gov). Food Allergy Support of East Alabama The Food Allergy Support of East Alabama group offers support through the sharing of information and resources. We are also working to increase awareness of food allergies in the state of Alabama. For more information, visit our website at www. foodallergysupporteastal.org or call Barbara at 334826-3082; bkg2007@bellsouth.net. GRACE - Post-Abortive Support Group Are you struggling with feelings of regret or sadness from having a pregnancy termination in your past? Do you feel like you can’t share these struggles with anyone? Would you like to find healing and forgiveness? You are not alone. Women’s Hope Medical Clinic wants to help you! You are invited to take part in our GRACE abortion recovery group. This confidential group gives you the opportunity to process the grief of your termination in a safe and non-judgmental setting. If you would like more information about the times, dates and location for this group, call or e-mail Sherry at Women’s Hope: 334.502.7000 or sherry@ womenshope.org Don’t let the regret of the past rob you of the joy in the future. Call us today. We are here to help.

Sports

Columbus Cottonmouths May 31, June 7, 14. www.columbusciviccenter.org. Columbus Lions Arena Football May 31, June 7, 14. www.ColumbusLions.net. Auburn Baseball May 15, 16, 17. Auburn Men’s Golf May 15, 16, 17. Montgomery Biscuits Baseball May 21-25, 31, June 1, 4, 6, 7, 9, 19, 20, 21.

Sunday, May 18

Lee County Master Gardeners 2014 Tour Tickets at Opelika Chamber. www.leemg.org. “Gasland II” Movie Showing Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. Auburn. 2 p.m. www.jcsm.auburn.edu. Go Reptile Rendezous & Fauna Photography Workshop Alabama Nature Center. Lanark Park, Millbrook. www.alabamawildlife.org. The Hangout Music Festival Gulf Shores, Al. www.hangoutmusicfest.com. 28th Annual Coosa River Whitewater Festival Wetumpka. www.coosariverwhitewaterfestival.com. French Colonial Garrison Fort Toulouse/Fort Jackson, Wetumpka. www.preservala.org/forttoulousejackson.

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Family Calendar Mentone Rhododendron Festival Mentone, Al. www.discoverlookoutmountain.com. The Academy of Fine Arts Dance Center presents “The Wizard of Oz” River Center for the Performing Arts, Columbus. www.academydancecenter.com.

Monday, May 19

Bringing Baby Home: Common and Not-SoCommon Experiences with a Newborn Monarch Estates Independent Living, Auburn. 6 p.m. 3rd Monday of the month, East Alabama Birth Village Monarch Estates, Auburn. 6 p.m.

Tuesday, May 20

Summer Swing Concert Conner Lorre, Neil Diamond Tribute Artist. Municipal Park, Opelika. 7 p.m. www.opelika.org.

Wednesday, May 21 Noon Tunes ‘Muse’. Courthouse Square, Opelika. 12-1 p.m. www.opelika.org.

Thursday, May 22

Sesame Street Live: Can’t Stop Singing BJCC. www.ticketmaster.com. Galley Talk: Bruce Dupree Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. Auburn. 5 p.m. www.jcsm.auburn.edu. Live Jazz Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. Auburn. 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. www.jcsm.auburn.edu. Auburn High School Graduation Auburn Arena. Nature Walk Forest Ecology Preserve, Auburn. 8:30 a.m. www.auburn.edu/preserve. Discovery Hike Forest Ecology Preserve, Auburn. 3:30 p.m. www.auburn.edu/preserve. Family Theatre presents “No Strings Attached” Columbus. www.familytheatre.org.

Friday, May 23

Memorial Day Weekend Festival: Masters Water Ski & Wakeboard Tournament Callaway Gardens, Ga. www.callawaygardens.com. Friday On the Green Town Green, Russell Crossroads, Alexander City. 6:30 p.m. Facebook. Uptown Friday Night Concert ‘Cale Dodd with Classic Addict’ Columbus. 7 p.m. Family Theatre presents “No Strings Attached” Columbus. www.familytheatre.org. 1836 Creek Wars at Historic Westville, Ga 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. www.westville.org. 37th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival Piedmont Park, Al.

Saturday, May 24

Friends of the Lee County Historical Society present the Lee County Gathering Old Time Music Festival Sponsored in part by the Alabama State Council on the Arts. www.leecountyhistoricalsociety.org. Art on the Lake benefiting Children’s Harbor Alexander City. www.childrensharbor.com. Market Days on Broadway 2014 Uptown Columbus. 9 a.m. - noon. 706-596-0111. Family Theatre presents “No Strings Attached” Columbus. www.familytheatre.org.

May/June 2014

1836 Creek Wars at Historic Westville, Ga 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. www.westville.org. Fabulous Fridays and Farmers Market at Callaway Gardens www.callawaygardens.com. Memorial Day Weekend ‘Salute the Troops’ Stone Mountain Park, Ga. www.stonemountainpark.com. 37th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival Piedmont Park, Al.

Sunday, May 25

Friends of the Lee County Historical Society present the Lee County Gathering Old Time Music Festival Sponsored in part by the Alabama State Council on the Arts. www.leecountyhistoricalsociety.org. Opelika High Theatre Society presents ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’ Opelika Center for the Performing Arts. Admission: $10 for adults/$7 for students. Memorial Day Remembrance Alabama Veterans Memorial Park, Birmingham. 3 p.m. www.alabamaveterans.org. Art on the Lake benefiting Children’s Harbor Alexander City. www.childrensharbor.com. Southern Music Fest at the AMP Lake Martin. www.lmat.org. Lake Wedowee Summer Jam Lake Wedowee. www.lakewedoweesummerjam.com. Memorial Day Weekend ‘Salute the Troops’ Stone Mountain Park, Ga. www.stonemountainpark.com. 37th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival Piedmont Park, Al.

Monday, May 26

Tuesday, May 27

Summer Swing Concert Bill J. Brooks, Elvis Lives Concert. Municipal Park, Opelika. 7 p.m. www.opelika.org. Opelika High Theatre Society presents ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’ Opelika Center for the Performing Arts. Admission: $10 for adults/$7 for students. Camp Discovery, Summer Ecology Camp- Go Native! Forest Ecology Preserve, Auburn. Ages 3rd/4th graders. 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. www.auburn.edu/preserve. Discovery Hike Forest Ecology Preserve, Auburn. 3:30 p.m. www.auburn.edu/preserve.

Wednesday, May 28

Noon Tunes ‘Martha’s Trouble’ Courthouse Square, Opelika. 12-1 p.m. www.opelika.org. Camp Discovery, Summer Ecology Camp- Go Native! Forest Ecology Preserve, Auburn. Ages 3rd/4th graders. 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. www.auburn.edu/preserve. Bluegrass On The Plains Auburn. www.bluegrassontheplains.com.

Thursday, May 29

2014 Tour of Homes Kick-Off Party Women’s Council of Realtors. Film: “The Monuments Men” Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. Auburn. 5 p.m. www.jcsm.auburn.edu. Live Jazz Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. Auburn. 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. www.jcsm.auburn.edu. Nature Walk Forest Ecology Preserve, Auburn. 8:30 a.m. www. auburn.edu/preserve. Camp Discovery, Summer Ecology Camp- Go Native! Forest Ecology Preserve, Auburn. Ages 3rd/4th graders. 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. www.auburn.edu/preserve. Bluegrass On The Plains Auburn. www.bluegrassontheplains.com. Atlanta Food & Wine Festival Midtown. www.atlfoodandwinefestival.com. The Market at Ag Heritage Park AU Campus. 3-6 p.m. www.ag.auburn.edu/themarket.

Friday, May 30

Opelika High School Graduation Bulldog Stadium. Camp Discovery, Summer Ecology Camp- Go Native! Forest Ecology Preserve, Auburn. Ages 3rd/4th graders. 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. www.auburn.edu/preserve. Friday On the Green Town Green, Russell Crossroads, Alexander City. 6:30 p.m. Facebook. Bluegrass On The Plains Auburn. www.bluegrassontheplains.com. Uptown Friday Night Concert ‘Lava Lamp’ Columbus. 7 p.m. Atlanta Food & Wine Festival Midtown. www.atlfoodandwinefestival.com. 2014 East Alabama Women’s Tour of Homes

Saturday, May 31

Young Eagles Day–FREE Airplane Rides for Kids! Columbus Airport. Ages 8-17. 8:30-11:30 a.m. (weather permitting). 706-324-2453. 5th Annual Bob Sykes BBQ & Blues Festival Bessemer. Baumhower’s ShrimpFest & Bar-B-Q Lakepoint State Park, Eufaula. www.alparksshrimpfest.com. Capital of Dreams Triathlon www.team-magic.com/events. Bluegrass On The Plains Auburn. www.bluegrassontheplains.com. Market Days on Broadway 2014 Uptown Columbus. 9 a.m. - noon. 706-596-0111. FSU Flying High Circus Callaway Gardens. www.callawaygardens.com. Fabulous Fridays and Farmers Market at Callaway Gardens www.callawaygardens.com. Atlanta Food & Wine Festival Midtown. www.atlfoodandwinefestival.com. Hatchett Creek Festival Kellyton. www.aces.edu/counties/Coosa. Capital of Dreams Triathlon www.team-magic.com/events. 2014 East Alabama Women’s Tour of Homes

Sunday, June 1

Bluegrass On The Plains Auburn. www.bluegrassontheplains.com. Atlanta Food & Wine Festival Midtown. www.atlfoodandwinefestival.com. Hatchett Creek Festival Kellyton. www.aces.edu/counties/Coosa. FSU Flying High Circus Callaway Gardens. www.callawaygardens.com.

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Family Calendar Monday, June 2

FSU Flying High Circus at Callaway Gardens www.callawaygardens.com. Astronomy Night at Callaway Gardens www.callawaygardens.com. Auditions For Youth Orchestra Of Greater Columbus www.yogc.org.

Tuesday, June 3

Tuesday Evening Civil War Twilight Tours at Fort Morgan www.fortmorgan.org. Jeff Davis’ Birthday Celebration First White House of the Confederacy, Montgomery. 334-215-0078. Summer Swing Concert ‘Martha’s Trouble’ Municipal Park, Opelika. 7 p.m. www.opelika.org. Kids In the Kitchen Covington Rec Center. Ages 4-7 years $15. 3-4 p.m. www.opelika.org.

Wednesday, June 4

Miss Alabama Pageant Homewood. Radical Reptile Program at Oxbow Meadows www.facebook.com/CSUOxbowMeadows.

Thursday, June 5

Miss Alabama Pageant Homewood. FSU Flying High Circus at Callaway Gardens www.callawaygardens.com. Extended Museum Gallery and Café Hours Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. 5-8 p.m. www.jcsm.auburn.edu. Film: “The Train” Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. 5-8 p.m. www.jcsm.auburn.edu. Live Jazz Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. 6-8 p.m. www.jcsm.auburn.edu. Children’s Matinees “Fantastic Mr. Fox” Capri Theatre, Montgomery. 10 a.m. & 1 p.m. www.capritheatre.org.

Friday, June 6

Hank Williams Festival Georgiana. www.hankwilliamsfestival.com. Summer Outdoor Movie Series ‘The Goonies’ 8 p.m. Free. Duck Samford Park, Auburn. Miss Alabama Pageant Homewood. Hank Williams Festival Georgiana. www.hankwilliamsfestival.com. Summer Outdoor Movie Series “The Goonies” Duck Samford Park, Auburn. 8 p.m. City of Auburn Facebook. FSU Flying High Circus at Callaway Gardens www.callawaygardens.com. Friday Night Frog Walk at FDR State Park gastateparks.org/FDRoosevelt. Callaway Gardens Farmers Market www.callawaygardens.com. Radical Reptile Program at Oxbow Meadows www.facebook.com/CSUOxbowMeadows. First Fridays ‘Satin Soul’ Event Center Downtown, Opelika. 7 p.m. www.eventcenterdowntown.com. First Fridays “Shop Late, Eat Local” Opelika shops will stay open until 8 p.m. www.opelikamainstreet.org. Hank Williams Festival Georgiana.www.hankwilliamsfestival.com. Zac Brown Band Oak Mountain Amp, B’ham. www.ticketmaster.com.

Auburn Opelika Parents I June 2014

May/June2014

Children’s Matinees “Fantastic Mr. Fox” Capri Theatre, Montgomery. 10 a.m. & 1 p.m. www.capritheatre.org.

Saturday, June 7

Greater Valley Juneteenth Celebration Goodsell United Methodist Church, Lanett. www.juneteenthlanett.com. Hank Williams Festival Georgiana. www.hankwilliamsfestival.com. 1812 Militia Camp Fort Toulouse-Fort Jackson. www.fttoulousejackson. org. Family Fun Day at Forest Ecology Preserve Auburn. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Miss Alabama Pageant Homewood. 14th Annual Alabaster City Fest Municipal Park, Alabaster.www.cityofalabaster.com. Gem, Mineral & Jewelry Show Tannehill State Park. 205-678-6564. Juneteenth Kelly Ingram Park, B’ham. Cheaha State Park’s 75th Anniversary Celebration Cheaha State Park. Summer on Main Street Festival Roanoke. www.randolphcountyal.com. FSU Flying High Circus at Callaway Gardens www.callawaygardens.com. Rosie The Riveter @ FDR’s Little White House gastateparks.org/FDRoosevelt. National Trails Day Hike at FDR State Park gastateparks.org/FDRoosevelt. Market Days on Broadway www.facebook.com/MarketDaysOnBroadway. Nature-Themed Storytime at Oxbow Meadows www.facebook.com/CSUOxbowMeadows. Fabulous Fridays and Farmers Market at Callaway Gardens www.callawaygardens.com. Day Lilly Festival at Columbus Botanical Garden www.columbusbotanicalgarden.com. Home Depot Kids Workshop ‘Build a Riding Lawn Mower’ Home Depot, Opelika. 9 a.m. - 12 noon. Free. www.homedepot.com. Annual Lion Tamers Day Covington Rec Center. All Ages! Free! 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. www.opelika.org. Artypants ‘Something Fishy…’ Kid’s Art Club Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. Ages K-2nd grade. 10-11:30 a.m. www.jcsm.auburn.edu. stART! ‘Press Ahead’ Kid’s Art Club Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. Ages 3rd-6th grade. 12:30-2 p.m. www.jcsm.auburn.edu. State of Create ‘Press Ahead’ Kid’s Art Club Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. Ages 7th-12th grade. 1-2:30 p.m. www.jcsm.auburn.edu.

Sunday, June 8

1812 Militia Camp Fort Toulouse-Fort Jackson. www.fttoulousejackson.org. Gem, Mineral & Jewelry Show Tannehill State Park. 205-678-6564. FSU Flying High Circus at Callaway Gardens www.callawaygardens.com. Day Lilly Festival at Columbus Botanical Garden www.columbusbotanicalgarden.com.

Monday, June 9

FSU Flying High Circus at Callaway Gardens www.callawaygardens.com. Astronomy Night at Callaway Gardens www.callawaygardens.com.

Tuesday, June 10

Tuesday Evening Civil War Twilight Tours at Fort Morgan www.fortmorgan.org. Wildlife Explorers Program at Oxbow Meadows: Amazing Insects www.facebook.com/CSUOxbowMeadows Summer Swing Concert ‘Adam Hood’ Municipal Park, Opelika. .7 p.m. www.opelika.org

Wednesday, June 11

Radical Reptile Program at Oxbow Meadows www.facebook.com/CSUOxbowMeadows. Summer Crafts Covington Center, Opelika. Ages 4-7 years. $10. 3-4:30 p.m. www.opelika.org.

Thursday, June 12

FSU Flying High Circus at Callaway Gardens www.callawaygardens.com. Covington Movie Club Opelika Parks and Rec. Ages 6-12 years. $7. 3:30-5 p.m. www.opelika.org. Live Jazz Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. 6-8 p.m. www.jcsm.auburn.edu. Children’s Matinees ‘Despicable Me 2’ Capri Theatre, Montgomery. 10 a.m. & 1 p.m. www.capritheatre.org.

Friday, June 13

Jazz Fest Strand Park, Alexander City. www.alexandercitychamber.com. 10th Annual Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival Foley. www.southbaldwinchamber.com. 18th Annual Down Home Psaltery Festival Tannehill State Park. 205-678-6564. Tallassee Now! BBQ Festival www.TallasseeChamber.com. FSU Flying High Circus at Callaway Gardens www.callawaygardens.com. Friday Night Frog Walk at FDR State Park gastateparks.org/FDRoosevelt. Fantastic Fridays at the Columbus Museum: “Celtic Fire: Echoes of Ireland” www.columbusmuseum.com. Radical Reptile Program at Oxbow Meadows www.facebook.com/CSUOxbowMeadows. Callaway Gardens Farmers Market www.callawaygardens.com. 8th Annual Downtown Summer Night Art Walk Auburn. Free. 6-9:30 p.m. Rain date, June 14. www.auburnartsassociation.org. Girls Night Out Covington Rec Center, Opelika. Ages 8-12 years. $20. 6-9 p.m. www.opelika.org. Teen Night Opelika Sportsplex. 6th-8th graders. 6-9 p.m. $5-$7. www.opelika.org. Children’s Matinees ‘Despicable Me 2’ Capri Theatre, Montgomery. 10 a.m. & 1 p.m. www.capritheatre.org.

Saturday, June 14

Jazz Fest Strand Park, Alexander City. www.alexandercitychamber.com. Tallassee Dam 5K ‘Color Me Now’ www.tallasseechamber.com. 10th Annual Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival Foley. www.southbaldwinchamber.com. Caribbean Festival Birmingham. www.cacoonline.org. Repticon Birmingham Reptile & Exotic Animal Show Birmingham. www.repticon.com/birmingham.

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Family Calendar Alabama Children’s Classic Bass Tournament Lake Eufaula. www.alabamachildrensclassic.org. 34th Annual Turtleneck Turtle Races: Benefiting the Fischer House for Alzheimers T.C. Russell Airport Pavilion, Alexander City. Facebook. Tallassee Now! BBQ Festival www.TallasseeChamber.com. National Get Outdoors Day - Tuskegee National Forest www.fs.usda.gov/goto/alabama/districts/tuskegeeRD. Youth Fishing Derby Tuskegee National Forest. www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ alabama/districts/tuskegeeRD. FSU Flying High Circus at Callaway Gardens www.callawaygardens.com. Second Saturday at Columbus Museum www.columbusmuseum.com. Market Days on Broadway www.facebook.com/MarketDaysOnBroadway. Living Life at Westville, Ga. www.westville.org. Fabulous Fridays and Farmers Market at Callaway Gardens www.callawaygardens.com. Nature-Themed Storytime at Oxbow Meadows www.facebook.com/CSUOxbowMeadows. Hand Quilting and Summer Crops at Second Saturday Pioneer Park, Loachapoka. 9 a.m. Second Saturday at Columbus Museum Free admission.www.edu@columbusmuseum.com. Second Saturday: Family Fun Day at the Columbus Museum Ga. www.columbusmuseum.com. Second Saturday Lee County Historical Society Museum. Loachapoka. www.leecountyhistoricalsociety.org. Artypants ‘Booking It’ Kid’s Art Club Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. Ages K-2nd grade. 10-11:30 a.m. www.jcsm.auburn.edu. stART! ‘Booking It’ Kid’s Art Club Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. Ages 3rd-6th grade. 12:30-2 p.m. www.jcsm.auburn.edu. State of Create ‘Booking It’ Kid’s Art Club Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. Ages 7th-12th grade. 1-2:30 p.m. www.jcsm.auburn.edu. Riverbend Boat Show Riverfront Park, Montgomery. www.funinmontgomery. com. Second Saturday Riverfront Park, Montgomery. 5-9 p.m. www.funinmontgomery.com.

Sunday, June 15

Father’s Day 2014 The Montgomery Zoo. Educator Appreciation Week Stone Mountain Park, Ga. www.stonemountainpark.com. Repticon Birmingham Reptile & Exotic Animal Show Birmingham. www.repticon.com/birmingham. FSU Flying High Circus at Callaway Gardens www.callawaygardens.com. Father’s Day 2014 The Montgomery Zoo. Riverbend Boat Show Riverfront Park, Montgomery. www.funinmontgomery.com.

Monday, June 16

FSU Flying High Circus at Callaway Gardens www.callawaygardens.com. Astronomy Night at Callaway Gardens www.callawaygardens.com.

Tuesday, June 17

Tuesday Evening Civil War Twilight Tours at Fort Morgan www.fortmorgan.org.

May/June 2014

Carmike Summer Kids Series “Epic” Carmike Wynnsong, Auburn. 10 a.m. www.carmike. com/Events/Category/8. Summer Swing Concert ‘Route 66’ Municipal Park, Opelika. 7 p.m. www.opelika.org.

Wednesday, June 18

Auditions For Youth Orchestra Of Greater Columbus www.yogc.org. Radical Reptile Program at Oxbow Meadows www.facebook.com/CSUOxbowMeadows.

Thursday, June 19

Military Day The Montgomery Zoo. Float In Movie ‘Dolphin Tale’ Samford Pool, Auburn. The Market at Ag Heritage Park AU Campus. 3-6 p.m. www.ag.auburn.edu/themarket. Military Appreciation Day at the Montgomery Zoo Free for military personnel and families. www.montgomeryzoo.com. FSU Flying .High Circus at Callaway Gardens www.callawaygardens.com. Carmike Summer Kids Series “Epic” Carmike Wynnsong, Auburn. 10 a.m. www.carmike. com/Events/Category/8. Live Jazz Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. 6-8 p.m. www.jcsm.auburn.edu Children’s Matinees ‘Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs’ Capri Theatre, Montgomery. 10 a.m. & 1 p.m. www.capritheatre.org.

Friday, June 20

12th Annual Art in the Gardens Aldridge Gardens, Hoover. www.aldridgegardens.com. Alabama State Games Birmingham. www.alagames.com. Crenshaw County Rodeo Luverne. 334-335-4468. Float-N-Movie ‘Dolphin Tale’ Samford Pool, Auburn. 8 p.m. City of Auburn Facebook. Slocomb Tomato Festival 334-886-2334. Facebook. FSU Flying High Circus at Callaway Gardens www.callawaygardens.com. Friday Night Frog Walk at FDR State Park gastateparks.org/FDRoosevelt. Fantastic Fridays at the Columbus Museum: Curious Moon Puppets ww.columbusmuseum.com. Radical Reptile Program at Oxbow Meadows www.facebook.com/CSUOxbowMeadows. Callaway Gardens Farmers Market www.callawaygardens.com. Float-In-Movie SportsPlex Pool, Opelika. 7 p.m. Free to members/$5 per. www.opelika.org. Children’s Matinees ‘Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs’ Capri Theatre, Montgomery. 10 a.m. & 1 p.m. www.capritheatre.org.

Saturday, June 21

Hydrangea Fest & Flora Photography Workshop Lanark Park, Millbrook. www.alabamawildlife.org. CCCA Blueberry Festival Ashland, Al. www.ccca.us. Alabama Blueberry Festival rewton. www.alabamablueberryfestival.com. Slocomb Tomato Festival 334-886-2334. Facebook. FSU Flying High Circus at Callaway Gardens www.callawaygardens.com. Star Light, Star Bright Astronomy Event at FDR State Park gastateparks.org/FDRoosevelt. Fabulous Fridays and Farmers Market at Callaway Gardens www.callawaygardens.com. Market Days on Broadway www.facebook.com/MarketDaysOnBroadway. Youth Orchestra of Greater Columbus Alumni Concert www.yogc.org. Nature-Themed Storytime at Oxbow Meadows www.facebook.com/CSUOxbowMeadows. Brad Paisley Oak Mountain Amp, B’ham. www.ticketmaster.com. Artypants ‘Make a Mark’ Kid’s Art Club Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. Ages K-2nd grade. 10-11:30 a.m. www.jcsm.auburn.edu. stART! ‘Keep It Real’ Kid’s Art Club Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. Ages 3rd-6th grade. 12:30-2 p.m. www.jcsm.auburn.edu. State of Create ‘Keep It Real’ Kid’s Art Club Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. Ages 7th-12th grade. 1-2:30 p.m. www.jcsm.auburn.edu.

Sunday, June 22

12th Annual Art in the Gardens Aldridge Gardens, Hoover. www.aldridgegardens.com. Alabama State Games Birmingham. www.alagames.com. French Colonial Garrison Fort Toulouse-Fort Jackson. www.fttoulousejackson. org. Chilton County Peach Festival Clanton. FSU Flying High Circus at Callaway Gardens www.callawaygardens.com.

Monday, June 23

FSU Flying High Circus at Callaway Gardens www.callawaygardens.com. Astronomy Night at Callaway Gardens www.callawaygardens.com. Police Academy Opelika Sportsplex. Ages 6-11 years. $10. 9:30-11:30 a.m. www.opelika.org.

Tuesday, June 24

Tuesday Evening Civil War Twilight Tours at Fort Morgan www.fortmorgan.org. Carmike Summer Kids Series “The Croods” Carmike Wynnsong, Auburn. 10 a.m. www.carmike.com/Events/Category/8. Summer Swing Concert ‘Dave Potts’ Municipal Park, Opelika. 7 p.m. www.opelika.org. Fire Academy Denson Dr. Parks and Rec. Ages 6-12 years. $15. 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. www.opelika.org.

Wednesday, June 25

Radical Reptile Program at Oxbow Meadows www.facebook.com/CSUOxbowMeadows. Power Services Academy Opelika Sportsplex. Ages 6-11 years. $10. 9 a.m. - 12 noon. www.opelika.org.

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Family Calendar Kid’s Green Thumb Gardening Covington Rec Center. Ages 5-12 years. $12. 3-4 p.m. www.opelika.org.

Thursday, June 26

FSU Flying High Circus at Callaway Gardens www.callawaygardens.com. Carmike Summer Kids Series “The Croods” Carmike Wynnsong, Auburn. 10 a.m. www.carmike. com/Events/Category/8. Covington Movie Club Opelika Parks and Rec. Ages 6-12 years. $7. 3:30-5 p.m. www.opelika.org. Live Jazz Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. 6-8 p.m. www.jcsm.auburn.edu. Children’s Matinees ‘The Croods’ Capri Theatre, Montgomery. 10 a.m. & 1 p.m. www.capritheatre.org.

Friday, June 27

29th Annual Columbiana Liberty Day Celebration Columbiana. www.cityofcolumbiana.com. 10th Annual Peach Jam Jubilee Clanton City Park. www.peachjamjubilee.com. FSU Flying High Circus at Callaway Gardens www.callawaygardens.com. Friday Night Frog Walk at FDR State Park gastateparks.org/FDRoosevelt. Fantastic Fridays at the Columbus Museum Anansi the Spider to Wile E. Coyote. www.columbusmuseum.com. Radical Reptile Program at Oxbow Meadows www.facebook.com/CSUOxbowMeadows.

May/June 2014

Callaway Gardens Farmers Market www.callawaygardens.com. Friday Night Splash Samford Pool, Auburn. 6-8 p.m. Night of swimming, cookout, music and more. Free for members; $2 per person. Boys Night Out Covington Rec Center. Ages 7-12 years. $20. 6-9 p.m. www.opelika.org. Children’s Matinees ‘The Croods’ Capri Theatre, Montgomery. 10 a.m. & 1 p.m. www.capritheatre.org.

Saturday, June 28

15th Annual Denim & Diamonds Concert ‘Justin Moore and Josh Thompson’. Columbus Civic Center. www.columbusciviccenter.com. MTV’s Joey Dillion ‘Project Get In Shape Charity Walk & Fitness Fun Day’ Vulcan Park, B’ham. www.crowdrise.com/ projectgetinshapecharitywalk. Independence Day Parade Brundidge. www.brundidgealabama.com. FSU Flying High Circus at Callaway Gardens www.callawaygardens.com. Celebrate America at The Rock Ranch www.therockranch.com. Fabulous Fridays and Farmers Market at Callaway Gardens www.callawaygardens.com. Market Days on Broadway www.facebook.com/MarketDaysOnBroadway. Nature-Themed Storytime at Oxbow Meadows www.facebook.com/CSUOxbowMeadows.

Young Eagles Day–FREE Airplane Rides for Kids! Columbus Airport. Ages 8-17. 8:30-11:30 a.m. (weather permitting). 706-324-2453. 5th Annual Day In Clay Dean Rd. Ceramics Studio, Auburn. 1-4 p.m. Artypants ‘We Weave’ Kid’s Art Club Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. Ages K-2nd grade. 10-11:30 a.m. www.jcsm.auburn.edu. stART! ‘We Weave’ Kid’s Art Club Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. Ages 3rd-6th grade. 12:30-2 p.m. www.jcsm.auburn.edu. State of Create ‘We Weave’ Kid’s Art Club Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. Ages 7th-12th grade. 1-2:30 p.m. www.jcsm.auburn.edu. Independence Day Celebration at Fort Benning

Sunday, June 29

FSU Flying High Circus at Callaway Gardens www.callawaygardens.com.

Monday, June 30

FSU Flying High Circus at Callaway Gardens www.callawaygardens.com. Astronomy Night at Callaway Gardens www.callawaygardens.com.

Please send your calendar events to kendra@auburnopelikaparents.com by the 5th of the month. It’s FREE!

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ParentingOnThePlains by Dr. Polly Dunn

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Calendar Systems for Busy Families Recently I was reading an article about how to keep your calendar updated, stay organized, and manage a household. Those are the types of ideas I’m always looking out for, so the article quickly caught my attention. There were tons of practical tips, but the whole time I was reading it I was thinking there was NO way I could make them work at my house. When I got to the end of the article, I realized why. The author didn’t have any kids! I have four little people that live at my house and destroy the bulk of my attempts at organization each and every day. Four of them! As a busy mom I have to be on top of my game all the time. Claire on the hit show Modern Family said it best, “I take my eye off the ball for one minute and I’ve got one kid in a coma, one with a black eye, and one running a crime ring.” I have two things that I use to manage my time and my household (and not get too overwhelmed in the process). Without them I’m not sure how I’d make it through the day. What are they? My electronic calendar and my paper calendar. That’s right, both electronic and paper. Here’s why: In order to schedule the comings and goings of all of the people in my house, I had to start using an electronic calendar. Why? There are six people in my house and keeping them all straight on a paper calendar was just too hard to do (even when I tried using different colored pens). On an electronic family calendar, each person gets assigned a color and you can easily identify what’s going on with each person in the family with a quick glance. But more importantly, you can schedule activities to repeat on a daily or weekly basis in about two seconds. Before I used an electronic calendar I had to hand write all of the repetitive activities (think gymnastics, track, theater, youth group, choir, the list goes on and on). Now I just type them in once and click the “repeat” button. Easy! And finally, all the members of our family can access our electronic calendar from any

computer or smart phone, or we can print it. My family uses the Cozi electronic calendar and has been for years. It’s free, intuitive, and honestly can’t be beat. I could sing the praises of Cozi all day long and how it has revolutionized my time management skills. Try it out for your family at Cozi.com; I have no doubt you’ll agree. If I love my electronic calendar so much, why do I use a paper calendar, too? Because I still need a place to write things down for myself. Even though I’ve gone all modern with a family electronic calendar, I’m still old school enough to want an agenda of my own that I can actually write on.

So, each week on Sunday I print out a copy of my electronic calendar for the week and transfer my activities to my paper calendar. This process prepares me mentally for the week ahead by giving me a chance to review my schedule, write out my to do list, and decide on meals for my family. What calendar resources do you use to manage your busy schedule? Paper, electronic, or both? I know I might be over the top using both, but for me it works. What works for you? Do you have any products you just love? Share with us at AuburnOpelikaParents.com. I know I need all the help I can get! Dr. Polly Dunn received her Ph.D. from Auburn University in 1999. She is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and currently serves as the Director of the Auburn University Psychological Services Center, a position she has held for over ten years. Dr. Dunn is also the founder of www.ChildPsychMom.com where she blogs about what works and what doesn’t in her hectic life as a child psychologist, wife, and mom of four.

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Million Dollar Arm

Godzilla

MPAA Rating: PG Overall: AViolence: ASexual Content: BLanguage: B Alcohol / Drug Use: C The MPAA has rated Million Dollar Arm PG for mild language and some suggestive content. J.B. Bernstein (Jon Hamm) can’t help but worry. Despite his bravado in the office, he has to admit he and his business partner Aash (Aasif Mandvi) are living on the edge with no hope of saving their fledgling company. No hope that is unless they find a new athlete they can act as an agent for. Unfortunately with players expecting big bonuses and hefty contracts, J.B. and Aash have a hard time getting anyone to sign with them. However after seeing Susan Boyle’s appearance on Britain’s Got Talent, J.B. gets an idea. He proposes an unconventional contest of his own and arranges to take a baseball scout, a camera crew and all the equipment he needs to host a pitching competition in India. His intent is to find a cricket player that he can train to throw for a Major League Baseball franchise. Not surprisingly Mr. Chang (Tzi Ma), the man funding the contest, is skeptical. But he can’t afford to forgo on what may be the next big fan base to open up in the history of baseball. With a tight time schedule working against him and an elderly baseball scout (Alan Arkin) that appears to sleep through the tryouts, J.B. hits the road, papering every town they stop in with flyers for the Million Dollar Arm contest. True to the predictions of the naysayers, cricket players can’t pitch a baseball. But luckily J.B. stumbles upon a couple of javelin throwers, Rinku Singh (Suraj Sharma) and Denish Patel (Madhur Mittal), who can throw with remarkable speed even though they’ve never even seen a baseball before. After pronouncing the winners of the contest, J.B. and his team pack up the lucky lads and head back home to America. Thinking of the boys as little more than the source of his next paycheck, J.B. plunks the two impoverished teens and Amit (Pitobash), who serves as their interpreter, in the middle of a world they could have never imagined. Then he virtually ignores them after handing them over to coach Tom House (Bill Paxton) while he wines and dines other prospective contracts. Unable to speak the language, forced to eat unfamiliar food night after night and suffering from terrible homesickness, the youths flounder in spite of their efforts to work hard for Coach House. It’s J.B.’s tenant Brenda (Lake Bell) who finally steps in to pinch-hit for the errant J.B. Whether or not you are a baseball fan, Million Dollar Arm tells a great story with characters that make some significant improvements over the course of time -- and we’re not just talking on the pitching mound. Caught up in the glitz and glam of single life in a high stakes career, J.B. isn’t always likeable, especially when he treats Rinku and Denish as investments rather than human beings. Fortunately he raises his batting average in that department with some sideline coaching from Brenda. The film contains a smattering of profanities, brief sexual comments and the depiction of alcohol use, including a couple of characters who inadvertently get drunk and then throw up. Yet the movie’s bigger problem may be J.B.’s attitude toward women and some implied sexual activity. Fortunately that side story takes a back seat to the transformation of these young men, who go from hurling javelins to tossing curveballs with their million dollar arms.

MPAA Rating: PG-13 Overall: B Violence: CSexual Content: A Language: BAlcohol / Drug Use: A The MPAA has rated Godzilla PG-13 for intense sequences of destruction, mayhem and creature violence. The film opens in 1999 when a mysterious earthquake shakes a Japanese nuclear power plant to the ground. Mysterious because the vibrations didn’t follow typical seismic patterns and were undetectable anywhere else except at that location. Ford Brody (CJ Adams), a young boy at the time, lived not far from the facility that also employed both of his parents. His mother (Juliette Binoche) died in the accident and his father Joe (Bryan Cranston) blames himself for not being able to save her. Today Joe still harbors regret. As the only surviving member of the team that gathered data on the unusual ground movement, he is fixated about finding the truth behind the disaster. That, along with the desire to scavenge just one photograph of his wife from their abandoned home, draws the obsessed man back into the radioactive quarantine zone. Yet after he is arrested for trespassing and his son (now played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson) has to come to bail him out, Joe uses the reunion to drag the young man back to the compound to prove the fateful earthquake was more than just tectonics. Although he reluctantly follows, Ford is still convinced his father is mentally unstable. This Godzilla delivers monsters in a bulk pack. Not only do we have the gigantic lizard to contend with, but the screenwriters of this epic have been thoughtful enough to provide him with live food to snack on -- two huge, leathery insect-like creatures that feast upon radioactive matter in all its forms. Once the bugs have reached full charge they have the capacity to emit a massive EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse) that plunges cities into darkness, brings planes falling from the sky and renders all modern technology useless. In a nod to our love for acronyms, these beasts are labeled MUTO -- Massive Unknown Terrestrial Objects. Now the chase has begun. From Japan, to Hawaii, then Vegas and finally settling into San Francisco, the US military is helpless to intervene. Their last desperate plan is to launch a nuclear warhead off the Pacific coast with the hopes of attracting the monster trio and blasting them to bits. It’s a risky plan and a scheme not favored by Scientist Dr. Serizawa (Ken Wantanabe) and his assistant Vivienne (Sally Hawkins). While the scientist and the admiral (David Strathairn) debate an organic versus military solution, the trio of titans is wreaking havoc on the Bay City. All this mayhem is about the only content concern in this film. The violence, with the exception of one monster losing its head, is never explicit and there are few blood effects. As well, parents will enjoy the lack of sexual content and relatively few profanities. There are some gaping plot holes and bad science, but wait a minute! We came to see a monster movie. And if that’s your prime objective, parents and teens who are fans of this genre will likely leave feeling they got plenty of bang for their buck.

What Parents need to know about Godzilla...

Violence: Frequent non-graphic violence occurs throughout this movie, such as massive property damage, earthquakes, tsunamis, nuclear bomb explosions, shootings, fires and crashes. Portrayals of the aftereffects include devastation, injuries and corpses (little blood or detail is shown). Characters are constantly in danger. Frightening animal creatures attack each other, including the depiction of a monster decapitating and incinerating another. Sexual Content: A married couple embraces and kisses. Language: Infrequent scatological slang and terms of Christian deity used as expletives are heard. Alcohol / Drug Use: None noted.

What Parents need to know about Million Dollar Arm...

Violence: Characters argue briefly. Sexual Content: A man makes some sexual comments. Sexual activity is implied between several characters. Some embracing and kissing is shown. Language: The script contains infrequent scatological slang, terms of Deity, mild profanities, curses and some sexual innuendo. Alcohol / Drug Use: Characters drink on several occasions at home, in a bar and in social settings. Some characters inadvertently get drunk at a party. Auburn Opelika Parents I June 2014

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There are more suicides than murders in Alabama every year.

It’s a confidential call...no one will know you called but YOU! Open 24 hours a day if a friend has had suicidal thoughts

Talking about suicidal thoughts help reduce the pain.

In 2012, 74 people ages 10 to 24 died by suicide in Alabama.

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• It is a confident called but you. ghts, having suicidal thou e ar nd ie fr a or u yo • If to a a friend, to a teacher, just talk about it...to us...but TALK! coach, to a leader, to