PNC Grow Up Great

We are still big fans of the free children's programs at the Kimmel Center (PNC Grow Up Great). We attended the New Year's Day gala for our third year straight! The boys had so much fun! These concerts are such a nice service and what a great opportunity to expose the children to so many music styles in such a special setting! Remaining shows, all at 11:00 AM, are:






Saturday, February 18: Bash the Trash: African Folktales
Saturday, March 10: The Deedle Deedle Dees
Saturday, April 7: Community Rocks with Sara O'Brien
Saturday, May 12:  The Little Farm Show
Saturday, June 9: Celebrate the Sounds of the Organ!

Stroller Me Skinny!

A new neat exercise class is coming to town! Stroller Me Skinny is led by a local mom, Karli, who is a certified instructor. This new stroller-involved workout looks really fun and productive, too! Classes start March 7 and cost $15 each. They will be at 11:00 AM (Wednesdays and Sundays at the Art Museum steps and Fridays at Rittenhouse Square.) There are some free ones in February. This is appropriate for babies over six weeks old. Please see her website for more information and spread the word!

Society Hill Synagogue Playschool and Hanukkah Happening

Just a little plug for our beloved Society Hill Synagogue's Playschool- undoubtedly one of the best in the city! It's hard to believe, but the application process is underway for the 2012-13 school year! Jeremy has attended the two-year-old class and now is in the three-and-four-year-old class. Next year he will be in the Pre-K and Caleb will be in the two-year-old class! It's a warm, nurturing environment, with wonderful, caring teachers. The applications are now available online and must be submitted by Monday, December 12 at 1:00 PM. 

On Sunday, December 11, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, we will be  hosting our annual Hanukkah Happening and Open House. It's a super fun party for the current and prospective families with the opportunity to learn a little more about the school.  Admission is $10 per family. Enjoy delicious latkes, games, crafts, and music.

I am a co-chair of the Playschool Committee (active and involved parents), so please email if you have questions (laurelsiegel@yahoo.com).

Macy's Holiday Light Show

Recently I took both boys on a field trip to Macy's. It was the opening week of the 50+ year old Holiday Light Show so it wasn't crowded at all, and boy was it a treat. They both sat on my lap, on the red carpet, mesmerized. The show is every hour, on the hour, starting at 10AM. The last show time varies each day based on the holiday schedule (see link). We love the Julie Andrew narration, the organ accompaniment, the mix of Nutcracker aspects, snowmen, reindeer, and winter fun. It's so exciting to watch it right in the middle of Macy's! We are going back next week -- we can't get enough! The light show continues through December 31.

Continuously throughout the day, you can go upstairs to the third floor to visit "Dickens' Village." It is unbelievable how they have transformed part of Macy's into this! The exhibit tells the story of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol with the use of 100 animated figures. At the end you have the option to visit Santa and of course there are many toys for sale!

This is such a special Philadelphia tradition!

School Open Houses

Lots of options for school in the city!! Here is a listing of upcoming Open Houses from KidsinCenterCity.com/schools (where you can see a catchment map). It's never too early to plan your child's education. We went to open houses for Meredith and McCall when Jeremy was only 1 and we were planning on purchasing a new house in one of those catchments.  Would have been happy with either, but we bought in McCall. Here is a recent report of interest.

William M. Meredith School November 1 and December 6: 9 AM 725 S 5th Street 215.351.7360 meredith.phila.k12.pa.us Friends Select School November 11, December 6 and January 12, 2012 17th Street & Benjamin Franklin Parkway 215.561.5900 www.friends-select.org Albert M. Greenfield School November 16, December 7 and January 18, 2012: 9 AM 2200 Chestnut Street 215.299.3566

General George A. McCall School November 18, December 16 and January 20, 2012: 9:30 AM 325 S 7th Street 215.351.7351 www.phila.k12.pa.us/schools/mccall   St. Peter's School November 20 319 Lombard Street 215.925.3963 www.st-peters-school.org For information on Center City schools, visit: KidsInCentercity.com/schools

A Day out with Thomas!

We went to Strasburg a few weeks ago to partake in the Day out with Thomas festivities. It was an exciting and surprisingly organized weekend, so glad we went! We drove there on a Saturday afternoon, during both boys' naps. We checked in at the Willow Valley Inn in Lancaster, where I had stayed several times as a child. The hotel is SO child-friendly. We had a suite which included a room for Brent and me with a bathroom and a large living room with a sofabed for Jeremy and a metal crib for Caleb...and another bathroom and refrigerator! This was $159!! For a very nominal fee we could have added meals, but I wasn't up for a smorgasbord with such young children. They had a phenomenal water playground at the Double Tree next door which we were allowed to use. We walked around on the grounds and made use of the playground. We had dinner at the Willow Valley Inn's restaurant. The prices were unbelievably inexpensive and the food was surprisingly good! We were thrilled with the very child-friendly atmosphere.

The next morning we went to the historic Strasburg Rail Road for the main event. It was very well organized. We parked (for free) at the Sight and Sound Theatre (we definitely want to return and see something here -- biblical shows with special effects in a lovely theatre) and took a yellow school bus (VERY exciting for the kids!) to the Strasburg Rail Road. We enjoyed our ride on Thomas (which was really Thomas pulling the regular open car train), playing with train tables, riding on child-powered rides, riding on a mini-train, all sorts of things! It was a fun event! The next one is in November. We had lunch there, bought Jeremy a souvenir Percy train, and drove home during the afternoon naps. A very successful field trip and we will definitely be visiting Lancaster/Strasburg more!! Jeremy was very interested in the Amish, the farms, and we didn't get to visit the train museums!

Fall Festivals

A few things coming up here in Philadelphia (to be updated):

•  Pumpkinland at Headhouse Square - Saturday, October 29 from 10AM to 1PM.
• Franklin Square will be having free events on Oct 22 and 23 from 12-3PM (Pumpkin Patch with free pumpkin decorating) and on Oct 29 and 30 from 12-3PM (Trick-or-Treat Trail)
• Franklin Square will have its first PumpkinFest (fundraiser) on  Saturday, October 29 from 3-6PM.
• The Nest is going to have a Halloween event: Sunday October 30th from 10-1. The event is free for members, $10 per non member. 
• Three Bears Park Fall Festival - Sunday, October 16 -- 11AM-2PM
• Three Bears Halloween Event - Monday, October 31 at 4:30PM.
• Seger Park Halloween Event - Monday, October 31 at 4:00PM.
• St. Peter's Harvest Festival  - (rescheduled for) Sunday, October 30 from 11AM-4PM