June 28, 2010

Breakfast on The Farm

I took my family to a "Breafast on the Farm" this morning - It was the perfect way to start a day, and a great celebration of Michigan agriculture.

June 22, 2010

Free Kids Health Fair

FREE ALERT!

I just got the heads up on this fun free family event. Tomorrow June 23, 2010 from 12:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. the first 250 children can get free camp & sports physicals, immunizations, and a dental screening  in a fun family carnival atmosphere with face painting, games, prizes, treats and more! The first 200 children even get a free bike helmet too!

Packard Health

3174 Packard Road
Ann Arbor, MI 48108

For more information contact 734-971-1073 or info@packardhealth.org.

June 20, 2010

Fun Golf Ball Projects for a Happy Father's Day!

I was looking for something fun for the kids to do for my husband this past week. The project had to incorporate cheap golf balls and had to be easy enough for the kids to do on their own. When I was a kid in Brownies, I remember making my dad a golf ball dog...

http://www.freewoodpuzzles.com/golfballdog.html

No that would require my assistance.  We made a golf ball snowman Christmas ornament sometime in my childhood too...

https://www.activityvillage.co.uk/golf-ball-snowman

But again that either required drilling holes or a lot of glue and dexterity...  Family Fun Magazine had a cute golf ball mobile...


But as timely as it was, it was only "golf ball themed" project and not made from reall balls - Although my mom once cut balls in half for a project, it would still require my assistance!

And then it hit me - I had many colorful Sharpie Markers, two boxes of gently used golf balls (the only type my husband will actually USE) and rubber gloves.  So why not allow the kids to create custom designed golf balls?  It wouldn't effect the way the balls performed, it would require very little of my assistance to create and better yet...


It took the kids more than two hours to create. I was able to get a few things done, they could create their own masterpieces and I only had to oversee and give suggestions for the designs! 

We very rarely get a real thumbs up from our custom created projects - Oh who am I kidding, it's like pulling teeth to generate excitement from my husband OR father - however my husband, father and father-in-law LOVED the idea of these custom designed golf balls! Actually I think they're afraid to use and loose their new balls now...

June 19, 2010

FREE Breakfast on the Farm

FREE ALERT!

I first heard about this event when I signed my son up for scouting for next fall - In the newsletter it read "Breakfast on the Farm" I didn't think anything more about it, and THEN I saw more about the family event on AnnArbor.com. I thought "Hmmm, there must be something more to this than I imagined." And there is.

The Washtenaw County Michigan State University Extension program is offering this free program on Saturday, June 26, in Manchester from 9:00 a.m. until noon.  The family fun event will feature products grown and processed in Michigan and serve up a whole lot of fun including a free breakfast!

Kids can:

• Pet a calf!
• See a modern-day milking parlor in action!
• Discover how farmers take care of their animals!
• See big farm equipment!
• Find out what crops are grown in Michigan!
• Eat breakfast with a farmer!

There will even be free Michigan-made ice cream, too (hey it's a milk product, so why CAN'T we eat it at breakfast!?).

The event is hosted by Horning Farms (11834 E. Pleasant Lake Rd., Manchester, MI). For more information on the event, be sure to visit the program website http://www.breakfastonthefarm.com/ or contact the
Washtenaw County Michigan State University Extension office at 734-997-1678. 

The dairy farm tour and all activities are free, however tickets are required to eat breakfast, so be sure to get your free tickets to breakfast on the Farm!

June 18, 2010

Get Dad a Fun FREE Father's Day Gift

FREE ALERT!

Walgreens is offering free 8x10 collage prints now through Satruday June 19 - Just in time to put together a great Father's Day gift for FREE. Nothing says lovin' like a dad's family smiling back at him while he's toiling away at work!
To get your free 8X10 collage, go to the Walgreen's website, create your collage then enter "GOBIG8X10" at checkout. You might even decide to print extra copies for the grandparent's too!

*As an added bonus, if you are new to signing up for Walgreen's online, you can get an additional 25 prints for FREE!

June 17, 2010

Festivals and Celebrations: Enjoy Ann Arbor Area Fireworks Displays!

Looking at the calendar reminds me of the fast approaching festivals, holidays and FIREWORKS - I'm certainly not the only person beginning to plan which displays of pyrotechniques my family and I will be attending. Since that is likely the case, I thought to create a list of Ann Arbor area fireworks displays for the coming weeks through the Fourth of July weekend:


Friday June 18

5th Annual Hamburg Family Fun Fest
Also on Saturday, June, 19
Fireworks at 10:00 p.m.
Located 20 minutes north of Ann Arbor at East Bennett Park, Hamburg, MI
Admission: Free

Saturday June 19

Canton 2010 Liberty Fest
Fireworks at 10:15 p.m.
Located 20 minutes east of Ann Arbor in Heritage Park, Canton, MI
Admission: Free

Monday June 21

Detroit River Days Festival and Target Fireworks
Fireworks at 10:06 p.m.
Rain Date: Tuesday, June 22
Located in Downtown Detroit, Hart Plaza on the Detroit River
Admission: Free

Friday July 2

The Lake Shore Family Festival Fireworks
Also Saturday, July 3
Fireworks at dusk/10:15 p.m.
Located in Ypsilanti over Ford Lake
Admission: See website | Discount tickets are available at many Ypsilanti area businesses.

Saturday July 3

Manchester Fireworks Display
Fireworks at dusk
Located 30 minutes south west of Ann Arbor in Carr Park / 600 W. Main Street, Manchester, MI
Admission: Donations appreciated

Hudson Mills Metropark Fireworks
Fireworks at 10:00 p.m.
Located 20 minutes west of Ann Arbor at 8801 North Territorial Road, Dexter, MI
Admission: $5 Vehicle entry permit

Sunday July 4

Willow Metropark
Fireworks at 10:00 p.m.
Located 25 minutes east of Ann Arbor at 17845 Savage Road, Belleville, MI
Admission: $5 Vehicle entry permit

June 9, 2010

Another Year for: Kids Bowl FREE

Last summer, whenever we had nasty weather, I was blessed that I was able to take my kids to a local bowling alley in Canton AND Ann Arbor for FREE.  This accomodated our otherwise limited budget quite well! This year, the kids Bowl FREE program is back - Check it out at http://www.kidsbowlfree.com/!

The bowling alleys in the Ann Arbor area that are participating so far include:

ANN ARBOR:
Bel-Mark Lanes - 3530 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor (734) 994-8433
Colonial Lanes - 1950 S. Industrial Highway, Ann Arbor (734) 665-4474
 
BELLEVILLE:

Lodge Lanes - 46255 I-94 S Service Dr., Belleville (734) 697-9178
 
CANTON:

Super Bowl - 45100 Ford Road, Canton (734) 459-6070
 
YPSILANTI:

Ypsi-arbor Lanes - Washtenaw Road, Ypsilanti (734) 434-1110

The program runs until August 31, 2010 and allows kids to bowl 2 free games per day!

June 8, 2010

Free Science Classes for Pre-Schoolers

Just heard about this one for tomorrow - Sorry about the late notice. 

Tomorrow, June 9th, parents and preschool aged children can enjoy a FREE "All About Science" session at the Glacier Way Preschool.  This fun exploratory program introduces scientific skills to 2 1/2 - 4 year-old children. "All About Science" promotes higher thinking in an interactive setting to prepare young children for more advanced learning later in life. Please bring a snack, parents need to stay on the premises.

Time: 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Cost: FREE
RSVP at Phone: (734) 995-0707
For more information email info@glacierwaycoop.org

More on this program was also highlighted on AnnArbor.com.

June 7, 2010

Teach Your Child To Fish During Michigan's Free Fishing Weekend: A FREE Washtenaw County Parks Program

There is an old saying that says,“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime." I will argue though "Teach a child to fish and you have developed a deep love of the outdoors for a lifetime!" And this weekend you can teach your child to fish for free.

In conjunction with the Michigan Department of Natural Resource "free fishing weekend" two Washtenaw County Parks are helping families to learn to fish for FREE! So if you don't know where to begin or don't want to buy your own poles, you are in luck. If you would like to join in the fun and have all the bait, poles and all necessary instruction, then plan to learn on Saturday June 12. Stop by Rolling Hills (meet at the Lodge) from 1-3 p.m. or Independance Lake (at the beach center fishing dock) from 5-7 p.m. to teach your child, and possibly yourself, a new appreciation of the outdoors through fishing!

Pre-registration to these events is required, so call 734.971.6337 ext 334 right away!

June 3, 2010

This Weekend: Free Fire Making Program

This Saturday, June 5, from 10:00-11:30 a.m. at the Country Farm Park (Platt Road lot playground area) in Ann Arbor, families will have the opportunity to learn to make a fire by hand with friction. This free program sponsored by Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation would be perfect for any family member who enjoys camping or any Survivor wanna-be!

If you are interested in this free fire making program be sure to register soon, these free family programs fill up quickly! For more information or to register contact stonerf@ewashtenaw.org or call 734-971-6337, ext. 334.

June 1, 2010

FREE Kid's Nature Program's Through Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation

My family has really enjoyed attending many events and programs through the Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation with their naturalist Faye Stoner - She is GREAT with kids!

 
I found another great program happening specific Thursday's this summer, titled "Nature Fun on Thursdays for Kids!". This free kids program is at 10:30 a.m. at the Country Farm Park in Ann Arbor (meet at the Platt Road entrance playground) throughout the summer. Her many kid-friendly subjects for the program are:
  • June 24 - Creepy Crawlies
  • July 8 - Bats
  • July 22 - Birds
  • August 5 - Meadow Wildflowers
  • August 19 - Insects

So sign up your children for some education summer fun. For more information or to register, call Faye Stoner at (734) 971-6337 x334 or email her at stonerf@ewashtenaw.org - Maybe we'll see you there, we're registered!