Experienced gamers enjoyed the Star Shuttle game.

The Nintendo Wii joined our family two years ago in time for Christmas and we’ve enjoyed it ever since.  In an ever-competitive gaming landscape, Nintendo has upped the  ante by bringing out the Motion concept — games and remotes that are far more sensitive than the original ones and allow for a new dimension of play.

In terms of remotes you can either buy the Wii Remote Plus controllers or you can buy a Wii MotionPlus adaptor that plugs into the bottom of your existing controller.  Then an entire suite of games utilizing this technology has come out (and will continue to come out), which you can find at http://www.nintendo.com/wii/console/accessories/wiimotionplus.  To test this technology out, Nintendo’s PR company asked me to host a party and try out their Wii Play Motion Game which is a series of 12 mini games with their Wii Remote Plus controllers.

One of the mini-games (Cone Zone)  involves balancing giant scoops of ice cream on a cone, so you hold the controller upright just like an ice cream cone and as the scoops become more unwieldy you have to tilt the controller to counteract the weight.  This game led to the party theme of ice cream sundaes, and the PR team did an adorable job with a pre-made sundae kit with Mason jars of toppings and a gift card to Cold Stone Creamery — how could I possibly fail as a hostess — games and ice cream!

Apologies for not taking more/better photos -- that was a lot of people/kids to manage!

Well, one thing I did was underestimate my RSVPs — and quickly I realized I needed to borrow another Wii and another copy of the game (thanks Julie and Michele) so we could rotate people through the games quickly enough as we had 27 people in attendance!

Since my kids are 5 and 7, the kid base of the invitees were of similar age with a few younger siblings in the mix and of both genders.  Some kids had much more gaming experience than my kids.  All of them owned a Wii.  Only one family already owned the Remote Plus controller.

Gotcha! Someone grabbed a ghost in Spooky Search!

I nervously gave a quick intro and then released the controllers into the hands of the anxious children who quickly split up into the two rooms.  Surprisingly, few arguments ensued!  It was interesting to watch who preferred which games.  More experienced gamers really liked the Star Shuttle game, which involves very fine control to dock various pieces of equipment very precisely onto a space station.  I, personally, have yet to successfully complete a mission on this.  Spooky Search, which turns you into a ghost hunter and involves listening and watching for clues for ghosts and sucking them into a ghost-eradicating machine, is a bit difficult and yet my 5-year-old LOVES it.  Trigger Twist, which allows you to work as a team to shoot various targets (dinosaurs, aliens, ninjas) is an all around favorite, even with the adults as is Veggie Gaurdin (think of the original Whack-A-Mole).  Jump Park and Wind Runner brought out peals of laughter.  Some games require more time to master, such as Flutter Fly and Skip Skimmer.  I am convinced married couples should not play Treasure Twirl together (you work together to raise treasure from the sea and most coordinate your maneuvers or risk stings from jellyfish, dropping treasure or other hazards).

The ice cream break allowed the parents to wrest control of the remotes from the children and get some play time in themselves and then to convince some tired and sticky children that eventually the party had to end, but it seemed that by the end of it, most were convinced that this was an item they wanted to add to their wish list for the holidays.  If you already have a Wii, upgrading your remotes and trying out the Wii Play: Motion suite is way to extend your investment.  If you are thinking of buying a Wii this season, I highly recommend going for one of the packages that already includes the Remote Plus Controllers so you may take advantage of the new direction Wii is going in.

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Disclosure:  Nintendo’s PR company sent me a copy of Wii Play: Motion and three Wii Remote Plus controllers to test as well as supplies for an ice cream party.  They also sent a copy of Wii Play: Motion which included a Wii Remote Plus controller to give away at the party.  I was not required to post about this experience nor did it affect the opinions expressed — I always tell it like it is.  I’ve included product links to Amazon and I’m an Amazon Affiliate. Should you buy any products through Amazon via one of these links, I might actually make enough money to buy a day’s worth of caffeine, for which I would profusely thank you. Wii, Wii Play Motion, Wii Remote, and MotionPlus are trademarks of Nintendo.

5,000 blocks of ice, each weighing nearly 400 pounds, are hand-carved to make the dazzling display which is comprised of ten different colors and more than 1, 500 specially designed light tubes that are frozen within the ice.

Yes, we have terrible traffic,  high gas prices and a housing market I never seem to be on the right side of, but when it comes to celebrating the holiday season, the Metro DC area knows how to do it right! Having spent the first two-thirds of my life celebrating Christmas in sunny Florida and California, those wintery holiday scenes in TV Christmas movies were quite foreign to me.  So you can understand why I may have been the most excited member of the JavaFamily when MomzShare invited me to see Gaylord National’s ICE! at National Harbor.

If you live locally, you’ve been pelted with commercials and fliers about it, but nothing does it justice like seeing it in person.  I had stayed at the Gaylord National Resort and Conference Center a few weeks earlier for the Blogalicious conference and even I was amazed by the transformation.  The first thing to understand is that ICE! is part of an entire set of Christmas on the Potomac activities.  It is indeed the centerpiece, but there is so much more!

Another thing to know is that previously you had to stay at the hotel to access many of the activities, but this year, the Gaylord National has changed the package pricing so members of the general public may join in the fun of meeting characters and decorating gingerbread houses.  Because there are so many components, I will break down the events and the pricing as I explain our experience — keep in mind if you like more than one activity, you may want to look into a package.

Gaylord National’s ICE!

No doubt the sparkling gem of the Christmas on the Potomac experience, this ranked high with all members of the family.  Each year 2 million pounds of ice, some clear, some colored, is carved to recreate scenes of a popular movie — this year it is Merry Madagascar.  But what we didn’t know until visiting the web site beforehand is that the ice carvers are 40 artisans from Harbin, China, sharing knowledge from an old tradition of ice lantern festivals.  There is a lot of science involved in how the ice is made — the differences between the processes for making the very clear ice, the cloudier white ice, and the colored ice.  For example, clear ice is made using deionized, highly filtered water that is slowly frozen whereas white ice is quickly frozen. I highly recommend watching the videos available online beforehand so the kids can better appreciate the work that goes into building the scenes and know what to expect.  Although it was not busy the day we were there, as part of their “crowd control” you will get a chance to see a video before entering ICE! but it still helps to read/watch video on the web site ahead of time.  I think this made the difference between the kids just running through it and saying “oh yeah, neat” and us really talking about what was done, looking at the details, discussing  the science involved, appreciating the hard work of each part of the process and truly enjoying the artistry.

It is truly cold, 9 degrees Fahrenheit in the ICE! Pavilion, which is a tent across the street from the Gaylord National.  You will be required to wear one of their large, blue parkas (yes, ALL of you), because these are also what are used to slide down the main attraction — the lit ice slides.  They had the parkas in all sizes, even for me as a plus-sized person.  I recommend wearing long underwear under warm clothes, and bring your own gloves/mittens and hats. While we did have jackets and coats that fit under the parkas, you may find that you want fleeces instead to minimize your bulkiness, and scarves may help you keep your faces warm — a friend who had gone previously brought ski bibs for her kids, that would’ve been overkill for my family, you will have to figure out what your family’s comfort level is and I recommend a backpack so you can add and subtract layers as needed. Warm, comfortable walking shoes (no heels allowed on slides) are essential. Try to minimize how much you need to bring in with you. Keep in mind your camera may fog/freeze in that temperature. They will take a souvenir photo of your family in front of a green screen (and lay in a nice backdrop digitally) just before you enter, which is then for available for you to purchase ($20-30) in the large gift shop you pass through on the way out should you choose. Since we knew the kids did not get a decent photo of the two of us inside, we opted to buy the photo.

When it comes to the slides, it’s really simple — sit with the long, slick parka tucked under you, feet ahead (no high heels!) and whoosh off you go!  JavaGirl was frightened at first, but once she got going, she didn’t want to stop.  This was, of course, for the kids, their favorite part of the ICE! event. If I felt a little more graceful at the top and the bottom of the slide, I would’ve made more trips myself!  This also seemed to be the coldest, so be prepared to either go up and down the stairs with them a lot (the slides aren’t that tall) or to stand at the bottom of the slides, taking lots of photos and perhaps getting  little red in the cheeks from the chill.

In my opinion, one of the prettiest parts of the display was the crystal ice nativity scene with a quick narration and dramatic lighting to give an overview of the birth of Jesus.  It was breathtaking and frankly, put me in the Christmas spirit.  It is the last room of the ICE! display so if you have objections to the religious meaning, as I overheard one visitor exclaiming, you can quickly scoot out.  Upon exiting, workers will help you return your parka and oh-so-conveniently hot chocolate and snacks are for sale.  You can then exit or go on to ice skating, visiting the Madagascar Penguins or riding the train (extra charges apply).

For many families, this is an “investment” event — is it worth it?  I would say yes, but that it is up to you to maximize the value.  Spend the time before your visit to look at what is involved in creating ICE!  Walk over to the conference center to take advantage of the additional beautiful decorations and some of the free activities I’ll mention below.  Take time to talk about the event afterwards and discuss as a family what you saw, what was your favorite, how do you think they made the different characters, how fast do you think you went on the slides, or whatever other extension activities you can think of.  A week later my family is still talking about it and that to me means it was family time well spent.

Details:  Hours and prices for individual tickets vary by the day so check web site for details but Adult prices range from $35-25, Seniors from $24-19, Kids (4-12) $30-20, Military Adult with ID $32-22, Military Child $27-17, younger Kids (3 and under) are free.  There are also package prices that allow you to save by bundling other events with the ICE! tickets. Self parking is $10 for up to three hours with purchase of an ICE! ticket.  You can buy a VIP Pass to bypass the line and get a cup of hot chocolate and a meet and greet with the Penguins of Madagascar for an additional $15, conditions apply. There are a variety of public transportation options including the National Harbor-Washington DC Shuttle, Alexandria-National Harbor Water Taxi, and NH-1 Metrobus from the Branch Avenue Metro Station Green Line.

Ice Skating, Potomac Express Train

While still inside the ICE! Pavilion, you can buy tickets to skate at the (smallish) indoor rink. $10 for overnight guests, $12 otherwise, includes skate rentals.  This was the first ice skating experience for the JavaKids and the rink was probably just the right size for them. There are no lockers (or none we saw) so again, travel light. There were no buckets or gliders for new skaters (or that I saw) so it was the old-fashioned hang-on-to-the-rail-honey method as I tried to teach JavaGirl how to skate. It was towards the end of our day and we were rushing to get to the tree lighting so we didn’t spend much time here, but it was just enough for us to let the kids get the taste of ice skating, I am not sure how packed it gets on a busy day. In the same space is the Potomac Express Train,  a small train similar to the types that run through many local malls, $3 per ride, or three rides for $5. Here you will see the Madagascar Penguins — as they were on break while we were there, I wasn’t clear whether you had to have the character pass to see them or not.

Activities Inside the Resort

Obviously you could spend plenty of time just inside the tent, but maximize your day and maybe even wear out your little ones (you will definitely be worn out by the end of your visit!) by heading across the street to the resort. If you really want to splurge, book a package for an overnight stay at the hotel so you can spread out the fun — the view of the harbor is truly gorgeous and the resort has 300 acres.  But even if you don’t stay overnight, it is worth it to walk over to enjoy the decor and shows.

Several activities are free while others require tickets. 

Nightly Tree Lighting Ceremony Featuring the DreamWorks Characters

There is a beautiful fountain in the atrium and suspended above it is a 60-foot Tree of Light made of synthetic “candy” glass. Although gorgeous by day as it sits in front of a large window and radiates from the sun, at night the tree is lit by single light source, one of the world’s brightest light bulbs. In a theme-park-worthy show, DreamWorks characters such as Shrek, Fiona, Alex the Lion, and others come out while the fountains behind them dance to music and change color leading up to a dramatic lighting of the tree. Though the lighting ceremony is at 6:30, my advice is to either get a seat in the atrium (there are a limited number of seats there) or pull a chair up to the glass railing at the Belvedere Lobby Bar one floor above the atrium to get the best view by 5:45 or 6:00 pm and as this is prime kid dinner time, either have snacks handy or order something from one of the many hotel restaurants and bring it with you. The production pulls out all the stops — including indoor snow! Apparently by the end of the season, an average 15 inches of snow will have fallen INDOORS at the Gaylord! This is FREE.  If you do only one free show with your kids, this is the one and getting prime seating is key for maximum enjoyment. 

Brightest Star Fountain Show

At the same fountain, the water “dances” while you listen to a narration of the classic Christmas story.  We happened to be sitting at the National Pastime Sports Bar and Grill while this went on and saw/heard part of it from the patio, but I can’t really tell you how crowded the atrium was. I suspect any place that gives you a nice view of the atrium would be sufficient for this show, which begins at 9:30 pm, and that you don’t have to secure a spot as early as you need to for the tree lighting.  This is FREE.

Northern Lights

When the sun goes down, the 19-story atrium sparkles from 6:00 pm to midnight as more than two million lights illuminate the atrium and garden. If you put all the strings of lights in a row, they would equal 12.27 miles! Walking around the hotel and enjoying the ambiance is FREE.

DreamWorks Character Passport

Meow! Even mommies like Puss In Boots!

Buy your tickets and cross into a tiny village where you can meet your favorite characters from Madagascar, Puss In boots, Kung Fu Panda, and Shrek.  In addition to meeting characters in six locations, children get a keepsake passport stamped at each location and can participate in the Puss in Boots and the Quest for the Magic Beans Scavenger Hunt, which takes you throughout the indoor gardens on an interactive scavenger hunt (warning, lots of counting involved!)  My kids thoroughly enjoyed the scavenger hunt and were thrilled with their prize.  Check web site for dates and times as there are some blackout dates.  Tickets are $35 for ages 4 and up BUT one complimentary guardian or parent is allowed per paying child.  Professional photographers will take photos of your kids and you may buy them online (they give you a card with a barcode on them) but you are also allowed to take your own photos.  Note that not all characters are available for all meet and greets at all times — read all the fine print and make sure you are comfortable with it before booking. I’ll note here that my kids are very wishy-washy about meeting characters – sometimes they’ll run up to, say, the Easter Bunny, but they didn’t care to wait in line to see a character at Disney, perfectly content to watch from afar.  Yet they thoroughly enjoyed this particular experience and are still talking about it days later (my 5-year-old mostly).  So you will have to gauge for yourself whether this is worth your time and money or not.

Gingy’s Gingerbread Decorating

Decorate either a gingerbread family or a gingerbread house at Gingy’s workshop and then meet Gingy!  Prices start at $29.95 (plus tax) and are based on the item you decorate rather than by the number of people doing the decorating.  We did not have time to try this out, but plenty of families looked like they were having fun when we quickly walked through this area.

Santa Souvenir Photo

Although we did not take our photos there, several of our friends did and were thrilled with the results.  A very jolly old elf indeed has taken up residence at the Gaylord National and with photo packages starting at $20, quite competitive with the rising prices of pictures with Santa at the mall. A photo purchase is required in order to gain audience with this Santa, but I’m told he’s quite a good listener. 

There are many, many more activities, including a Brunch with Santa, a ShrekFeast, and spa treatments I would kill for! 

Final Impressions

My husband and I are customer service fanatics. Nothing infuriates us more than rude service and nothing catches our attention faster than excellent service. Every single employee, literally every one of them we came in contact with at the Gaylord National, was polite, friendly, and attentive. Down to details such as noticing that my parka was snug and insisting on getting me a different size, seeing upon exiting the ICE! exhibit that the warm air made my daughter’s nose start running and bringing her a tissue, packing up a Diet Coke in a to go cup for me for the ride home at a restaurant and so on. Wherever we were in our day, each employee asked us if we were enjoying our stay, even the parking attendant as we left asked if we had a good time. The kind of customer service that is rare these days. But imagine my surprise when the next day I discovered I had left my wallet at the Gaylord and didn’t know where after traipsing all over the 470,000 square foot center, the customer service continued at the same level. I was certain there was no hope and yet within hours, they found it for me, all contents intact, and had it at the bell hop desk waiting for me. It is perhaps for this reason the most that I think my family found it quite fun and relaxing to spend many hours at the Gaylord National — we felt truly cared for and away from the hustle and bustle for a while and could focus on just having fun as a family, and have built priceless memories we’ll cherish forever. It was a great reminder that for those of us lucky enough to live in the Metro DC area, you don’t have to travel far to give your family a special experience they’ll remember for years.

The entire Christmas on the Potomac event runs from now through January 8 and you can find more details at www.ChristmasOnThePotomac.com or by calling 301-965-4000.  If you are doing multiple events, packages such as the Freeze and Fun Day are the way to go.  Look online to see if they are running special web deals at the time you want to go.

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Disclosure:  My family and I were provided with complimentary tickets to the Gaylord National’s ICE!, character passports, ice skating and parking as part of a MomzShare media event.  This did not impact my opinion of the event or what I wrote about it (I always tell it like it is), but it did give me an opportunity to share a local event with you with firsthand knowledge.  Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda and all related characters and properties © 2011 DreamWorks Animation L.L.C. Merry Madagascar © 2011 DreamWorks Animation L.L.C.  All photos are mine.

This event is a tradition not only for the JavaFamily, but for many Metro-DC families.   Begin by walking through a forest of theme-decorated trees and handmade gingerbread homes (all available for silent auction), meet celebrity chef Lorraine Wallace, have Georgetown Cupcakes & Cocoa with the Snow Fairy Princess or Breakfast and a Photo with Santa.  The Junior League of Northern Virginia (JLNV) presents an entire weekend of celebration, featuring the Children’s Science Center and Kids in the Holiday Kitchen with entertainment, cooking demonstrations and themed crafts for children, as well as gift and holiday decorations for sale, and a silent auction and evening gala for the adults.

Sounds fun, but what does this have to do with giving back?  The JLNV is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.  To date, the JLNV has invested more than $2.7 million dollars in our mission-based programs.  Funds raised from the event go towards this mission and The Enchanted Forest highlights two key community initiatives of the JLNV.  Kids in the Kitchen works with children in the community to stem the tide of childhood obesity through awareness of the benefits of making sound nutrition choices and moving your body.  The JLNV has pledged and provided $250,000 of funding to the Children’s Science Center in an effort to bring a science-focused children’s museum to Northern Virginia and provides “Museum Without Walls” events at area festivals and schools to excite children about science, technology, engineering and mathematics as well as to raise awareness about the need for such a museum right in our own backyard.

Event information:

The Westin Tysons Corner
7801 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, VA 22043

Saturday, November 19, 2011
10 am – 5 pm

Sunday, November 20, 2011
10 am – 1pm

General admission: $11
Call 703-442-4163 or visit www.jlnv.org or email tef@jlnv.org to purchase advance tickets.
Premium event ticket (Breakfast with Santa, Gala, Georgetown Cupcakes & Cocoa) pricing varies and subject to availability.

Giveaway Rules and All the Fine Print:

This event is so fun that words and even pictures do not do it justice.  So I’m giving away one two-pack of tickets to a lucky winner for general admission tickets. 

To enter:

• Simply comment below about what you love about the holidays, about the Junior League, or about giving back to the community, you must include your email (won’t be visible to the public) so I may contact you  between now and 9 am Eastern Friday, November 18, 2011. 
• Additional OPTIONAL entries may be earned by:
• Tweeting about this contest with a link back to this page (feel free to use this link: http://caffeineandaprayer.com/?p=2515) and the hashtag #jlnvtef (please then comment here with a link to your tweet — if you let me know your twitter handle, I’ll look for you to follow you!)
• By liking the Caffeine and a Prayer Facebook page and commenting here that you have done so
• Or if you are already a fan of the Caffeine and a Prayer Facebook page, simply commenting with a separate comment to let me know so. 
• NOTE: In order to comply with the spirit of the Facebook rules, please remember that it is not the act of liking the page that is the additional optional entry, it is the act of then commenting here, you are not automatically entered.  Please do not feel compelled to like the page if you are not interested in receiving Facebook updates from Caffeine and a Prayer.  I try my best to be a good blogging citizen and keep up with the ever-changing rules.
• Winner will be notified via email Friday and you must respond by Friday or I have to move on to the next winner as this is a quick turnaround and tickets are only good Saturday or Sunday.  I will need your name so I may add you to the Will Call list.

What you will win:

• Two general admission tickets valid for one day only either Nov. 19, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. or Nov. 20, 2011, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.  A general admission ticket includes access to The Enchanted Forest of Trees, Holiday Gift Boutique, Holiday Entertainment on Center Stage, Kids in the Holiday Kitchen, National Capital Trackers Model Trains Display, Pictures with Santa, and the Children’s Science Museum exhibits.
• Tickets will be made available through Will Call.
• Ticket recipients should bring valid picture ID.
• Premium events and gala tickets are available for separate purchase.
• Event information and additional ticket purchase: http://www.jlnv.org/jlnv/npo.jsp?pg=support9

Whether you win the tickets or not, I highly recommend going, it’s a fun, fun time and a great cause!

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Disclosures: I am the immediate Past President of the JLNV.  The JLNV has provided these tickets for the giveaway.

We are not the McPhersons - but this is the kind of chic photo I wish I had of us to use in a Christmas card photo instead of trying to choose between a series of photos where invariably one of us has our eyes closed, one of us is talking, another is looking away and so forth. Photo by Tiny Prints.

I did not come from a “Christmas card family.”  There are two types of families — those who send Christmas cards and those who don’t.  (Well, okay, obviously there are three — those who don’t send them because they don’t celebrate Christmas…) Sending cards was just not one of my mother’s interests.  My Great-Grandma Herbert, who lived to be 103, was a Christmas card sender and in return received literally hundreds of them and I used to marvel at the stacks and stacks of cards she would receive. When my friends reached their mid-twenties, I was surprised to start receiving Christmas cards myself. As they married and had kids, I started receiving photos of their children and wondered, “What am I supposed to do with these?”  I had zero Christmas card savvy.

I made a couple of clumsy attempts to send Christmas cards but didn’t become an official card sender until 2001.  JavaDad and I were engaged and about to move cross-country in January and it seemed like a good time to establish a family tradition — I decided that since we had a combined address list of all of our friends (the wedding invitation list) we would write a family newsletter, enclose a small card with our new address, and establish ourselves as a Christmas card sending family. In typical Type A style, I thoroughly researched this – created a list with a column for cards sent and cards received and learned that typically one crosses someone off the list after two years of not receiving a reciprocal Christmas card (I make a lot of exceptions, and goodness, thank you to all those friends who didn’t cross me off their lists all those years!) 

We live far away from our hometown and our friends have scattered far and wide, so there are many friends we haven’t seen for years and whose children we’ve never met.  For the longest time I never really understood the appeal of receiving photos of children we didn’t know, until we had kids of our own — now I get it. I enjoy seeing how much other people’s children have grown over the years and foist photos of our kids on our friends — perhaps our childless friends also say, “Why do they keep sending me photos of kids I don’t know?”  I am going to pretend I don’t know that photos of our children end up in trash cans (I, by the way, can never bear to throw away a photo!)

Some people get a full newsletter from us.  Some, particularly if they live close by and know all our news, get just a photo card like these adorable ones from Tiny Prints. But in this day and age of Facebook, email, and text messaging, I find that our annual Christmas card is a way to reach out in a slightly more personal way and touch base with friends.  Yes, I’ll admit, I use mail merge and printed labels.  I rarely have time to include a handwritten note and my penmanship is so awful that most people couldn’t read it anyway. Yet I still think there is something to that physical card that is more personal, more meaningful, more individual than an electronic card – we all enjoy getting mail from loved ones.  Every year JavaDad and I review the list, add and delete, fold newsletters or carefully stuff photo cards, apply labels, affix return address labels and stamp the cards and take them to the post office. Sometimes we barely get them out before Christmas, and yes, sometimes we’ve even been late. But we always try to make that connection and I know that I feel more connected when I receive a card from someone – there is something about the knowledge that they have in some way produced it, touched it, and intentionally sent it to ME.

We make bets as to who will send us a card first (the Paynes win every year!) We display the cards in a French memo board in our family room and enjoy watching it become overstuffed with cards. And then in January I take the cards and put them into a special Christmas card scrapbook, which allows us to keep all those photos of kids and compare how they’ve grown over the years, re-read family newsletters, and sometimes, treasure cards from friends and family members who are no longer with us.

Whether it is Christmas, Hannukah, Thanksgiving or New Year’s (I’ve even seen some people shift it to other holidays such as Valentine’s Day or Halloween!) are you a holiday card sender?  What are your traditions or tips?

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Disclosure:  This post is sponsored by Tiny Prints.

And along came Marble Jar, the app.  I was already considering it before I was asked to review it, so naturally I jumped at the chance!

Just like its physical counterpart, the idea is that you set up jars where your child earns a marble for accomplishing a task.  You determine which task and you can set up different categories of jars if you like (i.e. Morning Routine) or put everything into one jar.  You also determine what goal your child is working toward once they fill up the jar.  There is a shelf for all the jars.  Once a jar is completed, it becomes a “golden jar” and you may simply copy that jar to start over again.  This allows you to have short-term goal jars and long-term goal jars.  For example, completing daily routine jars may simply allow the child to then have free play time, whereas long-term goals may be a reward of a coveted toy or a slumber party.

There are many different colored marbles to choose from and a satisfying “plink” when the child drops the marble in the jar.  Also, there are jars for the parents too, such as a “Calm” jar (using a calm voice, etc.)  Anyone in the family can use the jar system!

I love the fact that this is highly customizable (it comes with some default jars and tasks, but you may change them, add/delete jars and tasks, say how many marbles it takes to fill a jar).  However, in its current state, the app is not without its problems — all of which Marble Jar creator Anna Roseblum Palmer assured me are about to be fixed, when I spoke to her at the Blogalicious ’11 conference.

Originally she designed the program to be partially hosted on a server so it could be on multiple devices (i.e. Mom and Dad could have it on both of their phones and you could update the jars from either device) but this meant it required a login every time you wanted to go into the marble jar and also led to a lag time every time you performed some sort of a transaction.  Palmer plans to redesign the app so it resides completely on your phone, eliminating the need for a login and no phone-to-server lag time.  This change, however, means that  it can only live on a single device, but I think that compromise will be worth the sacrifice. Knowing that these changes are coming along makes me even more willing to stick with the Marble Jar app. Talking to Palmer gave me some good insights as to how to use the system — initially I was setting up separate jars for each kid, but she said she lumps her kids together and that way they egg each other on by saying, “Hey, you haven’t brushed your teeth and that’s keeping me from getting my free play time!”

The JavaKids love any opportunity to get their hands on my iPhone and they enjoy the array of colors of marbles and the sound of the marble drop and watching the jars fill up.  So far we are only using short-term goals, but I can see that this would work for long-term goals.  And my favorite part — no clutter on the counter tops!

Interested?  Download Marble Jar from the App Store.

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Disclosure: This post is part of a compensated post series sponsored by Marble Jar.  Screen shots provided by Marble Jar.

Halloween Episodes

For Dinosaur Trainfans, don’t miss the new episode Haunted Roundhouse/Big Pond Pumpkin Patch premier October 20 on PBS Kids, with repeats on October 24, 28, 30 and 31.  Check local listings for the time.  Description:   “In Haunted Roundhouse, dad takes the kids on a special Night Train to Troodon Town, where the Troodons have decorated their Roundhouse into a “haunted house” for a spooky party. The kids end up meeting a strange new nocturnal creature – a mammal named Vlad Volaticotherium, who was hiding in the roundhouse trying to get some sleep.  And in Big Pond Pumpkin Patch, the Pteranodon family learns more about the customs of their neighbors, the Lambeosaurus family, when they are invited for the first time to accompany them to the Big Pond to celebrate “Gourd Day” – a kind of Mesozoic Halloween. The kids see their first pumpkins, and Larry Lambeosaurus even shows our family how to hollow them out and carve faces into them.”

Sid the Science Kid watchers will enjoy the new Spooky Science Special, which premieres October 17 on PBS Kids (check local listings) and repeats October 25, 28, 30 and 31.  Description:  “In Halloween Spooky Science Special, it’s Halloween time and Sid and his friends have dressed up in the spookiest and scariest costumes possible.  Sid is a bat with big fangs.  May is a spooky black cat.  Gabriela is a furry, yucky spider.  And Gerald is a super spooky skeleton that goes boo!  Susie (dressed as a silly mad scientist) loves their costumes, and helps the kids discover that Halloween can be spooky and scientific!  The kids investigate how bats are helpful creatures that catch mosquitoes, spiders are expert engineer web builders, cats are leaping aerial acrobats, and skeletons help hold up our body frames!  At the Halloween party, the kids also investigate how to make icky, gooey green slime.  Susie then ends the day with a special “Halloween Parade” song so the kids can march around and show off their spooky and scientific costumes!”

Costumes to Buy or Make

• Buddy from Dinosaur Train – you can buy one, sew one, or make a no-sew version.  There’s even a video to help you if you choose to sew!
• Tiny from Dinosaur Train – you can buy one. 
• Sid the Science Kid Halloween Costume – make your own.  

Complete the look with a Sid the Science Kid Happy Halloween black trick-or-treat bag, which can be bought online and personalized with a name.

Dig Into a Book

The Spooky Scavenger Huntfrom Grosset & Dunlap is a great read for the season.  Featuring the characters of the Dinosaur Train, the book is based on Mr. Pteranodon taking Buddy and Tiny on an evening outing to the Big Pong for a nature walk using their senses.  The Conductor explains to them that he has night vision because he is nocturnal.  The book is a simple read with brightly drawn illustrations and is a nice story about using your senses to explore nature.  It would be a fun extension activity to take your child for a nighttime walk in your own neighborhood to see what you can explore by focusing on your sense of sight, hearing, and smell.  Soon available wherever books are sold, for $3.99.

Giveaway Details!

PBS is providing one copy of The Spooky Scavenger Huntfor me to give to a lucky reader.  To enter, simply leave a comment below telling me either what your child’s favorite Halloween costume is, or what your favorite Halloween treat is and why.  You must leave your email address so I can contact you to let you know if you have won.  Due to PBS’s shipping restrictions, the winner must live in the US.  Contest runs until midnight Eastern time November 1.  Winner will be chosen at random from eligible entries.  Extra entries allowed by tweeting about this contest and posting a link to the tweet in the comments section.  Winner must respond to notification email with 24 hours or I will have to move to another winner.  Prize will be shipped directly from PBS.  Good luck and thank you!

AND THE WINNER IS…. JILL!  Congratulations and thank you Jill and Latonya for participating!

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Disclosure:  PBS provided me with a copy of The Spooky Scavenger  to review and is providing a second copy to give away.

And so, when I stumble upon a system that makes all four members of the JavaFamily happy for more than a week, I consider it a success.  When I find something that works, I like to share it with YOU!

I would love to say that we have fantastic, creative school lunches around here, but the fact of the matter is, my kids don’t really like creative lunches.  They insist that I follow the Food Pyramid (no, seriously, they check the magnet on our fridge…) and they don’t like for me to get fancy with presentation. No fru-fru Bento box meals for them (though I’m going to keep trying to jazz things up). Also, JavaGirl is going through an impossible stage where she’ll inexplicably turn her nose up at a food she loved just three days earlier. Since becoming a Kindergartner, she’s become quite opinionated about everything. Both kids love fruits and vegetables, but my son dislikes most proteins and anything his sister likes, he is certain not to like (she likes chicken, he does not.)  He likes mayo on his sandwiches, she only likes mustard. She likes peanut butter, he only likes soynut butter.

This has made packing lunches a challenge. Even more so if JavaDad has to do it.

Finally I decided to make the kids part of the process. I created a simple matrix and now each week we go through and plan out their lunches and morning snack and post it on the fridge — one sheet for each kid. Because they are so tied to the food pyramid, I help them see how their lunches correspond to the food groups. To make life easier for absent-minded JavaDad, who often helps pack the lunches, I painstakingly detail out everything such as including ice packs and napkins. This way, no matter who packs the lunches, every single item is included, every preference is remembered, and if a kid complains about not liking a lunch, I can point out that he/she personally chose that lunch, quickly quelling any grievances.

Miracle of miracles — lunches come home eaten. Lunch-packing is faster. No more “oh wait, we’re out of ___” panics because we have planned lunches for the entire week and make sure anything we need is stocked or on the Sunday shopping list. It’s not rocket science, but with the whole family being involved, it’s no longer just another one of Mom’s harebrained ideas.

Some additional changes that have helped:

• I’ve put a bin on the lower shelf of our kitchen island that holds all of our lunch-making items including Posh Pouches, reusable water bottles and thermos cups, plastic containers, etc. instead of constantly moving them from the dishwasher to the different “appropriate” spots in our kitchen cabinets (i.e. glasses cabinet, “plastic containers” cabinet, etc.) only to have to retrieve them every morning. Now it’s a mere arm’s reach from the dishwasher to the bin, and from the bin to the counter where the lunches get packed — everything is in one place and my cabinets are less cluttered.  Why didn’t we think of this sooner?
• The kids know that the first thing they need to do when they come home from school is empty out their lunch boxes and snack sacks, putting ice packs in the freezers, emptying out containers, and setting everything that needs to be washed by the sink.
• I don’t like packing up sandwiches the night before as I feel they get a little soggy, but I do try to prep anything that can be, the night before (i.e. slicing tomatoes, putting carrots into a Posh Pouch, pre-filling cups and keeping in the fridge).

You can download the lunch planner form as a Microsoft® Word document or a PDF document.

Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Photo credit: Microsoft Image Gallery (lunch bag).

Raw milk has been in the news a lot lately, in fact, if you are NoVA local, you may have read or heard a story on WTOP about cowpooling.  Raw milk is fresh milk, straight from the cow and refrigerated without being pasteurized.  It is not legal to sell raw milk in the Commonwealth of Virginia, but a share program is legal in Virginia — essentially people can buy into a herd of cows, paying into the costs of boarding a cow and in return receiving a quantity of the milk from the herd.  This is what my friend does and each week she drives out to the farm to pick up her glass jars of fresh, raw milk.

The JavaKids have always enjoyed our CSA program and making the connection between where food comes from and how it gets to our table, so this field trip out to the dairy farm was a natural extension.  We went to the store and saw all the jars lined up in the fridge, ready for pickup.  I showed the kids the jars of milk and then we walked outside and saw the three cows from which the milk came!  Since the cows had made a bit extra, our friend allowed us to take a jar home to try — and I showed the children how the cream rose to the top and gave them the option of shaking it up so the milk would be whole, or skimming the cream to make butter and turn the milk into skim.  (They opted to shake.)

They couldn’t wait to try it, and immediately declared it delicious.  Since we often buy organic, I can’t really say I noticed a huge difference in taste (except that I usually drink skim, so of course it was more full-bodied), but they loved it.  Later, when we allowed it to separate again, I gave each child a spoon of just the cream, which JavaGirl loved and JavaBoy wrinkled his nose and called, “disgusting!”

Eager to share their discovery with their grandparents, we made the usual round of phone calls.  Most were surprised that we were able to access raw milk, but my grandmother and mother both said, “Well, it used to be that was the only kind of milk we drank.”  My father was amused, but not surprised as my kids are always adventurous.  My mother-in-law’s immediate reaction was, “Why?  Isn’t there a reason we pasteurize milk?” 

Mixed reactions like these are exactly why drinking raw milk feels like participating in making moonshine during the Prohibition, even though unlike moonshine, raw milk is legal and many think, actually good for you.  Farmers who provide raw milk, whether through cow shares or other programs (methods vary by state) fear government raids like ones that have happened in California (see Jessica Haney’s post on The DC Moms) and that’s why the owner of the farm we went to last week asked that I not name her farm when blogging about this experience, though she is very careful to follow the local laws and cites them on all her materials.

Part of the cow share herd.

I do not claim to have enough of a science background nor any medical background to be able to argue either side of the pros and cons of the raw milk vs. pasteurized milk debate.  Pasteurization kills of certain pathogens in order to minimize disease.  Raw milk proponents say that it also kills of valuable nutrients and microbes that bring health benefits and that when under proper management, farms that produce raw milk can produce just as safe if not safer milk.  My friend feels confident about her choice to purchase from this farm because it is a very small operation and she has personally seen the many precautions in place to ensure that the cows are healthy and that the milking and storage is conducted in a sanitary manner. 

For some pro-raw-milk arguments see http://www.westonaprice.org and http://www.realmilk.com.   Some pro-pasteurized-milk arguments are at the FDA site and Centers for Disease Control site. 

I’m not ready for our family to become full-time raw milk drinkers, but I’m glad we had the opportunity to visit the farm, try the milk from our friend’s cowshare, and that my kids got a chance to get an even better understanding of how milk looks straight from the source.

I’ve written a piece on The DC Moms, where I am the News and Politics Editor, about other things to do to get ready, but here is my time-honed comprehensive list of what you should think about in putting together your emergency kit.  With this area’s bizarre weather (remember “Thundersnow?”  “Snowpocalypse?”), it never hurts to have an emergency kit on hand at all times.  If you are a camper, you probably already have many of these supplies on hand.  Put these items in one place where you can quickly put your hands on them in the dark should the power go out:

• Flashlights/lanterns.  Do not use propane lanterns indoors.
• A radio.  Particularly an all-weather radio that allows you to hear any alerts.
• Batteries for the above, and you may want to consider having a hand-crank version of at least one flashlight and radio.
• Non-perishable food.  Several days worth as power could be out for a while.
• Can opener.  Be sure it is non-electric.   
• Water.  The rule of thumb is a gallon per person per day, at least three days worth — remember you need this for drinking, food prep, and sanitation (flushing toilets, cleaning up, etc.)
• Pet supplies for several days.  Food, litter, leashes, carriers, etc.  Remember to include them in your water count.  Also, consider what you would do if you had to go to a shelter and it didn’t accept pets.  What is your plan?
• Cash.  Often power goes out and we quickly become a cash economy once cash registers and ATM machines go down.
• A hard-corded phone.  If you still use traditional phone service, even when the power is out, it will typically work, so have an old-fashioned corded phone on hand rather than a battery-operated cordless phone.
• Comfort items for the kids.  It’s easy to forget that little ones are going to need familiar things. Make sure you have anything you may need for them – blankets, bottles, formula, pacifiers, lovies, stuffed animals, non-electronic games or books, etc.  Especially if you may have to beat a hasty retreat out of the house.  Get things gathered in one place.
• Medications.  If possible, have an extra stash, or at least before a pending emergency like this one, gather it in one place so it is easy to find if you have to leave the house.
• Sanitary items.  Diapers, feminine need products and the like.
• Garbage bags and paper towels. 
• Bleach and medicine dropper.  Plain bleach (not scented, color safe, or with additional cleaners), used for cleaning as well as treating for water.  Formulas per FEMA:
  • Disinfectant: Nine parts water to one part bleach.
  • Drinking water: 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water.   (Let stand 30 minutes.)  There are additional instructions here and here.  I’ve never had to purify water using bleach.
• First aid kit. 
• Fire extinguisher.
• Duct tape.  Duct tape is just a miracle worker for just about everything from temporarily fixing a broken pipe to uses in first aid to holding together broken pieces of wood.
• Wet wipes.  Every mom knows these are part of daily life — more so when life goes awry.
• Whistle.  In case you need help and need to attract attention to yourself.
• Simple tool kit including pliers and wrench.  In case you need to shut off utilities such as water or gas.
• Local maps.  We all depend on our phones and GPS — but if we are instructed to evacuate or go to a shelter and our electronic devices fail us, sometimes it’s back to the paper maps!
• Lighter or waterproof matches in a waterproof container.
• Firewood and firestarter (more for winter).
• Blankets.
• Set of dry clothes and dry shoes for everyone, in bags.
• Important household documents, sealed in a watertight container.  FEMA has an online kit  with guidance.
• A plan for cooking.  If power is out for several days, peanut butter sandwiches may become tiresome.  How will you cook those cans of soup?  Do you have a gas stove?  (Keep in mind, most gas stoves have an electric starter, be sure to have a lighter on hand and only use if you are CERTAIN there is not a gas leak.)  You can heat up food on a grill or camping stove OUTDOORS, but make sure you have the necessary fuel (propane or charcoal) and a plan for cleaning up the pots and pans (i.e. camping style dunk and clean wash station!)  For this reason, I also lay in a good supply of paper plates, cups, napkins and plastic utensils.
• Non-electronic entertainment for the whole family.  This may sound so simple, but some families have forgotten how to entertain themselves without the Nintendos, smart phones and Wiis!  Know where some good books, card games, board games and other simple ways to entertain youselves together and separately are.  Especially if you may have to go to another location.
• Any comfort items you may need for yourself.  For me, that includes a stash of Diet Coke.  For some, this may include having a little bit of wine on hand — though I advocate keeping your wits about you, a glass of wine may not be a bad idea after hours and hours of no electricity.

Don’t forget to check the link on The DC Moms for additional hurricane prepping tips.  And let me know if you have additional items in your emergency kit!  Stay safe, and check in here and on the Caffeine and a Prayer page to let me know how you fare!

Photo credit: Microsoft Image Gallery

I just love the idea of stopping that ever-present internal critic and letting the inner cheerleader have a say for a change.  Maybe it is easy for you.  For me, it’s hard.  I’m terrific at uplifting others and yet when I try to do it for myself, for every positive I can usually find a criticism or two or three.  So let’s all practice muzzling that critic, shall we?  In addition to linking at Elena’s site, I’d love if you’d link your list here so I can see all the wonderful things you have to say about yourself! 

Here I go… Ten Things I Like About Myself

1. I like that I’m a damn good mother.  Do not confuse this with perfect, or one who never yells, or never makes a mistake.  But my kids know I love them fiercely and they love me right back.  There isn’t a parent alive who loves their children more than I love mine.
2. I like that I can admit that I make mistakes and apologize when I do.  It took me a while to learn how to do that and the importance of doing so.  Knowing how hard it is to do, I highly respect those who can do the same.
3. I like my smile.  It puts people at ease.
4. I like that I’m fiercely loyal.  And I appreciate those who return the favor.
5. I like that I can make people laugh and I’m unafraid of laughing at myself.  Thanks Mom, for teaching me that!
6. I like that I am able to stand up to bullies.  It has served me well in life.  I hope I can teach my kids to do the same.
7. I like that I don’t cave to peer pressure.  See number six.
8. I like my inner drive and ability to conquer fear.  I almost said I was fearless, but that’s not true.  I have fears, but I’ve always been able to smash them. 
9. I like my sassy red manicure and pedicure.  Hey, why not throw in a little something superficial?  But I do.  I have found the absolutely perfect shade of color that always elicits compliments, and my manicure withstands the brutuality of my constant typing.  My pedicure makes me happy — I never have to be ashamed to be barefoot in public no matter the season.  And there’s something about a woman with red fingernails that says to the world, “Watch out, I’m just a little bit more than you are prepared to handle.”
10. I like my circle of friends.  I am constantly surprised by the people I am surrounded by.  I usually suspect they chose me more than I chose them because I’m actually quite shy, and I always feel honored by their acceptance.

Elena asks us to reflect on how it makes us feel to list out what we like.  It’s painful!  Yes, it also feels good, but I find myself wanting to cut the list down, rewrite, and minimize.  But I won’t.  I will let it stand on its own and I suggest you let your list stand as you write it.  Own it.  Remind yourself from time to time about it.  And if you must let one negative thought creep in, figure out how to turn it into something you would like to like about yourself… then work toward adding that to your list in the future!

Go on now, make your list… go to Elena’s site to enter the contest, but don’t forget to also link here so I may see just how fabulous you are!