Green Kid Crafts

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Holidays and the Cincinnati Zoo

Well we are coming upon the end of the year. Christmas is over. We seen lots of family and the kids got SO much. They really had a good Christmas, which is great. We loved getting to spend time with family and friends. One of our big gifts this year was a family pass to the Cincinnati Zoo. I wanted a gift we could all get use out of and that we could enjoy all year long. This will be a great opportunity for plenty of family time. This pass was the best choice. Just this month we have been twice. I love seeing the amazement of the kids seeing the animals. Sometimes the animals even interact with the kids, which makes the experience so much better. I love seeing them smile and hearing them laugh at the animals. We took a trip today. We got there shortly after opening, and we got to watch some of the animals eating, which was pretty cool to be able to experience. Also in the cat exhibit there was one of the cats that was playing with Bella, my 6 year old, by pacing with her and if she stopped it stopped. We call Bella that cat whisperer. The white Bengal tiger was on a roll today. He was upset over something and kept roaring. It made the kids quite excited to hear the sounds. We hope to have many more wonderful experiences at the zoo this upcoming year. If you haven't been and you are in the area I suggest making a trip as the Cincinnati Zoo is a wonderful zoo.

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

2016 at a glance

2016 has all but come and gone. This year has been one heck of a year, that's for sure. Silas turned 1, Louie, turned 4, Kaya turned 5, and Bella turned 6. Silas got diagnosed with Chiari Malformation and had his decompression surgery right before his first birthday. The girls have had so much fun with girl scouts. We made a trip to Gatlinburg which was a lot of fun. We also went to Indianapolis and went to the Children's museum and visited the speedway. Louie started his second year of preschool. Kaya started kindergarten and Bella first grade at Crosby, but we decided home was a better option and are now doing great in online school here at home. Early in the year Kaya got diagnosed with scoliosis and recently we found out she has a condition similar to Silas's Chiari and Silas got tubes in his ears and can finally here us. In the coming year we will find out so much more with everything with the kids. In January we will see if Silas will need glasses, Kaya sees the headache clinic for her really bad headaches, and Silas follows up from his tubes. In February we start the psychology journey with Louie see if he has an intellectual disability and see if he is autistic and he sees the CP clinic again. March Kaya will be 6 and she sees neurosurgery to see what they want to do with her condition. In april Silas turns 2. He sees the developmental dr again as well as the CP clinic. May Bella will be 7. Kaya and Louie will have their check-ups and we round out another school year. July the boys go back to genetics and we should start testing again to see if we can find a diagnosis for everything. Should have answers with that by October. August silas has his yearly MRI and neurosurgery appointment. It will also be Lou's birthday, only 1 more year until he is 30!! november will bring mine and Louie's birthdays, me 28, Louie 5! Merry christmas everyone and Happy New Year. Let's finish this year out great with family and friends and see what 2017 has to bring.

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Indianapolis Children's Museum

We recently visited the Indianapolis Children's Museum.
It is the largest children's museum in the US. It is something I believe everyone should visit. When you do go, make sure you have plenty of time to be able to experience everything that is there as it takes a while to enjoy it all. There are 5 floors of fun for everyone to explore. There is a mix of permanent and moving exhibits. One of the exhibits we really enjoyed was the Hot wheels Exhibit. It was my son's favorite exhibit. There were a lot of hands on things to check out. You could race hot wheels, pretend to be a NASCAR pit crew member, check out how engines work,dress up like you are in the winners circle, and more.
Another favorite exhibit was the Beyond Spaceship Earth. They had a model International Space Station where you could experience what the day in the life of an astronaut is like. You must check out the planetarium where they have amazing shows and on exhibit is the Liberty Bell 7 which had been lost at sea for many years.
Pirates and Princesses: Storybook Adventures was also a kids favorite as well as being another traveling exhibit. Kids got to do one of their favorite things, play dressup in fairtale creatures, kings and queens, princes and princesses and could even sit on the throne. Kids could be a pirate on a boat, or play a dancing type game to get jewels and fight dragons.
This exhibit also had on show wonderful objects from movies and TV that go along with the theme.
We were running short on time, but got a few minutes to explore all aboard. As you might guess this themed area is based on trains. You can play like you are in a train station, see what it's like on a train, and explore a few train tables. Our main reason for this trip was the grand opening of the Doc Mcstuffins exhibit. This is the first of this exhibit that will be making it's way around the United states so look for it coming to a museum near you. Play like Doc and give toys a checkup in the check up area, operate in the toy operating room, check patients in, or watch over the baby toys in the nursery.
As this was the grand opening, we got the pleasure of meeting Doc Mcstuffins herself. This made the day.
. There are other exhibits we didn't get to check out, as well as various other rotating/traveling exhibits that are ever changing. Check out their website for a list of upcoming exhibits and more information.

Monday, November 21, 2016

Moana Movie Review

We got the pleasure of previewing the new Disney movie Moana and were very pleased with it. It is a movie about a 16 year old girl named Moana who takes a journey to both save her island and to find herself. The actors really bring life to the movie. They could not have picked a better voice for Maui then Dwayne Johnson. The music is amazing. It really adds to the movie and has some amazing songs that really catch onto you. This movie is one of the best movies I have seen from Disney. It is the perfect mix of laughter and seriousness. It also has an amazing message for everyone. It teaches everyone to follow their dreams and believe in yourself. If you want to do something, go for it. There are no boundaries to our dreams if we just follow them. Gender or age doesn't determine what we can do. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't follow your dreams. This was my daughter's first movie they had been to and it was able to hold their attention the entire time. Being only 5 and 6 this is quite a feat. They have seen just about every Disney movie and even they say they loved the movie and that it was the best movie ever. I would definitely recommend this movie to everyone and it is a must have for my Disney collection.

Saturday, October 8, 2016

Save $100 on family-friendly Hawaii vacations with Pleasant Holidays - USFG's new travel partner!

I am so excited! I just learned that US Family Guide has partnered with Pleasant Holidays, a leading provider of package vacations. They're based in the U.S. and have great deals on family vacations worldwide - Hawaii, contiguous United States, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, Costa Rica, Europe, Tahiti, Fiji and more. They can also book complete cruise vacations with airfare, onboard accommodations, and pre- and post-cruise hotel stays for vacations where everyone can relax and enjoy. Pleasant Holidays is new to US Family Guide, but has been partnering with hotels and resorts for more than 55 years to get great offers you cannot book anywhere else. When you're planning to explore close to home or farther afield, make them your one-stop-shop for everything you need: flights, accommodations, car rentals, ground transfers, exciting activities and tours, and travel protection coverage to protect your travel investment (because if parenthood has taught us one thing, it's to expect the unexpected). And unlike some other online travel providers, they have in-destination customer assistance should you need it. They've currently got a great deal on Hawaii vacations that saves you $100 per booking. Select from 26 hotels and resorts on the four most popular islands: Oahu, Maui, Kauai and island of Hawaii. Explore the exciting sights of Oahu, including world-famous Waikiki Beach and historic Pearl Harbor. Watch the sun rise from the slopes of a dormant volcano on Maui. Snorkel, hike, kayak, surf, experience Polynesian culture and more. This deal is valid on new vacations booked by 10/30/16 for select travel through 6/30/17 that include roundtrip airfare from the continental United States and a stay of five nights or longer at a participating hotel or resort. The $100 savings is per booking and taken at time of booking - no waiting! For more information or reservations visit www.PleasantHolidays.com, call 1-800-837-5154 or contact your travel agent. Be sure to keep an eye on my blog page. I'll be sharing more great deals for memorable family vacations from Pleasant Holidays soon!

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

hugdoll

Do you have kids who complain about the seatbelt being uncomfortable? Here is the solution. The hugdoll is a safe way to make kids comfortable in a seat belt. The seat belt goes thru the middle of the doll and the strap rests on the tall part of the doll. Kids love them to cuddle while keeping them comfortable. Great for long car rides. Easy to use and kids love them. My daughters love using it and ask to use it.

Monday, April 25, 2016

do some spring shopping at diapers.com

Get 20% OFF Kids’ Shoes, Accessories, & Clothing with code SPRINGSAVE20 from 4/18-5/01/16 Text Link: http:// diapers.7eer.net/c/98784/277533/2052 Get a $5 Credit when you purchase a case of diapers with code GETFIVEBACK on this ongoing offer. Text Link: http:// diapers.7eer.net/c/98784/278429/2052

Friday, March 25, 2016

Cerebral palsy awareness month

March is cerebral palsy awareness month, and today, march 25 is national cerebral palsy awareness day. My son Louie, who is 3, is my precious cerebral palsy warrior. I will start by answering some common questions. What is cerebral palsy? Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders caused by damage to the brain that affects different motor functions resulting in physical disabilities. This damage can be before or during birth, or even in the first years of life. Louie's cerebral palsy is due to bacterial meningitis at 2 months old. What are symptoms of CP? There are different symptoms of cerebral palsy that can range in severity. A few common symptoms are: . difficulty holding head up . rigid or twisting limbs and body . loose or flacid limbs and body . missing developmental milestones Many people with cerebral palsy will experience other issues like seizures, vision or hearing problems, speech problems, and learning difficulties. Types of Cerebral Palsy: There are different types of CP... •Spastic: The most common type of CP that affects about 80% of people with CP. Depending on what parts of the body are affected, spastic CP can be described differently. •Spastic Diplegia/Diparesis: This is when there is an abnormality of or increase in muscle tone in which one or more extremities (more often the legs than the arms) is held in a rigid or tight posture. People with this form of CP can have trouble walking without support as the tightness causes their legs to stiffen, turn inward, and even cross at the knees (known as scissoring). •Spastic Hemiplegia/Hemiparesis: This type affects only one side of body and is more prevalent in the arms than the legs. •Spastic Quadriplegia/Quadriparesis: The most severe form of spastic CP which affect all four limbs as well as the other parts of the body. •Dyskinetic: This includes athetoid CP, choreoathetoid CP, and dystonic CP. It is most often associated with abnormal, uncontrollable, writhing movements of the arms and/or leg. People with these forms of CP may experience a variance in muscle tone and from too tight and rigid to too loose and floppy. •Ataxic: This type of CP is characterized by poor balance when they try to walk unsupported or with quick movements like writing or reaching for small objects.

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

wax museum pigeon forge Tennessee

Enormous fun awaits you below the Great Ape of Pigeon Forge! But the 40,000-pound primate isn't the only star you'll see at the world-famous Hollywood Wax Museum. In fact, you can pose with the biggest stars, while learning about their pets, pet peeves, and accomplishments. Movie buffs, pop culture lovers, and everyone who wants to step into the spotlight with the stars will enjoy the fun, entertainment, creativity and artistry. Plus, with the All Access Pass, you get to take a ride up into the mouth of Great Ape and see the spectacular Smoky Mountains from the VIP Observation Deck (weather permitting). Are you The Chosen One? In Hannah's Maze of Mirrors, find your way through the mirrored corridors hidden inside the Castle of Savannah to save Princess Hannah from the curse of Ugly Hetty. You'll have to make your way through 288 potential turns among hundreds of mirrored walls and archways and several sections where you see infinite reflections in every direction. Join the battle against evil at Castle of Chaos, the world's first 5D haunted attraction. Your mission: help the Paranormal Professor find out what supernatural activity is lurking inside. Soon you'll find yourself in an all-out shooting adventure where the highest scorers appear on the screen. Finally, in Outbreak - Dread the Undead, you must stop a worldwide viral outbreak! Chemacorp might mean well with Alpha Strain, but the gene-altering substance turns humans into zombies. The challenge? Rid the world of Alpha Strain and prevent a total zombie apocalypse! My Readers receive $2 OFF ALL ACCESS PASS - http://smokymountainskids.com/coupon.php?regionid=1131&bid=11227&lid=14352&dealid=1362 Please visit http://hollywoodwaxentertainment.com/ for more information.

sky zone

Sky Zone's wall-to-wall trampoline courts are designed as a fun and fit outing for all ages, shapes and sizes. The innovative trampoline park offers a variety of activities for everyone to enjoy including Open Jump, allowing guests to leap, bound and soar and Ultimate Dodgeball, a friendly and healthy dodgeball competition. In addition, fitness fiends can feel the burn at Sky Zone's original SkyRobics class, which combines advanced calisthenics with a three-dimensional cardio and strength training program. This park is the ideal venue for groups seeking unforgettable events such as birthday parties, corporate team building, field trips and much more! Ready to take your next birthday party to the SKY? Sky Zone Springdale offers two birthday party packages to make your party soar, literally! Book your Sky Zone Springdale Jump Around party 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, online! Sky Zone Springdale was voted Cincinnati's Best Birthday Party Location by The Best of the North, as well as being voted Cincinnati's Best Birthday Party Venue; Entertainment; Away from Home Party by Best of Parenting. Find all the exciting details to schedule your party Here: http://www.skyzone.com/springdale/Birthday-Parties

day 3: meaning of my name

A lot of you may be wondering where my blog name came from, how I came up with it. As I have previously mentioned i have 4 kids. They are cu...