Each Thanksgiving for the past 23 years I have traveled out of town to enjoy a traditional feast with my husband’s family in Stigler, OK.

In the beginning, I don’t think I was expected to bring anything, not even a green bean casserole. I was the girlfriend, so there weren’t a lot of demands.

Even after we were married, my mother-in-law, Irene, would tell me, “Just bring paper plates and cups.”

I would wonder if it was a hidden message about my cooking skills, but I’m sure it was just to make it easier for me.

Occasionally, when we stayed at her house, I would make something there. But this is the lineup of what I’ve brought through the years … nothing spectacular:

- Paper plates and cups  

- Pickles and olives

- Cream cheese, salsa, cheese and crackers

- A store-bought cheesecake

- Cookies

- Pumpkin bread

- Rolls

I’ve never brought the true backbone dishes of the meal: Turkey, ham, cornbread dressing, gravy, sweet potatoes, corn, salad, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, Mountain Dew cake, and, of course, chocolate, coconut, mincemeat, pecan or pumpkin pie.  

So, what am I bringing this year?

I’m not sure yet … maybe a pie or bread or cookies or cupcakes …. I’m determined to not bring paper anything!

But, I’m sure, when it’s Wednesday night and I’m tired and I know we have to get up early Thanksgiving morning to travel, I’ll wish Irene was telling me, “Just bring paper plates and cups.”

– Linda Lynn

LLynn@opubco.com

According to a news release, the fun will begin with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 3 p.m. Friday, during which the company will present a $1,000 check to YWCA of Oklahoma City. And for all us techie parents, at 5 p.m., the store will unveil the new iPad 2. 

Festivities will continue from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the store’s Kids’ Day, with FREE family activities, such as face-painting, a moon bounce, complimentary tacos from Big Truck Tacos (YUM!!) and prize giveaways.

“The focus is around family and getting the children involved,” said Michael Perry, Quail Springs store manager.  

-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com

Hey kids! I would like to extend a special invitation to you.
The Thunder and Sprite invite students, grades K-12, to participate in the third annual Black History Heroes Challenge. In honor of Black History Month, students are encouraged to submit a creative piece highlighting their hero from black history. By entering, students become eligible to win prizes courtesy of the Thunder.
 
Students may either submit one essay or poem that describes what makes a specific individual a black history hero or a hero in their personal life, or one visual arts piece that illustrates their hero along with a descriptive paragraph.
 
Please click on the link below or visit thunder.nba.com for more information.
 
thundercontest

-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com

My favorite is their Christmas Wonderland. They pack December full of free crafts, fun displays, games and a FREE studio-quality 4 X 6 photo with Santa.  So skip the expensive mall Santa photos and head down to Bass Pro.

Crafts are Tuesdays through Thursdays, 5 to 7 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays noon to 5 p.m. (while supplies last) and include:

Nov. 30 – Dec. 2, 4 & 5:  Snowman Suncatcher ornament
Dec. 7 – 9, 11 & 12: Wooden ornaments
Dec. 14 – 16, 18 & 19: Reindeer ornaments
Dec. 21-23: Cookie decorating

From now through Dec. 12, Santa photos are  5 to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

From Dec. 13 to Dec. 24, photo hours are extended to 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays and Christmas Eve.

All games and activities are available during store hours.  These include toy trains, slot car racing, laser and soft gun arcades, remote control trucks and video games.

Also, this year, Bass Pro is giving away free “Santa Bandz” to the first 150 children on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5 to 7 p.m.  Bandz are different each week.

For more information about Santa’s Wonderland, click here.

-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com

If you’re a sort-of country dweller like me, you don’t really have a good reliable neighborhood to trick-or-treat in this year.  So how do you make the most of Halloween when you can’t do the traditional door-to-door candy quest?  Here are some really great (and I’ve been to most of these) activities in the metro you can do with your kids this week to get in the spooky spirit:

 Haunt the Zoo:  We go every year.  You can’t beat the Oklahoma City Zoo for Halloween.  You won’t see animals, but you will see folks standing along a pumpkin-lined path handing out some yummy treats.  Neat displays are set up along the way, perfect for pictures.  Haunt the Zoo is 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. starting tonight and ending Sunday. Tickets are only necessary for the kids, and they’re $7 each.  Click here for more information.

Storybook Forest:  Spring Creek Park at Edmond’s Arcadia Lake turns into a book of fairytales as kids can walk through a forest of stories.  Characters and scenes from children’s favorite books are brought to life, along with treats, hayrides, carnival games and a campfire for roasting hot dogs and marshmallows.  Storybook Forest is open 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. daily through Sunday. Admission is $5 per child during the week, $7 on the weekend. Adults are free.  Click here for more information.

Halloween Train Ride at the Oklahoma Railway Museum is a real train ride for kids wearing their costumes.  Departure times Saturday are 10 and 11 a.m., noon, 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for age 15 and older, $5 for ages 3 to 14, and kids younger than 3 are free. Click here for more information.

Haunt the Harn at the Harn Homestead. Includes trick-or-treating, hayrides and more.  Event is Thursday from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 for nonmembers, free for members.  Click here for more information.

The Metropolitan Library System also has a list of free events this week:

• Bethany Library: 10  to 10:45 a.m. on Thursday is ”Halloween Fun for Little Ones” for ages 3 to 6. From 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday, it’s hosting “Spooky Spook Halloween” for grades 1 to 5.
• Capitol Hill Library: From 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday is “Halloween @ the Haunted Hill” for all ages.
• Downtown Library: From 1:30 to 5:40 p.m. Sunday is  the “Classic  Horror Film Marathon” for all ages.
• Ralph Ellison Library: “Pumpkin Carving for Teens” is 5 to 6 p.m. Tuesday.  The library’s fall festival is noon to 4 p.m. Saturday for all ages.
• Warr Acres Library: “Dress Up Party for Preschoolers” is tonight from 6:30 to 7:30.  Kids should be in costume.

Be sure to check wimgo.com for more Halloween event listings and have a great, safe week!

-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com

But a few reminders could never hurt. 

Here’s some tips from Safe Kids USA (which includes Safe Kids Oklahoma):

• Encourage children not to trick-or-treat alone. They should go in groups or with a trusted adult.
• Place reflective tape on their costumes or on their treat bags so they are visible to drivers.
• Examine all candy thoroughly.  Check for any signs of tampering.
• All children should have their own flashlight so they can see and be seen.
• Emphasize to your children the importance of looking both ways when crossing a street. Tell them to use crosswalks, if possible.
• Be sure costumes fit well, to prevent trips and falls.
• Let children know they are NEVER to enter a person’s home unless they are with a trusted adult.
• Try to purchase flame-retardant costumes and keep away from open flames.

Have a very SAFE and HAPPY Halloween!

-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com

Septemberfest

• When: Sept. 11, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Where: Governor’s Mansion and Oklahoma History Center (Click here for map)
• What:  A free, fun, family-friendly, and hands-on event. Visitors get free admission to the museum all day long.  The governor and first lady will read stories to children. There also will be dancing, entertainment, puppet shows, inflatables, clowns, face painting and much, much more.
• For a full description and schedule of events, click here.

Pass it on Kids

• When: Sept. 10 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sept. 11 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Where: Church of the Harvest, located between 33rd and 15th streets off Western Avenue in Edmond.
• What: A consignment sale for fall and winter’s kids’ clothing.  Half-price on select items on Sept. 11.
• For more information, go to www.passitonkids.com

34th annual Western Days

• When:  Sept. 10-11
• Where: Downtown Mustang
• What: A festival including a carnival, rodeo, parade, magic show, music, car show and more.
• For more information, click here or call 376-2758.

103rd annual Cleveland County Free Fair

• When: Now through Sept. 11
• Where: Cleveland County Fairgrounds, E Robinson St., Norman
• What: A fair that has animals, a petting zoo, carnival rides, a midway, celebrity cow milking and much more.
• For more information, click here.

Oktoberfest

• When: Now through Sept. 11
• Where: Choctaw’s Creek Park
• What: German food and goods, live entertainment for all ages, dancing, crafts and activities for kids.  Admission is $3 for age 12 and older. Kids younger than 12 are free.
• For more information, go to www.choctawfestival.org or call 390-8647.

If you know of any other great family-friendly events this weekend or coming up, please post them below or e-mail me. 

Have a great weekend!

-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com

As some of you may already know, Barnes & Noble stores host free children’s storytimes on weekend mornings.  (Click here to see a schedule for Oklahoma City stores.)

But did you know that they also offer the storytime experience online?

With Online Storytime, children can hear their favorite books read aloud by authors and even celebrities.  This month, author Judith Viorst reads her story “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.”

Just go to http://www.barnesandnoble.com/storytime/index.asp to have storytime in the comfort of your own home. 

-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com

Besides getting a train ride with Thomas, children can enjoy other activities such as arts and crafts, storytelling,  playing with toy trains, meeting characters and getting a look at the history of Thomas, who is turning 65 this year.

Get tickets soon, as this tends to sell out.  Dates of the event are Sept. 24-26 and Oct. 1-3.  Tickets cost $14 to $18 each. When you order tickets online, you can choose which train you’d like to sit in.  Pay extra attention to which train car you choose. Some are air conditioned, some only have sliding windows, and others are completely open.  Also, I suggest picking an early morning ride to avoid high temperatures.

Two years ago, I mistakenly chose the 2 p.m. time slot and the car with only the sliding windows.  Since some of the cars are so old, some windows won’t open.  That was our window. September was especially hot that year, and my then-2-year-old son was completely decked out in his Thomas overalls, Thomas polo shirt, Thomas conductor hat, socks and shoes.  We couldn’t bring our drinks on board, but it’s a 30-minute ride. No big deal.

About two minutes after we pull out of the station, my son starts screaming and crying.  He’s sweating, he’s red in the face, he’s hot as can be.  I didn’t know what to do and we couldn’t get off the train. We were starting to get some mean looks from other paying passengers.  He cried the entire ride.  People were upset with us, asking employees for their money back and just generally being more than annoyed.

About a year later, I was talking to some parents at my son’s day care about how Thomas the Train was back in town.  All of a sudden, one parent starts talking about this screaming child on her train car last year … decked out in Thomas overalls, polo and conductor cap.   She described my son to a T - an entire year later.  She was on that car.  She was one of the parents demanding a refund.  Yikes.

Me:  ”Oh, we didn’t get to go last year … how awful … why would his mom dress him in such hot clothes in the middle of summer? … “ 

So please take my advice.  Choose the air conditioned car. Get an early time and don’t dress your child like a conductor.  After all, it’s September in Oklahoma.

For a schedule and tickets, click here.

-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com