What are you planning to do Sept. 29?

Go to a museum, of course!

Smithsonian Magazine’s Museum Day Live! is an opportunity for two of your family members to visit a local museum for free.

Just click here to sign up for two free tickets to visit a participating museum anywhere across the nation. If you know you’re going to be in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 29, you could print your tickets now and visit a Smithsonian Museum!

No worries if you’re going to be in Oklahoma, though. There are several state museums participating in this fun event:

- Chisholm Trail Heritage Center, Duncan

- Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, Norman

- Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa

- Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art, Shawnee

- Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma City

- Pawnee Bill Ranch & Museum, Pawnee

- Philbrook Museum of Art, Tulsa

- Philip Foster Farm National Historic Site, Eagle Creek

- Sam Noble Museum, Norman

- Science Museum Oklahoma, Oklahoma City

- Three Rivers Museum, Muskogee

- Tulsa Historical Society & Museum, Tulsa

- Will Rogers Memorial Museum, Claremore

This opportunity will allow you to enjoy your favorite museum or explore one you’ve never visited.

It’s easy to print your tickets. I just did!

So, see you at the museum!

- Linda Lynn

LLynn@opubco.com

Follow me on Twitter: @OKNewsResearch

If you’re looking for something to do this weekend with your children, you’ll want to drive downtown and let your kids explore their creative sides.

The festival’s not just for children, but there are areas that are dedicated to your child.

For $2 your youngster can participate in hands-on art activities in the Children’s Art Field. And the Young-at-Art Mart is a children-only shopping area with artwork priced no more than $5.

For more information, call (405) 270-4848 or go to the Arts Council of Oklahoma City website.

–Linda Lynn

LLynn@opubco.com

Follow me on Twitter @OKNewsResearch

Here are a few photos of children enjoying this year’s festival, as well as some of the sights you might see when you go:

My sister Betty used cloth diapers with all her children. I admire that she did this.

Each of her little babies was neatly wrapped with a soft, cloth diaper that was pinned on each side.

I didn’t know it at the time, but she was being earth-friendly. She was “green.”

On April 21, the day before Earth Day, you can experience “The Great Cloth Diaper Change” beginning at 10 a.m. at Science Museum Oklahoma, 2100 NE 52 St.

There are hopes this event will be part of an even larger effort to break last year’s Guinness World Record for simultaneous diaper changing.

And, at the same time, Cloth Diaper Oklahoma and the Real Diaper Association will be bringing attention to the benefits of using cloth diapers, instead of disposable diapers that can take hundreds of years to decompose.

At the moment, more than 232 locations in 13 countries will be the sites of thousands of parents and caregivers changing their babies all at the same time, all using cloth diapers.

"The Great Cloth Diaper Change" event in 2011 -- Photo by Trevor Aagard

The April 21 event begins at 10 a.m. with the actual Great Cloth Diaper Change occurring between 11 a.m. and noon. Cloth diapers will be provided to those who need one.

The first 100 participating families will receive a goody bag. Activities during the event will include a baby-crawling contest, a toddler trot, cloth diaper mini classes, prizes and more.

If you’ve never changed a cloth diaper, click here for step-by-step instructions from babycenter.com.

–Linda Lynn

LLynn@opubco.com

Oklahoma City Attractions on wimgo

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