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Pumpkin Patches & Halloween Events In and Around Boulder

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PUMPKIN PATCHES IN & AROUND BOULDER

Cottonwood Farm. Pumpkin patch, hay maze, animals, antique farm equipment. Plenty of fall produce, including decorative gourds and corn bundles. Free admission. (Wagon rides cost extra). Open daily 10:00 to 6:00pm  cottonwoodfarms.com.

Munson Farm. Pumpkins, fall fruits, vegetable. Hayrides, corn maze, pumpkins. Free kids pumpkin with purchase if you print out the first page of their website. Free admission. Open daily 9:00 to 6:30pm. Valmont Road and 75th Street, Boulder, CO. munsonfarms.com.

Ollin Farms. Pumpkins, western slope fruits, tamales, tortillas, salsas, at food stand. M to Sat., open Noon to 6:00 pm, Sun. Noon to 4:00pm. Located between Niwot & Longmont, CO. ollinfarms.com.

Osborn Farm. Historic farm dating to 1861. Pick your own pumpkins. Free admission. Open daily 10:00 to 6:00 pm Longmont, CO. osbornfarms.com

Red Wagon Farm. Pumpkins, winter squash, apples, and more produce! See farm animals (alpacas, llamas, goats, chickens, geese!) and enjoy the Straw Bale Maze! Free admission. Open 10:00 to 6:00 daily through Halloween. Red Wagon Farm Website.

Rocky Mountain Pumpkin Ranch. Pumpkin picking, open door market, observation honey bee hive. Fall Festival Saturdays and Sundays in October featuring straw maze, pumpkin painting, petting zoo, and much more! Store with fresh, organic, produce and cider. 9:00 to 6:00pm daily in October. Free admission. Longmont, CO. rockymtnpumkinranch.com.

Anderson Farms. Farm tours, handicapped accessible pumpkin fields, wagon rides, corn maze, farm animals. Very extensive activities, but it does cost: $12 for adults, $10 for kids and seniors. Open at 10:00 to daily through October. Erie, CO. andersonfarms.com.

HALLOWEEN EVENTS FOR FAMILIES

Munchkin Masquerade. Bring your younger kids down to trick or treat amongst their peers along the shops on Pearl Street Mall. Always a family favorite! The kids are adorable in their costumes. The treats are everywhere. It could not be more fun. October 31, 2012 from 2:00 to 5:00pm rain or shine. For more information visit DBI.

Colorado Railroad Museum’s Trick or Treat Train. The Colorado Railroad Museum’s Railroad Halloween Town is a safe and fun place for younger kids to enjoy Halloween. Catch a ride behind the historic locomotive & vintage passenger cars hosted by conductors and engineers in full costume. Fill your treat bag and tickle your funny bones. Visit the “not so spooky” haunted railcar or the Olde Railroaders Silly Graveyard & the Pumpkin Patch. It’s full steam ahead for tricks, treats and trains. October 27. More info on times and tickets here.

7th Annual Kappa Halloween House. This is a family friendly Halloween event with face painting, crafts, cupcake walk, storytelling, trick-or-treating, and much more. October 28 from Noon to 4:00pm. 1134 University, Boulder. $5/child. For more information click here.

Trip Review: Valmont Bike Park

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Valmont Bike Park is amazing! Really, truly, amazing! Right here in Boulder we have a world class bike park that offers terrain for ALL rider levels. I love watching the confluence of hardcore riders and kids on wheel-less bikes all riding near each other. All getting along. I even saw a dad with a child in a pack on his back riding some relatively technical rides. Refreshing!

The Valmont Bike Park is located East of Foothills Parkway on Valmont Road [3160 Valmont Road, Boulder]. There are trails for every level here or if your little one is ready for some play time they can take a break at the kids’ area. There is a climbing structure and spinning seats as well as a solid surface that makes it easier for little ones to bike around. All the trails are marked so you know what you are getting into. XS, S, M, L, XL. I know you get the idea. The kids get it too. They quickly learn what level feels comfortable and they can look for the signs that show them which route to take. What I cannot emphasize enough is that this is a space designed for everyone. Go as a whole family, no matter the range of biking abilities in your group.

The Valmont Bike Park does not offer pads at every turn. Your kids are not roped up. And there are a lot of places to test your boundaries. But this place WILL inspire confidence in your kids. I even went over a wooden bridge I would normally not touch. I have to be honest, I was following my emboldened 8 year old and I just couldn’t not try.

Take some time to interact with this incredible resource in our Boulder community. Bring a picnic and stay for a good long time. I know you will love it. The Valmont Bike Park website. Or visit them on Facebook.

Smithsonian Museum Day Live! FREE Museum Entry on 9/29 at Many Denver/Boulder Attractions

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This sounds too good to be true. The Smithsonian Museums are always free to enter, but not so for many Denver & Boulder locations. So the Smithsonian has partnered with some great museums in our area to offer FREE ADMISSION FOR 2 on September 29. Here is a list of some of the participating museums/attractions:

  • Denver Botanical Gardens
  • History Museum Colorado
  • Boulder History Museum
  • Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys
  • Forney Museum of Transportation
  • Molly Brown House Museum
  • Mizel Museum [Closed on 9/29, but FREE 9/30]

For a complete listing of FREE museums/attractions around Colorado click here.

Once you decide on a museum or attraction you simply complete some personal information and they email you a ticket good for 2 FREE ADMISSIONS to whichever museum you choose. Clearly you can use more than one email account and get more tickets depending on the amount of tickets your family needs. You do have to get the tickets ahead of time. Get them here.

Have fun!

#free #boulder #museums #families #kids

The Parent’s Guide to the Five Love Languages of Children

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I want to thank Boba Carriers for posting the Parent’s Guild to the Five Love Languages of Children. They are clearly based on the 5 Love Languages books and materials. This helps us to see each of our children in a new light, to see what matters and motivates them, and understand how we can interact and support them in the best ways based on their love languages. Very insightful! One more tool in your parenting bag of tricks….

One of my kids is such a quality time boy! But it was not until I read this post that I realize why he likes to run errands with me while is older brother is just not interested. My older son on the other hand resonates with the love language of touch and he loves to snuggle, cuddle watching his favorite tv show [cake boss/Myth Busters].

Here are some online profiles from the 5 Love Languages folks for adults and children. They are free to take and they give you some great insight into yourself and your child.

Profile for Children

Profile for Parents of Teens 

Profile for Adults

 

Amazon Prime and Amazon Mom

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Generally I like to buy local. I love supporting stores like Grand Rabbits, Becoming Mothers, Lucky’s Market, McGuckins, etc… But there are times when you need to look farther for things you cannot get locally or the best deal. This is where Amazon is finding its way into my heart.

Amazon Prime and Amazon Mom are two membership programs through Amazon.com. With Amazon Prime you pay $79/year and you get free 2-day shipping, some instant videos, and some Kindle books. But there is also Amazon Mom. There was a time when membership to Amazon Mom was closed, but now they have opened membership and they are offering a FREE 3 month trial. You get FREE 2 day shipping, 20% off diapers & wipes, and some other specials thrown in from time to time. If you head to Costco to buy diapers & wipes, then Amazon Mom may be more convenient and cost effective. Or maybe not, but I think it is worth a look.

DIY Projects: Pocket Necklaces & Newspaper Forts

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DIY: Newspaper Fort 

This simple, recycling project for kids can make a secure and fun fort. What a great project for kids of many ages. For more information on how to make this with your kids click here.

DIY: Felt Pocket Necklace

These are easy pocket necklaces to make with your kids. Super cute. Imagine making them and then going on a nature walk to pick up special treasures, keeping a journal in the pocket, or tooth fairy gifts. Use your imagination! Making them is easy and kid friendly. You only need 5 items and you can get them all at your local craft store.

To make these cute pocket necklaces head over to the wonderful Willowday’s blog.

103 Things You Can Do With Your Child

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103 Things You Can Do With Your Child:*

1. Go to the library – stay for story time

2. Bake something, anything

3. Construct something with blocks or Lego’s

4. Read a book

5. Draw/Color together

6. Go window shopping

7. Host a play date with their favorite friend

8. Dress Up together

9. Go Sledding

10. Build something in the snow (fort, snowman)

11. Go swimming (indoor or outdoor)

12. Have a picnic (outside or on the living room floor!)

13. Listen to new music together

14. Visit a museum

15. Visit a Zoo

16. Visit a pet store

17. Write and mail a letter to someone special

18, Play a card or board game

19. Take a walk

20. Get out baby photos and talk about them

21. Sing Songs

22. Take a class together at local art center

23. Go roller or ice skating together

24. Tell stories about when your child was a baby

25. Hug/hold your child

26. Build a blanket fort

27. Tell your child what makes them special ( to you and others)

28. Teach/tell your child about your job – take them to work for a day if you can

29. Have a scavenger hunt (indoor or outdoor)

30. Go to a movie together

31. Visit your child at school

32. Dig out your year book and share about your experiences

33. Visit a nursing home or hospital

34. Finger Paint

35. Take pictures

36. Visit and learn about places in your neighborhood (fire station, police station, post office, dairy, etc.)

37. Clean out a room together (basement, attic, garage)

38. Work a puzzle together

39. Plan a vacation together – then GO!

40. Make S’mores

41. Build a bird house

42. Play a sport together

43. Make homemade pizza

44. Rake leaves and play/jump in them

45. Go on a hayride

46. Visit an apple orchard / pumpkin patch

47. Plant something

48. Have a water fight

49. Play hide and seek

50. Go to the state fair

51. Collect different fall leaves

52. Have a block party

53. Take a hike

54. Make puppets and put on a show for each other

55. Tell stories about your childhood

56. Attend athletic event

57. Make homemade ice cream

58. Learn about different cultures

59. Take flowers to a friend

60. Go wading in a creek

61. Go for a train ride

62. Go horseback riding

63. Climb a tree

64. Go camping

65. Have a family talent show

66. Draw a map and have a treasure hunt

67. Walk/play in the rain

68. Talk about feelings/emotions

69. Paint a picture by numbers together

70. Go to a theater performance

71. Complete a DIY project together

72. Wash the car

73. Play Frisbee

74. Pick up litter in the community

75. Fly a homemade kite

76. Jump rope

77. Exercise together

78. Discuss nutrition and the 4 basic food groups

79. Start a savings account – talk about budgeting and saving money

80. Write a story (draw illustrations together too!)

81. Go fishing

82. Visit a relative

83. Visit the neighbors

84. Go bowling

85. Dance party!

86. Play Simon Says

87. Have letter or color of the week and look for them together

88. Play “I Spy”

89. Act out a favorite story together

90. Listen to music and play homemade instruments together

91. Start a gratitude journal with your child – they can draw what they are thankful for

92. Let your child pick out the menu for a meal

93. Start a collection

94. Practice/teach something (reading, tying shoes, zipping zipper, sports, rhyming, sorting, telling time)

95. Sidewalk chalk

96. Go for a bike ride

97. Play pretend

98. Make a collage out of photos and/or clippings of their favorite things

99. Tell jokes

100. Spend time simply LISTENING to them.

101. Make a list of things you want to do together in the future!

102. Build a tree house or a fort  [my addition]

103. Create a fairy house at the base of a tree in your backyard  [my addition]

*Many thanks to the blog, hands free mama, for bringing this list to my attention and many more thanks to the blog, inspired to action, for the original post. You can read the original post here. 

Keen’s Worldwide Recess Day This Friday [9/14]

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Who doesn’t need more recess? Kids do. Adults do. We all do. So this Friday, Keen [you know the great outdoor footwear company] has declared Worldwide Recess Day. Why not?

Get out and Run. Walk. Bike. Play soccer. Go to the playground and swing on the swings. Ride your skateboard. Jump in the creek. swim laps. Play 4 square. Shoot baskets.

Just get outside and play. Do something. Do anything. Spend 10 minutes At Recess this Friday.

Then take a photo and send it to Keen for a chance to win a pair of Keens. They will be giving away a pair an hour. It could be your lucky day!

I’m planning my recess. What are you going to do on your recess?

Boulder Family Deals: Music lessons, FREE Photo Book, JumpStreet & Lakeside Amusement Park

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Here are some of the best deals around for Boulder Families. We can all use a great deal! The Shutterfly book and Lakeside Amusement Park tickets deals end soon. Have fun…

Music Lessons: 2 private lessons [kids] or 4 group lessons [adults] at Parlando School for the Arts [a local Boulder business]. 2 privates: $35, 4 group: $44. I have heard great things about this music school! New students only. This is a Plum District deal.

FREE Photo Book: Shutterfly is offering a FREE 8×8 photo book. Only valid through 9/12, so act fast. Just use the promo code: SUMMERBOOK.

JumpStreet Passes: JumpStreet is bouncy town heaven, where your kids will jump to their hearts delight. It is in Thornton, so it is a drive from Boulder. Deals are for 2 hour passes. This is a Groupon deal. You can buy multiple passes starting at $10/2 hours.

Lakeside Amusement Park: This is a more down-to-earth, kid-friendly version of Elitches. Lakeside Amusement Park is a fun family outing even for young kids. $22/ticket. Get it fast, this Groupon deal is over in 1 day. Yikes!

#deals #Lakeside #Shutterfly #Jumpstreet #musiclessons

The Real To Do List

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I love this To Do List! [I cannot remember where I found it–I wish I could thank the person who posted it right now.] As I run around trying to juggle the many things that life is made up of, I often forget to slow down, appreciate what I have, give my kids an extra hug, find time to laugh with friends, shower love on my partner, etc…

Remember to live life fully! With kids 10 & 8 I think a lot about how big they are getting. They are growing up so fast. Our time as a family is so precious and fleeting at the same moment. I am reminded to be in the present as much as possible. To be true to myself and my values–not the values others think I should hold. Find joy. And love, love, love!