Bubble Lady in Frisco. TX

The Frisco Library is offering a free Summer event for children in kindergarten through 5th grade (an adult must accompany the child, and this means that younger and older children may come with as well). Tomorrow, Monday July 9th, they will have Bubble Lady. Come early to get a ticket. Tickets are available starting at 10:00am, and they do go fast. The event will run all day with 4 separate sessions available to fit every child in to the event. The first showing is at 10:30am and the 12:30pm. The last two showings are at 2:00pm and 4:00pm.

Cost:

FREE!

Christ Fellowship Vacation Bible School in McKinney, TX

One of the most exciting events at summertime is VBS.  Christ Fellowship is holding their VBS this week, and there is still time to register.  The theme for this year is "Operation Overboard".  The kids will learn about God and the underwater universe. 

By the end of the week, the kids will have learned to:

Depend on God

Dare to Care

Claim Jesus

Choose to Follow

Change the World

This year's VBS is divided into age groups so that the church does not become overly crowded.  Preschoolers and those entering kindergarten this year will go in the morning from 9am to 11am.  Children entering 1st grade through 6th grade will go from 6pm to 9pm.  Both groups start Monday and go through Thursday (July 23 to July 26).  Online registration is closed, so just show up a little early on Monday to get registered. 

Cost:

FREE!

Funky Monkey Bunch in Frisco, TX

The Frisco Library is offering a free Summer event for children in kindergarten through 5th grade (an adult must accompany the child, and this means that younger and older children may come with as well). Tomorrow, Monday July 9th, they will have Funky Monkey Bunch. Come early to get a ticket. Tickets are available starting at 10:00am, and they do go fast. The event will run all day with 4 separate sessions available to fit every child in to the event. The first showing is at 10:30am and the 12:30pm. The last two showings are at 2:00pm and 4:00pm.

Cost:

FREE!

Professor Brainius in McKinney, TX

McKinney Libraries (there are 2 of them) have summer events to keep the kids learning. My girls enjoyed the events last year, and I know this year will not disappoint. You do need to arrive early to get a spot, though, and there are a lot of kids participating.

 Professor Brainius is putting on a science show this week. It is for children 1st through 5th grade. On Tuesday July 10th at 2:00pm, the event will be at the Hall Library in downtown McKinney. On Wednesday July 11th at 10:30am, the event will be at the library on the west side of McKinney called John and Judy Gay Library.

Cost:

FREE!

Bongo Rod in Frisco, TX

The Frisco Library is offering a free Summer event for children in kindergarten through 5th grade (an adult must accompany the child, and this means that younger and older children may come with as well). Tomorrow, Monday July 9th, they will have Bongo Rod. Come early to get a ticket. Tickets are available starting at 10:00am, and they do go fast. The event will run all day with 4 separate sessions available to fit every child in to the event. The first showing is at 10:30am and the 12:30pm. The last two showings are at 2:00pm and 4:00pm.

Cost:

FREE!

Fourth of July Celebration in Anna, TX

For yet another year, Anna Chamber of Commerce is hosting a beautiful fireworks production.  As always, the event will take place on July 4th.  Even though this is a small town, their fireworks displays are first rate.  Beautiful patriotic music accompanies the sky art and lasts about 45 minutes. 

This year, all children under 12 years old will, also, receive a free glow necklace!

Gates to the football stadium off of Hwy 5 will open at about 8:00pm, and the fireworks will start around 9:30pm. 

Cost:

FREE!

Lights on the Lake in Sherman, TX

Lights on the Lake is a fireworks option for those people in the northern part of the metroplex that can't make it to Addison.  This fireworks show is on July 3, 2012 as well.  There will be kids' activities, a live band, and food.  Gates open at 6:00pm with fireworks starting around 9:30pm. 

Cost:

FREE!

Kaboom Town in Addison, TX

Kaboom Town in Addison takes place on Tuesday night this year.  It starts at 5pm on July 3, 2012 in Addison Circle Park.  You can see the fireworks from anywhere in Addison, though, so you could take in the sights while eating at a restaurant outside even!  One thing that makes this fireworks show unique is that they include an air show. 

Cost:

FREE!

Celebrate Freedom in Parker, TX

Another year of KLTY Celebrate Freedom is upon us!  This year, it will be held at Southfork Ranch in Parker, TX.  In addition to great music, there will be fun things to do for the whole family. 

A list of performers:

Amy Grant

The Michael James Band

Jars of Clay

Kutless

Aaron Shust

Sanctus Real

Chris August

Jamie Grace

Leeland

Jason Castro

Hawk Nelson

Dara Maclean

Sidewalk Prophets

Jonny Diaz

For King & Country

The Afters

The event runs all day, and air conditioning will be avaiable in portions of the event, so that you can keep cool.  Food and drinks (non-alcoholic) are available for purchase. 

For the children, Hawaiian Falls has partenered with the event to bring a bunch of free activities to the kids.  There will be animal demonstrations, a petting zoo, animal mask making, sand art, face painting and more!  Disney stars will be on hand for autographs, and there is a full size stage in the Children's Village. 

A separate section is set up for those with money to spend.  $20 provides each child with an all day pass in the six acre amusement park.  Inflatable slides and bounce houses will be in this section.

Get there early to experience it all!  Celebrate Freedom starts at 9:00am on June 30, 2012 and runs way into the late evening with a fireworks show to top it all off.

Cost:

$20 per car*

*Discount tickets can be found at Care Now locations area wide, and will give you $5 off of parking.  Car pool and split the cost with a friend!

Dive-In Theater Dolphin Tale in Frisco, TX

Dolphin Tale is a true and endearing story about a beautiful dolphin who loses his fin and the people he touches in the process.  It is a movie that the whole family can enjoy.  Even my 5 year old was engaged throughout the entire movie. 

Now, you can see the movie while you swim!  The Frisco Athletic Center is offering a dive-in movie showing on June 28 from 8:00pm to 10:30pm.  You will be able to watch the movie from the comfort of the pool, and get in at a discounted price! 

Cost:

$5.00 per person

Slick Juggler in Frisco, TX

The Frisco Library is offering a free Summer event for children in kindergarten through 5th grade (an adult must accompany the child, and this means that younger and older children may come with as well). Tomorrow, Monday June 25th, they will have  Slick Juggler. Come early to get a ticket. Tickets are available starting at 10:00am, and they do go fast. The event will run all day with 4 separate sessions available to fit every child in to the event. The first showing is at 10:30am and the 12:30pm. The last two showings are at 2:00pm and 4:00pm.

This event is obviously a guy juggling, but will include comedy and be very entertaining for all.

Cost:

FREE!

Disney's Brave in a Theater Near You

Disney's Brave is now in theaters!!  We went to opening day yesterday and the theater was packed! 

I really wasn't sure what to expect from the movie.  The only idea I had in my head was a curly red-haired girl who loves archery.  I did think that since it is a Disney movie, it would be much deeper than that.  Of course, I was not disappointed.

This movie is about a young girl at odds with her parents.  She wants to be her own person, and her parents want to protect her from everything.  Anyone who has been a teenager, has a child, or a parent of a teenager, the message will be clear to you. 

Children love the comedy and the story.  The children in our movie showing laughed the most when the characters lost their pants (of course).  The triplets created a lot of laughter as well, as they were always up to something they shouldn't be. 

Overall, I feel that the movie has something to teach us.  Get out there and see it and let me know what you think!

Storytime at the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth, TX

Storytime at the Amon Carter Museum is a work of art.  The children will listen to a story about a color and then talk about art together.  After the story, they get to make their own masterpiece.  Cookies and lemonade are provided for a snack. 

The schedule for the rest of the year is as follows (Wednesdays 10:30am-11:30am):

June 20: Hello Yellow

June 27: Going Green

July 11: True Blue

July 18: Incredible Indigo

July 25: Very, Very Violet

Cost:

FREE!

Snake Encounters in Frisco, TX

The Frisco Library is offering a free Summer event for children in kindergarten through 5th grade.  Today, Monday June 18th, they will have Snake Encounters.  Come early to get a ticket.  Tickets are available starting at 10:00am, and they do go fast.  The event will run all day with 4 separate sessions available to fit every child in to the event.  The first showing is at 10:30am and the 12:30pm.  The last two showings are at 2:00pm and 4:00pm. 

This event is about snakes, obviously, but will include music, magic, storytelling, and comedy. 

Cost:

FREE!

Rockin with Rhett in McKinney, TX

McKinney Libraries (there are 2 of them) have summer events to keep the kids learning.  My girls enjoyed the events last year, and I know this year will not disappoint.  You do need to arrive early to get a spot, though, and there are a lot of kids participating. 

 Rockin with Rhett is happening this week.  It is for children 1st through 5th grade.  On Tuesday June 19th at 2:00pm, the event will be at the Hall Library in downtown McKinney.  On Wednesday June 20th at 10:30am, the event will be at the library on the west side of McKinney called John and Judy Gay Library.

Cost:

FREE!

Father's Day Movie Night at the Zoo in Dallas, TX

The Dallas Zoo, as part of the Oak Cliff Film Fest, is offering families a fun night out with dad!  For this special event, gates open at 7:00pm on June 17th.  A special animal adventures team critters will be going on to entertain and educate everyone.  Zoo North will be open, and movie snacks will be available.  The movie will be "Fantastic Mr. Fox", and it will start at 8:30pm. 

Cost:

$10 per person

Stonebriar CC Vacation Bible School in Frisco, TX

VBS is a traditional Summer event for Christians everywhere.  Stonebriar Community Church is holding their VBS event this week.  The first day of VBS was yesterday, but you can still get in for the rest of the week.  You can register at the door.  Just arrive early.  A registration form must be filled out for every child.  Children going into kindergarten this fall up to 6th grade (5th grade graduates) are welcome. 

Tonight, the focus will be on the story of Jonah and the whale.  The subject of focus is obedience.  It promises to be a great class! 

VBS at Stonebriar starts at 6pm and runs until 8:30pm. 

June 11-15

Cost:

$5 per child

Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, TX

Feeling a little lucky?  Head over to Lone Star Park and win some money!  Saturday June 9th is the Belmont Stakes and that race will be simulcast.  This is the third and final leg of the Triple Crown.  We may have our first Triple Crown winner since 1978.  I'll Have Another* has placed first in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness this year, so this race is sure to me a hot one!

If you aren't sure how to bet on horses, don't fret, there are plenty of pointers available on site.  The first thing you should do when you arrive is get a program.  The program will have pointers and walk you through the steps of what each kind of bet is and your odds.  There are, also, lots of friendly people that will help you if you ask. 

If you don't like crowds, you are going to want to skip the Belmont Stakes this Saturday.  It will be packed with standing room only.  You can always step outside if it gets too crowded because there isn't too much of a crowd outside when the sun is beating down. 

Lone Star Park has races almost every Thursday-Sunday during their regular season which is April to the first week of July.  These regular days are calmer and usually have seats available.  There are many different seating options and ticket arrangements.  For lunch and dinner there are restaurants, snacks and a buffet. 

*Update: I'll Have Another has been scratched from the Belmont due to a swollen left front tendon. 

Cost:

Varies depending on seating $5 and up per person

Cinemark Summer Movie Clubhouse in Allen, Plano, or Dallas, TX

Summer is a fun and inexpensive time to visit the movie theater! Every summer Cinemark offers 10 movies for $5... Yes, that is 50 cents a movie! To get it for 50 cents, you need to purchase the $5 pass. Then, you can visit the theater every week for 10 weeks for their featured clubhouse movies. Or, you can pay as you go for $1 a movie.

Plano Legacy and Allen 16 are both featuring their clubhouse movies on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10am starting this Tuesday!! Here is what is playing and when:

June 5&6: Journey 2

June 12&13: Happy Feet 2

June 19&20: Rio

June 26&27: Kung Fu Panda 2

July 3&4: Despicable Me

July 10&11: Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2

July 17&18: Dolphin Tale

July 24&25: Puss in Boots

July 31&August 1: Winnie the Pooh

August 7&8: Yogi Bear

Cost:

$1 per movie per person

$5 for a unlimited summer pass per person

Mesquite Rodeo in Mesquite, TX

I used to attend the Rodeo back in the old days, when the arena was not air-conditioned.  I went regularly, and it was a lot of fun to watch.  I knew then that when I was older and had kids of my own,  I would want to take them to see the rodeo.

These days, the Mesquite Rodeo is inside with a temperature-controlled atmosphere.  You can expect to see some bull riding, barrel racing, roping, as well as some comedy and country music.

There are things for the kids to do like the petting zoo, pony rides, and the run with a calf (where the kids try to see who can get the ribbon off of the calf first).  Snow cones and barbecue are the offerings should you get thirsty or hungry. 

The rodeo goes every Friday and Saturday night through the Summer, and prices vary depending on what kind of seats you want. 

Cost:

Corral Seats: $12

Reserved Seats: $12 child and $24 adult

VIP Seats: $17 child and $34 adult

Suites are available as well