Summer Fun

Summer Camps and Activities for Kids:
Bounce N Boogie - lots of fun classes starting up this summer, and now Emily offers unlimited classes for one low price!

VBS at New Covenant Church (June 14-18) includes a sports camp for 6-12 year olds and a separate camp for 4 and 5 year olds. You can register online.

Summer Reading Programs - Albuquerque and Rio Rancho

Community Centers Summer Recreation Program

Balloon Museum's Stories in the Sky - storytime includes free admission to the museum Wednesdays 9:30-10:15

Museum School through Albuquerque Museum - offers art classes for children 3 and up, and the museum offers family art ativities on Saturdays in addition to free admission the first Wednesday of each month.

Explora Summer Camp for kids 5 and up

Swimming Lessons: City of Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, JCC

Young Explorers Science Program through the New Mexico Museum of Natural History (for kids entering kindergarten and up)

Sandia Mountain Natural History Center offers nature hikes and an explorer center that you can do on your own.

Camp BioPark - camps for preschoolers through 9th grade.


Outdoor Activities:
Nature Discovery for kids at the Rio Grande Nature Center for kids entering first grade and up.

Petroglyph National Monument had a Web Ranger (ages 6-13) and Junior Ranger (K-6) program

Manzano Mesa Water Sprayground

There are some great places for hiking, camping, walking, biking and rollerblading.
Volcanoes, Paseo del Bosque bike trail, open space, Tingley Beach fishing (free fishing clinics offered)

Concerts and Plays:
Summerfest outdoor concerts, Summer Nights concerts at the Aquarium, Zoo Music,
Albuquerque Concert Band performing at parks throughout the summer, Salsa Under the Stars at Albuquerque Museum's sculpture gardens (fun date night idea).

Arts in the Parks

Kimo Theatre has summer performances for families and kids

Other:

Free Family Film Festival

Albuquerque Isotopes

The city of Albuquerque also has a free lunch program open to everyone 1-18 years of age over the summer at community centers and parks.

Have anything to add? Leave a comment or email Ellen and I'll add it! ;)


The City of Albuquerque has a page on their website with lots of ideas for things to do this summer. Check them out here - http://www.cabq.gov/fun/summer

2009-2010 MOMS slideshow

Parenting...

...with love and logic. Thank you to Diana Huston's husband for giving us a taste of this parenting philosophy which allows natural consequences to teach our children. I admit that I used this a lot as a teacher, but it's harder to use with my own kids!! You can learn more about love and logic here, and I have a copy of the book Parenting With Love and Logic if anyone wants to borrow it.

There are so many parenting books out there. If you have a parenting book you'd recommend, leave a comment - I'm sure we have a vast selection of resources out there among our own MOMS!!

Dr. Kevin Leman has a book that follows love & logic pretty closely - Making Children Mind without Losing Yours. Dr. Leman has great practical tips and a good sense of humor, which helps when you're looking at discipline.

Anyone else? Leave a comment! :)

Easter Tea

One of my favorite spring MOMS meetings is always our Easter Tea. Delicious tea and snacks, a wonderful testimony from Lisa Fortney, and time to chat with other moms...it just doesn't get better than that! :)

Frigid Park Day Part II (spring edition)

Cupcake Decorating

At our last meeting Anna Adkins, who owns the Specialty Shop with her husband David, gave us some great tips on decorating cakes & cupcakes.


Here's her recipe for Soft Decorating Frosting:

2 cups Crisco solid

2/3 cup "Brite White" (available at the Specialty Shop)

1/3 c. plus 2 Tbsp. water

2 lb. Powdered sugar (this is one package)

1 tsp. Cream Bouquet (available at the Specialty Shop) or other CLEAR flavoring

1 tbsp. Meringue Powder

Cream crisco, Brite White and water. Add remaining ingredients slowly, and beat at high speed with a heavy-duty mixer for 20 minutes (Yes, I did say 20 minutes! If using an electric, handheld mixer beat at 5 minute increments, allowing machine to rest in between). Store icing in an airtight container. Need not refrigerate.

And I have to say that when I took my cupcake home, it got the taste test and stamp of approval! ;)

Personal Finances

Since Jenny Migdal was called to jury duty, her faithful husband Walt stepped in to fill her shoes, along with fellow financial planners Brenda and Robyn Ashworth, gave lots of great ideas on spending, saving and debt...

If you didn't get one of the many handouts with resources, let one of the steering team members know and we'll get you a copy. A few people asked about credit scores too, and here's a link that gives more information: http://www.kiplinger.com/columns/ask/archive/close-a-creditcard-account-to-avoid-fees.html