Holiday time and New Year approaching

December 8th, 2009

Can you even believe that it’s Holiday time already?  I know I can’t and hello um, Hanukkah is next Friday people!  Oh yes, we celebrate both Holidays and wasn’t it interesting that the Boston Globe magazine had two different articles describing how they celebrate both Holidays.

We celebrate with a menorah and candles, latkes (if you want the recipe, just let me know) and dreidles.  We celebrate with a Christmas(kah) tree and I even found a Jewish star of David for an ornament.  An old friend of mine gave me a Jewish Santa!

However you and your family celebrate the Holiday, we here at North Shore Parenting want to wish you a happy and healthy new year and Holidays -whatever you celebrate.

Oh yes, and a plug (of course)….ahem….my husband and I will be performing for Rockport First Night New Year’s Eve from 6 pm to 8 pm and the website for more information is http://www.newyearsrockporteve.com which is a great family event!  We will most likely bring our 5 year old to help out and perform with us!  (Don’t worry, we’ll bundle him up!)

So from me to you and your family - Happy Christmas, Merry Hanukkah, Hope you have a nice Kwanza and Blessed Be for the Winter Solstice.

Update: Story Time Train to Rockport

July 10th, 2008

We went yesterday, in the 90 degree weather, and I’ve got to say that we had a lot of fun, although my 2.5 year old son wasn’t too interested in listening to the story-tellers and musician… although Nora Dooley captivated him (for about 45 seconds before he was monkeying around again.)  I think he would have enjoyed Tony Toledo; we’ve seen him before and he’s great!

The day started out with sleeping in and breakfast, and we met our friends at the Swampscott train station at 10:30am.  We hopped on the train with our stollers and bag lunches and my son absolutely adored staring out the window at the passing cars, sailboats and stinkpots, aka. motorboats. (We’re a sailing family and don’t enjoy the smell that accompanies those speedy critters.)

After arriving in Rockport, we walked 5 minutes to the park, found a grassy spot under a cool tree and enjoyed our lunches along with the other 80 or so families.  There was a wonderful energy from all the kids.  Without delay, the three story-tellers and the musician began their rounds.  We stayed in our place and they each spent about 10 minutes with us before moving on to the next shady tree and group of people.  Additionally, there was a table where kids got temporary tattoos.

The Rockport beach bathhouse was a couple of steps away, and there was a swing and slide at the park.  The kids were excited to find a large turtle inhabiting the small pond.

Before long, it was time for us to pack up and get back to the train station.  It was very hot, so many people stopped into the Dunkin Donuts for a cool drink.  I waited on the platform until the train arrived and found a seat for my son and myself on an air conditioned train car.  Unfortunately, only three of the five train cars were air conditioned… not the best situation with hundreds of tired, hot kids…. who became very LOUD as the train pulled out of Rockport.

Altogether, the libraries pulled together a simple and fun outing for us and our kids.  Thank you!!!

I’d love to hear any other comments that you have about the day.