Get Your Summer On!

Um, Smile!

Written by Just Add Kids Founder,

Paula Herrmann

It was the highlight of my life, being a post-college, 20 something year old. Year after year. A tradition. I'd take off of work for a week, just so that I could spend every vacation day soaking up the sun, the sights, and the sounds; eating my chive fry lunch accompanied by a Miller Lite (or 5, who was counting?). Oh the life, before children. I LIVED for Summerfest!

Fast-forward to the summer of my 30th year. My first year of mommyhood. Why not bring baby in the stroller to see Kool and the Gang? Baby-friendly...I think not. Kid-friendly? Read More...I would've questioned that a couple of years ago when I dragged our gang of 6 down to the Henry Maier Festival Grounds so I could share and relive with my tweens and littles the joy found in a plate of Saz's Chive Fries. Funny, they weren't overly impressed.

My husband reflected back to the day his drinking ceased. Seriously. A day at Summerfest forever etched in my memory (and of course, his) that I will not fully share the details of, ended his days of drinking alcohol. Let's just say, he lost his cookies (or rather gyro and beers) after a ride. Yikes! Sorry.

Okay, let's get back to the kid-friendly topic...if I told you that my kids enjoyed it, I'd be lying. Maybe a few things here and there. Yet, mostly, they complained while my hubs and I tried to get them excited about the BMX bike demonstration, food, music, shopping, waiting around as we bumped into and conversed with a few people. Hmmm. We dragged it out as long as we could so at least we could say we gave it a shot for the admission investment.

So now a few years have passed. And guess what? I am willing to give Summerfest another shot with the family. I don't know, maybe we just didn't plan it right the last time. Or...maybe Summerfest has ramped up their kid-, family-friendliness game.

At Just Add Kids, we've pulled out and highlighted the family fun at the big gig and posted each day on our website's Happenings Calendar of Events in the event you want to bring the youngins'. Oh yah, and the daily admission promotions are posted daily, so hopefully you can save a few bucks (more money for chive fries!)

A couple of things we're looking forward to are the paddle boats (seriously, how refreshing), the zipline (wheeee!) and personally, I have an affection for robots, so I can't wait to "take control" and learn more about the robotics programs available in SE Wisconsin (you know I'll be sharing that info with ya'll).

For those with really young ones (as young as 2), there are plenty of activities provided by who else, but Kohl's. Captivation Station features Kohl’s Wild Theater, Kohl’s Color Wheels, Kohl’s Design It! Mobile Lab and Kohl’s Building Blocks Workshop. There's also Northwestern Mutual's Children's Theater and Playzone and a Kid's Activity Tent.

So whaddaya think? Sound enticing? Let us know if you go and what you think. Posts/comments are welcomed!

Chill Out (and In)!

Snow Much Fun! by Just Add Kids Founder, Paula Herrmann Snow much? In my neck of the woods, wowza! Now that we have the holidays behind us, we can't ignore the fact that there are plenty of cold, winter days ahead. Fill those days in with some seasonal fun before that spring sun melts all of the white fluffy stuff. Just Add Kids has put together Snow Much Fun! It's a skating/sledding/skiing destination guide for Racine, Kenosha and surrounding communities. Read more... ICE SKATING Echo Lake, Burlington (595 Milwaukee Avenue) – Stairs to the lake, pavilion, benches, outdoor portable restroom. – Free. Devor Park, Burlington (394 Amanda Street) – Free. Frozen Fairway Skating Rink @ Twin Lakes Country Club (1230 Legion Drive) – Open Friday - Sunday (weather contingent) from 10:00am - 8:00pm. The cost is $5.00 daily or $20 unlimited. Skate rental is available. Free skating for all Twin Lakes Country Club Members and Junior Golf Members. Call 262-877-8500 for more info, or ...

Silly Banned

The Rubber Obsession I think my 6 year old son was the first in his class to be told he can no longer wear his silly bands or Silly Bandz (not sure if they are the real thing, or imitation, who really cares?!) to school. That was already back on September 2nd, his second day of first grade. That started it's own trend, the full blown ban of those rubbery. colorful, object-shaped bracelets in his classroom. Perhaps we'll see the full school ban in the future, or has the fad run it's course? If you're a pair of dad entrepreneurs, you hope not! They recently jumped on the Silly Bandz craze and brought to market The Original Silly Stand , designed to do what else, but keep those crazy rubber bands organized. In my house, I think we need a Silly Bandz detector. I swear, we must have a over 100, but who even knows where they are (although I dedicated a container for each of my younger silly band wearers). The funny thing is, my kids aren't wearing them a...

A Great Summer Read

Library Summer Reading Programs of Heroic Proportions! by Just Add Kids Founder, Paula Herrmann Reading over the summer months can make a huge difference for kids when they get back to school in the fall. With a lack of summer reading, children can actually loose up to three months in reading skill. Summer reading loss is cumulative, leaving some kids years behind as they get older. By the end of 6th grade, kids who lose reading skills over the summer may end up being two years behind their classmates. Wow! I know, you don't want your kid to end up on the low end of the reading spectrum. Don't let your kiddo's reading skills take a blow this summer. Read more... Our area libraries have once again come to the rescue in offering summer reading program incentives under "Every Hero Has a Story" and/or "Escape the Ordinary", this years themes for a nationwide summer reading program collaborative of public libraries. POW! P retty O utstanding W ins for th...

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