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Power and Grace School
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American Escapes
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Toy Fair
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Jumpin Jupiter
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Cheeburger Cheeburger
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| Christmas Trees & Saying Cheese! |
Happy Thanksgiving from SBfamilies.com! Now that we are all full of turkey and dressing, it's time to get down to business! We only have about 28 days till Christmas! That means we have to buy a tree (or pull one out of storage), decorate the house, send holiday cards, buy presents...whew - I'm pooped just thinking about it all. But, this is also a time for making memories with your children and giving them the holiday spirit.
O' Christmas Tree
One of my children's favorite activities is decorating the Christmas Tree. They beg and beg us to buy it early and always want to decorate it immediately. This year, we have decided to get one from one of the Christmas Tree Farms. You can cut it down or they will do it for you. What a great way to start a new family tradition!
Check out tips on Selecting the Perfect Christmas tree & Caring For Your Tree before your family adventure.
Smile! It's Picture Time!
Another memorable task that looms over us every year is sending Holiday Cards. Even more so, sending a family picture to show how everyone has grown in the past year. I can remember how fun (and I use that term loosely) it was getting the kids dressed up and then trying to find the perfect spot to take a Christmas photo. One year in particular, we took them to the Norton Art Gallery and tried to take posed pictures around the little stream in the trees. We quickly realized how incredibly nuts we were to even try! My 3yr. old daughter kept trying to eat rocks and my son only wanted to throw sticks in the water. I kept getting more and more upset, however, my husband just kept taking pictures. Finally, I just held my fussy 3 year old (notice in the pic) and told my son to lean over and kiss her on the forehead while she was leaning back - Perfect Candid Shot! Everyone loved it!
Here are some great tips to help you take great pictures while your children are young. Posing just isn't an option when you have little ones, but if you are patient (and quick), you can get a great photo that everyone will just love and cherish!
Happy Holidays - Jennifer@SBfamilies.com |
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| Things To Do - SBfamilies.com Picks |
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Hot Chocolate & Horses Holiday Camp
Dec. 21-23 & Dec. 28-30
5-15 yrs. olds
JUBILEE ZOO
Shreveport, LA
www.jubileezoo.com
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Looking for something FUN for the kiddos to do while school's out for Christmas Break?
Check the
KIDS CAMP CALENDAR
You'll find:
Science Fun,
Horsemanship/Farm Fun,
Film-making, and more!
Fun for Kids,
Sanity for Parents!
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| TICKET GIVEAWAY: Amahl & The Night Visitors |
 Inspired by the Wise Men's tale of a kingdom "built on love alone," Amahl offers his own simple gift to the Christ Child. Discover the CHRISTmas Spirit.
At its premiere, The New York Times called Amahl "rare art. . . tender and exquisite."
Enter to WIN 4 TICKETS |
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click to view website |
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The Light Before Christmas IMAX
Sci-Port: Louisiana's Science Center
Date: Every day (Nov 23-Jan 3)
Ages: 0-99
Details: NEW Holiday IMAX film
City: Shreveport Phone: (318) 424-3466 view all details >> |
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click to view website |
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Shreveport Opera presents Amahl and the Night Visitors
Shreveport Opera
Date: 12/05/2009 from 7:30pm to 9:30pm
Ages: All
Details: Amahl and the Night Visitors (photo by Neil Johnson)
City: Shreveport Phone: (318) 227-9503 view all details >> |
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click to view website |
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Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet's "The Nutcracker"
Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet
Date: Every day (Dec 12-Dec 13)
Ages: from the young to young at heart
Details: The Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet presents "The Nutcracker".
City: Shreveport Phone: (318)866-9916 view all details >> |
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click to view website |
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Gingerbread House Competition
Sci-Port: Louisiana's Science Center
Date: 12/20/2009 from 12:00pm to 5:00pm
Ages: 0-99
Details: Give your kids Sci-Port fun (and yourself a little sanity) during the holidays!
City: Shreveport Phone: (318) 424-8660 view all details >> |
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click to view website |
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Christmas in Roseland
American Rose Center
Date: Every Fri and Sa (Nov 27-Dec 20) from 5:30pm to 10:30pm
Ages: all
Details: Christmas in Roseland -- Lights, Light and more Lights. Beautiful displays of Christmas lights.
Also, featuring Pictures with
Special Instructions: get a group together and save on admission fees
City: Shreveport Phone: (318) 938-5402 view all details >> |
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click to view website |
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Nachotoches Festival of Lights
City of Nachotoches
Date: 12/05/2009 from 7:45am to 9:30pm
Ages: All Ages
Details: Christmas in the Park!
Phone: 318-352-6894 view all details >> |
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click to view website |
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Family Fun Night @ Cheeburger Cheeburger
Cheeburger Cheeburger
Date: Every Tues
Details: Enjoy a Live Magician and Balloon Artist while you dine 50's style on fresh 100% beef hamburgers and golden fries with a shake.
City: Shreveport view all details >> |
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| All You Need for Christmas! |
Choosing the Christmas Tree & Decorating Resources
Gift Giving
Shreveport Bossier Shopping
Holiday Season and Kids
Fun Websites for Kids
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| Hottest Toys for the 2009 Holiday Season |
Working Trucks
This magnetic toy system by Valtech lets kids construct bulldozers, squad cars, fire trucks or custom imaginary vehicles with ease>>>
Cupcake Purse
Decorate this satin covered, cupcake shaped purse with icing-like trims and a cherry topper. Use this sweet purse to hold lip gloss>>>
 Dodge Tag
Brought to you by Diggin, this is the ultimate 2 player dodgeball game. Players throw the safe, soft balls and try to stick them to their opponent's vest. Run, dodge, and throw. If the ball sticks, it's a hit!>>>
See more HOT TOYS from Toy Fair for 2009>>>
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| Tips for Mom-Photographers |
One Photographer's Tricks for Mom-Photographers
by Mom & Photographer Kelly Cathey
I want to remember every little squeal, scream, and giggle. Admittedly, it is difficult to stop chasing a toddler to snap a picture of her sliding down a slide or dumping sand on her head. But, the endless rewards of capturing my children at play keeps me snapping!
As a photographer, I have learned a few tricks that are sure to help every mom. Read the entire article to see all my tips.
1. Lighting! Most moms shoot in "automatic" mode of the camera. It is a great way to shoot, but keep these things in mind when you are using this feature: Backlight and Avoid Midday Sunlight or Find the Shade more>>>
2. Focus on the Child. Close-up or crop & framing more>>>
3. Details! Sometimes the story is in the details more>>>
4. Perspective! Get on their level, get high and get low more>>>
5. Scale! Placing something in the photograph that shows the scale of how small they are works beautifully more>>>
6. Just keep clicking! In the digital world, the cost of taking many pictures in minimal. So, just keep shooting more>>>
View Kelly's Photography Detailed Tips>>>
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| Mom Blogs |
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Recess Rage
By Leslie Dinaberg
When kids don't get to run around and play, we all pay the price. This is why I'm absolutely dumbfounded that all educators don't get this very simple and painfully obvious reality: when they don't play, we all pay-dearly!
This is also why I get so worked up when I hear about teachers punishing a child for not doing their homework, or misbehaving in class, by keeping them inside during recess. All kids need to run around and let off steam on a regular basis, but kids who have a hard time in class need the break even more.
I've got plenty of anecdotal evidence from my own son and his friends, and there's even scholarly research to back me up. I love when that happens.>>>Mom Blogs
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TV is bad? Define "bad"
by Starshine Roshell
Whenever I think I'm doing a decent job of raising my kids, something happens to convince me that I am, in fact, profoundly inept at the job.
Most recently it was the news that the Baby Einstein company is offering refunds to anyone who bought its DVDs in the last five years. Here's why: Turns out the show doesn't actually make kids any smarter.
I know. It's shocking. >>>Mom blogs
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