Mayday! Mayday! How did it get to be May already?

Sure, time is flying, but April is going out in style with Ag Fest, the opening of How I Became a Pirate and the giant Just Between Friends re-sale this weekend! For more family fun ideas every day, check out our online calendar.

ALL WEEKEND

Ag Fest. Touch, taste and experience life on the farm. More…

Category: WOW! (What's On this Weekend) // Posted on April 29, 2011 // Leave a Comment

Last week I wrote about my family’s efforts to learn about fire safety. This week, I want to share some valuable — and surprising — information I gathered along the way.

One of my main fire safety questions turned out to something of a red herring because what I had considered an important part of our home fire safety plan is, in reality, questionable at best. I was curious to find out how many fire extinguishers we should have in our home, where they should be placed, if they need to be inspected at regular intervals and, if so, how/where? More…

Category: Safety // Posted on April 27, 2011 // Leave a Comment

Two exciting events are coming up the week of Mother’s Day — Run Mama Run and an evening with author Anne Crittenden — and we’re thrilled to offer you a chance to win free tickets to both. More…

Category: Contests, Events/Performances // Posted on April 25, 2011 // Leave a Comment

Happy Earth Day, Happy Easter and Happy Passover! We couldn’t fit all the festive happenings into a single blog post, so after you check out the ideas that follow, have a look at our roundups of Earth Day activities and Easter Egg hunts, and our online calendar, too! More…

Category: WOW! (What's On this Weekend) // Posted on April 22, 2011 // 1 Comment

If you’d like to help get more family-friendly legislation passed in Salem – or if you’d just like to find out more about how legislation in Oregon affects families – AND you’d like to enjoy an evening out with an interesting and inspiring group of local moms (just like you!), you’re in luck!

The Mother PAC, a political action committee formed by moms to promote family-friendly legislation in Oregon, is hosting their second Moms’ Night Out next week. More…

Category: Events/Performances, Politics // Posted on April 20, 2011 // Leave a Comment

Like most of the parents I know, the recent earthquake/tsunami/nuclear fiasco in Japan got me thinking, once again, about how prepared my family is for emergencies. The answer? Not very. I created a disaster kit several years ago (after 9/11), but I’ve done little to keep it updated. (Expired canned goods anyone?) Plus, it’s in the basement and quite bulky, so it’s not really portable and probably wouldn’t be accessible if there’s serious damage to our home.

I now realize it’s not feasible for me to keep everything we’ll need in any given emergency available and accessible, so I’ve decided to focus on the things we CAN do to prepare. More…

Category: Safety // Posted on April 18, 2011 // 2 Comments

It’s a weekend of celebration, from KidFest! at the Portland Expo Center to Packy’s Birthday at the Oregon Zoo, plus plenty more. Check out our picks below, then take a look at our online calendar for even more options.

ALL WEEKEND

KidFest. Family fair featuring entertainment, information and fun, with an emphasis on kids, camps, babies and sports. Don’t miss the special Egg Hunt at 9 am each day to benefit Easter Seals, including More…

Category: WOW! (What's On this Weekend) // Posted on April 15, 2011 // Leave a Comment

If you’re looking for something fun to do with the kids this weekend – and you want to learn about some cool local resources for families – you’re in luck! The northwest’s largest family-focused expo is hitting the Portland Expo Center April 16 and 17. More…

Category: Events/Performances // Posted on April 13, 2011 // Leave a Comment

Earth Day falls on April 22 each year, but we know most of our readers strive to raise children who are responsible stewards of the Earth every day. Still, it never hurts to focus on our environmental responsibilities –- and the joys of the great outdoors -– when Earth Day does roll around.

To help you find ways to celebrate our wonderful planet, More…

Category: Events/Performances, Nature // Posted on April 11, 2011 // Leave a Comment

Bicycles are all the rage at Pedal Nation this weekend, plus there are craft activities, storytelling, museum tours, nature walks, puppet shows and more. You’ll find our picks below. As always, check our online calendar for more options every day of the month.

ALL WEEKEND

Pedal Nation. Bike convention with loads of activities, demos and workshops, plus Portland’s largest display of bicycles, gear and apparel. More…

Category: WOW! (What's On this Weekend) // Posted on April 8, 2011 // Leave a Comment

If you’re a parent, it’s a good bet you’ve struggled to decide whether or not to take your child to an urgent care clinic at least once. The middle ground between waiting for an appointment with your primary care physician and rushing to the emergency room, urgent care provides an opportunity to see a doctor on short notice without the potential trauma of the ER. But how do you know when it’s appropriate to visit an urgent care clinic rather than waiting to see your child’s regular doctor – or dialing 9-1-1 and heading to the ER? More…

Category: Health and Wellness, Online Articles // Posted on April 6, 2011 // Leave a Comment

Once again we’re happy to share the great deals and coupons you’ll find in our current issue. So without further ado, here they are, in order of appearance:

Learning Palace: Take 15 percent off your entire purchase – Page 8
Little Smiles Pediatric Dentisty: Free initial exam for children under 3 – Page 10
Bob’s Red Mill: Buy two items, get the third free, at the Bob’s Red Mill Store in Milwaukie- Page 23 More…

Category: Coupons and Deals // Posted on April 4, 2011 // Leave a Comment