Longmont Lights just keeps getting better!

Last year I thought I would miss the Holiday River Walk that the city used to host a Roger's Grove but I was wrong! The Longmont Lights events were so much fun and this year they have expanded it even more....

Look at all these events from the City of Longmont's website!

Come enjoy a magical place with sparkling trees and glittering paths. Glowing lamp posts will guide you throughout Roosevelt Park. A week long event with the following activities:

• Friday, December 5 - Downtown Longmont Tree Lighting is at 6pm, activities and holiday carriage rides 5pm- 8pm. Roosevelt Park kick off lighting is at 5pm. Free carriage rides will pick up from St.Stephens Plaza and the St.Vrain Memorial Building.


• Saturday, December 6, 10am-6pm- Ice Skating at Roosevelt Park with free skate rental.


• Sunday, December 7, Mini Gingerbread House Workshop 1-3pm at the Longmont Rec Center, 310 Quail Road. Free drop-in class, but space is limited.


• Monday, December 8, 4:30pm and 7pm - Movie Night at the Longmont Theatre presenting "It's a Wonderful Life". Come enjoy the downtown restaurants before or after his family oriented movie.


• Tuesday, December 9, 6:30pm Library Holiday Story telling with Spellbinders.


• Wednesday, December 10, 5pm-8pm National Collage Society 24th Annual Juried Exhibit. The Exhibit continues through January 11, 2009. (Tue-Sat. 9-5; Wed 9-8; Sun 1-5). Free. Longmont Museum.


• Thursday, December 11, 7:30pm Holiday Ice Show at the Ice Pavilion in Roosevelt Park.


• Friday, December 12
  5:00-8:00p.m. Park Lights & Light Show, Fire Pits, Hot Cocoa
  5:00p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Drop–in Santa’s Workshop & Live Reindeer – Memorial Building (Santa Claus invites you and your child (8 & under) to visit his local workshop on this special evening. Parent/child will be making toys, crafts and visiting with Santa himself. Bring your camera to take pictures. This workshop is presented by Recreation Services - Small Wonders Preschool. Please pre-register by calling 303-651-8404. Admission is Free)
  6:30p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Dance (Live Band) - Senior Center
  New in 2008 - Rose Garden Light Show - set to music!


• Saturday, December 13
  5:00-8:00p.m. Park Lights & Light Show, Fire Pits, Hot Cocoa
  5:00 p.m. Parade of Lights – Main Street & Coffman Street
  6:30p.m Fireworks off of the Memorial Building
  (700 Longs Peak Avenue)
  New in 2008 - Rose Garden Light Show - set to music!

Longmont's new recycling program

Do you love the new mixed recycling from the City of Longmont as much as I do? I know it's a small change but removing that center divider and changing from two lids to one is fantastic! I love the increased types of things you can recycle (cardboard, cereal boxes, more types of plastic, yay!) but the no sorting part just makes my life so much easier :) How do all feel about it? Are you recycling more now? I hope so!

Santa's House!

We went to this for the first time last year and had a GREAT time! We hope to make it again this year! I know, it's in Boulder not Longmont, but it's so much fun for the little ones that I can't help but tell you about it :)

SANTA'S HOUSE
(NOW IN ITS's 39th year!)
at Pi Beta Phi Sorority House
(all dressed up to look like the North Pole)
890 11 Street, Boulder
Saturday & Sunday Dec 6 & 7
TIMES: 10-4pm (best time 2-4)
$3 per child

Entertainment at Santa's House:

Music with Madelyn singing holiday songs
Maureen the puppet lady with her famious Christmas puppet show
Mother goose telling stories
Carnival game room for little tykes
Coloring room
Sitting on the laps of Mr and Mrs Claus
Being greeted by Snoopy and Giant xmas bear
Bake sale

All proceeds benefit children's charities in Boulder!

See you there!

Thanksgiving At Crackpots

"Day After" Thanksgiving Special at Crackpots! They open at 7am on the day after Thanksgiving with $2 studio fees if you finish by 10am. A fun tradition... come in your PJ's or to relax after your 5 am shopping spree.

Can't get out of bed that early? That's okay, check out their calendar for other specials during the week.

What a fun way to spend the day - painting pottery with your kids and making some Christmas presents or ornaments for your own tree!

If you'd rather go their some other day and still want a deal on your studio fee, print a coupon from here!

Only two more Saturdays to enjoy Sunflower Farms this year!

From Sunflower Farms...

Just a reminder!!! Sunflower Farm is open two more Saturdays and then we are closed for the winter! Nice weather tomorrow, so join us!!!
WHAT: Kid's Farmfest
WHEN: Nov. 22, and 29
TIME: 10-3:00
COST: $6 per person
Ride the pony, zip on the zipline, feed the animals, play in the giant treehouse, swing on the tire swings or nap in the hammocks. Lunch is not being served--so bring a picnic!

--
Sunflower Farm
11150 Prospect Road
Longmont, CO 80504
303-774-8001
http://www.sunflowerfarminfo.com

FREE produce at Miller Farms this weekend!

Free produce for picking at Miller Farms THIS weekend 11/22 and 11/23!

Go to Miller Farms this weekend to harvest what they have left in their fields. You'll be allowed to harvest up to 10 10 lb bags of produce PER PERSON! Wow! They have red and Yukon potatoes, beets, carrots, and onions as well as a few pie pumpkins and leeks. What a great way to save money and enjoy local produce!!!

http://www.millerfarms.net/index.html

December Home Depot Kids Workshop

Home Depot offers FREE clinics for kids! Home Depot's workshops are held on the first Saturday of each month from 9 am to noon and are designed for kids ages 5 thorugh 12. The next workshop is Saturday, December 6th, and they'll be making an art easel! See here for more information.

Family Craft night at the library

Next Monday, November 17th, the Longmont Public Library will host a FREE craft event for families. From 6:30 to 7:30 pm come to the library to make a "gingerbread" house from graham crackers, candy and lots of icing. This even is for all ages but the littlest ones will need help, of course! For more info please see the November 2008 Storytime and Events calendar.

Getting caught up!

I've been so busy lately that I haven't had much time to devote to this blog but will do my best to get back on track this weekend! If you've emailed me asking for information or for me to post something about your event or business, don't worry! I haven't forgotten about you and will respond soon!

Ice Pavilion opens Saturday!

I read the opening date for the outdoor ice rink a few weeks ago and thought it was impossible that the ice rink would be opening so soon since at the time I read it we still hadn't taken the winter coats out of the closet! It's true, though, the Longmont outdoor ice rink opens tomorrow, Saturday November 15th for the 2008-2009 season! Here are the details:

When: It's open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday
Where: Longmont Ice Pavilion at Roosevelt Park, 725 Eighth Ave.
Cost: FREE (but only on Saturday)
More information: Call 303-774-4777 or visit www.ci.longmont.co.us/rec/icerink/index.htm

It's not too late to register for skating lessons or hockey! We're definitely looking forward to some family time out on the ice!

Veteran's Day Parade

I've searched for info on the Veteran's Day parade over the last several weeks but wasn't able to find anything until it was finally in the paper today! The parade will be held this Saturday, November 8th! The parade will start at 11:11 am at Roosevelt Park and will make its way down Main Street to 4th Avenue, west on 4th and then back to Roosevelt Park via Coffman. Be sure to wear your red, white and blue and come out and support our troops!

Upcoming Lowe's Build and Grow Clinics

Have you been to a Lowe's Build and Grow Clinic? They look like so much fun! And who can beat time spent making something for FREE in a location other than your home so it doesn't matter how much of mess you make? :)

Here are the upcoming dates and projects:

Saturday, November 8th - Semi-Truck
Saturday, November 22nd - Football Goal
Saturday, December 13th - Gingerbread House

They're all held at 10 am on the dates listed above at the Lowe's in the Harvest Junction shopping center here in Longmont. You can register and also see a picture of the projects by visiting https://www.lowesbuildandgrow.com/. These projects are recommended for kids in the first through fifth grades but I understand from friends that younger kids have fun as well - they just need a bit more help of course!

Have fun!

34th Annual Turkey Trot!

I completely spaced posting about the Turkey Trot! It's next Saturday, November 8th, at Westview Middle School. The 10K run starts at 9 am and the 2 mile Fun Run starts at 9:15. Unfortunately it's too late to register by mail but you can register at Centennial Pool through the 5th and also at the race on Saturday. See more info on this City of Longmont page. Happy running!

Winter Wonderland Play Day

From a City of Longmont webpage:
"Moms and dads here is your chance to get a few things done before the holiday. Drop your child off to play with all the fund toys in our preschool. Your child can enjoy making arts and crafts, sculpting with play dough, reading books, putting puzzles together and more. Enjoy this opportunity for a couple of hours of free time while your child is entertained by our Recreation Staff.
Ages - 3-5,
December 23, 9am-11:30am
Resident $18.00, Non-resident $23.00"

Sounds fun! The page I linked to above has more info about other programs the Rec Center offers for preschoolers too - check it out!

Catching up...

I've been neglecting you lately, huh? Sorry about that! October is by far my favorite month of the year so spending any more time than necessary sitting at the computer just doesn't sound like fun! Did you all have a great Halloween? I didn't count our trick or treaters on Friday night but we had many more than usual since the weather was so nice! We spent much more time going door to door ourselves and had a blast!

There's so much going on in Longmont in the next few months! More info coming soon :)

The most important thing this week? The election, of course! If you didn't vote early or haven't returned your mail in ballot yet, don't forget to drop it off or vote at your polling place! I won't tell you how I think you should vote for any office or issue but I do hope that you exercise your right to vote and also talk with your children about it. My oldest knows quite a bit about the presidential candidates and isn't afraid to tell you who he's voting for! :) Yeah, he doesn't quite get the whole "legal voting age" thing but oh well. I'm just glad he has some age-appropriate ideas about what's going on in the world :)