ReadySetMom

Make red fans for Lunar New Year at Multnomah County Libraries in January 2009

Red fans = good luck and prosperity. The Multnomah County Library will host a series of free, red fan-making events during the month of January:

• January 10, 2-4pm @ Northwest Library
• January 25, 2-4pm @ Fairview-Columbia Library
• January 26, 3:30-4:30pm @ Hillsdale Library

Children of all ages may decorate accordion style fans with Chinese symbols.

You can also celebrate Slavic New Year at the Midland Library this Saturday, January 10 from noon to 5pm with music, dancing crafts and Russian treats. Yum! Will there be any vodka for the moms?

Parent education on raising daughters at Rieke on January 22

There came a time during the toddler-hood of my oldest daughter when I stopped reading the baby books. The kind that offer all kinds of well meaning but conflicting advice on how to raise your kids. When you've kept alive a kid for several years in a row, you either start to feel like you know what you're doing, or else you just say "Screw it, I'll wing it from here on out." And for the most part, that works for me. I also have a pretty strong network of mom friends. I pay attention to what works for them, and try new things from time to time.

Where I do feel like I might be lacking is in special knowledge regarding raising girls. I have two. I dread the time when they will both be teenagers and there will not be near enough hair dryers or bathrooms in our house. That's why I'm greatly looking forward to a parent education talk called "Raising our Daughters" to be held at Rieke Elementary on January 22 from 7 to 8:30pm. Kathy Masarie, a pediatrician who left her practice to found the non-profit Full Esteem Ahead. Her talk will focus on understanding the conflicting pressures that young girls in elementary and middle schools experience. The cost of the presentation is $10 (payable via check in the Rieke Elementary office). Seating is limited to 65 people.

Celebrating New Year's Eve in Portland with kids

New Year's Eve is tough to pull off in style with kids. Since ringing in the new year is centered around Champagne, staying up late, good food and dancing, really, aren't we all better off if we invest in a good sitter and just take the night off from parenting? Perhaps, but unless you booked that sitter 6 months ago, you may be out of luck.

In any case, there are a few family events planned for today:

• There's Countdown to 2009 at Borders bookstores will be hosting games, crafts and parades at 2pm. Use the store locator to find one near you.
• Airplay Cafe New Year's Celebration. Music, sandwich buffet and a sparkling cider toast. All ages, 5-7pm. $15 adults, $7 kids. Reservations required.
• New Year at Noon at the Portland Children's Museum. Make crazy hats. Toast (again) with sparkling cider. All ages. Regular admission.
• Make noisemakers and calendars at Little Urbanites. Noisemakers? We need to make more? I have two children. They make enough noise, thank-you-very-much. Noon to 3pm.

Whether you make it out or not, do raise your glass to Sam Adams who will be sworn in as mayor at midnight tonight. Also, Trimet will be giving free rides after 8pm. Be safe everyone, and have a happy new year!!

If you know of any other family events for ringing in the new year with kids to add to the list, please post in the comments. Thanks!

Peacock Lane is car-free this Sunday, Dec. 14

Except for the fact that it might possibly be freezing cold and blizzarding on Sunday, what a great opportunity to see the lights without all the exhaust! But do you really think it's going to happen? I mean how many times have those crazy weather people predicted the STORM OF THE CENTURY and then bupkis? You get all geared up, you mentally cancel all of your plans and then they're all 'oh, my bad.' So we'll see. We're planning to get our tree on Sunday, so I'm hoping it's all a bunch of hoo-ha. Peacock Lane is open from 5-10pm on Sunday for pedestrians only, and then 6-10pm nightly until through Dec. 31.

Shop Hillsdale & Multnomah Village, Dec. 5-7

Yes, the economy stinks and you probably don't want to spend any money. Neither do I. But I would feel awful if local shops like Thinker Toys, Paloma Clothing, Annie Blooms, Switch Shoes and the new Hillsdale wine shop, Korkage, went out of business because no one is shopping. Have you checked out the new baking shop, Sweet Wares, in Hillsdale yet? Darling! This is the weekend to shop in your community because lots of stores are having sales (20% off at Paloma). Also, the Neighborhood House and Loaves & Fishes in Multnomah Village are always taking donations! Check out the weekend line-up:

Friday, Dec. 5

9am-9pm: Winter Arts & Crafts sale at Multnomah Arts Center

10am: Make holiday pop-up cards at Hillsdale Library (limited seating)

6-9pm: Carriage rides at Key Bank in Multnomah Village during First Friday (and stores are open late)

6:42pm: Light the Christmas tree with Santa in the Village, and carolers all night long

Saturday, Dec. 6

8am: Kiwanis Club pancake breakfast at the Lucky Lab with Santa

9am-3pm: Winter Arts & Crafts sale at Multnomah Arts Center

Noon-4pm: Carriage rides through the Village, and more carolers

Sunday, Dec. 7

10am-1pm: Hillsdale Farmers Market (stop by the Crabapple Company booth for yummy preserved gifts. Their mango-pear chutney is amazing.)

11am-1pm: Holiday Sing and Chili Feed on the Food Front veranda

Stuff to do this week, Dec. 2-4

I don't know about you, but I'm just not feeling it. You know, that old holiday spirit. Maybe I need to have a heart-to-heart with Santa. Dude, where's my jolly?

Santa Storytime and Photo Op, Tuesday from 5-7pm, Airplay Cafe: Santa will be hanging at the cafe, reading books and posing for photos. The kiddos can decorate a frame for their prized photo. Stay for dinner! $5 per child. 701 E. Burside.

Ladybug Theatre presents The Gingerbread Man, Wednesday & Thursday 10:30am: This is such a great little program and a good way to introduce proper theatre manners. Tickets are $3.50; infants free. 8210 SE 13th in Sellwood.

Polar Express Party, Thursday at 11am, Barnes & Noble-Lloyd Center: A train conductor reads the story, plus games, crafts and treats. FREE.

Looking for holiday craft project ideas for kids (or yourself)? Head up to SCRAP! The shop is loaded with arts and craft supplies donated by businesses and individuals. They have stuff that will blow your mind. Seriously cheap, seriously cool. Plus they always have little project ideas all over the shop. Definitely worth a visit. 3901 N. Williams.

Tips on tree-lighting ceremony at Pioneer Courthouse Square

Last year I took my family to the tree lighting at Pioneer Courthouse Square. Being one of those religiously "on time" and/or "early" people -- we got there well before the announced start time. It was cold. It was crowded. The kids got very hungry. It finally got going around the time they said, but then there were speeches and talking heads going on and on and on, interspersed with musical numbers. It was far too long for my kids. Sorry to sound like such a crank, but I just wanted to advise that you may not want to arrive right on time and get in the middle of it all if you only want to see the lights go on. If that's more your speed, plan to arrive a good half hour after the festivities are slated to start, then hover around the outside. This year's tree lighting is schedule to start at 5:30pm in Pioneer Courthouse Square. Have fun if you go!!

School's out Nov 24-28: get out for your sanity!

When there are days off from school as there are this week in Portland Public Schools, it's either a "woo hoo" for those of you who enjoy quality time with your kids, and a "boo hoo" from some of us who excel in other areas (how's that for diplomacy?). I have every right to be firmly in the "boo hoo" category as I have one kid who ended up sick last Friday, and missed school. And one that got sick over the weekend. So our options for getting out to play are decidedly limited this week. Boo hoo!! At least the forecast is sunny and dry, so perhaps we'll take our germy selves over to the park if we can summon up the energy.

• For the rest of you, we were excited to see that the Oregon Zoo will be free on Thanksgving -- so that ought to be a fun way to blow off some steam on the cheap.
• Christmas at Pittock Mansion is up and running. I took my kids to this for the first time last year, and they loved it.
• SCRAP has got some workshops scheduled.

What other fun things are on your radar this week?

Get out and play! Nov. 21-23

All of that holiday stuff is starting to happen -- the Polar Express is running, the Winter Wonderland holiday lights extravaganza has started sucking energy from the grid -- and I've heard rumors that Santa has set up shop at the mall. Can Thanksgiving really be next week? As we say in fake France -- IN-CROY-ABLA!

Monsters, Music and More, Nov. 21, 7pm: Grammy-winning Bill Harley shares stories and music for the whole family. Part of the library's Tapestry of Tales. Parkrose High School, 12003 NE Shaver. Tickets: adults $10, kids $5.

Tapestry of Tales Family Matinees, Nov. 22: Free performances at various libraries around Portland (including Hillsdale, Central, Sellwood and more). Check site for times.

German Holiday Market, Nov. 22-23: Celebrate all things German -- gifts, decor, music, food and crafts -- at the market benefitting the German American School. FREE admission. 3900 SW Murray

Handprint Tiles at Spoiled Rotten, Nov. 22, 10am-4pm: Make a keepsake without all the mess in your own house. $18 per tile. 5656 Hood St., West Linn.

Meet Clifford the Big Red Dog, Barnes & Noble at Clackamas Town Center, Nov. 22 at 11am. Ruff. FREE.

Family Dance at Airplay Cafe, Nov. 22, 10am-Noon: Spin and twirl to a family-friendly DJ. FREE. 701 E. Burnside.

Little Kids Jamboree at Mississippi Pizza, Nov. 22, 4pm: Lorna Miller is a Portland staple in kid's entertainment AND you can drink beer. 3552 N. Mississippi Ave. FREE.

I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie, Tigard Library, Nov. 23 at 1:30pm: FREE.

As always, add more events in the comments section!

Education & Enrichment Fair, Wed. Nov. 19

Metro Parent's FREE Education & Enrichment Fair is tomorrow at the World Forestry Center from 3-7:30pm. Looking for a preschool or other activities for your kids? Chances are you'll find a good fit at this fair, which brings together a wealth of resources for parents. Parking is free, too. 4033 SW Canyon Rd., next to the Children's Museum.