Dumfries Black History Month Celebration

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Published: 02/06/2013
The Town of Dumfries will present a Black History Month Celebration entitled "Believe, Achieve, Succeed: Showcasing Inspiring Testimonials from Change Agents in Our Community".  Light refreshments will follow. 

Saturday, February 9, 2013
12pm-2pm
Little Union Baptist Church
17150 Mine Road
Dumfries VA 22026

Save the Date Dumfries 2013

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Published: 01/23/2013
Dumfries already has their 2013 events planned! Save the dates for fun family events in Prince William County!


Project Butterfly Wings, Weems Botts Museum

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Published: 09/10/2012


Project Butterfly Wings

Free Children’s Day at the
Museum — October 6, 2012

10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

¨ Supplies are included
¨ Fun Crafts to do
¨ Snacks will be provided

Note:
¨ Dress for the weather
¨ Dress for the mess
¨ Use bug spray if needed
¨ Use Sunscreen if needed


Project Butterfly WINGS is a hands-on opportunity for youth to learn about butterflies, their habitat, behavior & more through developing their own butterfly observation site.  Learn how to make your own “Butterfly Garden!”  WINGS participants will monitor butterflies at Historic Dumfries, and can continue to conduct regular surveys of the butterfly’s visiting. Youth will contribute to national research…WOW!  Participants can expect to be out in nature, interact with WINGS technology, learn from expert Master Gardeners, make crafts, play games and have FUN!

Historical Native Plants of Virginia will be used!  Follow-up in the Spring to create a Colonial Vegetable Garden


Sponsored by:  PWC Cooperative Extension - Master Gardener Program,  4H Project Butterflies, PWC Historical Commission, Bel Air Woman’s Club and Historic Dumfries VA, Inc.


Please RSVP to Joann Barron at
Phone: 703-221-2218

Town of Dumfries Fall Festival 2012

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Published: 09/04/2012
Join the Town of Dumfries for a kid-friendly Fall Festival, with plenty of grown-up appeal, too!!


4th of July Events 2012

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Published: 06/25/2012
Looking for something fun to do in or around Prince William County for the 4th of July? Fireworks, baseball, and kid friendly family fairs are all on our list of great things to do this Independence Day in Prince William County!


June 30th- 
Fireworks at Tim's Rivershore (Note- we just got an email from a reader that there can be quite a few inebriated folks at this event.  Might be better off to hop in the car and head "that direction" to view the fireworks rather than hang out at the restaurant).
July 4th- 
Dale City Parade starts at 10am and runs from Kirkland Drive to Gemini Way (the commuter parking lot where the Dale City Farmer's Market meets).  Note that Dale Boulevard closes early on in the morning and will be one lane each direction until around 12:30pm.  Plan to get a spot early and bring a bag for the candy that gets tossed.  After the parade, there is a Family Fun Day in the commuter lot.  Bring cash for snacks and activities. 


The City of Manssas celebrates the 4th with a family fun day, carnival rides, food, fun and fireworks.  Meet at the Old Train Depot (9431 West Street) at 4pm for entertainment with fireworks at 9:15pm.

Near Fairfax? Mount Vernon will offer an historical spin on the nation's birthday with events from 9:30-2:30 including a daytime fireworks display and historical ice cream making. 


If you live further south, consider heading to George Washington's boyhood home- Ferry Farm- and enjoying several games and events from 10-5. Admission is $1 per person with active duty military free. When you're done at Ferry Farm, Pratt Park (120 River Road, Fredericksburg) will have live music and fireworks with festivities beginning at 6 and going to 9:30pm, parking is free but limited and alcohol is not permitted. 


Manassas Park will have fireworks at Signal Hill Park from 7-10pm.  Admission is free, but on-site parking is $5 starting at 5pm.  Omnilink does stop near by if you'd rather take the bus to the commuter lot.


Montclair Virginia has fireworks starting at 9:15pm at Dolphin Beach.  You must be an MPOA member to be on the beach.  However, you do not have to be an MPOA member to take advantage of a side-street view.


A favorite of my family's is the Potomac Nationals game! Head out for baseball and a hot dog (no apple pie that I know of, but it's pretty darn American anyway!) at 6:35, and stay after the game for a fantastic fireworks show.
July 7th
The Workhouse Arts Center will host Patriotic Fireworks Show at 9pm after a full day of fun programming.  The fireworks are free, just bring a lawn chair. 

Readers Recommend: Best Pizza in Prince William County

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Published: 06/22/2012
When I asked a reader question about the Best Real Pizza in Prince William County, I got a TON of responses! From Deep Dish in Dumfries to Meat Lovers in Manassas, you guys have some serious feelings about Pizza!! Here are the responses!  If you have a favorite location for the Best Pizza in Prince William County, be sure to leave a comment!!


Tony's in Bristow/Manassas/Bull Run/Haymarket x25
(Manassas Location is the Best, We moved to Manassas from Woodbridge to be closer to that place!) 



Astoria's 123/Route 1 in Woodbridge x15
(My husband's favorite and he went to culinary school! Best in the area!) 

Amici's Pizza off Hoadly Road x5
(Run by an Italian Family.  If you pick it up you get Buy One Get One free for Large One-Topping)

Presto Pizza in Merchant Plaza x5
(Woman is from Sicily, Run by Italian Family, Great Customer Service, grows her own basil)


Padrino's in Dale City x4

Pizza Margherita in Gainesville x4

Lake Ridge Pizzaria x3

Brooklyn Brothers in Gainesville (x3)


Papa Petrone's Take and Bake x3

zPizza x3

Brothers in Montclair x2

L&B in Dale City x2

Costco Pizza x2



Ledos of Liberia

Pizza Time in Manassas

Vocelli's

Bella Vita in Manassas on Liberia

Roma Restaurant in Lake Ridge

Big Joe's in Manassas

Pizza Spot in Manassas Park

Joe's Pizza and Subs on Route 1

Armetta's

Pizzarama in Manassas


Leesylvania Junior Ranger Program

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Published: 06/22/2012
The Junior Ranger Program at Leesylvania State Park runs several weeks this summer for various ages.  Parents may use the program as a drop-off camp or may remain with their child, if they're more comfortable.  Children as young as 4 and as old as 12 may participate in various weeks.  Please see the flier for additional information.  This fantastic park is located here on the Woodbridge/Dumfries side of Prince William County and offers several programs for families and children throughout the year.


Prince William Forest Park

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Published: 06/20/2012
Prince William Forest Park is a fantastic location for camping, hiking, and even meeting friends at the playground!  There are several entrances to the Park, including a few from route 234 in Dumfries and off route 619 past Independent Hill going to Triangle. The main entrance to the park, which I recommend you use, is the one you reach by taking exit 150B off I-95.  When you enter the park, there is a ranger station, but it may or may not be manned.  If there's no ranger, head straight down the road and you'll arrive at an information area where you can pay your $5.  Admission is good for seven consecutive days, so it's a pretty awesome deal, when you think about it that way!

Visitors Center and Welcome Station
Looping back towards the entrance, on the right hand side there is parking and a large playground with an open field.  The play area is partially shaded, but the field gets some fairly direct sunlight.  With all the trees around, you'll definitely want to do a tick check when you get home.  
Playground area with slides, climbing wall, playhouse and more

Across the street from the playground, there is a hike entrance.  I want to say the blazes are green, but I am not positive, so please don't quote me on that.  The hike is paved with shredded plastic (similar or the same to a rubber track type of feel).  It would be very stroller friendly, if you're looking to hike with a baby! 
 The hike winds you past a creek, and there are lots of signs explaining the flora and fauna, which is helpful since my kids always want to know what each individual leaf is and Google is so sick of me asking about "4 tipped leaves on flat bark trees in Virginia" that they're considering cutting me off.  I don't have to search in an encyclopedia, but I can't stay here...you know how it goes ;)
Here's another view of the playground.  The kids had a great time running around, and as a bonus, there's a BATHROOM!! Flushing toilets, running water, the whole deal.  I consider proximity of the potty to be a huge deal, so chalk that up as a win!

Prince William Forest Park has a scenic drive, as well, and it's quite pleasant.  I would have especially loved it when my first was a baby.  He had horrendous colic and the only way he slept was in motion.  A nice drive through the park would have been a great way to spend the time driving the baby!

Finally, there's camping.  We were fortunate to spend part of a night with our boy scout troop, and had a great time! There are, again, restrooms, as well as nice sites with decent parking.  We were near an outdoor area with lots of bench seating where we enjoyed a bonfire, too.  We stayed in the tent camping, but they also offer 5 cabins.  For details on camping at Prince William Forest Park, just click here. 

Breakdown-

Prince William Forest Park
Pros- nice playground, bathrooms located nearby, camping and parking
Cons- small fee, multiple entrances can be confusing to first timers (like me my first time!) 
Cautions- only that you should be sure to check for ticks, but that's any outdoor location in Virginia! 

Summer Movies Free/Cheap!

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Published: 05/21/2012

Free/Cheap Movies All Summer Long!
Here’s a list of free or inexpensive movies in Prince William County! 

Pillar Church and the Town of Dumfries will be hosting an outdoor viewing of the Muppets Movie on June 9th at 7pm outside town hall.  Popcorn is free and soda/water/hotdogs/chips will be for sale.  


Manassas Stadium 14 and Imax (11380 Bulloch Drive) will participate in the “Summer Movie Express” program where select G or PG Rated Movies show for just $1 on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings at 10:00am.  A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Will Rogers Institute. Traveling this summer? Find another participating Regal Cinemas/United Artist Theatres by clicking HERE 
June 19/20- Journey 2 & Kit Kittredge: American Girl
June 26/27- Dolphin Tale & Happy Feet Two
July 3/4- Legend of the Guardians: Owls of Ga’Hoole & Yogi Bear
July 10/11- Cats & Dogs: Revenge of Kitty Galore & Hugo
July 17/18- Adventures of Tin Tin & Puss In Boots
July 24/25- Kung Fu Panda 2 & Rango
July 31/August 1- Rio & Spy Kids: All the Time
August 7/8- Chimpanzee & Hoodwinked Too
August 14/15- Arthur Christmas & The Smurs
**Movies are subject to change at the theater’s discretion**





Chick Fil A Virginia Gateway in Gainesville (5015 Wellington Road) will be hosting a free movie night on June 9th.  The movie is outdoors and begins at 8:45pm.  Film selection is “A Turtle’s Tale”.  The rain date is June 16th, same time.  Bring your own blanket/chair (and if your kids are like mine, bring some bug spray!)




Chick Fil A Bristow will host several free movie nights this summer.  The planned schedule is as follows, but be sure to check their facebook for any updates.
June 1- Disney’s The Lion King
June 8- The Tooth Fairy
June 15- Alvin & The Chipmunks Chipwrecked
June 22- Up
June 29- The Princess Diaries
July 6- Fly Away Home
July 13- Disney’s Cow Belle’s
July 20- Veggie Tales
July 27- Firehouse Dog
August 3- Nickelodeon’s Barnyard
August 10- Everyone’s Hero
August 17- The Karate Kid
August 24- The Berenstain Bears
August 31- Herbie Fully Loaded 

The ever popular University Mall Theater (across from GMU in Fairfax) runs $2 Tuesday all year long! On Tuesdays, all shows, small popcorn, and small sodas are $2 each.  This may not be the “frilliest” or biggest theater you ever go to, but people, the price is right! In the summer, plan to go early to get your tickets as daycares and camps will show up and buy them out. 


Madison Crescent in Gainesville (Route 15 and Route 29) will be hosting Free Outdoor Movies through June:
May 25- Kung Fu Panda 2
June 1- Cars 2
June 8- The Muppets
June 15- The Smurfs
June 22- Hugo


Manassas will have free summer movies starting at 8pm!
All movies are free, but the location changes!
6/29- Costello Park Happy Feet 2
7/13- Signal Hill Park Dolphin Tale
7/27- Signal Hill Park Cars 2
8/17 Costello Park The Lorax



--Watch for more! Comcast usually does at least one or two outdoor movies at the Government Center and as soon as I hear I'll let you know!  Having your own movie event? I'm happy to share! Email me to get on this list for free! As with all PwcMoms.com lists, this information is current as of the date of publication.  I am not in charge of the weather and only list cancellations that I am informed of, so please use common sense if the weather is not cooperating and plan accordingly, either by calling or making alternate plans for your evening.  

Guest Post: Animal Shelter Children's Farm

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Published: 05/18/2012

Thanks to Sharon for the info on the Prince William County Animal Shelter Children's Farm!

My kids are crazy about animals.  We are always looking for something to do that involves our four-legged friends.  Today we ventured out to the Prince William County Animal ShelterChildren’s Farm.  If you are interested in taking your wee ones to this free exhibit, here are a few things you should know before you go.

First of all, it’s free.  Pretty cool, right?  The only requisite is that you call beforehand to make sure there is someone available to let you in.  Even though the website says they are only open on Thursdays, they will accommodate visitors provided they are adequately staffed.  The staff also recommends that you use discretion if it is raining.  This is a real barnyard with real dirt and your children can get really dirty if it is wet.  Heads up.

We arrived to the Animal Shelter parking lot and walked through the main entrance into the shelter building.  We asked at the main desk if we could be escorted back to the Children’s Farm and we were soon paired with a kind, young employee who walked us to the back and unlocked the gates.  As soon as the gates were unlocked, the fun began.  Two very friendly, very zealous potbelly pigs greeted us immediately: one named Chunk and the other Tootsie. We took a chance and brought a big bag of carrots in case they would let us feed the animals, and as it turns out, visitors are welcome to feed carrots and apples.  And, WOW, were we popular!  My children were able to feed carrots to the pigs, the white pony, all of the goats and the cow in the yard.  The animals were clean and well-groomed.  They appeared happy and well taken care of.

Our visit concluded when all of the carrots were eaten (a few may have been consumed by the humans in our group…) and the children had laughed themselves silly at all of the animal antics in the barnyard.  We stayed for about 20 minutes.

Bottom Line: Call ahead, dress for mud, bring treats, and have fun.

Address and Phone Number:
14807 Bristow Road
Manassas, VA 20112
Phone: 703-792-6465

Hours of Operation:
Tuesday: 11:00am-5:00pm
Wednesday: 11:00am-5:00pm
Thursday: 11:00am-5:00pm
Friday: 11:00am-5:00pm
Saturday: 10:00am-4:00pm
Sunday: 12:00pm-4:00pm
Monday: Closed

Sharon Kieffer Steele is a homeschooling mother of 5 who resides in Prince William County.  She is a freelance writer who occasionally blogs atsharonksteele.blogspot.com
 

Henderson Husky 5K and Fun Run 2012

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Published: 05/18/2012

Date

Start: Sunday, June 3, 2012 @ 8:00 AM

Additional Date Information

8:00 - 1 Mile
8:30 - 5K

Address

                                                                                 Henderson Elementary School
3799 Waterway Dr Dumfries, VA

Fees

Registration Closing Date

Thursday, May 31, 2012 @ 9:00 PM PST

Brief Description

The 4th Annual Henderson Husky 5K is proud to announce new course for the 5K and 1 Mile, and will be chip timed using the ChronoTrack Bib Tag Timing System.
Early Packet Pickup & Onsite Registration is available on Friday, June 1 at the Henderson Elementary Library from 3:45 PM to 7:00 PM.

Additional Information

Race Day Packet Pickup and Registration is available 6:30 AM to 7:45 AM in the Henderson Elementary Gymnasium.
T-shirt size is not guaranteed after May 18th. Family Discount is not available after May 18th.
Parking is available throughout the residential community.
Awards will be given to the following Age Groups: 5 and Under, 6-8, 9-11, 12-14, 15-18, 19-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59 & 60 and Over.

The Week in Preview May 14th to 20th, 2012

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Published: 05/14/2012
Happy Back-to-Normal Day! (Waking up with no cute Mother's Day cards shoved in your face is always such a let down on Monday morning!) I hope that you all had wonderful weekends!

For those of you that are new to PwcMoms, on Mondays I try to do a little preview of the week.  These are just events that I decide to feature, but there are tons more by clicking "Calendar" at the top of the page.  Also, check out the Event Map button, too, for a google map of the day's activities and even driving directions, if you need them!

Have a great week!

Monday
At 12pm, Chinn Library hosts their lunch bunch.  Bring a bagged lunch and listen to stories in the library's community room.  We've been to this event a few times and we always enjoy listening.  You'll be eating on the floor, so crackers and cheese and grapes is a better idea than anything requiring silverware. 

Also, in case you missed it over the weekend, we've got some amazing giveaways going on right now! First, enter to win a Bugaboo Cameleon Stroller from Baby Blossom (don't need a stroller? Why not try to win for a friend!).  This contest is one entry only, but you can enter at any of 4 participating sites.

Second, we've got Big Time Rush tickets from Jiffy Lube Live! You can enter this contest DAILY for extra chances to win! (And in response to an email, yes, your spouse can also enter daily.)

It's Dollar Night at the Potomac Nationals, too! Even if you don't want to stay for the whole game (it's a school night, after all!) it's okay to leave if the tickets were only $1! 

Tuesday
LLL of Woodbridge lost their normal meeting space and so this week, they will meet at Chinn Library.  The time is the same, but please be sure to note the location change!! 

Tuesday evening, our friends from Group Therapy Associates will be hosting two classes at Sport and Health Gainesville.  You can register for these free classes (which come with a bonus 30 day membership!) at eventbrite here:  Play Your Way To Fitness or Happier Healthier You.  I think the "Play Your Way to Fitness" class sounds especially perfect for anyone with small children, but both should be fantastic!

Tuesday is also a huge day for Kids Eat Free.  Don't forget I've got a list of Kids Eat Free options, and I'm happy to add any I'm missing! Just leave a comment! 

Wednesday
At 10:30 am, if you've got a preschooler you're going to want to be at Chinn Library for a very special fire safety stour hour with a bonus visit from PWC Fire and Rescue (and their TRUCKS!).

Also, Central Library has an Animal Farm event coming up on the 23rd, and free tickets are available beginning today.  Free tickets for these types of events always go quickly, so be sure to swing by! 

Need an indoor option? Novak's Gymnastics has open gym at 10:45 and your first visit is free.  After that it's just $5. 

Thursday
From 10am-11am it's Kidgits week at Potomac Mills Mall! You can sign up for $5 and get special gifts each month, or just show up for the entertainment.

Bull Run Library's American Girls Book Club is tonight at 7pm.  You must preregister, though, so be sure to call ahead!

Friday
From 6-9pm the JCC of DC will have a special family shabbat.  This isn't PWC, but if your family is Jewish, this sounds like a really neat event! (PS- if you go, I'm not responsible for your kids wanting to dye their hair multicolored!)

Of course, Friday night is always a hit for kids night out at Jumping Jimmy's or Kids N Motion, but be sure to register in advance for these, too, as your date night won't happen if they don't have enough kids registered by Wednesday! 

Saturday
There will be a health and fitness fair at Pfitzner Stadium from 10am-4pm.  We're told there will be rock climbing, a petting zoo, coloring, BMX demonstrations and more.  

Saturday is National Kids to Parks Day.  All VA State Parks will have a celebration of some kind, so pick your favorite and head out! Featured on our calendar is one at Occoquan Regional Park with hiking, kayaking and fitness information! 

Sunday
Sunday is Farmer's Market day at our house, but if you're looking for a few inside options, the Riverside Dinner Theatre in Fredericksburg is showing Seussical for their Kid's Matinee!

Ballet Fans? Manassas Ballet Theatre will be presenting Swan Lake at 7:30pm. 

Historic Dumfries Egg Hunt 2012

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Published: 04/17/2012
So....here's the thing. 

It's so awesome that places do free egg hunts....but...

While there were tons of eggs, children were not sub-divided enough, and the hunts for the two age groups started at the exact same time, so if you have children in the youngest age group and children in the older age group, you'll have to choose which ones you want to supervise, or make your younger child participate with all the older kids (which is what I opted to do). If there were more subdivisions than "toddler" and "everyone else" it wasn't clearly marked so I wasn't aware of them.  The hunt started two minutes early (according to my iphone) and was over in 30 seconds.  The biggest problem, though, is parents and older siblings running around preventing the kids from having fun by either taking eggs or blocking children from getting them so that their child can.

Apparently there were some larger toys (balls, etc) that were handed out, but they ran out very quickly and most of the children around us didn't get one, which was no big deal, but several children were devastated.  The Easter Bunny was on hand for pictures, and Face Odyssey was there doing face painting.  We opted to get in the face painting line, and I have to say that the Face Odyssey woman did an absolutely fantastic job.  The line was a little crazy because, again, of the parents.  We had one person standing in front of us who we assumed was holding a place for his kids.  I have no problem with that, I'd rather have the kids playing nearby than crying in line- but he was actually "holding a place" for two families with a total of 6 kids, so when we thought we were next, we actually had 6 kids leap in front of us.  Not awesome.

By the time we got to the front of the line, the event had actually ended and there were still people waiting behind us.  The Easter Bunny was gone, and the lady from Face Odyssey had decided to stay late to try to get everyone who'd waited so long through.  I'm not sure if they paid her extra for her time or if she just stayed, but it was very kind of her either way.  My guess is that the weather was so unseasonably warm that way more people showed up than the planners were anticipating, but separating the age groups and having additional event staff to facilitate face painting and bunny pictures happening would have helped.  I didn't actually get pictures of the egg hunt since it happened the minute we arrived and was over so fast, but it looked like your standard egg hunt- so you can imagine :) The eggs aren't really "hidden" per se, they're more tossed all over the lawn, so it's less a hunt and more a "gather".

Breakdown:
Dumfries Egg Hunt
Pros: Free, beautiful location, great face painting
Cons: All kids hunt at once, not enough supplies/special activity personnel for number of children attending.
Warnings: Parents can get out of control at these egg hunts.  Merchant's Park is gorgeous, but it doesn't have a PA system, so announcements made from the Gazebo can be a little hard to hear if you're on the outskirts of the area.

Potomac Nationals Giveaway #1

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Published: 04/11/2012
We love love love having the Potomac Nationals practically in our backyard, and with opening weekend coming up THIS WEEKEND, I want to share some details with you!

 I want to admit right up front that I absolutely LOATHE watching baseball on TV, but I love a game in person! It's so much fun to get the family out and cheer from the grandstand! I am a total sucker for the wave, and I want it to go as long as possible.  Yeah, I'm that person doing it one more time than everyone else.  So what?
We take our whole family to the 4th of July game (hint: buy your tickets NOW) every year.  We even met a preschool teacher that way! They've got a great game followed by an awesome fireworks show.  Doesn't get any more American than that!  I also love that the stadium is now non-smoking in all seated sections.  (When I was little, you had to reserve early to get in the "family section" for that!)
I also love this guy:
My kids think Uncle Slam is just about the coolest thing on the planet.  I haven't figured this out yet.  That little blonde guy? I have absolutely ZERO pictures of him with the Easter Bunny (and he loves bunnies) because he thinks the Bunny is terrifying.  Uncle Slam? AWESOME.  Your individual results with that may vary, but it works for us!

The P-Nats also run some great promotions.  Check it out!  We especially love an inexpensive mid-week game (see the Monday/Tuesday games) and we also love Scout Night!

April 13th- Freebie Friday
April 14th- FIREWORKS!
April 15th- Family Fun Day, Iceberg Giveaway (Titanic Theme)
April 19- Mustache Night
April 20- Superhero Night, Freebie Friday
April 21- Epic Fail Night, FIREWORKS
April 22- Bark in the Park
April 27- Team Autograph Day, Freebie Friday
April 28- Internet Safety Night, FIREWORKS
April 29- Reading Program, Sunday Family Fun
April 30- DOLLAR NIGHT, 2008 Championship night
May 1- Extreme Couponing Night/Two-For-Tuesday
May 2- Fan vs. Food
May 3- PWCS Middle School Night
May 4- Educator's Appreciation Night
May 5- Cinco De Mayo, FIREWORKS
May 6- Reading Program #2, Sunday Family Fun, Coin Frenzy
May 14- Late Mother's Day, Dollar Night
May 15- Wrestling Night, Two-For-Tuesday
May 16- All Faith Night, Bellybuster
May 17- Date an Intern Night
May 18- Reading Program 3, Halloween
May 19- Scout Night, FIREWORKS
May 20- Reading Program #4, Family Fun Day
May 28- Memorial Day, Dollar Night
May 29- Batman Night, Two-For-Tuesday
May 30- Chili Cookoff, Bellybuster
May 31- Battle of the Sexes
**Details on each promotion on the P-Nats Website, subject to change or alteration without notice.

Also, be sure to check out the details on Uncle Slam's Reading Program! Students at your school can read books to earn free Potomac Nationals tickets! This is a really great alternative if your school has banned the pizza reading promotions due to healthy eating restrictions.

We've also participated in the Scout Nights where the Nationals also offer camping on the outfield! We had a really great time.  Not much sleep, not much quiet, but a really great time! 


PwcMoms.com is really excited to work with the Potomac Nationals this summer to bring you both information and free tickets!  Our first ticket giveaway is for a family 4-pack of tickets to the April 20th Superhero Night, where you and your kids are invited to have even more fun dressing as your favorite super hero!! 

Want to win? You have several options, and can get an entry for each one!
1- Leave a comment telling us your favorite Potomac Nationals Promotion

2- Tell the Potomac Nationals you're excited they're working with PwcMoms on Facebook! (You only need to do this once. For subsequent giveaways (one each month all baseball season!) you can just leave a comment that you did.  Be sure to leave a comment telling us you did this step, as the comment here is your entry!

3- Have a blog? Share your favorite Potomac Nationals memory and get 5 extra entries! Be sure to link back to this contest, and leave a comment with your blog link.

4- Tweet that you want @PwcMoms to take you out to the ballgame with @PotomacNats


Disclosure: PwcMoms.com was generously provided with tickets to give away to readers.  No other compensation was given in return for this post.  All opinions expressed here are my own and all information is valid as of the time of publication. 

Upcoming Events from the Town of Dumfries

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Published: 03/22/2012

The Town of Dumfries has two great events coming up.

STEP (Systematic Training for Effective Parenting) from the Prince William Cooperative Extension is a six-week discussion group for parents looking for more effective communication and discipline.  Classes are offered in English and Spanish.  The cost is $40 per individual OR couple.  Childcare is not available.  Wednesdays April 18th-May 30th skipping 5/23 7-9pm at the Dumfries Community Center.  Call 703-792-6288.

The 3rd Annual Multicultural Festival featuring a Dumfries BBQ Battle will be Saturday, May 5th 2012 from 10am-5pm at Garrison Park (17755 Main Street Dumfries VA) vendors welcome, call 703-221-3400.

The Week in PreView March 19-25th 2012

Permalink to The%20Week%20in%20PreView%20March%2019-25th%202012
Published: 03/19/2012
Happy Sunday!! Here's your list of kid-friendly Prince William County events for this week!  There's lots more on our calendar, too!

Monday
One of our favorite library events, Lunch Bunch, happens once a month at the Chinn Park Library at 12pm.  Pack a lunch for your munchkins and head over to see Squirt the turtle and listen to stories while you nosh!  After, if there aren't preschool classes out, you can play on the playground adjacent to the Chinn Center right next door!

In the evening, Jump N Jimmy's will be holding a fundraiser for the Kolos Family to support a medical crisis in their family.  Bounce between 5pm-8pm for $10, and while the kids bounce, you can shop with local HBB's who are donating a percentage of their sales to the Kolos', too. 

Tuesday
Tuesday is the first day of spring, and Rita's Italian Ice shops will be offering a free regular ice to each customer in honor of the start of the season!!  It appears all stores will be participating.

It's Toddler Tuesday at the Manassas Museum! This program offer toddlers and their caregivers an opportunity to enjoy music, story-telling and crafts, and include a special take-home surprise. Prior registration is encouraged as space is limited, and is $10 per child.

There is a 7pm-8pm HOPE meeting for parents who have lost children this Tuesday, as well.

Wednesday
I'm not going to lie, I feel like Wednesday is library story day and that's about it.  The weather is getting nice, though, so why not check out a local park or playground? We've got some great reviews here!  Do you know of an event missing from our Wednesday calendar? We'd love to hear about it!!

Thursday
Be sure to check out our list of Easter events in the county and surrounding areas!! If you live in Triangle or Quantico, today is the day to register for the Stafford Parks and Rec programs!  You'll also want to call ahead if you're wanting to attend this weekend's Egg Hunts at Pump it Up Manassas!

Live on the other edge of the county? Princess Genevieve will be at the Warrenton Chick Fil A for Family Night! A little closer in, it's also CFA Famly night at the Signal Hill Location.

Friday
From 5pm-9pm, you child gets $1 off each game at Laser Quest Woodbridge with their student ID! This would be a fun one for your older children.  

Younger kids (or the non fake shooting inclined) may prefer to head to the Manassas Park Community Center for their Lego Challenge night from 7-8pm.

Saturday
It's time to shop for spring!! St. Paul UMC and Old Bridge UMC's Preschools will both be hosting consignment sales at their respective locations.

This Saturday there's also a few fun low-cost events (Build and Grow and The Knack) but if you've got some wiggle room in your budget and a girl, call ahead and reserve a space at the Rippon Lodge American Girl Tea! $25 per person, girls must be 5 or older. 703-499-9812.

Sunday
Central Park Funland in Fredericksburg will host their annual Spring Fling, 4 hour wristbands starting at $20, Face painting, Buzzy from B101.5 on site.  It's a drive, but for the price and special activities could be a worthwhile Sunday excursion.

Stroller Strides

Permalink to Stroller%20Strides
Published: 03/13/2012
Working out after baby is tough.   You're tired, you've got a new baby that you don't necessarily want to leave with the stressed out lady in your gym childcare room, let alone expose them to the germs from the other 50 kids in there while Mommy works out....

But yet, you also want to wear non-maternity clothes and get out of the house.

Enter: Stroller Strides

Stroller Strides is a fitness program designed for moms to do with their babies. It includes cardio, intervals of toning, songs for your baby and more.  What fun!  Our local Stroller Strides franchise is run by Angela Grevert, who is very fun and excited about what she does!

Right now, Stroller Strides meets at Potomac Mills Mall from 9am-10am every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning.  They're also opening a new class at Manassas Mall THIS WEDNESDAY, March 14th from 9:30am-10:30am, meeting at the entrance to Sears.  They'll also be starting outdoor classes soon at Signal Hill Park (Manassas) and Anne Moncure Wall Park (Dumfries/Montclair).  On a day like this one, an outdoor class sounds like just the ticket!!  

Angela offers a "First Week Free" program so that you can see how Stroller Strides works with you and your baby.  She's also offering a special promotion for anyone who registers and mentions PwcMoms!  Name drop our website, and your registration fee will be $25 (a savings of $50).  

To sign up for a trial class, give Angela a call!! Again, your first week is free, and this is a great way to get back in shape (or stay in shape), meet other moms, and have fun!  Don't worry about your baby crying, either- there's no better group of understanding people than other new mommas!!

Angela Grevert
Stroller Strides Woodbridge/Manassas
703-229-1414

Easter Egg Hunts 2012

Permalink to Easter%20Egg%20Hunts%202012
Published: 03/08/2012
Check out our latest guide: Easter Egg Hunts 2013
 


MARCH EVENTS:
March 15
Simon Kidgits (Potomac Mills Mall) are invited to a special Third Thursday Eggstravaganza from 10am-11am in the Grand Court featuring fun, hands-on holiday activities. 


March 18
Good Shepherd United Methodist Church (16999 Birchdale Ave Woodbridge VA) will offer a "Chapel of the Cross" from 6pm-8pm The sanctuary will be open from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. for you to come at your leisure and experience the passion of Jesus in the Stations of the Cross—Good Shepherd style.  There will be 14 stations plus an opening and closing area to experience and to contemplate the blessing of Jesus’ gift of himself to us.   It takes reflecting on the passion out of your head, involving both your senses and your emotions.  It is a contemplative, relaxed experience, through which people will want to go at their own pace.  Accordingly, all adults and families are welcome to enter the chapel, but we ask that you please be respectful of the experience that others are having, maintaining the reverence and the quiet of the room.   Children may desire to move through the stations at a quicker pace (unless you experience it together as a family), so we suggest you bring a quiet activity for your child to do while you finish your stations.  


March 17-April 15th
Ticonderoga Farms (26469 Ticonderoga Road, Chantilly VA 20152) will have their annual Spring Easter Festival including Egg Hunts, photo ops with the bunny, spring animals


March 24
 Pump it Up Manassas will be having Egg Hunts all day! Reservations are required, either online or by calling 703-749-8006.  $15/child includes bouncing, egg hunt, and the bunny. 


Evergreen Volunteer Fire Department (3510 James Madison Highway Haymarket) will host an egg hunt and breakfast buffet on Saturday, March 24th from 8:30-11:30am with a rain date of March 31st.  Adults $8, Children 5-12 $5, Under 5 $2.  Egg Hunt only $1 per child.

First Baptist Church of Woodbridge (13600 Minnieville Road Woodbridge) will present "On the Third Day", a rock-udrama about the Easter Story.  Saturday at 7pm, Sunday at 6:30pm.  Free.


March 25th
Pump it Up Manassas will be having Egg Hunts all day! Reservations are required, either online or by calling 703-749-8006.  $15/child includes bouncing, egg hunt, and the bunny. 


First Baptist Church of Woodbridge (13600 Minnieville Road Woodbridge) will present "On the Third Day", a rock-udrama about the Easter Story.  Saturday at 7pm, Sunday at 6:30pm.  Free.


March 26
Easter Bunny Luncheon (Stafford Rec- 1739 Jefferson Davis Highway Stafford VA 22554) Purchase your tickets in advance for ages 2-5.  Fee includes activities, lunch for one child.  Parents may buy lunch for $4.  $10/child for Stafford residents, $12/child non-resident.  540-658-4871



March 30
Manassas Park Community Center Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt Ages 8-11. This Easter egg hunt is for the older kids. Come search for eggs like never before! Once the sun goes down, the flashlights come on and you have to find the eggs in the dark. MPCC.F 7p-8p 3/30 $5/Child


March 31

Manassas Park Community Center Easter Egg Hunt Hippity, hoppity, Easter’s on its way! Don’t forget to pre-register for this annual event on 3/31/2012! Bring a basket and enjoy this early morning of fun and games for all. 15 minutes prior to the start of your egg hunt! $5/child MPCC. AGES TIME 1 and Under 10a. 2-3: 10:20a . 4-5: 10:40a . 6-7: 11a

First Baptist Church of Woodbridge's (13600 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge) Easter Celebration is scheduled for March 31, from 11-3.  There is usually an hour-long program for the kids, then the egg hunt, followed by other activities like cake walk and face painting.

Occoquan Bible Church (3700 Old Bridge Road, Woodbridge)  from 10am-1pm, OBC will host an egg hunt, pizza, games, and activities. 

Great Country Farms (18780 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont VA) will host their annual Peeps Harvest and Marshmallow Roast.  Spring animals, farm tours, hayrides, and more.  March 31-April 1st.  Times and admission at www.greatcountryfarms.com

St. Paul United Methodist Church (1400 G Street Woodbridge VA) 11am Children's Egg Hunt

Eggsplosion! Stafford (58 Jesse Curtis Lane, Hartwood VA 22406).  Children will enjoy a day of activities and an Egg Hunt.  $8/child before March 31st or $10/child at the gate. No charge for adults.  11am-3pm. 

Festival at Old Bridge Easter Egg Hunt
 Children will travel from store to store picking up treats from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. rain or shine. Entertainment for the Easter egg hunt includes balloon artists, face painter, temporary tattoos at Kings and Queens and photos with the Easter bunny that will be located inside Gymnastic World. Parents are welcome to bring their own cameras. Free collection bags are also available at Dairy Queen, Jason Yi’s Tae Kwon Do College and Gymnastic World. Pineapple Paint Co., will hand out free two-ounce color paint samples to the first 100 people. Cornerstone Christian Academy will host crafts, games, puppet shows and a cupcake and cookie walk. Gymnastic World will host a tumbling demonstration. Village Skis & Bike will have face painting and free helmet safety checks. The Dental Spa will host a craft and Quiznos will hand out a free lunch bag with coupons (while supplies last).

Hartland Orchard
Our favorite pick-your-own farm (3064 Hartland Lane, Markham VA) is having an egg hunt from 10am-5pm,  $7/person with under 3 free.




APRIL EVENTS:
April 1
Great Country Farms (18780 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont VA) will host their annual Peeps Harvest and Marshmallow Roast.  Spring animals, farm tours, hayrides, and more.  March 31-April 1st.  Times and admission at www.greatcountryfarms.com



Our favorite pick-your-own farm (3064 Hartland Lane, Markham VA) is having an egg hunt from 10am-5pm,  $7/person with under 3 free.

The Cavalier's 3rd Annual Easter Egg Hunt is happening Sunday, April 1st from 2:00 until all of the eggs have been found. Bring your favorite basket and join the fun. The Egg Hunt is FREE (and completely climate controlled :-) ). Find the Golden Egg and win a BIG prize from The Cavalier!



April 2
Preschool Egg Hunt Stafford (1739 Jefferson Davis Highway, Stafford VA) will have an Egg Hunt just for preschoolers at 11am.  MUST RSVP by March 26th.  540-658-4871 is the number to call. $3/child


April 5
Eggciting Easter Crafts (Stafford: 1739 Jefferson Davis Highway Stafford VA) 5-7pm.  Celebrate Easter with some crafts! Session I (ages 3-5) is from 5-5:45pm and Session II (ages 6-10) is from 6-6:45pm.  RSVP by March 30th.  $8/resident, $10 non-resident.


Bring your boiled eggs and learn new ways of decorating (and make the mess somewhere else. (Stafford- 1739 Jefferson Davis Highway Stafford VA) 7pm-8pm.  Register for $5/resident or $6/non resident by March 30th at 540-658-4871.  Ages 3-12.


April 2-6
Kids in Motion (3310 Noble Pond Way #101 Woodbridge) will host several Egg Hunt/Open Play times (see the open play schedule for dates/times at kidsnmotion.biz).  $18 per child, additional siblings are $12, includes open play, 1 slice of pizza, juice box, and cupcake.  After the open play, children will eat and then have an egg hunt with the Easter Bunny.  Bring your own basket.  Must pre-pay to reserve your slot, recommended by March 26th. 


April 7
Town of Dumfries Annual Egg Hunt, 11am Merchant Park (2944 Cameron Street). Egg Hunt, meet the bunny and games.


Lake  Ridge Parks and Recreation Association's Eggstravaganza, 9am Oakwood Parking Lot (12350 Oakwood Drive, Lake Ridge, VA 22192) There is a per child fee for this event.


Rippon Lodge Historic Site (15500 Blackburn Road Woodbridge) will be hosting an Egg hunt from 11am-4pm. In addition to egg hunts, children can enjoy crafts, games, pony rides, moon bounces, and train rides.  Families are encouraged to bring a picnic and basket for egg collecting.  Egg Hunts will happen at 11am and 1pm.  Advanced reservations are recommended by not required (703-499-9812).  House tours are included. $7/child and adults free.


Nokesville Church of the Brethren (13002 Fitzwater Drive, Nokesville) will host an Easter Egg Hunt rain or shine on from 10-11:30am for children through 5th grade. 


Chick-Fil-A at Bristow (9939 Sowder Village Square, Bristow) 11am-1pm, special prizes, may have live animals, ages 1-10 may participate in the egg hunts, which will begin at 11:30. 



The American Legion Family will be holding its annual Easter Party for children on Saturday, April 7th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the American Legion, 3640 Friendly Post Lane in Woodbridge, VA.  
The party is open to community children up to the age of 11.


Buckhall United Methodist Church (10251 Moore Drive, Manassas VA)will hold their egg hunt April 7 from 1-3pm. 


Woodbridge Church of the Nazarene hosts a Resurrection Celebration” at 10 a.m. April 7 at Gar-Field Senior High School, 14000 Smoketown Road, Woodbridge. The event includes an Easter egg hunt for children 12 and younger, a puppet show, music, carnival games, cake walk, crafts and a live, walk-through exhibit representing the life and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Admission is free; refreshments sold at a nominal cost.

Victory's Crossing church future site on Vint Hill Road. It is right around the corner from Patriot High School (where the church usually meets). On Vint Hill Road in Nokeville between Sudley Manor Dr and Kettle Run Rd. April 7. Events (moon bounces, face painting, food, games) from 11-1. Actual egg hunt at 11:30.



April 8
Leesylvania State Park from 1:30pm-1:45pm (plan to arrive early!) at the Visitor's Center, children will hunt for prize-filled Easter Eggs.  Kids can also color eggs, play games and make crafts and learn about how eggs became a holiday tradition. There is an entrance fee to the park, but no additional event fee for the Egg Hunt.


Spirit and Life Church, Montclair (Meets at FPHS 15721 Forest Park Drive Woodbridge, Virginia 22193)- Great contemporary worship service at 10AM on Easter Sunday followed by a FREE community Easter Egg Hunt for children at about 11 after the service.


Covenant Presbyterian Church (5640 Hoadly Road Manassas VA) 12:30pm on the church grounds following the conclusion of service.  Free. 














Pediatricians in Prince William County

Permalink to Pediatricians%20in%20Prince%20William%20County
Published: 02/13/2012


Finding a good doctor is way more complicated than it should be!! I always have trouble finding a doctor that makes me feel comfortable with my parenting decisions (I actually had one yell at me about giving my daughter soy milk because she breaks out in a rash when given cows milk!) or that seems competent (another one kept demanding I feel the same milk-allergic child "cream, butter, and cheese" to "fatten her up".  Um....no?) or that has an office staff that's pleasant to deal with!!

Some of our moms, however, seem to have great luck finding doctors!! Here's what our readers recommend in terms of Prince William County kid friendly, mom happy Pediatricians!  While the responses were overwhelmingly in favor of ALL Pediatrics, we promise this wasn't a paid ad for them!!

(DISCLAIMER AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE SO YOU KNOW IT MUST BE IMPORTANT!!  PWCMOMS.COM DOES NOT CLAIM TO HAVE, NOR DO THEY HAVE A MEDICAL DEGREE OF ANY KIND.  WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR, NOR DO WE ENDORSE ANY PARTICULAR COURSE OF TREATMENT FOR YOUR CHILD.  THESE REVIEWS WERE MADE VOLUNTARILY BY READERS OF OUR WEBSITE, AND SHOULD BE USED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY!)

ALL Pediatrics
"been going since my daughter was born she is now 7 and I have a 3 year old!! WE LOVE THEM!!!! They have an office in Lakeridge, Lorton and Alexandria and open 7 days a week including holidays!"
" I second ALL Pediatrics. They're wonderful."
" I was looking for recommendations not too long ago myself, and ALL Pediatrics got the most recommendations, but they refused to see my kids because of an error 2 years ago (they said I never cancelled an appt. for my son, and they won't see people who no-show on their 1st appt.). The appt for my son and daughter were at the same time, so why would I cancel one and not the other? They said they'd see my daughter, but not my son. What kind of sense does that make, since I'm the responsible party for both of them??"
" I have to "second" the recomendation for All Pediatric's! NP Cooney is who my kids see, and we LOVE her!"
"ALL pediatrics is where we go and are very happy!"
Another vote here for ALL Pediatrics - their Lake Ridge office is practically across the street from our house, so they get top marks for convenience :) We usually see whoever is available, and I've been happy with everyone we've seen so far in the 3 years we've been going there...
 LOVE ALL Pediatrics, especially Dr. Caplan and Dr. Farber, but you can't go wrong with anyone there-they are all very nice!
 I use All Pediatrics in Lake Ridge as I see many of you do too :) No complains so far
All Pediactrics here!
ALL Pediatrics is who we use (for 11 years now). Only thing is to schedule a "wellness" visit takes 2-3 months. And then they couldn't schedule my two boys together - plus I need to take them to the Alexandria office. But up until this point we've been very happy with them. Dr. Kaplan is great!
All Pediatrics....for almost 10 years! Lakeridge and now a newer office in Lorton. Alexandria office just too far away. I heard they now have a block of time set aside for walk-ins.
We switched to ALL Peds and LOVE it!!!!

Dr. Indira Sindha
"My kids go to Dr. Indira Sindha...I like her :)"

NOVA Pediatrics
I actually go to NOVA Pediatrics. Not my fave.
I actually like NoVA pediatrics. I have twins and they have taken good care of them. I especially like Ginger Bietrich. The nurses are wonderful, especially Amber and Dawn.
I go to NOVA and really like them. You can always talk to a nurse if you need advice, and everyone is really nice. They can always squeeze us in in an emergency. I am not fond of 2 of the dr's, but the good news is there are lots that I do like (and I second Michelle's recommendation of Ginger Beecher. She's awesome!)
I love NOVA peds - Just not Dr. Seidman (one of the partners) Dr. Hamilton does all of our well baby/physicals and we LOVE the Nurse practioner Ginger Beecher for our two with - Ezcema, Asthma and allergies! Also Dr. Rodgers and Dr. Meyers. Very down to earth, do not push drugs,antibiotic or meds if not neccessary. I have four kid 7, 4, 4, and 3. We switched from Woodbridge Peds when my oldest was two and a Dr [performed a procedure without explaining]
I DESPISE NOVA Pediatrics. They take FOREVER to get you in a room and to see the dr. It also just has such an old and outdated feel. We switched to ALL Peds and LOVE it!!!!


The Pediatric Group
We've gone to The Pediatric Group for almost 21 years now ~ I have to tell you ... the doctors and nurse practitioners are great, but the front desk staff is not very friendly at all.
"We use The Pediatric Group - Lake Ridge. I like all of their docs except Dr. Tham, I ask to see anyone but her. The front desk staff is generally okay, but don't be late for your appt. or they do tend to get grouchy."
I love The Pediatric Group!



Dr. Touchette
"offices next to PW Hospital...he was our pediatric dr. for my now 10 yr old twins!!! He is the best!"



Woodbridge Pediatrics
I take Katie Marie to Woodbridge Pediatrics. They are on Opitz Blv.
Woodbridge Pediatrics at Opitz.
We also use Woodbridge Peds. I know they do work with parents on the vaccination sched, but I don't have any exp with that - we just vaccinated our kids when the doctors said we needed to. One thing I really like about the prac is one side is for sick kids, and the other side is for well kids.



Review: Azuria Events

Permalink to Review%3A%20Azuria%20Events
Published: 02/13/2012
Have you ever made the joke about the queen coming to tea?  Well, for my daughter's 4th birthday, we actually had the Princess! (Didn't know a kid-friendly princess lived within commuting distance of Prince William County, did ya?)

Jennifer Faulconer, aka Princess Genevieve is the ultimate in a character study.  When I first contacted her about doing my daughter's birthday party, she actually responded to me "Dear Queen Kristina".  No joke.  She does the Disney Princess giggle, comes dressed in a ball gown, and has an entire kingdom, complete with a map, a flag, and a crest.

One of my friends, a former servicewoman who shall remain nameless, couldn't handle the girly-ness of it all.

However, our girls...well, they were, to use Princess Genevieve's word, enchanted.

When I told my daughter that a princess was coming to her birthday party, she spent the entire week talking to anyone that would listen about the fact that "There is a REAL princess coming to my birthday!! A REAL PRINCESS!!".  People in the grocery store, the post office line, and the library quiet room were all very understanding.  Savannah (my daughter) was so excited that when Princess Genevieve actually knocked on the door and arrived, she rushed to the door with all of her friends and, and...

And she couldn't speak.  Couldn't even quite look the lovely vision in blue in the eye.  Actually, none of them could!

Princess Genevieve, however, took this all quite in stride, and floated in (she actually really did float! Pageant girls take note!) with her bag full of treasures from Azuria and proceeded to captivate an audience of 8 completely silent 3 and 4 year old girls (and one very talkative 5 year old brother) with her stories about unicorns, four leaf clovers, fairies, and mermaids.  Mysteriously, the two older boys in the room disappeared to the basement to complete some Lego work ;)

By the time Genevieve finished telling her stories and inspecting the treasures that said brother brought down, it was time for some dancing and singing!

I would imagine that the Pied Piper couldn't possibly have gotten a more instantaneous reaction when asking children to rise.  The girls all stood up and started slowly moving to "Happy Birthday Princess".  Slowly, one by one, they got comfortable as Princess Genevieve twirled them around the room, and by the end of another song, they were all dancing in a circle to Genevieve's directions.

After that, Princess Genevieve helped with the singing of Happy Birthday and the cake cutting, and without missing a beat, placed herself on the floor among the happiest little girls I have ever seen in my life to talk with them while they enjoyed their refreshments.  Kind, happy, and amazingly understanding of the preschool dialect of English that usually only mothers are fluent in, Princess Genevieve talked with the girls while they munched happily and asked her questions.  She even encouraged them to say "please" and "thank you", which instantly won her brownie points with me!

When it was time to go, Princess Genevieve floated out the door with hugs and stories about the ball that she had to prepare for.  It was lovely and etherial and magical.

And then the girls realized what just happened and went absolutely nuts talking to each other about what they'd just witnessed.

Savannah is now back to talking to anyone that will listen to her, or that is within ear-shot and HAS to listen to her about the fact that Princess Genevieve came to her birthday party.  I'm not sure how long it will last, but I'm glad to know that I could give her such an amazing childhood memory.  We get so few, when you think about it.

Princess Genevieve and her band of princesses are based out of Azuria, which, for commuting purposes is about the same distance as Warrenton.  They will travel the region for a fee based on mileage.  In addition to parties, Princess Genevieve is available for events and even Girl Scout badges!  She will also do appearances for schools and libraries.  With children my daughter's age, we opted to do a 45 minute appearance.  I think that the optimal age for children to really get into the appearance would be 5-7, based on the 5 year old boy we had kicking around (who loved the story telling), and the 5 year old girl (who was the first one to stop being completely spell-bound and participate).  However, I think that our 3's and 4's did fantastic and had such a memorable time, I would definitely have done this again the same way!

Thanks to Princess Genevieve for making our little princess' day completely enchanting!



Disclosure: PwcMoms paid full retail price for Princess Genevieve's services.  No additional arrangements or discounts were provided in return for this post, and it represents the personal views of PwcMoms.com only.

Spring Break Camps 2012

Permalink to Spring%20Break%20Camps%202012
Published: 02/09/2012
School breaks can be stressful! Parents that work need coverage, holidays need preparing for, families come to visit....stress!!


Now, I'm not saying I know from experience (but I'm not saying I don't know either), but having to leave twice a day to pick up your child from a camp (even if it's half day) can provide a much needed break from the house and anyone in it that's not normally there!  Further, I promise that I won't tell anyone in your house who's not normally there that you CAN, in fact, drop your child off at art camp and come back if you'd like to tell them you have to stay.


This is not a place of judgement.


In any event, whether you need extended coverage or are just looking to indulge one of your child's passions, I hope that this list will help! If you know of a camp option that we've missed, shoot me an email or leave a comment and we'll be sure to get it added ASAP! 



Spring is almost here even though this Winter has felt like Spring! It's almost time for Spring Break Camp. Spring Break Camp runs from April 2nd to the 6th and features many activities and events. This camp is open to everybody, whether you are a student or not. Check out the pdf poster for this camp and mark it down on your Calendar.

http://www.best-tkd.com/pdf/2012-04-Spring-Break-Camp.pdf

ATA Martial Arts- 8088 Sudley Road, Manassas (across from Giant on 234) 
703-361-1759

Spring Break Camp - April 2-6, 7am- 5pm ages 5 and up 
The camp is run by the instructors and assistants. Throughout the day the kids will take part in exercise, Taekwondo, korean language, lifeskills, art projects and much more.  The kids can be dropped off at 7 a.m. and can be picked up by 5 p.m.  The kids pack their lunch daily, except Friday- that's pizza day!  We will provide snacks daily.   Don't let another spring break go by with your child on the couch playing video games!  
The camp is $150.  Early bird registration by March 15th gets you the camp for $125.  




Boys and Girls Club Manassas:
Pajama Party Crazy, Hair Day, Jersey Day, Egg Hunt Beach Friday Come relax at the club in your PJ’s and enjoy a movie Bad hair day? No problem…let us see your crazy hair dues. Come show off your favorite Jersey   Fun spring related games and crafts   Bring in your bathing suits and a towel *Swimming Fieldtrip to Freedom Center     Camp hours are from 6am – 6pm Rate for Camp is $150 Ages 5-14 welcome Please bring a lunch although snack will be provided For more information please contact Nadia Pedersen at (703) 365-2582 ext 228 or NPedersen@bgcgw.org

A hands-on half-day week-long camp for all budding artists! Children and teens will have fun, learn about art styles and techniques, and use multiple media as they draw, paint, print, and sculpt. Small class sizes afford an imaginative, playful, nurturing experience. Kids are fully supervised at all times, and a snack is provided. AM Class for ages 4-6, PM class for ages 7 and up.  $185 for the week including all supplies and snacks. 



Freedom Center Spring Break Sports & Recreation Camp:
(Ages 5-12)April 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9  8:30am – 4:30pm (6:30am – 6:30pm extended care included) Keep your child active during school spring break!  Camp will include sports and recreation, arts, crafts, swimming and loads of fun.  Send tennis shoes, snacks, lunch, swimsuit, and a towel.  Campers at age 5 MUST be currently enrolled in full day kindergarten.  Please register at least one week in advance to avoid cancellation. To register for camps, please select one of the following: Download and complete forms then email, fax or mail to the Center or Plan a visit to the Center and register at the Customer Service Desk.


Haymarket IcePlex:
Piedmont Skating School will offer spring break series from April 2nd-5th.  Early registration (before March 23rd is $70, after March 23rd is $93) discount.  Registration opens March 13th.  Lessons include a skate rental and daily punch card for practice sessions.  There is no pro-rating available.  Classes begin at age 3 and go through age 16.  (Bonus note- these classes are afternoon/evening, so if you are still doing work/daycare- you can still do spring break skating!) 




Kids in Motion:
Ages 3-12, potty training not required.  Morning (9:30-12:30) or Afternoon (12:30-3:30) sessions.  $25 for one day one session, $20 for more than one day each session.  Must pay in advance.  Siblings get a $5 discount.



Kindergarten through 3rd graders to come out for a unique spring break camp. Participants will learn about magic and how to use ordinary materials they can find at home to perform the art of illusion. Children will also perform in a show on the last day of camp to show off their new skills. $160 fee.




Misty Brae Farm Horseback Riding Camp


To register your child aged 6-16 for camp, a $100 non-refundable deposit is required.  The balance is due the first day of camp.  9am-1pm is $350 and 9am-4pm is $475. If you have questions, call Nancy at 703-309-5454 


Prince William Ice Center:
 Learn to skate and improve your skills in this fun-filled camp. Activities include 2.5 hours on-ice each day, off-ice activities, crafts, and more. April 3rd to 5th. Registration is available on-line and in person at Guest Services. Cost for three day camp is $150.00. From 9:00am – 5:00pm. Before (8:00am -9:00am) and after (5:00pm-6:00pm)care available for $10.00per hour. 


SNF Multisport Camp:
When - April 2nd - 6th Ages - 5 - 14
Camp includes - lunch & t-shirt Camp activities include - athletic games, arts & crafts, rock climbing, and select field trips Prices: $250/week (9am - 5pm) $150/week for half day (9am - 1pm) or (1pm - 5pm)
$75/ week extended care
If registering prior to March 15th please call to take advantage of our early bird discount!!!
Call 703-335-1555 or Click Here to Register Today !!! Also check out our Early Bird Summer Camp registration page 


Plan ahead for this special camp! Campers will make crafts, play games in our gym, and enjoy other exciting activities, including field trips. Campers need to bring a bag lunch each day to camp. Appropriate for grades K-6. Hosted by Stafford County Parks & Recreation at the Courthouse Community Center (Room C & Gym). Space is limited; registrations accepted until camp is full. Time: 7:30am-4:30pm daily Admission: $120/Stafford child for the week ($130/non-resident child) (540) 658-4572



SwimKids Spring Break Camps:
$99 per child, 10% discount for siblings.  $39 registration fee if new to the program (good all year and includes a suit).  Class sizes are a maximum of 3 kids for preschoolers and 5 for school-aged.  Water is warm and coaches are continually trained.  Call 703-369-7946 (Woodbridge) or 571-261-7946 (Gainesville) to register.  Great way to get your kids back in the water before summer! 


Golf camp for at Lake Ridge Park.  Ages included in the First Tee Program.  Register through the First Tee Website or call Lake Ridge Park for more details.  


Bunny Hop Camp
Phone: 703-385-5580 Ages Served: 3-5
Tiny Dancers invites your "Little Hopper" to 5 days of dance, crafts, snack and our exclusive story and dress-up performance of seasonal stories. Bunny Hop Camp runs from 10:00-12:30, Monday-Friday, April 18-22. Fairfax, Gainesville, Alexandria.


(K-8th graders) The week will be filled with arts and crafts, sports, group games, and a field trip.  Students should bring a packed lunch each day. There is a $160 fee for this camp. There is also an extra $20 fee for those who need extended care from 6:00am-9:00am or 5:00pm-7:00pm. There is an extra $40 fee for those who need extended care from 6:00am-9:00pm and 5:00pm-7:00pm.

We will be offering half day ($140) or full day ($190) Spring Break Camp that includes gymnastics, jump rope, crafts, put put golf, and more.  Packed lunches and snacks need to be provided by parents. 

Volunteer Prince William February Opportunities

Permalink to Volunteer%20Prince%20William%20February%20Opportunities
Published: 02/08/2012
1.) The Northern Virginia Long Term Care Ombudsman program is looking for volunteers to advocate for seniors living in various nursing and assisted living facilities. It's a great way to help improve their quality of life. You will receive all the needed training to make a difference. Please call Lisa at (703) 324-5422 to register for the next training
 
2.) Come be part of our Disaster stand-by volunteer group so we can call on you to help when needed.  Whether it’s cleaning up after floods and storms or aiding neighbors with supplies, we would love to have you join us. Please email Bonnie at: bnahas@volunteerprincewilliam.orgfor more information or to join the group.   
 
3.) The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) is looking for more seniors to be tutors in the elementary schools throughout the community. If you’re age 55 and older and would like to help a little person to improve their reading and math skills then this is the perfect job for you. Please call Coleen at (703) 369-5292 ext. 207 to learn more.
   
4.) ACTS Food Pantry in Dumfries needs volunteers in the pantry and out picking up donations from the community on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings and Tuesday afternoon. Please call Taylor at (703) 221-3186 ext. 240 or visit their website for an application at: actspwc.org
   
5.) Birmingham Green has many volunteer opportunities for you to interact with the senior’s one on one including playing games, taking a walk, reading to them or having lunch with them. Please call Zachary at (703) 257-6252 to learn more about all the ways you can brighten the day of a senior.
 
6.) PALS provide friendly visitors to adult survivors of brain injury. Volunteers are needed here in the community. Please call Michelle at (703) 451-8881 ext. 232 to share a little of your time with another.
 
7.) Prince William SPCA has several ongoing volunteer opportunities including our Petfinder project, monthly Neuter Commuter events, and our upcoming adoption events with the PAW express adoption van.  If you'd like to volunteer, please go to our website at www.pwspca.organd fill out a volunteer application.
 
8.) The Holiday project is looking for volunteers to visit individuals in hospitals, nursing homes, shelters and long-term care facilities on all the holidays. Please visit their website for more information at: www.holidayproject.org or call Robin at (703) 370-0370 to learn more about their good work throughout the year.

9.) The American Cancer Society is looking for volunteer drivers to shuttle cancer patients to and from their treatments throughout Northern Virginia. This wonderful program is called the Road to Recovery program. The training can be done on-line so all you need is a good driving record, insurance and a reliable car to give someone the ride of their life. Please call JoAnn at (703) 938-5550 for more information and to get started with this needed service for our neighbors.

10.) SERVE needs volunteers to help them screen families for eligibility in the SNAP food stamp program. They just need you one day a week during traditional business hours. This program is so helpful to many families, please email Gail at:  ghkomro@nvfs.org to learn more.
  
11.) The House of Mercy needs volunteers to help at the thrift Store in Manassas to sort clothes or help donors unload their car. Great job for teens age 14 and above and fun place to be. The Thrift Store is open Monday-Saturday.  If retail is not your thing what about helping folks with their language skills? House of Mercy is also in need of English as a Second Language (ESL) instructors at their Manassas location. Please call Ann at (703) 659-1636 for more information.
    
12.) Please take a few moments to prepare your household for power outages. Please visit www.ready.govfor lots of good information.
 
13.) The RSVP Program is running a store for pregnant teens and is in need of donated baby items, specifically new born to size 5 baby diapers, wipes and baby lotion and wash.  Drop off your donations at the Volunteer Prince William office at 9248 Center Street, Manassas.
 
14.) The Clock Tower Thrift Shop in Centreville needs help sorting and organizing donations, ensuring the shopping area is organized and assisting customers with their purchases. This is a great group opportunity! Volunteers age 12-15 may volunteer if accompanied by a parent or guardian. The Thrift Shop is open 7 days a week and is open until 8pm during the week! The Thrift Shop benefits all programs of Northern Virginia Family Service. Please call (703)219-2193 for more information.

15.)Are you age 55 and older and already volunteer in the community? Then we hope you will join the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). This program brings together individuals age 55 and older to volunteer anywhere you already volunteer and provides for a small gas mileage stipend to offset these horrible gas prices. It also provides a wonderful supplemental Insurance program, fun activities and recognition events. But most importantly, allows us to capture specifically the value of your service in our community. Please come join us and be counted! Please call Coleen at (703) 369-5292 ext. 207 to learn more. 
     
16.) Special Olympics Prince William invites you to either Woodbridge or Manassas Applebee’s with a Dining-To Donate Flyer on Thursday, February 16thto raise funds for this wonderful cause. You can find a printable version of the Applebee’s Dining-to-Donate flyer at: www.pwsova.org/pswo under the Upcoming Events section.
     
17.) INOVA VNA Home Health Care reach out every day to homebound patients with needed health services. Volunteers are needed throughout the community as friendly visitors to provide companionship or maybe doing a little something around their house. Training is provided. Please call Marion at (703) 916-2885 for more information.
 
18.) Those super kids are doing super stuff with the Joe 15 Team. Bring your energy, spirit and leadership skills to the table and work on that volunteering resume for college at the same time. Please call Debbie at (703) 895-1606 or check out the website: www.thejoe15team.org to learn more.
 
19.) The Manassas Park Police Department is looking for volunteers in a number of positions. Come be part of their Volunteers in Police Service Program. You could be working in fleet management, data entry, FOIA requests, administrative assistance, accreditation or crime prevention. Please call Lt. Roberts at (703) 361-1136 to learn more.
 
20.) OAR of Fairfax is seeking volunteers as mentors to help inmates at the county jail think through past choices and guide them in making better future choices. Training is provided and each Mentor is assigned one Mentee of the same gender. Please contact Allyson at 703-246-3139 for more information.

21.) Guiding Eyes for the Blind are looking for puppy raisers. This lovely organization places puppies in homes where they learn obedience, good house manners and socialization. And because these puppies will be the life line for another throughout their lives, it doesn’t matter if you are single or live in an apartment or home or have lots of members of you family or for that matter have any experience with dogs. For more information please visit their website at: www.guidingeyes.org or email Beth at:bethsalvaggio@comcast.net.
 
22.) The Alzheimer’s Association offer support groups for anyone caring for an elder with this challenging disease. The groups provide a place for you to share information, get tips or to learn more about the journey your loved one is traveling. These groups meet at Westminster at Lake Ridge, Caton Merchant House, Manassas St Thomas, Sudley North Government Building, the Woodbridge Senior Center and the Old Bridge United Methodist Church. To find the exact times for each please call the helpline at (703) 359-4440.
 
23.) The Prince William Clean Community Council is looking for six volunteers to join them for a Keep America Beautiful Litter Survey. This would be a great job for a retired person. A van is provided to drive the group of volunteers throughout Prince William County while they complete a litter survey form.  The date is to be determined but the hours will be 9am to 12pm and lunch is provided! Call Kayne at 571-285-3772.

24.)The Greater Prince William Medical Reserve Corps is in need of health professionals and community members to volunteer for upcoming events such as health outreach and first aid tents. The unit will play a huge role in upcoming functional exercises, assistance for the Civil War reenactment, and other community events.  After registering and attending orientation, volunteers can register for training in emergency preparedness, disaster behavioral health, CPR/AED, first-aid, and others. Please email Bobbi at bobbi.steneck@vdh.virginia.gov for more information or you can apply online at their website, www.vdh.virginia.gov/mrc/princewilliammrc
 
25.) The Prince William Clean Community Council is looking for volunteers to be part of the recycling speaker’s bureau.  You’ll have all the tools to reach all aspects of the community whether it’s in the schools or at varies organizations and community groups. Call Kayne at 571-285-3772 to learn more.
 
26.) Project Mend a House is looking for volunteers in both the office and out in the community. There are lots of ways to help this wonderful organization besides with the hammer in your hand. Please call Andrea at (703) 792-7663 to learn more.

27.) The Greater Prince William Community Health Center is growing. Volunteers are needed during traditional business hours to help with administrative tasks. This is a busy place is a real resume builder and the perfect job for volunteers who are bi-lingual and have some health care experience. Volunteers are also needed with special projects and fun events. Please visit their website at: GPWCHC.org or email them at info@GPWhealthcenter.org to learn more. 
 
28.) The Calvary Counseling Center in Manassas needs volunteers to help with basic office duties. This is a lively office. Please call Dr. Chambers at 703-530-9800 to learn more about this wonderful organization and their volunteer needs.  
 
29.) Blue Ridge Assistance dogs in Manassas would love your help with general office tasks as well as simple correspondence. Please call Rose at (703) 330-9184 for more information.

30.) The Juvenile Detention Center is looking for licenses barber to come in once or twice a month to cut the boys hair. There are usually 5-8 boys in need of your services each week. Please call Jayne at (703) 791-3559 to help out.
 
31.) The Manassas Museum is looking for weekend volunteers to greet visitors, serve as docents and sharing our rich history. You’ll receive all the training to make this a wonderful experience. Please call Lisa at (703) 257-8407 to learn more

32.) SERVE needs your help with food donations. It’s been a busy few months and the shelves are bare.  Top needs include canned veggies, dry cereal, canned meats, pasta, sauces, rice, applesauce and canned fruit. Please deliver the food to the pantry during traditional business hours or give Karen a call at (703) 367-6726 for more info.

33.) The Don Bosco Center in Manassas needs your help with the after school program. Volunteers work with kids in grades 5 and up with homework and sports and in the computer lab. Please email Father Ramon at:frramon@gmail.com to learn more.
 
34.) The Woodbridge Dance Company is looking for volunteers to serve on their Board of directors and committees. Meetings are monthly on the 3rdWednesday of the month. This is a wonderful way to offer your leadership in forwarding the mission of this lovely arts organization. Please call Catherine at (703) 670-7884 to learn more.
 
35.) Birthright of Manassas has expanded their office hours to include Saturdays. Volunteers are needed to help in the office most days. This program offers free pregnancy testing and support services to moms and babies. Please call (703) 361-9769 to join the great group of volunteers.
 
36.) The Manassas Chapter of Families Anonymous is in need of a mature bilingual (English/Spanish) individual or couple who can help them with a 12 Step Program for other Spanish Speakers desperately in need of this program. 12 Step Programs are so important to families experiencing problems with loved ones that have alcohol and drug abuse issues. Strongly prefer an individual that may have their own personal struggles with a loved one. Please call Pat at (703) 928-9385.
 
37.) The Manassas Elks Lodge needs volunteers on Tuesday and Wednesday nights at their Bingo Kitchen from 5:30-9:30pm. This is a wonderful way for teens to complete their volunteer requirements or for adults looking to meet new neighbors. Duties include taking food orders, delivering sandwiches and such to bingo players and light set-up and cleaning. Please call Chetta at (703) 856-7717 to learn more.
 
38.) Prince William County Division of Historic Preservation is looking for enthusiastic tour guides for the beautiful Ben Lomond house in Manassas. This is a wonderful way to learn more about our local treasures. Tours are offered Thursday-Monday from May-October. Please call Bill at (703) 367-7872 to learn more.
 
39.) The Disaster Preparedness Community Outreach program teaches all aspects of our community to be prepared for incidents that can affect lives. Volunteers are needed to visit schools, adult living communities, shelters and neighborhoods to share the message. This is the perfect way to learn more about your community and meet new people. Please call Bonnie at (703) 369-5292 ext. 202 to learn more.

40.) The Rippon Lodge Historic Site in Woodbridge needs volunteers to be docents and tour guides, assisting with special events and as a gardener. This is a wonderful way to learn more about your rich history and have lots of fun. Please email Karen at:kfossum@pwcgov.org to learn more.
 
41.) The Community health center needs a licensed Pharmacist to check potential drug interactions and label medications for clients of the Medication Access Program. This fabulous facility is in Woodbridge and is perfect for you with a flexible schedule. Please call Navara at (703) 219-2193 to learn more.
 
42.) The Prince William Clean Community Council is looking for volunteers to help with their Storm Drain Labeling Program. Help keep pollution from entering our waterways!  Call Kayne at 571-285-3772.
 
43.) ACTS Helpline needs new volunteers to man their 24 hr. helpline. You’ll receive 40 hours of training for this very special job. Please call James at (703) 221-1144 to learn more.
 
44.) ENS Mentoring partnership in Dumfries serves the needs of kids with adult mentors to help guide their way. Volunteers are needed as mentors and also to help around the office with basic admin duties.  Please call Juana at (703) 221-6600 to learn more.
 
45.) Social Services has a client with his own car and insurance but needs a driver to get him to various doctor’s appointment.  Please call Coleen at (703) 369-5292 ext. 207 for more information.
 
46.) The American Red Cross has a really fun raffle event that all of us who love the Caribbean do not want to miss! How would you like to win a cruise for 2 from Baltimore to the Bahamas on the Carnival Pride anytime you’d like. Tickets are just $5 each, 3 for $10 and 10 for $25 – wow.  Please call Deborah at (703) 368-4511 ext. 408 and she can charge it to a credit card. 

 47.)Trinity Episcopal Church is pleased to announce their first ever Children’s Consignment Toy and Clothing sale on Saturday March 24th from 8am-12:30pm. Volunteers are needed before, during and after this event. They are also registering consignors at this time. You’ll receive 60% and the other 40% will support the Trinity Youth Mission Trips. So it’s the perfect way to clean out your closets and the toy box in the play room. Consignors need to register for a space in advance for just $15 sent to Trinity, 9325 West Street, Manassas 20110, and attn: Dianne.  To volunteer please call Dianne or Jennifer at (703) 368-4231.
 
48.) The Prince William Area Free Clinic serves the basic medical needs of families in both Manassas and Woodbridge. They need a volunteer to help translate their brochure into Spanish. Sounds like a great way to tone your skills. Please call Linda at (703) 792-6378 to learn more.
 
49.) Literacy Volunteers of America are gearing up for their next tutor training in March. This is a great way to impact another’s life and livelihood by giving them the skills to accomplish their dreams. You don’t need any prior experience because the training session will give you all you need to be successful as well. Please call (703) 670-5702 to register for this training and to learn more about this wonderful program.
 
50.) Leesylvania State Park is having a new event Saturday February 11th from 11am-3pm in their Visitor center. Bring your favorite candy and a pair of scissors to help make blankets for children supported by the Linus in Candyland project. These children are given cozy, warm fleece blankets as they go through difficult times. Donations of fleece material in child appropriate designs and 1-1.5 yards are also welcome. You don’t want to miss this event.
 
51.) The Alzheimer’s Association is gearing up for their next Walk to end Alzheimer’s in prince William County.  Volunteers are needed now in the Gainesville, Haymarket and Stafford with planning activities.  Come join the cause and the fun. Call Sonya at (703) 359-4440 to learn more.
 
52.) Habitat for Humanity has projects every week throughout the community building or repairing homes for frail citizens. Volunteers are needed every week to bring lunch to the volunteers on the job.  Lunch can be a couple of pizza’s, sandwiches and chips or a deli tray. Please email Tiffanie at volunteer@habitatpwc.org to learn more.
 
 
 
If You Are Looking For Other Opportunities, Please Don’t Forget To Call Our Team Here At Volunteer Prince William Coleen Can Help Senior Volunteers With Retired and Senior Volunteer (RSVP) Opportunities at (703) 369-5292 ext 207, Then Myself Shelley (703) 369-5292 ext 201,Bonnie Can Help You With All The Other Many Opportunities Available In Disaster Preparedness at (703) 369-5292 ext 202 or Please Don’t Forget Our Website’s at www.volunteerprincewilliam.org. Also Feel Free To Look For Opportunities In Our Call to Action Column That Runs Every Sunday Morning In The Local News Paper. Come Like Us On Our Facebook Page (Volunteer Prince William) and Follow Us On Twitter @VolunteerPW.

Restaurant Recommendations

Permalink to Restaurant%20Recommendations
Published: 02/05/2012




When you guys ask....sometimes I'm overwhelmed at the responses!!  Remember, I'm always happy to publish your work, so if you've got a full review, email it over!!  I've put stars by the restaurants I personally like, and I've bolded the names of restaurants that were enthusiastically recommended multiple times.


Question: "I guess my question is, where do people like to go locally? I know there have to be some [restaurants] around here for date nights and family dinners, but I haven't discovered them yet."


Answers:
Al-Zaytoun Kabob (Afghan, 13871 Smoketown Rd WoodbridgeVA 22192 (703) 730-0410)


Amicis (Italian, 12623 Galveston Ct Manassas, VA 20112 (703) 878-6652)
                -Mom notes: There is a kids night, however some moms felt this place was pricey. 


Bad to the Bone (BBQ, 8045 Stonewall Shops Square Gainesville, VA 20155 (703) 753-5551)


Bistro L'Hermitage (French, 12724 Occoquan Rd, WoodbridgeVA 22192 (703) 499-9550)
               -Date night location- very expensive, very tasty


Carmellos (Portugeuse, 9108 Center St ManassasVA 20110 (703) 368-5522)
               -Mom notes: Very pricey, but great!


**Cock and Bowl (Belgian, 302 Poplar Alley, OccoquanVA 22125 (703) 494-1180)
               -Mom notes: Outdoor seating, band in the summer! Watch your beer tab!! 


**Dixie Bones (BBQ, 13440 Occoquan Rd WoodbridgeVA 22191 (703) 492-2205)
               -Sunday buffet is VERY popular, get there before "the Baptists get out" if you can! 


**East Moon Asian Bistro (Pan Asian/Sushi, 13352 Minnieville Rd Woodbridge, VA 22192 (703) 878-2688)


El Valquero West (Mexican, 14910 Washington St Haymarket, VA 20169 (703) 753-0801)


Georgios/Wine Styles(Greek/American, 4394 Kevin Walker Dr DumfriesVA 22026 (703) 580-8500)


Harold and Cathy's Dumfries Cafe (Diner, 17670 Fraley Blvd DumfriesVA 22026 (703) 441-1465)


Katarina's (Greek, 9212 Center St ManassasVA 20110 (703) 361-4976)


Korean Grill (Korean, 3131 Golansky Blvd Woodbridge, VA 22192 (703) 680-3500)


La Capilla (Mexican/Tapas, 9329 Main St Manassas VA (571) 379-8185)
              -Mom notes: Bring your own wine for a $5 corking fee! 


Madigans (210 Mill St Occoquan, VA 22125 (703) 494-6373)
           -Mixed reviews, one says the Lobster Mac and Cheese is amazing, others messaged to say they'd had issues


**Mateos (Santa Fe, 5081 Waterway Dr DumfriesVA 22025 (703) 670-7477)

Montclair Family Restaurant (American, 17001 Dumfries Road, Dumfries VA (703) 221-4097)
             -Mom notes: Play local and call it "Montclair Chicken"

Naru (Sushi/Asian, 8409 Centreville Rd Manassas Park, VA 20111 (703) 365-0708)

Okra's (Creole, 9110 Center St Manassas, VA 20110 (703) 330-2729)

**Padrinos (Pizza, 14506 Smoketown Rd Woodbridge, VA 22192 (703) 494-6000)

**Pa Nuang (Thai, 12651 Galveston CtManassasVA 20112, (703) 878-8899)


Pho 75 (14437 Potomac Mills Rd Woodbridge, VA 22192 (703) 494-7777)


Pizza NY Margherita (Pizza/Italian 5115 Wellington Rd Gainesville, VA 20155 (703) 753-0744)


**Ricky's Chicken (Peruvian, 5840 Mapledale Plz Woodbridge, VA 22193 (703) 897-1616)


**Roma Restaurant (Italian, 4130 Merchant Plaza, WoodbridgeVA 22192 (703) 590-9999)


Season Sushi (Sushi, 6850 Piedmont Center Plz Gainesville, VA 20155 (571) 248-6648)


Siam Bistro (Thai, 4129 Merchant Plz Woodbridge, VA 22192 (703) 878-8988)


**Taste of Tandoor (Indian, 13836 Smoketown Rd Woodbridge, VA 22192 (703) 897-7200)


Tizianos (Italian, 16918 Dumfries Rd DumfriesVA 22026 (703) 445-0046)
                 -Mom notes: This place looks like a hole in the wall, but inside you'll feel underdressed!


Tony's NY Pizza (Pizza/Italian 9108 Mathis Ave Manassas, VA 20110 (703) 330-8909)






Disclaimer: These are not paid ads, they're a reflection of a Facebook conversation among the PwcMoms fans.  Restaurant experiences may change over time.  PwcMoms.com is not responsible for individual dining experiences or differences in palate.  Have a differing opinion or want to agree with a recommendation? Leave a comment- it makes my day! 


Review: Mamaratzy Photography

Permalink to Review%3A%20Mamaratzy%20Photography
Published: 01/25/2012
I often wonder if kids in the age of "helicopter parents" feel like they're being followed by their own personal brand of paparazzi, so I loved the tongue in cheek name that photographer Tiffany Coles-Brown gave her business right from the start!

Tiffany came to work with my kids for a few minutes so I could see her in action, and she is fantastic with children.  My kids even dragged the poor woman down into the creek behind our backyard for some action shots in the bamboo, and with the stamina and bravery of the coolest National Geographic photographer, she followed right along in stride.




That was really all I needed :) I think it's really important that children's photographers "get" kids! If they don't, it's going to be a long day with a lot of pictures of people rolling their eyes!!

Mamaratzy Photography offers pictures from babies to families to boudoir to weddings and fitness! If you'll pose for it, she'll snap it!

Right now, Mamaratzy is offering a special on Valentine's Day pictures, as well as a Valetine's Day 2012 giveaway on her Facebook page.  If you haven't liked her yet, you'll definitely want to, because she runs giveaways and specials constantly!!


Thanks to Mamaratzy for the great giveaway to PWCMoms Military Mamas, and for her February V-Day Give-Away!! Best of luck, readers!!


Disclosure: Mamaratzy Photography provided PWCMoms with 2 giveaway items for readers, as well as doing a short, 15 minute shoot with PwcMoms for free.  All opinions expressed here are my own.  

Happy Birthday Gymboree Woodbridge!!

Permalink to Happy%20Birthday%20Gymboree%20Woodbridge%21%21
Published: 01/20/2012
Seriously, is there anything better than wearing your kids OUT? Like, "s/he is actually going to take a NAP praise (insert deity of your choice here)!"

Okay, yes, there is.  Because the Gymboree people, they're sneaky in a good way.  Not only are they going to make sure your child needs a nap, they're going to make sure they're learning something, too.  Ha! It's like Elmo, but better, because you don't have to have that "TV Guilt Complex", and they're tired at the end!

(This is Meshell, the owner of Gymboree Woodbridge.  Have you ever seen someone who more obviously loves their job? She's so joyful and excited and the kids eat it up!!)
You might miss it if you're not thinking about it, but seriously- there's a lot of learning going on!! Songs tell children they're going "in" or "out", "up" or "down".  They work on balance, agility, coordination, and teamwork.  There's peer interaction and parent/child interaction.  And, the world famous Gymboree bubbles.  (These things are amazing.  Go buy some.) 

I am completely confident asserting that every child that came yesterday to our PWCMoms playtime had a fantastic time.  Even the shy ones.
(BTW- Great to meet you guys!! I love having actual people to go with the names I see on the wall all the time!! Your kids are all adorable, too!! I was so impressed we didn't have even one temper tantrum! That's a small miracle in a group the size of ours!)

So here's the deal.  You guys ask me all the time about indoor ideas for winter, and I really can't give you a better suggestion than Gymboree.  It's warm and inviting, it's engaging and educational, and they've got classes in everything from play to music to art to sports to school skills (although you'd better get on the waiting list if you want into that one!).  Your membership also gets you into open play times, which is a fantastic alternative to the park when it's cold outside.  

It's safe (everything's matted and plush), it's clean (Mrs. Meshe was very sure we all sanitized our hands before going in, and clean socks on grown ups are required), and it's a great investment in your child's development and in your sanity, because hey, at least your getting out of the house once a week this winter!! 

If you've got children in multiple age groups, be sure to ask about the Family Class, which allows you to bring everyone to one time and have a great time.

I want to wish a very happy birthday to Gymboree Woodbridge, which is obviously doing it right.  It's a fun, safe place to take your little ones and have a fantastic time together.  Great job, Gymboree!!







Disclosure: Gymboree Woodbridge provided PWCMoms with giveaway items for readers, in addition to offering a free class for myself, my child, and several readers.  All opinions expressed, however, are my own.  
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