Giveaway: Peter and the Wolf at the Hylton Performing Arts Center

Published: 01/19/2013

The children and family performances at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas, Virginia, are a great way to expose your children to the arts in Prince William County!

Coming up in February, the Hylton Family Series will be presenting Peter and the Wolf on February 2nd with showtimes at 2pm and 4pm. Children's tickets are just $5, which is very affordable, with adults at $15 per ticket. Tickets can be purchased at 1-888-945-2468, or online at HyltonCenter.org

Here's a synopsis:
The Pushcart Players makes its Hylton Center debut presenting the beloved and familiar folk tale,Peter and The Wolf. Set to music by Prokofiev, this charming Russian story follows a young boy who dares to venture into the woods, despite his grandfather’s warning about a dangerous wolf that lurks within. When Peter’s beloved duck, Clara, is swallowed whole by the wolf the brave boy is determined to capture the fierce creature and save his friend. This classic tale offers a splendid introduction for children into the world of music, with a different instrument and melody representing each character in the story. Don’t miss this Emmy-nominated ensemble hailed by The New York Times as “a polished and knowing theatre company … for children.”

The Hylton Performing Arts Center is generously offering two family four packs of tickets to Prince William County Moms readers, one set for the 2pm performance and one set for the 4pm performance. Enter using the Rafflecopter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winner assumes all liability and risk. Facebook is not affiliate with this contest. Prize provided directly to winner by Hylton Performing Arts Center, not transferrable or exchangeable for other performances or cash.

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Review: Skate N Fun Zone

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Published: 01/17/2013

If you've been reading my site for any amount of time, you know that we're huge fans of "Mommy Dates" and "Daddy Dates" in our family. (If you haven't been reading my site, then welcome.) We truly value having one-on-one time with our children so that we can really have time to know their hearts and how they're doing. We try to make sure that each child gets individual time with one of us at least once a month. Sometimes it's a big deal and we take them out to do something that costs money, but other times it's a walk, or a trip to Starbucks, or a walk around Target and something from the $1 section.

On New Years Eve Day, our boys were invited to go play with friends, which left our daughter home alone. I needed to do some lesson planning, so she and daddy decided to capitalize on their alone time by heading out to Skate N Fun Zone, which offers a New Year's Eve Party at both mid-day and midnight. Brilliant! They actually offer special events both weekly and monthly, including a homeschool skate, rock-n-stroll for parents who have infants and older children, and more.

Skate N Fun Zone is located at 7878 Sudley Road Manassas, VA 20109 (for those of you who always like to have an address listed)

$10 per person covered their admission, glow cups, a balloon drop, party favors, and glow sticks. With just two of them, it was definitely workable, although they also offer a discount for purchasing a "super pack" with 4 admissions. For a special event like New Years, I would say that's worth it.

The actual building is behind a few other buildings, so while there is a sign from the road, you have to "do kind of a u-turn thing" to get to the actual location.

He's an engineer, guys, not a writer.

For this particular event, there was no parking available, and my husband ended up asking a local Liberty Mutual agent if he could park in his lot, and he was very nice, since it was New Years. However, inside my husband heard there's overflow parking (somewhere) so be sure to check on that if you find yourself in the same situation.

After they rented their skates, they found a spot to drop their stuff, which was slightly challenging since there were so many people. Lockers are available to rent for your valuables, which is probably a good idea especially on a special event day. He had this recap:

"Everything seemed relatively clean, but definitely used. The floor was definitely well-worn, but it didn't impede our ability to skate. There's a jungle gym included in the price, a little food area where you can buy food, and an arcade area similar to Chuck-E-Cheese where you can pay for games and get tickets to trade in for lame prizes."

"I'd say what I liked most was that they had a large variety of things to do, and even with the skating they'd shift between a game (like Limbo or backwards skate) and regular skating, and there was the arcade and the gym, so we were able to rotate a lot and stay for a pretty long time considering our daughter is 4. We were there for several hours. We got there just as they were finishing the balloon drop, and it was loud, so she wasn't a huge fan of that becuase everyone was popping balloons and that was "scary" for her. I'd go again, we had a great time. I also liked that their rules included the ability to kick people out who were not dressed appropriately, were cursing, or appeared to be under the influence of anything."

I tried to grill him about something negative to say, but the hard part about reviewing things in our family is that we, generally speaking, have fun, and decide that it's a good time :)

My daughter also said that she had fun and would go again.

Especially with her daddy.

Not a paid or solicited review, hubby and DD went and paid just like everyone else.

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Kid Friendly New Year's 2013

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Published: 12/31/2012

New Year's Eve in Prince William County has a few fun options for kids!!

Christ Chapel will be offering a NYE service at 10pm. 13909 Smoketown Road Woodbridge VA

The Cavalier Family Skating Center will host an a New Year's Party. Monday, December 31st from 7:00 pm to 7:00 am. They will be giving away an iPad Mini (must be present to win). Black Outs, Games, Flash Light Skates, Dances, Balloon Drop. Tickets are $20. Receive FREE skate rental with an advanced ticket purchase. 1924 Jefferson Davis Highway Stafford, VA 22554

Skate N Fun Zone will also have some options:

Kids In Motion offers an annual Kids' Party for ages 3 to 12 from 7 pm - 9 am. It's $35 for the first child and $30 for each additional sibling. RSVP by December 27th to save $5 per child. Pizza, games, hats, necklaces and a balloon drop at 10pm. Call 703-878-0100, must pay in advance.

If you want to keep the kids home with you (and asleep) Jump N Jimmy's will have open bounce from 10am-6pm. Work them hard and put them to bed early ;)

Leesylvania Park will offer a “First Day Hike,” so you can start the new year with some exercise! This is a self-guided hike along Lee’s Woods trail; plus a scavenger hunt for young hikers, 7 a.m.-5 p.m., Leesylvania State Park, 2001 Daniel K. Ludwig Dr. Woodbridge. Parking, $4. 703-583-6904.

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December 2012 Fairfax Symphony Kids' Passport Program

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Published: 11/28/2012

The Fairfax Symphony Orchestra invites students and families to attend its next concert on Saturday, December 8th, at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts in Fairfax, VA, at 8:00 p.m. This performance features pianist, James Dick, and works by Rossini and Tchaikovsky. All students will be invited to join the Student Passport Club!

Fairfax Symphony Concert Information:

· Date: Saturday, December 8, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.

· Location: George Mason University’s Center for the Arts, Fairfax

· Cost: Student Tickets only $5; Adult Tickets begin at $25

· Tickets: Available beginning at 6:00 p.m. on December 8^th at the “Student Ticket Window.” Students must be present when purchasing their tickets the night of the concert.

· Parking: Free in Lot K; event parking fee in garage

Fairfax Symphony’s Students Passport Club (for students ages 6-18):

· Personal passportto be stamped at each event

· Special program notesand activity sheets for each concert

· Free gifts

· Invitation to a special reception with an opportunity to meet FSO musicians and play many different instruments

· JOIN IN ADVANCEOR AT THE CONCERT ITSELF!

Mischief in Music Corner:

If you attended the last FSO concert in November, bring back your program with the Scavenger Hunt questions completed for an extra stamp! Those who missed this performance are welcome to participate too. Simply bring your answers to the following questions about the composer featured on this performance:

1. How old was Rossini when his first opera premiered?

2. What instrument did Rossini play with his father’s musical group?

3. At what age did Tchaikovsky begin playing the piano?

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Hylton Family Series Presents: Trout Fishing In America

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Published: 10/09/2012

While it may sound a little messy for a venue like the Hylton Performing Arts Center, Trout Fishing in America is actually a dynamic duo of children's singers, and not, as one may have thought, a potential for a tasty fish fry dinner.

From the Philadelphia Inquirer:
Trout Fishing in America warm the hearts and tickle the funny bones of both children and adults alike with silly songs such as “My Hair Had a Party Last Night,” “Rock and Roll Roosters,” “Hello, My Chicken Thinks He’s a Dog,” and “When I Was a Dinosaur.” Bassist Keith Grimwood and guitarist Ezra Idlet continually win over countless fans of all ages with its infectious blend of folk/pop and family music peppered with the influences of reggae, Latin, blues, jazz and classical music. Over the years, the duo has earned Grammy nominations, Parents’ Choice and Indie Awards, and recently authored several children’s books/CDs sets including their newest, Chicken Joe Forgets Something Important. “The Trout boys work to entertain ‘kids’ of every age.”

PS- There's a height disparity here...

Trout Fishing in America will play the Hylton's Merchant Hall on October 20th at 2pm. Adults are $15.00 and Children are just $5.00. If you've not been to the Hylton Performing Arts Center yet, you really do need to go. The theatre is exquisite, and the experience is very reminiscent of a trip to the Kennedy Center, but without the traffic, parking fees, etc. Plus, it's in Manassas, and you know how strongly I feel about not having to leave Prince William County to be entertained!

Want to go?
The Hylton Center is offering a family 4 pack of tickets to "Trout Fishing in America" to a lucky PwcMoms reader! Just use the Rafflecopter below to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Hylton Family Series also has "Peter and the Wolf" coming in January, and February and "Masked Marvels and Wondertales" coming in March.

PwcMoms.com was not compensated for this post. PwcMoms is not responsible for your personal experience at a venue, all opinions are our own.

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Tea With Mrs. B

Published: 09/21/2012

Tea with Mrs. B, located in McLean, VA and Bethesda, MD, is a children¹s tea room focused on providing a fun and memorable lesson in manners, etiquette and poise.

Never one for boring, every day instruction, Mrs. Rebecca Czarniecki, better known as Mrs. B, captivates her audience with detailed stories and her outgoing, joyful personality. From private adult and corporate manners classes to customized birthday parties for children, Mrs. B is here to help with all things etiquette.

Join Mrs. B the third Saturday of every month at the Bethesda Lebanese Taverna for her newest program, Mingling and Manners 101. Designed especially for tweens and teenagers, Mrs. B provides lessons on dining etiquette, proper body language, communication skills and navigating certain social situations, over lunch and tea. $55 per person.

To contact Mrs. B, please call 202.448.2930, e-mail b@teawithmrsb.com orvisit www.teawithmrsb.com

Want to meet Mrs. B for something more fall-ish? Tea with Mrs. B, along with Art Works, is having a Halloween Haunt at the Historic Beall House (7740 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD 20814). This event will take place on October 27 from 4-6pm and will include music, face painting, a candy hunt, a haunted house and games and prizes. All ages are invited!

Mrs. B is so excited to share her programs with PwcMoms, and she's even got a special "tea for one" set for a lucky reader! To win, email info@pwcmoms.com with "Tea With Mrs. B" in the subject line! Contest closes Saturday, September 22nd.

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Urban Evolution

Published: 09/20/2012

You need to shake up your child's monotonous perspective on staying fit with some exercise, but you don't want to make them feel like a hamster in a wheel on a treadmill or pass the ball around for 3 hours at a stretch! Check out Parkour classes at Urban Evolution for PwcMoms fans! Pay $100 for 10 visits to the gym (a 10-visit "punchcard"), and change how they look at the world forever! (This is a special savings for PwcMoms.com readers.)

Classes are available for kids ages 6 to 14, with dedicated "homeschool only" classes for kids ages 9-11 on Wednesdays at 1pm, and more classes for other age groups to come as we grow the program! Here's a schedule for all the kid classes that are currently being offered at Urban Evolution Manassas.

Urban Evolution (or "Urban Evo" for short) has locations in Alexandria and Manassas and different age and skill level options each week, allowing boys and girls throughout Northern Virginia to learn Parkour. Cross off the food pellets and wood chips from your grocery list, because thanks to Urban Evolution, you can graduate your child from hamster to hall of famer. It's the perfect activity to grab the interest of kids who might not gravitate to team sports or whose idea of fitness is a PlayStation controller thumb workout...but it can be demanding enough for professional football players! It's a great way to help kids change their ideas about fitness while helping them build self-esteem and encouraging them to work hard.

So you’ve heard of parkour before, and maybe you’ve even seen some pictures or videos labeled as parkour, but what exactly is parkour?

It's not strictly defined by any particular workout or conditioning regiment. It’s more about finding the way to keep improving and eventually reach your greatest physical potential. And that’s what makes it so great! Your only opponent here is yourself. Your competition is you (at least officially speaking). So it does have its philosophical side, but here at Urban Evolution, we’ve come up a variety of ways to challenge your kids and hone their skills in a safe and fun environment!

Urban Evolution offers many other classes as well. After some training, you'll be able to check out more advanced training in parkour. We bring discipline and conditioning together with creative obstacle courses to challenge your mental and physical abilities. Generally, our high teacher-to-student ratio allows us to address questions and work through challenges for kids of all types on an individual basis.

This is a sponsored post from Urban Evolution. As with any physical activity, please note you participate at your own discretion. PwcMoms is not responsible for children's participation in any activity listed.

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Smiley Face Pizzas

Published: 09/05/2012

As I shared a few weeks ago, I'm on a constant hunt for easy-to-eat foods for our co-op days. We tried out corn dog muffins, which were a hit with my kids, so I thought I'd switch it up for some vegetarian fare this time!

So pizza. Pretty easy. Easier than rotating pictures in your blog posts. True story. For these, we used whole wheat mini pitas as our base, leftover spaghetti sauce as our sauce, some part-skim mozzarella, and some bell peppers. My kids adore bell peppers, and snack on the red ones whenever they can get their hands on them.

I used the wrong end of a piping tip to cut circles, but a small cookie cutter or even a knife would help you get shapes just as well. You could use other veggies, too, to make your faces, but we had bell peppers, sooooo....we just went with it.

This one isn't rocket science. Place a mini pita on the pan, add sauce to your liking (I let the kids make their own, so you'll notice various levels of sauce and cheese application) and then funny face it up! Bake at 350 degrees until the cheese melts, but do not over bake or the pitas will become too crunchy to be enjoyable.

These were a big hit for us. We baked them the day before and ate them room temperature at CC for lunch. The kids thought they were great, and didn't mind that they weren't hot. My 8 year old ate two, but one was enough for each of the others.

Smiley Face Pizzas
4 Whole Wheat Mini Pitas
1/2 Cup Part Skim Mozzarella Cheese
1/2 Cup Marina or Pizza Sauce
Vegetables to top

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Giveaway: Free Week of Camp!!

Published: 08/16/2012

ATA Martial Arts (8088 Sudley Road, Manassas VA) emailed us to let us know they have a few spots left in their last week of Summer Camp, which runs August 27-31st, and that they'd like to fill one of them with a PwcMoms giveaway!

Camp is for ages 6 and up, and runs from 8am-5pm. It's an active camp, so your child will be busy and engaged "minus the video games" according to the description from the owner.

If you don't win, camp is a great price for this area at $150 for full-day care. There are 4 spots remaining for camp, minus the spot available through this giveaway!! Thanks so much to ATA Martial Arts for this great giveaway!!

To Win:
Enter up to 4 ways. Leave a comment indicating you've completed each. If I cannot contact you, you cannot win, so be sure that you provide an email address, either in your comment or by emailing it to me separately!
1- "Like" (or have already liked) ATA Martial Arts on Facebook and leave a comment here saying you did
2- "Like" (or have already liked) PwcMoms on Facebook and leave a comment here saying you did
3- Tweet the link to this contest and include @PwcMoms in your tweet and leave a comment here saying you did
4- Email your entry to PwcMoms

Remember, winners are picked at random, so please do not try to break my heart thinking it will help! It just makes me sad!! Winner will be selected at random at midnight on Sunday, August 19th and announced on Monday, August 20th.

Good luck! (Also, be sure to check out ATA Martial Arts for the school year, too!)

Disclaimer: No purchase necessary, winner assumes all liability and risk, PwcMoms is not responsible for winner's individual experience or any injuries from taking part in a martial arts based program. Winner has 24 hours to claim their prize or it will be forfeit and offered to the next randomly selected winner. PwcMoms is not responsible for ensuring you receive your notification in a timely manner.

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NOVA BMX

Published: 08/15/2012

We were really fortunate to be invited to a super-awesome birthday party at the NOVA BMX track in Woodbridge, Virginia. The kids had a great time and were getting lots of fresh air and exercise, which was fantastic. I thought going into it that there was no way we'd make it more than 10 minutes (long pants and long-sleeves are required for safety reasons and it was 102 degrees!), but the kids didn't complain at all!

From treasurer Brenda Powers:
Our track is owned by Prince William County Park Authority. We are a 501(c)3 organization and run solely by volunteers. BMX is an individual sport and is very family oriented. BMX became an Olympic sport in 2008 and this year we are celebrating the 2nd year of BMX in the Olympics. It is a great sport and because of the Olympics it is growing in popularity. Unfortunately, our track seems to be one of Prince William County's best kept secrets! We are trying to get the word out as often as we can. Hopefully your web site can help us accomplish this.

BMXBackyard.com

The track, located at 7 County Complex CourtWoodbridge, VA 22192, offers clinics, races, and practice time memberships. Not sure if your child will like it enough to sign up for a 30 Day Membership? That's okay- you can come out for a FREE one-day trial membership. A full-face helmet is another requirement, but the track has ones to loan. In addition, the track offers sanctioned practices with gate opening on Wednesdays at 5:30pm to dusk and on Sundays from 2-4pm. As far as competitive riding, it looks like races start at around $8, so this is a really affordable sport (once you've bought the bike!) especially compared to things like figure skating!

BMXBackyard.com

The track also offers birthday parties, and would be a really fun outing for a scout troop, too. At the party we went to, we rode first and then did a tailgate in the parking lot. It was such a fun event!! I've never been to a party like it, and even younger siblings (no training wheels are allowed on the race track) had fun on the blacktop that surrounds the track.

When you head out to check out the track, you'll want to enter the county complex area and head to the right, as if you're driving up to the Potomac Nationals stadium. Continue to the right all the way back to the right-rear area of the parking, and you'll see the track on your right hand side. (It's the best-kept secret because you can't see it from the road!)

Disclaimer Time: PwcMoms.com was not paid or compensated. While this review is a fair and accurate representation of our views, it is important to know that BMX is a physically strenuous and potentially dangerous activity. PwcMoms.com does not assume any liability for injuries sustained partaking in any type of sport or activity reviewed on our site, including BMX.

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Guest Post: LEGO Birthday Party Ideas

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Published: 08/15/2012

5 LEGO Birthday Party Ideas

Certainly one of the main ingredients in a great kid’s party is the games, and a Lego themed party is no exception. Surprisingly versatile and always popular, despite the temptations of more technologically advanced games and toys, Lego remains a huge favourite with younger kids and a Lego party will go down a treat. Here are some tips for getting just the right mix.

Rules of Engagement

Lego, or not, there are a certain rules of engagement when it comes to parties and kids ones are no exception.

· Have a game or an activity ready to start as the guest arrive; this helps to get the party started and it’s one small step in the continual battle to wear your own and your friends kids out!

· Have a different range of games that include group games and individual task, this ensures that everyone gets to take part and doesn’t get left out.

· It may be the taking part that counts but it’s important to ensure that everyone – including the birthday boy/girl – gets to win one of the games.

· Finishing touches – end the party games with the cake – and give out goodie bags for everyone to take home with them.

Photo Credit: /lfab-uvm.blogspot.com/

Lego Games

· Opening the games; no, you don’t need to create an Olympic spectacle but a jar full of Lego bricks at the front door to play “Guess the Number” is a good starting point. The winner gets to take the jar of Lego home at the end of the day.

· Using chopsticks tied with a rubber band get each guest to attempt to pick up as many Lego pieces from a central bowl and place them in individual bowls. The winner is the one with the most bits in their own bowl at the end of a minute.

· Towering Treats; no Lego party is really going to be complete without a building challenge; a group task should naturally involve creating the tallest tower. You can set the challenge to one large group or several competing groups. Each team member has to take turns to add to the tower and the group with the tallest tower (or the last to collapse) wins.

· Especially if the party is indoors – either weather bound or because of distinct lack of outdoor space - Lego bricks can make an ideal focus for a treasure hunt. Again this is a good team effort game and by setting it as a group challenge you can create a couple of different treasure routes. The winning team is the one that finds all the pieces first. A more complex version is to take each piece from a small model and the winning team is the one that finds all the bits and constructs the model first!

That Cake

Naturally the cake will be a key part of the celebration and thanks to their simple design Lego bricks make a perfect and easy to make cake. Any flavour of sponge cake can be used along with six sponge cupcakes. The cupcakes form the studs and you can use standard icing coloured red, blue or green to cover the cake and studs, creating a realistic and tasty Lego brick cake. A more adventurous alternative is to create a layered cake, decorated with a number of different colours and top off with studs and a forest of candles on the top. Goodie bags or boxes should contain at least one mini-kit (cars for the boys and jewellery for the girls go down well) to take home as a reminder of a fantastic Lego party.

Photo Credit: Babble.com

AuthorCarlo Pandian is a freelance writer and LEGO fan. He blogs about LEGO bricks, parenting and design covering everything from Dallas with kids to theme parks. When he’s not online he likes gardening and volunteering at his local community center.

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Review: Cavalier Family Skating Center

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Published: 07/24/2012

We had the opportunity to head to Stafford to the Cavalier Family Skating Center last week with friends. Leaving from Lake Ridge, it took us about 30 minutes to get to the Cavalier, which is located at 1920 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Stafford, Virginia. (Hey person who asked me to include addresses, I'm talking to you!)

Coming from 95 north, the location is on your left side of Route 1. It looks like a house with a Pizza sign, but turn in anyway, the skating center is actually BEHIND the pizza place. Generally speaking, admission is $6, skate rental is $2, Roller Blade rental is $3, and "PlayZone" admission is $3. They do take credit cards. Admission includes a slice of pizza and a small fountain drink. You can check for daily specials on their website.

Are you ready for the worst iPhone pictures I've ever posted? Are you sure? I warned you!

So, obviously it's dark inside :) There are lots of lights going and you even get a little black-light style glow to any white clothes that you're wearing. The floor is flat and surrounded by carpet, which is actually a nice way to start your new skaters out. My ice skating boys opted for roller blades and did just fine with them, but my little figure skater had to resign herself to 4-wheeled skates because the roller blades don't start until size 13. Right next to the skate rental area is the play zone. You can almost see it in the junky iPhone picture above. It's an extra $3 to use, and I refused to pay for it, but my kids didn't seem to mind or even ask about it until it was time to go and they'd taken their skates off. There are also numerous arcade style games around that require tokens, which you need cash to get, so if you've got a gamer, plan on at least a little cash so you can get your tokens.

Oh, look! A decent picture from the Cavalier website.

At the opposite end of the rink there's a linoleum area with the cafe, more games, some seats, and a party area. Word to the wise, the linoleum is SLIPPERY, especially for new skaters. That first step from the carpet or wooden skate floor to the linoleum is a doosey!

It's definitely a great temperature inside, and as you can see, we had the place basically to ourselves, with the exception of the disco ball, although a summer camp group did come near the end of our time. Admission the day we went was from 10am-6pm, but we stayed from 12-3. The music is kind of fun- I heard a few blasts from the 90s past and enjoyed it immensely :)

As far as cons, I've got to be honest, this place has seen better days. You can't really see this picture well, but it's an image of where the carpeted benches meet the carpeted floor. That white looking line is about 1/4 inch of chunky dirt that runs around the entire perimeter. The day we went the water fountain was missing 2 of its 3 "push here" covers, so there were just holes in the fountain where they should have been, and there was a bench top missing from one of the tables in the cafe area, so there was just bare metal left. The floor to skate on was definitely clean and smooth, and the kids had a really great time skating, but if I kept my Dyson in the back of my car, I would have busted it out for awhile.

In addition to school groups and camps, the roller skating rink also offers birthday parties, which are currently priced from $129-$199 for 9 guests plus the birthday child.

Cavalier Family Skating Center
Pros: Admission fee is good for the entire day, lots of special event skates. Indoor option that keeps the kids moving, all 3 of my children (4, 6 and 8 years old) had a good time. The weekday we went it was basically empty.

Cons: Extra cost for play area, facility needs serious cleaning.

Recommended for: A day inside, but be sure to bring some hand sanitizer when you're done.

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Giveaway: Brick Fair 2012

Published: 07/19/2012

Coming August 4th and 5th to the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, Virginia, it's Brick Fair! If you have a Lego Lover of any age, this is definitely one to check out!

The fair recommends you allot at least 90 minutes to see everything, but tickets are valid for all day admission. The Brick Fair is open each day from 11am-4pm. Parking is free. There's plenty to see, play with, and even win! Lego giveaways happen at 1pm and 3pm each day.

From the official website:

LEGO models, displays and winding trains sprawled out over 100,000 square feet.

BrickFair brings together adult fans of LEGO from across the USA (and Canada, and a few other countries) to show off their projects, great and small, and to share their passion for LEGO - the most awesome toy - ever.

LEGO fan festivals like BrickFair are great fun for the whole family!

Join in a game or two - maybe win a LEGO set.

Vendors will be offering all things LEGO, including shirts, hats, minifigures, custom-molded weapons, unique models, keychains and... really... everything you never imagined.

Thanks to the great folks at Washington Family Magazine, PwcMoms is happy to offer a family 4 pack of tickets for either day of Brick Fair 2012!! Since it REALLY bothered some of you that you had to email, you may enter 1 of 3 ways that guarantee I can get in touch with you:

1- Leave a comment on this post WITH your email address. Yes, that means you put your email address out for the world to see

2- Email Me with "Brick Fair 2012" in the subject line

3- Tweet the following message: I want to go to @BrickFair thanks to @FamilyMagDC and @PwcMoms!

Enter however you'd like by midnight on July 27th, 2012. A winner will be selected and notified via email or twitter and Facebook on July 28th, 2012.

Winner will be selected on July 28th. Winners must claim their prize by July 30th or a new winner will be selected. Prize provided by Washington Family Magazine and Brick Fair 2012. Winner assumes all risk and liability. PwcMoms was provided with courtesy tickets in return for this post.

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Meet Hallabolou

Published: 07/18/2012

Hallabolou is a full service Children’s Enrichment and Event Company. I first met their owner, Vanessa, at the Chick-Fil-A Fire and Rescue Fest. I instantly decided that I needed to know the woman with the purple apron and approximately 75 pounds of Legos. Bright, enthusiastic, and passionate about engaging and enriching children's lives, Vanessa instantly won me over on Hallabolou (a secret message saying hello to her children) and her work there. Read more about them below, and be sure to check them out on Facebook and their Website, too! They offer classes, after school enrichment, camps, and more!

From the owner:

Our enrichment programs and camps are dedicated to creating an atmosphere that fosters each child’s feeling of autonomy and positive self-image. From a young age, children are fascinated with the world around them. Hallabolou uses this fascination to teach life skills and assist children in understanding and expressing their emotions through a creative technique known as the Five Points of Discovery. These points are Imagination, Determination, Commitment, Self-Confidence and Cooperation. Through our offerings of bRiK Programs or Learning Levels we teach STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. We enrich their experiences by also providing a Dance and Movement program, Educational Cooking for Kids, Theater and Art.

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Summer 2012 Cotillion at Pink Bicycle Tea Room

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Published: 06/11/2012

The Pink Bicycle Tea Room in Occoquan, Virginia

will be hosting a Summer Cotillion!!

Monday July 16 - Friday July 20, 2012
9:00 AM - 12 noon

Your child's manners and social etiquette skills are not just actions, they are
an attitude. It is an attitude that is closely related to their self-confidence,
position in business and personal life. It will also aid in their ability to
build successful relationships, teams and organizations. Your child will
master the important life skill that lead to triumph and personal self
assurance.

Mrs. Emily Murphy, of Emily's Teas, is a certified instructor from the South
Carolina's leading protocol and etiquette school The International School
of Protocol and will help your child refine their social skills that are critical
to achieve true success.

Class begins each day promptly at 9 AM and ends at noon. There will be a 20
minute snack break during each session. The last day they will be treated to
a full three course tea where they will put what they have learned to use.

$225 all inclusive

Guest visitors (pending):
Mayor Earnie Porta
Ella Brayman, owner, LaBella Bridal & Consignment

Contact:
303 Commerce Street
P.O. Box 587
Occoquan, VA 22125
(703) 491-5216

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Saturdays in the Garden with PWCMG's

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Published: 06/06/2012

The Master Gardeners of Prince William County offer "Saturdays in the Garden" each week in Bristow. Held at St. Benedict Monastery (9535 Linton Hall Road, Bristow VA 20136), each program is held from 9am-12pm and features concurrent adult and children's programming, however, children's programs are not drop-off, so plan to bring your gardening gloves, too!