Now our kids can have fun while we help Santa with the gifts!

This is so awesome. Check it out:

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More details at: MOD

Join us for the 10th year of dynamic operating toy trains. The 10th year of train lovers of all-ages getting to operate the set. The 10th year of art and history coming together in an interactive, delightful exhibit. Watch a massive standard gauge steam engine from the 1920s start up-headlight flashing, drive wheels spinning, smoke flowing from the smoke stack and of course a mighty whistle. On another track, see a remote controlled modern production of an O gauge diesel with all the latest electronic features. Hear the roar as the diesel starts up, the blast of the mighty horn, the squeal of the brakes at the train slows for a curve and the chatter between the engineer and the control tower. Toy trains have come a long way over the last century, but new or old, the emphasis is on fun!

Experience a brand new Toy Train Sale Fair on Saturday, December 12th. Toy trains will be available for sale along with train related gifts you can purchase.

Toy Trains 2015 features the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad with its famous Chicago-California streamliner “The Super Chief” along with other famous streamliners such as our own “Coast Daylight” and long freight trains. Children and the young at heart have the opportunity to operate the trains, sound the whistles and much more!

Visitors will view vintage advertisements extolling the advantages of luxurious Pullman train travel of the 1940s, 50s and 60s. New this year will be a set of display panels from the Regional Transportation Commission highlighting the past and future of real railroading in Santa Cruz County. There will also be weekly raffles of beautiful toy trains, at the close of every Sunday.
Members of the Over the Hill Gang will be on hand to help young engineers’ master controls and to answer questions. Don’t miss this nostalgic exhibition.

More details: Toy Trains

 

Bring a can of food, and bowl a game for FREE!
All food donations go to Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County to help feed local families. Last year, we collected over 7,780 cans or almost four tons of food!

For a $100 cash donation to Second Harvest, we’re giving away 25 FREE BOWLING passes for use at the Boardwalk Bowl on future visits.

Boardwalk Bowl League Players who bring in 3 cans of unexpired food during league play receive 3 FREE BOWLING passes for a future visit.

More details at: http://boardwalkbowl.com/strike-out-hunger

 

 

The Santa Cruz Yacht Club’s 30th Annual Lighted Boat Parade at Santa Cruz in the South Harbor will take place on Saturday, December 5, 2015. Parade will begin at 5:30 p.m. This year’s theme Moonlit Starry Night.

The Lighted Boat Parade can be viewed from either side of the harbor channel between the Murray Street bridge and the Crow’s Nest and Aldo’s restaurants. The parade will take place rain or shine.

You will be judged in the categories of Theme, Lights, and Music. Prizes will be awarded based on participation in the following divisions:
1. POWER BOATS (less than 31 feet)
2. POWER BOATS (31 feet and over)
3. SAILBOATS (less than 31 feet)
4. SAILBOATS (31 feet and over)
5. PEOPLE POWERED (rowboats, kayaks, inflatables, etc.)
6. STATIONARY VESSELS (in slip or in SCYC Dry Dock)

For more information on registering for this year’s Lighted Boat Parade, please contact the Santa Cruz Yacht Club at (831) 425-0690

Here is one more great free event for the whole family.

A true Santa Cruz tradition, kicking off the winter holidays season with fun, friends and surprises, and Santa is welcomed to town in a Santa Cruz Carriage Company Horse Drawn Victorian Carriage!

The parade starts at Pacific and Laurel Avenues at 10:00am on December 5th and continues north.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last Saturday two Au Pairs and I went to June Bugs to put together some crafts for the kids attending the Parents’ Night Out. 

We had a great time with the 20 kids that were there.  June Bugs is my 3 year old’s favorite place to go. He takes classes there two times per week and he loves all the fun. We also had his Birthday there this year. 

June Bugs provides Parents Night Out one time per month and they offer classes from babies to 8 years old. 

More details on their website: http://junebugsgym.com

And of course, our night ended with dinner at Chili’s. What could be more American?

Early this week I received this amazing email from Brygida Jackowiak, an Au Pair that returned home last month. Brygida lived in Santa Cruz for one year. Her host family has two kids. The baby girl is almost 2 and the boy is 6 years old.

 

This is her view of her year in the US: 

 

Brygida Jackowiak 

Clearly remember that day when I was leaving home for an Au Pair program. From my family side there was weeping and fear about me but from my side excitement and hunger of new experiences. On that day I knew, something big was about to come.  Before I had come to US I kept thinking I am mature and there is no way I could be surprised about anything. I thought “ I am going to travel and improve my English skills”. What happened then? My primary goals disappear. Obviously, I travelled and improved my language but those things came naturally. That time has developed me a lot. I might compare it to amusement park where I take a ride having a thought what to expect, but reality is way different. Taking this ride showed me ups and downs, different people, styles of life, views, showed me that there is nothing in this world only black or white. Showed me that there is something more than only my needs. When you are an au pair – at the beginning you have to, then you want to – sacrifice your needs. I lied if I said it was easy right after I came. That’s a tough situation not only for foreign girl who one day leaves Europe and the second day moves into a someone’s house. And that was this mentioned down. It’s tough for host family, host parents as well they don’t really know how their relationship might develop. I’d say au pairs are brave – no doubts – and host families? Even more. They need to leave their kids in someone else hands, someone who usually doesn’t speak fluent English, doesn’t know the kids. Host parents need to trust au pair, cause that’s how this relationship starts. That’s how my relationship with my host parents started, they gave me a huge “credit” of trust and I didn’t waste it. I appreciate it. Some mistakes were made, no one is perfect. The point is to learn on them and try to be better every day, cause every day is a blank new page in au pair life. There were many ups too like seeing your host kids improving themselves, growing, showing you their emotions, sharing with you their problems and eventually coming to you just to hug before bed saying “I love you Bridget”, then your heart melts. Matters you had earned taste better and you value them more. My ride – as it usually goes – past incredibly fast. I left this ride after a full year, changed – but in a good way. Incredibly experience, I’d even say that was the most unexpected year of my life so far. I am richer now – not even in places that I saw neither English that I improved –  I am richer in life experience and… love! I feel like Au Pair program has hidden agenda. And those hidden things which no one talks about during the interview are the most meaningful.  My host family became my real family, kids became my siblings. I gave them all of my heart either they just stole it.  There is a saying “those who are rich in love are the richest of all” and I am this lucky girl rich in love. It happened something more right before I left, just a few words that my host mom said: “thank you for loving my kids”.

So will you try? 🙂

 

 

My amazing neighbor, Darcy, is starting a camp for local and Northern California families who have a child or teenager dealing with cancer. It is a special weekend for the family to enjoy each other, share with other families, spend time with camp counselors who are survivors and have fun.

Please consider making a donation so that we can make this amazing camp happen.

Read more on the GoFundMe page:

https://www.gofundme.com/d37dcsyw