Lala loves to learn and there are tons of fabulous online learning tools for kids. Don’t mess with the garbage…try some of my favs first!

Dreambox-DreamBox offers adventurous and engaging kindergarten, 1st grade, and 2nd grade math games that provide an in-depth math curriculum and completely individualized learning. DreamBox is serious learning that’s seriously fun.

Starfall: A free website to teach children to read. Perfect for kindergarten, first grade, and second grade. Contains exciting interactive books and phonics games.

Professor Garfield: An education game based on the character Garfield

Funschool Kaboose: online quizes, puzzles, games, coloring and more.

IKnowThat: Online educational games for kiddos

Old Macdonald may have had as farm but near Seattle we have a slew of them to chose from. Harvest time brings out the horses, rides, corn mazes, and bundles and piles of pumpkins big and small. Here are Lala’s favorites for the harvest time:

Remlinger farms: They literally have everything from animals, rides and veggies, to horses, mazes and more.

Jubilee Farm: pumpkins, horse-drawn covered-wagon rides, hay rides and more. Plus they have organic foods they can deliver to your home on a monthly basis. yummy!

Carpinto brothers farm: Awesome pumpin patch, tractor rides and major maze!!

Fall City Farms: Farm animals, pumpkins galore, prepicked produce and amazing fresh honey….hear the buzz?

South 47 Farms: organic, pumpkin carving, farm tots program, crazy corn maze

Thomasson Family Farm: Korale cafe, kids cafe, harvest festival and loads of kiddo activities to keep you busy all day

There is no place like home, there is no place like home. That’s dorothy’s motto in Kansas but let me tell you…if Dorothy lived on a farm like Remlinger there is no way she would have left for Oz. This could be the next best thing for the kids and the whole family next to letting the grandparents take the kids to Disneyland while you and the spouse hightail it to Hawaii. That’s becuase at Remlinger there is a steam train, a mini roller coaster, model T electric cars, flying pumpkins, spinning barrels, a mini ferris wheel and canoe adventure. Oh yeah, and there are go carts, a petting zoo, a corn maze and awesome food for the whole family. The fall harvest festival is open until the end of October, so grab the kids and race over…I recommend it daily

Little Lala: I never want to leave this heaven. So many adventures…..so little time!

Seattle Children’s Theatre is celebrating the launch of the 2009-2010 in nautical style. Bring the whole family for a day of fun on the Holland America ship Westerdam for a day of performances, great food and fabulous friends. Details below or see their facebook page. Ahoy!

Join us aboard Holland America Line’s ms Westerdam for our
Sneak Peek Family Fundraiser celebrating the launch of SCT’s 2009-2010 season.

Step aboard and enjoy four-course gourmet lunch with wine, a musical season preview including songs from upcoming productions, a presentation from Artistic Director Linda Hartzell, creative drama workshops for the kids, and an opportunity to tour the ship.

Please note that the ship will remain IN PORT during the entire event.

10:15 – 10:45 AM
Check in and Boarding

11:00 AM
Welcome and Season Preview Program/Creative Drama Workshop
Vista Lounge

11:30 AM
Gourmet Lunch (A children’s menu will be available.)
Vista Dining Room

1:00 PM
Self guided tour of ship

2:30 PM
Disembark

RSVP by Monday, September 21st to Eric Riedmann at 206.859.4017 or ericr@sct.org.

*** Please be aware that due to Port of Seattle security measures, we will need each guest to provide their full name, date of birth and citizenship. You will also be required to show ID before boarding the ship. Reservations and changes cannot be accepted after the 21st ***

Kids off to school? In case you forgot to do that back to school shopping, Lala has the top kids clothing sites that will make your kids sing runway tunes in between their ABC’s.

1) Posh Tots-Glam for your kids but a little heavy on the wallet guilt. Where else can you also get a carriage shaped bed and tressor skirts?

2) Little Luna Blue- One stop shopping for funky labels and European designs.

3) Punk Baby Clothes-Rock the baby spit up in style. Camo onesies and leather jackets for your tots. Don’t forget to get them a mohawk to complete the getup.

4) Chasing Fireflies-Outfits as magical as the name and super cute Halloween costumes.

5) Best Dressed Kids- The name says it all.

Bangkok is a dream for kids and Lala has the tips to enjoy the wonderland. Top stops:

Dream World- Big theme park with all the trimmings. Think disneyland without the annoying music. Substitute Thail tunes ad viola!

Safari World-A drive through Safari Park inhabited by African and Asian animals galore. Stick around for the dolphin and seal performances and get your grrrrrrrrr on.

Dusit Zoo-A bit of a theme park/zoo/excuse to take the kids to see things in cages.

Siam Ocean World-The largest aquarium in Southeast Asia. Water water all around and not a drop to drink.

Snake farm-A bit of a tourist trap but if you are into the creepy slinky things it’s not to miss.

Childrens Discovery Museum-Nothing like watching your kids dress up in costume or try out their vocal chords in a real recording studio.

Bangkok Planetarium-Space….the final frontier.

Croc farm-And we dont mean the shoes…feeling like wrestling a crocodile? We thought so.

Thailand Knowledge Park-Inside Central world plaza, find yourself enjoying the living library, films, virtual reality, music and a kids playground.

Ice Skate World-Sometimes Bangkok just gets too darn hot. Ice ice baby time! Dont forget to try out the karaoke and bowling.