There has been a lot of press about the current health of Americans.  As we experience the impact of our sedentary culture we have learned regular exercise needs to become an important part of our daily activities. People are looking for fun reasons to get off the couch and get moving.  Some people have the ability to get out and run Marathons, half marathons, 10k or 5k all on their own.  Some of us need more motivation! There is a new fad sweeping across our county and the Tri-Cities is excited to be part of it.

A Color Run is a 5k (3.1 miles) where the participants wear as much white as possible.  At each kilometer along the way there are color stations where people throw powder paint on all the participants as they go by.  This will ensure everyone crosses the finish line in full color!  As a participant you can run the distance and see what your time is or you can jog, walk, or crawl to the finish line.  This is fun to do alone and even more fun with a group of people you love and enjoy spending time with.

On June 22^nd Kingspoint Christian School is excited to be hosting a family friendly5k "KOLOR RUN" which will be held at the Fingernail Building in Howard Amon Park.  It is important for children to get out and participate in healthy activities over the summer and this is a great opportunity for families to have some fun and be active together.

Requirements for this event:

• Be ready to have fun while participating in a healthy activity
• Have the ability to travel 5k in some fashion
• Strollers are welcome (however we cannot guarantee how clean it will be at the finish line)
• No dogs please

PRIZES for both male and female winners

in each age group!

Early Registration Fees:

Individual Registration $35 ($45 after June 1^st)

Child Registration (ages 6-12) - with paid adult $20 ($30 after June 1^st)

Child ages 0-5 - with paid adult FREE

Kingspoint Kolor Run T-shirt (not available to order after June 1st)  $15

Team Registration (min. 5 people)  $30 per person ($40 after June 1^st)

Family Registration (up to 5 participants) $100 ($125 after June 1^st)

Registration sheets available for download at http://3rrr.org/event/kingspoint-kolor-run-3/ Mail or drop off your registration with payment at Kingspoint Christian School, 7900 West Court Street, Pasco WA 99301 or register on line at www.KingspointKolorRun.eventbrite.com

ENTER TO WIN!!!

COMMENT with the name of the last run you participated in OR your favorite Kolor to be entered to win 1 free registration to the Kingspoint Kolor Run ($35 value)! (some restrictions may apply.)  Winner will be announced on June 1!  Good LUCK!

The air is getting warmer, days are getting longer, the kids are getting restless- there's no denying it, summer is just around the corner!  Whether your family embraces the flexibility of a summer schedule or you cringe at the thought of making arrangements to keep your kids occupied for 11 weeks, deciding how they will spend their summer is often a stressful time for families.  While many parents of elementary aged children aren't quite ready to send their young ones off to overnight camp for week, summer camp programs have huge benefits for kids.

Luckily, there are options for families to keep kids closer to home while still reaping the benefits that summer camp programs have to offer.  Day camps are a time for kids to expand their horizons and learn new skills that schools just aren't able to provide.  During the YMCA of the Greater Tri-Cities' Spring Break Adventure Camp, children were given the opportunity to explore their world through bird watching, fishing, and hikes in our community.  Through partnering with several organizations, this week off from school was not a week off from learning, rather kids were empowered to ask questions and search for answers outside of the school setting.  Campers in the program reported that, "It was the best week ever!"  and, "We had a fun time getting to know each other and volunteers."

But is it worth it?  Some parents feel that kids need a break from structure during the summer, or that it's easier to have a family member care for them rather than paying for camp.  While those are valid reasons to keep your children home, the value of even one week in a summer camp program that encourages an active lifestyle, outdoor play, new friendships, and exposure to a variety of activities is priceless.  Many programs also offer partial scholarships to families in need of assistance.

Summer day camp registration opens in the spring and some programs fill quickly. Find out more about YMCA of the Greater Tri-Cities camp programs.

ENTER TO WIN!!!

COMMENT with your favorite camp activity to be entered to win a $100 voucher for any 2013 YMCA Summer Camp ... there are 4 to choose from! (some restrictions may apply.)  Winner will be announced on June 1!  Good LUCK!

So you're planning your child's big day and you want everything perfect for their birthday party. You've decided on a theme, picked the day, and now you're deliberating how to make this the most memorable birthday ever. How about hiring some entertainment? But where do you begin? Here are a few suggestions to help you navigate your way through the maze of decisions and questions you may have.

What type of entertainment should you choose?

There's clowns, magicians, balloon artists, face painters, ventriloquists, character actors, puppet shows, circus acts, caricature artists, and many other options. The age of the birthday child and/or party guests should dictate who is going to fit your needs the best. Ask your potential entertainer which age groups are best suited for their show. Do they offer a variety of skills for an audience of all ages? How long is the show? Attention spans vary according to age and the length of the entertainment will test their mental endurance. A well seasoned performer will know exactly what the limits of his/her audience is. Just ask them. They're a wealth of knowledge.

Where do I find amazing talent?

Most entertainment businesses have relatively small advertising budgets so you may not find them in the usual places like phone books. You could start your search on the internet, but that's not always going to simplify things. Just because your internet search doesn't turn up any local leads doesn't mean that your town is an entertainment black hole. Consider talking to people you know. Word of mouth can be a goldmine of information. Post an inquiry on your favorite social network. Stop by your local party supply store for decorations and party favors and while you're there inquire about local entertainers. They may even have a business card to give you. When you finally decide, book your entertainer as early as possible. This will ensure that you get the day you want. Calendars fill up quickly, especially weekends. It's not uncommon to book a performance 3-6 months in advance. I highly recommend it.

What should I expect?

Entertainers are contractors just like the people who mow your lawn or clean your house. A high level of professionalism should always be expected. Arrival in a timely manner, well groomedl of

Bring out the cowbells & the horns! It was our privilege to enjoy a Tri-City Americans game last night.

As many of you know, MOM Magazine partners with the Ams each year to give away tickets to our valued readers and honor some amazing dads in the community.  This evening, we honored Jason Haynes (read more about him in the April/May issue!).

Not only do the Ams provide the SuperDAD and his family with tickets for the game, but they take them out on the ice just before the game begins and share part of Dad's story.

Then, the GAME!  Admittedly, I haven't been to a hockey game before, so I was surprised at how much is happening all of the time. From the giveaways throughout the evening to the continual action on the ice (there were several fights last night), you'll find something for everyone in your family.  While most parents seemed interested in the rubber chicken toss (that offered a deal at Wingstop!), the kids put on a show with shirts flying above their heads during a break in the 3rd period!

We truly appreciate the partnership with the Tri-City Americans each year!  We have one more ticket giveaway before the season ends.

Our next game is March 16! Share the Dad in your life's story in a comment below on our blog!  You'll be entered to win a set of tickets for this game. Winner will be announced on March 4!  (No purchase necessary to win.)

It's that time again - I'm making my shopping lists to prepare for the upcoming months. One cool new thing I have on my list for a stocking stuffer is this mini marshmallow shooter from the Marshmallow Fun Company - I just know my kids will love them.

What fun/unique things will your kids be getting this holiday seasons? Comment below and we will randomly select one person on December 9th to win a mini marshmallow shooter just in time to stuff in a stocking.

I used Random.org to generate a number based on the number of entrants. It produced number 17, so lucky blog commenter #17 - Alison Bryant is the winner! Congratulations Alison, I hope you have a blast at Disney on Ice! Please let us know how the show is.

THE TOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN!

MOM Magazine is giving away a family 4 pack of tickets to Disney on Ice to one lucky reader. In the comment section below, tell us if you have ever seen a Disney on Ice show, and if so, which one. We'll randomly pick a winner on October 17th.

DISNEY ON ICE PRESENTSDISNEY•PIXAR'S TOY STORY 3

IS COMING TO PORTLAND, OCTOBER 27 - 30!

WHAT: Toy Story 3, the Academy Award^®-winning smash hit blockbuster, is so hot it's cool as everyone's favorite toys take to the ice in Disney On Ice presents Disney•Pixar's Toy Story 3! An accomplished creative team and a cast of world-class skaters are bringing Woody, the pull-string cowboy; space ranger Buzz Lightyear; Jessie, the yodeling cowgirl; and the rest of the Toy Story gang to fans and families around the country in this all-new, high-energy ice spectacular.

Inspired by the #1 animated movie of all time, Toy Story 3, and memorable moments from Toy Story and Toy Story 2, everyone's favorite characters are hitting the ice in this sensational live production coming to Portland for seven performances!  Catch all the heroic action when Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Jessie and the Toy Story gang escape from the rambunctious tots of Sunnyside Daycare and race for home, in their most daring adventure ever.  Plus a few new faces join the fun, including Barbie's groovy bachelor Ken and Lots-o'-Huggin' Bear.  It's the biggest Toy Story experience ever on ice, jam-packed with fast-paced adventure such as Buzz's galactic battle with Emperor Zurg and a hoe-down on the set of  "Woody's Roundup."  Relive the humor, friendship and charm of Toy Story when Disney On Ice presents Disney•Pixar's Toy Story 3 takes family fun to infinity and beyond!

WHEN:            October 27 - 30, 2011

Thursday, October 27^th - 7:30 p.m.

Friday, October 28^th - 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, October 29^th - 12:00 p.m., 3:30 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, October 30^th - 1:00 p.m. & 4:30 p.m.

WHERE: The Rose Garden - One Center Court Portland, OR 97227

TICKETS:          Ticket price levels are $17, $21, $36 (VIP) and $62 (Front Row). Opening Night tickets available for only $11 each (not valid on premium seating; limit 10 tickets per order). Tickets are available at the Rose Quarter Box Office, all participating Safeway/TicketsWest outlets, by calling 877.789.ROSE, or at ComcastTIX.com. For groups of 10 and more please call 503.963.4400.

Congratulations to Amanda Walley! Using the trusty random number generatorRandom.org, we pulled #2 as the lucky winner.

Amanda has won an express pedicure at Nouveau Day Spa.

Don't forget to take care of mom during this holiday season. We're giving away a luxurious pedicure at Nouveau Day Spa to ease those tired shopping feet.

Nouveau Day Spa Express Pedicure
A refreshing aromatherapy treatment to rejuvenate tired feet.
(30-45 Minutes) $45 value

Enter now

Answer this question in the caption section below for a chance to win. Winners will be drawn randomly from all entries at 5 p.m. on Dec. 15. Be sure to check back to this page to see if you're the winner.

What do you want for Christmas this year, mom?