We were the Lucky Ones

When meeting with friends for good times and over dinner, it is essential you request a fun waiter.

Lucky for us (or was that lucky for him) we were appointed this guy at the local IHOP in The Colony, Texas.

Mmmm, the tilapia was seasoned to perfection along with its nest of sliced red potatoes.

Hollandaise sauce? Ewwww.

Usually when I go to IHOP, I order a Rooty Tooty Fresh ‘N Fruity. Actually, I don’t remember the last time I did not order the Rooty Tooty Fresh ‘N Fruity as it is almost a tradition for me when I visit this particular restaurant. Stacks of pancakes and sweet breakfast sausage alongside bacon and eggs cooked to order–what more could one ask for?

You want to know the real reason I ordered a Rooty Tooty Fresh ‘N Fruity for the first time way back when? I ordered it because Tootie off of The Facts of Life was my icon and a version of her name was in the title of the meal. There. I said it. Please don’t judge me.

Of course, ice cold Dr Pepper goes with everything here in Texas.

Just ask Chef E of Food~Wine~Fun–she’s a native Texan and joined in on the good times at IHOP. I haven’t had this much fun since I pretended I was a rich woman and toured the model homes in Lantana, a master-planned community. Just ask my Friend Who Will Not Be Named that went with me to meet Chef E, since it was her who I sprayed with a shower head inside a walk-in tiled shower in that multi-million dollar home. Good times…

A rare photograph of me…take it in while you can.

I dont know why, but I really like this angle.

Next time you go to IHOP or any other resteraunt for that matter, don’t forget to throw a little salt for good luck.

If it works, you may get a crazy spirited waiter like this one. Yep, we were definitely the lucky ones.

Splashfest – Hawaiian Falls – The Colony

North Texas Kids is hosting a Splashfest on Saturday, July 18.  The waterpark extravaganza for DFW parents and kids will be held at Hawaiian Falls in The Colony from 11 am to 4 pm.  This family-friendly event is sponsored by North Texas Kids, MomsOutloud and Richardson Living.

The party will get started at 11 with fun things to do and see – 40 Dallas-Fort Worth area kid-friendly vendors will be there for you to meet.

Radio Disney will be entertaining the kids from 2 to 4 pm.

$3 of each purchased ticket will go directly to support Sci-Tech Discovery Center…so party for a good cause!

Discounted tickets are available by clicking here and using the discount code “splashfest”.

The Colony Movies in the Park – Madagascar 2

WHAT: Showing Madagascar 2! FREE admission for everyone! Parental supervision required.
Bring your lawn chairs or blankets! FREE popcorn! Other concessions available for purchase

WHEN: Friday, May 8, 2009 8:30pm Gates open at 7:30pm

WHERE: The Colony Five Star Complex, 4100 Blair Oaks

Summer Activities for Kids in Collin County

Burbmom.net has been scouring the Dallas-Fort-Worth Metroplex to find summer activities for children.  Luckily there are TONS of options for summer family fun in DFW.  Here is what we have found for the areas in and around Collin County.  The list is long, but I am sure I missed some of the great things that Collin County has to offer.  If you know of anything I missed, please add it to the comments below or email me the information at holly@burbmom.net and I will continue to update!

*drum roll*

Let’s bring on the summer fun:

Abrakadoodle - Remarkable Art Education – classes and camps – Multiple locations in/close to Collin County including Coppell, Carrollton, Farmer’s Branch, North Dallas, Richardson, Plano, Frisco, and Allen –

Adventure Day Camps – ages 4 to 13 – family campouts, summer day camps, special events and classes

Adventure Kids Playcare – Weekly themed summer camps at all locations – June 8 to August 17 – ages 2 1/2 and up – Monday through Friday 10-2 – drop-in care also available

Art-A-Rama – Summer Camps at Plano location Austin Ranch – trail rides – Tuesday through Sunday 10 am to 6 pm – starting at $30 – located near Grapevine Mills Mall – call 817-410-6860 for information

Boomer’s Summer Camp by Boomerangs Party and Play - 3 days a week 9 to 2 pm – ages 5 to 10 – featuring Mad Science – activities include: Unlimited Jump, Mad Science Projects, Arts & Crafts, Magicians, Puppeteers, Police Officers, Fire Department and many more – Multiple in/near Collin County locations including Flower Mound, Plano and Hurst locations

Bounce U – Create and Bounce Program – complete program for young artists – multiple locations

Canyons Rock Climbing – Summer camps – ages 6 to 16 – weekly morning or afternoon sessions Capricorn Equestrian Center – Summer Horse Camp for ages 6 through 14 – sessions June 8 through August 17 – Sachse, TX

Castle Montessori Schools - ages 18 months to 9 years – “Magical School Bus” summer adventures – field trips to: The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, The Children’s Theater, Elm Fork Nature Preserve and many more

Children’s Courtyard – summer care and camps – ages 0 through school age – themed activities, events and field trips: Storybook Summer for preschoolers, Rock ‘n Roll Summer for School age children – multiple locations throughout the metroplex including McKinney and Plano

Color Me Mine - Summer Color Me Kids Classes for kids ages 6-12 (weekly sessions June 15-August 7)

Drama Kids International – Collin County for kids ages 3-17 to build confidence, speaking and acting skills.

Frisco Athletic Network -LoneStar Volleyball Academy grades 1-8, LoneStar Speed, Agility, Quickness Training, Frisco Youth Volleyball League grades 1-12,

Heard Summer Camps - Nature Summer Camps (June 8 – August 7) at McKinney’s Heard Museum

Hilton DFW Lakes Summer Camps - ages 5-18 – Tennis and weekly themed camps: extreme sports, splash, western, creature feature – swimming, horseback riding, karate, arts and crafts, team building, sports and general recreation games – for registration and information call 817-410-6828 or email Jonathan Shaw at jonathan.shaw@hilton.com

It’s a Sensory World – summer camps – gym for ages 12 months to 12 years – venue for home treatment PT/OT programs – preschool prep classes for children with special needs

Kreative Kidz Partyz – Weekly summer camps

Mad Science – hands-on Science Summer Camps – ages 3 to 12 – weekly themed camps: Earth, Bubbles, Super Sleuth, Rocket Ride to Space, Robot Mania – 12 locations in Denton, Collin and Dallas Counties

Mathnasium – Summer Camps – kids have fun and get ahead for the next year – tutoring and camps (grades 2-6: June 15-July 10 @ 9 to 3 and grades 7-8: July 20-August 14 @ 10-2)

Musical Theatre Institute – ages 7 to 18 – Your Broadway Connection Summer Camp – Instructors have Broadway, National Tour, Recording, and Premier Theatre credits – Broadway Prep:  Ages 13-18, July 27-August 7; Wonder Years:  Ages 7-12, July 27-August 7

NexGym Summer Camps – Beat the heat with indoor interactive playground for ages 5-14

Pottery Barn Kids – book club – every Tuesday from 11 – 11:30

Power Kids Sports & Fitness - summer camps – ages 3 to 12 – sessions available June 1 through August 21

Prestonwood Christian Academy – Summers at Prestonwood – summer courses and camps for all ages in Academics, Arts, Enrichment and Sports

Prospering Farm – Day camp in the country – ages 7 through 13 – horseback riding, crafts, swimming, and a weekly horse show

PSA – SummerFest SportsCamps at both Plano PSA locations

Revelation Dance Studio – Weekly hip hop camps – full or 1/2 day, weekly themed camps, summer intensives

Robots 4 U - camps during June, July and August – boys and girls ages 7-17 – 9:00 to 3:00 with extended care available – Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Allen, North Dallas, Preston Hollow and Park Cities

Rover Dramawerks – Summer Camps in Plano and Richardson – June 15 through August 21

SoccerTots – summer classes – ages 18 months to 10 years – Child Physical Development Program – Over 80 fun games and activities – 19 indoor facilities

Spanish Schoolhouse – multiple locations in/near Collin County: Allen/McKinney, Castle Hills, Coppell, Flower Mound, Frisco, Southlake, North Dallas and The Woodlands – summer Spanish immersion summer camps – ages 3 to 10 – art, music, games, science, cooking all in Spanish

SMU – Summer at SMU – classes geared at fun:  Lego car rally, Grossology 101, Computer Animation, Lego Digital Construction, Exploring History with American Dolls, Kids in the Kitchen, Academic Enhancement and Rock’n Roller Coasters – SMU’s Plano Campus

Studio 3 Dance – Summer dance classes, summer themed morning camps, summer dance workshops – for ages 2 1/2 and up

The Artist Within – Allow your child to experience the wide world of art – Summer camps

The Peanut Gallery – summer camps – infants through school age – Programs include: Baby Signs, Zoo-phonics, Math their Way, Fun with Fitness, Gymnastics, Kindergarten Club, Computers, Spanish, and music

Under the Umbrella – Summer Skills Camps – services include speech, occcupational and physical therapy – Dynamic Therapy – Services for Children with Special needs

Kids’s Colony Park

Once considered the premiere park in The Colony, Kids’ Colony Park opened in 1993. An entire castle maze made of wood, slides, and tire climbing structures it is still quite a fun adventure for children during the day. It is one of only 2 parks in The Colony with working swings and Kids’ Colony Park has toddler safe child swings as well.

Located near The Colony Police Station, Senior Center, and Rec Center there is also an almost always busy basketball court and skateboard park located right next door for older kids to keep busy while little ones play.

The Colony Egg Hunt & Spring Festival

Don’t miss the The Colony Spring  EGGstravaganza!

Egg Hunt and Spring Festival
Thursday April 9, 2009
6:30pm – 9:00pm
The Colony Five Star Complex

For more information call 972-625-1106

Target Comes to The Colony and Allen

Have you ever been in a brand new store on the day it opens? Everything is shiny and new. Products and aisles are perfectly placed and the employees are smiling and happy to help you find anything you need.

Combine that feeling with being in your happy place and you’ll know exactly how I felt this week when The Colony finally got its very own Super Target.

Where else can you hand your child $1 and let them “treasure hunt” in the dollar bins? And the produce? All those colorful fruits and veggies perfectly laid out just beckoning you to taste them.

You can check out the weekly ad here, there are lots of sales in honor of all the new store openings. In addition to the store in The Colony, they’ve also opened one in Allen and 25 other locations.

DFW Blogger Dinner

Calling all bloggers in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and beyond…

We are meeting at 7 pm for dinner in a central Dallas location. A small group of us have met on several previous occasions. Let me just say that there are no strangers among bloggers…each evening was full of fun and giggles…lots of giggles…and more giggles.

The RSVP count to date is around 25. A list of attending bloggers is listed on the June Cleaver Nirvana sidebar if you want to see if your favorite local bloggers are coming. Please join the fun!

For more details, to RSVP or to get the super secret location, please contact any of the hostesses including Holly here at Burbmom.net (holly@burbmom.net).

Hope to see you there!