adopt a new friend and get a free ticket: childsplay teams up with the arizona animal welfare league

I love a win-win situation, don't you? 

This past year, I became a Childsplay Mom2Mom Blogger, which means I have the opportunity to take my children to professional live theater productions, then write reviews both from my perspective and my littles' viewpoint. They ask me to review their animal-related productions, and we most recently saw The Velveteen Rabbit, which was a wonderful experience for the whole family. We're gearing up to see Super Cowgirl and Mighty Miracle next weekend. The show's main character is a stray dog...right up our alley! The Childsplay web site describes the show:

When a stray dog appears on the doorstep, it's love at first sight for 6-year-old Cory, and the last straw for Grandma Autumn. Life hasn't been easy lately for either of these two, facing absent parents and lost homes. But in a delightfully surprising story filled with humor and heart, Super Cowgirl and Mighty Miracle remindes us love makes almost anything possible, even in hard times.

Childsplay has teamed up with the Arizona Animal Welfare Leage for a unique offer. During the month of March, if you adopt a dog from the Arizona Animal Welfare League, your family will receive one free ticket to see Super Cowgirl and Mighty Miracle. How amazing is that? You get to bring home a new friend, and you get to see an awesome show!

If you live in the Phoenix area and are planning to adopt a new dog soon, please take advantage of this special offer and join our family next weekend for what is sure to be a fantastic production!

don't shop in stores that sell puppies: aspca's holiday gift guide and #giveaway

Most pet parents will buy holiday gifts for their pets. Even in these tough economic times, it seems we can't resist spoiling our pets. So put that luxury pet bed under the tree and fill the stockings with toys and treats. Just please do so responsibly. 

I feel like most of us know that when we shop at pet stores, we support puppy mills, and, yet, these stores still exist, so people must still be shopping there. ASPCA produced this short video that illustrates what happens when we support these stores (don't worry, it's not graphic): 

Please join me in taking the pledge to not shop in stores that sell puppies. Treat pets and pet owners to gifts that give back, instead.

The ASPCA has created a holiday gift guide that helps pets in need. One of my favorite gifts is the DJ Cat Scratching Pad because it makes me crack up.

But if store-bought isn't your thing, the holiday gift guide also includes DIY gifts that can be a great way to get the whole family involved. The suggestions they make are economical and eco-friendly in that they mainly make use of items you probably already have around the house. Make them into great holiday gifts for your pets–reuse!

The ASPCA also provides a list of great gift options for pet lovers from companies that give back to animals in need. 

One you check out all the great options, join me on Wednesday, December 18 from 7-8 p.m. EST for the ASPCA #SantaPaws Holiday Twitter Party and giveaway extravaganza! Be sure to RSVP to win prizes. See you there for some holiday cheer, SantaPaws style!

The ASPCA has generously donated a holiday gift pack to well minded readers! The gift pack includes The ASPCA 5-piece gift set, Walkers shortbread cookies, ASPCA orange tote, fight cruelty wrist band, cat ears hat, kitten play toy, dog holiday hat, and a 2014 ASPCA calendar. Check it out:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

wild big horn sheep sighting

This past holiday weekend, our family stayed with our long-time friends in La Quinta, California. They live on a golf course, which makes for lovely–albeit forbidden–walks along the course with majestic views. Just before we were ousted for carrying mimosas instead of golf clubs, we spotted some big horn sheep grazing on the golf course. When we spotted a whole herd of them navigating down the mountain, even the course marshall allowed us to stay to watch. It was that rare a sight!

If you look closely and ignore our shenanigans, you can see them coming down...

How lucky that we got to see such a rare sight!

a delightful family day with Childsplay and The Velveteen Rabbit

When you were a child, which of your stuffed animals was "real"?

I remember my special relationship with "Dancing Bunny," who was named that because it was printed across his chest until it was loved off. He started out with erect ears, and was rather stout, even though he was a professional dancer. He had open fluff surgery–twice–and was squished into a suitcase for all family adventures. He is now protected in a box in the garage, his sticker eyes halfway peeled off, much thinner, and more grayish and flat-coated than fluffy white. My best childhood companions were animals, and he was just as real to me as any of them. 

This memory came to the surface when my family attended a spectacular Childsplay production of "The Velveteen Rabbit" this past weekend. Our family had heard that Childsplay productions were fabulous, but we'd never been, partially due to the fact that my kids went berserk during the last live production we tried to attend, and we had to leave during intermission.

"The Velveteen Rabbit" is a sweet holiday tale based on Margery Williams' classic children's book. It is perfect for the holidays because it is all about love and the magic of imagination–the possibility of the impossible. Childsplay is celebrating it's 25th anniversary of the production that has become a holiday tradition for so many and will, now, for us. 

I loved it, as did my husband (shhh, don't tell), but, more importantly, it captivated my kids, Porter (6) and Campbell (4) as they sat riveted in their theater-provided booster seats. I truly couldn't believe that they stayed still and engaged throughout the entire performance. There were no ill-timed trips to the restroom or begging for snacks. They simply loved it. I loved watching their smiles just as much as I enjoyed watching the play!

The actors were fabulous. I anticipated that they might be sub-par, seeing as this was a theater company geared toward kids, but they were as professional as I've ever seen. Kaleena Newman as the boy and Eric Boudreau as Nana carried the "human" aspect of the show and captivated the audience, young and old alike. Despite playing roles as the opposite genders, they were completely believable–what talents!

Kaleena Newman takes flight with The Velveteen Rabbit. Photo courtesy of Childsplay.

The puppeteers and set interacted in a way that made the magic of the story come to life. Our favorite part–SPOILER ALERT–was when the boy and the Velveteen Rabbit were pretending to be pilots. The nursery bed sprouted a propeller, emitted smoke, and even lifted right up off the stage! "Whoa!" said Porter, amazed. Who knew such a quiet, sweet story could be so exciting?

After the actors took their final bows, they talked to the audience about the production and gave the children a chance to answer questions about what they like to pretend to be when they are playing. Porter said "a superhero!" They gave the children the opportunity to ask any question they wanted about the production. Some asked about how the toys moved, and some asked about the story. What a great chance for these new theater-goers to connect with the actors and better understand all that goes into a professional live production. The actors even invited the children to come up to the stage and meet them!

Getting some energy out next to the theater.

The fun spilled out into the lobby and beyond, and the Tempe Center for the Arts was the perfect venue. The kids had a chance to write to the Nursery Fairy about which toy they would love to have come alive. There was a small gift-shop at which you could purchase books and other Velveteen Rabbit souvenirs. There is an outdoor area overlooking Tempe beach, so the kids could run around and get their wiggles out before and after the show. There is an art gallery to explore, and an outdoor sculpture garden to round out the experience.  

If you are looking for a unique holiday event for the whole family, I would highly recommend Childsplay's production of "The Velveteen Rabbit," which runs on weekends through December 22nd. 

Disclaimer: I am a Childsplay Mom2Mom Blogger. My family and I were provided tickets to this performance in exchange for my honest opinion. This review was also posted on Childsplay's Mom2Mom Blog.

Veteran's Day in the eyes of the children of a pet sitter

This past Monday was Veteran's Day, and though our family didn't officially give thanks in a formal way, we went on a long hike, and we talked about the meaning of the day with our littles, Porter, our six-year-old son, and Campbell, our four-year-old daughter. We wanted them to understand that it was more than just a day off school.

We didn't go into great detail. A fact that was brought to my attention by the conversation they had in the car on the way to school Thursday:

Campbell: I can't wait for show and tell at school today! I'm so excited!

Porter: Why? What are you sharing?

Campbell: I'm sharing my veterinarian game!

Porter: Oh, that's cool. Is it "V" day at school?

Campbell: (sighing) No, Po! It's for Veterinarian's Day, o'course!

Porter: Cam, you're too late for that. It was last Monday.

Campbell: Well, I didn't have school on Monday, and Thursday is show and tell day, so I'm sharing it today. 

Porter: Well, you're really late, because Veterinarian's Day was on Monday.

It then sunk in. They had no idea about Veteran's Day, and probably were under the impression that all the veterinarians in the U.S.A. were out fighting for our freedom. And that all of the veterinarians in the past had fought for our independence and rights. They know all about the sacrifices veterinarians make for their families, and how some even die for our country. 

They probably wondered who was taking care of all the sick animals.

It took me about three different explanations to untether a veteran and a veterinarian in their minds, and I'm honestly not sure I was successful. They probably just told me "we get it" so that I'd shut up about the whole confusing mess. This is what happens when your mom is a pet sitter. 

So on behalf of our family, however belated, I'd like to send out a big THANK YOU to all of our veterans...and veterinarians.