Best Christmas movies, cartoons and holiday classics to watch with your family

Christmas movies and classic films are a huge part of holiday festivities. Are there holiday classics you have to see every year or it won't feel like Christmas? Here is the quintessential list of best Christmas movies. Best Christmas movies, cartoons and holiday classics to watch with your family | Examiner.com

Halloween couples costumes: Homemade pull-string 'Talking Tina' doll costume | Examiner.com

Looking for perfectly weird adult Halloween couples costumes? Here are ideas that won a Halloween couples costumes contest: life-size pull-string Talking Tina doll costume. Younger people may not remember the creepy "Talking Tina" doll, but oldsters will. The Talking Tina doll appeared on an episode of The Twilight Zone and frightened the life out of a nasty bully stepdad (played by Telly Savalas). Pull-string dolls with mechanical voice boxes were common toys. The pull-string hung down the back and when pulled, the string would unwind a mechanism that made sounds as it rewound.   Halloween couples costumes: Homemade pull-string 'Talking Tina' doll costume | Examiner.com

Best non-scary Halloween movies for Trick-or-Treat | Examiner.com

Halloween is a time to celebrate all that is spooky and terrifying--for some. Others like the costumes and trick-or-treating, but not the haunted aspect. Some parent object demonic overtones. Here are non-scary Halloween movies and cartoons, for children who don't like being frightened. Many are found on Youtube and links are provided.  Best non-scary Halloween movies for Trick-or-Treat | Examiner.com

Free printable Day of the Dead skeleton crafts, Dia de los Muertos calavera crafts

Dia de los Muertos is the Spanish name for the holiday Day of the Dead. Observed on November 1 and 2, it the Latino version of Catholic All Saints Day and All Souls Day. On Dia de los Muertos, people dress in skull masks and skeleton costumes with colorful flower garlands. Here are free printable Day of the Dead crafts for children and adults. Use these for classroom and homeschool lesson plans.Free printable Day of the Dead skeleton crafts | Examiner.com

 

Harry Potter fans in wizard row over Dumbledore as Death theory

It's a call to wands! Harry Potter fans are in a wizard row over Dumbledore as Death theory, reported Business Insider August 6. Some see it as a plot to malign their much-beloved headmaster. But the theory has merit if you are up on your J.K. Rowling. It originates with a fairy tale told called the "Tale of Three Brothers" which comes from the book "The Tales of Beedle the Bard." The book belongs to Dumbledore who willed the original to Hermione Granger. Xenophilius Lovegood uses the tale to explain the Deathly Hallows mark. Hermione and Harry don't know it (not being full wizards).  Harry Potter fans in wizard row over Dumbledore as Death theory - Grand Rapids News | Examiner.com

Ark. Gov Mike Huckabee defends Josh Duggar molesting sisters: '19 Kids and Counting' canceled

On the Duggar sex scandal, Josh Duggar has friends in high places. Arkansas's Republican Gov. Mike Huckabee defended Duggar, saying he molested his sisters in innocence of youth, reported TMZ May 22. Duggar's parents Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar of TLC's reality TV show "19 Kids and Counting" have given generously to Huckabee. TLC has now pulled "19 Kids and Counting."



In 2002, Duggar, 14, was discovered fondling several girls, including some of his sisters. Dad Jim Bob Duggar turned his son in to the police. The police report said Duggar touched girls' genitalia and breasts. The case never went further as the investigating cop got busted on pornography charges. Then Duggar found his son touching girls again a few months later. He didn't report it.   Huckabee defends Josh Duggar molesting sisters: '19 Kids and Counting' canceled

What to do and avoid at the New Orleans Jazz Fest: Big Easy tourist protocol

So you're going to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival? Well, laissez les bon temps rouler, mes amis! Whether you're going April 24-26 or May 1-3 for your Jazz Fest partying, here are tips on what to do and avoid in the Big Easy. Use this tourist protocol to have safe, sensible fun in NOLA! What to do and avoid at the New Orleans Jazz Fest: Big Easy tourist protocol

Zombie paintball takes undead apocalypse and Halloween 2014 to LARP-level horror

Never mind Ebola, folks! There's an even greater threat, warns

the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)--a Zombie Apocalypse! When the horrifying brain-eater invasion was (jestingly) forecast a few years ago, folks were advised to create zombie emergency preparedness kits.



This Halloween 2014, intrepid zombie warriors have discovered a new weapon for their arsenal against the undead: paintball guns. Zombie paintball is this Halloween's hottest (well, coldest, as in cold and dead) activity. What is zombie paintball? It's a LARP--live action role-play--survival game. People dress as zombies so others can practice their tracking skills. Paintball splats seem to stick to zombies and make them more visible. Zombie paintball takes undead apocalypse and Halloween 2014 to LARP-level horror - Grand Rapids Holidays | Examiner.com

Native American Indian Costume Crafts for Halloween and School Plays

 Many schools teach Native American history around Thanksgiving. Fall just seems to lend itself to American Indian culture studies. Here are cross-curricular lesson plans including Native American costume crafts made from recycled paper bags. Perfect for Halloween and trick-or-treat dress-ups. use them for literature study skits and school plays. Native American Indian Crafts and Costumes from Your Recycle Bin 

Summer Repertory Theater and Summer Stock Good Venues for Kids

Summer repertory theater, or summer stock, is the perfect way to introduce children to drama and acting, as spectator or performer. Almost every city has some form of summer theater opportunity. Most have a local actors' guild, community theater, county playhouse or college production company.

During the summer, when schedules tend to be less demanding, it's easier to do theater. Take childrenm students, homeschool group or day care to see a local production. In my teaching, homeschooling and momming (that's a word) years we've enjoyed Rudyard Kipling's 'Just-So Stories', Fa Mulan, Narnia, George Washington Follies, Peter Pan, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Macbeth, Les Miserables and more.

Live theater inspires and enthralls students and children like no movie or television show can. Our now-16, then-2-year-old daughter remembers clear as day when she got fairy dust from the Lost Boys of  the "Peter Pan" production we took our children to see. Once bitten by the theater bug, you're a slave to Thalia and Melpomene.

Or maybe audition for student summer repertory productions. So many life lessons are learned onstage and backstage that could never translate in a classroom setting. Obvious skills--reading, speaking, delivery, projection--and nebulous skills-- working cooperatively, giving your all, overcoming stage fright, supporting each other--all get a workout in theater.

If money is an issue, many local venues offer scholarships. If you have a special needs child, perhaps with autism, Asperger Syndrome, ADD, ADHD or emotional issues, I doubly encourage you to try theater. It's therapeutic and in my experience special needs kids make superb actors.