Island MOPS (Mother of Preschoolers)  will host their annual Spa Day on Jan. 27 from 9:15 – 11:30 AM.

If this is your 1st time coming to Islands MOPS, it’s free. Otherwise, the cost is $5 per meeting. Scholarships are available and confidential. 

The Savannah moms group meets at 6613 Johnny Mercer Blvd. on Wilmington Island every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month (Sept. thru mid-May). For additional info, please call Laura at 898.0869.

The winner of this week’s SouthernMamas giveaway is Julie Herrin. Julie wins FOUR PERSONAL TRAINING SESSIONS and a body analysis from Train Me 24/7, the personal trainers to Savannah’s Ruby Gettinger on Style Network’s show “Ruby” and to Paula Deen.

Trainers Drew and Shazi Edmonds of  Train Me 24/7 were so impressed by readers’ NY resolutions in the comments section under the initial post announcing the giveaway,  they want to honor all those who entered. You can take group fitness classes or get personal training at a reduced rate when you mention you entered the SouthernMamas giveaway contest.

FOR MORE KID-FRIENDLY LOCAL ACTIVITIES, VISIT THE SOUTHERNMAMAS.COM EVENT CALENDAR HERE.

Jumping Jacks indoor playcenter in Savannah is offering our SouthernMamas.com readers discounts worth jumping about!

* BIRTHDAY PARTY SPECIAL: When you book the $199.00 Birthday Party Package, mention you saw it on Southern Mamas and get a FREE $5 game card for each child in your party! 
* 25% off one game of laser tag or one Jump Zone when you mention you read about Jumping Jacks on SouthernMamas.com
(Each of these may not be combined with any other special or promotion)

Whether it’s a birthday party or a day of fun, Jumping Jacks is an atmosphere where families can have a blast!

Toddler Tuesday at Jumping Jacks!
JuMp ZoNe ONLY $6.00 Tuesdays from 10-3 !

Jumping Jacks is a locally-owned, Christian-based fun center with huge inflatables, over 50 arcade games, mini-bowling, laser tag, a large concession counter and the best redemption counter in the Savannah area.

With almost 20,000 square feet, there are 4 party rooms and six jump zones including one for children ages 6 and younger.

Open 7 days a week.

Birthdays @ Jumping Jacks

BACK TO SCHOOL BIRTHDAY PARTY SPECIAL: When you book our  $199.00 Birthday Party Package mention you saw it on SouthernMamas.com and get a FREE $5.00 game card for each child in your party.

PARTY PACKAGE (1)

* $289.00 for up to ten kids
* Hour and half in a party suite with your own dedicated party host!
* 2 Slices of pizza for each child with unlimited drinks!
* Birthday child gets birthday balloon and sticker!
* Goody bag for each child includes $5 dollar game card and 300 tickets! (100 dollar value)
* Includes paper plates, cups, tablecloth, and utensils
* Jumping Jacks does all the clean up
* Additional kids are $15.00 each.
* Personal party host/hostess
* Bounce Zone or 3 games of laser tag
* 2nd activity at half price
* Discounted lg pizza for adults
* Discounted pitcher of soda for adults
* Additional children $15 each
* Active Military receive $20 discount

PARTY PACKAGE (2)
* $199.00 for up to 10 kids
* Hour and half in party suite with your own dedicated party host !
* Jump zone bracelets for each child
* 2 slice of pizza per child and unlimited drinks!
* Birthday child gets birthday sticker!
* Includes paper plates, cups, tablecloths and utensils.
* Jumping Jacks does all the clean up!
* Additional kids are $10.00 each.

PARTY PACKAGE (3)
BUILD YOUR OWN PARTY
* $99 for up to 10 kids
* Hour and half in party suite with your own dedicated party host!
* Includes paper plates, cups, tablecloths and utensils.
* Jumping Jacks does all the clean up!
* Additional kids are $3 each.

Jumping Jacks, 5918 Ogeechee Rd, Savannah, Georgia 31419, 912-920-2474, On Facebook here. Email jumpn.jacks@yahoo.com, www.jumpingjacksga.com Jumping Jacks is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser. 

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Have your kids experienced Eurobungy Trampolines in Savannah Mall next to the softplay?

They can seriously jump, 10, 15, 20 feet in the air. Some do flips. Or the little ones can simply jump & jump.

Click here a coupon for Buy One, Get One free all day Mondays-Thursdays & until 3 PM Fridays – perfect for those of you with more than one child who wants to jump.  To obtain the coupon, click here.

Open mall hours: Mon-Sat: 10 AM-9 PM, Sun:Noon- 6 PM.

Gift certificates available.

Eurobungy Savannah, inside Savannah Mall, 14045 Abercorn St. Savannnah, email ruberman@eurobungy.com, On Facebook here. Eurobungy Savannah is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser. 

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Other indoor play spots near Savannah include:

Rainbow Jump N Fun play center at Rainbow Play Systems in Richmond Hill.

Monkey Joe’s Savannah 

Savannah Mall Soft Playtime Center
14045 Abercorn Street (Savannah Mall, lower level)
Monday-Saturday: 10:00am-9:00pm Sunday: 12:00pm-6:00pm

Soft play inside Oglethorpe Mall
Monday-Saturday: 10:00am-9:00pm Sunday: 12:00pm-6:00pm

Savannah Climbing CoOp

Island Playground, Bluffton

FOR MORE KID-FRIENDLY LOCAL ACTIVITIES, VISIT OUR EVENT CALENDAR HERE.

Savannah personal trainers Drew and Shazi Edmonds, who work with Paula Deen and Ruby, are giving away four personal training sessions to a SouthernMamas subscriber.

Your New Year’s Resolution to drop all those holiday pounds may come true after all.

This week’s SouthernMamas’ giveaway couldn’t come at a better time. We’re thrilled to announce that a SouthernMamas reader/subscriber/Facebook fan will win FOUR PERSONAL TRAINING SESSIONS and a body analysis from Train Me 24/7, the personal trainers to Savannah’s Ruby Gettinger on Style Network’s show “Ruby” and to Paula Deen.

Personal trainers Drew and Shazia Edmonds, the husband-and-wife team behind Train Me 24/7, offer personalized training services at their clients’ homes and their private studio.  Train Me 24/7 also offers an affordable online program.

Here are the rules on to how to win.

Let the music begin in 2010!

Make a Joyful Noise is offering two free previews of music classes:

1. All 8 – 15 year olds are invited to join the Sounds of Praise Children’s Choir for an open rehearsal this Thurs. Jan. 7. The choir performs locally for hospitals and nursing homes, and most recently, the Ronald McDonald House. Concerts are scheduled wherever the choir can sing and lift hearts with the joy of music. The rehearsal (free and open to all interested 8 -15 year olds) is January 7 from 6:30 -7:45. If you can not make it, contact Vicki at MakeAJoyfulNoiseMusicStudio@comcast.net or 912-920-6542 for further details on joining for the spring semeser.

2. Early Childhood Music (Babies – 8 year olds) parent-and-me classes: Sat., Jan. 16 at 9:30 a.m. Come sing, dance, play instruments and more as Vicki leads you through activities to encourage you and your family to Make A Joyful Noise. Come for the fun, stay for the education.

All classes are held on the campus of Savannah Country Day School in Modular Village: E2. Email Vicki to sign up for either free preview at MakeAJoyfulNoiseMusicStudio@comcast.net or call 912-920-6542.

Opportunities to Make a Joyful Noise include:
Sounds of Praise Children’s Choir: 8 – 14 year olds
Group Keyboard: 7 – 9 year olds
Music Makers: 4 – 8 year olds
All Together Now: Babies – 5 year olds
Cycles: 3 – 5 year olds
Family Music: 18months – 3 years
Babies: Newborn – 17 months

Meet the star of the Lawton Stables’ animal farm in my Sunday newspaper column.

This four-legged darling is better than Bambi! Callie the fawn can bring children and deer hunters to their knees. Read all about the star of the Sea Pines petting farm on Hilton Head Is. here.

Below is a guest post by Marsha Woelber is a Partner at Independent Investment Services, LLC/Securities Offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC.

A New Year’s Resolution for mamas everywhere: “I will not rely solely on my husband/father to handle my family’s finances”.

Does this sound like you? Many women tell me that either their husband (if married) or father (single gals) takes care of their finances. While typically there is no problem with this, I have to think that ladies everywhere are just not taking the time to sit down and understand some basics. Surely we are just as smart as our male counterparts?

My personal goal for the year is to focus on educating women about their finances. A little knowledge will give you some piece of mind should you ever need to make a financial decision on your own.

First Step: Get organized. Gather contact and account information using the list below. Please email me at marsha@iissav.com for e-version of this spreadsheet.

Gather some contact information. Finding who to call is often the most frustrating part of dealing with a crisis.
Key Contacts
Accountant
Financial Advisor
Insurance Representative: Life, Homeowner, Health, Auto
Lawyer

Next, organize your accounts/paperwork. To read the rest of this article, click here.

Happy New Year!

SouthernMamas is back after a brief holiday hiatus. During break, we checked out some nearby kid-friendly spots including the Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens where feeding the giraffes was one highlight;
the South Carolina Aquarium on Charleston Harbor (PENGUINS!); the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry in Charleston; Charleston’s Holiday Festival of Lights.

All of which we highly recommend as being well worth the road trip.

On Thurs. Dec. 31, Monkey Joe’s Savannah will have a countdown to NOON, with a bubble wrap fireworks celebration. Bounce, stomp, and jump into the New Year with family friendly popping fun at the indoor inflatable playground at 311 Eisenhower Drive.

Standard admission rates apply. Monkey Joe’s will close at 6 PM on New Year’s Eve.

On New Year’s Day, come watch the Bowl Games while the kids jump. Monkey Joe’s will be open regular hours, 10 AM – 9 PM New Year’s Day. 912-349-2528.

Tell them SouthernMamas sent you.

The City of Savannah’s annual Bring One For The Chipper Christmas tree recycling event will be 9 AM to 3 PM Sat. Jan. 9.

Bring your Christmas trees to one of four locations Saturday and receive a dogwood seedling and as much free mulch as you can haul. Christmas tree mulch will also be used by the City for parks and neighborhood beautification projects throughout Savannah.

The free service is available at the following locations:

Bacon Park Transfer Station, Shorty Cooper Road
Dean Forest Landfill, 1325 Dean Forest Road
The Home Depot, 11180 Abercorn St.
The Home Depot, 1901 Victory Dr.

More than 4,000 tree were recycled in 2008. For more information about Bring One for the Chipper, call 912.651.6520.

Angel Foley!

Angel wins a family four-pack of tickets to Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus is coming to Savannah Civic Center Jan. 21-24. Thanks to everyone who participated. Check out other readers’ comments on their favorite holiday tradition the comments section under this post.

Purchase circus tickets by clicking here or at Savannah Civic Center Box Office, Lester’s Florist, Savannah Mall Customer Service Booth or by phone at 800-351-7469 or 912-651-6556.

Tickets are $15 & $17 with a limited number of $28 VIP seats and $35 VIP Floor Seats also available.

Ringling Bros. starts the excitement early with a FREE All Access Pre-show, which begins one hour before the show. The audience will have a chance to go onto the arena floor, try on costumes, walk the low wire and meet many of the show’s performers.

Performance Schedule
Thurs., Jan. 21 7 PM
Fri., Jan. 22 7 PM
Sat., Jan. 23 11 AM, 3 PM & 7 PM

Don’t forget to become a fan of SouthernMamas on our SouthernMamas Facebook page here. All we want for New Year’s is 2,010 Facebook fans by 2010!

Thanks Mama – a sweet, online cloth diaper store – has a new giveaway up and running on their blog www.clothdiapertalk.com.

Thanks Mama is giving away a new Thirsties Duo Diaper. The winner will be able to choose size and color of the diaper. Duo diapers come in cute colors and in two sizes: size 1 fits babies 6-18 lbs; size 2 fits 18-40 lbs. So you can get a lot of use out of it while still getting a perfect fit. Each diaper comes with a double microfiber/hemp insert and provides excellent absorbency.

Click here to enter to win.

Thanks Mama has cloth diapers, diaper covers, potty training pants and more from top brands like BumGenius, Fuzzi Bunz, Blue Penguin and Bummis. The online boutique carries a variety of cloth diaper styles and accessories like prefolds, pocket diapers, inserts, flushable and washable liners and swim diapers.

Free shipping on orders over $60.

Thanks Mama believes cloth diapers a great choice because they are more natural, expose your baby to fewer chemicals and are more environmentally friendly. Visit the Thanks Mama Cloth Diaper info page for answers to common questions about going cloth.

Thanks Mama offers a 30-day money back guarantee return policy for unused and unwashed items and offers quantity discounts on many brands.

182 Mills Run Drive, Savannah

Here are some Coastal Empire home holiday light displays that are well worth checking out this year:

• 105 Mapmaker Lane, in Battery Point, Whitemarsh Island: computerized lights display animated with music

• 170 Dalcross, Hampton in Buckhead subdivision, Richmond Hill: computerized lights display animated with music (while driving there, check out the three brillantly-lit homes on 144 at Charlie Rd. One has a lake in front that reflects the lights.)

• 182 Mills Run Drive, off Chatham Parkway: computerized lights display animated with music (THIS ONE IS A MUST SEE!!)

• 512 Gordonston Ave., Savannah

• 711 South Drive

• 202 Blue Marlin Drive in Seagate, Whitemarsh Island

• 203 Windsor Road, Windsor Forest

• 18 Cutler Drive, Georgetown area (in the same area, drive down Lions Gate (also in Georgetown), there are several brightly-decorated homes as well as a house on Waynesboro)

• 136 Chimney Road, Rincon

• 13008 Largo Drive, Windsor Forest

• 16 Godley Park Way in Pooler (Santa and Mrs. Claus will make an appearance 6-8 PM Dec 21-23. Join in the holiday spirit for cookies and hot chocolate.) Pictured to the right.

• 504 E. 52 St

• Musical light display at a home on Wingate in Wilmington Park

• Stuart St. just off Waters: a yard full of blow ups

• Three homes on Clark St, just off Montgomery Crossroads.

In Fantasyland, you’re the queen of holiday baking, wielding a peppermint stick scepter, sporting a chocolate tiara and churning out dozens of yummy yuletide confections.

But in reality, you simply can’t find the time to do all the baking you wanted to do this season. Southern Belle Cupcakery in Savannah to the rescue. Southern Belle is all about gourmet cupcakes made completely from scratch with the freshest ingredients and no preservatives.

Southern Belle’s Holiday Cupcakes are perfect for any holiday occasion and great as gifts. Owner and bakemeister Brittany Banks creates pretty little bites of heaven.

Peppermint Chocolate

Holiday flavors include peppermint chocolate cake with peppermint cream cheese frosting, garnished with crushed candy cane; hot chocolate with marshmallow buttercream frosting, garnished with mini marshmallows and hot cocoa powder; holiday red velvet with green cream cheese frosting, garnished with holiday sprinkles. Brittany also makes rum cakes infused with a rum glaze, garnished with pecans.

See all the delicacies here. Place your holiday orders by this Sun. Dec. 20 to ensure delivery. Cupcakes are $28 per dozen.

Hot Chocolate

Southern Belle Cupcakery also offers creative flavors year round. Cookies-and-cream confection is topped with a generous swirl of Oreo buttercream, then adorned with a teensy Oreo. Brittany’s chocolate raspberry cupcakes with cream cheese frosting garnished with a fresh raspberry were a hit at my son’s birthday party.

Give Brittany 48 hours notice, and she’ll supply your next dinner party, shower or carb craving. Love at first bite!

Southern Belle Cupcakery in Savannah, 912.695.5654, www.southernbellecupcakery.com

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus is coming to Savannah Civic Center Jan. 21-24

This week SouthernMamas is giving away a family four-pack of tickets to one lucky reader!

Here are the rules on to win free tickets toRingling Bros’ Illuscination, a fantasy-filled world where thrills, wonderment, and unbelievable magic intersect with the outlandish fun of the circus..

Purchase tickets by clicking here or at Savannah Civic Center Box Office, Lester’s Florist, Savannah Mall Customer Service Booth or by phone at 800-351-7469 or 912-651-6556.

Tickets are $15 & $17 with a limited number of $28 VIP seats and $35 VIP Floor Seats also available.

Ringling Bros. Presents Illuscination invites you on a mystifying adventure as Illuscinator David DaVinci bridges the believable world in which we live, to the seemingly impossible one of the circus.

David entertains audiences with eye-popping illusions, mind boggling transformations, and unique up-close magic. This modern Houdini even attempts to escape a straightjacket while suspended three stories in the air over a den of lions.

In an intimate setting, where the action takes place just feet away from your seat, audience members’ eyes will witness astonishing acrobats, awesome aerialists, and amazing animals, including majestic Asian elephants, a pride of lionesses, horses, ponies, and even a rare white lion.

Ringling Bros. starts the excitement early with a FREE All Access Pre-show, which begins one hour before the show. The audience will have a chance to go onto the arena floor, try on costumes, walk the low wire and meet many of the show’s performers.

Performance Schedule
Thurs., Jan. 21 7 PM
Fri., Jan. 22 7 PM
Sat., Jan. 23 11 AM, 3 PM & 7 PM
Sun., Jan. 24 1 PM

All SouthernMamas wants for New Year’s is 2,010 Facebook fans by 2010.

Please visit the SouthernMamas Facebook page here and become a Facebook fan of SouthernMamas. Right now, we have about 1,220. Please tell your friends who also read SouthernMamas to join. It’s an easy way to keep up with all the events on SouthernMamas!

Click here to become a fan of SouthernMamas on Facebook.

Not all family Christmas albums are created equally.

Which is why Putumayo’s newest CD “A Family Christmas” is the one and only disc we’ve been playing this holiday season. The entire 11-track set is
so festive and includes new interpretatios of classic tis-the-season favorites in jazz, blues, retro-swing, folksong and country.

Take a look:

1. “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” – Johnny Bregar
2. “Holly Jolly Christmas” – Martin Sexton
3. “Is Zat You Santa Claus?” – Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
4. “Let it Snow” – Leon Redbone
5. “Winter Wonderland” – Deana Carter
6. “Sleigh Ride” – Sam Bush
7. “Here We Come A-Wassailing” – Kate Rusby
8. “Jolly Old St. Nick” – Brave Combo
9. “Mele Kalikimaka” – Debbie Davis and Matt Perrine
10. “Boogie Woogie Santa Claus” – The Christmas Jug Band featuring Angela Strehli and Maria Muldaur
11. “Frosty the Snowman” – Lars Edegran and his Santa Claus Revelers featuring Big Al Carson

Listen to a sample by clicking here

The minute we’re in the car, my 3-year-old starts asking me to put in the disc, saying “Play it from the beginning!” I love that he’ll always consider Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s “Is Zat You Santa Claus?” as as much of a Christmas classic as “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.”

You can hear sample tracks of A Family Christmas or purchase the CD at Putumayo World Music or at Putumayo Kids (where you can also download a free mp3 from A Family Christmas).

Putumayo’s “A Family Christmas” will lift your mood, no matter how stressed you are this season. Enjoy!

A cozy Christmas party at Bouncing Angels indoor play place sounds perfect right about now.

Mark you calendars for “BOUNCE INTO THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT ” an all day event at  Bouncing Angels on Sat. Dec. 19. Highlights include hot chocolate and cookies for the kids at the party room, drawing and coloring contest with surprise prizes for the winners, Christmas arts and crafts workshop. There will be a big inflatable outside (think Elmo and Scooby Doo) of Bouncing Angels for kids at all ages to use if isn’t raining.

Even better, there’s NO extra charge for the party, just the regular entrance price.

Also starting this week at Bouncing Angels: Spanish classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11-11:30 AM and from 1-1:30 PM at no extra charge. So kids can come for regular price to play and also participate on the Spanish class. Times and dates of classes are subject to change depending on demand. These classes will be done while playing in the inflatables to make it more attractive for children ages 6 and younger.

Bouncing Angels inflatable play & party entertainment center is @ the Victory Drive Shopping Center, 2123 E. Victory Drive near Skidaway Road.  Bouncing Angels no longer charges higher weekend rates!  Now, you pay the same price every day for kids: $5 plus tax for tots 2 and younger; $8 plus tax for the 3-and-up set.  

Check out the Bouncing Angels Web site here. For more info. call: 912.691.8797.

Lisa Maine wins the SouthernMamas giveaway from Totally Bowlicious – a brand new, online store that specializes in fun hair accessories with a touch of whimsy for little girls.

Lisa wins a tutu bow holder, three hair bows, and a fairy wand! The locally-owned Webshop sells embellished clips and bows, ponytail holders and other unique children’s gifts including kufi hats; bows with matching belts; fairy-wand bouquets for newborns.

A SouthernMamas reader asked for suggestions on daytrip getaways during the holiday season. The kids are out of school and there’s finally time to explore.  We love the idea! Here are a few holiday happenings nearby.

1. Celebrate the holidays @ the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, let the kids toast the new year with apple juice and see the new baby bonobo born at the Zoo last month.
From 10 AM-1 PM on Dec 31, a Radio Disney Celebrity and DJ perform for JaxZoo’s Annual Noon Year’s Eve Celebration. Radio Disney live entertainment, games, prizes and free noisemakers and hats special entertainment, games, prizes, and an apple juice toast at (a much-more kid-friendly) 12 noon.

On Dec 26 – 30, and Jan. 1 – 3, from 10 AM-4 PM each day, areas of the zoo will be highlighted to showcase the different parts of the world that the animals are from at the World Animal Festival. Live entertainment (on the weekends only), information booths, cultural crafts, a giant inflatable slide, bounce house, animal encounters, prize drawings, and visits from Jazoo, the Zoo’s friendly lion mascot.

The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is on Jacksonville’s north side at 370 Zoo Parkway, one-half mile east from I-95. For more info, click here.

2. The 20th annual Holiday Festival of Lights in Charleston SC
Through Jan. 3 @ James Island County Park. Includes a 3-mile drive through more than 2 million sparkling lights and hundreds of light displays. Then walk through Santa’s Village & Winter Wonderland

3. Holiday events at the South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston, SC
-Catch the Waddle Wagon, a new up-close encounter penguin program
Through Sun. Dec. 27 at 1:30 PM Saturdays and Sundays
Only this holiday season, join educators and staff as one of the aquarium’s Magellanic penguins is escorted through the Great Hall in a special custom made “waddle wagon.” See a penguin up close, then afterwards at 2 p.m. to see the penguin feeding program and learn more about the colorful lives of penguins.
–Turtle Tours
Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat. and Sun 11 AM and 1 PM
The South Carolina Aquarium Sea Turtle Rescue Program is opening up the renowned Sea Turtle Hospital five days a week for behind-the scenes tours. Guests will discover firsthand the extraordinary care that is provided to sick and injured sea turtles.  Stand inches from rescued sea turtles ranging from 6 to over 300 pounds. A behind the scenes tour is a perfect family activity this holiday season. Tickets: $10 for adults and $5 for children after general admission or membership to the Aquarium.

4. Lights Before Christmas at Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens in Columbia SC
6-9 PM through Jan. 3 Closed Dec. 24, 25 and 31
Nearly one million twinkling lights, animal images, music in motion lights, larger-thank-life holiday cards created by local students, nightly visits with Santa through Christmas Eve, Jingle Bell Bonfire, hot cocoa, marshmallows and festive foods for purchase.

GIVEAWAY ITEMS!

Totally Bowlicious – a brand new, ADORABLE online store – has a terrific SouthernMamas giveaway this week: tutu bow holder, three hair bows, and a fairy wand. Just in time for the holidays.

Totally Bowlicious specializes in fun hair accessories with a touch of whimsy for little girls. I can’t wait until my baby daughter’s hair is long enough to sport these oh-so-sweet embellished clips and bows and ponytail holders. The online, locally-owned boutique includes other unique children’s gifts including kufi hats; bows with matching belts; fairy-wand bouquets for newborns.

Here are the giveaway rules:

Totally Bowlicious also can do custom orders on just about anything! If you don’t see what you are looking for just email christina@totallybowlicious.com and she’ll do everything she can to make it just for YOU!

Have you taken the kids to visit the Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops at Savannah Mall?

It’s great because they have free photos with Santa on weekday evenings and on weekends, as well as fun kids games like remote control trucks, model trains, racetracks, a letter-to-Santa table, crafts etc. A little less appealing  – for this non-gun-packing-mom at least – was the toy shooting range for kids.

Toy guns and kids is the topic of my newspaper column this week entitled “You’ll Shoot Your (Or Rudolph’s) Eye Out. Read it here. Would love to know what you think of the toy shooting ranges and whether you plan to or already have allowed your kids to play with BB guns? Do you find yourself quoting Ralphie’s mom in “A Christmas Story”: “You’ll shoot your eye out?” Or do you feel BB guns are safe and moms like me are overreacting?

Dec. 11 is the deadline to register your child for the holiday program at Chatham County Aquatic Center. The holiday program is for ages 6-14. Kids will enjoy swim lessons, snorkeling, water safety, kayaking, pool games.

Here’s the schedule:
Dec. 21 Mon. 11 AM–2 PM
Dec 22 Tues 11 AM–2 PM
Dec. 28 Mon 11 AM–2 PM
Dec. 29 Tues. 11 AM–2 PM
Dec 30 Wed. 11 AM–2 PM

Pack a lunch, drop off the children and have a few hours to yourself. For more info and cost, click here or call 912.652.6793.  Please tell them SouthernMamas.com sent you.