'Tis the season to curl up with your kiddos and a great book! Take a break from the chilly outdoors and the hustle and bustle of holiday festivities with some new and some classic reads. Comment with your own family favorites!
Poppleton in Winter, by Cynthia Rylant
Pete the Cat Snow Daze, by James Dean
Houndsley and Catina and the Quiet Time, by James Howe
How the Grinch Stole Christmas, by Dr. Seuss
Pete the Cat Saves Christmas, by James Dean and Eric Litwin
The Bear Stays up for Christmas, by Karma Wilson
Little Blue Truck’s Christmas, by Alice Schertle
Elmo’s Little Dreidel, by Naomi Kleinberg
Happy Hanukkah, Curious George, by H.A. Rey and Margaret Rey
Now that the rain and cold weather are here (yay!), we’re faced with the almost daily question of what to do with the wild little ones! Luckily, we have plenty of options in and around Petaluma. Here are some of our favorites. Please feel free to add your own in the comments!
http://www.skillmeetswill.com/
2200 Petaluma Blvd North, Suite 200, Petaluma, CA 94952 (Located at the Petaluma Outlet Mall)
(707) 763-3007
Drop-in playtimes available. Check website and follow Adventure Rec on Facebook for open gym hours.
*PMC Members have special access at Adventure Rec - $1 per kid (8 months – 5 years, free for 7 months and under), Tuesday and Thursday mornings, 10:00-11:30.
https://www.regymnastics.com
434 Payran St, Petaluma, CA 94952
(707) 763-5010
Drop-in and pre-registered classes available, grouped by age and skills. Check website and follow REG on Facebook for class times, fees, and online registration.
http://timeoutnplay.com
2200 Petaluma Blvd North, Suite 800 A, Petaluma, CA 94952 (Located at the Petaluma Outlet Mall)
(707) 490-7328
Drop-in playtimes available. Check website and follow Time Out on Facebook for hours and fees.
https://sonomalibrary.org
Story times and children’s area for books/play are drop-in and free!
Petaluma Branch – 100 Fairgrounds Dr, Petaluma, CA 94952
(707) 763-9801
Check website for hours and event calendar. More info here as well: https://petalumamothersclub.org/Blog/6721942
http://www.cmosc.org
1835 W Steele Lane, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
(707) 546-4069
Check website and follow CMOSC on Facebook for hours, admission pricing, and special events.
http://www.hellopenngrove.com
10101 Main St, Penngrove, CA 94951
(707) 665-5759
Story and song time - Wednesdays 10:300-11:30, is drop-in and free! Check website and follow on Facebook for more info.
https://www.rebounderz.com
555 RP Expressway West, Rohnert Park, CA 94928
(707) 416-4445
Check website and follow Rebounderz Rohnert Park on Facebook for hours and pricing.
https://schulzmuseum.org
2301 Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
(707) 579-4452
Museum Mondays for Little Ones - Mondays 10:00-12:00, $5 per child. Drop-in for stories, arts and crafts, and movement games. Seasonal! Check website and follow on Facebook for dates and more info.
Born and raised in Petaluma. Currently live in a family home in Novato. Enjoy being a stay at home mom to Olivia almost 2. Married to my husband Sean for 5 years. Working on starting a little business out of my home. I have a passion for basketball and coaching kids. Have spent over 15 years volunteering in Petaluma coach basketball at all levels for kindergarten to junior varsity at Petaluma high. Plan on going back to it when Olivia is a little older. I miss it very much.
What has been your greatest journey? Surprise, Surprise - it’s parenthood! Navigating each stage with our daughter, learning our new normal as a couple and finding our happiness as a family of three has been my greatest eat journey so far. Welcoming help from new friends with no family in the area has been a challenge and a blessing. This is why the PMC has meant so much to me personally as well as my husband and our baby girl.
What has been your greatest journey?
Surprise, Surprise - it’s parenthood! Navigating each stage with our daughter, learning our new normal as a couple and finding our happiness as a family of three has been my greatest eat journey so far. Welcoming help from new friends with no family in the area has been a challenge and a blessing. This is why the PMC has meant so much to me personally as well as my husband and our baby girl.
Ingredients
1 red, tart juicy apple, washed and sliced into 8 slices (skin left on)
4 tablespoons brown sugar
3 teaspoons cinnamon
1 tablespoon melted butter
1 can Pillsbury™ refrigerated crescent rolls
Steps
Please provide a brief description of your business.
BodyROK is a Pilates inspired, 40-min, full body, strength training boutique studio, offering group classes on the custom BODYROK reformer. We are located in the heart of downtown Petaluma, right off of Petaluma Blvd. and B Street.
How did you get interested in your line of business?
I have been a group fitness junkie since my very first Tae Bo class I took in 10th grade, and throughout my life it’s been a pipe dream to open up my own studio. I love the group fitness environment and being motivated by an instructor, other members energy, and loud music! When I lived in San Francisco, I found BodyROK and fell madly in love- I find it to be the perfect workout. It’s intense, effective, and low impact, and I’ve never seen or felt results on my body quite like it.
How long have you owned your business?
Since June 2017
How did you get your business started?
I was working for Athleta at the time, but missing my baby so much having an inflexible work schedule. I started making a business plan (for fun), but when I found out our HQ was moving to SF, I took it as a sign from the universe that it was time to take the plunge!
What do you find the most rewarding about your business?
So much…! The thing I never expected was the amazing community that we would create around the studio, and the high you get when you participate in improving someone’s life! We have had so many success stories, and I’ve seen confidence levels, and strength just skyrocket in the studio. It’s pretty magical.
What is the best thing/worst thing that has happened to you since starting your business?
Best thing: Somehow the word traveled fast when we opened so I feel like the first year was not as stressful and scary as a lot of businesses experience. We feel very lucky about that! Worst thing: I had a very public miscarriage last Fall just about 6 months after we opened which set me back emotionally for a while. I lost my motivation to teach for a couple of months, (and at the time was the main instructor) Luckily, we have a fantastic team of employees that stepped up, and wonderful members who helped me so much through that time and I was able to find my passion and footing again.
If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
Well if I could REALLY have my dream studio it would have child care included, a smoothie bar, and a yoga studio, ha! So really just minor, super inexpensive, and simple additions, right?
What do you like best about working in Petaluma?
When I first opened up BodyROK, the SF team urged me to open the studio in Marin. I was so adamant about keeping the studio in Petaluma because I live here, and this is my community- these are my people! I am so grateful I stuck to my guns, because the thing that makes Petaluma so special and dear to my heart IS the people. Without this community, this job would not be nearly as awesome. I have felt so embraced since we opened and gotten the chance to meet such an even bigger part of this wonderful community. I wouldn’t have it any other way!
What might someone be surprised to know about you and your business?
On a personal note- one fun surprise currently is that I am expecting TWIN babies! Most of our members know, but it’s still fun to see the look on their faces when I say it. Business related- I wonder if people would be surprised at the amount of time my husband and I spend talking about BodyROK at home… we both teach there, and love it so we spend a lot of time strategize together, talking about cool new routines, playlists, promotions… we can’t seem to get enough. How’s that for pillow talk… J
What do you do when you are not working?
If I am not working I am “momming” my little girl Ella (which is my harder job for sure). If I truly have “me time”, I love to hike, travel, eat and drink delicious things, and spend time with friends.
Submitted by: Caitlin McSorley
Inspired by: https://handsonaswegrow.com/thanksgiving-thankful-tree/
My kids and I have made this Gratitude Tree a few years in a row, changing it slightly each time. They really enjoy the added step of painting (of course), but it can be done very simply to suit your kids' ages, supplies handy, and parental energy level! It is such a fun craft that continues all month and has truly improved our family conversations about gratitude and kindness. Every day (okay, most days) each of us adds a leaf with something for which we are thankful.
Here is our method this year:
Supplies:
Butcher Paper (or other material for tree trunk & branches)
Construction paper or cardstock
Scissors
Tape
Paint & glue stick (optional)
Step 1:
Make leaves! You can cut freehand or print from a template. We used this one: https://www.firstpalette.com/tool_box/printables/leaves.html
Step 2 (If painting leaves):
Lightly glue leaves to a large piece of butcher paper. Let kids paint over leaves and paper, making sure to cover the edges of the leaves. Once dry, gently remove the leaves, which will be decorated for the tree. The paper will have a nice pattern to use for wrapping paper, or other crafts.
Step 3:
Cut out a tree trunk and branches from paper. Use painters tape to attach to wall.
Step 4:
Throughout the month, have family members write what they are grateful for on leaves, and then tape them to the tree!
Thank you for the opportunity to be the PMC Member of the month! My wife and I moved here from Maryland in June 2016, so that we could be closer to our family here. My wife is originally from Petaluma, and she joined PMC back in late 2016 / early 2017, following the birth of our daughter.
PMC has helped us both through the journey that is parenthood, by showing us that we aren’t the only ones trying to figure it out. Furthermore, it has been awesome to be able to meet other dads through PMC! PMC Dads meet up the first or second Thursday each month, and we also occasionally go to other events, such as soccer games as a group. I encourage any PMC members to get their husbands/significant others to come out and meet other dads! What has been your greatest journey? I would say that my greatest journey has been fatherhood. When I was younger, I thought I lacked what it took to be a good father – but once our daughter was born, I realized that literally no first-time parent has a magic handbook that tells them how to respond in every situation. What is the most surprising part of becoming a parent? To piggyback off of the above question – the realization that almost nobody who becomes a parent, knows what they’re doing at first….and that it’s okay that way, and things will work out if you just try to parent. What do your kids do that drive you crazy and what do they do that melts your heart? My daughter turns into somewhat of a klepto-destructo gremlin when she is really tired! But at the same time, her snuggles, and hugs and kisses melt my heart. She is learning words and phrases, and sometimes her mispronunciations are adorable and give me “the feels”.
PMC has helped us both through the journey that is parenthood, by showing us that we aren’t the only ones trying to figure it out. Furthermore, it has been awesome to be able to meet other dads through PMC!
PMC Dads meet up the first or second Thursday each month, and we also occasionally go to other events, such as soccer games as a group. I encourage any PMC members to get their husbands/significant others to come out and meet other dads!
I would say that my greatest journey has been fatherhood. When I was younger, I thought I lacked what it took to be a good father – but once our daughter was born, I realized that literally no first-time parent has a magic handbook that tells them how to respond in every situation.
What is the most surprising part of becoming a parent?
To piggyback off of the above question – the realization that almost nobody who becomes a parent, knows what they’re doing at first….and that it’s okay that way, and things will work out if you just try to parent.
What do your kids do that drive you crazy and what do they do that melts your heart?
My daughter turns into somewhat of a klepto-destructo gremlin when she is really tired! But at the same time, her snuggles, and hugs and kisses melt my heart. She is learning words and phrases, and sometimes her mispronunciations are adorable and give me “the feels”.
Starting next Tuesday night October 30th, begin to put baby down 10 minutes later for bed. You can do this by comforting, singing or book reading, and/or starting the bedtime ritual/routine 10 minutes later. Do this for the rest of the week, so when the time change does happen, your baby will have slowly adjusted to the new time. If your baby/toddler’s bedtime is 7pm, it will look like this: Tues 7:10pm bedtime Wed. 7:20pm bedtime Thurs. 7:30pm bedtime Fri. 7:40pm bedtime Sat. 7:50pm bedtime Sun. 7pm bedtime (new time, old time will be 8pm) You may notice that your baby/toddler may start yawning at 5 or 6pm. Alternatively, you may notice that your baby is waking up earlier, at 6am or earlier. You can take the time to darken up your baby/toddler’s room with darkening drapes, or shades, to help them to sleep a little later. Also, you can take this time to make some schedule/routine adjustments, for example if your baby is a “night owl,” you may decide to keep their bedtime the same without using the 10-minute times adjustment. So, if your baby goes to bed at 9pm, their new bedtime will be 8pm. Do be sure to darken your baby’s room to reduce morning light. It takes about a week for baby/toddler to adjust to the new time. Your little one may be a bit cranky, or seem more tired then usual. Stick to your routine, and keep the daytime naps the same time.
Information provided to the PMC by:
Pediatric Sleep Consultant
Sarah's Eats & Sweets is graciously hosting a Dine and Donate fundraiser for us THIS WEEKEND on Saturday, October 27th from 10am-2pm. They have the most delicious, fresh, and locally sourced meals for breakfast and lunch. They are also extremely family friendly. Oh, and this is the highest rated restaurant (on Yelp) in Petaluma for a reason, so make sure you swing by or at least grab some sandwiches to go! The PMC will get 10% of ALL sales during this time so please tell all your friends a family!
P.O. Box 521 Petaluma, CA 94953-0521
