san diego
KIDS
North County
A Modern Family Magazine
Surfer of the Month
Local Events Calendar
Koby Gilchrist
pg. 7
Winter Camp Guide pg. 12
out the Check a ver for back co from iscount d l ia c e sp ary n’s Prim e r d il h C Dental!
Happy Holidays
Pinterest Picks
pg. 32
NCKid of the Month
North County
Santa Sightings!
Spencer Layne pg. 5
December 2014
December {2014} editor’s letter
From me to YOU!
features
H
o Ho Ho! Happy holidays! I always look forward to December as a time to sit back, relax and enjoy the company of family and friends (it’s supposed to be relaxing, right?!). Well, hopefully! It’s never easy to feel like a calm cucumber when endlessly deciding what to get everyone for Christmas or if they will they even like what I get them. This year I hope to put as much of the holiday stress aside, and enjoy the joyful spirit of the holidays and hope that all of you can too! Perhaps the biggest blessing is being able to celebrate some time away from work. Homes are filled with the sights and sounds of the season: fires in the fireplace and the wonderful aroma of yummy home cooking filling the kitchen. The most valuable time, perhaps, is the time spent around the table catching up with out of town family members, and of course the looming visit from Santa that keeps the kiddos in check (thank goodness for the Elf on a Shelf, right?)! Here at North County Kids Magazine, we want to help you enjoy this season as much as possible. From the fun Celeb Holiday Traditions on page 6, and the hilarious Down to Earth Dad: What the Elf? on page 21, to our Santa Sightings Guide on page 16, we’ve mixed humor into this issue to keep that smile on your face from fading! Enjoy the helpful Events Calendar on page 7 and the Winter Camp Guide on page 12 to keep your calendar jam packed this holiday seaon! Of course we are chalk full of kid spotlights including our special School of Rock North County Kid of the Month! Enjoy!
Stay Merry!
Kate Schlicher kate@sdnorthcountykids.com
Graphic Design Weston Carls westoncarls.com
Advertising Inquiries info@sdnorthcountykids.com (760) 452-0789
www.sdnorthcountykids.com • www.facebook.com/northcountykids
19 4 Pinterest Picks: Happy Holidays! 5 NCK of the Month: Spencer Layne 6 Celeb Tracker: Holiday Traditions 7 North County Events Calendar 12 Winter Camp Guide 14 Spotted! 15 Skater of the Month: Liam Allyn 16 North County Santa Sightings
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17 Mad Lib: Letter to Santa 18 Surfer of the Month: Koby Gilchrist 19 Spotted! 20 Rhoades School Science Fair Project Earns
National Honors
21 Down to Earth Dad: What the Elf? 23 A is for App: Holiday Helpers 24 Kids and Their Pets 26 Mom to Mom Book Review 28 Spotted! 29 5 Creative Lunch Box Ideas December 2014 | North County Kids
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Pinterest Picks: Happy Holidays!
hello-homebody.com sheknows.com
www.pinkporch.com
www.lovefromtheoven.com
www.thatsmykindofparty.com
nestofposies.com
www.etsy.com/shop/SweetLex
www.8ball.co.uk
we_wish_you_a_merry_christmas__79353_zoom
www.raininghotcoupons.com
designdininganddiapers.com
www.dumpaday.com
Check out more fun pins on our Pinterest page, pinterest.com/NorthCountyKids North County Kids is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Pinterest, Inc. Pinterest is a registered trademark of Cold Brew Labs, Inc. DBA Pinterest Corporation.
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North County Kids | December 2014
NCKid
of the Month
Spencer Layne Q&A
Where were you born? I was born in Los Angeles, CA but pretty much have grown up in Carlsbad.
What is your favorite thing about living in North County? I like the beach the best. I have lots of really great friends here too and we love to hang out at the beach, surf, and play music. How old are you? I’m going to be 16 this month and am getting my drivers license soon. What grade are you in and where do you go to school? I’m a sophomore at Sage Creek High School in Carlsbad. What are some of your hobbies? I like to skateboard, surf, play video games, but mostly I love to play music. What instrument do you play? Well, I play a lot! Primarily I play guitar and sing, but I also play bass, drums, keyboard, and I’m trying to learn the saxophone. When did you start playing the electric guitar? I started playing about 2 ½ years ago. My dad challenged me to play a real guitar instead of playing the guitar on the video game Guitar Hero. My neighbor loaned me his electric guitar and I went online to teach myself what I could. Once I learned some basics I wanted to take lessons. That is when we found out about the School of Rock in Oceanside. What is School of Rock? It is an after school performance based music program. I take private lessons and then rehearse once a week with other kids in a band setting. We do three shows a year. I’ve done shows with the music of Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, The Who…classic rock stuff. There is also an audition only house band that I have been in for about 1 ½ years. We rehearse once a week and play community events, private parties and have even been invited to play at the Long Beach International Motorcycle Show two years in a row. That was by far my favorite experience. What do you want other kids to know about the School of Rock? It is a place where you can chill and meet other kids with the same interests. Everyone
Oncoming Traffic
respects each other, has a great time, and learns how to play really cool music.
are so many different careers in music…I am looking into possibly becoming an Entertainment Lawyer.
Do you have any upcoming gigs? Yes, in addition to a Rolling Stones show in January at the Star Theater in Oceanside, I have my own band. We are called Oncoming Traffic and we have a following on social media. We have been writing songs and performing gigs and hope to be in the Carlsbad Battle of the Bands Teen Scene again this February. Last year we competed but didn’t have any original songs so this year we thought it would be fun to try writing.
Is there anything else you want our readers to know? It is really important to always try new things and never let fear hold you back. There are so many people to thank…all the AMAZING teachers and staff at School of Rock for being so committed to us kids and music. But I REALLY need to thank my parents for supporting my passion for music…thanks guys, you’re the BEST!!! NCK
What kinds of high school activities are you a part of? When I started at Sage Creek I was disappointed that they didn’t have a place for me in Orchestra as a guitarist…so I started a Rock Band Club called the Bobcats of Rock. What is the Bobcats of Rock Club? It’s a club for kids who play electric guitar, bass, drums, keys and sing and want to play in a band setting. We mostly stick to classic rock cover songs but we did play an original last Friday during our lunch jam session. Stephanie Souza is the vice president and she writes a lot of music and I wanted to give her song a full rock band sound.
School of Rock Oceanside 4095 Oceanside Blvd Suite F Oceanside CA 92056 (760) 734-1529 Oceanside.Schoolofrock.com
Call today to set up a free trial lesson at the School of Rock in Oceanside!
How did you start the club? It wasn’t easy! First I had to find a teacher who would sponsor the club and then I needed a space to rehearse. Luckily my English teacher, Mr. Cordell, used to play electric guitar and he gave us space in his classroom to keep all the instruments AND a full drum kit. We rehearse during lunch…it is kind of crazy. Next year we hope to move into a better space and have after school rehearsals. Where did you get the instruments? Donations. I wrote people who were selling on Craigslist and asked! It was amazing to see how many people were willing to give us instruments. Lots of people have instruments that they aren’t using or are broken and I have started a hobby of fixing guitars and amps too. What is next? Well, I want to learn to play the saxophone. I figure if I can play the sax that would make me an even better musician. I hope to play music for the rest of my life, no matter what I choose to do for a career. Music usually doesn’t pay the bills, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t do it, right? There
*School of Rock, Oceanside December 2014 | North County Kids
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Celeb Tracker
What is your favorite holiday memory?
“I do a tree-trimming party every year. At my party, we always do chili: turkey, regular beef and vegetarian. Everybody is satisfied.” Jennifer Aniston
“It doesn’t matter where we meet around the world as long as we are together. Whether we are eating turkey, a grilled cheese sandwich or rice and beans. Our tradition is to be together.” Zoe Saldana
“There are so many. But mostly the year my boyfriend at the time proposed in front of the tree and changed his title in an instant to husband.” Melissa Joan Hart
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North County Kids | December 2014
“My first Christmas with my daughter (Harper Renn Smith, 21 months). Being a parent makes the holidays that much more special.” Tiffani Thiessen
“My grandmother’s cooking. She cooks every Thanksgiving and Christmas, and she cooks enough food to feed an actual army. And somehow my family manages to eat all of it.” Justin Timberlake “Just the thought that Santa was coming all the way from the North Pole to Coatzacoalcos (in her home country of Mexico) to bring me my gifts, and the anticipation of waiting the next morning, you know? I love Christmas and I loved it as a child. I had lost a little bit of the flavor of it and now that I have a child (daughter Valentina, 4, with husband Francois-Henri Pinault) — she brought it all back to me. I enjoy it just as much now.” Salma Hayek “Warm cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning.” Nate Berkus
“I just love getting a huge group of family together. I mean, I have so much fun with my entire family. I have a lot of them and we’re all over the country, but it’s always great when we all get together and just spend that time.” Taylor Lautner
What’s Happening in North County December 1- 27
December 1- January 2
How the Grinch Stole Christmas The family favorite features the songs “This Time of Year,” “Santa for a Day” and “Fah Who Doraze,” the delightful carol from the popular animated version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Old Globe Theatre 1363 Old Globe Way San Diego Tickets start at $24 Best for ages 3+ (619) 234-5623 www.theoldglobe.org
Veterinary Specialty Hospital Holiday Pet Food Drive Last year, in conjunction with the San Diego Food Bank, the Veterinary Specialty Hospital collected 4,290 pounds of food for dogs and cats throughout San Diego County. Join them again as they try to reach our goal of 5,000 pounds of food to help keep families and their pets together! Bags and cans of dog and cat food (kittens & puppies, too) are welcome. No homemade or glass jars. San Diego: 10435 Sorrento Valley Road, San Diego (858) 875-7500 North County: 2055 Montiel Road, San Marcos (760) 466-0600 Drop-off bins in the lobby of each hospital. www.vshsd.com
December 1-31 Julian Christmas Train Express ~ 1.5 hour tour, all ages welcome. Includes 1-mile train ride, a visit to the authentic Smith Ranch 1870 gold rush mine, and country Christmas surprises. Open Mondays-Saturdays Running times are generally 11:30 am, 1 pm, and 2:30 pm.) Smith Ranch, Julian 2353 Ethelwyn Lane San Diego $12-$15/person (kids 2 and under free) Reserve your spot: (760) 765-2288 www.juliantrain.com
December 1- January 4 Skating by the Sea at Hotel Del Coronado This spectacular ice rink is located seaside on Windsor Lawn and features stunning views of the Pacific and Coronado beach. The Del’s iconic Victorian Building, adorned with thousands of white lights, provides a magical backdrop as holiday music fills the air and guests
enjoy hot chocolate and libations. Hotel Del Coronado 1500 Orange Ave. Coronado, 92118 Skating hours vary, check the website $25/person- skate rentals are free Skate times maybe be limited to 90 minutes based on capacity. Tickets sold online and via phone. Available for purchase 15 minutes prior to opening. (619) 435-6611 http://hoteldel.com/activities/coronado-events/ Sea World Christmas Get ready for a big splash of holiday cheer with shows like Shamu’s Christmas and Clyde & Seamore’s Christmas Special, Santa Claus and reindeer sightings, and SnowWorld, a winter wonderland of snow for the whole family! Also enjoy nightly lighting of Southern California’s largest Christmas tree, SeaWorld’s breathtaking 320-foot Christmas Tree of Lights. Sea World 500 Sea World Drive San Diego Included with admission (800) 257-4268 seaworldparks.com
December 2014 | North County Kids
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What’s Happening in North County December 1-8 Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego Adopt a Family & Toy Drive Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego offers several ways for individuals and businesses to make a difference during the holiday season. Becoming a “Holiday Life Changer” is a chance to provide a deserving family in your community with a magical experience they would not otherwise have. Adopt a family, donate to the toy drive, host a toy drive, or donate funds. (858) 866-0591 x 203 www.sdyouth.org/WaysToGive/holiday-lifechangers-adopt-a-member.aspx
December 1 Toddler and Preschool Story time Join Ms. Renee for stories, songs, and activities that build early literacy skills. Solana Beach Library 157 Stevens Avenue Solana Beach, 92075 9:30am (858) 755-1404 Sushi Night at the Trifecta Tavern Whole Foods, Del Mar Trifecta Tavern 2600 Via De La Valle #100, San Diego 6-8pm $19 per person *Also November 10, 17, 24 (Every Monday) December 2 Center Stage: Highland Way Highland Way introduces the audience to the lively songs of Scotland and Ireland. Enjoy Highland Way’s music, played by four professional musicians on an array of instruments, including the fiddle, accordion, guitar, percussion and others. Brian Caldwell of Glasgow adds interesting and fun facts about Scotland’s traditions to accompany favorite songs like “Rattlin’ Bog,” “Black Velvet Band,” “Wild Rover” and “The Unicorn Song.” California Center for the Arts, Escondido 340 N. Escondido Blvd. Escondido, CA 92025 11:30am Tickets are just $4. Call the Box Office at (800) 988-4253. http://artcenter.org Winter Holiday Party Festive celebration including a visit from Santa! A holiday craft and refreshments will also be available.
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North County Kids | December 2014
Solana Beach Library 157 Stevens Ave. Solana Beach, 92075 6- 7:30pm (858) 755-1404 Love on a Leash Kids can practice reading out loud to a loving service dog. Rancho Santa Fe Library 17040 Avenida De Acacias Rancho Santa Fe, CA 3:15pm (858) 756-4780 December 3 WOW First Wednesdays: Bill Magee Blues Band Having performed alongside greats like Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Otis Redding and Bo Diddley, guitarist Bill Magee delivers authentic Mississippi “Lowdown Dirty” blues with electrifying style, and his groovin’ group was voted “Best Blues Band” by the San Diego Music Association and The Reader. California Center for the Arts, Escondido 340 N. Escondido Blvd. Escondido, CA 92025 4pm & 7pm Tickets are FREE! http://artcenter.org/event/wow-first-wednesdaysbill-magee-blues-band/ Downtown San Diego Tree Lighting This festive evening includes music, ice skating and the famous faces from Disneyland. Tree lighting at 7:30pm Right after the tree is lighted, you can skate beneath the stars at the “Fantasy on Ice” rink from 8-10pm. Proceeds from Fantasy on Ice benefit the Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Rady Children’s Hospital. Horton Square 324 Horton Plaza San Diego Holiday Festival-A Family Celebration Enjoy an outdoor ice skating rink, visit with Santa, hot chocolate, prizes, entertainment, a firework show, performances by Coronado school children, complimentary s’mores roasts, and carols from Coronado School of the Arts students. Hotel Del Coronado 1500 Orange Ave. Coronado, 92118 4-7pm (619) 435-6611 www.hoteldel.com
Salad Bar Wednesdays at Del Mar Whole Foods Every Wednesday is $2 off per pound in the Prepared Foods hot bar and salad bar Whole Foods, Del Mar 2600 Via De La Valle #100, San Diego All day Every Wednesday Teen Dance Revolution Wednesday Teens get to move to the beat with Dance Dance Revolution! Solana Beach Library 157 Stevens Avenue Solana Beach, 92075 2:15pm (858) 755-1404 After School Healthy Homework Center Come to a reserved section of the library and enjoy healthy snacks and all the tools needed for homework Cardiff-by-the-Sea Library 2081 Newcastle Ave. Cardiff, 92007 3:30pm (760) 753-4027 Homework Help Drop-in program for children needing help with homework Grades K-6 Vista Library 700 Eucalyptus Ave. Vista, 92084 3:30pm (760) 643-5100 Gingerbread House Decorating! Gingerbread houses and frosting will be provided. (1) Gingerbread house per family. Please bring (1) unopened bag of candy for all to share. This event fills up fast, so reserve your place early! 3:30pm Encinitas Library 540 Cornish Drive Encinitas, 92024 (760) 753-7376 December 4 Afternoon Craft: Cookie Decorating Come decorate sugar and holiday gingerbread cookies! Rancho Santa Fe Library 17040 Avenida De Acacias Rancho Santa Fe, CA 3:15-4:15pm (858) 756-4780
December 5-23 California Center for the Arts, Escondido: Performing Arts Season 340 N. Escondido Blvd. Escondido, CA 92025 December 5: Mariachi Sol de Mexico: A MerryAchi Christmas December 6: The Center Choral: A Choral Yuletide December 7: Pink Martini December 10: Merle Haggard December 17: Irish Christmas with Lúnasa and Karan Casey December 23: Blind Boys of Alabama Christmas Show Tickets are now on sale at http://artcenter.org/ events/ or call the Box Office at (800) 988-4253.
You and your family will enjoy these lively performances plus refreshments, holiday arts and crafts, and a raffle with exciting prizes. Admission is free and this is an outdoor event, weather permitting. Free admission 3-5pm
December 5
Holiday Tree Lighting and Winter Wonderland Festival The Holiday Tree Lighting and Winter Wonderland Festival is an annual community event where we bring the North Pole to the heart of Escondido. Children will have the chance to frolic in real snow, decorate their very own Christmas cookies, and create fun, hand-made gifts for their loved ones. There will be a few new surprises at this year’s festival, so don’t miss your chance to celebrate the holidays at the Center! California Center for the Arts, Escondido 340 N. Escondido Blvd. Escondido, CA 92025 3pm (760) 839-4138 RSVP: http://artcenter.org/event/holiday-treelighting-winter-wonderland-festival/
Story time Yoga for Toddlers Stories and stretches for parents and toddlers ages 2-5. Cardiff-by-the-Sea Library 2081 Newcastle Ave. Cardiff, 92007 10:30am, every Friday (760) 753-4027 Teen Toons in the Afternoon! Teens come to the library every Friday after school and enjoy classic Looney Toons Solana Beach Library 157 Stevens Avenue Solana Beach, 92075 2:15pm (858) 755-1404
Encinitas Holiday Parade Tree lighting ceremony at 5pm in the Lumberyard shopping center courtyard on Coast Highway Parade begins at 5:30pm, heading south from D to J Street Coast Highway 101 between D and J Street Downtown Encinitas encinitasparksandrec.com
December 5-6 Balboa Park December Nights Come kick off the most wonderful time of the year at the nation’s premier holiday festival More than 350,000 visitors are expected to attend Event includes musical and dance performances, diverse food choices, unique gift shopping at the museum stores and artisans of Spanish Village, puppet shows, and more! December 5 3-11pm, December 6 noon-11pm Free admission www.balboapark.org/decembernights/ December 6 Carlsbad Educational Foundation’s 5th Annual Carols of Carlsbad Sponsored by Omni La Costa Resort & Spa and Jazzercise Omni La Costa Resort & Spa 2100 Costa del Mar, Carlsbad Come join us as Carlsbad’s school kids present a showcase of holiday music on the festive Plaza at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa. The event features live musical performances from a variety of Carlsbad Unified School District classes, grades kindergarten through high school.
Girls on the Run 5K The Girls on the Run 5k is the culmination of Girls on the Run of San Diego’s 10-week season. More than 500 girls ages 8-14, will celebrate their “girl power” by running 3.1 miles with their coaches, families, friends, teachers and community members. This event is open to anyone who wants to run, walk, or skip to the finish line! Walkers and strollers are welcome Registration ranges from $25-$40/participant NTC Park 2455 Cushing Road San Diego, 92106 Event opens at 7:30am, run starts at 9am (619) 962-4602 www.gotrsd.org Free Crafts for Kids at Lakeshore Learning Lakeshore Learning hosts a free craft activity each Saturday, where your kids can get creative. Every week features a new craft. Lakeshore Learning 7510 Hazard Center Drive, San Diego Every Saturday 11am-3pm (619) 297-8494
Puppet Show. Each child will receive a homemade gingerbread cookie and there will be a special guest at the end of the show! Cardiff-by-the-Sea Library 2081 Newcastle Ave. Cardiff, CA 92007 10:30am (760) 753-4027 Holiday Sing-a-long with the Sunset Strummers Enjoy an afternoon of holiday music with local ukulele band the Sunset Strummers. Vista Library 700 Eucalyptus Ave. Vista, 92084 2-3pm (760) 643-5100 December 6-7 Yoga Six Kids Yoga This class, designed to be enjoyed by kids ages 4 -7, will create a safe, playful, and empowering atmosphere for children to explore traditional yoga, creative movement, breath awareness, visualizations, and relaxation techniques. Singing, music, crafts, and props will reflect the unique theme for each class. Yoga Six Carlsbad 1905 Calle Barcelona Carlsbad, 92009 12pm (760) 274-6332 * Every Saturday and Sunday Helen Woodward Animal Center’s Frosty Farm Join the Helen Woodward Animal Center for a flurry of friends and lots of fun! Frosty Farm is a great opportunity to take pictures with Santa and his Miniature Horse “Reindeer.” Family fun activities also include: faux snow, cookie decorating, face painting, crafts, hot chocolate station, photo booth, and animal encounters including alpacas, rabbits, doves, sheep, “polar” dogs, and chickens. Helen Woodward Animal Center 6463 Helen Woodward Way San Diego 9am-2pm $20/kid, $9/adult * Also December 1-14, 20-21 Reservation for Santa visit’s required: campscui. active.com/orgs/HelenWoodwardAnimalCenter (858) 756- 4117 ext. 318
More Events on the Next Page!
Gingerbread Boy Puppet Show It’s that time of year for our Gingerbread Man December 2014 | North County Kids
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What’s Happening in North County December 7 La Jolla Christmas Parade and Holiday Festival Join in the fun in downtown La Jolla at Kline & Gerard Ave. After the parade is a festival with crafts, games, fun and food, and photos with Santa at the Rec Center. Parade starts at 1:30pm and the tree lighting is at 5:30pm (858) 922-4046 www.ljparade.com Sunday Brunch with Santa Kids of all ages can visit with jolly ol’ St. Nick in the Crown Room during The Del’s festive Sunday brunch on December 7, 14 and 21. Parents will want to bring their cameras to capture the magical moments with Santa. Hotel Del Coronado 1500 Orange Ave. Coronado, 92118 (619) 435-6611 9:30am-1pm Reserve online or call (619) 522-8490
Encinitas, 92024 4pm December 10 Doggie Tales: Read to Dogs! Kids make furry friends and practice reading skills with certified therapy dogs. Encinitas Library 540 Cornish Drive Encinitas, 92024 3-4pm Every 2nd Wednesday of the month (760) 753-7376 Chanukah Fun for the Family Join Ms. Chanie Yelin of Alef Hebrew School for a Chanukah story, craft and a taste of a traditional Chanukah food. San Marcos Library 2 Civic Center Drive San Marcos 4-4:50pm (760) 891-3000 December 10-21
San Diego North Coast Singers: 22nd Annual Winter Concert “Music for a Winter’s Eve” Sunday, December 7: 4-6pm Tuesday, December 9: 7-9pm The Sunday concert will feature all choirs performing a collection of holiday songs from around the world. On Tuesday advanced choirs will be joined by guest harpist, Donna Vaughan and will perform the entire “A Ceremony of Carols” by Benjamin Britten Tickets available at the door $12/adults, $5/students San Dieguito United Methodist Church 170 Calle Magdalena Encinitas, 92024 www.NorthCoastSingers.com December 9 Pretzel and Graham Cracker Houses Each family will choose to create a graham cracker or pretzel holiday house decoration. One per family. San Marcos Library 2 Civic Center Drive San Marcos, CA 3:30-5pm (760) 891-3000 Tuesday Movie A combination of movies ranging from big, new releases to old school classics that has something for everyone. Contact library at (760) 753-7376 for titles. Encinitas Library 540 Cornish Drive
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North County Kids | December 2014
San Diego Civic Youth Ballet presents The Nutcracker Enjoy this holiday classic from the amazing San Diego Civic Youth Ballet dancers ranging in age from 4 to 18. Casa Del Prado Theater, Balboa Park Tickets on sale now, $10-$18 Tickets available online or by phone Box office is open on show dates 1 hour prior to show time. (619) 233-3060 www.sdcyb.org December 11 Open House at The Children’s School Come learn about our Toddler - Eighth Grade programs, featuring hands-on, project based learning. 9:30am The Children’s School 2225 Torrey Pines Lane La Jolla, CA 92037 (858) 454-0184 www.tcslj.org December 12 24th Annual Christmas Tea and Tree Raffle Tea and Holiday Cookies before the Christmas Tree Raffle Rancho Santa Fe Library 17040 Avenida De Acacias Rancho Santa Fe, CA 1:30-4:30pm (858) 756-4780
December 12- 13 Christmas in the Valley The event will feature live entertainment, storytelling, Christmas carols and a Polar Express Hay Ride to visit Santa, all free of charge. Bates Nut Farm 15954 Woods Valley Road Valley Center, 92082 Santa arrives by fire truck at 5:30, and at 6:00 the Christmas tree lights go on. Friday 4-8pm Saturday 10am-4pm (760) 212-0738 www.batesnutfarm.biz December 13 AK Martial Arts and Fitness Parent Night Out Benefiting Bella Mente Montessori Academy Kids will enjoy Glow in the Dark Laser Tag, Wii games, a pizza party, and more! $30/first child $25/each additional sibling Children 5+ All attendees must be preregistered AK Martial Arts and Fitness 6120 Innovation Way Carlsbad, 92010 (760) 828-7165 http://akkarate.com/Parent_Night_Out.php Mission Bay Christmas Parade of Lights Free parade at 7pm followed by fantastic firework display at 9pm. More than 60,000 people are expected. The best viewing is from Riviera Shores, Crown Point, Santa Clara Point, the east side of Vacation Island the west side of Fiesta Island. Second Saturday Art Activity: Winter Watercolor Scene Spend your Saturday morning creating a majestic winter masterpiece while learning the watercolor and crayon resist technique! Family Arts Activities take place the second Saturday of every month in Studio One Theater and Studio Two. California Center for the Arts, Escondido 340 N. Escondido Blvd. Escondido, CA 92025 10am (760) 839-4138 Please RSVP below so we know how many paint brushes to set out: http://artcenter.org/event/ family-arts-activities-2014-12-13/ Craig Newton’s Holiday Music Show Listen to fun holiday music from different cultures on a variety of musical instruments. Cardiff-by-the-Sea Library 2081 Newcastle Ave. Cardiff, 92007 10:30am • (760) 753-4027
PRODIGY Players Present: “Ho, Ho, Ho: The Santa Claus Chronicles!” Get an inside look at Santa’s Christmas spectacular…audience members will go behindthe-scenes to meet special elves, Mrs. Claus, and Santa himself. Be there or be a Grinch! Children’s theater troupe PRODIGY Players entertain all ages with amusing 30-minute plays. www.prodigykidsperformingarts.com. 11am Encinitas Library 540 Cornish Drive Encinitas, 92024 (760) 753-7376 December 13-14 Oceanside Holiday Village and Charity Drive Presented by the The Super Dentists Local North County schools will be building the village, painting and constructing shops to showcase their holiday spirit. Local businesses will be selling holiday related items – all in the spirit of St. Nick. Activities include: trackless train, zip line, and a visit from Santa (who will be arriving by a special, and surprise, means of transportation!)., petting zoo, North Pole experience, games and contests, and more! Free hot cocoa and apple cider will be on hand, as well as a variety of food trucks. The Super Dentists 3625 Vista Way Oceanside, 92056 4-9pm $2/adult, $1/kids (ages 5+) All proceeds go to Classics 4 Kids, Music in Tune with Education The Nutcracker Presented by The Dance Academy Students ages 4 - 64 perform the classic holiday tale. Family friendly production, tickets are $10 per person Show times: November 13: 2pm & 6pm November 14: 1pm & 5pm The Children’s School 2225 Torrey Pines Lane La Jolla, CA 92037
Call (858) 458-1783 to reserve tickets www.tcslj.org December 14 Preview Show for the School of Rock Oceanside All students and teachers perform Boomers 1525 W. Vista Way Vista, 92083 $5 entry fee 3-5pm
December 27 New Children’s Museum: Pajama Jam Jump into your jammies and celebrate 2015 at The New Children’s Museum! Tickets start at $20 5-8pm New Children’s Museum 200 W Island Avenue San Diego, CA 92101 (619) 233-8792 www.thinkplaycreate.org December 31: Happy New Years Eve!
December 16: Happy 1st Day of Hanukkah! December 20 Feeding the Soul Foundation Benefit Concert The show will compile of a list of well-known local musicians including Bushwalla, Day Old Johnson, Lee Coulter, MC Flow, Cody Lovaas, Dawn Mitschele, Tolan Shaw, Michael Tiernan and a Superband starring a complied list of highly sought after musicians Keith Benton (Bushwalla percussionist), Kevin Freeby (Jason Mraz bassist), Gabe Lehner (9 Theory), Andy Powers (Taylor Guitars), Chaska Potter (Raining Jane) and Mona Tavakoli (Raining Jane). Benefiting Rock N’ Roll Camp for Girls, Los Angeles Star Theater 402 N Coast Hwy Oceanside, 92054 (760) 721-9983 December 25: Merry Christmas!
November 29 – December 24, 2014 Performance Dates: Nov. 29 & 30 | Dec. 12 – 14 | Dec. 19 - 24 All performances at 11am
BY Mark Pence | DIRECTED BY Siobhan Sullivan Crews Oh No! An Evil Toymaker is planning on kidnapping Santa Claus and ending Christmas once and for all! Can the toys band together to save the day? Find out in this holiday musical that the whole family will enjoy!
TICKETS $20 Adults • $16 Children (858) 481-1055 • NorthCoastRep.org NORTH COAST REPERTORY THEATRE, A Not-For-Profit Regional Theatre 987 Lomas Santa Fe Dr., Suite D, Solana Beach, CA
Professional adult actors perform for families
December 2014 | North County Kids
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Winter Camp Guide AK Martial Arts & Fitness Winter Camps 6120 Innovation Way Carlsbad, CA 92009 (760) 828-7165 www.akkarate.com www.facebook.com/akmafans Spend Winter Break having the time of your life at our fun filled camps! 12/22-24: Holiday Craft Camp 12/29-31: Science & Discovery Camp 1/5-9: Lego Ninja Camp (Legoland trip Fri) AK camps are intuitive and fun in a safe and clean environment! My kids love the variety of activities offered throughout the week along with the overall camp theme. –R. Whelpley
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North County Kids | December 2014
Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego Winter Camp North County Locations: 4S Ranch, Baker Family (Escondido), Mitchell (Escondido), Sulpizio Family (Poway) When school is out, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego is here to serve you. Our Winter Holiday Day Camps will be offered December 22-24 We have over 70 years of experience, affordable prices, fun and structured activities in a safe environment and a trained and CPR & first aid certified professional staff, Our five north county sites are available for the three-day camp for only *$66. We offer a 20% discount for each additional child and scholarships are available for those who qualify. * A BGCGSD Membership is required and is valid through June 30, 2015.
Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito Polster Branch - Camp Office 3800 A Mykonos Lane San Diego, CA 92130 Camp Office (858) 720-2180 www.bgcsandieguito.org/programs/camps School’s out, Camps are in! BGC San Dieguito Adventure Day Camps, Ages 5-15 Camp locations in Carmel Valley, Solana Beach & Encinitas! Don’t miss out on all the fun! Arts & Crafts, Sports, Games, Computers, Field Trips Winter Adventure Day Camps online registration now open! “Boys & Girls Clubs camps are fun! I love playing Hunger Games dodgeball with my friends and the field trips are awesome!” Gavin – age 9, BGC San Dieguito Polster Branch
School of Rock Oceanside Winter Camps 4095 Oceanside Blvd., Suite F Oceanside, CA 92056 (760) 734-1529 http://oceanside.schoolofrock.com www.facebook.com/schoolofrockoceanside The White Stripes Camp (Ages 7-17 Years) December 21st - 23rd, 10:00-3:00 pm each day. (Performance 3:00-4:00 pm on December 30th) Songwriting Performance Camp (Ages 7-17 Years) December 28th - 30th, 10:00-3:00 pm each day. Performance 3:00-4:00 pm on December 30th) Rookies ONE-DAY Camp (Ages 6-7) Sunday, December 28th from 9:00 am-2:00 pm. Winter Camp at The New Children’s Museum 200 West Island Avenue San Diego, CA 92101 (619) 795-1463 www.thinkplaycreate.org/camps NCM day camps combine handson art-making activities, creative games and playtime in the park with the opportunity for children to think, play and create in the Museum’s galleries. This season’s day camps are designed for children age 4 to 12 and you can drop in for just one day or come for the whole week!
The Little Fire Engine is a Unique Kids Size Fire Truck Ride. It is only 12ft. long and has 20 ft. of bench seating in the back. It is fire engine red, with polished diamond plate, fire ladder, and oak bench seating. We offer BIrTHDAY PArTIeS, feSTIVALS, fUND rAISerS, fIre PreVeNTIoN eVeNTS, CHrISTMAS CAroLING, AND PArADeS covering all of San Diego County!
www.littlefiretruck.com Call To Book Your Event • (619) 444–4464 December 2014 | North County Kids
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HOT PICS
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! Spotted in North CounCoty unty
to See what these kids have been up
in North
Join this talented group from San Diego North Coast Singers for a holiday concert “Songs for a Winter’s Eve” December 7th and 9th!
This happy patient is all smiles at Children’s Primary Dental!
Second grade students Nash and Kayhan learned how to cut puff pastry from Chef Simon Lynn during his visit to The Children’s School.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito is our youth’s favorite place to hang out!
North County Kids | December 2014
www.sdnorthcountykids.com • www.facebook.com/northcountykids
Skater of the Month
Liam Allyn
photo credit: Neal Mims
Age: 13
Stance: Goofy
Started Competing: Haven’t yet
Hometown: Encinitas, CA
Started Skating at Age: 10
Favored Discipline: Freestyle
Q&A
How has living in North County affected your skating career? There are a lot of really cool skate spots/parks around. Having access to Aura Skateboarding Park has been key. North County also gives you access to pros that live here and skate locally at some of the good skate parks. Who are some local pros and companies that have helped you in your achievements? Aura Skateboarding Park has been awesome. The instructors there are amazing. I have learned so much from Matt, Hunter, Luke and Lindsay. Doug at Aura really puts on a great program. I also spent some time at Neal Mims Skating Academy and learned a lot
there also. I even got to spend time with Ryan Sheckler, Chris Cole, Lindsay Robertson, and Neal Mims, who have all helped me and given me tips. Where do you see yourself professionally in 5 years? Hopefully sponsored and doing some competitions in street leagues or freestyle skating. What’s your favorite after-school snack? Doritos, Tapatio Style. What advice do you have for other kids thinking about learning how to skateboard? Keep practicing and stay positive. Don’t stop if you fall down! Be sure to pick yourself back up! Don’t be afraid to ask questions and get help.
www.sdnorthcountykids.com • www.facebook.com/northcountykids
We hear that you have several other talents and hobbies, can you tell our readers about those? I like to play Lacrosse, it’s a great game. I like playing the drums and, of course, video games! How do you juggle your other interests and skateboarding? I skate most of the time because it is my main focus. I put most of my effort there but I’m always sure to enjoy my other interests too! Is there anything else you want to add? Skating takes a lot of hard work but if you stick with it, stay positive and keep working, you’ll get better. NCK
December 2014 | North County Kids
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Santa Sightings All Over North County! LEGOLAND California’s Christmas Tree Lighting: Monday, December 1, 5:30pm A celebrity guest will light the world’s tallest LEGO Christmas tree at 5:30 pm. The giant tree stands more than 30-feet-tall and made up of more than 245,000 forest green DUPLO bricks and surrounded by packages and LEGO friends. This annual event features holiday entertainment, fireworks and a surprise appearance from Santa himself. 1 Legloand Drive Carlsbad, CA 92008 (760) 918-5346 Westfield Plaza Camino Real, Carlsbad: December 1 – 24 Cookie breaks are between 1:00pm-2:00pm and 5:00pm-6:00pm daily but otherwise Santa is ready for photos and gift requests until he leaves. Santa will be in the JCPenney Court, Level 1 2525 El Camino Real #100 Carlsbad, CA 92008 760-729-6183 www.westfield.com/plazacaminoreal Carlsbad Premium Outlets: December 1 – 24 Shop for bargains, then have the kids give Santa their wish lists at Santa’s Wonderland, located in Center Court. Photos are available for purchase. 5620 Paseo del Norte, Suite 100 Carlsbad, CA 92008 760-804-9000 premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=66 Winterfest in Downtown Vista: Friday, December 5, 5-9pm: Tree Lighting, horse-drawn carriage rides, live music, caroling Saturday, December 6, 10am-4pm: Comic Book Christmas Parade at 1pm, Photo Opps with Santa, Snow Zone, carnival rides, artificial snow, and more! Along Main Street and Broadway, Vista (760) 414-9391 http://www.vvba.org Santa’s Magical Village – San Marcos: Sunday, December 6, 3-8pm Sunday, December 7, 10am-3pm Stroll through the “streets” of Santa’s Magical Village where children can create ornaments, decorate cookies, and make holiday decorations. Have your picture taken with Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and enjoy the free entertainment throughout the weekend. Have breakfast with Santa for a small fee! Enjoy a continental breakfast with holiday crafts and entertainment included. Visit www.san-marcos.net for full holiday schedule of events, including select times for photos with Santa.
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North County Kids | December 2014
Westfield North County, Escondido: Professional photo opps with Santa are on Level 1 in Center Court. He takes cookie breaks from 12:30pm-1:30pm and 4:30pm-5:30pm Monday-Saturday, and from 1:30-2:30pm on Sundays. 272 East Via Rancho Parkway Escondido, CA 92025 (760) 489-0631 www.westfield.com/northcounty/ Garden of Lights – Encinitas: Dec 6 – 23 and Dec. 26 – 30, 5-9pm Over 100,000 sparkling lights illuminate the San Diego Botanical Garden while guests can enjoy horse-drawn wagon rides, holiday crafts, marshmallow roastings, visits with Santa, live music, refreshments and hut mulled wine (on select evenings). Snow also “falls” on select nights. Visit www.sdbgarden.org for more information and pricing. Cardiff Kringle Mingle: December 7, 1-5pm Join this festive community celebration and stop by their gift fair. Enjoy yummy treats from local restaurants and a holiday scene complete with a decorated tree and photo opps with Santa. Cardiff Town Center Cariff-by-the-Sea, CA 92007 Visit www.cardiff101.com/kringlemingle for more information.
Christmas in the Park – Old Poway Park: December 13, 3:30-8:30pm This is a free event that brings Christmas traditions to life! View the community Christmas tree lighting at 5:15pm and watch Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive by train at 5:30pm! Kids will love riding the steam locomotive train (nominal fee) and having their faces painted. Listen to live musical holiday entertainment and caroling and take your picture with Santa in Santa’s Village. Call (858) 668-4576 for more information. Westfield UTC, La Jolla: Santa is located over near Pottery Barn, but get this—your dog or cat is welcome to take a photo with him too. While supplies last, the “A” Photo Package includes your choice of two free tickets to either the Birch Aquarium at Scripps or the San Diego Botanical Gardens. Santa does take a break during slow periods, not at a set time. Find him at the end of the mall near Sears until 7:00pm on most days. 4545 La Jolla Village Drive San Diego, CA 92122 (858) 546-8858 westfield.com/utc/holiday
Christmas (Mad Lib)
Dear Santa Claus, My name is _______________(your name). How have you been this year? I know you must be very busy during this holiday season. Please say _______________ (greeting) to your elves and Mrs. Claus. I hope your reindeer are ready to _______________ (verb) around the world. Please tell them there will be fresh _______________ (noun) waiting for them and of course there will be _______________ (food) and _______________ (beverage) for you at my house. However, this year please try to be quiet when you deliver my presents because it is very important that I get a full _______________ (number) hours of sleep! I have been very _______________ (adjective) this year and was very _________________ (emotion) to my _______________ (family member) all year long! I only want _______________ (number) things for Christmas so this should be an easy year for you. My first wish is for a _______________ (animal) that will play with me after school and not make too much of a mess. I also love _______________ (plural noun). These are the best inventions in the world and I want _______________ (number) of them. I would also like __________________(famous person/celebrity) to show up at my door on Christmas morning and serenade me with _______________ (song title). If all of these things are too hard to get please make things easier on yourself and simply send _______________ (plural noun). The only thing I don’t want for Christmas is a _______________ (noun). I am putting my _______________ (noun) in you this year Santa! Thanks for helping make this the best holiday ever.
Hugs and _______________ (plural noun),
________________________ (your name) December 2014 | North County Kids
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Surfer of the Month
Koby Gilchrist Grade: 8th School: Oak Crest Middle School Age: 13 Hometown: Cardiff by the Sea Stance: Goofy Foot Sponsors: Rip Curl, Freewaters Footwear, Spy Sunglasses, Froth Wax, Rubber Soul Surfboards.
Started Surfing: 4 years old Started Competing: 8 years old Hobbies: Shaping surfboards, Skating, Fishing, Swimming
Career Highlights
Favorite Surf Spot: Seaside Reef
2013 1st Place West Coast Surf Champs U14 LB
Long board or short board: Both plus fishes, quads, eggs, and hunks of foam
Q&A
2013 SSS 2nd in LB, 4th in SB 2013 5th Place in the US Champs U18 LB
How has living in North County affected your surfing career? I love living in North County because there’s so many good surf spots and you can surf on all types of boards. No matter the swell size you can find a wave, so you can surf every day!
lot of old classic surf movies to study style and arm placement. Films like Sea of Joy, Evolution, Morning of the Earth and Busting Down the Door. I also study surfers on tour such as John John Florance, Mick Fanning and Gabriel Medina. I also watch all of the ASP World Tour contests.
Where do you see yourself professionally in 5 years? My goal is not to be a professional surfer. I want to travel the world surfing all types of boards at all types of spots. I also hope to have my own shaping business and I want to go to college in Hawaii.
Who are some local pros and companies that have helped you in your achievements? How? My biggest influences are Joel Tudor, Ryan Byrch, Rob Machado, Damien Hobgood, and all the other Groms at Seaside! I grew up surfing with these guys and I love their styles and their kindness to everyone. All of my sponsors have really helped me throughout the years. I love being an Ambassador to Freewaters Footwear — a portion of the profits from each pair of shoes sold goes towards digging wells in communities that do not have access to potable water.
What do you love the most about surfing? Why? I love being in the ocean, competing against myself in the water and learning new maneuvers. But what I love most is having fun surfing!
Who is your favorite pro-surfer? Mick Fanning is my favorite because he can surf in any size waves and his powerful carves are fantastic. He also has a great style.
Any advice to other surfers out there looking to improve their skills? Make sure you study other surfer’s style and maneuvers. I watch a
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North County Kids | December 2014
Have you ever had any shark run-ins? Other sea creatures? Yes, just recently when I was shortboarding Beacons. I was sitting on the outside, I look to my left and I saw a big black and grey fin which started to circle around me, then I saw the shape of the head and it was a Hammer head shark probably over ten feet long. I was in shock so I just sat there until the fin went under, then I paddled in as fast as I could.
Where is your go-to surf gear shop? Hansens or Surf Ride. What’s the biggest wave you’ve ever surfed? Las Gaviotas, Baja this summer. It was over 11 feet and really scary. Is there anything else you would like to add? I love surfing because I consider it a lifestyle, I plan on surfing till forever! NCK
Spotted in North County!
to in North County See what these kids have been up
The Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito’s Athletic Program started it’s very own club basketball team, the Bulldogs, led by former SDSU legend, DJ Gay! Here are some of the original players!
Smiles at the dentist are possible at Children’s Primary Dental!
HOT PICS
First graders from The Children’s School got into the spirit of the season, seen here with boxes of food they collected to donate to San Diego Rescue Mission.
Just like last year, as seen here, the Feeding the Soul Foundation’s HoliDAZE Concert on December 20 is sure to be a blast! www.sdnorthcountykids.com • www.facebook.com/northcountykids
December 2014 | North County Kids
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Local Spotlight
Rhoades School Science Fair Project Earns National Honors
O
n weekend mornings last year when many other middle school students may have been at home in bed or simply relaxing, Daniel Bruce, then an eighth grader at The Rhoades School, was out in the field working diligently on his science fair project. Daniel was busy recording observations of bird activity at four separate lagoons along 100 miles of Southern California coastline. Using a variety of scientific instruments, Daniel logged the weather conditions and noted the tide levels. Daniel then spent hours documenting bird species and the numbers of birds he encountered at each lagoon visit. As he made observations at the coastal reserves, Daniel noticed a significant human presence. He grew concerned regarding the possible impacts of human intrusion and urban noise. Daniel decided to investigate. He used a laser rangefinder to try to determine at what distance a particular bird species would take flight in response to human intrusion. He measured and recorded these distances during multiple visits at the various lagoons. Using a digital decibel meter he also recorded the average noise levels at each of the marsh environments. Daniel did not observe a correlation of noise to bird activity, but he did find that birds in locations with more frequent visitors seemed to grow accustomed to people, permitting intruders to approach at a closer distance before flying. However, another relationship Daniel discovered was that the greater the number of visitors, the fewer the number of bird species. The Rhoades School encourages students to pursue science projects about which they are passionate, reminding students that they too can contribute to the body of scientific knowledge. Daniel entered the County Science Fair in March of 2014, winning the prestigious Life Science Runner-up Sweepstakes Award, the coveted San Diego Zoological Society Award and many more professional awards. In April of 2014 Daniel attended the California State Science Fair and was awarded First Place Medal for the State of California in the Category of Zoology. Daniel then applied to the national science fair contest, the Broadcom Masters Middle School STEM competition. From June until September the judges reviewed the more than 2000 eligible science fair entries. Finally in mid- September of 2014, the 30 Finalists for the national contest were announced, and Daniel Bruce became a National Science Fair Finalist. On October 23, 2014, Daniel flew to Washington to participate in a five day celebration and competition sponsored by the Broadcom Corporation and the Society for Science and the Public (SSP). At the competition, Daniel presented his project to the judges and to the public at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum. During the five day affair, the students participated in team event challenges led by respected scientists and even got to meet with President Obama! Daniel was chosen by his peers to compose and deliver the “class�
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North County Kids | December 2014
speech for the National Science Fair Finalists at the Awards Ceremony held at The Carnegie Institute of Washington on the evening of October 28, 2014. At the ceremony, the Broadcom Masters presented First and Second Place National Awards in four categories, representing the four STEM components, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. For his project entitled Flight Initiation Distance: Human Presence Impacts on Lagoon Bird Response, Daniel Bruce earned the Science Category National Second Place Award with prizes including, a check for $2500, an iPad, an asteroid named after him by M.I.T. Lincoln Laboratories and a two week all expenses paid trip to a summer camp of his choice, such as NASA Summer Camp. Daniel Bruce is now in high school, attending Canyon Crest Academy in San Diego. Daniel’s winning science fair project was carried out at The Rhoades School in Encinitas under the guidance of his science teacher and mentor, Mrs. Roxanne Hunker. NCK Successful students like Daniel Bruce embrace the opportunity to learn; these individuals value, appreciate and acknowledge the inherent rigor required of academic study and truly love learning for its own sake. This is the mindset fostered at The Rhoades School; our students recognize that innate ability must be combined with focused effort in order to achieve noteworthy results and that effort, persistence and resiliency each play a critical role in the lives of accomplished people. The Rhoades School, 141 S. Rancho Santa Fe Road, Encinitas, CA 92024 www. rhoadesschool.com
Down To Earth Dad
What the Elf?
T
he following is a true story. The events described took place in December 2011. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent... When the phone rang I didn’t think much of it. The caller ID indicated it was the neighbors from down the street. I assumed they were calling to invite us over for a little holiday merriment, which wasn’t uncommon in our neighborhood. But there was nothing festive about the tone on the other end of the line. I recognized there was something wrong when my neighbor failed to start the conversation with a customary salutation and instead launched into what I assumed was an eggnog induced tirade. “Sofia has ruined the Elf on the Shelf,” she shouted. Part of me considered responding with “What’chu talkin’ ‘bout, Willis?” But I quickly realized that an obscure reference to the 80s sitcom Different Strokes would only make my disgruntled neighbor more irate. So instead I summoned the skill set I learned during my years on active duty in the United States military, and I attempted to diffuse this hostile yuletide situation. “I am very sorry if my daughter broke your Elf on the Shelf. I will go and buy you
a new one tomorrow,” I offered, in an act of complete appeasement. My daughter is a good kid, with no behavioral problems. But the Elf on the Shelf is a little creepy, so I could totally envision a scenario where she grabbed it off of the neighbor’s mantel and ripped off the head, or something like that. “It can’t be fixed,” my neighbor screamed. But the situation appeared fixable to me and I wasn’t yet ready to give up. “Yesterday I went to Target and they had hundreds of them. I’m sure they still have some.” “She didn’t break it. She ruined it.” Now I was really confused. My aggravated neighbor quickly clarified, “She told Madison that it was impossible for the Elf on the Shelf to go to the North Pole every day and report to Santa because it’s too far away. Now Madison is crying!!!” Our daughters were the same age, but apparently my child had mastered the concept of deductive reasoning a little quicker than her kid, and she poked a few logical holes in the Elf on the Shelf mystique. “SHE RUINED OUR FAMILY TRADITION,” bellowed my neighbor. It was at this point that I couldn’t believe I was actually having this conversation. In summary, a neighbor was on the phone
yelling at me because my kid told her kid the truth about the Elf on Shelf. If you want to get mad at me because my kid threw a rock at your car or punched your kid in the face, well, I totally understand. But to launch an attack over the Elf on the Shelf struck me as a bit unreasonable. “What do you want me to do about it?” I asked. My question was met with dead silence on the other end of the phone, as visions of angry and confused sugar plums danced in my neighbor’s head, until she finally said, “Well… I just wanted to tell you.” “Okay. Merry Christmas,” I told her. I hung up the phone without any animosity towards my neighbor, because I understand that the holidays can be very stressful and sometimes people go a little loopy over things like the Elf on the Shelf. So this year, when you are running around North County looking for the last deluxe marble kendama, take a deep breath and remind yourself that life is good. Happy Holidays from the Down to Earth Dad. NCK The Down to Earth Dad is a lawyer by day and youth soccer coach by night. He lives in Carlsbad with his wife and two kids.
December 2014 | North County Kids
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Presented by
A is for App A Charlie Brown Christmas $6.99 Join Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the Peanuts gang as they embark on an adventure to discover the true meaning of Christmas. Narrated by Peter Robbins, the original Charlie Brown’s voice, with soundtracks from the show, this interactive storybook with optimized illustrations and animation will bring warmth into your home this Christmas. The Christmas List $.99 Creating and tracking Christmas lists used to be a strictly pencil-andpaper affair. Not in the age of the iPhone, though; of course there’s an app for that! The Christmas List makes it easy to create lists for everyone you need to buy for and then track your overall spending. Anyone looking to get a handle both on what they buy and how much they spend this holiday season should give it a look. 12 Days of Christmas $1.99 Have some sing-a-long fun this Christmas with this app, record videos of you and your friends singing along to your favorite Christmas songs and create your very own Christmas videos. With beautiful illustrations and an array of soft colors, teach your children to count down from 12 as they ‘unwrap’ each gift. 101 Christmas Cake Ideas Free If you’re in charge of the baking this merry season, but stuck on how to decorate your cakes to make it look more festive, then get ‘101 Christmas Cake Ideas.’ Inside, you’ll find a handy reference guide to dozens of templates, patterns and decorations of what makes a cake Christmas-y! Arthur Christmas: Elf Run Premium $1.99 You have a mission this Christmas: as a Christmas elf, deliver gifts to children around the world before sunrise or you’re busted. It’s not just about climbing down chimneys; leap, dive, and crawl as quietly and
quickly as you can without crashing into anything or waking up the children (feed the pets so they don’t make noises) or else you fail.
handle, so let your imagination go crazy and see what Santa comes up with in response.
Letters to Santa Free Send your holiday wish list to Santa and get a letter back within an hour from the man himself. No request is too big or too small for him to
Holiday Helpers
Santa Tracker $1.99 This multi-feature app helps you countdown the days until Santa makes his way down your chimney. View photos of Santa sightings from around the globe. You can even send Santa a letter and get a custom reply back! Santa also has his own blog, which you can easily access from the app. Overall, it’s a perfect way to keep up with all the goings-on at the North Pole. Talking Santa $.99 Although chances are you won’t be able to catch Santa when he’s at your house delivering presents, you can still talk to the big guy directly thanks to this app. Not only will St. Nick repeat what you say, but he’ll also react by laughing when you poke him on the screen. You can even have a snowball fight with him, or send customized Christmas cards to your friends. Coca-Cola Christmas Snow Globes Free Celebrate Christmas the CocaCola way by creating Christmas greetings wherever you are and wrapping them up in your customized snow globe. You can even design and choreograph your own funky Christmas dance to jiggle to the song. Menorah Free This iPhone Menorah will show you how many candles to light for each day of the Jewish Holiday Chanukah (Hanukkah). It has a cute animation that shows you which way to light, in accordance with the Ashkenaz customs. It also has the Chanukah prayers in Hebrew, English and Transliterated. Plus, we have the prayers professionally and beautifully sung by Mo Kiss. NCK
December 2014 | North County Kids
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Kids & Their Pets
Pucker up! Baby Hunter got a warm welcome to the world from the family’s yellow lab, Hunny.
Luke truly found a best friend in his pup Oreo.
Little Carly can’t get enough of the family’s black lab, Pepper.
Morning snuggles are a must for little Jack and kitty, Tiger.
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North County Kids | December 2014
Mom to Mom
Book Review
Megan Rath is a wife and mom of an 8 year old daughter and 4 year old son. She is the organizer of the Hip Chicks Book Club (www.meetup.com/hipchicksbookclub), a large group of diverse women of all ages that meets in North County every month. A native of North County all her life, she currently lives in Vista.
Scary Mommy’s Guide to Surviving the Holidays by Jill Smokler (and Other Contributing Authors) In popular blogger Jill Smokler’s third book, she, along with around forty other authors, share stories, tips, and recipes that will make surviving the holidays both easier and funnier. This is a really fun, relatable, and quick read, perfect for this holiday time of year, but I do have to let you know, it’s only available as an ebook right now. BUT if you do purchase it, all of the proceeds will go to help provide meals for families in need this holiday season. Plus you get great recipes, and the wonderful sense that you are not alone as you read these holiday antics and heartwarming stories from these lovely ladies. Win-win!
I give this one a B-. If you enjoyed this one, you might also like Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris.
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North County Kids | December 2014
Shopaholic to the Stars by Sophie Kinsella Becky Brandon is back in this seventh book in the Shopaholic series. When her husband, Luke, takes on a top movie star as his client, the family moves to Hollywood where Becky believes this is her big chance to become the celebrity stylist she’s always dreamed of being. But will it be worth it? Ok. I have to say it. This is not the best book in the series. But I still enjoyed it. I just wish there had been more character development, especially with Becky (will she ever learn?!). But this series has held such a place in my heart for the past 12 years or so, that I’d read any other book that this series will offer. And there will be more!
I give this one a C+. If you haven’t read the whole delightfully fun series, the first book is Confessions of a Shopaholic.
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HOT PICS
! Spotted in North CounCoty unty to See what these kids have been up
in North
The famous Surfin’ Santa is back and loving this San Diego weather!
It’s hard work keeping the Boys and Girls Clubs of San Dieguito’s garden healthy...but someone’s gotta’ do it!
The young students at the Carmel Valley Montessori School let loose during their Halloween Parade this year with some great costumes! 28
North County Kids | December 2014
‘Tis the season for giving! Donate dog and cat food to the Veterinary Specialty Hospital’s Pet Food Drive all month long!
www.sdnorthcountykids.com • www.facebook.com/northcountykids
5 Lunch Box Ideas
Even for the most creative culinary moms, the process of packing school lunches can be overwhelming. Just the simple act of finding items your kids will eat can lead to a roadblock. Kidstir, a monthly subscription service providing kits filled with hands on food adventures for kids, suggests climbing out of the lunch rut by getting your kids involved in the prep work.
Check out their 5 tips for thinking outside the lunch box. 1
DIY Taco Kit
Help your kids pack up taco toppings in separate containers and let them build their own tacos at lunch. Warm leftover taco filling (beans, beef, shredded chicken) and pack it in a Thermos. Then pack individual containers with grated cheese, salsa, lettuce, rice, and tortillas or taco shells. At school, they can set up a taco bar in the cafeteria!
2
Make-YourOwn Sub
To prevent those soggy sandwiches, pack up the fixings for a sub and let you kids assemble it at school. Include fillings such as lettuce, olives, tomatoes, and deli meats, along with a small container of mayo or olive oil and a fresh baguette or sub roll.
4
Food on a Stick
5
Salad Bar in a Jar
Food always tastes better when it’s served on a stick. Send toothpicks along with fruit and cheese and meat and let your kids make colorful kebabs in the lunch room.
3
Pita Pocket
Send chicken or turkey salad (made with Greek yogurt instead of mayo for a healthy alternative) in a container along with a wrapped up piece of pita bread. At school, the kids can stuff their pockets (or choose to eat them separately with a fork).
Layer a mason jar with salad stuff. Start with dressing on the bottom of the jar. Then add layers of lettuce, grated carrot, chickpeas or diced meats, and tomatoes. At school, kids can shake it up and eat it right out of the jar.
Elise Edwards began her career writing, producing and reporting for CNN. She later served as the Supervising Producer of E! Networks, “The Daily 10” and has most recently, as the mother of two young children, has been freelance writing for websites and magazines as well as her own parenting blog, LuxeAngelesMom.com. Follow her on Twitter @luxeangelesmom December 2014 | North County Kids 29
Rancho Encinitas acadEmy Excellence in Teaching • Excellence in Learning Rancho Encinitas Academy is a private school that serves students from K through grade 8. Nestled in the beautifully landscaped campus is the sister school, Edison Academy, that serves students with mild to moderate learning challenges. The mission of both programs is to nurture a student’s natural wonder and joy of learning, facilitated by a highly creative staff. Quality education at these schools prepares a student for the challenges of the future by fostering knowledge, creativity and self-reliance. There are seven separate buildings custom designed and constructed especially for the school. The campus with its architecture, landscaping, and proximity to the ocean is conducive to a safe, relaxed, and tranquil learning experience. The campus was specifically designed to reduce stress and anxiety so that a student’s focus can be on learning.
Grades K-Eight Highly Qualified Teachers Research-Based Instructional Strategies Common Core Aligned Curriculum Low Student to Teacher Ratio Emphasis on Character Building Nurturing Environment
There are spots left in our small, nurturing full day kindergarten— request a tour today!
Beautiful Natural Setting Hands-On Learning Art, Music & Spanish
Rancho Encinitas Academy • 910 Encinitas Blvd., Encinitas, CA 92024 (760) 942-2011 • www.ranchoencinitasacademy.com