Corn Maze in The Plains

This past Saturday night I went to the Corn Maze in The Plains located in The Plains, Virginia. I had never been to a corn maze before, although I had been to numerous pumpkin patches so I was excited. I went with a group of friends and it was the perfect fall night a.k.a. we all bundled up in sweaters, sweatshirts and vests. We all paid our admission, got our tickets and went in to get our “Corientation” (this was the explanation of the maze theme, rules and description of stations we would go to, to find our way out). While the stalks of corn weren’t as tall as I had expected (due to the lack of rain this past summer) it was dark enough that you could still end up getting lost.

After you finished the maze, you could enjoy the various slides they had (which I did), pet goats and see chickens and sit by the fire and roast marshmallows. They had s’more kits you could buy and warm apple cider. The cider was great on such a chilly evening. The biggest laughs of the night came from kids getting into giant plastic tubes and being pushed down a hill. I marveled at all the things you could do and how it was truly for all ages.

A corn maze is the perfect seasonal activity for this time of the year. I’m already trying to figure out how to go to another one and see what that one is like. There are so many different mazes and pumpkin patches in the area, I could never go to all of them. So I encourage anyone who hasn’t gone to one to try it this season. Maybe you can start a new tradition this year. Check out the list we have on www.washingtonFAMILY.com and plan a day or night out with the family!

The Golden Rule

In our September issue of FAMILY Magazine, there’s an article where moms tell us the core values they live by. It was an interesting read since it came directly from our readers. The one that spoke the loudest to me was Jan’s, “Treat others the way you want to be treated no matter what.” That statement was the foundation of how my parents raised my sister and I. Sometimes our culture (especially around here) can be very competitive and me-oriented, but my parents always made sure that my sister and I knew how lucky we were and instilled in us a want to help others. They were a great example as to how to give back and how to treat other people. They didn’t have to tell us what to do; their actions said it all.

Because of this upbringing, my biggest core value is helping others. I have felt compelled to help others locally, nationally & internationally. Three weeks ago I had the opportunity to travel to Brazil and helped with the building of a church. When the opportunity presented itself, I had no hesitation. I knew that it was something I wanted to be a part of. Sometimes you never realize that the person who’s receiving the largest impact is yourself.

Here at FAMILY Magazine, we want to know what values you cherish. Send your core values to tellus@thefamilymagazine.net or write on our Facebook wall at http://www.facebook.com/FAMILYMAGAZINE.

Helping Others by Shopping

Getting the kids ready for going back to school can be a stressful time. There’s a lot to do; shopping for new clothes, getting reading lists done, making sure that the kids have all their supplies to start the year off right. In our fast paced area, we can get wrapped up with our to-do lists and forget to think about those in need. With economy the way it is, many kids are starting the year not knowing if they’ll have the supplies they need for school. You can help by donating school supplies to one of the many drives going on throughout the area. Check out the links below for more information. If you know of another drive going on, please send me the information at resources@theFAMILYmagazine.com.


http://bagitforward.org/
http://www.dosomething.org/dosomething101/home
http://www.gazette.net/stories/07282010/montsch114312_32534.php
http://activerain.com/blogsview/1706200/prince-william-county-va-back-to-school-supply-drive
http://www.facetscares.org/donate/SchoolSupplyFlyer2010.pdf
https://www.applefcu.org/StufftheBus.asp
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/studentaffairs/sao/supplies/

Fun at the KidSpy Fiction Writer’s Workshop

This past weekend I had the privilege of attending the KidSpy Fiction Writer’s Workshop, which was held at the International Spy Museum. The event was put together with author Jennifer Allison discussing how to get started writing a Spy novel and her own process for creating her beloved character Gilda Joyce. She spent about seven months researching at the International Spy Museum for her book, Gilda Joyce: The Dead Drop.

The sold-out event consisted of free-writing with the assistance of character, setting and plot outlines and prompts to create a character for their very own spy story. The children were placed into groups and had a team leader to help them with the process. My favorite part was when the kids were given the opportunity to go to three stations where they selected pictures of spy gadgets, pictures of settings their character would fit into and dress up like their character. The program was so involved that the kids even got to go on a spy mission as their characters. I only wish I had the opportunity to do this when I was their age!

Jennifer was incredibly accessible throughout the entire event. Listening and offering advice when asked, signing books and even participating in the mission with one of the teams. If you’re planning to go to the International Spy Museum any time in the near future I would definitely go to Jennifer’s website at www.gildajoyce.com and print out Gilda’s Guide to the International Spy Museum. And while you’re there check out Gilda’s blog for tips for aspiring writers.

The International Spy Museum has great events like this once a month. Make sure to check out their website www.spymuseum.org for more details.

Looking for a free dinner?

Are you tired of cooking and eating in? Worried about spending a fortune on going out to eat? Sometimes restaurants can be a pricey option for a lot of families. Well you’re in luck! There are a large number of restaurants in the area that have Kids Eat Free options. Check out the February Web Extras for our list. If you know of a place not listed please send me the information at Resources@theFAMILYmagazine.com.

Need Plans for Valentine’s Day?

What are you doing this Valentine’s Day? This area has great events both on Valentine’s Day and in the days leading up to it. If you’re looking for something that’s a little different this year check out the list of events, Valentine cruises and weekend getaways in February’s Web Extras that are sure to be both fun and romantic. If you know of any events that I’ve missed please send me the information at Resources@theFAMILYmagazine.com. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Fun Activities for Winter

This winter has been one of the snowiest winters that I can remember. The first thing I think about when I hear the word snow is all the fun activities that go along with the wintry weather: ice skating, building snowmen, snowball fights, skiing, sledding, etc. This winter is a great time to get the family out of the house and enjoy the cold. This month with have a list of places to go ice skating and skiing around the area. So spend an afternoon skating on an outdoor rink or take a weekend getaway to a ski lodge. If you know of a fun place that’s missing from the list please email me the information at Resources@theFAMILYmagazine.com