Family Fun! Upcoming Events You Won't Want to Miss

We've heard about some pretty fun upcoming events and we just wanted to pass them along to you! The first one is more for little ones, but the second one would be great for some of the older kids. Enjoy!

Sing Along - Wednesday, July 23, 10am and 11am: Anna Moo will be performing at Pottery Barn Kids in St. Johns Town Center. Come and sing along and have some fun!

Kite Workshop - Saturday, July 26, 10am: Fort Clinch State Park is hosting a Kite Workshop on July 26. The program will begin with a short introduction to the history and basics of kite flying. Attendees will then have the opportunity to create their own kite and fly it on the beach. All activities are included with paid admission to the park, of $5 per vehicle. Call the park to sign up as participation is limited. 904-277-7274.

What an AMAZING Week!

Earlier this evening, I arrived back home to three sets of open arms ready for hugs after my being away since Sunday morning. Several times a year, I take a week away from the studio to go and study under some pretty amazing photographers. This past week, I was immersed in a sales & marketing class and I was so inspired and have so many incredible ideas that I can't wait to implement. We went full force for all 5 days and I can honestly say my brain hurts, but in a very good way!

We had an incredible group of about 16 in our class and I think we all learned something from each other, at least I know I learned something from each of my classmates. I made some great new friends and really just look forward to watching everyone grow after this intensive experience.

Okay, before you think that we did nothing but sit in a classroom, I just have to tell you about some of the "field trips" we made. One day was to the local mall. Cool, shopping, huh? Well, not really. We visited some stores such as Hollister, Abercrombie & Fitch, Victoria's Secret, and Origins and really got to look at how they brand their business and carry that branding through everything they do, from hangers, to packaging to the total experience.

Last night, we had an awesome field trip to the hotel's lounge to study wine labels and how the label itself, including the logo, the wine description, etc., can really tell you about the experience you may have when you open that particular brand. Cool stuff, huh? We all loved it.

What week long class wouldn't be complete without a fun celebration at the end? After the classes were over last evening, we all headed to the ball room area for a fun 70's party. There was a lot of dancing and just letting the hair down and there were quite a few people dressed up in 70's style clothing! I didn't dress up in any themed clothing, but you probably would have had a hard time pulling me off the dance floor!

And what a way to wind down each night, but to sit out on a balcony in your ocean view room while there was a full moon. Amazing. I did take some photos, but I haven't taken them off the camera yet. Tonight, I just vegged and tried to let my brain relax...plus, the season finale of Grey's Anatomy was on, and I couldn't miss that!

Family Fun - 16th Annual World of Nations Celebration

If you've never had the opportunity to attend the World of Nations Celebration at Metro Park in Jacksonville, you're missing out on a fantastic celebration! There are so many cultural things to experience, it's almost like a mini-Epcot right here in our back yard. The kids will have a lot of fun when they get their passport stamped at all the different "nations"! There are so many fun activities, great food, and it's supposed to be a beautiful weekend, so why not get out there and experience it for yourself! You won't be disappointed! Our family is going to plan to visit, and I encourage your family to check it out too! Here are the details...

Saturday May 3 and Sunday May 4 at Metropolitan Park (across from the Jaguars Stadium)

Discover the rich cultural traditions of nations and regions around the world at the World of Nations Celebration. Experience the cuisine, artistry and customs from lands near and far. Activities include Parade of Flags, Passport to the World, World of Kids Playland, and more. Prices: One day ticket $5; Two day ticket $7. Children 3 and under admitted free.

Family Fun - Celebrate Earth Day at the Jacksonville Landing

Looking for something fun to do with the kids this weekend? Stop by the Jacksonville Landing this Saturday, April 19th, from 10am – 4pm, and join kids and families all across Jacksonville in celebrating Earth Day with an Ecology Fair!

There will be more than 100 booths of learning and family fun! There will be children’s games and activities, music, face painting, prizes, educational information and two stages of live entertainment. Children’s activities include craft projects with recycled and reused materials and live animal encounters. For the adults, learn what you can to help the environment.

And best of all? Entrance and all activities are FREE!

Hope to see you there!

Our Morning Adventure

Today I took the day off from the studio to spend some time with my kiddos. This morning, my little man, Ean, and I decided to embark on the birding adventure (see next post down) at the Tillie K Fowler Regional Park. What fun it was!

There were about 20 little ones from ages 1 to 7 who came to learn a little about birds and enjoy a beautiful morning! First activity, after passing around a few feathers, was a fun Cat in the Hat story, Fine Feathered Friends: All about Birds that was read to everyone. Afterwards, each child was given a pair of "binoculars" (okay, really two toilet paper tubes taped together) to decorate with the many markers that were available. The parents then tied string to allow the binoculars to hang around the neck. We were all given an important tip on how to correctly use binoculars! What is it? Use your eyes FIRST to find the bird, and then lift your binoculars to your eyes! Makes a lot of sense rather than scanning the sky with your binoculars and not being able to see anything! We also listened to different bird sounds from those cute little stuffed birds you can find at the zoo gift store and even JoAnn's.

After we had our little lessons, we headed outside to look for birds! So, how do you make sure you can find birds when you have a whole handful of little ones? Well, you strategically hang photos of birds along the trail and then the kids can discover them as they walk along! And, the birds don't fly away as the group moves in closer! Very cool! Aside from the photos of birds, we did see a live hummingbird and a woodpecker as we walked the trail.

When we made it back to the Nature Center, we all spent some time discovering some of the amazing little creatures in there -- live snakes, mice, frogs, lizards, and many fossils, bones, skins and some taxidermy animals, too! Then, a quick peek outside through the window revealed a live raccoon walking through the garden area!

What a great morning and here are some snapshots to share! If you have the opportunity to attend this event in the future, I would highly recommend it for the kids!

Fun for the Kids! Our Feathered Friends Wee Workshop

The adventures that they have for our kiddos at the area parks are so much fun! Our family has had the opportunity to attend a few of them at the Tillie K Fowler Regional Park (formerly the Westside Regional Park) across from the main entrance of NAS Jax on Roosevelt Blvd. With it being spring break week for the kids in Duval and Clay, this is a great way to get the kids out of the house and have fun with nature! This one is for the WEE Explorers under 7 years old! Sounds fun!

WEE WORKSHOP: OUR FEATHERED FRIENDS…BIRDS!
10:30-11:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 2
Tillie K. Fowler Regional Park
7000 Roosevelt Blvd.
Calling all wee nature explorers (7 years and under) and their adult companions to join in on a search for our feathered friends…birds! Learn what makes birds special and different from other animals. Participants will decorate “binoculars,” which they will learn to use and can take home with them after the program.

Family Fun - Kids Kampus at Metropolitan Park

If you haven't yet checked out the Kid Kampus at Metropolitan Park in downtown Jacksonville, you definitely need to! The Kid Kampus is a "ten-acre recreational facility with bright, colorful, climbing, digging and sliding equipment with an educational twist." And the best part is it is FREE!!!

Set right on the St. John's River across from the Jaguars stadium, children can ride their tricycles or training wheel bikes on the roads of a miniature downtown Jacksonville, complete with miniature Jacksonville landmarks. If you don't have one of those kind of bikes, you can easily rent one for no cost! But don't try to bring in a bike for an older child (ones that are not tricycles or with training wheels) as they won't allow them for the safety of the younger kids.

Kids can also play in the sand pits, or on the large playground with lots of places to climb and play. There are plenty of benches for parents to sit and watch the kids and restrooms are right there, too. There is also a picnic pavillion and jogging trail. During the summer months, the Splash Park (May - Sept) will be open, as well.

Spring/Summer Hours: Mon-Sat, 8am-8pm; Sun, 10am-8pm. Fall/Winter Hours: Mon-Sat, 8am-6pm; Sun, 10am-6pm. (Hours subject to change due to holidays, special events and inclement weather.)

For more information, call 904-630-KIDS or visit www.coj.net

Fun for Kids - Tunnelz N' Tumblez

We were invited to a birthday party last weekend and discovered a fun place for kids to play that is not nearly as hectic as Chuck E Cheese (and much cleaner, too). It's called Tunnelz N' Tumblez and is located on Sunbeam Road in Jacksonville. They have a
a great climbing and sliding area, a really cool 9-hole indoor pirate themed miniature golf with the walls painted with phosphorescent paint and lit with black light, a laser tag area for the older kids, and a snack bar which you can order pizza and more.

This seems to be for children about two years of age or older. Parents ARE able to climb in the tunnels, too!

For more information and directions, visit their website at: www.tunnelzntumblez.com/

P.S. If you live in St. Augustine, there's a location in the St. Augustine South area!

Fun for Kids and Families

Mikkean Photography is all about family and children and we want to share with you some family and kid friendly activities and places that you might enjoy in and around the Orange Park, Flemming Island, Jacksonville and St. Augustine area! We will only recommend those of which we have first hand experience with and recommend! If you have a recommendation that you'd like us to check out, please drop us a line and let us know!