Do you have a kiddo that just loves soccer? If so you should definitely look into Challenger International Soccer Camp. Chloe loves soccer and has attended British Soccer Camps the last three summers. She is really excited to hear that this summer it will change to include elements of the TetraBrazil camp as she has never been.

Chloe has struggled a bit with her confidence both on the field and off and soccer camp has been a huge help with building her up. The coaches are amazing at all ages and levels!

Register for Challenger’s International Soccer camp & get a free international ball, t-shirt, poster, skills evaluation, new downloadable coaching app & 20 skills videos! Register 30 days before camp and qualify for a free International Game Jersey! https://bit.ly/2T6K5jK @usfgeve

Why Challenger Sports? Challenger Sports, the leading camp company in the US has launched a brand new, soccer camp that combines the most popular elements of their two camp programs, British Soccer and TetraBrazil. The all new Challenger International Soccer Camp will offer instructional camp programs for each age/ability level!

The TinyTykes program will provide 3-5 year olds with fundamental soccer activities, games, and stories, designed to enhance technical skills along with physical and social development. The Half Day Camp for 6-16 year olds is the most popular program and will provide 3 hours of skill development, games, challenges and competition each day.

Register now for Challenger’s International Soccer camp and get a free international ball, t-shirt, poster, skills evaluation and new downloadable coaching app & 20 skills videos!! Register 30 days before camp and qualify for a free International Game Jersey! Register here:
https://www.challengersports.com/international_soccer/

Click here for my reviews of the past three years that Chloe has attended soccer camp: https://www.craftymama-in-me.com/confidence-building-at-british-soccer-camp-sponsored/

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Disney on Ice – Dare to Dream Review

Last night I loaded up the mini van and headed out for a two hour road trip (each way).  I am in love with our new Honda Odyssey and taking it for its inaugural trip to see Disney on Ice proved that it will be a great family vehicle.  My mom and I chatted while the kids in the second row played games, watched DVD’s and on the way home slept.  But I digress – Disney on Ice – Dare to Dream was great!  

If you didn’t realize my love of all things Disney – I think the fact that I took a four hour round trip road trip (on a school night mind you) with a 6 year old and a 5 year old should clue you in.  We had a great time and really enjoyed the show.  I was proud of my daughter – she managed to stay awake for the whole show this year!  It’s hard for little ones who go to bed at 7pm to stay functioning through a show that doesn’t start until 7pm but they both did great (maybe the two bags of cotton candy we purchased at intermission played into that?!?)

This was our second time see a Disney on Ice production and it did not disappoint.  I think my son would have preferred a show that didn’t focus on just princesses but he watched wide eyed anyways.  

I love that both shows we have seen have been hosted by Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy – its fun to see the classic characters even if they aren’t the main performers.

The first half of the show consisted of The Princess and the Frog, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and the first part of Cinderella.  Take a peek at quick video I took below (find more on my Facebook page here):

The second half finished the story of Cinderella and featured Tangled.  I have decided after two shows that I LOVE the finale and in my opinion it is the best part of each show (but I guess that’s what a finale by definition is supposed to be right?).

This was my moms first Disney on Ice experience and she enjoyed it – her favorite part of the performance was Tangled.  Boo Boo loved Cinderella as that is her favorite princess.  I wager that Buddy’s favorite was Tangled as well as it had a lot of action (what boy doesn’t love sword fights and ice skating horses?!?).  

I highly recommend attending one of the upcoming showings of Dare to Dream in Portland (see dates and times below) or checking the Disney on Ice website for a show near you.

Disney on Ice presents Dare to Dream

Disney On Ice presents Dare to Dream Takes Adventure to New Lengths with Magical Moments from Disney’s Newest Fairytales and Timeless Classics.

Feld Entertainment’s Exciting Disney On Ice Production is a Celebration of Royal Proportions featuring Tangled, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, The Princess and the Frog and Cinderella.

Join Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald and Goofy as they follow four of Disney’s most inspirational princesses on their adventures to fulfill their dreams in Feld Entertainment’s newest ice spectacular, Disney On Ice presents Dare to Dream. Combining the contemporary stories of two modern-day princesses, Rapunzel and Tiana, with the classic elegance of Cinderella and Snow White, Dare to Dream whisks audiences away on exciting journeys where dreams really do come true.  

Portland, Maine Showings

Friday, January 6th at 7pm

Saturday, January 7th at 11am, 3pm, and 7pm

Sunday, January 8th at 11am and 3pm

Tickets for Disney On Ice presents Dare to Dream are available at a family-friendly price, starting at $15.00 for select shows! Restrictions, exclusions and additional charges may apply. All seats are reserved, and tickets are available by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000, or at the Trusted Choice Box Office at Cross Insurance Arena. For group rates, call 207-791-2223.

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Monster Jam Review

Are you looking for a fun family adventure?  I don’t know that previously I would have put Monster Jam in my category of “Must-do” but after seeing my first Monster Jam show last night I think I’m hooked!  This is coming from a mom who isn’t into cars or anything like that but I really enjoyed watching the Monster Trucks perform!  Read on for in my Monster Jam review to see what my favorite part of the night was (hint…if you follow me on Instagram you probably already know!!).

We arrived a few minutes last as we attended my son’s pre-k rainbow celebration (pretty much a year end concert/graduation ceremony).  We rushed to park, pick up our tickets and find seats.  We arrived just in time to see the wheelie contest.  I honestly didn’t know what to expect from a Monster Truck show and was quickly impressed!  I never knew the trucks could go so high in the air or do such crazy maneuvers!

There were judges for each contest but I honestly didn’t pay much attention to the scores – I was too busy being awed by the trucks.  I took more videos than pictures honestly because I was so excited while watching!  

A few trucks flipped in the wheelie contest or got stuck on their bottoms – it was really cool to see the tractors and other equipment come rushing out to flip them back over.  See one of my videos below.

 

A video posted by Shannon Arce (@craftymamainme) on Jun 3, 2016 at 4:39pm PDT

Next we saw some four wheelers race and then headed to an intermission.  I’ve got to tell you the other amazing thing I found about this event – the lines were shorter for the women’s room then the men’s!!!  Where does that ever happen?!?!  At Monster Jam!

After the intermission we headed back and they started the donut contest – if you had already been following me on Instagram you would know that this was my favorite part of the night!  I captured my kids favorite truck – Scooby Doo on video and share it below.  It was amazing how fast they could spin and that their wheels would even lift right up off the ground (I honestly questioned how the drivers could spin that quickly and not get sick – they must have some trick!).  

 

A video posted by Shannon Arce (@craftymamainme) on Jun 3, 2016 at 5:20pm PDT

The finale of the show was a freestyle competition – the trucks could basically do whatever they wanted and whoever had the best run according to the judges was named the winner.  I liked this round as the trucks combined a bunch of tricks, most included jumping and wheelies and some even included my personal favorite – donuts!  The drivers really went all out to put on a great show.  After all of the drivers finished their freestyle run the winner was named – it was Grave Digger!  All of the trucks came out for a victory lap which you can see below.

 

A video posted by Shannon Arce (@craftymamainme) on Jun 3, 2016 at 7:21pm PDT

The trucks stayed parked on the track after the victory lap so I got a few cool pictures.  Of course the family favorite is of Scooby Doo!

After the show we stayed to get autographs from the drivers.  Boo Boo only wanted El Toro Loco and Scooby Doo and was really suprised to learn that both drivers were women (Girl Power!!).  Buddy got signatures from all of the drivers.  

The kids had a great time and both my husband and myself were thoroughly entertained.  We had a great night out as a family.  If you have a chance to go see Monster Jam I would definitely recommend it.

***I am a Feld Family Ambassador, and in exchange for my time and efforts in attending shows and reporting my opinion within this blog, as well as keeping you advised of the latest discount offers, Feld Entertainment has provided me with complimentary tickets to Feld shows and opportunities to attend private Feld pre-Show events.***

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Cirque Du Soleil OVO Review

Are you looking for an immersive performance in your local area? Look no further than Cirque Du Soleil OVO! We attended last night and really enjoyed the show.  From the moment you walked into the auditorium from the corridors in the Cross Insurance Center you could tell you had entered a different environment. The sounds of crickets and bugs were piped in through the sound system, the lights were dim and it felt like we had been transformed into bugs ourselves and were entering their world!  Read on for more of my Cirque Du Soleil OVO Review.

The Show

Rush Headlong into a New Ecosystem

OVO is teeming with life. Insects work, play, fight and look for love in a non-stop riot of energy in motion. Their home is filled with biodiversity and beauty filled with noisy action and moments of quiet emotion. When a mysterious egg appears in their midst, the insects are awestruck and intensely curious about this iconic object that represents the enigma and cycles of their lives. It’s love at first sight when a gawky, quirky insect arrives in this bustling community and a fabulous ladybug catches his eye – and the feeling is mutual. OVO is overflowing with contrasts. The hidden, secret world at our feet is revealed as tender and torris, noisy and quiet, peaceful and chaotic. And as the sun rises on a bright new day the vibrant cycle of insect life begins anew. The name OVO means “egg” in Portuguese. This timeless symbol of the life cycle and birth of numerious insects represents the underlying thread of the show. Graphically, OVO hides an insect in its name: The two “Os” represent the eyes while the letter “V” forms the nose. 

I attended the show with my husband and parents – we had contemplated taking the kids but with a start time of 7:30 pm and a bedtime of 7 pm we figured that would lead to disaster!  It was nice having a adult only night out  We arrived roughly 30 minutes before the start of show and headed to our seats – we were in Section 105, Row L and had a great view of the stage (see the seating map here).

As with most stage productions the show was broken into two acts.  Cirque Du Soleil is like no other performance in my book – it combines music and amazing feats of acrobatics in a seamless theater production that keeps you involved throughout the entire show.  I was amazed by the performers and their obvious prowess at the acts they performed.  

The first act was slower paced and while still amazing it was thoroughly out shined by the second act in my opinion. 

The second act was faster paced and had some of my favorite Cirque show attributes.  I absolutely love the performers that bounce off the trampolines and run back up the wall – I find it amazing!

The finale was loud and vibrant and brought all the performers together.  I loved the confetti flying through the air and lighting that made it look like gold flakes flying!  I somehow ended up with a few good pictures of the finale as well so that made me very happy!

I would definitely attend another Cirque du Soleil traveling show.  I think it is great that they found a way to make their show mobile to provide the opportunity for some many people to experience it even in small areas like Bangor, Maine.   I can’t wait until the kids are bigger and I can take them as I think they would be amazed!  We had a great time and I would definitely recommend the show to anyone!

If you want to see more take a look at the official trailer for OVO below.

***Disclosure:  I received tickets to this event to promote it.  No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.***

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We attended the 2015-16 Harlem Globetrotters World Tour 90th Year Celebration at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine on March 15th.  It was an amazing show that entertained both young and old alike!  I had never seen the Globetrotters before and had no idea of exactly what to expect.  The interaction between the Globetrotters and the audience was amazing and highly entertaining.

The game started at 7pm – we were in our seats at roughly 6:45 and the crowd was already immersed!  The announcer kept the show running and entertaining.  The Globetrotters were amazing – they dance, they act, and they are great at basketball.  From the beginning the rivalry between the two teams was made known by the actions of the opposing teams coach.

 

Wow! #globetrotters #cicglobbies

A video posted by (@craftymamainme) on Mar 15, 2016 at 4:56pm PDT

When the Globetrotters came onto the court the fun began – they perform amazing synchronized plays and dances with ease.  The crowd interaction is high as they bring children and adults out onto the court to help with various aspects of the show.  The music kept the audience pumped up and played along with the action happening on the court.

As an Amazing Race fan I was excited to see that Big Easy was on the court!  I thought he was hilarious on the tv show and he didn’t disappoint at the game.

I worried that my kids would lose interest as the game started at 7pm and they are usually in bed at that time.  I worried for nothing as they enjoyed the entire game (except maybe halftime as there wasn’t anything happening on the court).  

 

Globetrotters win! #globetrotters #cicglobbies

A video posted by (@craftymamainme) on Mar 15, 2016 at 5:56pm PDT

I would definitely recommend watching the Harlem Globetrotters!  It was a great family night out.  We got to bond over funny antics and cotton candy

***Disclosure: I received tickets to this event to promote it. No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.***

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Hands-on History at the Bangor Historical Society

If you are a history buff or just a parent looking for something educational to do with your kids on the weekend keep reading.  The new program – Hands-On History at the Bangor Historical Society is a treat!  You can check it out monthly – it is held the second Saturday of the month from 10:00-11:30am at the Hill House in Bangor (159 Union Street).  The cost is $5.00 per child or free for up to two children with a membership.  The kids and I attended this month and had a great time learning about and creating Victorian Valentines.

The February event description was as follows:

Children will get a chance to get an up-close look at vintage Valentines from our collection, learn about Esther Howland, a business pioneer known as the “Mother of the American Valentine,” and make an Esther Howland-style card themselves. 

Upon arriving at the Hill House we were greeted by the staff for the event.  Amanda, the Children’s Education Program Coordinator made us feel welcome and showed us where to hang coats.  Next she got the kids settled drawing pictures that they thought represented Valentine’s Day.  When everyone arrived we went on a brief tour of the house.  Amanda did a great job of relating the tour to the kids and answering their questions.

After the tour Amanda explained some history of Valentine’s day and spoke about Esther Howland.  If you don’t know who Esther Howland is you should research her story – it is quite remarkable for the time.  Then Amanda showed the kids some Victorian Valentines that were in the Bangor Historical Society archives.  She asked the kids to talk about what they saw and how they were similar and different.  

After the history lesson the kids set out to make their own Victorian Valentines.  The craft supplies included card stock, doilies, stamps, markers, stickers, fancy paper, printed Victorian images and much more.  The kids were instructed that they could make one Valentine to take home and then they could make more to be delivered to the residents at a nursing home in Orono.  

The kids worked diligently and created some beautiful cards.  There were a few older girls that really had the Victorian style down.  The younger kids used some of the ideas but mostly created Valentine’s in their own unique styles.

The group was small and that allowed the kids to share the materials with ease and have plenty of space to work on their own cards.  I think the event was a lot of fun and educational for me as well as the kids.  The staff was very helpful and provided support to the kids if needed while they are working.  

I would highly recommend a visit to one of the future events provided by Hands-On History at the Bangor Historical Society.  

For additional information about Hands-On History events visit the Bangor Historical Society online here.

For Hands-on History events and many more make sure you are following along with Crafty Mama in ME by clicking below:

***We received complimentary admission to the event.  All opinions are my own***

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Treworgy Family Orchards

I’ll say it again – I love fall!  The cooler nights, the chilly mornings, the beautiful leaves, pumpkin and apple picking, Halloween, and the list goes on…

This past weekend my family had the distinct pleasure of being guests at Treworgy Family Orchards.  We got to the farm at 1oam when it opened and didn’t leave until after 2pm.  We had a blast!

If you aren’t familiar with Treworgy Family Orchards and you live in Central Maine you are missing out.  The farm is located in Levant – roughly 10 minutes outside of Bangor.   Visit the Treworgy Family Orchards website for additional information.

Treworgy Family Orchards has a lot do year round but fall certainly provides a host of family friendly activities:

• Petting Zoo
• Ice Cream
• Maine Farm Gift Shop
• Pick-Your-Own Raspberries
• Corn Maze
• Pick-Your-Own Apples (4 varieties to choose from)
• Pick-Your-Own Pumpkins
• Horse-Drawn Farm Tours (Weekends only)
• Tractor Hayrides (Thurs-Sun)
• Orchard Cafe
• Orchard Folk Concert Series (find the schedule here)

Our Visit

Petting Zoo

When you arrive at Treworgy you park (if you get there early on the weekend) right up front by the farm stand and the animals.  My kids were very excited to pet the goats and feed them (make sure you have quarters so your kids can get food from the machines).  This year there was also a bunny and the kiddos were excited to pet it.  They pet the goats while I got the tickets to the corn maze (and after ice cream and again before we left!).

Corn Maze

The Corn Maze was our first destination this year – after we got our tickets we headed right down to get started.  You can find more information on the Treworgy website about the corn maze here.  This year the theme is Edwin the Elephant’s Exciting Escapade.

There are 6 check points in the maze.  As you travel through the maze you will punch off the clues on the bottom of your ticket until you are left with the location of Edwin.  This year my mom and I let the kids lead – they had a blast (other then when they were fighting about who’s turn it was to lead).  I think we may have walked around the entire maze a few times but it was all in fun.

If the fun of doing a corn maze doesn’t win you over – how about a corn maze and a free ice cream?  I personally would do the corn maze anyways but I love ice cream so that definitely sweetens the pot for me!

Tractor Hayrides

We always enjoy a hayride.  This year after the corn maze we walked down by the pond where there the big pumpkin stand is (and overflow parking) and waited for the tractor to come by.  We rode up past the apple orchard to the main entrance to enjoy an ice cream.  In the past years we used the tractor a lot as the kids got tired much faster and the hayrides were a novel way to get around.

Ice Cream

After our hayride we stopped for ice cream!  We turned our corn maze tickets in and all received an ice cream.  With your ticket you can get a standard chocolate, vanilla or twist cone or dish.  You can also come to Treworgy’s just for ice cream – their stand offers 25 flavors of soft serve and 16 flavors of hard serve.

Pick-Your-Own Apples

After ice cream (and petting the goats again of course!) we headed back down to the apple orchards to pick some apples.  The picking was great.  The trees provide ample picking up higher for adults and plenty of opportunities for children to pick from lower branches.  We ended up bringing home two pecks – one of McIntosh and one of Cortlands and they are both delicious!  The 2015 price for pick-your-own apples is $1.30/lb.

Horse-Drawn Farm Tours

The kids were excited to head out for the Horse-Drawn farm tour.  It was interesting to learn that Fred and Fran (the Belgan-Suffolk draft horses pulling the wagon) are twins.  The ride around the farm was something we hadn’t done before and it offered some different views and information we hadn’t heard before.  Our tour guide and driver were both very knowledgeable and willing to answer any questions we had.  I found it very exciting to hear that they will be offering horse drawn wagon/sled rides during the Christmas season this year (weather permitting).

Pick-Your-Own Pumpkins

We saved the best for last – at least in my opinion.  I love picking pumpkins and have ever since I was little.  The challenge of finding the one pumpkin that is just perfect for you!  Buddy decided he wanted a traditional orange pumpkin and searched a few minutes before he declared he found “the one”.

Boo Boo decided that she wanted a ghost pumpkin this year so off we marched with our wagon in tow to that section of the pumpkin patch.  She found a pumpkin at the end of the row that had been abandoned (it is missing its stem) and immediately said she wanted it.  I told her to look at a few more before she made up her mind but she was firm that the first one she saw was it.  Back we walked to pick up the biggest pumpkin I’ve ever personally held.

The walk back up the lawn (and hill) to the car was a bit difficult with our wagon loaded down with two large pumpkins and two pecks of apples.  Finally we got the system down – my mom and I pulling in the front and the kids pushing from behind (I may or may not have ran Buddy over a little bit before we figured it out…ooops )  We delivered our goods to the car and went back out to purchase some baked goods and gourds.

Farm Stand/Orchard Cafe

My mom wanted to buy some gourds for her house and I let the kids each pick one small gourd to paint.  The 2015 pricing was as follows:

• Small Gourds – $1.00 each
• Large Gourds – $0.60/lb
• All Squash – $1.00/lb
• All Pumpkins – $0.60/lb

Next we headed over to buy some amazing homemade Apple Cider Doughnuts – you can watch them be made through a window (the kids loved that).  They also had pumpkin chocolate whoopie pies (we had to buy one) and fresh apple cider for purchase.

Orchard Folk Concert Series

Before we headed out for the day we stopped to listen to Sassafras Stomp for a few minutes. They sounded great and the lively folk music provided an extra air of magic to the day.  You can find more information about the performers here.

We had a blast at Treworgy’s Family Orchard and were so glad to be invited out to experience all they had to offer.  I know that we will continue going to visit them every fall.  Feel free to share pictures of your visits with me on Facebook!

Check out the giveaway I have running for tickets to the Corn Maze at Treworgy’s here:

 ***My family and I received admission to the corn maze, a horse drawn farm tour, two pick your own pumpkins, and two pecks of pick your own apples.  All opinions expressed and pictures are mine.***

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Bangor State Fair 2015 Review #BSF15

***Disclosure: I received a family four pack of tickets to this event to promote it. No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.***

The kids and I had been eagerly waiting for the fair to start so its no surprise that we attended on opening day!  With younger kids we usually plan to head to the fair on a weekday when it opens.  A) that provides us with a longer time to have fun before bedtime and B) it gets us out of the fair before the teenagers take over!!

The fair opened at 2pm and we headed in around 3pm.  We parked on the infield for $7, there was also an option of VIP parking for $10 or you could try to find street parking or someone selling parking in their yard.  When we paid for our parking we received our admission bracelets as well (click here for admission prices).

We walked straight across the infield to the entrance and headed in for some fun!  We decided to head straight up to the agricultural part of the fair first. The kids (and me!) love to see the animals.

On our way we saw The Santa Croce band performing – they sounded great but the kiddos were not stopping.  The next thing we encountered was the Great Maine Lumberjack Show – the kiddos did sit down for about 5 minutes of that show.  We were impressed with what we saw!

After that we finished our walk to the agricultural area.  We started in the Backyard Circus area and saw some pretty awesome animals!  Next we moved on to the rabbit tent – we had been talking about getting a bunny so we spent a lengthy amount of time visiting.  We moved on to see the cows and then Old McDonald’s Farm.

When we finished with the barns the kids were dying to go on some rides.  One of our favorites things about the Bangor State Fair is that you get unlimited access to the rides with your wristband.  At most other local fairs you have to buy tickets and that can end up being really costly with kids that want to go on every ride multiple times.  Its nice to not have to say no and just really enjoy our time.

The kids went from one end of the fair to the other going on rides over and over again if they liked them as there were no lines.  Around 5:30 we stopped and had dinner and around that time the crowd starting picking up.  There still weren’t any lines at the little kid rides but the other rides were starting to get much busier (the teenagers had arrived!).

The kids went on some more rides and we headed out towards the exit to buy some cotton candy for the kids and a doughboy for me!  I shared with hubby but he only had a few bites so mostly it was my delectable treat

We headed for the car with treats in hand when Hubby said “I can’t believe we are leaving without a bunny”.  I stopped and asked “you really wanted one??  If so we can go back and look and get one”.  So off we trekked back to the rabbit tent and about an hour later we headed out with a beautiful 3-1/2 month old Holland Lop Tort doe that we named Clover.

So all and all our fair experience was awesome!  We had a ton of great family fun.  It’s fun to look back on our memories of past years and how much the kids change from summer to summer.  We used to have to go on the rides with them and now they both can go on pretty much all of them without us.  Its so fun to see them venture out.

The weather was beautiful when we visited on Friday – it was hot but there was a steady breeze and some clouds that provided occasional shade.  Much better than the previous year when it was hot without any clouds or breeze.

The Bangor State Fair is a summertime favorite for our family and it did not disappoint this year.  We make great memories that last for years to come and this year we even came home with a new member of our family!  The Bangor State Fair is a great time to get out and enjoy the animals, the rides, the midway games and the yummy fair food!

The fair runs this year until August 9th – find more information by clicking below:

***Disclosure: I received a family four pack of tickets to this event to promote it. No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.***

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***Disclosure:  I received a family four pack of tickets to this event to promote it.  No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.***

Disney Live! Three Classic Fairy Tales Review

Friday night I took the kiddos and Gramie to see the Disney Live! show.  The show was a surprise for the kids and they were so happy!!  After their quiet time I helped Boo Boo get dressed in her Cinderella costume and Buddy get dressed in his Captain Hook costume.  I wish I could have known what they were thinking as we drove to the Cross Insurance Center.  I figured they would ask a ton of questions but they really didn’t.

We arrived at the Cross Center and parked.  We walked down to the building amid a sea of princesses.  Once inside we stopped at the box office and got our tickets.  Our seats were in Section 110, Row K, Seats 1-4.  They were dead center and an awesome view for the show.

image from Cross Insurance Center website

After we got situated in our seats the show started.  The show started with Goofy.  The kids were so happy to see the classic Disney characters!  Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy served as the narrators of the entire show tying the different fairy tales together.  Each section of the show was sort of like a cliff notes version of the fairy tale.

The first fairy tale we visited was Snow White.  Buddy said this was his favorite (he specifically liked the Evil Queen!).  The kids were riveted in their seats with gaping mouths at some of the special effects.

The second fairy tale was Cinderella.  This was Boo Boo’s favorite (no surprise here as Cinderella has always been her favorite princess).  Half way through this fairy tale there was an intermission and we got up and got the kids both a bag of cotton candy (I would have gotten just one to share but they came with a crown with Mickey ears and I was avoiding that fight at all costs!).  After a quick bathroom break we returned to our seats and to see Cinderella’s happy ending!

The third fairy tale was Beauty and the Beast.  This was Gramie’s favorite (she loves the show at Hollywood Studios so this reminded her of that).

The finale showed all of the princesses with their princes and Mickey and Minnie in ball gowns dancing.  This was my favorite part – I love Disney happy endings!  The show was perfect for kids as young as pre-schoolers in my mind.  It was fast paced enough that they didn’t get bored and the special effects really kept them entertained.

After the show we were given the opportunity to meet Cinderella!  This was an optional upgrade on the tickets that you could purchase.  I was so excited to have a chance to do this as Boo Boo loves Cinderella more than any other Disney character.  It was quite magical to meet Cinderella in person and a great photo opp!  This upgrade would be a must for any princess loving little girl.

This slide show contains photos that I took during the show (sorry if they aren’t the best – holding a 3 year old and taking pictures is a challenge!)

[slideshow_deploy id=’1037′]

As you all know I’m a Disney nut – I love just about everything Disney.  Would I recommend this show?  Yes – I definitely would.  Up here in Maine it ends up being quite a costly venture to head to Florida to visit Disney World and this show offers a bit of that magic in our neck of the woods.

I was so happy to have the opportunity to share about the show on my blog and to give away tickets to one of my readers.  I know that Jamie and her family enjoyed the show and meeting Cinderella after.  Many thanks to Feld Management for this opportunity to show my #DisneySide!

 image courtesy of Jamie – the winner of my ticket giveaway!

***Disclosure:  I received a family four pack of tickets to this event to promote it.  No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.***

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We live less than 5 minutes from the mountain and have talked about it since we moved home but kids are supposed to be 3 or older so we hadn’t made it.  Buddy turned 3 in the fall so it was perfect.  We got there and there were quite a few cars already in the lot but most were parents of kids taking ski lessons.  We paid for our tubing passes ($12 per person – even kids – which I think is a bit pricey, but we will probably only do it once a season so we splurged).  My husband got our lift tickets on our jackets (I’ve never going skiing in my life so I had no idea how to do it!).

Once we had our lift passes on we walked outside the lodge to the left where the tubes are kept.

We started with three tubes as Buddy was scared to go by himself – by the end he was riding by himself and loving it!

After we grabbed the tubes we headed for the lift.  You hand the ring from your tube to the operator and they connect it to the lift and up you ride (you can also walk if you choose).

Once at the top you could pick one of three runs, line up as instructed holding onto your groups tubes and head down the mountain.

We went down a ton of times and had a blast.  We did get tired (little legs – lots of walking) after about an hour and headed into the lodge to get a snack and drink and couldn’t as the snack bar doesn’t take cards and the ATM wasn’t working.  My husband asked for a glass of tap water as there wasn’t even a water fountain and was turned away.  Next time we go we will know that and either bring cash or a cooler with our own food and drinks (as many of the other patrons did).

Overall a good time and awesome family winter activity.  I would highly recommend it but wish it was a little more affordable so we could visit more often.  Check them out on the web at:

Hermon Mountain Website

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