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Planning on going to the movies anytime soon?  I’m sure you’ve heard of Disney’s new movie Wreck It Ralph that has just hit the movie theatres, just in time for the Thanksgiving holidays.  From our preview screeners, we hear it is a fun family film and the kids really enjoyed it.  Disney has generously provided some fun activity pages which are included below.  But first … here’s a little info about the movie.

From Walt Disney Animation Studios and Emmy®-winning director Rich Moore comes “Wreck-It Ralph,” a hilarious, arcade-game-hopping adventure. For decades, Ralph (voice of John C. Reilly) has been overshadowed by Fix-It Felix, Jr. (voice of Jack McBrayer), the good-guy star of their game who always gets to save the day. Tired of playing the role of a bad guy, Ralph takes matters into his own massive hands and sets off on a journey across the arcade through multiple generations of video games to prove he’s got what it takes to be a hero.

On his quest, Ralph meets tough-as-nails Sergeant Calhoun (voice of Jane Lynch) from the first-person action game Hero’s Duty, and feisty misfit Vanellope von Schweetz (voice of Sarah Silverman) from the candy-coated cart-racing game Sugar Rush, who may just be his first real friend. But everything changes when a deadly enemy is unleashed, threatening the entire arcade and Vanellope herself. Ralph finally gets his chance to save the day—but can he do it in time? Rated PG by the MPAA, “Wreck-It Ralph” crashes onto the big screen on November 2, 2012, in Disney Digital 3D™ in select theaters. For more information, visit Disney.com/wreck-it-ralph, like us on Facebook: facebook.com/WreckItRalph and follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/disneyanimation.

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We love Holiday music and so many times, I’ve been disappointed when I chose a random Holiday music CD.  But now I have a new favorite … Tim Miller’s Big Band has just released the new Holiday CD “An Angel City Christmas“  There are Christmas favorites for everyone … from beautiful ballads to swinging holiday classics.  These big band renditions will brighten your holiday season.  You won’t be disappointed with this purchase!

A delightful Big Band compilation of holiday favorites! From the beautiful voice of Grammy-nominated Bonnie Bowden to the exciting rich sounds of the Angel City Big Band this CD is sure to brighten your holiday season. Included are familiar song titles and some of the most beautiful and exciting arrangements available today – a fresh new album to enjoy the holidays.

The Angel City Big Band is a 17-piece big band ensemble with vocalists that has been performing in Los Angeles since 2009 under the direction of Tim Miller. The band’s extensive library of arrangements formerly belonged to The Herm Miller Orchestra that operated in central Pennsylvania since the early 1950’s under the direction of Tim’s father, Herm Miller. The band specializes in classic jazz and dance music of the Big Band Era, from Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Count Basie etc., to the wide range of sophisticated contemporary big band sounds, as well as more modern swing jazz music. It also specializes in ballroom dance styles seen on Dancing With the Stars including Swing, Cha Cha, Rumba, Tango, Samba, Waltz, Foxtrot and more.

From the Angel City Big Band

A food allergy is when your body has a reaction to a certain food. This reaction is caused by your body’s immune system, which is what protects you from diseases. You might have a minor reaction (for example, hives or itchy skin or lips). You could also have a more serious reaction (for example, your throat or tongue may swell, or you may feel dizzy, get sick to your stomach, or vomit). Some reactions can be life threatening.

Who gets them?

They are more common in babies, but children and adults can also have them. You are more likely to have a food allergy if you or a family member has had hay fever, asthma, food allergies, or eczema (ECK-zeh-mah).

Which foods cause them?

Any food can cause an allergy. But, children are most likely to be allergic to cow’s milk, wheat, eggs, peanuts, and soy products (for example, tofu). Adults are most likely to be allergic to peanuts, tree nuts (for example, Brazil nuts), shellfish (for example, shrimp, crab, and lobster), and fish.

How do I know if I have one?

Talk to your doctor. If your doctor thinks you have an allergy, he or she may do blood or skin tests. You may need to see a doctor who specializes in allergies for more testing or treatment.

What should I do if I have a food allergy?

Check the labels of all foods to see if they contain foods you are allergic to. You should also use separate utensils to prepare your food. If you are allergic to eggs, you should avoid pastries, cakes, cookies, and egg substitutes. If you are allergic to milk, you should avoid dairy products (for example, cheese, butter, some margarines, and yogurt). If you are allergic to soy, you should avoid soy sauce, soy protein, and tofu. If you are allergic to peanuts, you should avoid peanuts and peanut oil, which is used to make some foods. You should also avoid sundaes, pastries, and candies that have nuts.

Can I still eat at restaurants if I have a food allergy?

Yes, but you should avoid sauces, casserole dishes, desserts, stuffed meat, and fish dishes. Try to order simple foods, such as meat slices in their own juice or steamed vegetables. You should ask the server about what is in the food and how the food is made.

What do I do if I have an allergic reaction?

Your doctor can give you a shot of adrenaline (called epinephrine) if you have a bad reaction. If you have bad reactions, you need to carry these shots with you. You should also wear a medical identification bracelet that describes your allergy. If you have a minor reaction, such as a rash or itchy skin, you can take medicine to help with your symptoms.

What should I do if I am going to be far from my doctor’s office or hospital?

If someone else will be doing the cooking, be sure to tell him or her what foods you are allergic to. You may also want to teach a friend, relative, or co-worker how to give you an epinephrine shot in case of an emergency. If you have a bad allergic reaction, you should go to the emergency department of a hospital right away, even if you feel better after an epinephrine shot. If you are really far from the hospital, you may need more than one shot. Be sure to carry a couple of shots with you, depending on how far you are from the nearest hospital.

Dr Sonia Kapoor, MD has a family practice in Chesapeake,Virginia and sees patients from all age groups, her special interests include health issues of women and children and an emphasis on patient education.

We enjoy creating new recipes, especially ones that the kids will eat.  And making dinner meals that kids will eat is often a challenge for mom and dad with all the things busy parents have to do.  One of our favorite quick and easy meals, that the kids enjoy, are these mini crabcakes.  Sometimes we also use packaged salmon and make salmon cakes instead.  Both are healthy options to serve some good protein and the kids can even help make the meal.

We serve these tasty little crabcakes with kiwi and a dollop of Dijon sauce.

Ingredients:

8 ounces crab meat

2 tsp Dijon mustard

1 tsp mayo, reduced fat

2 tbsp crushed pineapple

2 tbsp bread crumbs

½ tsp Old Bay seasoning

1 egg

½ tsp lemon juice

Dash of lemon zest

Dash of salt

Dash of pepper

Bread Crumb Mixture:

Bread crumbs

Old Bay seasoning

Salt

Pepper

What to Do:

Mix all ingredients and shape into patties.  Mix bread crumb mixture and dip crabcakes, coating on both sides. Spray skillet with non-stick coating and heat on medium.  Lightly brown crabcakes on each side, approximately 2 minutes per side until cooked through.

Serve with slices of kiwi or pineapple and a dollop of honey Dijon mustard sauce.

Kristin Fitch & Sharon Pierce McCullough

More kid-friendly foods

We love making craft projects using recycled household items.  This is a fun and easy Halloween craft project that kids can help make.

For complete directions for this Halloween craft.

Fall planetarium programs begin Oct. 1

The Abbitt Planetarium is presenting three shows Oct. 1 – Nov. 20: “Zula Patrol” at 12:30pm (Wed. – Sun.), “IBEX” at 1:30pm (Wed. – Sun.) and “Virginia Skies” at 2:30pm (Sat. and Sun. only). The planetarium is open Wednesday through Sunday. Members may use vouchers or pay $2, non-members are $4 plus admission.

VLM members receive free admission to the “Zula Patrol” exhibit this fall at the Children’s Museum of Richmond. The exhibit is at the main location through Oct. 21 and at Short Pump Oct. 24-Dec. 31. Present your VLM membership card for this great benefit.

VLM is open Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm, Sunday noon-5pm. Outdoor Area closes 4:30pm
Wild Side Cafe open daily.
Memberships can be purchased, renewed or upgraded in person at the Museum,

by phone, 757-595-1900 x240 or online.

From WVEC here are some good interactive maps and radar maps for keeping track of Hurricane Irene.

Hurricane Irene Maps

Stay safe Hampton Roads!

If a Hurricane seems mighty scary to you as an adult, imagine how terrifying it can appear to a child.  How you go about dealing with preparation for the impending hurricane and how you explain what is happening,to your child, will make a world of difference in their stress level.  With Hurricane Irene bearing down on the Hampton Roads area, now is a good time to deal with how your kids might be viewing this situation.

Be truthful about what is happening and follow some of these good  Hurricane tips from Rachelle Oblack, a weather guide on About.com

With the approach of Hurricane Irene later this week, many events are already being cancelled.  Cancellations for the entire Hampton Roads area, including Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake and Portsmouth are listed in this compilation from Wavy-TV 10.

Hurricane Irene Cancellations

From HamptonRoads.com