Click your heels together and join Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion, Dorothy and her little dog Toto, as they journey through the magical land of Oz to meet the Wizard and obtain their hearts’ desires. Watch out for the Wicked Witch of the West and her winged monkeys as you rediscover the real story of Oz in this fantastic musical treat for the whole family.

The musical features beloved songs and moments from the film as well as new songs by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Check out the promotional video below:



 

Performance Information:
The Wizard of Oz
May 3 – May 15, 2016
The National Theatre
Washington, D.C.

Find tickets here: http://thenationaldc.org/events/category/series/wizard-of-oz/



We are giving away a pair of tickets for opening night, Tuesday 5/3/16 at 7:30pm.  To enter, just comment below.  Winner will be picked on Sunday, April 17, 2016.  Good luck!

One of my favorite experiences with my son was sleeping over the Smithsonian National Archives last summer. It is a memory that neither of us will ever forget, and you can read all about our experience in this article here.  I am happy to announce the new 2016 Smithsonian Sleepover dates at the National Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of American History, and for the first time ever, the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA.  

Here is more information about the sleepovers via the official press release:

• National Museum of Natural History Sleepovers

Sleepover guests will experience the museum through an interactive exploration of exhibit halls consisting of games, puzzles and challenges; exhibit-based craft projects; watching an IMAX film; and sleeping under the museum’s giant North American right whale, Phoenix. Sleepovers at the National Museum of Natural History will be held May 27, June 18, July 2, July 15 and Aug. 26.

• National Museum of American History Sleepovers

Participants will solve a mystery of historic proportions during an interactive exploration of exhibit halls. When the devious diva Miss Rose steals six valuable objects from the museum, kids must discover what is missing before the evening’s end. Using their detective skills, they will collect clues to guide them to the crime scene—taking part in games, experiments and craft projects along the way. Sleepovers at the National Museum of American History will be held April 15, May 13, June 24, July 29 and Aug. 5 and Aug. 12.
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• National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar Hazy Center Sleepovers

Kids and their chaperones will explore the whole world of flight, from its pioneering days through the era of commercial aviation to the excitement of today’s space program. After they grab a flight checklist, they will take off for a night that includes plenty of games, art activities, an IMAX film or a visit to the Portable Planetarium and close-up looks at some of the most historic and fascinating craft ever to take to the skies. Udvar-Hazy Center staff will be on hand to offer information and insights about the aviation treasures on view. Sleepovers at the Udvar-Hazy Center will be held July 9, July 23 and Aug. 20.



Sleepovers are for children ages 8-12, and it is required that there be at least one adult for every three children. Chaperones must be 21 years or older.  All participants must pre-register by calling (202) 633-3030 or by visiting the Smithsonian Associates box office located in the S. Dillon Ripley Center at 1100 Jefferson Dr. S.W., Suite 3077.

Ticket prices are $135 for general admission and $120 for Associate members. The price includes exclusive access and activities in the museum, an evening snack, interactive exploration, arts and crafts activities and a light breakfast. T-shirts are available for purchase while at the sleepover. For more information and a detailed schedule of events, please visit www.smithsoniansleepovers.org.

​Kristina Schnack Kotlus is a mom of three and known throughout the Northern Virginia community as the publisher behind PWC Moms, a long-standing, popular blog dedicated to family-friendly events and activities in Prince William County and beyond. The blog boasts an active social media following, and Kristina has received accolades such as the “40 Under 40 Marketing and PR Winner” in Prince William County and “Best Blog” in the Best of NoVA by Northern Virginia Magazine.
 
In 2013, shortly before her 29th birthday, Kristina was diagnosed with a brain tumor and began many months of treatment that included surgery and radiation. She leaned heavily on her faith and always believed there was a plan. After surviving the illness, Kristina decided to dedicate her life to helping other people and raising money to further brain cancer research.  
 
“I'm very thankful every day that I get to be here and that I get to keep raising my kids and working in the community.  I'm even more thankful I got to experience the love of the people around me- it was so humbling to have so many people step in and help with our kids, our dinners, even our laundry,” says Kotlus. 

​Kristina started hosting the annual Silver Sparkles Family Fun Day event, now in its third year, to give back to the community and provide a fun-filled day for families. This year’s event is on Saturday, March 19, 2016 at the giant Freedom Aquatic and Fitness Center in Manassas.
 
Throughout the day, families can experience free classes, such as ballet and Minecraft in the community rooms, and the gym will be filled with family-friendly booths and games sponsored by local organizations. From hands-on activities, art projects, model trains, a photo booth, indoor bounces to putt-putt golf and much more, every vendor table at the festival has something fun for kids to do. Plus, there will be food and raffle tickets for sale. It’s a chance for families to discover local businesses and kid-friendly venues while the children have a great time playing.
 
Tickets to the event are by family and available for advance purchase online. All profits from the event go to brain cancer research.
 
Kristina adds, “Ironically, the presentation of my brain tumor is more common in children.  That really made me think about how awful it would be to have to watch one of my own kids survive what I had to deal with.  It makes me really passionate about research and donating as much as I can because while I was lucky it was me and not one of my children. Other people aren't as lucky and they are fighting this alongside babies or toddlers who can't even understand why they're being subjected to so much pain.”
 
To see the current list of vendors, find out more about Silver Sparkles Family Fun Day, and to purchase tickets, please visit the official website here.
 

​When are we going to Disney? 
This is a question most parents are asked at some point in their child’s life. Then panic starts to set in and it’s the parents asking the questions. How stressful will it be? What age is the right age? What’s it really like to be there with young kids?
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The thought of taking young children to Disney can be overwhelming. The TV commercials show families enjoying the perfect vacation, but you see overtired, over stimulated, tantrum throwing kids in your head. The good news is that with a little planning and the right perspective, you can have that magical trip you dreamed about.
 
My kids are so young, should I wait until my kids will remember?
 
I often hear people say that they want to wait to do Disney World until their kids are old enough to remember the trip.  Personally, I did not take my kids until they were 3 years old. Going to the grocery store with infants was daunting to me so the thought of managing them at Disney was way too big of an adventure. Do my kids remember their first trip at three?  No, but I have some great pictures and we all had an awesome time. Timing is a personal choice for each family. Try taking a trip to a local amusement park. Now think how that same trip over a 4-5 day stretch.
 
Disney for some is a once in a lifetime vacation and you want to feel you’re getting your money’s worth.  The magic of Disney is never lost on a young child. For a preschooler, that really is Belle just waiting for a hug and Mickey Mouse really has come out just to see them today. 

Dining

• Milk and other healthy meal options are available in most Walt Disney World Resort restaurants.
• All Walt Disney World Resort restaurants – with the exception of food carts and counter-service dining – have high chairs and booster seats.
• Most Disney restaurants offer children's menus, plus crayons and coloring books to keep kids entertained.
• Arrange for the kids to have dinner and fun at one of five Children’s Activity Centers located in various Deluxe resorts. The adults can enjoy a quiet dinner for two or enjoy an evening stroll through the Parks while the kids are entertained in a fun secured environment.

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What are the Challenges with young kids?
 
One of the most important tips I can give is to manage your expectations. Remember, you can’t see and do everything, and that’s OK. Pay attention to your kids' cues, if they are too cranky to wait for the 3pm parade then let them sleep through it. Or better yet, head back to the resort for a few hours and return to the parks refreshed later in the early evening. It’s more important to enjoy the things you do than to try to force everyone to do everything.
 
If you are waiting until your preschooler is older to enjoy Disney, think again! From characters, parades, attractions and shows designed with them in mind, their days will be full of Disney magic. For more tips check out Simple Luxuries Travel’s Pinterest Board  - Disney With Toddlers and Preschoolers
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