http://kiddingaroundvancouverisland.com/blog fun things for families to do here on The Island Wed, 09 Sep 2009 22:10:24 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Lantzville, just north of Nanaimo, may not be a big town, but they know how to put on great events.  From the Rotary Club's wonderful Breakfast with Santa to the Fire Department's Halloween bonfire and fireworks, people come from all over to join in the festivities.  But the crowning event ... http://kiddingaroundvancouverisland.com/blog/2009/09/minetown-day-is-a-full-day-of-family-fun/ 49.25027136713892 -124.076671600341849.25027136713892-124.0766716003418 We all want to teach our kids the true meaning of Christmas.  What about teaching them the true meaning of Labour Day?  That's George's plan for the girls this year:  cutting the lawn, weeding the garden, ripping out that old fence and putting in a new one.  Some good old-fashioned ... http://kiddingaroundvancouverisland.com/blog/2009/09/working-hard-on-a-relaxing-labour-day-weekend/ 49.124309125077794 -124.4517517089843849.124309125077794-124.45175170898438 With the sunny hot summer we've had on Vancouver Island this year, fruits were ripening extra early, and that meant starting blackberry picking mode not long after BC Day - it's been going strong ever since.  When we head down to the park, we don't bring any snacks with us; ... http://kiddingaroundvancouverisland.com/blog/2009/08/when-it-comes-to-blackberries-were-picky/ Our kids are Island kids through and through - always at the beach, going to farmer's markets, exploring the parks, and travelling the back roads.  So when we told them we were going to visit another island, they were pretty ho-hum about it all.  But as we left the ferry ... http://kiddingaroundvancouverisland.com/blog/2009/08/flying-high-over-salt-spring-island/ 48.853737196933416 -123.4993743896484448.853737196933416-123.49937438964844 KidsFest in Parksville is coming up this Sunday August 16th for a full day of fun, food, and entertainment.  It's held down at the Community Beach in the large field over on the right hand side - where the kites are flown. Will Stroet is the MC and provides muscial entertainment ... http://kiddingaroundvancouverisland.com/blog/2009/08/kidfest-2009-in-parksville-this-sunday/ Sometimes the kids just need to get away from it all.  You know, from the daily grind of eating, playing, more eating, more playing, but mostly they need a break from their parents.  So sitting around a room with your parents, or going swimming with your parents, no matter how ... http://kiddingaroundvancouverisland.com/blog/2009/08/kids-resort-to-taking-a-break-at-a-resort/ The kids have at least half a dozen hula hoops hanging in the carport, but none of us has been able get the hula part of it.  The only use the hoops get is a rare game of daddy toss - 10 points if you get it over his head ... http://kiddingaroundvancouverisland.com/blog/2009/08/now-were-hooped/ We signed up Ella for swimming lessons, but it turned out the lessons were really for us.  You see Ella thinks swimming is a contact sport - she has to be clinging to me in order to get into the water.  Her teacher  was very patient the first day.  No ... http://kiddingaroundvancouverisland.com/blog/2009/07/lessons-about-swimming-and-parenting/ A friend of ours who lived for a short time in Parksville and had to move back to Alberta for job reasons, keeps emailing and asking how things are on the Island.  You can hear the longing in their words.  We love Parksville too - it's the epitome of small ... http://kiddingaroundvancouverisland.com/blog/2009/07/taking-it-to-the-parksville-streets/ See the problem is, they call it Canada Day, but it's really Canada Days and picking and choosing between them isn't easy.  Let's start in Ladysmith. We love Transfer Beach as you probably know, and that's a great place to have Canada Day, which is why the clever folks at Parks ... http://kiddingaroundvancouverisland.com/blog/2009/06/oh-canada-what-a-day/