October 2017

Los Altos Fall Festival (Oct 7-8th)
Crafts, beer, pumpkins, cars, and more!
10 am – 5 pm
https://www.losaltoschamber.org/fall-festival

Stay N Play (Oct 6th and Oct 20th)
https://www.facebook.com/TrinityStayNPlay
This is a great place to let your toddlers explore new toys, try fun crafts, jump in their cool bouncy houses, and enjoy a great circle/song time with the amazing Miss Erin. The group meets every other Friday (9:30 to 11:30 am) at Trinity Church in Sunnyvale.  and is very reasonable in price ( $3 (cash preferred) per child 2 years and older).  The themes for the upcoming Stay N Plays this month are
Oct 6th: Fall is Here
Oct 20th: Crazy Hat Day

YMCA Parent’s Day and Nights Out (Oct 8th and Oct 20th)
Being a parent is hard work, and if you are a member of the YMCA, you can take a little break from it all with their Parent’s Day and Nights Out.  Basically you drop off your loved ones for some pizza and fun at the YMCA, and the lovely workers ensure that they are well cared for while you and the spouse enjoy some time to yourself.   This month the Parent’s Day Out is October 7 (2:30 – 6:30 pm) whereas the Parent’s Night Out is Oct 20 (5:30 – 9:30 pm; for Night Out kids must be 3 and potty-trained).  The fee is $35 for one child and $25 for each additional child.

As a side note, the YMCA is just a great place of kids to explore new interests since many of the classes like guitar, martial arts, and ballet don’t require extra fees.

Click to access ECyouthactivities.pdf

Sing along Storytime (Mondays and Thursdays)
The amazing Teacher Kristen is now offering Sing-along Story times in Eagle Park on both Mondays as well as Thursdays at 10 am, 11 am and 4 pm.  This great baby and toddler program incorporates tons of fun, interactive songs as well as listening skills as various books are read together.  And it is tons of fun!
http://singalongstorytime.com/

October Parenting Book Club (Oct 13th)
This month we’ll be discussing the work Siblings Without Rivalry: How to Help Your Children Live Together So You Can Live Too by  Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish.  We may also delve into some of their other books such as How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk and their little kid version How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen: A Survival Guide to Life with Children Ages 2-7.   As always, we’ll meet at the second Friday of the month (Oct 13) at La PanotiQ on Castro Street at 8:30 pm.

Fleet Week (Oct 1st-9th)
Have kids that like airplanes?  Perhaps consider taking them up to SF this week!

Home Page

Storytimes on Castro Street: Books Inc. and Red Rock (Wednesday)
Two great local businesses host regular story times on Castro Street, every Wednesday morning at 10:00AM.
1st Wed. of the month at Red Rock Coffee
2nd Wed. of the month at Books Inc. Mountain View
3rd Wed. of the month at Red Rock Coffee
4th Wed. of the month Books Inc. Mountain View
Babies – 5 yrs. old
https://www.booksinc.net/event/wednesday-storytime-books-inc-mountain-view-0

Munchkin Monday at Sky High (Every Monday morning when school is in session)
Take your little ones to the trampoline mecca in Santa Clara on Monday mornings.  Their dedicated toddler time  is great because it just $6 per kid and also you don’t have to deal with larger and older kids accidentally squashing your little munchkin.
http://sjc.skyhighsports.com/pricing-and-specials/

Library Happenings

Mid-Autumn Festival Puppet Show at the MV Library (Saturday, Oct 7th)
Saturday, October 7, 11:00 – 11:15 Middle schoolers from Yew Chung International School present a short puppet show in Chinese and English dramatizing the moon goddess legend of Chang-E flying to the moon. For all ages.

Parenting Lecture at the MV Library: The Multilingual Child (Thursday, October 19)
7:00 – 8:30 pm
From the library website: Learn about the windows of opportunity and ways to help children retain and build on the languages they are learning.
Adults only, please
http://www.mountainview.gov/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=23994

Festival of Lights: Diwali Celebration (Oct 21st)
Pioneer Park – 2 – 4 pm
With her distinct stage presence, Deepa Menon leads her audiences with effortless ease and grace through a whole range of aesthetic dance experiences. Join her and her students in celebrating Diwali – the festival of lights.

This event will take place in Pioneer Park, just outside the Library. Please bring a blanket or low folding chairs if you would like to sit. In the event of rain, the event will move inside the Library Community Room.

Awesome October Dance Party (Tuesdays Oct 24th and 31st)
10:30 AM- 11:00 AM
Description:
From the library website: Move and groove with scarves, shakers and action songs! For children ages 0-5 and their families. October 31 will be a special costume dance party to celebrate Halloween!
http://www.mountainview.gov/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=23836

Library Story Times at the MV Library  (now until Oct 20th)

Mother Goose & More
Fridays, 10:15 – 10:45 and 11:15 – 11:45
Babies & toddlers

Time for Twos
Tuesdays, 10:30 – 11:00
Ages 24 – 36 months

English/Spanish Storytime
Mondays, 10:30 – 11:00
Ages 3 – 5

Preschool Storytime
Wednesdays, 10:30 – 11:00
Ages 3 – 5

Year Round Library Story Times at the MV Library  

Saturday Stories
Saturdays, 10:15 – 11:00
Ages 2 – 5
Every 3rd Saturday is Spanish/English
(This coming Saturday (Oct 7th) the story will be Whobert Whover: Owl Detective.  From their website: Find out “whooooo done it” as we kick off Mystery Week with a musical storytime featuring “Whobert Whover: Owl Detective” and other stories of mystery and surprise! )

Goodnight Mother Goose
1st Thursday 6:30 – 7:00
Next up: October 5 –
Babies & Toddlers

 

Halloween and Trick-or-Treating

Westgate Mall Mommy & Me Halloween Family Fun Fest (Oct 11th)
Westgate mall has a FREE Monthly Kid’s Club at Westgate Center! Enjoy live musical entertainment, arts & crafts (pumpkin decorating!), face painting, balloon animals and more! Mommy & Me Kid’s Club meets in Center Court near Ross Dress for Less

23nd Annual California Ave Trick or Treat and Blossom Halloween Carnival (Sunday, Oct 29th)
10am-2pm on S. California Ave, Palo Alto (between Birch and Park Blvd)
There should be some good games, music, crafts and, of course, trick-or-treating!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/23nd-annual-california-ave-trick-or-treat-and-blossom-halloween-carnival-tickets-37586080980?aff=erelexpmlt

Palo Alto Jr Zoo Halloween Park  (Friday, Oct 27th)
One of the many perks of being a friend of the Palo Alto Jr Zoo is that you can enjoy member-only parties.  If are interested in supporting this great children’s museum, and want to get a membership, consider doing so on or before their Halloween party so you can partake.
Friday, October 27, 2017 5:30 – 8:00 pm
Dress up in your Halloween costume, meet critters that come out to play at night, such as bats, owls, and raccoons, and enjoy pizza, drinks, and other treats in the zoo
This is a Club JMZ Member-only event.  Join at the door or online: http://www.friendsjmz.org

Webb Ranch Pumpkin Patch (Now through Halloween)
Need a place to find the perfect pumpkin?  Perhaps want to take a hay ride or go through a corn maze.  This is a fun, low-key fall farm experience.  Check their websites, as some of the rides and events are only available during the weekend or certain days. http://www.webbranchinc.com/farmers_halloween.htm

Friends of the Rengstorff House Haunted House – Family Program (Saturdays Oct 21 and Oct 28th)
Enjoy this beautiful Victorian home in all it’s spectacular spooky glory.  During Saturday afternoons, they turn down the scare factor to make it a more fun experience for the whole family.
Saturday, October 21st – 12:00 – 4:00pm Family Program – Tickets $5.00 each at the door.
Saturday, October 28th 12:00 – 4:00pm Family Program – Tickets $5.00 each at the door.

Halloween Monster Bash (Saturday, October 28, 2017)
This is THE big kids party sponsored by the city of Mountain View.  Note the new day/location this year.  Last year there was trick-or-treating, crafts and games! Super fun!
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Pioneer Park (1146 Church Street)
All are invited to attend this FREE family event!
http://www.mountainview.gov/depts/cs/events/halloween.asp

ABC Pumpkin Patches
These pumpkin patches are another good way to find your perfect grinning orange gourd friend. I believe last year they also had a bouncy house.  There are several locations, so find the one closes to you here: http://www.abctreefarms.net/san_francisco/pumpkin/location

Awesome October Dance Party (Tuesdays Oct 24th and 31st) at the MV library
10:30 AM- 11:00 AM
From the library website: Move and groove with scarves, shakers and action songs! For children ages 0-5 and their families. October 31 will be a special costume dance party to celebrate Halloween!
http://www.mountainview.gov/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=23836

YMCA Kids Dance Party (Saturday October 28) 
At the El Camino YMCA in MV, there will be another great Halloween celebration from 11:15 am – 2:00 pm. Bring the kiddos in costume and enjoy some fun dancing and snacks.

Bay Area Discovery Museum Goblin Jamboree (October 21 & 22)
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/goblin-jamboree-family-fundraiser-2017-tickets-36206772431
Time: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Be a breakfast sponsor and get early access)
The Bay Area Discovery Museum, an amazing kids museum in Marin, is hosting their annual fundraiser with pony rides, petty zoos, bouncy houses, train rides, face painting, music performances by JimBo Trout, Juice and Jelly, and Beau Mathews, and more.
Admission: Members $14.95, General Admission $17.95

My Gym Halloween Party (October 20)
My Gym is hosting a Halloween celebration on Friday, Oct 20th from 2 – 5 pm.   There will be a costume parade and contest, Halloween games, songs, dances, puppets, snacks and refreshments. Website is here: www.mygym.com/paloalto To reserve a spot, call the gym at 650-330-1760.

Mountain View Library Trick or Treating (Oct 31)
This library always has treats and prizes for kids in costume on Halloween. Almost all the desks and offices in the building have something for little trick-or-treaters. It is also a fun way to meet the directors and other people who make the wonderful MV library happen.