14 Things TRACK 4 Families Can Do Before Tracking Back In Oct. 20

Get your calendars out and visit the October Calendar TRACKS to get the details on all of these events.

1. NEW HOPE VALLEY RAILWAY TRAIN RIDES
New Hope Valley Railway and N.C. Railroad Museum, New Hill
Train rides take place the first Sunday of each month through November.

2. NEW MOVIES RELEASES
"Beverly Hills Chihuahua." Oct. 3. Click here to learn more.
"High School Musical 3: Senior Year." Oct. 24. Click here to learn more.

3. LETTERBOXING. See blog post about this fun anytime-outdoor activity.

4. 2008 NORTH CAROLINA STATE FAIR
Oct. 16-26, N.C. State Fairgrounds in Raleigh.

5. FALL PUMPKIN AND HARVEST FESTIVAL AT HILL RIDGE FARMS
Sept. 13-Nov. 9 in Youngsville.

6. OPENING OF WORLDTREK
Marbles Kids Museum
Exhibit opens Oct. 8. Guests are transported to several exciting locales around the world to engage in hands-on exploration of commerce, culture, arts, music and more.

7. SOUNDSPACE: HEAR MOTION
Museum of Life and Science
Through October 2008.

8. WAM! MAGIC TRICKS
Marbles Kids Museum
Oct. 15
Session: 1 10–10:50 a.m. (ages 5-7)
Session 2: 11–11:50 a.m. (ages 8-11)
Just in time for Halloween, join Marbles Kids Museum for a spook-tacular workshop to learn fantastic magic tricks.

9. WAM! HOLIDAY COOKING
Marbles Kids Museum
Oct. 15, 10-11:50 a.m.
Bring the family and create holiday goodies.

10. 2008 TOUR OF GYMNASTICS SUPERSTARS
Oct. 19, 4 p.m. RBC Center

11. DEAD SEA SCROLLS ON VIEW AT N.C. MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCES
Through Dec. 28.

12. Attend a free open Carolina Hurricanes Practice. Click here for this week's schedule.

13. Celebrate "No Child Left Inside" with the Museum of Life and Science During Earth Science Week, Oct. 12-18

14. Check out "Kung Fu Panda," "Wall-E" and "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" for $1.50 at Blue Ridge Theater in Raleigh.

7 Things Track 1 Families Can Do This Week Before Heading Back to School

If you're on a year-round school schedule like we are, you'll find that our community offers a great variety of children's activities during year-round track-out breaks. In addition to track-out camps, there are plenty of activities to keep your track 1 kids busy and entertained over the next couple of weeks. Here's a list:

1. Fall Pumpkin and Harvest Festival at Hill Ridge Farms in Youngsville: through Nov. 9. Learn more here.

2. Magic School Bus Kicks Up a Storm at Marbles Kids Museum: through Jan. 25. Learn more here.

3. Summerwings Butterfly Pavillion at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham: through Sept. Learn more here.

4. Family Science Day at Morehead Planetarium and Science Center. Learn more here.

5. View the Dead Sea Scrolls at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, through Dec. 28. Learn more here.

6. "IGOR" released at movie theaters: Sept. 19. Learn more here.

7. Track 1 Magic Tree House Camp. Register and get details here.

With a Broom in Her Hand...

Yesterday, my 6-year-old daughter offered to help me sweep the kitchen. "Of course!" I said. Now for Katie, this is typical. She enjoys cleaning and actually tidies up her room without me having to ask her. (My friends call me "Monica"--from "Friends." Katie may as well be Mini-Monica.)

Keep in mind, I have two older boys who think cleaning their room means moving their dirty clothes from the floor to the bed; and shoving assortments of Legos, pirate coins and PSP cartridges into one corner of their dressers will fool me into thinking they actually "put things away."

But the thing that stopped me in my tracks as Katie and I were sweeping was what she said after I mentioned that she would be good at keeping her own house clean when she grows up. She said, "I know. I want to clean and cook and drive my kids to school while my husband is at work, just like you do."

Now, Katie knows I am also a freelance writer and complains that I am "always" on my computer, but in this particular context, she viewed me as what I truly seek to be: a stay-at-home-mom. I thought about this fact--that my daughter wants to be a SAHM someday, too--and immediately, I felt a sense of pride and accomplishment. THIS is exactly what I want for her!

Don't get me wrong. I want her to attend college, find a profession she enjoys and get to work right away. But when the time comes to start a family, I hope she still values the importance of what a SAHM can offer, and that she and her husband will find a way to make it work financially so she can fully enjoy the enriching experience of motherhood. As for my sons, I have already told them I hope they will choose a wife who values these same ideals.

I'm not ashamed to feel this way, and I hope there are others of you out there who feel the same way. I'm proud to be a SAHM, and even prouder that my daughter sees me as one.

12 Things Track 1 Parents Can Do This Week and Next

If you're on a year-round school schedule like we are, you'll find that the community is on top of it. In addition to track-out camps, there are plenty of activities to keep your track 1 kids busy and entertained over the next couple of weeks. Here's a list:

1. Borders Brisinger Party: Friday, Sept. 19. Click here to locate the store nearest you, where you'll find more details on this event.

2. Caniac Carnival: Sunday, Sept. 21. Click here for more info.

3. Fall Pumpkin and Harvest Festival at Hill Ridge Farms in Youngsville: through Nov. 9. Learn more here.

4. Bugfest at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences: Sept. 20. Learn more here.

5. Magic School Bus Kicks Up a Storm at Marbles Kids Museum: through Jan. 25. Learn more here.

6. SparkCon Kids Events in Raleigh: Sept. 19-21. Get the details here.

7. groundSPARK Street Painting Festival in Raleigh: Sept. 19-21. Learn more here.

8. Summerwings Butterfly Pavillion at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham: through Sept. Learn more here.

9. Celebrate Crowder Park's 10th Anniversary (in Holly Springs): Sept. 20. Get details here.

10. View the Dead Sea Scrolls at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, through Dec. 28. Learn more here.

11. "IGOR" released at movie theaters: Sept. 19. Learn more here.

12. Track 1 Magic Tree House Camp. Register and get details here.

Caniac Carnival Set for Sept. 21

Bring the kids out to the RBC Center Sunday, Sept. 21 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for the Carolina Hurricanes annual Caniac Carnival. Parking and admission to the event are free of charge and the carnival will feature rides, interactive games, a designated sports zone, a TNT Freestyle Motocross show, live music, an autograph session with select Hurricanes players, and more. Click here for more information.

Bugfest 2008

The N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences takes the "ewww" factor up a notch with its annual Bugfest event. This year's Bugfest takes place Saturday, Sept. 20, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Jones Street, The Plaza, Edenton Street, The Capitol Grounds, and all four floors of the Museum will be filled with buggy fun! This year’s theme bugs are bees, wasps and hornets! Check out the Bee Zone on the Capitol Grounds to learn more about these fascinating insects, buy some local honey or treat yourself to beekeeping supplies. You can even enter a Beehive Hairdo Contest and participate in a Backyard Beekeeping Workshop. Learn more here.
Photos provided by WRAL.com.

Storm Troopers at the Museum of Life and Science?

If you have Star Wars fans in your house, you won't want to miss this event. Here are the details:

HEROES, VILLAINS AND SPECIAL EFFECTS
Museum of Life and Science in Durham
Sat., Sept. 13, 10-5 p.m.
You don't need to travel to a faraway galaxy to meet Storm Troopers and other Star Wars characters - since the force will be with you, as the science and artistry of entertainment takes the main stage. Talk to video game design experts about how they create dazzling special effects. Learn about makeup effects from one of Hollywood's leading makeup artists with two-time Emmy award winner Dean Jones. See how stunts are choreographed and more! Free with museum admission. Learn more here.

(Photo provided by the Museum of Life and Science.)