Long summer break

Hey ya'll! I know its been a while. We've had a long an interesting summer and I haven't had much time to myself lately. At the end of May we moved from Idaho to Maryland, leaving behind all our friends for a new journey. Its been a rough transition. Eva is taking it all in stride being only 18 months old now, but Tabitha has had a hard time. She misses her friends. I've had a rough time as well. I miss my friends. I miss having such an awesome support structure. I also really miss Rexburg. I miss the feel of it. Everyone was a member of the church, you weren't bombarded with inappropriate clothing or language everywhere you go. You didn't have to navigate the hundreds of people smoking at every exit, everywhere you go. There was also the feeling of community. Almost everyone in our complex would spend the afternoons outside chasing our kids together and helping each other out. I really miss that.
Maryland is beautiful. The trees are amazing, I love that there are little ponds everywhere. I love that there is so much historical significance to teach my kids. I love that I can take them to the smithsonian and teach and show them so many things I couldn't have back in Idaho. I have better medical care for Tabitha here. We have started the process to get Tabitha into ABA therapy and into preschool. There are so many programs that will help her that we couldn't get back in Idaho. Morgen has a great job. He just finished his training and will soon be starting actual work, which he is excited about.
I haven't had much time or a place to sew and most of my stuff is still back in Idaho in our storage unit, which is kind of a pain.
I really hope to get back to crafting, and writing soon. I pulled out a dress that I started when Tabitha was 18 months old. I will hopefully finish it soon so Eva can wear it. I have actually made a different version of this dress (its my own pattern) before and I have been wanting to write a pattern for it so you all could make one too so that is my current goal.
When we moved to Maryland from Idaho we couldn't come out first to find a place so we had to hope that we would find something good like we did when we moved to Idaho. Unfortunately it didn't work out that way. We ended up in an awful place that was dirty and starting to fall apart. We were able to move again to a much nicer place but it was a stressful move and cost all we had to make a second move.
We are trying to get settled now and will hopefully get back to our regular routine soon.

Not that this has anything to do with the post, its just a fun picture we took before leaving rexburg. 

a range of emotions

When you have kids you start out thinking that your kid will be president or a Dr and all you see is endless possibility. Babies are endless possibility, they are joy, and love and passion. They are dreams come true and all you want is for their dreams to come true. All you want is for your children to be happy and fulfilled. Every parent thinks their kid is specials and gonna change the world. I've always known Tabitha was special, every time she did anything new I always thought she was the smartest kid in the world. She was the best kid ever and after waiting for her for so long she was the perfect kid. Tabitha is my sunshine, she is the light that came from darkness. She is what I waited so long for. But for the last year her light has had a cloud over it. One I had a hard time dealing with. She has had violent fits, crying outbursts, she changed from my happy sweet girl. I took her to the dr time and time again, but they just said moodiness was normal, she was fine. They blew me off time and again. But I knew something was wrong. Every day I watched her grow further and further away from us, that she was changing.
We dealt with the fits and the violent outbursts, we started pulling away from our friends. We stayed home and stopped doing play dates for fear that Tabitha would hurt someone with one of her fits. We started noticing that when someone got hurt she showed no empathy, she would say sorry and give a hug out of some sort of memorized protocol. We noticed that she wouldn't look people in the eye and when she did catch their eye she would freak out. A few months ago she was tested at preschool, and she was tested at an almost 9 year old receptive vocabulary, but she can't use it, and she gets very frustrated when she can't express herself.
There are other things that we noticed, and we tried talking to drs about, but it was just the same old song and dance from them. I finally decided to switch drs. About two weeks ago I took Tabitha to our new dr to talk about what was going on. Things had been getting worse with her for some time. I had bruises, bloody noses, and dislocated fingers to show for it. I'd had enough, I needed answers. I was tired of being afraid of my child, and afraid for her. I needed help.
I sat down with her dr and discussed my concerns and fears.I finally found someone who would listen. I finally found someone who agreed that her fits were not that of a normal 3 1/2 year old. Then he said what I feared he would say. Tabitha is on the autism spectrum. I think I knew for a while, but I had convinced myself it was something else, maybe bipolar or something like that. Something that can be "fixed" with medicine. I wasn't surprised, but I did cry when I got to the car with the girls. I had a hard time not believing it was my fault. With all the junk science, blaming mothers for having epidurals, and c-sections, and vaccinating their children. Even though I know its not my fault, I still blame myself. I think its natural for parents to think anything that happens to their kids is their fault. But while we have been waiting to meet with the therapist and get some diagnostic tests done on Tabitha, I finally stopped thinking that this was something that "happened" to Tabitha, and started realizing that there's nothing "wrong" with my daughter, her brain just works different than other kids.
For the past two weeks Morgen has been trying some tactics he learned from ABA therapy when he used to worked with a friends son who has autism. They seem to be working. Tonight we met with the therapist, he asked lots of questions and listened to our concerns. He stopped short of saying she is autistic, but said he believed she is on the spectrum. She is high functioning, and he said she seems like with the right interventions, she will be ok. We will go back next week for more evaluations, and to talk about our next steps.
I have a range of emotions going through me for the last two weeks. I'm scared, I worry that people wont be accepting of Tabitha, that she will be shunned because shes a little weird and she freaks out at things most kids would let roll off their backs. I'm happy that we are on a path to helping her. The only thing I want in this life is for my children to be happy. I will do whatever it takes to make my children happy. Now that i have some sense of how to help her, I know we will all be ok.
Over the last few weeks, we haven't told too many people about whats going on. But of the few people we have told almost all have been really supportive. They have been true friends. They have been there for me, and they have loved Tabitha and they have been a shoulder for me to cry on. I'm thankful for our friends who have helped us. I'm thankful for the friends who helped me talk through this, who have shown me what real friends are. There are a lot of emotions going though me, there are a lot of unknowns in our future, but one thing I do know, is that Tabitha is loved.

Thankful Thursday: Morgen

There are a lot of things I am thankful for, but this week I have come to the realization of just how thankful I am for Morgen. Morgen has been gone for a week for interviews, its been pretty rough on the girls. Tabitha is such a daddies girl and she is having a hard time with him being gone. I have been really sad without Morgen here. He comes home tomorrow night and I couldn't be more excited. Saturday is Evangeline's birthday and I am looking forward to spending time with my family. I Love my family and my husband more than anything and I'm so very thankful for him.

 

 

Thankful

Happy New Year!
I Hope you all had a wonderful holiday and life is calming down after the rush of the holiday season. We went to Arizona for Christmas to spend time with my family which was fun and stressful going to see family always is. My tire poped on the way down and we will need to have some work done but I'm very thankful to my parents for all their help in dealing with our car issues.
Every New Years you see everyone talking about their resolutions and then a month or two later breaking those resolutions. I'm guilty. I have all these plans every year about what I want to accomplish but never follow through. This year I decided to focus on one thing. I chose a word. One thing I could focus on all year. My word of the year is Thankful.
Its so easy to be negative. Its easy to forget to count your blessings, Its easy to get caught up in what you don't have, whats gone wrong or whose wronged you. But If you can remember to count your blessings, even in hard times, you will be better for it. So that is my one goal for this year. to be Thankful. To count my blessings when things are going wrong. To remember all I have and be grateful for what God has blessed me with.
I have an amazing husband who loves me and who I love more than anything. He is funny and smart and sweet. He loves me despite my major flaws and works hard to take care of me and the girls. I am so very thankful for him.
I have a crazy, sweet, funny, outgoing three and a half year old who drives me crazy and makes me laugh more than anyone ever. We waited almost 5 years for her and she was worth the wait. We went through testing, rude drs, fertility treatments, a phone nurse who told me I had miscarried when I hadn't and all of it was worth it. I couldn't imagine my life without that crazy girl. She is my Sunshine, she lights up our home with her infectious laughter. She is incredibly smart, she is inquisitive, brave, loyal, funny, beautiful, and loving. I Love Tabitha and I am so grateful that I get to be her mom.
I have a sweet, inquisitive, happy baby girl who loves to cuddle. She is smart, and inquisitive. She Likes to wait till Tabitha makes noise to distract us and and she will quietly move like the wind and get what she wants. Shes our little stealth baby. She brings us so much joy and her laughter is beautiful. We had to use fertility treatments for Eva just like Tabitha. We were told we were losing Eva at 7 weeks because they thought she should be bigger. Yet again the dr's were wrong and we have the opportunity to be her parents.
I am thankful for the knowledge that we will be a family forever. That because Morgen and I got married in the Temple we are sealed for time and all eternity. I am thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ. That he sacrificed for us and we have all that we do because of heavenly Father's love for us.
I'm Thankful for the fact that we have 9 am church this year. I know its early, but it will make it so Eva can still take her naps and that is great.
I am Thankful for my family.
I am Thankful for my friends.
I am Thankful for all of you who read my blog. You all are the reason I am here.
This year I am going to try to write a post every Thursday about what I'm Thankful for that week. Some weeks it may just be I'm thankful for a full nights sleep. But its important to remember the little things too.
If you want to join me each week I would love to know what you are thankful for too.

What I'm most Thankful for is my Forever Family. 

Rice Krispie Treat Pumpkins with a surprise!

Are you looking for something fun to do with your family for Halloween? Or maybe your stuck inside with all the crazy weather and you want to do something that will make your kids stop asking when they can go out and play or if they can watch another movie? Well Have I got a fun one for you. f you have older kids they can help, and younger kids like Tabitha love to watch and say "when can I eat that!" haha. I recently got a great package from Kellogs, with Rice Krispies, marshmallows, a bag of mini 3 musketeers bars and a trick or treating pumpkin! Score! Now to make a yummy concoction for the family to munch on for Family home evening.

Here's the recipe for the Pumpkin Shaped Halloween Rice Krispies Treats with candy inside.

Ingredients

                        3 tablespoons butter or margarine

                        1 package (10 oz., about 40) Marshmallows

                        - OR -

                        4 cups Miniature Marshmallows

                        Orange food coloring

                        6 cups Kellogg's® Rice Krispies® cereal

                        12 MILKY WAY® Brand Minis or 3 MUSKETEERS® Brand Minis

                        OR

                        6 FUN SIZE® Bars*

                        Canned frosting (green)

                        12 small green gum drops

Directions

1. In a large Saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat. Tint with orange food coloring.

2. Add Kellog's Rice Krispies Cereal. Stir until well coated.

3. Using a 1/2 Cup measuring cup coated with cooking spray, divide warm cereal mixture into 12 portions. Using buttered hands shape each portion into pumpkins, shape around one candy piece. Pipe frosting onto each for vines and attach gumdrop for stem. Best if served the same day.

Some tips from making them, I used a cast iron pot to heat its great for distributing the heat so the marshmallows didn't burn. I moved the cereal mixture onto a cookie sheet to cool a little before making the pumpkins. The first one was a little too warm and it ended up melting the chocolate a little. The first one also stuck to my hands like no other even though I had greased them up pretty well. If the mixture is too warm it will stick to your hands no matter how much you grease up your hands so make sure they are cooled enough to not stick to you but warm enough to be malleable. Its a fine line.

Tabitha LOVED helping, even if it was only to put the candy on top. We took some to our neighbors and they loved them too. These are a great treat and lots of fun to do as a family night activity.

I was sent a Kellog's Rice Krispies Surprise Pumpkin Treats ™ kit to create these wonderful treats from Kellog Company® to facilitate this review and giveaway. My opinions are my own and I would never recommend a product that I would not use myself. I have not been paid to write a positive review of Kellog Company or its products.

 

Teething tots Review and Green Family Giveaway

Welcome to the Green Family Giveaway sponsored by Formula Mom and Glow bug Cloth Diapers!
I'm very excited to be part of this great giveaway hop. The Grand prize is seriously amazing, and I have a little something I think you all will love as well! Some Awesome blogs have gotten together some great green family prizes and I can't wait to see what everyone has come up with. Each blog has a prize valued at at least $20. This Giveaway is open from 9/15 at midnight EST to 11:59 pm EST on 9/30. The Giveaway on Crafting in My Closet is open to US and Canada 18 years or older.

Glow Bug Cloth Diapers is the grand prize sponsor for the Green Family giveaway. One lucky reader will win a complete cloth diaper stash! The stash includes 24 cloth diapers with inserts featuring the newest prints! The winner will be able to choose from either a boy set or a girl set.  

 Enter the Grand Prize Giveaway!

Disclosure: Formula Mom, and the Green Family bloggers are not responsible for sponsors that fail to fulfill their prizes.

One of you AMAZING Crafting in My Closet readers will be winning their choice of amber teething necklace from Teething Tots (a $22 value)! Teething tots Amber Teething Necklaces are made of 100% natural Baltic Amber. They are beautiful andI really know they work.

We love our Amber teething necklace from Teething tots. We have the rainbow nugget necklace and I can tell you that it works. There is no doubt in my mind. These necklaces are beautifully made and work so well. 

When Evangeline got her first tooth in, I hadn't received our teething necklace yet, she was miserable, crying and not sleeping well, then the tooth came in and it all made sence. When her second tooth came in, she had the necklace on. She was a little fussy, but no more so that if she was a little late for a nap. She slept well, nursed like a champ and was smelling, so the next morning when i noticed a tooth had popped threw, I was a little surprised. The only real sign that she had been teething, was she was a little more clingy and drooling a little more than normal. 

One thing I LOVE about these necklaces is that each bead is individually tied on. This is good, because since the beads are made from natural amber, there is a possibility that there could be a flaw in the bead and one could break. This happened to me, one of the beads cracked and half of the bead broke off. But the good thing is that since each bead is individually knotted on, there wasn't a bunch of beads falling off. The other great thing is that once I got a hold of Teething Tots and told them what happened, they were so nice and are sending me a new one. I offered to send my old one back, but they were wonderful and said it was ok. Its nice that there are companies out there who really do care about their customers like this. 

For those who don't know about Amber Teething necklaces let me fill you in on why they are so great. Amber is fossilized sap from prehistoric trees. Amber is not a stone, so it is therefore warm to the touch, as well as lightweight to wear. Amber has been used for centuries as a natural pain remedy, its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties make it the perfect option for a natural, drug free teething pain reducer. Amber teething necklaces work by the skin heating the amber and releasing healing oils including succinc acid which is absorbed through the skin into the blood stream. 

Evangeline is 7 months (but she's kind of a peanut) and you can see in this picture where it falls on her. Its not right at her neck, but since she's been wearing it for about a month, she has only tried to play with it once. She wears it all the time (although I should take it off in the water to keep the cord nice). They recomend you take it off when your child is sleeping or alone, but Eva co-sleeps, so I leave it on her. I always have it under her onesie at night and I've never had it come out of her onesie in her sleep. But if your child sleeps in a crib I would take it off at night just in case. 

After seeing how well the Amber Teething necklace from Teething Tots works on Eva, I've decided to buy a rainbow bean mommy necklace from Teething Tots for myself. I'm hopeful it will help with my back and neck pain. 

Would you like to win an Amber Teething Necklace from Teething Tots for your baby? Well its your lucky day! As part of the Green Family Giveaway I am giving away 1 Amber Teething necklace of winners choice! Thanks to Teething Tots for this amazing giveaway! 

Make sure you like Teething Tots on Facebook, Follow them on Twitter and Check out their webstore. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure: I was sent this amber teething necklace from Teething tots in order to facilitate my review. I was not compensated monetarily and I was in no way required to give a good review of this item. All views are my own and I would never recommend a product I would not personally use.

Make sure you enter the other giveaways in this hop!

Summer Blog Challenge: Catch up

So I'm behind again so I'm playing catch up on the Summer blog challenge.

July 3, travel plans for the summer.
We arent actually traveling anywhere this summer that I know of. We may visit my mom at some point, but I'm not sure when. But I do know that my BFF and her hubby are coming to visit me this summer, which I'm super excited about.
July 4th was a free day
July 5th talk about a fear you have.
My biggest fear is that something would happen to Morgen or the girls. My family is my whole world and I am always hyper aware of where they are and what is going on with them. I get upset when even the tiniest little thing happens to any of them. Today Tabitha fell down and hit her head really hard. Even though I know she's ok, I'm so upset about it, It was totally my fault. I was holding her hand and I tripped.

July 6th What is a holiday tradition you have in your family.
Growing up someone would always play santa and pass out presents. Its still something that my family does. I can't wait till our kids get to start doing it, they will be so cute when they start passing out presents.

July 7th Something I would attempt if I knew I wouldn't fail.
I would love to create my own clothing line. I love to sew and design, but i'm not all that great at drawing so all my designs are in my head not to mention the crazy amount of money I would need to start, but its a lovely dream.

July 8th Song lyrics you find some meaning in.

These are the lyrics to The Luckiest by Ben Folds, Its Morgen and My song.

I don't get many things right the first timeIn fact, I am told that a lotNow I know all the wrong turnsThe stumbles and falls brought me here
And where was I before the dayThat I first saw your lovely face?Now I see it everydayAnd I know that I amI am, I am the luckiest
What if I'd been born fifty years before youIn a house on the street where you live?Maybe I'd be outside as you passed on your bikeWould I know?
And in a wide sea of eyesI see one pair that I recognizeAnd I know that I amI am, I am the luckiest
I love you more than I haveEver found a way to say to you
Next door, there's an old man who lived to his 90'sAnd one day, passed away in his sleepAnd his wife, she stayed for a couple of daysAnd passed away
I'm sorry, I know that's a strange wayTo tell you that I know we belongThat I know that I amI am, I am the luckiest


Here's the code for the button! =)

Summer blog Challenge Days 20-22

 I've gotten a few days behind on my summer blog challenge posts so I'm just gonna cram them all together. Its been pretty hectic around here lately, but I'm hopeful that I can get back to blogging and sewing soon.
Day 20 was to post a picture of me when I was younger.

I'm second from the left on the bottom row. This was from when I used to dance, I think I was 14 or 15 here.
And thanks to my childhood friend Gina for posting these on FB so I have the next two pictures of us playing dress up

Day 21: Most recent words of wisdom that stuck with me. Probably that being a mom isn't easy, but its the most rewarding job in the world. I've been having a rough time with Tabitha lately. She is really jealous of Evangeline and has been acting out because of it. But in the midst of her fits and peeing on my floor, there are still those wonderful times when she hugs me and tells me she loves me, and the times when she wants to hug and kiss Eva, or help me with whatever I'm doing. I know the hard times will eventually fade, and I will remember the laughs, the kisses, the jokes, the hugs, how much she loves her sister and what a good person she is. She has an amazingly big heart. She is so sweet and so loving, the other stuff she'll grow out of, but I know she will always be an amazing, sweet, funny girl who I will always be proud of. 

 

 

Day 22:  When I was little there were a ton of things I wanted to be: a teacher, a pediatric cardiologist, a ballet dancer, a writer, a photographer, a baker, but the most important was to be a mom. I always wanted to be a stay at home mom. I got my degree in History (which makes me qualified to say "would you like fries with that" and live in a cardboard box) because I love history. since I was already married while I was in college and I knew that we planned for me to stay home with the kids one we had them, I thought it was important for me to get a degree in something I loved. I still plan to go back to school and get a masters some day, but for now, I'm loving being home with my girls. I'm their first teacher, their boo boo kisser, their dance teacher, their story teller, their photographer, and their baker, all those dreams I had did come true, just in a different way than you would expect. I have everything I ever wanted in life, and I'm so very lucky. 

 

 

Summe Blog Challenge Day 7

Today's Challenge is something that makes me happy. When I saw this I knew exactly what picture I would use. 

I love this picture. Morgen was holding Eva while I ran upstairs and when I came back I saw this. Tabitha wanted to be held too, and she wanted to hug her sister too. I love my family. Tabitha is so sweet and she loves her little sister so much. Evangeline has a special smile that only Tabitha brings out. She loves her big sister. I love how much my girls love each other, and I can't wait until they are old enough to play together and be friends. 

A Mother's Day Blessing

I don't know about everyone else but I had a beautiful Mother's Day. It started out with Morgen taking Tabitha down stairs and making dairy free pancakes with fresh strawberries for breakfast, then keeping her occupied while I finished sewing her new dress (tutorial to come soon I promise!). Morgen helped Tabitha make me a card that was just so sweet. My in-laws were here to celebrate Tabitha's birthday (we had her party on Saturday, and I forgot my camera so as soon and I can get pictures from my MIL I will post them), and to help bless Eva at church on Sunday.
My in-laws got me a very nice mothers day card and some very pretty flowers too which was very nice. Morgen gave me a sweet card and a coupon for one night off (not including during midterms and finals).
My favorite part of the day though was when Morgen blessed Evangeline at church. It was so beautiful and I truly felt the spirt while he blessed her. I was crying with Tabitha sitting on my lap. After the blessing Tabitha said "its ok mommy don't cry" and hugged me.
We got to take some family pictures and they came out really nice. Evangeline wore the same dress Tabitha wore for her blessing which was worn by my sisters and I when we were baptized (I didn't grow up LDS). I love that not only did my girls get to wear such a beautiful dress but they are a part of a line of women who have worn that dress. I hope I can take as good of care of it as my mom did, because for a dress made in the 70's its still beautiful and in perfect condition.

Tabitha Loves her new Dress

And she's a little cheeseball!

I want to crop Morgen from the one above this one and put him in here, this is one of my favorites if I could do that. =)

Tabitha is the only one paying attention to the camera. 

I need to find a way to take Tabitha from the picture above and switch it out for this one, We all look good in this one but Tabitha is covering her mouth. 

Probably the best picture because everyone is looking at the camera and not making a goofy face. 

I like this one but my hand is covering Eva's face. 

Morgen's parents and one of his brothers came to help with the blessing. 

I only wish I knew the power boxes were in the pictures so we could have moved a bit to the left to get them out. Oh well. 

Thanks for sticking with me through all those pictures! 

So how was your mothers day?

I'm sorry, Did you say Free?

So I'm a cheapskate, and tightwad, a penny pincher, whatever you want to call it, its cool I know it. And even better I embrace it. So for those of you in the bay area looking to save a little dough this summer let me show you the way.
Fun for kids:
Story time,
Tabitha LOVES story time, especially baby storytime on saturday's at the Morgan Hill library. Why? because no one else is there (well maybe 3 kids max) but she's always the only one who stays the whole time and the story time lady lets her hold her bear and stand in front of the book and point at the pictures. its great. Morgan hill story times are:
Baby Story Time Sat 11am
Bilingual Story time Sat 10 am
Toddler story time Thurs 10 am
Preschool story time Thurs 10:45 am
Family Story time Wed 7pm
Morgan Hill Libray Special shows:
The Corny Crow Show with Steve Chaney at Morgan Hill Library 7/21/10 2-3pm : Laugh out loud at with this hilarious show featuring ventriloquism, juggling, and a bit of magic.
Marylee Sunseri @ Morgan Hill Library 7/22/10 10-10:30am: Join us for a special sing-along storytime with award winning children's singer-songwriter Marylee Sunseri.
Gilroy Library Story Times Wed 10:15-10:45 am and Tue 7-7:30 pm
Campbell Library Story times: Wed 10:30 am ages 2 1/2- 3 1/2, Wed 7:15pm 4 +, Thurs 10:30 ages 3 1/2 -6, baby story time Fri 11-11:30 am (Description: Infant to 18 months, come join us for books, songs, rhymes, and plenty of interactive fun! This series will run from August 13 through September17, 2010.)
The City of San Jose Library System has some great FREE events for kids this summer, check out the calender of Events Here. My recommendation for any of these events is to get there an hour early. Most of the events ask you to be there 1/2 hour early to get a ticket or get in line, so shoot for an hour because they are always packed!
We'll be going to the Princess Mermaid puppet show on 7/20/10 at the Cambrian branch library :Go on a musical adventure beneath the sea with Nick Barone's "The Princess Mermaid." This original story is filled with a dozen beautifully hand-crafted puppets and is designed to delight families and children of all ages. Attendance is limited. Please arrive 30 minutes early to receive a free ticket. Sponsored by Friends of Cambrian Library. (like I said I'm aiming for 1pm)

Do you want to take your baby to the circus? Well Ringling Brothers has a baby's first circus program where they will send you a free ticket for your munchkin (that doesn't expire) to go to the circus, only drawbacks you have to sign up before your little one is a year old. Check it out here.

Movies? For Free?
Why yes!
Morgan Hill has free Family Friendly movies on the 3rd saturday of the month all summer long, (Dates: Saturday, June 20, July 18, Aug 15 & Sept 19 – 3rd Saturday of each month (same at Street Fair dates)
What: FREE ‘family friendly’ outdoor movies at the Community Cultural Center. Movies to begin at dark.)
More Movies!

Picnic, Popcorn & Picture Show
Park Valencia, Santana Row, Winchester Boulevard and Olin Avenue; Wed at sundown, through Sep 24; 408.551.4600, www.santanarow.com

Gypsy Cinema Movies
Circle of the Palms, by the San Jose Museum of Art, San Jose; 408.882.5064, populuspresents.com

Cinema San Pedro
San Pedro Street, between Santa Clara and St. John streets, San Jose; six weeks of free outdoor screenings hosted by Cinequest and POPULUS Presents

STARLIGHT CINEMAS

San Pedro Square hosts free outdoor films the second Wednesday of June, July and August. Movies begin at dusk, come early for the best seat. Bring Your own Chair, Blanket or Air Bed.

June 10 -Blazing Saddles (1974/ Rated R/ 93 minutes) Mel Brooks, Gene Wilder and Clevon Little

July 8 - Caddy Shack (1980/ Rated R/ 107 minutes) Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, Bill Murray

August 12 - Monty Python and The Holy Grail (1975/ Rated PG/ 91 minutes)

More Starlight Cinemas dates:

Historic District every third Wednesday – shown on Post Street. Events preceded by Post Street Summertime Blues free concerts 5:15-7:15 p.m.

June 17 - To Catch a Thief (1955/ NR/ 106 minutes) Gary Grant, Grace Kelly, John Williams

July 15 - Casablanca (1942/ NR/ 102 minutes) Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman

August 19 - A Streetcar Named Desire 1951/ NR /122 minutes) Vivien Leigh,Kim Hunter, Marlon Brando

SoFA District every fourth Wednesday — shown at South First and William streets

June 24 - Mad Hot Ballroom (2005/ Rated PG/ 105 minutes)

July 22 - Romeo & Juliet (1996/ Rated PG-13/ 120 minutes) Leonardo DiCaprio; Claire Danes; John Leguizamo; Harrold Perrineu

August 26 - Shaun of The Dead (2004/ Rated R/ 99 minutes) Simon Pegg; Kate Ashfield; Nick Frost; Lucy Davis; Dylan Moran

Music too?

SCION'S MUSIC IN THE PARK

Presented by Dos Equis and Metro Newspapers

This summer, 13 events will take place, all at Plaza de Cesar Chavez, off Market Street and San Fernando Street. The schedule is once again blockbuster, filled with world-class performers.

Best of all, the shows are free. Park in the Market-San Pedro Garage for $3 after 6 p.m. And stay late, eating at one of many San Pedro Square establishments.

Mark your calendars with these free shows, each beginning at 5:30 p.m. And ending about 9 p.m.:

July 23: Matt Nathanson (pop / rock); supported by MiGGs

July 30: Colin Hay of Men at Work (pop)

August 6: Anthony David (R&B)

August 13: Better Than Ezra (pop / rock)

August 20: Sonny Landreth (blues / rock)

August 27: White Album Ensemble plays "Across the Universe" (Beatles tribute)

The Fair too!

Santa Clara County FairFest
Santa Clara County Fairgrounds; Aug. 2-4, 11am-11pm; 408.494.3100, www.thefair.org

The annual celebration of the valley's agricultural roots has dropped its usual $8 adult admission all the way down to…zero. A parking charge remains, but that's still a considerable savings for unlimited access to music, fireworks and exhibits.

Downtown San Jose Free Parking: Weekdays after 6 and all day weekends and holidays.

Market & San Pedro Square Garage
(between Santa Clara and St. John streets)

Third Street Garage
(between Santa Clara and St. John streets)

San Fernando & Third Street Lot
(Block 3) (between Second and Third streets, north of the San Jose Repertory Theatre)

San Fernando & Second Street Lot
(Block 2) (on San Fernando Street, between First and Second streets, across from Gordon Biersch Restaurant)

Pavilion Garage
(on Second Street, between San Fernando and San Carlos streets)

Second & San Carlos Street Garage
(on Second and Third streets at San Carlos, next to Camera 3 Cinemas)

Fourth and San Fernando Street Garage
(northeast corner of Fourth and San Fernando streets)

Check www.sjdowntownparking.com/freepark.htm for details

Wow That's a lot of Free! And Guess what? There's More! But we'll save that for another post!