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Free and cheap family fun for the weekend
Time sis certainly running out for this summer. After hanging out with some mom friends earlier this week, one kept saying, "No, it is not time for school already!" I am both sad and happy about it: Sad because I like for my kids to have some freedom during the summer and it seems the weeks do go by super fast. Happy that we will soon be back on a schedule. The summer months can be crazy with one camp here, another there. It's a nice feeling to know that they will go to one place and stay put for several months.
In the meantime, there is no reason to let the rest of the summer go by without keeping busy. Here are a few events to pass the time.
If you don't mind your older kids getting really dirty and they can stop saying "I'm bored" for a bit, then you will all love the TASCO Teen Extreme Mud Wars at St. Petersburg's Spa Beach at the Pier approach at 10 a.m. today. They can roll in the mud, play mud tug of war, dodgeball and dance in the mud. No "ewwwws" allowed for this crazy event which has an session for grownups who like to play in the mud on Saturday. Cost on Thursday is $5 per kids in grades 6-12 or $50 for a team of up to 12 participants. Call (727) 892-5060 for more details.
If your teens would rather not get too dirty, then try letting them be the game pieces on a crazy big game board at Libraryopoly at the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library, 2902 W Bearss Ave., Tampa. Use play money to buy teen books and to pay rent for landing on another player's book space. This free event is open to middle and high school students ages 13-18 at 6 p.m. tonight. Call (813) 273-3652 for details.
If you've missed seeing Rocco Baldelli in the Tampa Bay Rays lineup, you can catch up to him again. Only this time, he's with the Rays minor league team, the Charlotte Stone Crabs and the team will be traveling to the bay area to play several games against the Clearwater Threshers and the Tampa Yankees starting tonight and going through the weekend. There are also some good food deals and awesome theme nights. The tickets are super cheap.
Considering going to see Storytime Live at the Straz Center from July 31 to Aug. 1 but hadn't bought tickets yet? You're in luck because now you can see Dora, the Backyardigans, Ni Hao, Kai-lan and Wonder Pets for 25 percent less. That's right, if you buy price level 2 seats ($31.25) before Sunday and enter the promo code STORY, you'll get 25 percent off. Go here for ticket information.
We're all about free and cheap movies here. Two must-sees this weekend are the free Harry Potter film at the John F. Germany Library in Tampa and the Dive-In Movies presentation of The Lion King at the St. Pete Beach Aquatic Center. Both movies are on Friday, with Potter at 3 p.m. and Lion King at 8 p.m. Remember to get to the pool movie early because it is limited to the first 150 people. Potter is free while it's $3 for The Lion King.
In the mood for a little pirate booty? Then you best be heading to the Highland Recreation Complex and Family Aquatic Center in Largo for the Splash's Treasure Hunt at 11 a.m. Saturday. Hunts are divided by age group and its open to ages 10 and younger at Highland Recreation Complex and Family Aquatic Center, 400 Highland Ave. NE, Largo. Call (727) 518-3018 for info.
Bet you didn't know that the SPCA Tampa Bay had a permanent resident cow, Angie, in the house. But now you can get to know her at the SPCA Cow Appreciation Day at 11 a.m. Saturday at the SPCA, 9099 130th Ave. N, Largo. Angie has many best friends including Mo' the donkey, Tabitha and Leon the horses, Brian D. Goat and more than a dozen other animals. And the special guest star during the day is the Chick-fil-A Cow.
Saturday night at MOSI in Tampa get in on the Family Fun Game Night at 5 p.m. You can play board games, Wii games and match wits in a "Are You Smarter Than the Kids" trivia tournament. Tickets are $12, $10 for members and ages 4 and younger are free. CAll (813) 987-6000 for more details. MOSI is at 4801 E Fowler Ave., Tampa.
The first 1,500 kids in attendance at the Tampa Bay Storm vs. Alabama Vipers game on Saturday get a free 12-pack of limited edition Football Silly Bandz courtesy of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Included with game ticket. 7:30 p.m., St. Pete Times Forum, 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa. (813) 301-6500; www.stpetetimesforum.com.
Go out and make this a special weekend before summer 2010 is gone.
~ Sherry Robinson
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Sharon Kennedy Wynne has sunscreen in her blood. She may have been born in Buffalo but she got here as fast as she could, in time for kindergarten. She grew up in St. Petersburg, graduated from the University of Florida journalism school, and even got married at Sunken Gardens. She's one of the few adults we know who actually loves taking her kids to the beach. She has two sons and with 10 years of parenting under her belt, she's starting to feel a little less out of her league. She comes from a large family and loves to debate, so brace yourself when the hot topics come up.
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Freelance writer Courtney Cairns Pastor wasn’t so sure about having kids and how she would balance child-rearing with her journalism career. It turned out that her journalism training went to good use. As the mom to a funny, active toddler, she learned to handle him like she did her sources. Never ask yes or no questions (the answer will always be no), get him to be specific (are you crying because you’re wet or your tooth hurts?) and be prepared for anything because no two days are the same. When she’s not playing trucks, Courtney crams for her book club, trains for races and occasionally bursts into showtunes. E-mail her at 
Suzannah DiMarzio has it bad for the Mouse. Although she grew up outside of Boston, she took her degree in tourism management down to Orlando just to work at Disney and the travel industry. Of course, when she married her high school sweetheart, the reception was at Disney. She’s now a seasoned stay-at-home mom to two tweens and a toddler – and yes, that is as crazy as it sounds. Suzannah has her own blog, Comment Policy
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