Fun Things to Do for Kids Ages 2-92 in December 2018

It's the holidays and many times, families are always looking for new things to do and new traditions to embrace.  I've put together a fantastic guide for extended families to enjoy doing throughout December, but especially the time between Dec 19-Jan 1.

Please note that I've found these all through Facebook events.  Please visit these events' pages and thoroughly read to ensure that the event hasn't been canceled or rescheduled.  Honey Bee Photography is not responsible for any events that we've shared with you.

Now through Dec 31 An Old-Fashioned Christmas Garden

Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department presents our 25th Anniversary Old Fashioned Christmas Train Garden. 

New design every year!

Includes Charles Richter's Christmas Garden!

Free admission, although donations are gratefully appreciated.

Opens Sunday, November 18, 2018
Closes Tuesday, January 1, 2019

Weeknights: 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Weekends: 11:00 AM - 8:30 PM

Now through Dec 31 A Production of Cinderella at Imagination Station

This wacky retelling of the beloved fairy tale takes Cinderella on a royal adventure complete with a wisecracking rat, evil stepsisters, and a smitten prince. When Cinderella’s stepmother forbids her from attending the ball, her fairy godmother convinces her that if the shoe fits - wear it! True love may await her if only she can put down her sword. Just the right fit for the holiday season! Best for ages 4+.

Now through Dec 31 Zoo Lights at the National Zoo

FREE and Open to the Public 5PM-9PM daily - November 23 to January 1 (*except Dec. 24, 25 and 31)

Join the thousands of visitors who make ZooLights a part of their annual holiday tradition. A free event, ZooLights includes live music performances, tasty winter treats and plenty of opportunities for holiday shopping. More than 500,000 environmentally-friendly LED lights transform the Zoo into a winter wonderland complete with a dazzling light show set to music!

All through Dec Grand Opening of Christmas on the Potomac and ICE

Be one of the first guests to experience ICE! featuring A Charlie Brown Christmas by joining us on opening day! Favorite characters including Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy and friends will come to life in colorful, larger-than-life ice sculptures and thrilling two-story tall ice slides. Then continue the fun in our Christmas Village with more than a dozen activities and excitement for the whole family!

Dec 19-24 The Winter Wonderland Festival of Trees

 December 19th & 20th 6-8pm, and December 21st-23rd 6-9pm. Come see over 30 themed trees and a special "Who-Ville" Display. Admission is FREE but we are asking if you can please consider donating non-perishable food and/or gloves, scarves, and mittens for our local shelters and food banks. All trees sponsored and decorated by Kent Island American Legion and Kent Island Volunteer Fire Department Volunteers.

Dec 20  Ugly Sweater Run 5k

It's that time of year again! Christmas cookies, holiday shopping, presents under the tree...and yes, UGLY SWEATERS galore!

Break out your best holiday get-up and join Fleet Feet Sports Annapolis for a festive Ugly Sweater Run!

Prizes will be awarded to the UGLIEST Holiday sweaters! 

Meet at Armadillo's restaurant for a fun run through downtown. We'll run past the Christmas tree at City Dock as well as some festive lighting displays around downtown. All fitness levels welcome. Please wear your lights and reflective gear for safety. 

Dec 21 The Baltimore Christmas Market

Celebrate this holiday season with a trip to the Christmas Village in Baltimore's Inner Harbor, an authentic German Christmas market running for its 6th consecutive year.

More info ➜ bit.ly/baltimorefun

Dec 22 Reindeer Rides At the Rhiel Farm

Come on down to the farm for a Reindeer ride (pony rides)
Hot cocoa, snacks and fun!
$10 per child (pay at entrance)
Please RSVP and follow the event for any updates

Dec 22-23 Ring in the Holidays at the Senator

It's that WONDERFUL time of the year, and it is so nice we're showing it twice!

Join us on Saturday morning, December 22nd AND Sunday morning, December 23rd at 10:00am for our ANNUAL FOOD DRIVE to benefit the GEDCO CARES Food Pantry!

Featuring Frank Capra's
Its a Wonderful Life
(1946 | 130min | DCP)

Starring: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, Henry Travers & Beulah Bondi

Dec 23 Trans-Siberian Orchestra Presented by Hallmark

An amazing spectacle of holiday music, a light show, and dramatic effects await you at this delightful concert, The Ghosts of Christmas Eve.  Tickets are still on sale.

Dec 26-Jan 1 Lights on the Bay

Lights On The Bay is an annual holiday light show featuring a two mile scenic drive along the shores of the Chesapeake Bay through Sandy Point State Park, with more than 70 animated and stationary displays depicting regional and holiday themes. 

From our popular classic displays and lighted tunnels to our North Pole Village & Enchanted Fairy Tales, Lights on the Bay has plenty of twinkling lights sure to delight all ages. 

Dec 30 A Budweiser Clydesdale Miracle on Annapolis Street

West Annapolis Business Affiliation (WABA) announced that the Budweiser Clydesdales, one of the great American icons that draws massive crowds everywhere they appear, will attend “A Miracle on Annapolis Street” on Sunday, Dec. 30 as part of the festivities leading up to this year’s Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman. Scarborough Capital Management, Hyatt Commercial and Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Annapolis Church Circle are major sponsors of this event.

A portion of proceeds from this event will benefit Patriot Point, the Military Bowl Foundation’s 290-acre retreat for recovering service members, their families, and their caregivers on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

“The West Annapolis Business Affiliation is excited to welcome everyone to charming Annapolis Street for an event that will have activities for residents and visitors of all ages,” said Frederik De Pue, President of WABA.

Dec 31 New Years Eve Annapolis 2019

The City Of Annapolis presents family friendly activities and entertainment starting at 3pm at the Weems-Whelan Memorial Field (behind Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts) from 3pm-5pm along with activities for the kids including moon bounces, slides, obstacle courses, face painting and fun with both the Annapolis Fire Department and the Annapolis Police Department . Plus enjoy Crabtowncurbs Cuisine food, live music by Priddy Music Academy and fireworks begin at 5:30pm.

HURRY... There's Still Time, But It's Running Out!

Hi there! We're at the beginning of the holiday season, but you still have time!

We have ONLY 10 SPACES AVAILABLE for holiday cards this year.

Call today to book your session and get ready to create the holiday cards you've always wanted! 240-766-8966

The Secret Sauce

Sounds simple enough, right?  It really is... And my secret sauce is delicious and fun and fulfilling.  I know you'll love every minute of it. 

If you know that you would love to have a very different photography experience, give me a call.  I'd love to speak with you and find out all of the amazing things about your family that makes your heart sing.  My number is 240-766-8966.

Safety First: A Photographer Explains Why to Take Clear, Identifying Photos and Videos of Your Child.

It’s back to school time for families all over the US, and especially here in Maryland.  One thing that parents forget to do is to update the ID packs for each child.

With all of the smart phones that the average family has, and thousands of photos and videos on each phone, it’s hard to remember that updating ID packs for children is super important to do.  So, after you put a reminder on your calendar to do this this weekend, read over these tips to help you put together a packet that will help you, just in case something happens to your family members.

•  Have an Inking Party!  Get a stamp pad, easy to find at any craft store or on Amazon,  and have each child line up to do finger and thumb prints on paper.  There’s a template at the bottom of this newsletter, easy for you to print, and fill out.
• Handwriting assignment!  Have your child write a paragraph on the same page, that has their handwriting, with their signature/handwritten name, and have them answer a couple of basic questions, like what their favorite color is and favorite animal.  Older kids can write about their favorite music or shows on tv.  Take a photograph of the page.
• Have a photo shoot!  Getting down to your child’s eye level in a well-lit area, take some photos of your child with different expressions.  Have him or her give you a happy look, a sad look, a mad look, a thinking look.  Have him or her dress in clothes that they would wear regularly, a school uniform, or their outerwear.  If there is an unusual birthmark, scar, or other “mark” on your child, photograph that as well.  Remember, this should be updated every 4-6 months, as kids grow quickly, get their hair cut, get glasses, etc.
• Create a video production!  This should be fun, and then saved in DropBox, OneDrive, or some other cloud-based product, so it’s easily accessible.  Like the photos, these should be updated every 4-6 months for the same reasons, a growth spurt, a hair cut, or new glasses.  The direction that you should give your child is to tell a story, so you can get a basic speech pattern.  Then tell a couple of knock knock jokes to show how that child interacts with something funny, have him or her sing, and then video him or her walking, running, tumbling, sitting down, standing up, going up and down the stairs.  You never know what kind of movement your child does that will help to identify your child in the case that something happens.
• Next, print the photos of your child, and place in a page protector along with the sheet that your child filled out with writing and fingerprints. 
• Take the photos and video that you have created and place in its own album on your smart phone.  This way everything is together and easily accessible.

This is something I came up with many years ago, after my son and I were separated at Six Flags back in 2005.  One of the scariest moments of motherhood is to lose a child, so I turned this experience  into a great lesson.  This happened before digital cameras were a real thing… but I used my camera to photograph him, my video camera to take video of him, and did his fingerprints and had him write his name and… well, I never needed it, but I had it.

It is my wish that you have this page and use it as often as you want to update.  I hope that you’ll never have to use it, but you’ll have peace of mind knowing that you have this done.


I hope that you have a wonderful beginning to the school year.

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I Hate Going to the Dentist (5 minute read)

What do you hate doing?

I hate going to the dentist; I admit it.  There’s always been a fear of going.  My mom used to call it “visiting the dentist”, as if changing that one word was going to make going sound like a fun time.

I do NOT feel like sitting in a dentist’s chair, with a person holding metal tools, peering into my mouth, is fun.

Now, I’ve had a couple of really great dentists!  My dentist in Anchorage, Dr Christiansen, was so fantastic. Once, I had developed an ulcer on the roof of my mouth, so I went to him to have it lanced;  in my memory, he’s the Dr. Pimple-popper of dentists!  We also had a laugh over my bovine implant in my gum at another time.  We shall never forget that episode.

So aside from those stories, let me tell you this:  I will STILL do everything I can to avoid going to the dentist, especially those who don’t use laughing gas.  Breathing in that gas that just makes everything seem hilarious, even when the hygienist is poking around.  But here’s the thing about avoiding the dentist; at some point it could be too late, and you could lose a tooth, all because you avoid going to the dentist.

I hear this about being photographed, too. 

“I know we should do a 3-generation session, and we will, but I need to lose about 50 lbs first, before I get in front of the camera.”
“I know I need to bring my 10 year old dog and 2 teenagers in to be photographed, we’re just so busy, I can’t find a good time to do it.”
“I hate getting my photo done, but I know that I need to be in a photograph with my husband and kids.  Can you hide me behind them?”

And here’s the sad part:  getting around to losing those 50 lbs may take too long, and you might lose a parent.  Dogs have much shorter lives than we do, and how sad is it that that photograph might never happen?  Your kids are going to get older, and you and your husband will, too.  The magical ages of young childhood last for only a certain amount of time, and then all of a sudden they are 10+ years and going every-which-way, and you’re the one driving them to their activities.

I understand that the thought of taking a photograph is risky for a lot of adults.  “What if I lose weight next year, then I’ll have photographs of me at this weight forever! Ugh, I can’t stand to see that!”

What if I told you that by working with me, together, we’ll create the family photographs of your dreams?

My answer to that is, “When we plan your photography session, we’re going to plan outfits that are flattering for everyone, including yourself.  I’ll pose you to ensure that you look great, and my camera angle will be at a place that will make you instantly look like you’ve lost 8 pounds!”

What would it mean to you to have a photograph that YOU LOVE of your family?  Not a photograph where the kids look cute, and that’s good enough for you.  But one where you look stunning, your kids look like they are having fun, and your husband looks like he’s enjoying himself, too.

What would it mean to have a photograph of you, your siblings, and your parents together?  A photograph that, every time you see it, years from now, you’ll remember what it was like to embrace your dad and smell his aftershave?

What would it mean to you to have a photograph of your kids and your dog, one that pulls at your heartstrings, and helps you to grieve a little easier when he ventures on to Rainbow Bridge?

Just like avoiding the dentist and losing a tooth, avoiding getting your photographs done with great intention of doing it someday may result in never having done it, and I can tell you that the regret can be enormous.  Snapshots are great, but artwork that you display on your walls that tell a story of your family is so very important.  You’ll get to see these photographs every single day in your family room, and so will your guests and loved ones.  They are conversation starters and will help you to relive the experience of when you reconnected with your husband and kids, when you talk about them to your friends, and then you’ll fall in love with them, all over again!

And how good does that feel to know that you entrusted such important photographs to a photographer who cares about your photographs just as much as you do?

 

It feels as good as it does to know that my dentist cares about me and my fears as much as fixing my tooth, and that my mouth will feel better when it’s all done.

Make the goal, this year, to get your family’s photographs done, with purpose and meaning.  If you have a pet in your family, or 2 or 7, I’d love to offer you a gift certificate that will help save you money, contribute to a worthy cause, and create lasting emotional attachment to a moment in your family’s history.

Rescue My Heart: A call out to all who own rescue pets (5 minute read)

Calling all Rescues:  Cats, Dogs, Horses, Bunnies, Birds, and Reptiles

There are so many kinds of rescue stories:  Foster Failures, Shelter Adoptions, Found in the Street, Rehoming, Appeared out of Thin Air, etc.  There are as many variations on these stories as there are animals! 

Every time I hear a story, which is always touching, about how a human’s life has been touched by a rescue pet, my mind goes directly to the following question:

Indeed.

Those who share their stories about how they fell in love with their rescues, often end up saying a similar statement:  “I don’t know if I really rescued my dog; I think she rescued me!”

I want to celebrate that and create awareness that rescues are wonderful creatures, and make wonderful family members.   

That’s why I’m working with Rude Ranch Animal Rescue and The Spay Spa and Neuter Nook.  These two organizations believe deeply in the joy of rescue and have made it their life mission to help these creatures.  Kathy and Bob Rude own and run both of these organizations, and you can find out more about them at www.ruderanch.org and www.spayspa.org.

Together, we have the goal of raising $10,000 to provide well-deserving families assistance in spaying and neutering their pets.  Our fundraiser has two parts to it, and both are celebratory in nature and fun!

Part one:  The LUXURY Photography Experience.

Interested families who love their rescues can purchase a $400 gift certificate for ONLY $50.  A whopping $40 of that goes to Rude Ranch/Spay Spa in their name.  Each family receives a full experience, which means that we get to find out exactly what you love about your rescue, how having them in your life has brought joy, and of course, we get to know all of your family members, too.

Then the day of your session arrives, which is fun for everyone!  Since we’ve planned your session, we photograph exactly what you want for your artwork.  Your session is guaranteed, so you know that I’ll help you prepare for every detail, and I’ll work hard with you to ensure that we get it all.

Soon after, we roll out the red carpet and show you your photographs with a cinematic presentation, and you get to design your artwork AND order at that time.  We can do it about 1.5 hours after your session, or if it’s better, we get together within a few days to have a party and ooh and ahh and shed some tears of joy.  I guarantee you’ll love your photographs, so do be prepared!  We accept all standard forms of payment; diamond earrings, pints of blood, and arms & legs are also acceptable. (not really! Lol) (Note:  a prosthetic leg costs about $22,000.... so you know you won't be spending that much on artwork!)

Within just a couple of weeks, the VERY best part happens:  The Unveiling of Your Artwork!  I deliver your artwork to you and together, we relive the beautiful experience that started at the very first phone call!  I can help you install them, but with our two largest collections, I have a professional come to install your artwork, while we watch and enjoy.

Doesn’t a LUXURY Photography Experience sound like something you would cherish?  All of that, plus $200 goes towards your purchase of your artwork.  AND, if you schedule your session Monday-Thursday, you’ll get your entire $400 deducted from your artwork purchase. 

5-10% of sales also goes to Rude Ranch and Spay Spa, depending on which collection you fall in love with.

Part Two:  The Celebration

Once we have finished with all of the families, we’ll be compiling all of the stories and a matching photograph into a GORGEOUS coffee table book!  Each family gets their own page, with a story of how their rescue enriches their lives.  Our goal is 100 families and their rescues; it’ll be a big book!  Proceeds from the sale of these books will go towards Rude Ranch and Spay Spa.

But wait, there’s MORE!

As you know, we are celebrating rescues and their families… so what better way to release this book than to have a celebratory dinner, complete with a silent auction and a 50/50 raffle?  All proceeds go to Rude Ranch and Spay Spa.

That’s right!  What better way to celebrate than to gather together to show off our rescues, be it canine, feline, fowl, rodent, horse, or reptile?  After all of the fun work we’ll be doing together, we’ll be able to enjoy our book and eat delicious food, and celebrate the important work that Rude Ranch and Spay Spa do for Ann Arundel County and neighboring areas.

Don’t delay! if you have a rescue that you adore and you simply must celebrate your relationship with him or her, call Megan today to get more information at 240-7766-8966!  You won’t regret it!

Gift Certificates are on sale NOW.  These make great gifts for Valentine's Day and birthdays!  Celebrate your rescue pet by calling today to purchase your very own gift certificate now.  Early Birds receive an extra $100, making the value of their gift certificate $500 for ONLY $50!  240-766-8966 is the number to call!

The Way I See Things (3 minute read)

There was a song back in the 50s, called The Twist.

Chubby Checker taught the world a new kind of dance, and it was a sensation overnight. 

It’s still a fun dance.  When one hears the song, one can’t help but get up and start dancing.  It will never get old.

In a similar way, I help my clients “twist”… or, as I affectionately like to call it, “The Way I See Things”.

My client says, “When I get home from work, I’ve already stopped at the store, so I’ve got grocery bags, and my purse, and the minute I step in the door, the kids are all over me.  It’s exhausting.”

I TWIST it, and reply, “Isn’t it wonderful that your kids miss you so much, that they are so excited to see you, that when you come home they can’t help but come running to you, wanting to hug you?”

My client says, “I stay at home with my children, so to bring in extra money, my husband drives Uber on the weekends.  I never see him anymore.”

I give it a little TWIST, and say, “Isn’t it amazing that your husband cherishes you and the kids so much, that he doesn’t want them to be in daycare, and he sacrifices his time with you by taking on extra responsibilities?  I’m positive he misses you guys on the weekends, but it sounds like he knows that this is what he needs to do, so you can stay at home.”

My client says, “I’m a work at home mom, so when the baby goes down for a nap, I hurry to get my work done.  It feels like just as I’m getting into it, he’s waking up.  I wish he’d sleep a little bit longer.”

I hear the wistfulness in her voice, and I know she is looking for validation.  I TWIST her perception by saying, “Isn’t it wonderful that you can work from home?  Isn’t it wonderful to be the one your baby sees when he first wakes up from his nap?  What do his eyes look like when he sees you?”

“Oh, he’s so happy to see me!  His eyes are big and his smiles are wide!  He bounces with excitement when I pick him up.”

“Isn’t that beautiful? How does that make you feel when he reacts that way?”

“I feel loved and wanted.  I never thought about it that way.”

“So, when you think about it like that, what does that mean to you?”

“I feel like I can successfully be a work-at-home-mom with a baby.  It’s all worth it.”

“What would you do with a photograph of your son, looking so excited and happy in your arms?  What would that mean to you?”

“Oh, I’d put it by my desk so I could see it all the time while I’m working.  It would mean so much to see that every day!  It would keep me going!”

Do you want a TWIST, a new way to perceive your life?  Just like Chubby Checker performed The Twist and all of America started dancing in a new way, I would love to help you see things differently.   I’d love to speak with you and find out what’s most important to you, so that I can photograph that for you, and you can love it every single day.

Recently, Danielle LaPorte quoted, “Life is art”.  I say, “Be in love with the artwork of your life!”