This one time in Buffalo

One of my favourite things about being a parent is surprising Lenny with EPIC STUFF. Last March we took her to see a production of Dinosaur Train Live without telling her first and it was an amazing experience for all of us. So when the opportunity came to take a family road trip to see the Kratt Brothers in person we jumped at the chance. She had no idea what we were doing until we were in the theatre. I feel like we unlocked some kind of parenting badge for pulling this one over on her. It was so much fun.

Chris and Martin put on a heck of a show. And Lenny walked away with her very own creature power suit. Like I said, EPIC.

Buffalo is one of my favourite cities to visit. It is so underrated. Great art, great food, great architecture. It's great. I'd love it for the Mighty Taco and the Albright Knox alone!

We even got to have Buffalo Wings at the Anchor Bar...the place that INVENTED Buffalo Wings. They were damn good too.

The morning after Operation Kratt Brothers Surprise we pulled another one on her. An interactive Curious George exhibit at the Science Museum. WHAT? So cool. She tended to Bill's bunnies, tried on the Doorman's outfit and performed all kinds of cool experiments. I can't lie, I loved it too. George is one of my favourite shows and it really did feel like we stepped in to their world.

Look at that face. This is definitely what I thought being a mom would be like. Such fun times. Thanks, Buffalo. See you soon!

Programming Note: All new season of Curious George starts on PBS this week!

Today CURIOUS GEORGE: A Halloween Boo Fest returns to PBS KIDS! Anyone who has already seen the Curious George Halloween special knows that it is an instant classic, so, you know, hold on to your hats!  If the kids in your life are anything like Lenny then you've been watching it all year long.  The big news?  The annual airing of Boofest is kicking off season 9 of Curious George with a whole week of brand new episodes!

Season nine!!! That's staying power.  I'm starting to think that the new season of Curious George is becoming as much of ritual in this house as picking out a pumpkin, enjoying the colourful foliage and realizing I don't like Pumpkin Spice Lattes as much as I think I do.  A big part of last Fall was the season 8 premiere starring Carol Burnett.  Lenny still wants a front-loader and I still tear up a little bit when I think of George tugging on his ear.

This year the new adventures with George and my not so secret crush, The Man with the Yellow Hat, debut on PBS KIDS October 28-30.  Plot lines include George testing his super spy skills and exploring an aviation museum. October 28 features the premiere of “Submonkey,” an underwater adventure that includes the song “Down, Down, Down,” performed by Belinda Carlisle (be still my grew-up-in-the-80's heart!).

The week of Halloween will also feature Halloween-themed episodes from other PBS KIDS shows, including DINOSAUR TRAIN, DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD, WILD KRATTS, and more. Check your local listings.

PBS KIDS: WILD KRATTS: SWAMP THINGS

If you're like me, you've learned more watching PBS KIDS with your kid then you're eager to admit.  Real talk:  I learned more about the solar system from Ruff Ruffman then I ever learned in grade school.

Well, this week, Chris and Martin Kratt are going to finally help me nail down the difference between crocodiles and alligators.  You think I'd finally have that figured out after all the time we spend in New Orleans, but well, no.

My friends at PBS KIDS asked me to remind you guys to tune-in to the premiere of WILD KRATTS: SWAMP THINGS on Monday, July 21 on PBS KIDS! The one-hour special kicks off a week of new, swamp-tastic episodes set in Flordia’s Everglades and Cypress Swamp.

In the special, a pop Creature Quiz challenge question about what the differences are between a crocodile and an alligator turns into a full-blown Crocogator contest to find out why these two very similar creatures are different at all. The WILD KRATTS also go on a fact-finding adventure about mosquitos! Check your local listing for air times.

I went on a fact-finding adventure about mosquitos last week while reading on my front porch.  It wasn't pretty, let me tell you.  One minute I'm all "oh...this is the best..a glass of wine a good book" and then suddenly I was all "WHY IS MY ENTIRE BODY ITCHY?!"  

I could have totally used some create power that night, let me tell you.

FULL DISCLOSURE:  This is not a sponsored post.  I love PBS and PBS KIDS so much...and they know it...and they know I'll do their bidding for free.
Because that's what you do for people and corporate entities that you love.