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As you might have guessed, this post is primarily going to be about the Fourth of July events happening around town. Please be sure to check out the rules for each location, as many different festivals do not allow pets or outside refreshments, glass or coolers. Also, many road closures will result from the festivities so check the links to each event before heading out. If you have any other events that I have not listed but you would like to let people know about, please feel free to leave a comment here. Have a safe extended holiday weekend!

Firework Displays and Fourth of July Celebrations:

HEB Austin Symphony 4th of July Concert and Fireworks- Featuring patriotic music and the popular 1812 Overture with cannon blasts by 75-millimeter Howitzer cannons. The event is FREE and open to the public (some 100,000 people, so plan to get there early!!). The orchestra begins playing at 8:30pm, fireworks begin at 9:30 and end at 10:00. Auditorium Shores.

Cedar Park- Festivities begin Saturday at 4:00pm and end at 10:40, with a big fireworks display at the end. FREE and open to the public. Milburn Park, 1901 Sun Chase Blvd.

Pflugerville Pfirecracker Pfestival- Food, live music, games for the kids and fireworks!. Festivities begin at 4:00pm and fireworks start at 9:00pm. Shuttle busses available as there will be limited parking onsite. FREE!! Lake Pflugerville, 4600 Pflugerville Pkwy.

Frontier Days Celebration- A parade, jalapeno pepper contest, inflatables, pony rides, games, arts and crafts vendors, and fireworks! Ballet Folklorico dancers and a reenactment of the historical Sam Bass Shootout will be part of the fun as well! Festivities begin at 7:00 p.m. with free watermelon at the Lakeview Pavilion, live music from the Austin Symphonic Band and a skydiver flying into the festivities. Fireworks begin after dark. FREE!! Old Settlers Park, 3300 E. Palm Valley Blvd., Round Rock.

Summerfest San Marcos- Food, live music, a parade and children’s activities beginning on Saturday at 5:00pm. FREE and open to the public. San Marcos Plaza Park, 202 N. CM Allen Parkway, San Marcos.

Independence Day Celebration- Enjoy live music, stop by the village of Sprinkle Corner to listen to historic poems and hear the Declaration of Independence read as you celebrate the way they did in the 1800’s. Concessions are available for purchase. Adults, $10; Kids 2 and up, $8. Saturday, 10:00am- 2:00pm. Pioneer Farms, 10621 Pioneer Farms Dr.

Volente Beach Fireworks- Enjoy live music while cooling down at Volente Beach Waterpark! The fireworks show is free to everyone who has paid regular pool admission before 8:00pm; after 8:00, it will cost you $5.00. Saturday, fireworks begin at dusk. Volente Beach Waterpark, FM 2769, Lake Travis.

And Other Weekend Events:

The Frog Prince- Princess Abigail is simply a spoiled brat with no concern for anyone but herself. But with the help of a cunning frog with a very special secret, Abigail will learn how to be a true Princess! The Frog Prince features original songs and music, and a special guest star– Penelope the Party Pooper! This new musical adaptation of the classic Brother’s Grimm tale teaches the lesson of being true to your word. The interactive play is perfect for ages 3-11. Saturday, 10:00am and Sunday, 2:00pm. $10 adults, $7 kids and $3 infants. Scottish Rite Children’s Theatre, 207 W. 18th St.

Dinosaur T-Short Day- Life size dinosaur statues, nature trails, scavenger hunt, fossil digs and playground, while saving money on admission! Anyone wearing a dinosaur t-shirt will receive a $1 discount on admission. Plus, anyone wearing an official “Dinosaur Park, Cedar Creek, Texas” t-shirt will receive FREE admission into The Park. Regular admission $6. Saturday and Sunday starting at 10:00am. Dinosaur Park, 893 Union Chapel Road, Cedar Creek.

Science Sunday- Wondering what it’s like to be a vet? Vets from Austin Vet Care will be on hand with live animals to give you the scoop on how they work to make animals’ lives better. Learn about pet care, exotic animals, and careers in veterinary science and find out just how similar we are to our animal relatives! Sunday, 3:00- 5:00pm. $4.50-$6.50, kids under 12 mos. free; Museum free on Sundays from 4-5pm. Austin Children’s Museum, 201 Colorado St.

There’s nothing like a family road trip to make you realize that you need a larger car. Yes, I fought the urge to rent a minivan for our long trip in the car, rationalizing that my Volvo wagon was big enough. But, it’s a bit cramped. And uncomfortable. And cramped. Did I mention cramped?

I have fought the urge to upgrade to a minivan for a long time. Not that I’m against family cars- my Volvo screams mom from miles away. But a minivan? Driven by me? But with two kids and the possibility of more in the future, I think I’m going to need to upgrade.

What do you drive? Are there any cars out there that are big enough to accommodate a large family that doesn’t make you feel like such a mom? Something sexy and hip? Does that type of “mom car” exist? Do you have a minivan that you really like and can’t imagine driving anything else now? Is there anything in between a car and a minivan that is a nice family-friendly ride? Help me out, ladies! I just might end up buying one for our trip back to Texas…..

My two-and-a half year old is potty trained and seldom has an accident, even during the night-time. I’ve had it in the back of my head that we were close to running out of pull-ups, which is what she has been wearing at nigh-time for the occasional accident. So, when I pulled open the drawer after her bath last night to take one out, I found it to be empty. I crossed my fingers, checked to make sure the leak proof mattress cover was on her bed and slipped a pair of big girl undies onto her. I told her that she was wearing underwear instead of a night-night diaper and so we made an extra trip to the potty.

She was dry this morning and that’s inspired me to not buy any more pull-ups, as they really have been a complete waste of money. What I would like to buy are some of those old-timey plastic covers that go over the underwear- you know, like the ones you used to wear when you were a kid. Do they work? If so, why can’t I find them anywhere? Is there a better alternative to buying diapers for the rare accident that you’ve had success with for keeping the sheets dry at night? If you know of anything that works or where I can get ahold of some of those plastic undie covers, let me know.

Not that we are planning on traveling on another airplane for a few months, but what do you do when your potty-trained toddler is afraid of the toilets on the airplane? Luckily, we had a pull-up in her carry-on bag and just slipped it on her whenever we realized that there was no way she was going on that scary toilet. Somehow, she managed to hold it until we landed (yes, I was proud… beaming with joy that she could hold it for so long). Our next planned trip is a long one; we’ll be flying to Germany for Christmas and I’m already stressing about how to handle that, especially since we won’t be using pull-ups at all by then. Advice?

East End Fourth Fridays- A unique art and culture celebration in east Austin. This month’s feature band is Big Chief Kevin and the Flaming Arrows (Creole inspired funk music). Activities for the kids (free hot dogs and books!!), art/craft vendors, food/drinks and free Live Oak Beer! Friday, gates open at 6:00pm with FREE entry, live music begins at 7:00pm and then there’s a $5 cover after 8:00pm. Kenny Dorham’s Backyard, 1106 E. 11th Street.

Movies in the Park- Bring a blanket or lawn chairs and enjoy watching Kung Fu Panda. Pre-movie activities begin at 7:30 and the show begins at dusk. Friday. FREE!! Old Settlers Park, 3300 Palm Valley Blvd., Round Rock.

Music in the Park Summer Concert Series- Bring a blanket, snacks and your cooler for an evening of live music by Warren Hood and the Hoodlums. Friday from 7:00 - 9:00pm.  FREE!! Pfluger Park, 515 City Park Rd., Pflugerville.

African American Book Festival- Listen to award winning authors discuss their books while the kids are entertained with face painting, arts and crafts, and storytelling. Saturday, 10:00am- 4:00pm. FREE!! Carver Branch Library, 1161 Angelina.

Alamo Kids Club- Enjoy a FREE showing of Explorers. For children 3 and up, must be accompanied by an adult. Saturday, 11:00am. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, South Lamar.

BookKids Storytime- This week’s storytime is all about the fabulous pre-historic dinosaurs with a special reading of Dino-Trux and an activity to follow. FREE!! Saturday, 11:30am. BookPeople, 603 N. Lamar Blvd.

Pattern Nation- A play by Emily Cicchini, Pattern Nation is Pollyanna Theatre Company’s third installment of the adventures of Red, Blue, Green, and Yellow, some unlikely friends who explore patterns found in music, nature and visual art, as well as patterns in human behavior. All ages welcome. Tickets at $6.25 for children under 12, $7.25 for student age 12 and older, ACOT members and Seniors, and $8.25 for adults. Saturday, 11:00am and 2:00pm. Sunday, 2:00pm. The Long Center for Performing Arts, 701 W. Riverside Dr.

Hartman Foundation Concerts in the Park- Pack a picnic, bring the entire family and your friends to listen to FREE music by different ensembles of the Austin Symphony. This week’s feature is big band music. Sunday, 7:30pm. Hartman Concert Park in front of the Long Center City Terrace, 701 W. Riverside Dr.

Sunday Morning Kids Show- Learn Rhythm with Drumming, Singing and Dancing with Austin’s own Steve Marcum! Bring instruments, some will be provided at the end of the show. FREE!! Tips for the performers are always appreciated. Sunday, 10:30am. Ruta Maya Coffee Shop. 3601 South Congress Ave.

Gustafer Yellowgold- Live performance with a signing to followthe show. FREE!! Sunday, 11:00am. Barnes and Noble, 10000 Research Blvd.

Written by: Shannon Oelrich

I’m a little obsessed with greens right now. I just really love them. I know I didn’t when I was a kid, and believe me, with Southern parents and grandparents, greens were on the table from time to time. It just took me, say, 30 years to appreciate them.

Recently, I added kale to a pasta salad made with Asian peanut dressing and was crazy about the results, although my husband wasn’t, so that recipe is a work in progress. Last summer, my mother-in-law had a bumper crop of colorful Swiss chard, and we ate that sautéed with onions and a little bacon. And I truly adore spinach steamed with garlic and lemon.

But greens like collard, mustard and turnip are an acquired taste, I think, so if you’re new to them, use a tried-and-true recipe like the one below. It’s a favorite of mine, especially with cornbread, and it’s from Texas chef Terry Thompson-Anderson’s “Cajun-Creole Cooking”. I serve this with a little apple cider vinegar and Tabasco sauce on the side to sprinkle over your greens as desired.

For a lower-fat version, I’ve used a smoked turkey leg instead of ham. Our farmers market has had some good-looking greens lately, but if you’re at the grocery store, get a bag of pre-washed, mixed greens. It will cut down on your prep time.

Mixed Greens with Turnips and Tasso

1 large bunch each: fresh collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens and kale, or any combination

2 medium onions, halved lengthwise and sliced thin

2 medium turnips, peeled, halved lengthwise and sliced thin

4 ounces tasso* or good-quality smoked ham

3 tablespoons sugar

½ cup picante sauce

1 tablespoon salt

1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper

Place all greens in sink or a large pot; fill to brim with lukewarm water. Let greens stand 15 minutes. Carefully remove greens from water without disturbing sandy silt that has settled to bottom. Wash leaves under running water; tear leaves into small pieces, removing tough ribs. Place torn greens, onions, turnips and tasso or ham in a 10- to 12-quart soup pot; fill to top with water. Add sugar, picante sauce, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; boil 5 minutes. Reduce heat; barely simmer, stirring occasionally, 3 hours. Taste for seasoning; adjust if necessary. Greens should have lots of liquid left; add more if necessary. Serve hot. Makes 8 to 10 servings.

*Tasso is a smoked pork or beef seasoning meat made from poor-quality meat cuts. The meat is coated with a very spicy seasoning mixture and slow-smoked until hard and very flavorful.

Have you heard about this fun activity for the kids during the Summer? I’ve been meaning to post it on LM, but have been bogged down lately, so here it is before I forget again! Thanks for reminding me, Lisa!

Children’s Day Art Park is happening every Wednesday morning from June 10- July 29th (except for July 1st). It costs only 50 cents for children and adults are free when accompanied by a kid! There will be live music by local musicians (tomorrow’s performance is by the Biscuit Brothers), an Instrument Petting Zoo, mimes, dancers, storytellers and more. The gates open at 9:00am with the music performances taking place at 10:00 and the art tent opening at 11:30. This all takes place at Symphony Square, 1101 Red River (11th and Red River).

See you there!

Summertime is for movies. I know… it’s also for swimming and lemonade and watermelon and water balloon fights. But really, it’s meant to watch movies. Why? Because it’s hot outside during the summer. And what better way to beat the heat (other than leaving for an extended vacation in Antarctica) than plopping down in front of the big screen with the air conditioning blowing a steady, cool breeze over you?

So, now that you are sold on going to the movies to escape the heat, you now have to budget a big chunk of change to pay for your movie date with your kids, right? Wrong! There are lots of FREE (or really cheap) Summer Movies all over town. That’s right, now you can take your family to the movies and still have enough money to pay the mortgage.

Here’s a list of the movie theatres and businesses offering free or discounted flicks:

Regal Cinema- Showing G and PG movies every Tuesday and Wednesday at 10:00am now through August 6, 2009. Three local theatres are participating: Arbor Great Hills, Westgate and Lakeline.

Alamo Drafthouse Summer Movie Kids’ Camp- Showing oldies and some newer movies every Monday through Thursday at 11:00am through August 20th at the Village and South Lamar locations.

AMC Summer Movie Camp- Showing lots of newer films every Wednesday at 10:00am at the Barton Creek Square location. This theatre charges $1 admission but it goes to charity, so you can feel good about splurging!

Austin Public Library- FREE showings at different branches all over Austin! Click here for a schedule and locations.

Froots Summer Movies- Enjoy a FREE movie every Friday night at 7:45pm while enjoying fresh food at Froots. All movies are family friendly, seating is limited. Froots, 1335 E. Whitestone Blvd.

If you enjoy watching movies in the great outdoors, check out these options:

Movies in Your Park- Bring a blanket or chairs and the entire family for a movie in the park for FREE! Showings are scheduled for Friday, June 26th and July 24, 2009. Pre-movie activities begin at 7:00pm and then the movies begin at dusk. Concessions are available. Old Settlers Park, 3300 Palm Valley Blvd. in Round Rock.

Kyle Movies in the Park- Again, bring a blanket or lawn chairs and the entire family for FREE movies. Next show will be on July 24th and it starts 30 minutes after sundown. Gregg-Clarke Park across from Kyle Pool.

Splash Party Movie Night- Every Saturday night during the summer (except for the weekend of July 5th) enjoy a movie while splashing in the pool at Deep Eddy. The shows are all family friendly and begin at dusk. Concessions are available. Movies are free with regular pool admission. Deep Eddy, 401 Deep Eddy Ave.

101X Summer Cinema- Now through August 5, enjoy a FREE family friendly movie every other Wednesday on the lawn at Central Market. Enjoy some excellent Central Market food and $2 16oz. Blue Moon Drafts to keep you refreshed! Bring a blanket or lawn chairs. Central Market, N. Lamar.

A few months back, I was reading this blog post from Get Your Mess On and saved it in the back of my head for a future date. I thought it was such a cool idea: to take kids on a tour of a local coffee roasting company. It not only helps kids to understand where that stuff that mommy and daddy drink religiously comes from, but it also shows them how a local, successful company operates. Both fun and educational.

After reading that, I have been trying to think of other local companies that might offer tours that are also somewhat child friendly. You know, taking the kids on a tour of Tito’s  Handmade Vodka might not be the best of times for the kids, although I think it might be a splendid idea for a mom only field trip.

I organize a local mom and kids group in Pflugerville and have been inspired by the tour of Texas Coffee Traders, but haven’t been able to come up with anything. I’ll admit that I haven’t done much research; the only two that are scheduled for the group so far this summer are tours of the local police and fire departments, which were both recommended by other moms in the group. Man, talk about falling down on the job! And now that summer is here and many of our kids are out of school, we need something to keep them active that is either cheap or free and that helps to educate them as well.

Do you have any recommendations for local companies that might be willing to offer a bunch of moms and kids to come in to take a tour of their business? Have you gone on any local tours that you and your kids have really enjoyed? Are there any companies that you’d like to check out but haven’t contacted yet?

113th Annual Camp Ben McCulloch Reunion- Everyone is welcome to come and join us for family fun and entertainment. Throughout the eight day Reunion you can enjoy, music, dancing, camping, swimming, food, a carnival, bingo, games, washer pitching, and plenty of time to catch up with friends and family. On the banks of the beautiful Onion Creek, Camp Ben McCulloch is an ideal place to enjoy the outdoors year-round. June 19-26, for complete schedule, check website. Camp Ben McCulloch, Driftwood.

Southpark After Dark- Live music for the entire family; this week’s performance is rock music with School of Rock. FREE!! Friday, 7:30pm. The Grove at Southpark Meadows, 9300 IH-35 South.

Juneteenth Celebration- Celebrate African American culture, freedom and history with storytelling, puppet shows, art activities, museum tours, and doll making. FREE and open to the public. Friday, 10:00am- 4:00pm. Carver Branch Library, 1161 Angelina.

Juneteenth Rythym and Ribs Celebration- Food, vendors, kids area with a clown, face painting, a rock climbing wall and more, live entertainment, bbq cookoff and more. Friday at 5:00pm and Saturday at 11:00am. FREE!! Baca Center, 301 W. Bagdad, Round Rock.

Round Rock Concert Series- Enjoy live music by Eleven Fingered Charlie for FREE!! Bring a blanket or lawn chairs, coolers are allowed as long as there is no glass. Pets are also welcome. This month’s concert will be happening in conjunction with the Juneteenth celebration. Saturday, 3:00pm. Round Rock Ampitheatre, behind the Baca Center at 301 W. Bagdad.

Pattern Nation- A play by Emily Cicchini, Pattern Nation is Pollyanna Theatre Company’s third installment of the adventures of Red, Blue, Green, and Yellow, some unlikely friends who explore patterns found in music, nature and visual art, as well as patterns in human behavior. All ages welcome. Tickets at $6.25 for children under 12, $7.25 for student age 12 and older, ACOT members and Seniors, and $8.25 for adults. Saturday, 11:00am and 2:00pm. Sunday, 2:00pm. The Long Center for Performing Arts, 701 W. Riverside Dr.

BookKids Storytime- This week’s storytime is all about beaches and beach creatures. Saturday at 11:30am. FREE!! BookPeople, 603 N. Lamar Blvd.

World Refugee Day- Join us to celebrate and meet some of Austin’s newest Texans for the United Nations World Refugee Day. This FREE event is in conjunction with Forgotten Gateway: Coming to America Through Galveston Island. Austin singer songwriter Sara Hickman will kick off a live music stage with other activities including children’s games, food, face painting, a fashion show, and more. Saturday, 1:00- 5:00pm. The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, 1800 N. Congress Ave.

Celebrando 2009: Bomba y Plena de Mayaguez- Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance celebrates the rich culture of Puerto Rico with our largest performance of the year, with masters direct from Puerto Rico. In this once in a lifetime, unique production, Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance will merge with Los Tambores de Felix Alduen for an exciting, live music and dance performance of Bomba and Plena direct from Mayaguez. If you love percussion, this will be an amazing show you won’t want to miss! Don’t miss this spectacular production that will take you on a voyage from Puerto Rico’s beloved music and dance traditions to innovative, original fusions based in our folklore. Admission: Adults $15 door, $5 Children (12 & under), 2 & under free. Saturday, 8:00 pm and Sunday at 2:00pm. The Theatre at Reagan High, 7104 Berkman Drive.

Fairly Silly Fairy Tales- The Flying Theatre Machine, Austin’s only family oriented improv act performs every Sunday. Kids can get involved in the storytelling and a lucky few may end up on stage. Sunday at 2:00pm. Tickets, $5. The Hideout Theatre, 617 Congress Ave.

Hartman Foundation Concerts in the Park- Pack a picnic, bring the entire family and your friends to listen to FREE music by different ensembles of the Austin Symphony. This week’s feature is the woodwind ensemble. Sunday, 7:30pm. Hartman Concert Park in front of the Long Center City Terrace, 701 W. Riverside Dr.

Ruta Maya Kids Show- This week’s FREE kids show features Schave and Reilly, slapstick Vaudeville antics that you don’t want to miss. Sunday at 10:30am. Ruta Maya Coffee Shop, 3601 S. Congress Ave.

Written by: Shannon Oelrich

Peach season is here, although a late freeze curtailed the amount of Texas peaches available this year. Don’t let that stop you from heading out to the Hill Country with your family one weekend soon. The farmers also have tomatoes, blackberries, beans and other fresh fruits and vegetables, and it’s important to support them when the peach crop is lower so that they’ll be here next year.

Our families favorite stop for peaches is Burg’s Corner in Stonewall. They have a wide selection of fresh offerings, plus canned goods like peach jam. And we always get a scoop of peach ice cream to eat right there. You can go to the Hill Country Fruit Council’s web page to see other growers and their offerings.

Today’s recipe is one of my family’s absolute favorite desserts of all time, and it’s also incredibly easy. Fresh peaches are great in it, but I’ve also used apples or strawberries with rhubarb or strawberries with blueberries as fillings.

Peach Crumble

6 cups fresh sliced peaches (or other fruit)

1 stick butter

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup flour

1/4 cups uncooked oats

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray the sides of a deep casserole dish with cooking spray. (A deep dish keeps the fruit juices from splattering in your oven and the cooking spray makes for easier cleanup.) Put fruit in dish.

In small pan over low heat, melt butter. Remove from heat; add remaining ingredients and mix well. Crumble the mixture evenly over fruit. Bake until top is golden brown, 35-40 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes before serving with vanilla ice cream.