A resource for families in Santa Cruz County
Please share your stories...
Every one has a story -- overcoming a challenge, a surprise “aha” moment, times our children made us laugh so hard we couldn’t stop, the rough moments, teary times, a tragedy, a romance, an insight when our past pops into our "now," loss, learning, accomplishment, mistakes, growth, triumph— a story which can inspire fellow family travelers, if told.

The new website has a BLOG page! It’s for Santa Cruz County parents, teachers, entrepreneurs, and children to share personal stories, vignettes which have their genesis in the family . Our story may seem ordinary to us, but the reality is, “Every story has worth!” Read this one about romance.
A Sweet Story about A Renewed Romance
by Donalyn Marchi Allen
I thought I would share this photo of my dad and his high school girlfriend back in 1958, I believe right there on Seacliff Beach. I have run this beach thousands of times and it just delighted me as I see him in these photos enjoying his time with his then and now girlfriend.

Funny enough, they have reconnected after all these years and are dating now. 

Here they are, Don Marchi and Betty Moore Behic, in 1958 and now.
___________________
See! A short, sweet story by  Donalyn Marchi Allen , who spent most of her adult life in Aptos, now lives in Boise, Idaho with her husband and three children and helps families relocating to Boise with finding a home!

Have a storied weekend! Please send us a story! Parmalee
info@santacruzparent.com
Family Events
Tech Talks: iPhone's Siri and Control Center , Downtown Library, Santa Cruz, 1/16, 10:30am-12pm, Register, Details

Leo's Haven Grand Opening, Chanticleer County Park , Santa Cruz, 1/18, 10-11:30pm Details

Santiago the Magician, J oin the Magic! Boulder Creek Library, 1/18, 2-3pm, Details

Meet the Doulas, Birth Network, Santa Cruz, 1/18, 4-6pm , Details

MLK Youth Day 2020, Resource Center for Nonviolence , 1/18, 12-4pm, Santa Cruz, Details

Money Matter$, Are you ready for retirement? Scotts Valley Library, 1/18, 10-11am, Details

First market of the year , Santa Cruz Mountains Makers’ Market, 1/19, 10am-5pm, Pacific Ave, clock tower end, Santa Cruz

Drop-In Family Craft – Ohlone Games, Santa Cruz Mission , Santa Cruz, 1/ 25, 1-3:30pm, Details

Sweet Honey in the Rock, Rio Theatre, Santa Cruz, 1/20, 7:30-9:30pm, Details

Volunteer at Evergreen Cemetery this MLK Day , Evergreen Cemetery, Santa Cruz, Mon, 1/20, 9:30am - 12pm, Details

NAMI, ENDING THE SILENCE PRESENTATION, Branciforte Small Schools 1/20, 6:30-8;30pm
Upcoming Family Events
Babies, Boundaries, and Bodies: How to Talk With Your Young Kids about Sex, 1/23, 6:30 – 8:30pm, Aptos, Details

The Silk Route: Visiting the Stans of Central Asia, La Selva Beach Community Church, 1/23, 6:30-8:30pm Details

Free Family Movie Night, Moana , Capitola Recreation 1/24, 6-8:3pm , Details

Santa Cruz County Science Fair, Capitola Mall, 1/25, 8-12pm Details

The Silk Route: Visiting the Stans of Central Asia , La Selva Beach Community Church, 1/23, 6:30-8:30pm Details
 
Celebrate Positive Parenting Awareness Month 2020 in the library with your family! Every family will receive a free book provided by First 5 Santa Cruz County and a chance to win prizes! . Downtown Library, 1/25, 1:30-3:30pm Details
Moms Recommend Board Games for 3 (+) Year Olds

H - Check out Peaceable Kingdoms games. We have Hoot Hoot Owl , Acorn Soup and Dinosaur Escape . My three year old loves them all.
M - My boys love... Bugs in the Kitchen , Uno .
J -­ Zingo , Candyland
L – Matching games
R - There are some wonderful "memory" games out there. I think around 3 you could start with 24 cards: Life on Earth
S - Hi Ho Cherry-O , Zingo , Chutes and Ladders , Let's Go Fishing , Old Maid , Candyland
E - The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game , Hisss , Eye Found It , Spot it (1,2,3/jr.animals etc)
K - Yeti in My Spaghetti
D – Quirkle
N - My 3 yr old loves Zingo and Spot It Jr
S – Silly Street
R – Make and Break played collaboratively, Busy Town
R - Hoot Owl Hoot , Yoga Garden , and Jenga
J - Mermaid Island is a big hit with our 3 year old and it's a cooperative game so each player works as a team to cheer the others on
S - Hungry Hungry Hippos!
I - Feed the Woozle and Snails Pace Race
M - We started Uno by taking out the cards that ruin the flow (reverse, skip, draw 4 etc). It helped massively with my 3 and 4yo getting the hang of the game. Then we wove those “baaad cards” (as they excitedly and lovingly call them) back in. And they can play solo wo any adult help now.
R - Unicorn Glitterluck and Dragon’s Breath
M - My 3 yo got Sequence Jr for Christmas, and she and my 6 yo both love it.