Jennifer Hartwick

Mid-Missouri Home and Garden Show in Columbia, Missouri

February 28 - March 1

They are predicting snow this weekend so why not spend a family afternoon at the Hearnes Center at the annual Mid-Missouri Home and Garden show. I enjoy visiting with the different businesses and community groups. My children enjoy the large amount of free marketing materials they get to pick up. Boone Electric is usually there and each year they give away tree seedlings. We have several planted in the backyard and they are doing great!

The show also features Jim Parks, host of HGTV's "New Spaces" on the expo stage.

The show is set in the Hearnes Center Field house located on the campus of the University of Missouri- Columbia. The hours of the event will be from 2 to 8 pm Friday, 10 am - 8:00 pm Saturday, and 10 am - 4:00 pm Sunday. Admission is $5 per person or free for children younger than 12. Parking is available on the east side of the Hearnes Center.

My family and children are the joy of my life. We have become quite familiar with the birthday party offerings in Columbia. A client and new mom in town asked for some ideas and I'm happy to update this list and share!!!

A Musical Birthday! Kindermusik with Brenda

Ages newborn to 8, up to 15 children
Children under 3 must have adult supervision.
$60 for 30 minutes of activities
$75 for 45 minutes of activities
a $25 non-refundable deposit is required
with the balance to be paid the day of the party

Held at your location an empty space --furniture moved to the walls & knick-knacks out of
sight-- for sitting on the floor and gross-motor movement OR
Held at the Kindermusik with Brenda Studio
additional $50 facility fee

*Travel within 20 miles of ZIP 65203. If travel is over 20 miles, an extra travel fee may apply.

Party Favors
Red Kindermusik Egg Shakers $4 each or $7 per pair.
Red One-Bell Jingles $4 or $7 per pair
Set of Wooden Rhythm sticks $4
Other items available to go along with your theme.

Book your child's most musical and FUN birthday party early!

What will we do?
A Licensed Kindermusik Educator will present age
appropriate activities to promote social interaction, pretend
play, movement and more based around your theme.

Kindermusik with Brenda
Brenda Haynes, MEd
573-881-1574
brenda@kindermusikwithbrenda.com

Going Bonkers-

An indoor play area. They have separate party rooms and you will get your own party host to help serve pizza, drinks and clean up after. Going Bonkers gets busy on the weekends so if you plan a party there, try to get the first slot of the day.

www.goingbonkers.com/

Flipz USA Gymnastics

Flipz is a 15,000 sq. foot state of the art gymnastics facility. Party times are usually available on the weekends and typically include private use of the gym, a personal coach to insure the children are safe and enjoy facilities. The Flipz birthday parties are one of my children's favorites and they have been taking lessons there for almost five years.

http:\\www.flipzusa.com/

The Little Gym

In my opinion, The Little Gym offers one of the most enjoyable parties for kids as well as the adult. Why for the adult too? Well, TLG mails your invitations, decorates the party room, and organizes activities for the kids. They coordinate the whole party from cake cutting; fun time and even help the present opening go smoothly. The best party I have had for my children. Not only did they have a blast, but it was so easy on me! Bring the cake and they do the rest!

www.thelittlegym.com/

Chuck E Cheese

Yes, we have one now! What more can I say? The kids love it!

www.chuckecheese.com/

Bowling Alley

The AMF Town and Country Lanes on Providence has been remolded. If you haven't been there in a while, you really need to check it out. With the smoking ban, it really has become a more family friendly environment and my children really enjoyed the bowling party they attended.

http://www.amf.com/townandcountrylanesmo/centerHomepage.html

Horsin O Round

Our most recent birthday party was at a horse stable located west of Jefferson City. After a quick mini lesson, the children mounted their horses. Towards the end of the hour long horse time, my daughters horse got a slap on the rump which sent them trotting around the ring. I held my breath and she squealed in delight. It was a trek down to Jefferson City, but it was a unique and exciting party that my daughter will never forget. I highly recommend this location for a birthday party!

horsinoround.com/

Stephens Lake Park

Columbia is lucky to be home to a progressive parks department. Stephens Lake is one of the cities newest parks. Sitting on 114 acres just east of downtown, the park consists of a swimming/fishing lake, sledding hill, individual picnic shelters, restroom facilities and 3 different playgrounds. There is also an indoor pavilion available to rent.

http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/ParksandRec/Parks/Stephens_Lake/

What are you doing New Years Eve Columbia?

First Night Columbia is mid-Missouri's premiere event! There will be more than 70 performances plus various activities and art events at 15 locations located in the District (downtown Columbia).

Tickets are $8 in advance/ $10 at the door. Children under 8 are free. *Tickets will be available at Stamper Commons after 5PM; at the Boone County Government Center and Missouri United Methodist Church after 6PM

Children's activities will be located in the Missouri United Methodist Church where they can make a mask, crown and noisemaker. There is also a children's processional at 9:15 that will end with a fireworks display. Last year, the children's processional left promptly at 9:15 so we had to pull up the rear, so don't be late! We enjoyed the "childrens" fireworks display from the top floor of the parking garage on the south side of the courthouse. They had it set to music and the kids really enjoyed it!end with a fireworks display.

For more information: 573-874-7460 | website

I received an e-mail the other day about a program through the University of Missouri-Columbia. The University YMCA will arrange for handwritten letters from Santa be mailed directly from the North Pool for that special someone. The $5.00 fee per letter goes directly to support University YMCA youth programs in our community.

For more information and to order your Santa letter to be sent anywhere in the United States, go to the University YMCA website at:
www.students.missouri.edu/~uymca

or call the YMCA office at 882-1550 or email Julie Alexander
mailto:alexanderju@missouri.edu .

Enjoy the season!!

I was visiting with one of my sellers the other day about our local market. She had been talking to another person in her neighborhood who also has their home listed. Her neighbor had gone into detail about a conversation they'd had with their agent. A conversation on how in the same month in 2007, 800 houses closed and this month only 140 houses had closed in Columbia.

I said, "Ms. Seller, that information isn't correct. Let me pull up the true stats for listings with a Columbia address and then we can talk about it. During the same month in 2007, 125 houses closed. This month in 2008, 95 houses sold. That is a pretty different story!"

I'm sure there was a misunderstanding somewhere but I'm not sure it made my seller feel any better. !

Following is the market history of listings in Columbia, Missouri. Statistics comparing the past month and week. We currently have 1220 active listings in the city of Columbia.

Municipality Statistics
For 10/19/2008 To 10/26/2008
Residential

For 10/21/2007 To 10/28/2007
Residential

For 9/27/2007 To 10/28/2007
Residential

For 9/28/2008 To 10/26/2008
Residential