‘Hot Costco Dad’ goes viral after first enthusiastic trip to superstore

It all began when TJ Musto posted the video depicting his father’s triumphant return from his inaugural trip to Costco to reddit and Twitter. Choruses of affection from all corners of the internet came quickly. Inspired viewers were right there with him, flying home from the wholesale warehouse club on frugal wings of joy.

In the video, a voice off-camera asks Musto which items were good deals. Musto excitedly points and says, “the water.” Musto lifts up a large bag of what appear to be pistachios, shaking them at someone off-screen, while enthusiastically revealing the price he just paid for said item: “$9!” According to Musto, they’d be about a third more expensive at his local supermarket.

“These sausages — I think were eight bucks!” he said with a level of excitement usually reserved for animated cartoons. “Stephanie said she’s getting me a Costco card for my birthday.”

We hear ya and can’t wait until you make one for Target.

Disneyland and Disney World announce ban on smoking, large strollers and…ice cubes?

t’s a smoke-free world after all. Disney announced some policy changes Thursday, including a smoking ban that will go into effect May 1, 2019.

The Disney Parks blog shares a few tips to help ensure a smooth arrival during your next visit.

STROLLERS
Families with little ones know strollers are an important part of a vacation. It’s the napping zone, the storage place, and the spot for tired legs to rest while experiencing the magic.

Beginning May 1, Disney is their guidelines on stroller sizes, which will require them to be no larger than 31″ (79cm) wide and 52″ (132cm) long. The good news – many strollers on the market, including many double jogging strollers, fit within these size guidelines. Also, just a reminder that wagons are not permitted in the parks. Beginning May 1, stroller wagons will also no longer be permitted. These updates are designed to help guest flow and ease congestion, making the parks more enjoyable for everyone.

SMOKING
Also beginning May 1, smoking areas will no longer be present inside Walt Disney World or Disneyland theme parks, water parks, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex or Downtown Disney District in California. Designated smoking areas will be available outside the entrances of the areas listed above and at Disney Springs in Florida. For guests who have room or dining reservations, smoking areas are also available at Disney Resort hotels.

LOOSE ICE
Beginning today, if you plan to bring a cooler or cooler bag to store snacks and drinks for theme park or water park adventures, it’s important to know that loose or dry ice are no longer permitted in the parks. Keep your items frosty with reusable ice packs instead. “You can visit any Quick-Service location for complimentary cups of ice for your cooler.

Teach your kids about WWII at this special event at Denver Union Station

Denver Union Station is excited to be hosting a WW II Celebration on Saturday, March 30th at 10 a.m. honoring Major General Maurice Rose – a Denver native who was killed in action in Germany – as well as all of the soldiers who left for the war from the Mile High City’s landmark train station.

The celebration will be attended by Clarence Smoyer of Pennsylvania, who is now 95 years old and one of Rose’s last surviving soldiers. He served under Rose as a tank gunner in the 3rd Armored Division, and himself achieved fame as the “Hero of Cologne,” for destroying a German tank at the Cologne Cathedral, an event captured on film. Smoyer will be arriving at Denver Union Station in a WWII Stuart Tank.

The event is spearheaded by Denver author Adam Makos, who recently released a new bestselling book, Spearhead, about Smoyer’s journey that also solves the mystery of how Rose was killed in a tragic war crime. Smoyer and Makos will be signing copies of Spearhead at the Tattered Cover inside Denver Union Station.

To commemorate the 74th anniversary of Rose’s death and honor all WW II soldiers, Makos & Smoyer will be donating a memorial painting of the Spearhead Division by Scottish artist Gareth Hector to be hung at Denver Union Station.

Raised in Denver since age 3, Rose was the highest ranking American to die in European combat and the highest-ranking Jewish American to die in World War II.

For more information on the event, please visit https://unionstationindenver.com.

Denver family doctor charged with distributing child porn

A Denver-area family medicine doctor has been arrested on accusations he posted child pornography online.

Justin Bowen Neisler, 31, was arrested by the FBI on March 13, according to a news release from United States Attorney Jason Dunn.

Authorities began investigating when the FBI received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that someone with an internet address matching Neisler’s home address uploaded child porn to the social media site Tumblr in October.

Neisler is licensed to practice medicine in Colorado and records list his place of practice as St. Anthony Family Medicine, located on the North Health Campus in Westminster.

Click to read the full stories at The Denver Channel.

20 top events in Denver this week

Alice in Wonderland, Vintage Voltage and Toy & Doll Supershow, and free days at the Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield and Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus. See our event calendar for full details.

Spring Break at WOW! Children’s Museum
March 25 – 29
We are hosting a variety of hands-on activities and programs for children and families every day during Spring Break week! All activities and programs listed below are included with Museum admission.

Boulder Arts Week 2019
March 29 – April 6
Celebrate artists! Boulder Arts Week is Boulder’s only large-scale, inclusive celebration of our community’s vibrant arts and cultural offerings and our city’s thriving creativity.

WW II Celebration at Denver Union Station
March 30 at 10 a.m.
Teach your kids about WWII at this special event at Denver Union Station that will honor Major General Maurice Rose – a Denver native who was killed in action in Germany – as well as all of the soldiers who left for the war from the Mile High City’s landmark train station.

Colorado Avalanche vs. Arizona Coyotes at the Pepsi Center
March 29, 7:00 – 9:30 pm
Colorado Avalanche vs. Arizona Coyotes at Pepsi Center.

Alice in Wonderland: A Circus Adventure at Ellie Caulkins Opera House
March 29, 7:30 – 10:00 pm
Follow Alice down the rabbit hole to Wonderland, where she embarks upon a series of wild and wacky circus adventures.

University of Denver Men’s Lacrosse at the University of Denver/Ritchie Center-Magness Arena
March 30, 11:30 am – 2:30 pm
DU vs. GEORGETOWN.

Glendale Raptors vs. NOLA Gold at Infinity Park Event Center
March 30, 7:00 – 10:00 pm
The Major League Rugby Season continues with the Glendale Raptors hosting the NOLA Gold at Infinity Park in Glendale, Colorado!

Vintage Voltage and Toy & Doll Supershow at Denver Mart
March 31, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Two popular shows – side by side in a bigger, more central venue! The Toy & Doll Supershow and The Vintage Voltage Expo will be together – same day, same time! Admission is STILL just $5 – and it now gets you into BOTH shows.

Soul Brunch at Lone Tree Brewing
March 31, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
It’s time to get down with your bad self during our Soul Brunch at Lone Tree Brewing Company! DJ Steve Cervantes of MILE HIGH SOUL CLUB fame will be spinning vinyl and keeping you moving and grooving. PinkTank Food Truck will keep your energy levels high with great brunch eats too!

Denver Nuggets vs. Washington Wizards at Pepsi Center
March 31, 6:00 – 9:00 pm
The Denver Nuggets face off against the Washington Wizards.

An Evening with Kristina Kuzmic: The Hope and Humor Tour at Paramount Theatre
March 31, 7:00 – 10:00 pm
Energetic, funny, and obsessed with creativity, Kristina has an in-your-face perspective on issues of parenting and life in general. In fact, you may have seen Kristina recently on your Facebook feed, or on any one of a number of internet, radio or TV outlets. She has become an internet sensation with her “mom-centric” videos about raising children and juggling all of life’s challenges.

Central City Opera Family Series: Mozart & Co. at Temple Emanuel
April 2, 9:30 – 11:45 am
Central City Opera presents Mozart & Co. Enjoy a kid-friendly, interactive performance of opera scenes from hilarious stories originally envisioned by Shakespeare and the Brothers Grimm. Two performances (9:30 & 10:45 am) – 30 minute performance followed by 15 minutes of playtime. Recommended for kids 6 and under (and their families).

Free Day at Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield
April 2, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Free Day!

Free Day at Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus
April 2, 4:00 – 8:00 pm
Free Day!

Colorado Avalanche vs. Edmonton Oilers at the Pepsi Center
April 2, 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Colorado Avalanche vs. Edmonton Oilers at Pepsi Center!

Ongoing General Events

Once Upon a Playground at Fort Collins Museum of Discovery
January 29 – May 26, 2019
In Fort Collins Museum of Discovery’s special traveling exhibition, Once Upon a Playground, take an interactive journey from the past to the present… and beyond. Share in the nostalgia for playgrounds form decades past with dozens of historic images while you celebrate playgrounds of Fort Collins present and future. We invite you to touch, to see, to smell, to listen, to climb, to build – and to experience this interactive exhibition that is sure to enliven all of your senses.

Denver Art Museum
During Spring Break at the DAM (March 16–31), The Print Studio, Create-n-Takes and gallery games and activities will be available every day. Art Emergency: Sculpture Edition, an original family-friendly play, will be presented March 25–29 at 11 a.m.There are several family-friendly exhibits at the DAM including Stampede: Animals in Art on view at the museum through May 19, 2019. A Walk in the Woods is still on view, which coincides with Stampede, and includes animal-themed artmaking activities and after their summer break, Foxy & Shmoxy: Art Detectives, are back. Treasures of British Art: The Berger Collection will be opening March 3, Jordan Casteel: Returning the Gaze is also on view, and don’t miss the fun new interactive installation by local artist Nicole Banowetz, The Incubation Effect. Go to https://denverartmuseum.org/ for more information.

Images from the Tracks at the Colorado Railroad Museum
January 28, 2019 – January 5, 2020
One of the foremost photographers to photograph the great American West, William Henry Jackson’s images had an immense influence on the public’s perception of the American West. A portion of those images were captured here in Colorado as Jackson traveled throughout the west by rail. This exhibit not only showcases the Museum’s collection of Jackson photographs but provides visitors with the opportunity to visit the rail car he traveled and lived in – the Denver & Rio Grande Western business car – the Rico.

Got Style? Railroads & Design at the Colorado Railroad Museum
Feb 16 – Jun 10, 2019
Often leading the pack as far as what was “stylish.” railroads have echoed the fashion of their day. From rail cars to benches, dining plates to lamps passengers expected and often got the best. This small exhibit explores the how materials, production technologies and aesthetic trends all affected how the railroads we traveled on looked.

Kids Kabaret Performances at Boulder’s Dinner Theatre
Feb 20, 2019 – May 24, 2019
Our ‘Kids Kabaret’ shows are designed for children ages 3-12. We take pride in offering live theater for young children; understanding that they will wiggle and move around. Several children are incorporated into the show at each performance.

Marine Biologist for a Day at the Downtown Aquarium
Jan 1- Dec 31, 2019
See if you have what it takes to become a Marine Biologist! Spend a day behind the scenes where all the scientific action happens. Experience close encounters with exotic species from the deep sea to shallow reef and everywhere in between. You’ll even get to dissect a squid! Program includes guided tour, biologist dive show, squid dissection, animal feedings and much more! T-shirts & lunch included.

Summer Camp: LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION, FUN with Talk to the Camera!

Talk to the Camera summer camps turn screen time into hands-on, interactive play time! With intentional use of technology, children learn useful life-long skills that change how they use screen time this summer.

3 ways to turn screen time into something positive!

Screen time can be a bonding experience – Collaboration and teamwork are a huge part of social-emotional learning and friendship building. When children have opportunities to discover new skills and work together in a small group creating videos, their self-esteem increases. From Little Stars camps for preschoolers to Alien Invasion camps for tweens, children have fun-filled days of discovery, laughter, and creation working together and making new friends.
Screen Time can be educational- Actively engaging in all aspects of movie-making is the perfect deterrent for summer learning loss. In Movie MAGIC camps – children learn film techniques, production roles, and on-camera acting. Various roles target specific skills. Directing is brilliant for leadership and decision making while operating the camera and editing are great for developing listening skills. Kids learning continues while acting, prompting memorization and providing a platform for imaginative storytelling. All campers join an end of summer celebration that includes pictures on the red carpet and watching their movies on the BIG screen!
Screen Time can be Social– Teaching kids healthy, appropriate, and productive types of onscreen communication, builds social skills and confidence. The YOUth TUBEr series of camps, teach kids to use YouTube responsibly and promotes an attitude of acceptance. Each child is a STAR, learning how to develop storytelling styles while making videos that are engaging and unique. And BONUS- talking to the camera builds social communication skills like public speaking, active listening, and improved eye contact.

Talk to the Camera is Colorado’s First On-Camera Video creation & Movie-Making Camp created by two Denver moms who have been in your shoes!

WHY sign up for one of these SUMMER CAMPS?

Summer camp variety- YOUth TUBEr, Little Stars⭐️(*New for preschoolers) & Movie Magic “themed” camps to name a few.
Convenient Scheduling – Week-long summer camps – in half-day and full-day formats.
End of Season RED CARPET SCREENING – Campers & families celebrate their summer learning, walk the red carpet and enjoy seeing themselves on the BIG screen!
Early-Bird Discounts & Scholarships at The Highlands Center, Denver- Fill out scholarship request here.

GET MORE SUMMER CAMP INFO AND SIGN UP BY CLICKING HERE! ☀️

Teens Sexting: What Are Colorado’s Laws?

Teenagers are budding with sexual energy. Mix that with cell phones, and it can be a complicated combination. A JAMA Pediatrics report from last April analyzed 39 studies with about 110,000 adolescents and found that roughly 15% of teens send sexts and 28% receive them. Do they understand the risks involved? A great way to impart information about sensitive topics is to stick to data.

The chart below is from Cyberbully.org and was created, and is regularly updated, by Sameer Hinduja, Ph.D., & Justin W. Patchin, Ph.D. co-directors of the Cyberbullying Research Center.

To see more detail and description of laws go to https://cyberbullying.org/sexting-laws.

Deals: Spring Break at the Zoo, Consignment Sales and More

I recently tried Stitch Fix (my cousin sent me $25 coupon). I went online and picked a day that I wanted my fix to arrive. They asked several questions about my style, my size etc. When the box arrived – I was pleasantly surprised at how well everything fit (I had made a note that I hate anything that clings to what I lovingly call my flotation device). I decided to keep only the jeans and really waffled back and forth on a couple of the tops. It cost $20 to have your stylist pick stuff out for you. But that $20 is applied toward whatever you keep. So – here, I offer you a coupon for $25 off. This coupon is applied to whatever you decide to keep.

Spring Break at the Zoo. Let’s get honest here. After a few days into Spring Break the kids can sometimes feel a bit like animals. So what better than taking them to the zoo. The Denver Zoo is offering daily admission tickets for just $5 when you purchase online through March 31. Meet Yuri the Amur tiger (who just made his public debut); Cerah the Sumatran orangutan (her birthday party is March 25 at 10 a.m.); Winifred, the lesser kudu calf; or dozens of small parrots at Lorikeet Adventure.

Consignment Sales. Only a couple more weeks of consignment sales. This week, April 3-7 is the Just Between Friends of Douglas County sale at Douglas County Fairgrounds (500 Fairgrounds Drive, Castle Rock, CO 80104). It runs Thursday and Friday 9 a.m.-7 p.m.($2 admission) ; Saturday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. ($2 admission) ; Sunday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (half-price sale; $2 admission)

ARC Thrift Stores. I love to find something great at a thrift store. Not only do I get something for a pretty inexpensively, but I am also being good to the environment by recycling and repurposing stuff that is already out there. I love that the Arc’s annual Scratch & Win game begins this weekend on April 1. When you visit any local store pick up a game piece to win daily discounts AND be entered to win a weekly drawing for $25.

The Constellation Grand Opening. Join The Constellation on March 30 at noon for their Grand Opening. Little Man Ice Cream introduces their newest member of the family in Stapleton’s Eastbridge Town Center. Plus while you’re there enter for a chance to win airfare and 2-night getaway to TWA hotel and Constellation “Connie” cocktail lounge at JFK airport in New York. (Must be present to win at 1:30 p.m.)

Sonic. The only true fast food place near my house is Sonic. It’s OK. I love it. This Wednesady, they will have corn dogs for just 50 cents each!

Elitch Gardens. Parents with little ones (children three to five years of age), you have until May 19 to register your child online for the Pre-K Pass. Adult guests can purchase their 2019 Season Pass for just $69.99 which includes unlimited visits, free parking, free tickets for friends, free concerts and more. Available at ElitchGardens.com or at King Soopers.

Rockies. The Rockies season is almost upon us. The team has announced their promotional calendar. This means not only do you get the great entertainment of a baseball game but you can get some other fun Rockies stuff – or a cheap hot-dog (Hot Dog night is April 8). Also, keep a heads up at the bottom of your King Soopers receipts for up to four tickets at just $20 each (when you spend $25 or more).

Aspen Snowmass. All the extra snow this season means extra skiing/snowboarding. Aspen Snowmass announced two bonus weekends on April 19-21 and April 26-28. There is still time to plan that awesome weekend getaway!

Summer Camp. At Keystone Science School, there is the belief that every child deserves camp. Everything within their summer camp is carefully planned no matter if it is part of the day camp, overnight camp, or wilderness adventure program. You can receive a $15 off on any day camp program with the coupon code MHM15 or $25 off on an overnight or wilderness adventure program using coupon code MHM25.

The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa. Located in the heart of the Vail Valley, The Westin Riverfront is the perfect family Spring Break destination. The Westin Riverfront offers spacious guestrooms ranging from Studio Suites to 3-bedroom condos, each with a kitchen, fireplace and luxurious 5-piece bath. Families love the easy access to Beaver Creek’s ski terrain via the Riverfront Express Gondola, along with on-site rentals and Ski Valet service. Guests can check out a variety of items to use for free, including GoPro Video Cameras, Thule Backpacks and kids snowshoes. Mom can indulge in relaxation with the amazing menu of healing mountain-inspired treatments at Spa Anjali. Unwind after a day on the slopes in The Westin’s outdoor pool and three infinity hot tubs and enjoy live music nightly in the lobby. Dining options include Maya, a modern Mexican kitchen, Starbucks and the casual Lift Café. Colorado residents can take 15% off now through the end of the season. To book, please visit www.westinriverfront.com or call 970-790-6000 and ask for rate plan L9Z.

Child Chefs! Teach Your Kids to Eat Healthy By Involving Them in Mealtime

Healthy eating means healthy children. Picking nutritious snacks and developing good eating habits is essential at an early age. Kids love to be little helpers in the kitchen, plus cooking can make them excited about foods they might otherwise be a bit wary to try. Take a look at these tips to make a chef out of your child!

Involving children in as many mealtime and cooking tasks as possible will give them a sense of freedom and make them more excited and willing to try new foods.

Here are some cooking tasks to try with your 3-4 year olds:

Measuring ingredients
Cutting with a plastic or dull butter knife
Squeezing juice from fruits
Shaking small containers, such as jars or zip-top bags, to mix ingredients
Washing fruits and vegetables
Coming to the grocery store or farmer’s market and picking out fruits and vegetables
Helping in the garden
Dipping foods into healthy dips

Making your own snacks in place of packaged snacks from the store just a couple of times per week can help children get the healthy foods they need without the fat, sugar, and excessive salt that could slow them down.

Instead of fruit-flavored snacks…Make Fruit Salad. Instead of snack or energy bars…Make Banana Crunch.

Meal time offers rich opportunities for kids to learn, grow, and improve development. Support your toddler’s preschool readiness skills with these meal time opportunities.

Improve motor skills:

Make sure dining furniture allows children to sit comfortably at the table.
Provide utensils that allow kids to eat successfully and safely.
Allow kids to serve themselves from serving bowls or plates. Provide child-sized tongs or spoons.

Improve language and math skills:

Talk about the colors, shapes, smells, tastes, and names of the foods being served.
Count the number of seeds in watermelon slices or peas in a spoonful. Ask how many slices of French toast or fruit are left after everybody takes one.
Have children play alphabet games. Ask them to show you all of the foods on their plates that begin with a certain letter.

Improve social skills:

Set clear expectations about behavior at the meal table. Model good manners.
Let kids take some responsibility in setting up the dinner table, preparing foods, and cleaning up afterward.
Help children learn to be considerate of others by asking them to respect personal space and share at the dinner table.

Improve healthy eating behaviors:

Help kids recognize when they’re hungry and when they’re full. Allow them to get their own portion sizes accordingly.
Allow children to make their own choices from the variety of healthy foods you serve.
Avoid using food as a punishment or reward.

Get more parenting tips, games, and other resources, based on the age of your child, sent right to your cell phone 2-5 times a week for FREE with Bright by Text. Text BRIGHT to 274448 or click here to sign up!
*Message and data rates may apply. Text STOP to 274448 to stop. Text HELP to 274448 for help.

How to Prevent Abuse & Neglect in our Community

Public suveys indicate that over 97% already recognize child abuse as a problem. Our calling attention to child abuse isn’t fixing it. We need some additional substantive steps to reduce the burden of 7.2 million children reported to authorities in 2015 with 683,000 children confirmed as abused or neglected by social service agencies. The key to effective prevention is engineering the family environment to support and protect children and their parents.

Here are 7 concrete steps we must take to really prevent child abuse and neglect:

Reduce domestic violence: Data from longitudinal studies are clear, both men and women are perpetrators and victims of intimate partner violence (ipv) and households where there is IPV are at increased risk for physical and psychological abuse perpetrated by both the perpetrators and the victims of IPV. We are moving the needle on this one, IPV has fallen over 70% in the US since 1993. Continued efforts to reduce violence between partners really benefits children.
Build social networks among young families: Isolation, post-partum depression, poverty, and stress are a deadly in combination. Humans are social animals. Support in terms of: group well child care, expanded community engagement and other efforts to support new families and establish connections will reduce the risk of harm.
Get serious about reducing prenatal exposure to substances by enhancing screening and treatment: Alcohol is a clear and established threat to the development of young children and it interferes with effective parenting. Much less research has been done with prenatal exposure to marijuana but the studies to date indicate increased risks to the fetus in terms of subsequent mental retardation. Both substances can interfere with parental caregiving. Screening and treatment done in a non-punitive manner are much more likely to help the child and sustain families.
Make access to home visitors such as public health nurses or SafeCare counselors routine for all new parents under 22 years of age triggered by the registrations of births: The Nurse Family Partnership and SafeCare are two home visiting programs for families with young children that have been shown to have many benefits in terms of reduced use of medical care, greater child safety, and better outcomes for mothers. Both are well established in Colorado but only about a third of families offered these services use them. We need to link these services to newborn nurseries and doctor’s offices and make the benefits clear to the participants.
Advance girl’s education: The strong correlation between maternal years of education and rates of harsh punishment and shaking of their young children is clear. We need programs and policies that keep girls in school and help complete their education. Not only are children get maltreated less by more educated parents, they have advanced communication skills, finish school at higher rates, and have lower rates of other adverse childhood experiences.
Delay childbearing: Closely related to number 1, teens who have access to Long-acting reversible contraceptives and who delay childbearing until after age 20 are less likely to use harsh punishment, are more empathetic to their children’s needs, and have higher incomes. Their children are much more likely prosper.
Establish family-friendly business practices: Kids need parental investment and care. Paid maternal leave has been shown to significantly reduce shaken baby syndrome and the benefits of parents being able to attend school functions, teacher conferences, and child sports activities are well-known.

So, let’s make today the start of some very concrete steps that will reduce child abuse. I realize that this might put our Kempe Center out of business but won’t that be great for kids and society when we are no longer needed.

Guest blogger Des Runyan, MD is the Executive Director, The Kempe Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect.