The program is for students in grades K-5. Tickets are $5 each.

The Capitol Theatre is located at 19 S. Third St., Yakima. Call 509-853-ARTS (2787) or visit capitoltheatre.org for more info.

To celebrate Engineers Week, the Yakima branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the Engineering Department at Yakima Valley Community College are teaming up once again to host “Engineering Day for Kids,” which runs 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 25. The event will take place at YVCC’s Hopf Union Building (HUB).

Any elementary school-aged child is invited to attend this free event and get experience with hands-on activities that will help the child explore the connections between math, science and engineering.

No registration is required, but if you have any questions, contact Ben Annen at 509-966-7000 or bannen@hlacivil.com.

The Yakima Youth Symphony Orchestra and Yakima Ensemble for Strings are putting together the show, which will be held at The Capitol Theatre, 19 S. Third St., Yakima. Call 509-248-1414 or visit www.yyso.org for more info.

Athletes, acrobats, jugglers and extortionists show off stunts and feats as the Shanghai Acrobats perform at 3 p.m. Feb. 12 at The Capitol Theatre.

The Chinese circus traditions from 2,000 years ago are brought to life with music, lighting, choreography and scenery. The company’s American division is based at the New Shanghai Theatre in Branson, Mo.

Tickets: $7.50 for youth 18 and younger, $7.50-$35 for adults. The Capitol Theatre, 19 S. Third St. Yakima; 509-853-ARTS (2787). capitoltheatre.org

A girls’ Little League softball program is being assembled for a 2012 season.

Yakima Valley Little League Softball is designed for girls ages 5-10 from the following school districts: Yakima, West Valley, Union Gap, Wapato, Zillah, Toppenish, Parker and White Swan. The program will include T-Ball, coach pitch, and player pitch divisions.

League President Ryan Yates notes that most girls in the area have to wait until age 10 to start playing softball, and the YVLLS will introduce younger girls to the sport so they can make a smooth transition. Yates is hoping to get the community involved with the league, and a board is being formed.

Registration starts 4-7 p.m. Feb. 7-8, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 11 at Kimmel Athletic, 2105 W. Lincoln Ave., Yakima. Girls must be 10 before April 30 to register.

Registration: $50 for ages 5-6 (T-Ball), $75 for ages 7-8 (coach pitch), and $75 for ages 8-10 (player pitch).

For volunteer interest, email yakimasoftball@gmail.com or visit www.eteamz.com/yakimavalleylittleleague/.

Feather Yoga Studio
Prenatal yoga classes.
Heather Powell: 509-469-2559

featheryogastudio.com

Prenatal Yoga

Mondays 6-7 p.m.

Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital’s Education Center

2506 W. Nob Hill Blvd., Yakima

Lori Gibbons: 509-248-7322

lorigibbons@yvmh.org

Yakima Yoga

509-910-1151

yakimayoga.com

Kids’ Yoga:

Surva Yoga

Kids’ 4-8

910 Summitview Ave., 6A

509-965-2346

Scott Klepach Jr.

For this game, you will need:

• Four players or more (two players on two teams)
• A sled
• A box or basket
• Snowman supplies (carrot, hat, scarf or rocks)
• Station markers for three stations

Set up three stations:

Station 1: Snow Angels

Station 2: Snowmen
 Station 3: Sledding to Dress up the Snowman

1.           Create a starting line and mark three stations around the yard, using landmarks or household objects to designate each. Place one member of each team at the starting line and the second team member of each team at Station 2 (Snowman).

2.           When “go” is called, the team members at the starting line will race to Station 1 to make snow angels. Once finished, confirm that the snow angel looks complete and then team members will race to meet their teammates at Station 2.

3.           At Station 2, both teams will create their own snowman with three sections.

4.           When the snowman is finished, partners will run together to Station 3, where a sled and a box containing the snowman’s decorations are waiting. One player will sit on the sled and hold the box while the other partner will pull the sled back to Station 2 where the snowman is waiting to be decorated.

5.           Dress up the snowman for his date with winter!

6.           Both partners must race together back to the starting line, which is now the finish line.  Whoever crosses this finish line first, after having completed all of the steps properly, wins!

• Note: You can certainly modify the rules if only two people are playing a one-on-one match. The only real part of the game to take away in this case would be the sledding component.ereHere

Nov. 25-Dec. 24: SANTA AT THE VALLEY MALL. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday, Nov. 30-Dec. 2, Dec. 5-9, Dec. 12-16 and Dec. 19-23; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturdays Dec. 3, 10 and 17; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays Dec. 4, 11 and 18; Christmas Eve (Saturday, Dec. 24): 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Valley Mall, 2529 Main St., Union Gap; 509-469-9308.

Nov. 25-Dec. 2: A CHRISTMAS STORY. Show opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 25; 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1-2; 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3; and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8-10. The beloved Christmas film comes to life on stage! Cost: $18.50 general admission, $16 students and seniors. Directed by Michael Liddicoat. Warehouse Theatre Company, 5000 W. Lincoln Ave., Yakima; 509-966-0951. warehousetheatreyakima.org

Dec. 2-3: CHRISTMAS AT THE FARM. Get freshly cut Christmas trees along with wreaths, swags, hot cider, cocoa, donuts, a bonfire for roasting marshmallows and Christmas carols. Caroling hayrides for $5 per family. Bill’s Berry Farm, 3674 N. County Line Road, Grandview; 509-882-3200. billsberryfarm.com

Dec. 2-3: A CHRISTMAS CAROL. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2, 2 p.m. Dec. 3. Cost: $10 general admission, $8 students and seniors. Tickets available at Sixth Street Art Gallery in Prosser, Grandview Safeway and Guerra’s Coffee Co. in Sunnyside. Presented by the Valley Theater Company. The Princess Theatre, 1226 Meade Ave., Prosser. valleytheatercompany.org

Dec. 2-4: LEAVENWORTH CHRISTMAS LIGHTING CEREMONY. Dec. 2-4, 9-11 and 16-18. Fridays: St. Nicholas arrives at 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays: Santa Claus and company arrive at noon and bring music and entertainment; lighting ceremony starts at 4:30 p.m. leavenworth.org

Dec. 2-5: JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM. 5:30-8 p.m. Interactive Christmas presentation, where ancient Bethlehem comes to live for visitors to tour. Wear warm, comfortable clothing. Free. Yakima Seventh-day Adventist Church, 507 N. 35^th Ave., Yakima; 509-452-2041. yakimasda.org

Dec. 3-4: TOY TRAIN CHRISTMAS. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Dec. 3-4, Dec. 10-11 and Dec. 17-18. Hop on board a Christmas Express to see Santa Claus! Find toy trains running around fully decorated Christmas trees and treat your family to hot cocoa and cookies. Cost: $6 adults, $4 children 12 and younger. Photos with Santa available for an extra fee. Northern Pacific Railway Museum, 10 S. Asotin Ave., Toppenish; 509-865-1911. nprymuseum.org

DECEMBER 3

DARIGOLD’S DECORATING COOKIES WITH MRS. CLAUS. 9-11 a.m. Dairy provides cookies with different toppings to decorate. Free event for children and families; a nonperishable food item for local food banks is requested. Darigold Dairy, 400 Alexander, Sunnyside; 509-837-4321.

GINGERBREAD DECORATING. 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Each child receives a footlong gingerbread man, frosting and candles to decorate in a 30-minute class. To-go boxes available. Call to register. The Cake Decorator Shoppe, 5609 Summitview Ave., Yakima; 509-494-0975. thecakedecoratorshoppe.com

YAKIMA VALLEY MUSEUM HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE. 12-3 p.m. Free performances in the Neon Garden by Yakima Youth Symphony, Yakima Children’s Choir and Melody Lane Singers. Yakima Valley Museum, 2105 Tieton Drive, Yakima; 509-248-0747. yakimavalleymuseum.org

WHISPERS OF CHRISTMAS. 6-8 p.m. Santa Claus arrives at Selah Civic Center at 6 p.m., followed by Christmas carols, live music and entertainment, horse-drawn wagon rides and goodies. Free. Selah Civic Center, 216 S. First St., Selah; 509-698-7300.

LIGHTED FARM IMPLEMENT PARADE. 6:30 p.m. Downtown Sunnyside comes alive with more than 50 farm implements, vehicles and floats covered with decorative lights. Parade route starts on Warehouse Avenue and proceeds to Sixth Street, heading south to Edison Avenue. At Edison Avenue, the parade heads east until it reaches the Mid-Valley Mall parking lot. Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce; 509-837-5939.

YAKIMA ORCHESTRA POP CONCERT. 7:30 p.m. “Christmas Pop Spectacular,” presented by the Yakima Symphony Orchestra. Tickets: $12-$50, available through ticketswest.com or Capitol Theatre box office. The Capitol Theatre, 19 S. Third St., Yakima; 509-853-2787. yakimasymphony.org

DECEMBER 4

A VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS. 1-4 p.m. Celebrate a Victorian-style Christmas, complete with Christ Tree Candle Lighting services at 1:15, 2:15 and 3:15 p.m. Free, but donations accepted. H.M. Gilbert Homeplace, 2109 W. Yakima Ave., Yakima; 509-248-0747. yakimavalleymuseum.org

WINTER CONCERT. 3 p.m. Performance by the Yakima Youth Symphony Orchestra. Cost: $5; tickets available at the door. The Capitol Theatre, 19 S. Third St., Yakima; 509-248-1414. yyso.org

Dec. 9-10: LUMINARIA. 6-9 P.M. Luminaria walk through the arboretum’s landscape for the whole family. Refreshments and music in the Interpretive Center. Kids get to make their own luminary bag to take home. Yakima Area Arboretum, 1401 Arboretum Drive, Yakima; 509-248-7337. Ahtrees.org

Dec. 9-10: CHRISTMAS AT THE FARM. See Dec. 2-3.

Dec. 9-11: LEAVENWORTH CHRISTMAS LIGHTING CEREMONY. See Dec. 2-4.

Dec. 10-11: TOY TRAIN CHRISTMAS. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. See Dec. 3-4.

DECEMBER 10

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA. 8-10 a.m. Christmas music and fireplaces provide the backdrop for Santa’s visit. Cost: $4 per person. Make reservations by Dec. 2. Harman Center, 101 N. 65^th Ave., Yakima; 509-575-6166.

GINGERBREAD DECORATING. 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. See Dec. 3.

SANTA TROLLEY. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 30-minute trolley ride with Santa Claus. Tickets available day of event; call for prices. Yakima Valley Trolleys, South Third Avenue at Pine Street, Yakima; 509-249-5962. yakimavalleytrolleys.org

OLD FASHIONED CHRISTMAS IN ZILLAH. Time: TBD. Music, games for kids, treats, and a visit from Santa. Located in downtown Zillah; 509-829-5151. cityofzillah.us

Dec. 16-18: LEAVENWORTH CHRISTMAS LIGHTING CEREMONY. See Dec. 2-4.

December 17

GINGERBREAD DECORATING. 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. See Dec. 3.

Dec. 17-18: DRIVE-THROUGH NATIVITY. West Valley Church, 7109 W. Nob Hill Blvd., Yakima; 509-966-1550. westvalleychurch.com

Dec. 17-18: TOY TRAIN CHRISTMAS. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. See Dec. 3-4.

Do you suffer from the winter blues? If so, why not throw yourself — and your family — a tropical staycation? This activity can stir your imagination and give you a break from the blustery reality outside!

Throw down beach blankets in your living room and have an indoor beach party… • Grab some shades, an umbrella, put on your swimsuits and turn up the heat • Wear grass skirts and Hawaiian leis • Put on some tropical music • Do the limbo rock with a broom • Serve a ham and pineapple dinner with citrus drinks • Get out a beach ball and play volleyball

Make Tropical French Toast
(recipe courtesy of Kathy Sali)

Ingredients
6 – 8 thick slices bread
4 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 small can crushed pineapple (1/3 of can for topping)
2 ripe bananas (1 banana sliced is for topping)
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp brown sugar
Powdered sugar (called fairy dust at our house)
Shredded coconut (optional topping)

Directions
Combine eggs, milk, most of the crushed pineapple, one banana, vanilla and brown sugar in a blender (reserve some pineapple and one banana for topping). Pour mixture into a shallow bowl.

Heat a lightly oiled griddle or skillet over medium-high heat.

Dunk each slice of bread in egg mixture, soaking both sides. Place in pan, and cook on both sides until golden. Serve hot with the reserved crushed pineapple and banana slices on top.   Sprinkle with a little fairy dust and syrup.

…or Tropical Fruit Pizza
Spread out Pillsbury cookie dough on a pizza pan or cookie sheet; bake according to package directions
Spread yogurt on baked dough (you choose the flavor!)
Cut up banana, kiwi and strawberries and place on top of yogurt (these are your pizza toppings!)
Sprinkle with coconut
Enjoy!