Riding Macy's Pink Pig

A tradition for some people during the Christmas season in the Atlanta area is riding the Pink Pig train at Macy's at Lenox Square Mall. It has been around since the 1950's and has moved locations a couple of times but ended up back at Lenox Square a few years ago. They have the original pink pig train on display there & it looks hilarious compared to the modern day version (picture a small chicken coup made into a pink pig). I took my son there when he was 1 1/2 yrs. old & went back this year (3 yrs later) w/ both my kids (1 1/2 & 4 1/2)& my 12yr old niece (my helper). When we went the first time, we met friends there (My friend & her son) and we also each brought our son's Grandmas with too. The boys really loved it & it was a fun experience. The 2nd time we went so that both of my kids could experience it & becaause my son really loves trains. I brought my niece too because I thought it would be fun w/her along & I knew she would help me out. Plus, my son is crazy about her! My baby girl, Emily ended up really enjoying it & she ended up running up to the Priscilla the Pink Pig Mascot (person in a girlie pink pig costume)very excitedly. She also danced around to the Xmas music while waiting to get on the train. It's neat because it's located on the parking deck adjacent to Macy's & is in a giant covered tent with a big winter wonderland display that's like a Pink Pig life-size storybook that you enjoy while you ride around in the train. It's not a very long ride but, it's more the novelty of it than anything. Of course, they have a gift shop to entice you to buy Pink Pig merchandise but, luckily my kids didn't seem to care that much. If you're thinking of going, definitely go during the week because the line is crazy long on weekends. The cost is $3 per rider and you can always get some shopping done at the enormous mall while your there. We ate lunch at the giant food court where they have tons of choices for everybody. Although it's a bit of a drive, you could easily spend a few hours there. Bring plenty of snacks for waiting in line!

Cute Snowflake Ornaments

My husband found these simple but pretty snowflake ornaments at Target. They were only like 4 for $1 and they come in several different colors. You may have already seen them there but, they can be more than just something you hang on your Xmas tree. We like to find ways to dress up our light fixtures & make them festive in our dining room & kitchen. I have seen similar ones since then at Wal-mart that were even cheaper but, I like these better. My hubby actually likes to do a little decorating so, this is one of his touches to our decor. We have them hanging on the chandelier in our kitchen too. I wish I had a better pic but, I really wasn't planning on posting this! Just ignore the dining table that I was in the middle of setting & focus upward!

Christmas Music for Kids

I like good Christmas music that you can listen to over & over without getting tired of it before the season ends. Sometimes I like instrumental piano music like Charlie Brown (Vince Guaraldi) Xmas Music as background music for dinner or something. And sometimes modern artists singing Xmas songs or sometimes good old fashioned Xmas carols. I do get tired of the one & only local station that plays Xmas music though. I can only hear Mariah Carey & Celine Dion Xmas songs so many times before I just want to slit my wrists. Anyway, I've had a hard time finding Xmas music for my kids to listen to thet I like too. I love to hear my kids sing but, I don't really like CDs with kids singing or really goofy adults singing. I found a good one this year at the library & I made my own copy to enjoy next year (what? stop judging me!). It's called "A Child's Christmas" by Susie Tallman & Friends. She has a whole bunch of other CD's for kids but, I've really never listened to them (I know a few songs that I've heard but, that's about it). This Cd has everything from Jingle Bells & Silent Night to "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch". There's also some kids telling cute jokes & saying Merry Xmas in different languages between some of the songs. Cameron really loves it & it's long too so, it plays for awhile. I highly recommend this for the whole family!

Xmas Treats -These also make good gifts

Here is an easy recipe for "Nilla Turtle Truffles". They're actually called "Nilla Turtle Balls" but, I think truffle sounds better when you tell people that they are. It sounds gourmet instead of sounding like you're serving up naughty turtle parts!
These are great for parties or they make great teacher gifts. I made them for Cameron's teachers this year & they were a big hit. I packaged them up in cellophane Xmas-themed bags & put them in cute red & green containers (shown in the pic) & tied name tags to the containers. I got the little treated containers at Walmart for just $1 each. They looked pretty cute as gifts.
Here is the recipe:

1 Pkg (8 oz.) Philly cream cheese -softened
70 Nilla Wafers finely crushed (about 2 1/3 cups)
3 Tbsp caramel ice cream topping
2 pkg. (8 squares each) BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate, melted
1/4 cup chopped Pecan pieces

Directions:
Mix first 3 ingredients until well blended.Shape into 36 (1-inch) balls. Freeze 10 minutes. Dip balls in melted chocolate; place in single layer in shallow waxed paper-lined pan. Sprinkle with nuts.Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm.

Hot Chocolate for Little Kids

My 4 yr old son, Cameron loves the idea of hot chocolate in the winter but, doesn't really like it hot like an older person would. I have 2 versions that work for little kids. One is to make the instant little packet kind (I usually use Nestle) and I boil the water in the tea kettle. The directions say to add 6 oz. of hot water to the packet in a mug but, what I do is add 4oz. of boiling water and stir it up real good then, I pour 2 oz. of cold milk in it. This way it is hot enough to mix it up but, after the milk is added it's just warm chocolate for kids. It doesn't mix well enough if the water is not super hot to start with. Then I add mini marshmallows on top. I just made some of this today for Cameron. An easy mock version is to just warm up some chocolate milk & put some marshmallows on top. Sometimes I make hot chocolate from the actual tin of cocoa (Nestle) but, I still make but, I still make it with the cold milk added to make it creamier & not so hot. Hmmm, makes me want some now.

Musical Instrument Craft

My kids love to listen to music & make music. I make fun & easy homemade instruments for them to play with. I make maracas (shakers) by using a paper towel tube & filling it with uncooked rice or pasta (only fill about 1/4 of the way full)& then put duck tape or packing tape over the ends to secure the stuff inside. The more or less that you put inside makes a difference in the sound you get. You can paint or decorate them with stickers or something too. Also to make drums, you can use Quaker Oats containers & I even poke holes in the side near the top & string a a shoe lace or other string through it so they can wear it around their neck too while they play (be careful with younger ones to make sure they don't hurt themselves!). Wooden or plastic spoons make good drum sticks too. There are so many household items that can be used for musical instruments but, these are just a couple of ideas.

Holiday Lights

My kids love to look at holiday lights & decorations. During this Xmas season, we have been taking a walk every night (usually after dinner) after it's dark to look at our neighbor's Xmas lights & decorations. Our neighborhood is not particularly large but, we try to pick one new street that we haven't seen yet each time. Also, it seems that everyday someone is putting up new lights & decorations on different streets so, there's always something new to see. I push the kids in our Sit-n-Stand stroller because their tired by this point in the evening & they can kick back & look at everything & I get some good exercise. Some neighbors have Christmas trees that you can see thru the windows or big inflatable displays or just lots of outdoor lights. Some nights it's pretty cold so, we put coats & hats on & bring blankets to keep cozy with. If they were a little older, we could bring hot chocolate but, my 4 yr old could always enjoy some afterward one night. Anyway, it's a fun thing that they look forward to & even the baby runs to the garage to the stroller when I say it's time to go. This is the stuff that memories are made of (especially for me!).

Brownies with Peanut Butter Frosting -Easy

Here is an easy but, delicious dessert that you can whip up with a store bought brownie mix. Make your favorite store bought brownies as directed on the box. To make the peanut butter frosting, follow recipe below:

Ingredients:
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup butter -softened
3 TBSP Milk (more or less as needed)
2 cups confectioners sugar

Place butter & peanut butter in medium bowl & beat w/electric mixer. Gradually mix in confectioners sugar & when it starts to get thick start mixing in milk 1 TBSP at a time until frosting is thick & spreadable. Beat for about 3 mins. to get good & fluffy. Spread it on browniies. Also, for an attractive way to serve these for a party, I like to use a round cookie cutter & cut the brownies into circles & then put the frosting in a pastry bag to pipe onto the round brownies in a swirly fashion (use a type 21 tip for piping the frosting if you have one). Sorry I didn't post a pic!

Christmas Card Display

I have a neat way that I usually display my Christmas cards each year. I pick a door (usually I use the door of our coat closet because it's located between our foyer, Great room & kitchen) in a main area of your house where you can display & view throughout the holidays. I take several types of wide holiday themed ribbon and put some ribbon vertically down the door (securing w/tape on the back side of the door). Make sure that it's long enough to go the whole lenghth down the door w/a little extra to go over & under it to be taped on the other side of the door. I also use some double-sided tape on a couple of spots on the back of the ribbon if I need to make sure that it lays flat against the door. I usually do 2 ribbons equally spaced apart vertically down the door & then 3 ribbons horizontally & equally spaced across the door. The idea is that it looks like a Giant Christmas present. Then, as you receive Xmas cards you can tape them all ong the horizontal & vertical lines & looks really neat. When I have a lot of cards, I even place some in between the lines & it fills the space up nicely. I posted pics of different years versions that I did. Give it a try!

Laundry Tips

Once in awhile, I stop what I'm doing & think "Hey, I should blog about this". And sometimes, I actually do. Today, I'm posting a couple of little tips that might be helpful when dealing w/little kids laundry. If you're like most of us, you always have little socks that turn up missing from the laundry. Does the dryer eat them or what? What I started doing w/my first kid was putting all of the dirty socks in a little zippered lingerie bag and tossing it in the washing machine w/the other laundry. Then, they make it in & out of the dryer all together and then I unzip the bag & match them all. I put all my little pairs of socks away without losing any matches! Another tip is for machine washing stuffed animals or any clothing w/faux- fur trim. Put them in a pillow case & tie the end of the pillow case & wash in the washing machine just like that & dry in the dryer in the pillow case too. Stuffed animals are so clean & fresh but the fur stays nice. Trust me, if you just throw them in the machine as is, the fur will be all matted & clumped together if it's long or bumpy & rough if it's short fur. I actually started using pillow protectors which are like a pillow case but they zip up at the end. Super easy & they hold more stuff that way too. You can buy them at places like "Bed, Bath & Beyond" where the pillowcases are.

Children's Art Display

A cute & easy way to display children's artwork is something I'm sure a lot of you have seen. I found a way to do it cute & super cheap. It's the kind where you use picture hanging wire & little clips to hold the artwork. I found some cute decorative metal hooks (ones that you would hang a jacket or potholder or something on)at the Dollar store & I got one that was a bee and one that was a ladybug. I already had a certain lenghth of picture haninging wire so I guess-timated how far apart the hooks should be & marked where I wanted them on the wall. I chose to do mine in our playroom because, it just made sense. I attached the wire to both hooks & hung the hooks on the wall. As I had been thinking of doing this project one day, I already had some cute clips that I found at a garage sale for 50 cents. There were tiny colorful binder clips, tiny plastic colorful clothes pins & another kind of cute painted metal clips all in a little box and for 50 cents, this was a must-have! I picked 4 pieces of my sons more recent artwork (3 from pre-school & 1 free-hand drawing that he did at home)and clipped them to the wire. It looked really cute and it is fun to change out the pictures every so often to display his current works of art. I would like to have a longer wire to display more but, for now, I used the short wire I had & a small wall & later, I can use a longer wire on a longer wall. Give it a try & watch you kids smile proudly at their works of art!

Typical Day

So I figured that it's my blog & I can vent, complain or rattle on about whatever I want every so often. As opposed to just writing helpful, infromative things all the time. So, today I am just going to run thru what my day was like & it's actually a fairly typical day for me.
This morning I had to work at the church where I work almost part-time as a child care provider. I work providing child care for various church programs about 3 times a week for a few hrs. each time. This particular morning is the only time that one of my kids currently goes with me. My husband took Cameron to school this morning while 1 yr old Emily went w/me. She gets to be in the same room w/me which is for 10-17 mo. old babies. Today, there were 8 of them & there is one other lady who works in there w/me & we stay pretty busy all morning until 12:15. I had to push some cranky babies in a big quadruple stroller (that's right, quadruple!) and the stroller is heavy even w/out four 20 something pound kids in it! I was willing to do whatever it took to get them all to stop crying so, needless to say, I was already feeling wiped out when I left there. After I picked Cameron up from school at 12:30, I let him play outside a little while & then I made lunch for myself & both kids. Then, I played w/both kids until I put Emily down for a nap. I let Cameron watch some PBS kids shows on TV because I was just so tired. I sat on the couch falling asleep until I realized he's watched enough TV & I had to do something else w/him. I wanted to practice his letter writing with him (as in ABCs)& he had actually said earlier that he wanted to do it. Now, he didn't seem so keen on it so, I said we could do it outside. Still, no, he didn't want to. Then I said we could get his tent out & do it there. He said "Yes! Let's do that!" He has a pop-up dinosaur tent that we play in sometimes. I think there's a picture of it on one of my older posts. So I brought a small tray & he some markers & stuff & paper and out we went. I popped open the tent & he did a little of the letter stuff & then just wanted to play. Then I checked inside & Emily was up (talking to herself in the crib) & then I brought her out to play too. My husband was home at this point & I took Emily inside to change her stinky diaper & told Cameron I'd be right back. In the meantime, he decided to break a branch off of his favorite tree (formerly known as "The Happy Tree") -don't ask how he broke it off but, it took some major force. Now the tree will be named the "stay the hell away from me, kid! tree" Anyway, my DH & I were trying to decide if we should go get something to eat or not because it was Friday night & I had nothing planned for dinner. We settled for leftovers at home because it just seemed like too much trouble to go out at this point. I told Cameron that we could take a walk after dinner & he asked if we could walk to the playground in our neighborhood. Like a dummy, I said yes. He was so happy. He didn't want to walk so, I loaded up Emily in my Sit-in-Stand stroller & Cameron climbed on & off we went down the street (just me & the 2 kids)- me once again pushing some kids in a stroller. I should probably mention that I have this re-ocurring pain in my foot that has gotten kind of bad again recently as well as bad neck & shoulder pain. Yes, I know, play your violins. After pushing them in the swings & catching Emily at the bottom of the slide etc, we headed back home. Thankfully, it was now 7PM & time to start getting ready for bed. I took care of Emily & my DH took care of getting Cameron to bed (which is his usual task). I was finally able to settle into my couch for some much needed down time watching Chef Ramsey's "Kitchen Nightmares". The I heard Emily crying out -"Please God, say it isn't so". I waited a couple of minutes & she settled herself back to sleep -yes! Then, I swear, 2 minutes later I hear "Mommy, Mommy" pause "Mommy, Mommy" I go upstairs into Cameron's room & he says "will you sit with me?", which is something he hasn't said in a long time. I said yes & sat on his bed for a few minuutes & told him good night etc. and finally, it was back to "Me" time. By this time, I'm so exhausted that I can't even enjoy it. After Chef Ramsey, I turned off the TV & got on the computer. The next thing I know, I'm writing this post. Now I'm going to bed. Is this really my life? Yep.

Easy Egg Sandwich

If your kids (or you) like eggs, you can make them for more than just breakfast. Sometimes for lunch I make my 4 yr old an egg type of sandwich. I call it an "egg in the nest". Sometimes I'll use an Enlish muffin for the bread but, if I don't have that, I'll use the bottom half of a hamburger bun or even a piece of bread cut into a round shape. Cameron seems to except it more if it's round (like a nest). I toast the bread & at the same time I make the egg in the microwave. I use a ceramic ramekin dish or a small bowl & spray it w/cooking spray first. Then, I crack an egg in it & pierce it w/a fork & stir it just a little (keeps the egg from exploding in the microwave). Then, I microwave the egg on high for 35-45 seconds (depending on your microwave) and place it on the buttered bread (the egg is just like the one in an egg Mc-muffin). I sprinkle a little salt & pepper on it and melt a slice of cheese on top. Cameron really likes this & it's easy to eat. You get a good serving of protein & grains. You can add meat & a top bun or English muffin if you want but, for a little kid, it's usually enough the way it is. With some fruit on the side, it's a really healthy lunch. I make these for myself sometimes too!

Great Magnet Activity for Car Trips

I'm always looking for things to keep the kids occupied on car trips. Sometimes I create my own travel toys. One of my ideas that went over well with my son when he was about 3 1/2 yrs. old was a magnetic activity. He loves animals & loves to play zoo & things like that. I found a set of wooden animal magnets in the toy section at TJ Maxx/Home Goods (they also sell them other places for more $$). Later, I decided to get a magnetic write-on/wipe-off board that he could use as a tray to put the animals on & play with them without them falling all over the place since they're magnetic. They also make other sets of magnets like vehicles & dinosaurs, etc. I figured maybe later I would get him a different set to change things up every now & then. The other bonus is, once you get to your destination, your child can play with them on the fridge too. Cameron really liked them & we have taken them on more than one trip. I keep a bag of travel activities in our hall closet that we only take out when we're going on trips or someplace special. This way, the toys don't lose their novelty. I'll post some more travel ideas later.

Cute Lamp for Girl's Room

So, I was looking for a way to sort of "cuten-up" (yeah, so what, I make up my own expressions) this dumb lamp that I had in my daughter's room. This room is a confusing room because it used to be our guest room & still partly is but, our guests don't actually sleep in there even though there's a double bed in there along with my baby's crib. Well, whatever it's a whole nother story. Anyway, the lamp that was on the bedside table (which, by the way, the bedside table was a cute find from a antique/used furniture place.) was something from my Mother-in-laws house that she didn't need anymore so, my husband brought it home (we've gotten some great things from her -I could do a whole other post on that topic). The lamp base was okay, even though it's painted a sort-of silvery color but, I really didn't like the lampshade. It's okay but, just not right for the room. The room is a Shabby-chic/cottage style kind of room & the lamp style is a little too formal. Well, as luck would have it, I found a real cute lamp shade at a consignment sale for $1.50. I thought it would be so great for Emily's room. When I got it home & tried it out, I realized that it was not the right size for the tall skinny lamp that I was going to put it on. About a week later, I stop at a garage sale & what should a find?..... a cute, white wooden lamp base for $4.00. I put them together & couldn't be happier. The 2 pics reflect the before & after.

Best Slow Cooker Barbecue Pork Recipe

If you're looking for a different pulled-pork recipe that will get rave reviews, this is the one. My DH loves barbecue & he & I don't always agree on the type. This particular recipe is so good and not hard to make. You throw everything in the crockpot for 8 hrs. so, it cooks most of the day while you go about your day. When we make it for company, they always love it & ask about the recipe. It's a little spicy but, you can add less of the crushed red pepper if you're afraid of it being too spicy for kids.
Here it is:


4 lb pork (pork butt or shoulder)
1/2 cup dried cherries
1 medium onion, chopped finely
1/2 cup ketchup
1/3 cup cider vinegar
1/4 cup brown sugar (packed)
1 1/2 teaspoons crushed red pepper
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Trim fat from pork & cut into 2 or 3 big pieces. Place pork, onion & cherries into large crockpot (4 qt or larger). Mix together ketchup, vinegar, sugar, red pepper, cinnamon, garlic powder and salt & pour over pork. Cover & heat for 8 hrs on low. Remove pork & shred using 2 forks. Return shredded pork to cooker. Mix and heat with sauce befoore serving. Makes about 12 sandwiches.

Parks & Rec Classes for Kids

My son has taken a few of the classes offered by our Forsyth County Parks & Rec Dept. and some were better than others. He tooks a T-ball & soccer class which was okay but, the instructor was different for half of the classes so, the inconsistency made it difficult. Cameron didn't care for that so much but, there were a few things he liked about it. He also took a Gymnastics class for 18mo-3 yr olds and it was run poorly. The instructors showed the parents & kids which 3 activities they would be doing that day & then sat back & did nothing while the parents helped their child try & do the activities. There was no coaching or hands-on help from the instructors. Also, because of the broad age range some kid were very babyish & some could do alot more. There were 3 boys & 3 girls in his class but less than half showed up by the end of the 6 wk program. Oh well.
On the other hand,Cameron has taken 3 art classes (Little Picassos) and he really loved them. The Little Picasos series is for 20-36 months. Now, I will say that 20 mos. is really on the young side for art class but, some kids can handle it. My son took his frist class at about 23 mos. old and he liked it but, he lacked the self-control that he had later on. He would get easily excited or distracted and want to get up & run around. The same teacher teaches all of the young kids art classes & she is awesome! She's a former pre-school teacher & she is so great with kids. She keeps the kids busy the whole time so, they don't get bored. They usually color or something while they're waiting for everyone to arrive & then everyone sits in a circle on the floor while the teacher talks about this week's project. They have a main project & then, something to do after they finish the main project. Sometimes they give a small can of play-doh to play with which you then get to take home. The parent assists the child with their art which is important at this young of an age. Whenever they make a picture (paint, glue etc.), the teacher comes around with a cute flexible frame in different colors & the child gets to pick the color they want to frame their picture. Also, at the end of each class, everyone goes back to the circle & the teacher holds up each child's artwork & everyone claps. It makes the kids feel so great. I highly recommend doing something like this with your child if they really like art.

Funny & Personalized Greeting Card Idea

A neat idea for personalizing greeting cards started in our family many years ago. One of my mom's sisters found an old picture of some of the family members & put it on the front of a Birthday card with some funny captions. Then my mom cut out & glued another family member from another pic onto the same card & passed it on to another sister. Well, that snow-balled & became a funny thing to do as well as alter the pictures by adding things or clipping out other pics of people to add to them. In more recent years, the art form evolved as the greeting card companies came out with cards that used actual real photos of people. The pics are always old black & white or just crazy looking people in them. So, now sometimes one of us will take our own photos of our family & cut out the heads & glue them onto the bodies of the ones on the pic on the Birthday card. Sometimes altering the captions as well. It has been pretty hilarious. Often times people don't like the body they've been stuck with but, it's a lot fun to make or receive. We usually do this for sisters, aunts or cousins who are out of state because we don't get to see them that often & it's a fun way to stay connected. If I can find one that I have somewhere, I'll post a pic on here.

Delicious and Nutritious Muffin Recipe

Okay, so I know it's easier just to buy a pre-made muffin mix (& I do sometimes) but, it's not that hard to make muffins from scratch. The nice thing is you can add as little or as much of stuff that you want. Also, if you make certain types like blueberry, at least you get real blueberries in them instead of little artificial blueberry-like bits. The recipe below is for Blueberry muffins but, they also have zucchini in them for an extra nutritious punch & they're really good. This recipe makes about 24 regular size muffins or about 48 mini-muffins. The mini-size are great for portioning out as snacks, side-items, or small treats & they're easily portable too!
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter (1 stick) at room temp.
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 1/2 cups of blueberries fresh or frozen (thawed & drained)
2/3 cup shredded zucchini (about 1 medium zucchini)
2 cups all purpose flour

topping: (optional)
1TBSP granulated sugar
1/4 tsp nutmeg

Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Mix butter in large bowl until creamy. Add sugar & beat until pale & fluffy. Beat in eggs then vanilla, baking powder & salt. Fold in half of flour & then half of milk to batter then, repeat with 2nd half of each. Fold in grated zuchinni then, blueberries. Be gentle when mixing blueberries into batter so that you're not mashing them up! Scoop into muffin pan with liners (or greased) & then sprinkle mixture of sugar & nutmeg over each top. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Let cool & enjoy!

Cool Music for Kids

A lot of times music made for kids, is music that the parents can barely stand listening to over & over again. I made it my mission a long time ago to make sure I had some music that I could enjoy as well. When my kids were infants I really liked "Beatles for Babies". It had Beatles tunes set to lullaby-type music (no words, just music). Originally, I got it for my sister's kids & they really liked it. It used to have a claim on the package "Guaranteed to make babies stop crying". I swear it was true because when my nephew would be crying in the car & my sister put the CD in, he stopped crying & listened. Anyway it's part of a series called "Happy Babies" and there are other titles in the series that I haven't heard like "Elvis for Babies" & "Country for Babies" . I just don't think I could tolerate either of those in a baby tune kind oof way. There is a "Mozart for Babies" which I also really love. I think classical music can be really soothing sometimes.


There are also a lot of children's artists that exclusively make music for kids. For something toddlers & pre-schoolers would like, there's a group called "Recess Monkey" and they have several CDs which I have checked out from the library. You can always burn your own copy if you really like it -not saying that I've done that ;) and by checking them out from the library, there's no real investment if you decide you don't like it. The CD of Recess Monkey that my son & I really like is called "Tabby Road". It's an early Beatles sounding album with fun lyrics and it's pretty catchy. There's also one called "Aminal House" (yes, that's really how it's spelled) and it's good but, not as good as the other one. They have more CDs but, I haven't heard them. There's also, The Laurie Berkner Band and she's pretty popular in the world of kid's music. I don't know of a specific album that's good but, my son has a few songs he likes. One song is "We are the Dinosaurs" & another one is "The Happiest Song I Know". I also checked out another children's CD from the library which was "Meltdown" by Justin Roberts. It kind of sounds like 80's garage band music. There's a song on it called "Meltdown" like the album title & it's pretty good. There's another one I like called "Cartwheels and Somersaults" & it's all about how excited the family is after the baby sister arrives & now they're all doing cartwheels & somersaults. It's a cute message. The one negative I can say, is that the guy really can't vary his voice at all. He sings every song in the same key but, they are some cute songs.
Of course, sometimes I play "grown-up CDs too. I play old stuff like The Beatles, The Bee Gees & Dire Straits as well as newer stuff like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Black-Eyed Peas etc. We mainly listen to the radio in the car & every so often Cameron will ask me to turn it up louder. I guess that's when he likes a song but, he deosn't really say. We like to have little dance parties in our kitchen & great room area and the the kids love to spin around or copy my moves, or be picked up & danced with. Music is big in our house & I mean all kinds. We like hip-hop & rock and everything in between! I even have some French music CDs that we listen too sometimes. Well, anyways, maybe you'll check out some of these options for your kids too!

Bird Feeders

Sometime after we first moved into our house, I realized I needed a bird feeder in the backyard. I wanted to be able to look out my living room window & watch the birds. My husband made a small garden out there & I knew it would be a good place for a bird feeder. Well, my hubby got me a nice one with an iron hook (that stakes into the ground) to hang it on for an anniversary gift (I think -or maybe it was my birthday -shame on me for forgetting!). I wanted a good one that wouldn't get easily destroyed because I had had cheap plastic ones that never lasted. This was a nice glass "Droll Yankee"one. It's supposed to be one of the better brands of bird feeders. We have really enjoyed watching the different birds come & after we had our son, so did he. Cameron has always loved watching the birds come & go. For awhile, we had a cheap plastic feeder hanging on the big tree in our front yard but, it didn't last long. It was kind of neat in the winter though because we could look out the windoow in our kids playroom & watch the birds. More recently I realized we should put one in the large Wax Myrtle bushes that we have outside our kitchen windows. We were always sitting in the breakfast area with nothing to look at except those bushes. Due to finances, we got a cheap plastic one but, we've had a lot of fun watching the birds. We've had all kinds from Finches to Cardinals & even a cute little chipmunk who keeps raiding it. My baby, Emily's high chair is right nest to the window & she loves watching & making little bird noises and Cameron can identify a lot of bird types from books we have. If you want an inexpensive way to entertain kids & enjoy nature, I highly recommend bird feeders. Even if they're "cheep, cheep" ones.

Other Favorite Park -Sawnee mountain Preserve

In May I posted an entry with my top 10 favorite parks in the area. I decided to do an entry about another favorite park that I really like. Sawnee Mountain preserve has 2 seperate parks off of 2 seperate roads. There is a welcome center, trails & park off of Spot Rd and another park w/trails, a small playground and an outdoor ampitheater (for classes & outdoor performances) off Tribble Gap Rd.

The one on Spot Rd is neat because it has a Welcome center w/a library with books, games, toys and movies all w/nature & outdoor themes. My son would spend an hour or 2 in just that part if he could! There is a porch w/big rocking chairs that overlooks a pond w/waterfalls and it's a great place to kick back & relax/have a snack after a nature hike. Off of the nature trails there is a sandbox w/sand toys, and building area w/wood pieces that fit together and a little dog-house size cabin as an example of what you can build. There is also a tree house with ramps that you walk up & kids can run in and play. They have outdoor & adventure classes for kids too if they are elementary or teenage years. My niece & nephew have taken a class in the summer & they did some pretty neat things like zip-lining, tree climbing & white-water rafting. I spent about 3 hrs. at this location the other day w/my son. We met some friends for a nature hike & picnic. This mainly consisted of walking on the trail until the kids were tired & letting them play in the sandbox & have a snack. Cameron & I stayed longer than the others & ended up going in the visitor's center (I mainly wanted to get out of the heat & still occupy Cameron in some way!) and he played with some toys while I read a book about hiking with kids. Then I did a couple of puzzles with him & then he was hungry so, we went out & sat on the rocking chair porch while he ate his sandwich. Then, we went back inside & read a couple of books together before we left. This may sound boring to some of you but, I loved it! Cameron is so easy to occupy & he is very interested in learning about stuff so, he's fun to do stuff with. Also, time away from the baby is needed sometimes in order to give him more attention. Here, we had a lot to do & it was good quality time spent together.
Well, I digress...
The Tribble Gap Rd location has a trail that leads to the Indian Seats which is a natural rock formation with awesome views of the North GA mountains. It's about 1.5 mi hike & uphill so, little kids may not make it if they're not used to walking a lot. It's worth it for the view. There are also picnic tables & a playground for kids when you first go in the park so, kids can play & eat too. All in all, it's a neat place if you're an outdoorsy-type.

Places to find antiques and unique used stuff

I love places where you can find unique & cheap used furniture & other stuff for the home. Sometimes I'll end up getting a small side table & sometimes I'll find a tea cup or something small that I just like. There are a couple of great places in the area where you can find antiques & other used items for a good price. One of them is "The Green Bean Exchange" on Canton Hwy (Hwy 20) in Cumming in the Ingalls shopping center. It's like an anique mall divided into sections with different people's stuff for sale. There is another location on Canton Hwy going towards Canton in the Freehome area also (it's set up differently & is not as big). You can get unique jewelry for $2 -$4 (bracelets or earrings) & it's not stuff you find everywhere. I got my Mom a cute bracelet there for her birthday. I also have seen really cute children's wicker furniture there & you can even get some used children's books for $1. Once I saw the cutest old children's school desk (the metal chair w/attached wooden desk top) & it was painted a light blue color & had a little brick schoolhouse painted on the chairback for only $12. It was a steal but, for some reason I didn't get it even though I could picture my little boy sitting so cute in it. I went back for it several days later (after it really got to me) & it was gone. One of the ladies who worked there said she rembered it & thought it was a really cheap price & wouldn't last long & of course, it didn't. If I had time (& money), I would go there frequently to scour the place.
There is another place in Alpharetta on Hwy 9 (between Old Milton & Windward Pkwy) called "Queen of Hearts" which I also like a lot. It's a big antique mall divided up in into sections or rooms of people's stuff for sale. Once I got a picture there that I love. One year (after I was married but, before I had my first child, I was looking there & saw this great french painting of a bicycle outside of a pastery shop & it had a black distressed frame. I just loved it but, it was $100. It was just after my birthday & I thought to myself "I never buy anything like this for myself & I think I should!" I took my birthday money & bought it & I was so happy. I have loved it ever since. I also got a cute round mirror with a wooden frame painted with flowers (it's hard to describe but, it was really cute) for I think $20. I also got a really cute toile printed little foot stool there once as well. I think it was $15 & I really didn't know what I was going to do with it but, I just liked it.
Anyway, both of these places sometimes have sidewalk sales & stuff is marked down even more then. You can get some real steals. And if you can sew, apholster or can re-finish or paint stuff, you can do a lot with what you get.

Recipe with 2 versions -for adults & kids

I'm always looking for recipes that my kids would like and also recipes that my husband & I like that my kids will eat as well. This is not always easy. My son dislikes almost all fruits and vegetables and my husband is very picky about certain ones as well. When it comes to dinner, I feel like I can't win sometimes. Anyway I have an easy recipe for Pesto Chicken & Pasta that I like to make & that my family likes as well. It's slightly grown-up for my baby so, I have a way to convert it to a baby-friendly one as well. Luckily, my youngest, baby Emily seems to love almost everything she eats so far! She just might be my saving grace in this family yet!
For the Pesto sauce, I usually just buy a pre-made one from the refrigerated section of the grocery store but, I have made my own as well. The homemade one is great if you have the time (Basil, olive oil, parmesan cheese, & pine nuts all pureed up together).
The ingredients for the dinner are:
2 or 3 medium sized chicken breasts (if they're thick, pound them or slice them in half to make thinner)
1/4 to 1/3 cup of pesto sauce (divided in 2 portions)
3 cups of pasta (penne or bowtie works best)
1/4 cup of mozzerella cheese (or more if you want)
*All amounts are approximate -feel free to adjust the amounts to your family size
Spray a 9 x 13 glass baking dish or pan with cooking spray. Spread a small amount of pesto sauce in the spots where you will place chicken breasts. Place chicken breasts in pan & put more pesto sauce on top of chicken breasts and then sprinkle mozzerella cheese over tops of each.
Cover w/foil & bake at 375 for 25-30 min. Remover foil cover for last 5 min. & broil on low to brown the tops slightly. Meanwhile boil your noodles and toss in a seperate bowl with remaining pesto sauce. Serve chicken breast on top of noodles for each serving. For young kids, you have to cut the chicken up for them. Some people like to sprinkle grated parmeson on top as well. You can also mix some of the grated mozzerella in the pasta bowl too if you like.
This is a quick, easy and tasty meal. A salad goes nicely on the side & rolls or garlic bread do too. You can also add small grape or cherry tomatoes to the pasta as well.
Now, for babies (11 mos. & up), I just puree up a portion of the pesto chicken w/a little extra mozzerella and use it in a couple of different ways. I mix it with a tiny pasta like "ditalini" (a tiny tube like pasta) and let the baby eat it w/her hands or sometimes I spread it like a paste on thin bread or make a quesadilla with it. I take half of a tortilla (I use whole wheat but, flour or corn is fine too) and spread the mixture on half of the tortilla half & fold it over & microwave it for about 30 seconds. Then I cut it w/a pizza cutter into bite size pieces. Voila! There you have it! Sometimes I even make sandwiches out of leftovers. I make a panini w/the chicken & a tomato slice and a slice of fresh mozzerella (if I have it on hand) and I spread a littl extra pesto on inside the bread. Bon Appetit!

Cumming Aquatic Center -Part 2

Okay, here's what I've realized since I first blogged about the new Cumming Aquatic Center......
It's just too dang hard with 2 young kids! This is mainly because Emily just turned 1 yr & she walks & she just wants to do all this stuff that she can't do and I have to stay on top of her at all times. I couldn't really enjoy myself with my 4 yr old like I did before. Sad to say, I'll probably just take the 4yr old alone next time. Emily did love it though!

Mini-Golf in Roswell

There is a new Mini-Golf place in Roswell off Hwy 9 (where it intersects Holcomb Bridge Rd) called "The Fringe". It's actually a renovated version of one that was there previously in the late 1990's-early 2000's. It's really nice and really cute too! They have a pirate ship course and an old west town course (which also features mimi versions of old Roswell landmarks). Both are really neat. They even have a small putting green where you can practice before you play. They also have a sno-cone stand right outside next to the courses for a cool treat while you're playing or after. The cost is $7 for adults & $5 for kids 4-12. Kids 3 & under are free & there is a reduced rate if you want to play both courses. They have a nice new (also renovated) movie theater there as well with pretty good prices ($9 for adults).

New Cumming Aquatic Center

The new Cumming Aquatic center finally opened and we went there while my Sis-in-law & nephew were visiting us. Everyone I know has been awaiting the opening of this place. It's nice for people who don't have a neighborhood pool or who need more water activities than just swimming in the pool. We went about a week or so after it opened. A friend of mine that went when they first opened said that they waited over an hour and they still didn't get in because the wait was too long. Luckily for us, there was no wait & it was not too crowded. This was a Tues. afternoon which makes me think that this will be my preferred day to go again. I took my 4 yr. old son but, left the the baby at home napping w/Daddy.

Well, I'll start off with what I liked about this place....

It was a good size, not too big or too small. It has a zero edge pool with some little water fountains sticking up at the water's edge which babies would enjoy. A baby can actually sit & play in the water without fear of being washed away by a big wave (unlike the beach!). They have a play structure w/2 small slides & stationary water guns (more like canons) for little kids to play on & it's right in the middle of the pool. There is also a large dunking bucket that gets filled with water & dumps every so often & splashes all over anyone standing under it or the nearby vicinity. My son Cameron loved this! When asked later about what he liked best he said "Getting dunked!". Cameron & his cousin Christian would wait for it to fill & stand under it & go crazy when it dunked all over them. Oh to be little again! Simple pleasures!

The pool is shallow enough so that little kids can stand & play. Cameron was so happy when he realized he could stand in the pool (unlike at home in our neighborhood pool where the water is over his head) and as it gets shallower he could sit. At one point he said excitedly "Look, I'm walking on my knees!". There is a lazy river that is not so lazy. It is small but, moves fast. It's actually a lot of fun and there's a section where water pours down on you & sprays up from below too. Cameron went crazy for this & we went thru so many times! He's not tall enough to stand in this part though so, he had to hold onto me the whole time. Part of the time he just rode on my back. There is a large corkscrew water slide which you have to be 48 in. tall to go on so, Cameron couldn't do that one but, he didn't seem to mind. I however, went on it a few times & it is fun! My Sis-in-law went with her son a few times & when he wanted to go some more, I volunteered to go too. The line was usually pretty short (10 or 11 people) & it moves pretty fast so, you can go multiple times w/out a lot of waiting. They have beach chairs but, it's really hard to get one because even when people aren't sitting in them, they have their towels & other stuff on them. They do have some grassy areas where you could lay down a blanket or towels though. They have covered picnic tables which is great for a picnic lunch or snack. They also have vending machines in case you need a drink or snack.

What I didn't like was.....
The water in the leisure pool is waist deep at it's highest point. This is great for little kids but, not so much for adults. The lazy river is fun but a kid under the age of 6 can't go in by themselves because this is the only section that's actually deeper. The only pool that you can swim in (in the traditional sense) is indoors & mainly used for instruction & team sports. They need more chairs because they have a lot of unused space to accomodate them & there is definitely not enough chairs. Other than that, I give this place a big thumbs up!

It's all about the wipes

Whether you realize it or not, all wipes are not created equal. The ones that some major brands advertise are thicker or that are "quilted" are really not so great. The thinner more "flimsy" types actually do a btter job of cleaning up a really messy bottom. The thicker ones are too stiff & they're not very soft on baby's bottom. Well, this is not really the point on this particular blog.
My main point is that wipes are good (& necessary) for a multitude of things beyond just wiping a baby's butt. I used to carry a traditional travel case of them in my diaper bag but, these days, I usually just keep a zip-loc bag of them in my purse at all times. I use them for obvious things like cleaning messy hands & faces or wiping down dirty surfaces. I use them for wiping the area of the table where the baby is sitting in a restaurant or for wiping down a high chair or shopping cart (whenever I don't have my nice shopping cart/high chair cover w/me -which is rare!). They're also good for wiping off dropped pacifiers or toys when you're out & about. I've also used them for wiping down car seats when food is dropped or spilled in the car & I wipe down messes in the stroller with them too. Baby wipes are also great for getting stains out of clothing. They really do work as well as the leading stain removal wipes. Whatever is in these things, it's pretty great!

Outside Time For Babies

Since the time I blogged about fun times in the backyard, I have had many days where I was searching for outside things to do with my younger child. Emily is almost 11 mos. old & not walking but, getting into everything! When I play in the backyard with my 4 yr. old, what can Emily do? Well, I've had to get creative. For awhile she was content to sit on a blanket & play with toys. Yep, that didn't last long. There is the obvious, sit & play in baby pool but, I don't always want to have to change her into a swimsuit & deal with all that. So anyway, here are some suggestions about what to do with a baby who can do everything but walk....
1. Bring the Exersaucer or Jumperoo (or whatever you have like it) outside in the shade. You'd be surprised that even if they don't care for it much inside, being outside is different. They like the added stimulation of being outside watching nature, other kids etc. Emily will sit in the Exersaucer for quite awhile playing or jumping & watching the world.
2. Babies like bubbles. Blow bubbles at them while they're sitting in the stroller or on a blanket.
3. Inflatable baby pools, even without the water are fun to play in. Put toys, balls etc. in there & let them play.
4. Use a pool float (such as inflatable boat or inflatable turtle) that a little kid would float in, as a place for baby to sit & play. Try to use a roomy boat style or one meant for an older toddler so, they have room to sit well in it. I have a turtle float that has a seat w/leg holes but, if you put it on the grass, it's just a place to sit & play. I give Emily a few toys to play with & she's actually content to sit & play for awhile. Sometimes she drops toys overboard but, she's only in the grass so, she can lean out to get them without me worrying.
5. Play Tents or cabanas are fun for babies too! Emily likes to play in her brother's play tent & it keeps the sun off of her too. She likes to play peek-a-boo in there & she like bringing toys or books in there too.
6. Outdoor swings are awesome! Even if you don't have a swing set, you can have a baby swing. You can hang a baby swing from a porch ceiling, a tree or under a deck and the baby will swing for a long time (as long as your pushing!). It's worth it installing because they can use them until they're 3 4yrs. old so, you'll get some life out of it.
Well, that's all I've got on this subject! It's a pretty short time to have to fill up before a baby is walking so, take comfort in that. Once they're walking, they won't be content to do half of this stuff so, enjoy it while you can!

New Humane Society in Alpharetta

I am a big animal lover and I am especially fond of rescue dogs and cats. I only have 1 dog right now but, if I had the space, I would definitely have more pets and they would all be rescued animals. I am happy to report that the Atlanta Humane Society is opening up a new branch in Alpharetta off of Mansell Rd (where Carmax used to be). It will be a huge animal shelter encompassing about 50,000 sq. ft. & employeeing about 150 people including a staff Veterinarian. They are intending for it to be a totally new kind of animal shelter. Each dog will sleep alone and have a glass door and the cats will be housed in cat condos. The cats will be displayed in an open area where they can mix w/other cats & climb & play. Prospective dog owners will be able to take dogs outside in a 2 acre outdoor area to run & play. This gives people a chance to really get to know the personality of an animal before adopting them. I think it sounds really cool! The facility won't be officially opening until Thanksgiving but, they are having an Open House this Sat June 4 from 3-7 PM. So far, I give it 2 paws up! This might be worth checking out!

Stroller Time

Well, after 2 kids within the last 4 yrs, I've logged a lot of stroller miles. I thought I'd give you some stroller tips & my own opinions on what I like & don't like about the 4 strollers that I've owned.
My favorite stroller was also my 1st stroller. It's a Graco Metrolite travel system. This is a must have for any new mom. I'm sure there are other brands that make good ones but, I'm just partial to this one. The ability to put the carseat right in the stroller w/out disturbing the baby was a brilliant idea that someone came up with several years ago & it caught on like wildfire. This one is cool because you can access the awesomely sized basket underneath the stroller even when the carseat is in. The basket has a push down handle that lets you get under there even when the seat is in full recline. So important! This stroller also has 3 seating positions & can recline all the way flat for a baby to sleep as well. This is so important for a young infant. You can't put infants under 6 mos. in an umbrella type stroller anyway. Also, the handle is adjustable to 2 heights for different height parents & has 2 cup holders & a keys compartment on the handle. The baby tray has a cup holder also & a built-in snack cup too. Also, the baby tray opens up & swings out of the way to get baby in or out. The overhead canopy has a netting screen that comes all the way down over the baby if you want to keep out bugs etc. and it helps as a little extra shade outside in the sun too. This stroller is also really easy to fold (easier than my small umbrella strollers) & rolls easily over bumps, curbs & many surface types (which my umbrella strollers definitely do not). Overall, I have used this stroller the most & have loved it for 4 years now. A couple of unintended uses have been, putting the seat down flat & using it to change a diaper & when my older child got tired of walking, he would sometimes stand on the foot rest (facing baby in stroller) & hold on to the baby tray for a brief ride. The only drawback would be it's little bulky for travel if you have a lot of stuff to bring & not a lot of trunk space but, totally worth it whenever possible.
I also have 2 umbrella type strollers. One is an Inglesina & one is a Chicco Capri. I should mention that my husband & I never pay full-price for anything & although we got these new, we got them dirt-cheap online. They are both similar but, the Inglesina reclines to 3 different positions (although the 3rd postion is still not very reclined) and the Chicco has a zipper that can be unzipped to recline the seat (slightly). They both fold up nice & small & are lightweight but, they actually don't fold real easily. The drawbacks are.... The baskets underneath are very small & the wheels don't go over the slightest bump easily. Even to go from the street to my driveway (which is about an inch at most higher than the road), I have to push the back of the stroller with my foot & lift up while pushing into onto the driveway. These strollers are great for toddlers & pre-schoolers & if you have limited amount of space, these are real easy to fit in any back seat or car. I will say though, as far as airplane travel w/infants, you might be tempted to bring the smaller stroller but, you're going to need the carseat when you get to whereever you're going anyway so, you might as well bring the travel system. You can wheel the baby through the airport in the carseat in the stroller (going thru security is a pain but, I've managed to do it by myself!) but, you do have to break it down to go through security. Then, you can gate check both pieces & it's no big deal.
My 4th stroller was a gift from my mom who felt sorry for my 3 yr. old when his sister was born & wanted to make sure he still had "a ride". My son has always been a total stroller kid. He has always liked riding & never fussed or complained. He gets too tired to walk in many situations & he likes sitting back having a drink & snack while he goes from place to place. Spoiled? Maybe, but well behaved & happy so, I'll take it! My mom & I decided on the Sit N Stand by Baby Trend. I find Baby Trend products in general to be kind of cheapo & poorly made but, this one has been great. There is one that has an actual 2nd seat that converts to the actual sit n stand version but, the one I have is just the sit n stand. The older kid can either sit on the back bench or stand on the platform. My son loves it. The front seat can accomodate most car seats as well for those early months of baby's life. The version I have has a special bar that the car seat rests on which can be taken off later & then you can just have the traditional baby tray with cupholder. Also, it has 2 cupholders & a keys compartment on the parent handle. My son thinks that one cup holder is his & one is mine (which is basically true). Also, the bench has a 3-point seat belt too help secure the older kid. Of course, I'm probably the only person with a kid who always insists on being buckled! The storage basket is also really big & can be accessed thru snaps on the side as well. I will say, this stroller is quite heavy & bulky when folded but, it can be a life-saver at certain places. I don't even mind pushing it around the neighborhood or on paved walking trails ( I look at it as extra exercise!). I always take it to the mall so, I don't have to keep track of both my kids & so my older kid doesn't complain or lag behind. And, I can't imagine going somewhere like Disney World without it.
I don't have a jogging stroller which, I would like to have. However, my husband would kill me if I wanted to bring another stroller into our garage!

Fun Times in the Backyard

My son Cameron got a play tent from his grandparents for a Birthday present & we've played in it several times in our backyard. He loves pretending that we're living there or that were hiding there from a monster trying to get us. All kinds of different scenarios. Sometimes we read books or play a game in there too. Even my 10 month old baby likes playing in there w/us. Anyway, it reminded me that maybe I should post some ideas for things you can do in your own backyard when your kids are bored & you've run out of new ideas.

The tent is great & it also gives you some shade from the sun. But, you can also make a tent by putting a blanket or beach towels over backyard chairs & stuff too. Any way you do it, it can keep a kid busy for awhile. Of course, there's always the usual stuff like bubbles. You can vary it by having contests to see who can blow the biggest one or pop the biggest one. Or you can let the kids use an object like a plastic golf club or baseball bat to pop the bubbles. That's a real hit w/my son. I can hear my mom saying "you'll put an eye out w/that thing!" already.
There's always all of the usual summer things like sprinklers, kiddie pools & slip-n-slides. Also, a lot of little kids have water tables & sometimes my son (with bathing suit on) climbs right up & sits right in the water table. He'll sit in there & play forever even sticking his face in the water or pouring water over his head. Be careful that your kid doesn't stand up in it though. It can tip right over. Nobody wants the "Worst Mom of the Year " award for that one.


Sometimes we'll even do a "carwash" & let Cameron use a bucket of water & a sponge to wash his ride-on toys & bikes. Or paint with water- sure the water designs fade real quick but, it's the painting action that kids seem to like. Sometimes Cameron rides his bike on the driveway & Emily & I chase him around (baby in stroller w/me pushing). They both squeal with delight at this one.








Well, anyway, the point is, get creative & have fun! I'll post more later!

Favorite Parks

First things first, parks are a great free resource so, take advantage of them! I've been to most of them in the area & definitely have my faves.

My Top 5 Parks in Cumming/Alpharetta
1. Wills Park -Awesome wooden playground, swings sandbox & more in Alpharetta. Plus, a dog park, frisbee golf, plus 2 other playgrounds, & an adjacent equestrian park. All surrounded by big beautiful shadey trees. Also hosts seasonal carnivals & "Taste of Alpharetta". Need I say more?
2. Fowler Park -New park in Cumming with an awesome playground as well as jogging paths & a teen skate park annd connected access to the Big Creek Greenway.
3. Webb Bridge Park -Located in Alpharetta. Large park in the woods with big playgrounds for big & little kids with giant covered sandbox (with sand toys!) and in summer, a man-made creek that kids can play in. Totally cool.
4. Central Park -Located in Cumming. Large park with nice playground for little kids connected to large playground for big kids. Also, great walking paths for exercise. They sponsor some great carnivals & events there as well.
5. Coal Mountain Park -Located in Cumming. This park has 2 different playgrounds. One is covered by shade sails & has a rubber bottom surface. It's great for little ones. Also, they feature some great seasonal events.
There are many other parks that are outside of this area that are very noteworthy. They did not make the list because they are outside of the Cumming/Alpharetta area. However, they are definitely worth the drive. Check out some of these other parks in adjacent towns.....
-Gary Pirkle Park -Buford
-Pooles Mill -Ballground
-Newtown Park -Roswell
-Riverside Park -Roswell
-Playtown Suwanee -Suwanee
That's my scoop on the local parks. My take on it is from a "Mom with young kids" perspective.
Now, get out there & get some fesh air!

Fun Indoor Spots to Occupy Tots

If you ask me, finding fun places that are indoors & keep kids occupied & happy is important. Someimes, you just have to be indoors & you don't want to spend a bunch of money. If you're looking for fairly inexpensive ways to entertain your kids (& wear them out for naptime or bedtime!), than I've got several in the area to recommend....
1. Catch Air located in Cumming off Redi Rd is my favorite. I love it mainly because it's a wide open place where you can see your child from almost anywhere & it has activities that can keep my son busy for hours. There are inflatable slides & bounce houses, a giant building block area & great toddler area w/ball pit and numerous other activities. If you need a place to go on a cold, rainy, hot or just plain boring day, this is it! It's $5 for kids under 3 & $8 for kids 3 & up but, they usually have a 25% off special & it's really worth it.
2. Monkey Joes in Cumming off Post Rd. is a similar option but, I don't like it nearly as much as Catch Air. It has lots of inflatable slides & bounce house but, you have to follow your child to each one or you'll lose them in a heartbeat. You'll find yourself wandering around looking into each place like "Did he go in there, is that him?". It's hard to explain but, it makes it a pain. Their prices are also a little higher as well. However, my kid & most other kids seem to love it!
3. North Point Mall in Alpharetta is a great option too. Uh, did I say mall? Well, yes but, I'm not trying to imply that you'd actually get to do some shopping! This is great for cold or rainy days when you want to get out but, don't want to spend a lot of money. There are a lot of kid options here. They have a play area for young kids that has stuff to climb & slide & play on & it's surrounded by a wall with padded benches all the way around. They also have a carousel in the food court that my son loves. It costs $2 but, it's well worth his happy, smiling face. Bonus, you can have lunch in the food court. Also, there are a few coin-operated rides at one end of the mall so, if you're really desperate (& have lots of pocket change!), go there. There is also an American Girl store there with a "bistro" where you can have an over-priced lunch as well. There are several other great kids stores but, if your kid gets a case of the "gimmies" easily then, maybe avoid them.
4. Adventure Kids on Bethelview Rd. in Cumming is unique kid of playplace. The floor is bare cement (whatever!) & they have plasma cars that kids can ride around on & a bounce house w/inflatable slide. They also have a giant sanbox area with a wooden playground in the middle of it. They seem to have a good party business going on there but, they are only open for regular play Fri-Sun. However, they'll be open everyday this summer. My son likes it okay but, he's not thrilled with it.
5. Barnes & Noble at The Avenue in Cumming is a great free resource. They have a large kids section with toys & tons of books (of course) & seating to sit & read to your child. They have a Thomas Train table that the kids can all play at & they have storytime for kids there on certain mornings as well. It's a pretty good free resource.
6. Chuck E. Cheese's on North Point Dr. in Alpharetta. Okay, I'm sure everybody knows what this is right? Crazy place with pizza, video & arcade games & ride-ons. Oh, and giant rat that can sing Happy Birthday to you. It's not just a place for birthdays. It's a good rainy day place too, if you want to spend a little money.
7. Okay, Let me give a shout out to all of the fast food restaurants that have indoor playgrounds! McDonalds in Cumming on HWY 9 is pretty good because it also has lots of tables in the playground area so, you can meet up w/a group of others & eat & chat while the kids play (Winning!). Chick-Fil-A at the Avenue in Cumming is small but, the kids seem to like it. Burger King on Atlanta Hwy in Cumming is similar to McDonald's but smaller. Those are the only ones I'll mention. Yes, there are others but, some are not indoors so, they're only good certain times of the year & some I just don't go to.
Well, I'll blog more on this subject if I realize that I left something off or if I experience someplace new.
Until then, Check this stuff out!

Birthday Parties & Stuff

This Spring has been especially busy for me & my family. We have been to Florida twice to visit relatives on both sides of our family. Also, within 3 weeks, we had Easter, our wedding Anniversary, my daughter's Baptism and my son's 4th Birthday Party. Whew! The weather during these events was often times unpredictable. I have lived in the North Atlanta area for many years & this Spring, the weather has been the most up & down that I can remember. However, the weather was absolutely perfect early in May for my son's Birthday Party which was held at Wills Park in Alpharetta. Unlike most of the new parks, they actually left a lot of the beautiful trees which provide a lot of shady areas. This is one of the many reasons that I listed it as one of my favorite parks in a previous post. Well, I digress, the reason for this post is to offer up some great places for kids parties. Amoung them would be any of the parks that I blogged about previously as well as indoor fun places such as Catch Air, Monkey Joes, Adventure Kids, & Chuck-E-Cheese's. For something a little different though try Stars & Strikes Bowling Alley in Cumming. Even little kids have fun bowling! I have been to parties there & it was pretty fun. Unfortunately, it's not cheap though. If your kids love swimming, there is a place in Alpharetta (on Holcomb Bridge Rd.) called Seaventures. Kids 3 & up can have a pool party there with swimming & water games & then they have a party room for food & cake, etc. I haven't been there but, I heard that it's pretty neat. There's also Build-A-Bear at North Point Mall which does really cute parties as well. I'm sure most people are familiar with this concept of kids picking out their own stuffed animal & an outfit to dress it in. This party can be fun for boys or girls so, it's a fun option. Well, I'm sure there are tons of places out there to have parties but, one great option is always your own house! Of course, if you don't want to do all the cleaning before & after, pick something else. Sometimes people spend even more money on food & stuff when it's their own home so, you really don't always save that way either. Oh well, party on Dudes!