Over The Rainbow

Escape to somewhere over the rainbow by visiting Watkins Regional Park in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. It's like walking into a storybook as Baum's "The Wizard of Oz" comes alive before your eyes.  Start your adventure and follow the yellow brick road to the 12,000 square foot Wizard of Oz themed playground. Walk under a giant rainbow that reflects bright and vibrant colors at your feet. Cross over the bridge and the magic unfolds as you are greeted by the scarecrow and other characters. 

As you enter the main park, step to the right and you will find yourself down on Auntie Em's farm with tractor, barn, windmill and Dorothy's house. No detail is left out, even a quaint picture is hung in the house reading "there’s no place like home." Walk through a field of bright and colorful poppies and hide in little whimsical dome shaped munchkin huts. Escape the flying monkeys in the forest that is a giant obstacle course. Explore the Emerald City's castle, where your kids can climb rock walls, ropes and ladders.  Pretend to fly away in the hot air balloon section. Activities in this area include a word search and hour glass spin dial. Each section has fun little activity centers to stimulate visual, sensory and auditory awareness.

At the back of the play ground is a fun musical zone where you can play giant xylophones. Don't forget to relax and enjoy a old fashioned swing; which of course has a scene on the ground that looks like the sky. Another awesome detail I love about this park are the excerpts from the book on illustrated pages through different sections. Last but not least, with the ruby slipper slides located on the way out of the park you will be clicking your feet together and saying "There's no place like Watkins Regional Park!" 

Time Flies

If I could slow down time for a moment, I would. Why does time go so quickly? How does does it fly by so fast. Seems like yesterday I first met my darling baby boys and yet they are getting so big. I see their pictures as infants and miss those chubby cheeks and toothless baby smiles. "Enjoy every moment, it goes by fast," is the advice every veteran mom has given me. I know I am embracing it and making moments count. But still, I wish I could hold them and kiss them and enjoy these younger years a little longer.  Tonight I will kiss them goodnight twice and when they ask for hugs this week I will embrace them longer. Hopefully I will get the opportunity each night to savor the memories made each day so that they linger in my mind for a life time. I keep a journal by my bed and write down little things they do that make me laugh and smile. Tonights entry will hopefully hold me accountable to continue to be diligent in my journaling of their growth.

Moms Meet Ambassador

I was accepted as a Moms Meet Ambassador. Through this program green/organic companies like Annie's will send me samples of current and new products. In return I will blog or post Facebook reviews about the product. I'm excited about trying new products and sharing my opinions...even more fun is that I get to share the goodies with all my Mommas out there for free.

Hot Wheels Volcano vs Super Loop

My son was given the Hot Wheels Volcano Blast for Easter from his grandma. He was excited to find the toy assembled and ready to play with Easter Morning.

The Hot Wheels Volcano Blast track is similar to most Hot Wheels tracks as a playable standalone set.  The Volcano Blast is designed to fit up to eight cars on the top of the volcano in which they can descend down four different tracks. The track is kid powered! Definite bonus to not need batteries. Your child twists the key than presses the handle on the top to release the cars one at a time. The set comes with 4 obstacles at the bottom of the ramps with a launcher that goes through the middle of the volcano. Fun to watch the cars zip through and awaken the rock skull with glaring eyes.

My son loved playing with his friends track sets and this why Grandma was asked to get one for Easter. I think Tommy was disappointed by this design because he was used to playing with sets that loop or shoot long distances. For some reason perhaps just personality he lost interest in it and it began collecting dust in the play room. I called Mattel to inform them of our experience. They were more than helpful! A customer service representative read my email and responded right away. They offered to send me a gift card to purchase a new track that my son would enjoy. I thought this was more than gracious and I’m over the moon impressed with Mattel.

My son was so excited when his gift card came in the mall. He was like a kid in a candy store when we got to the Hot Wheels aisle at Target. He selected the Hot Wheels Super Loop Raceway. We assembled it immediately and we couldn’t get him away from this toy for hours. You will need batteries for this track; however, it’s worth it! You turn on the motor and place cars on the ramp, release the car and watch it zoom through the loops. Add more cars and watch them crash.

 

 

 

Tips

• When selected a track remember that every kid is different, you can’t go wrong with any Hot Wheels set because they all are cool. Just keep in mind three different things does your kid enjoy building and creating, pushing and playing with cars or are they fascinated with watching them race and crash.
• When buying cars for tracks I recommend buying the Hotwheel brand cars, sometimes the cheaper off brand cars aren’t as heavy and don’t work as well on the tracks.

 

Baltimore 2013

"Good Morning Baltimore, every day's like a open door!" Can't help but sing the song as I write about Baltimore. For our first family vacation we decided to go somewhere somewhat close to home, so Baltimore was our choice. We didn't know what to expect or how little man would handle a long car ride. I'm glad we choose to explore Northern Maryland because we had a really good time. 

Glen Echo Park

Our adventures started at Glen Echo Park (www.glenechopark.org). This park is a lot of fun and has a lot to do. First we watched a puppet show (www.thepuppetco.org). The Puppet Company uses vintage French style puppets that are costumed in bright and beautiful fabrics to portray classic fairy tales. The voice actors are entertaining and captivating. The audience is mostly geared for children ages 3-7 years old; however, my husband and I and our 18 month old were captivated. If your child enjoys story time at the library than they will definitely be able to sit through the show with ease. After the show, be sure to stay around and meet the cast and see the puppets up close. You can take pictures and ask questions about the show and touch the puppets.

Glen Echo Park's Dentzel Carousel is a beautiful historic ride that was established in 1921. Each animal on the carousel is hand carved and has been fully restored to it's original grandeur. Tickets are only $1.25 per person to ride the carousel. (www.glenechopark.org/carousel)

This park has such whimsical artistic elements that are fun and creative. There are galleries and classes available to view and express your creative side. Everything about this park is aesthetically appealing even the play ground area is unique and colorful. 

 Port Discovery Children's Museum
This museum is a lot of fun and at a affordable price. We went on a Thursday since the museum runs a special called "Thrifty Thursdays." Arrive after 1PM on a Thursday and the tickets are only $8 instead of $13.95. This worked perfect for us because we were able to nap little man in the hotel and than head over for some afternoon entertainment. Port Discovery has three stories of exhibits to explore with a massive climbing area called Kid Works at the center. We enjoyed the toddler room called the Tot Trail. The room is interactive and playful and offers a chance for parents and children to engage in hands on exploration in a space that sparks imagination and inspires curiosity.
(http://www.portdiscovery.org/)

 Baltimore Zoo
I really love the Baltimore Zoo because it's shaded and on level ground that's easy to walk around with strollers. I'm used to going to the Washington National Zoo which has a lot of hills and can be tiring. This Baltimore Zoo has an array of animals and interactive exhibits for all ages. We enjoyed the petting zoo, carousel and feeding the giraffes the most.
(www.marylandzoo.org)

Federal Hill
The views of the Harbor from Federal Hill are breath taking. It was a nice hike up the hill so make sure you wear comfortable shoes. Once you get to the top of the hill it is like stepping out of the city and into a private oasis. The area is like a best kept secret that only locals know about. There are park benches, recreational areas and is rich with history.

Baltimore Aquarium

(www.aqua.org)

The Baltimore aquarium is a all day adventure with lots to enjoy. Just a quick disclosure and I'm glad I enjoy baby wearing and typically prefer a carrier over a stroller.  Once you have entered the aquarium, you will be asked to check your stroller at no cost. However, it does cost money to check coats so you can store your coats in the stroller since you don't have to collapse it. If you didn't pack a carrier they will give you one to use so you can hold your little one more comfortably. We enjoyed the jellyfish exhibit, it's a optical sensory experience that is so colorful and has lots of movement to capture a little ones attention. The aquarium no longer has scheduled dolphin shows. Guests are welcome to come and go and listen to educational information and see dolphins swim and play in a more laid back setting. The featured black reef exhibit has an array of tropical fish, stingrays, sharks and sea turtles. 


Food
http://tirnanogbaltimore.com/
Slainte!  This restaurant has so much to rave about. From food to entertainment you will not be disappointed. We sat outside for dinner to enjoy the harbor views and listen to the band play. The music kept little mans attention while we enjoyed a family meal.

Vacationing in Lancaster County PA

As summer time approaches many families are beginning to make travel plans. I have gotten a large amount of inquiries about our favorite place to travel to time and time again...Lancaster, Pennsylvania!

In this article I will share all about the best places to stay, attractions to visit and dining experiences you won't want to miss. The best part is they are all tot tested and altruistic momma approved.

Hotels

We've stayed at a few hotels but my favorite two hotels are the Best Western Premier Eden Resort and Suites and the Lancaster DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel.

Let's start with Eden Resort which features luxurious suites and villas at an affordable price. The rooms are spacious and clean with luxurious and trendy decor. High end features include marble vanities, dimmer lighting features and large flat screen televisions. All rooms conveniently have a microwave and mini fridge.

This hotel has so much to offer guests; with an indoor heated pool as well as an outdoor pool with an additional kids spray ground area there is plenty to keep everyone busy. Accommodations also include a nautical pirate ship playground, basketball court, bocce ball, shuffle board, pool tables, ping pong and golf putting par area.

Eden is constantly spoiling its guests with complementary chocolate at check in and free ice cream social hour by the pool in the afternoons. The hospitality at Eden is remarkable! From reservations to check in and room service to concierge you will feel treated like royalty. I have called the guest services to request things like early check in or to inform them we were celebrating a birthday or anniversary and they have always made special accommodations.

Another excellent hotel to stay at is the Double Tree Hilton Hotel. What I love about the Double tree is that it feels like home away from home. The staff are friendly and accommodating.  We were traveling with friends and they made sure we were close to each other even though the hotel was booked. When you check in you are welcomed with a warm smile and fresh chocolate chip cookies.

The rooms are modern, classy and comfy. Housekeeping and customer service are first class. The rooms are kept spot less and room services was extra helpful in making me a special dessert allergy free.

My kids love staying at this hotel because of the awesome indoor pool, it's like staying at a hotel with a water park. There are two pools in the spa area; one large lap pool and then a children's pool with a no drop entry. The children's pool has an awesome water slide and other water features that the little ones go completely crazy over. There are changing rooms in the fitness center which are very convenient. Kids also enjoy the Arcade and outdoor play ground. The hotel also offers scheduled activities like family movie night and crafts for kids. Double Tree is dedicated to making sure your vacation is entertaining.

Another perk is that both these hotels are centrally located to restaurants and attractions. For more information about the hotels please visit:
http://www.edenresort.com
http://www.doubletreelancaster.com

Food

We are big fans of The Specked Hen, it’s a small gem that not too many people know about. It is a cute little mom and pop café that while is charming and trendy is also family friendly. The owners pay such close attention to detail. The food they offer is fresh and local. The display of the food is decadent, when I got my coffee I was impressed with the beautiful swirl of cream shaped like a heart. Even more appealing is a side room they have with comfortable tables, high chairs (never seen highchairs at Starbucks…just saying!) and yes a little table setup for the kids to play with trains, puzzles or books on. The Speckled Hen is pure genius! I can’t tell you how nice it was to sit back and enjoy my coffee and conversation with hubby while the kids played!

http://www.speckledhencoffee.com

Attractions

Whether visiting Strasburg railroad to attend a Day Out with Thomas or to enjoy a scenic train ride; this station offers lots of fun events for all ages. We have attended a few special activities here and my boys have enjoyed every one. Our favorites have been the vintage baseball game in the fall and Day out with Thomas in the spring. I prefer attending Day Out with Thomas at this location because the ride in the country is beautiful anytime of year, the station is kept very clean and there is always lots to do in addition to the train ride. I want to talk a bit about the Day Out with Thomas.  This special event at the Strasburg Rail Road features train rides with Thomas and now Percy! There is so much to do with storytelling, coloring table, temporary tattoo tent, live music, Mega Blocks station, two stores one that sells Thomas items that I’ve never seen before in the stores, a gift shop. In addition to riding the train; you get to meet and greet Sir Topham hat and get a photo with Thomas/Percy himself. Some more attractions unique to Strasburg include pedal trains, mini train rides and more.  

I highly suggest that you also visit the Rail Road Museum of Pennsylvania that is right across the street from the rail road. This museum displays vintage trains and is rich in history. It is also extremely hands on and kid friendly. There is a huge section just for kids to explore and play with trains both wooden rail road, electric and Lego! I couldn’t believe how much there was to do. You can also climb on to some of the trains and their displays throughout the museum for kids to interact with. My son’s favorite was the display wear he got to shove pretend coal.

http://www.strasburgrailroad.com

The Train Obsession

Woot, woot! All hands on deck! This is not a drill, I repeat this is a real evacuation, this is not a drill. It's go time, this is what we've trained for! Everyone races to the car and we  drive to the next neighborhood over. Windows down so we can hear the clickity clacking or horn blasting. Everyone is looking out the window with hopeful eyes. And there she is, the five o clock diesel train hauling empty coal cars back to the quarry. The smiling faces and excited chatter make the trip worth it. 

It sounds crazy to some people to get so excited about a simple factory train passing through town. That's the norm in our house and it's something I know I'm going to look back on and miss. 

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