Children's Museum

I won a year's membership to the Children's Museum at a silent auction at Samantha's Preschool a few months back. We finally decided to check it out a few days ago.

Grammy came along since she's on vacation this week.. thank goodness!

 

The Museum is called Explore and More, and its a Museum in East Aurora, one of our favorite little towns around here.. It was created by parents with children, and everything you can imagine that little kids would be interested in, and be fascinated with... along with some history as well.. 

This was a display speaking to our canal system and you can work the locks, cranes, load the boat..I don't think miss Sassy was supposed to be climbing on this one.. hehe.

Magnet wall with turning gears

 

Under a working Windmill 

Trying on wooden shoes in the "dutch" area.

 

This was a native American area.. with a little rock cave.

Brother was waaaay to busy for a picture with Sissy

Not too busy for one with Mama.

He was in heaven.

Drums,

Music,

Wooden xylophone..

Miss Taylor Swift... 

 

In the Japanese station they had a rice table, which Andrew kept going back to again, and again.

 

Perfect.. he ran his little tushy off and was sooo pooped on the way home.



We had lunch in their little lunchroom, and Samantha made some crafts with Grammy in the craft room (closed off so littles couldnt wander in).. I didn't take nearly enough pictures at all.. they had a garden area with chicken coop, construction area, boat, fish, fruit stands,

 

Mister found a little doorbell and lightswitch area.. his favorite thing to do at home is turn lights on and off.. he could do that for HOURS.. this place was right up his alley..

We will for sure be back .... we have a membership, and I certainly plan on taking full advantage.

 

Day at the Lake

Yesterday we decided to take a little road trip adventure.

We packed the cooler and all our necessary gear (which is a lot with 2 kids!).. and we hit the road.

We headed North towards Lake Ontario to a little town on the lake 

It was a beautiful morning on the lake.

It wasnt too hot or humid.. yet...



 

We arrived about 11am so we found a shady spot for a picnic, and ate our lunch.

I made sandwiches for Daddy and I, and made Samantha a little toddler lunch in her new cute container.

 

This guy snacked on blueberry puffs and water while we ate

Then I snuck away to nurse him in the car before we headed towards the main event...

 

I cannot beleive some days that we have two precious kiddos

 

The town has an Amusement/Carousel park.

And it just so happened to be customer appriciation day.. free carousel rides, free tattoos, animal ballons, games, cookies..

 

Sassy was in her GLORY.. riding every single ride....

and singing to herself the entire time. The only ride we went on with her was the big carousel.

 

I took a walk around the little beach town with Andrew, and he soon passed out for a pretty long nap.

 

Samantha kept on riding all the rides, and playing games, and who cares.. tickets were 25 cents !! I cannot beleive I've never heard of this place before... we're definately going to have to return.

 

I walked a few yards down the road to the little boardwalk shoppes area..

It was so cute, all these teeny tiny cottage boardwalk shops.. selling vintage things, candles, spices, ice cream, 

 

food...

 

Candy, and gifts..

 

Everything was so adorable.

We went in one of the shops on the way out and Samantha picked out some vintage toy animals, sprinkles, animal crackers and little candies.

 

We hit the road home around 2:30 because each kid looked like they had had it...

They both stayed awake though.. and fussed the entire way home..

JUST GO TO SLEEP!!! 

 

He's so stubborn...but he did pass out just as we pulled in the driveway

And she's fake sleeping...

We had such a fun time. And I heard there was a splash park that was down the road that we missed and an entire Main Street area with shops, and bakeries... Maybe its a good idea we missed it though.. ha!

We're planning to return in the fall to pick apples and visit the shops again.

 

 

Frozen Yogurt & Foggy Morning Walk

Lately ... going #2 is a challenge for SJ.

Im brutally honest on my blog because, I write it for me (us), and I want to remember as much as possible .. and I like adding little details...yes, even if it involves toddler bowel movements.

So anyways.... she doesnt go every day..she's been holding it..which as the days go on.. she becomes a cranky little 3 year old.. probably because its so uncomfortable..

I've added benefiber to her drinks, loaded her up with grapes, raisins, anything else we can think of to get things moving..

and once in a while she'll just GO! And its wondeful, but more often than not, she holds it, and its a weekly battle...ugh... This too shall pass? Right?

So long story short.. she went Monday.. and we tried a new Yogurt place after dinner.

You fill up your flavor, add toppings..

They had some awesome flavors..

We got Non Fat, Sugar Free Bubble Gum!

Sounds gross, sugar free? But we sampled it before we chose our flavor, and you could have fooled me, didnt taste sugar free OR fat free... BONUS!

 The toppings bar was endless, brownie bites, gummy bears, chocolate covered everything, cereal, toffee chips, but I didnt want to end up with a $20 yogurt..

So we just added some cotton candy bits.. (amazing!), sprinkles, and a little fresh whipped cream.

Daddy and Andrew got a yummy Lactose and Fat Free Mango.. and said it was the best he'd ever had!

I think we found our new fav spot.

 Wednesday... 8-15-12

Little Man was up at 5:30am and coudnt fall back asleep..

He tried so so hard.. but just wouldnt settle down.

So after he was screeching (not crying)... in his roller/chair....

I said ...well... Daddy's home today working.. and SJ sleeps till at least 8..

I loaded him up for a walk on a very foggy and beautiful morning.

 He loves walks..

Didnt make a peep..

It felt like a cool October morning..

 We made it a few streets away, and he was out.

 His cute little face turned a cold stone pale white.. thats when we can tell he's in a DEEP sleep.

I transferred him to bed and he slept another 2 hours.

But I was up for the day..

I started coffee and laundry, and actually organized many many many boxes and bins of baby clothes in our basement.. Ahhh made me feel rejuvinated! I love organization! But with 2 kids lately.... the organization has taken a back seat.

I love this time in my life..and my babies are growing too fast already.

School in a few weeks for SJ... oh goodness, really???



GO GO GO Weekend!!

Weekend.. It was a busy one!

We were GO GO GOING....

We started off our Friday night in a little town not far from ours

There is a little "Main Street" area and we walked around all the shops.. ate dinner, and walked a little more..

One of the amazing shops was this cupcake bakery

I was  in... L..O..V..E..

Its my mecca.. If I can not own, just work at a cupcake place at some point in my life, I'll be a happy girl..

There cupcakes were moist, delicious.. and amazing flavor.

I got a Nilla Birthday Cake to go.. after sampling about 4-5 free mini cupcakes.. I see that's how they get ya...

Vidlers.

You have to Google it.. I cant really explain

They have so many things from toys, housewares, gifts, odds and ends..

I found these cupcake papers and cookie cutters.. and some gifts.

We came home and everyone was pooped...

Saturday we did some errands, and then took the kids to the "big" park

Its big because compared to the one we can walk to.. the equipment is bigger... thats all..

But Sassy has a name for all the parks..

From the big park.. you can see the hospital where I was born, AND the window I looked out of, from my birthing suite.... during our 25 + hours of labor 5 months ago..

I had to walk behind the park a little and find my window with Andrew.

In all the pain, scary moments, etc.. It sounds CARAZY... but I'd go back to that day to remember my sweet baby being brought into this world..

The big guy was pretty chill all weekend..

He's so much fun... and getting bigger by the day

{daisies in our yard}

Saturday Afternoon

We went to Joseph's 5th Birthday Party

{Andrew 6.23.12}
Samantha got right in the pool with Grammy.. It was about 3 feet .. so she thought it was pretty neat that she was standing.

Cousins Clare and Joe opening gifts for Joe

The theme was Dinosaurs!

The cake was delicious white with strawberry filling!

The girls

Clare and Samantha

Clare taught Samantha how to "belly swing"...

Sunday

The Botanical Gardens

I'd never been!

We found out there was a Thomas the Train Exhibit until July 1st

So we thought it was a good place to take the kids..

So we packed a lunch and headed there around 10am

They were really really good the whole time.

I snapped a few pics of some interesting and beautiful flowers and plants.

Orange Orchids

The Thomas Exhibit

It was pretty cute, and interactive.

There were buttons all around on boxes that kids could press to activate the trains.

Outside there was a children's garden and they had crafts going on.

Samantha made a hat and a flower out of coffee filter and pipecleaners

I fed Andrew in the car while Daddy and SJ had a little picnic lunch on a small hill outside the Botanical Gardens.

{our happy boy}

Samantha went back to the Children's Garden one more time before it was time to head home.

Naptime was next ....

And that was our busy weekend!