Exploring

 

When the girls got hungry we went out and explored a bit… We walked a block down the street to a nearby Pizza place… they served “New York” style pizza, and boy wasn’t it delish! I forgot to take a picture of it, but I did get this mural on the wall outside.

After lunch we took the long way back to the museum to get some fresh air and walk a bit. On the next block over we found these neat statues……

 

Then we found a park on our way back… so of course we had to stop.  Here are a few shots from that.

I didn’t get as many as hoped cause Sage fell head first down a set of cement stairs… only to get boo-boo’s on her knee! Phew!
I could have spent all day at this park, the girls didn’t feel the same way!

Our family loves to explore new places. What better way to spend your summer with some inexpensive fun, then go to a town you haven’t been to and see what it has to offer? Plus get some exercise in the process!  What kinds of things have you been up to this summer???

Simple Women’s Daybook:

 

 

 

For Today June 29, 2009

Outside my window.... Overcast…looking like rain again soon!

I am thinking.... It has been a very long week and so much has happened.

From my imagination....scrapbook pages for a book I’m making in honor of my Aunt.

I am thankful for.... A supportive family and friends… who are always there when I need them.

From the kitchen.... Nothing big tonight..

I am wearing..... Shorts, pink t-shirt, and bare feet

I am reading....  a new series called Sisters, Inc.

I am hoping..... my girls stop fighting, it has been bad this week.

I am creating... nothing this week. 

I am hearing.... The girls fighting again over something “Someone had first!!!” GRR!

One of my favorite things....talking to my family and friends.

A few plans for the rest of the week:  Rachel’s dance, Library, relaxing, some swimming, time at the playground and lots of pictures!

A picture I am Sharing.…
A picture of Hunter… Learning to ride his bike without training wheels. (I really miss him)

Explorations V

Last week I wrote a post about some places we would like to visit, which you can find here. We decided on Monday it was so hot out, and we wanted to get out of the house and have some fun, so we ventured off to Lakeland to the Children’s Museum!  (warning this post might get long with pictures…)

Lakeland is not a far ride from here really. Its about a half hour, so the girls were good for the ride, and anxious to see where we were going. I made it be a surprise! We parked a block away.. and walked to the museum to have a longer… on street parking was only for 2hrs.

Across the street from the museum was this beautiful park… with a few benches and a water fountain. Not sure what I love so much about them, but I find them absolutely beautiful! We ended up getting a 3 month pass cause it was $10 more than what we would have had to pay to get in.  So we now have til the end of September to go back and enjoy the museum as much as we would like.  We are eager to do this… and then if we like we can get a year pass for only $60 for our whole family with 6 other places we can also get into. However, they are a ways away from us, so not sure how much we would utilize that.

The first floor had so much stuff to offer, a water table, that showed the water cycle.. a police car, fire truck, theater, post office, space shuttle, doctor’s office, airplane, gazebo, TV station, bank, and grocery store! Here a  few of my favorite photo’s from this floor!

From there we went downstairs… which was only one big Orange grove and factory! This was really cool. As they had fake trees with little plastic oranges on them for the kids to pick, and a truck for them to pretend to drive and bring the oranges to their destination. Then there was this big playground that had plastic tubes you could send the oranges thru to either a house, grove stand, or the Juice factory… It was so hands on and imaginative! The girls loved it. Here are my best photo’s from there:

After our adventures in learning how oranges get from trees to juice we headed up to the 2nd floor… Where it was more mind related. The girls were not a huge fan of this part, but did find a few fun things to do with daddy. They built an arch which stayed standing until after we got downstairs. Plus a few other cool things they played with… here are some of those photo’s:

That concludes are trip to the Explorations V Children’s Museum. The kids had a blast and loved all the stuff they could do. Their favorite part of the whole place was of course the grocery store. They spent almost 3 hrs in there. Happy as clams! If only I had room to build one of those at home!  Be sure to stop by again tomorrow and see the other cool places we saw in Lakeland…
I’m leaving you with a couple pictures of this cool mural they had in the elevator there. 

Some summer fun:

 

 

I mean what is more fun than popsicles?

Thursday Thirteen:

 

This week’s letter is “Y”
Yes that is right one more week and I’m done with the alphabet! Let’s see how I do with this one!

1. Yodel: I always thought the yodeling on the Sound of Music was cool. Can you Yodel? I know I can’t! I think it is kinda neat sometimes though.

2. Yams: I have never been a big fan of Yams. I tried them a couple of times, but didn’t think they were that great. Maybe its just the way my husband makes them! LOL! Anybody got a good recipe for them? Do you like Yams?

3. Yankee-Doodle: Is like one of the biggest songs that have always stuck in my head since I was a child. What is so darn cute about a guy who sticks macaroni in his hat??

4. Yap: I have been told on a few occasions that I tend to Yap a lot. I will admit, I can carry on for hours over nothing…but still not sure where I got my gift of “Yap” from? Do you like to talk?

5. Yogurt: I like a few yogurts. My favorite are the Yoplait whips… (specifically the strawberry) My kids will eat any and all yogurt put in front of them. They love it, plain, flavored or with extras on top! Do you have a favorite brand or flavor?

6. Yard Sales: I have never had “A Lot” of these, however I love to go to them. You know never know what kinds of bargains your going to find, or treasures you might stumble upon. I mean why buy brand new clothes for your kids when they are going to just play in them and ruin them in less than 2 times of wearing? Right? What was your favorite yard sale find?

7. Yarn: I used to collect some yarn. Not sure why really… as I was never a good knitter and couldn’t crochet but in a straight line. We occasionally used them for crafts, but I think it was the wide range of colors that appealed to me! I know, silly!

8. Year: Can you believe the year is officially half over? I mean what the heck?? It just started did it not? How can it really be that in 3 months we have been in Florida for a Year already??? I love that time doesn’t always drag, but I don’t like it when it goes so quickly either!

9. Yeast: I remember the first time I used Yeast to cook. Boy was it interesting. I couldn’t tell what was the right temperature of water without going to hot, or to cold. Why does it need to be so complicated???

10. Yellow: It was never really one of my favorite colors, but I must say it is starting to grow on me. As I get older, I’m liking the splashes of color a bit more. What is your favorite bright color?

11. Yellowstone National Park: This is one of those places on my list of places I would love to one day visit. Yes I will admit my list is a bit long, but I will someday manage to hit a few of them! What fun is life without a few cross country road trips really??

12. Yippee: Is by far one of my most favorite slang terms I love to use! I mean who doesn’t want to be saying Yippee!!! :)

13. Yo-Yo: A wonderful toy from my childhood. I always thought they were slightly boring then. I now find them fun, but get frustrated that I can’t do very well. Hunter has taken on trying to learn how to properly use one now. He is so cute trying!

Next week is the finally alphabet week. Ending with the letter “Z”
Should be a fun one to complete!
I’m still hoping to hear from some of you on some ideas for my continued “Thursday Thirteen” Posts… We would love to hear what you think! :)

Floor pillow & Giveaway! :

 

I recently had the great opportunity of winning a beautiful Floor Pillow from this wonderful company Olive Kids! I decided to have it personalized for my middle daughter. Yes, I risk the problem of having my other two fight cause they didn’t get one, but I hope to get them one soon too. I was very impressed with the quality! They are a super nice soft plush fabric on the outside. Being a parent the best part for me of course was the cover unzipped to come off for washing! They have many different styles to choose from for boys and girls.

 
Rachel with her pillow!

They will even personalize them…

 
The zipper is pretty well hidden so the kids don’t play with it as well. But easy to take out!

They have even been kind enough to sponsor a giveaway here on my site too.

WIN: One lucky reader is going to win a Personalized Placemat, Bookmark, and Name Tag of there choice. You can see them find them here.

To Enter: Go to Olive Kids and tell me what one of your favorite products are.

Extra Entries:
Leave an extra entry for each one for them to count.

• Follow my blog
• Blog about my giveaway and then leave a link in the comment.
• Twitter about the giveaway and leave me a link to the page.

Rules: This contest is open to US residents only. All Non-bloggers must leave me an email to get in touch with you. The winner will have 48 hrs to respond to me, or I choose a new winner.
The winner will be chosen by Random.org
Giveaway ends July 1st @ 7pm.

Thanks to Olive kids! Good luck to all of you! Be sure to spread the word!

Boredom Buster:

 

At summer camp the girls made a few instruments as seen here. As I was looking them over when they came home… I realized how easy they were to make, and that it would be a perfect rainy day project, or a boredom buster during the summer… First we will start with the Shaker.

As you can see they are just some small juice bottles. So when your kids are done using them, rinse them out and set aside. Then you can let them color or decorate the outside to make them pretty. Then just add a cup of rice and tape the lid on. (so to not have any accidental messes) Then there you have it!

These were just as easy….. The plastic part are just empty fruit or jello cups, washed out. Then you can color or decorate the outside again. Put a hole through the top to put a pipe cleaner thru for a handle. Then attach a bell on the other end of the pipe cleaner, and go to town! So cute, and yet simple!

We call these Trumpet Blasts. They are just a toliet paper tube…. with a piece of water paper, colored or decorated glued on it. Then take a small circle of wax paper over the end, held by an elastic, and for extra measure and looks, tie a pretty string around it as well. Now these are not meant to blow in, or the wax paper falls off. You just hum into it, and it makes it sound louder. My girls go around yelling “TOOT, TOOT” in them!

All you need is a drum, and you would have a mini band! Get your kids to march around the house or outside pretending to be in a marching band. An easy way to get their imaginations going!