Feeding the Imagination – Our Local Library
No blog about our family outings would be complete without a summary of our trips to the local library. We visit the Mill Creek Branch of the Sno-Isle Library System at least twice a week. Toddler Story Time You could find Mya and me at the toddler story time every Wednesday while Jamin is at school. Mya is quite wiggly during the stories, but she adores the singing and the storyteller, Ms. Jackie. When we visit the library on other days, Mya will search out Ms. Jackie, just to say hi. After 20-25 minutes of stories and songs we get to Mya's favorite - parachute time. The 'people on the bus go up and down' right along with the parachute. It took her a few weeks to get the hang of it, but she is a parachute pro now. Summer Reading Last year both kids took part in the summer reading program. We set a reading goal for each of them and at the end of the summer they received a new book for reaching their goal. Jamin choose Jane and the Dragon: A Dragon's Tale and still recounts his summer of reading every time we take out the book. The whole family got free ...
The Village Bean
The Village Bean - 720 238th St. SE, #A, Bothell, WA 98201 (located in Country Village) It's all hustle and bustle at The Village Bean coffee shop located in Bothell's Country Village. The good kind of hustle and bustle - kids playing with puzzles, building mazes out of pipes, shunting freight cars at the train table, preparing food in the toy kitchen and more. If there is a favorite toy among the 1-5 year old set, odds are there is one at the Village Bean. Our first introduction to The Village Bean came via a playgroup meet-up. Amazingly, us mom's were able to sip lattes and chat for nearly two hours. The 7 kids in the group stayed busy the entire time. Plush adult-sized chairs and tables are intermingled with 'kid tables' making it easy to keep the kids close by while giving them their own space. I ordered Jamin and Mya a 'Kid's Plate' to share (small sandwich, apple sauce and organic carrots). I'm glad I didn't get two because they had no interest in eating with so many fun toys to explore. Jamin's favorite activity was the pipe wall; various pieces of plastic piping with magnets on one side allowing ...
Cherry Street Coffee House – Kids Cafe
Cherry Street Coffee House - 1212 1st Ave, Seattle WA, 98101, Ph: (206) 264-9372 With a cozy atmosphere, a scrumptiously healthy menu and a staff that seemed genuinely happy to have a family with kids take over the back half of their shop - the Cherry Street Coffee House in downtown Seattle was a perfect refuge on a rainy day. After making our way on foot several blocks in the rain, Jamin, Mya and I scurried to the heated nook at the back of the cafe. Jamin headed straight for a pair of firetrucks while Mya decided to find out if chalk tasted good. Fortunately Jamin was quick to show her how to write on the chalkboard wall. After a few minutes of play I suggested we go back up front and order our food. The kids gave me the "whaaa?" look. You know kids, the reason we came here - eating. Eventually I drug them back to the counter where they quickly selected some fruit. However, it took me awhile to choose from their ample menu. No day-old coffee house scones here. Their menu was loaded with a ...
Hip Hop Bouncin’
Hip Hop Bouncing - 390 Midway Blvd., Oak Harbor, WA, 98277 During our recent visit to Oak Harbor, my parents, the kids, Barron and I spent a morning at Hip Hop Bouncin'. I knew it was smaller than many of the warehouse filled inflatable playgrounds we visit in our area, so I was pleasantly surprised to walk into two floors of bounce houses and other play equipment. One of my biggest struggles with the large inflatable playgrounds is keeping track of both children in such a large area. Additionally many inflatable obstacle courses have multiple entry and exit points, so it's nearly impossible to monitor all possible 'escape routes' and all too easy for my energetic 4 year old to run off unseen. There is no such difficulty at Hip Hop Bouncing. Once we picked between upstairs or downstairs, I was able to keep an eye on Jamin as he made the rounds on the obstacle course and still see Mya climbing around in the foam block play area. Mya was a bit tentative on the bouncers. Fortunately Mamma was around to hold her hand and get her started. Eventually she was bouncing with the best of them and the sight of ...
Reindeer Festival at Cougar Mountain Zoo
Did you know Santa uses tigers to make candy canes? Or that wallabies are his official mail carriers? Oh the things one can learn on a visit to the Cougar Mountain Zoo during the Reindeer Festival. The kids and I, plus Mamma and Grandpa Willy, stopped by the zoo mid-morning a few days before Christmas. We easily found parking and made our way to the admissions booth where there was no line for entry. A few extra dollars at the admission booth (thanks Mamma and Grandpa) bought the kids cups of apples to feed the reindeer. The Reindeer Festival has been open for nearly three weeks now. I wonder if Santa's reindeer are sick of apples? If so, they didn't show any signs of it. Three eagerly approached the railing as soon as the Jamin and Mya started throwing apples. When the apples cups had been emptied, we continued up the hill to Santa's House. Both kids are not quite sure what to make of Santa and I have yet to cox either of them onto Santa's lap. From a safe 5 foot distance, Jamin told Santa he was hoping to get trains this Christmas. Santa assured him the elves were ...
Let's Eat
The Village Bean
The Village Bean – 720 238th St. SE, #A, Bothell, WA 98201 (located in Country...
Cherry Street Coffee House – Kids Cafe
Cherry Street Coffee House – 1212 1st Ave, Seattle WA, 98101, Ph: (206) 264-9372 ...
Read more posts from Let's Eat
The Great Outdoors
Reindeer Festival at Cougar Mountain Zoo
Did you know Santa uses tigers to make candy canes? Or that wallabies are his official...
Snoqualmie Falls
Jamin has been asking to see a waterfall, so fresh air and beautiful views are on...
Read more posts from The Great Outdoors
Recent Outings and Articles
Feeding the Imagination – Our Local Library
No blog about our family outings would be complete without a summary of our trips to the local library. We visit the Mill Creek Branch of the Sno-Isle Library System at least twice a week. Toddler Story Time You could find Mya and me at the toddler story time every Wednesday while Jamin is at school. Mya is quite wiggly during the stories, but she... [Read more of this review]
January Reading Round-Up
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems - Hilarious. Both kiddos could recite this book after and few readings and loved imitating Pigeon’s melodrama. Now whenever my son gets whiny, I call him Pigeon and the whining ceases. I love it. We have since checked out and enjoyed Pigeon Wants a Puppy, Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog and look... [Read more of this review]
Free Admission at Western Washington Museums
Taking the whole family to the museum can be a strain on the pocketbook. Fortunately several area museums generously offer free admission days. Support your local museums financially whenever possible, but don’t let finances stop you from a fun and educational day at the museum. The information below is correct as of the day of the post. ... [Read more of this review]
Read more posts from Recent Outings and Articles