Water Explorers, Kanemoto Pool, Longmont Public Library, You've Got it Made

We finished our second round of Water Explorer classes today.  (Go to pages 16 and 17 in the link.)  Our first round was at the Longmont Rec Center.  This session was at Kanemoto Pool.  We start our third round at Sunset Pool on Monday.  I was hesitant about what to expect in these classes.  One of the teachers told me that the main goal of the class is for the kids to learn to stay with the teacher and do what she tells them (instead of looking to their parents for guidance and praise).  In our first class, Spence didn't stay very well for his first two classes, but by the end, he was participating with the group and no longer trying to wander off.  He was the youngest one in the class and did end up in tears a bit - I think he is still getting the hang of preschooler group dynamics.

But in our second class, he stayed with the teacher the whole time and joined in with everything she asked the kids to do, including floating and putting his face in the water and jumping right away.  There were several kids in our second class who had not been in the water without their parents before, and like Spencer in his first class, they had a difficult time staying with the teacher through the first and second classes.  They participated in the third class but didn't do as well in the fourth.  Having seen the way Spencer adjusted, I think that this is probably very normal for the age group, and I understand now why the rec center personnel suggest that kids take the Water Explorer class several times before moving up to Turtles.  I am excited to see how he will do in his third round.

After that, we will take a break from swim classes for awhile.  He is signed up for plenty of other things for the fall - a Friday morning Mommy and Me preschool class called Terrific Twos, a tumbling class, a music and movement class, and a toddler cooking class.  (Not all at once, of course.)  We will see how he does.  When he turns three, several options will no longer be available to us, including the Friday morning preschool class.  On the other hand, he can then take sports clinics, and I am sure he will love that.

One of the great things about taking swim classes through the rec center is that after the class (or before the class, or both), you and your child can swim and play for as long as you like at no extra charge.  Centennial Pool is the only one that doesn't boast this option, as it is really just for swimming.  It has a weight room, but I think that's about it, so after the swim lesson, you are expected to collect your child and take them home.

We took brookies by the Longmont Public Library today.  They have been processing a lot of interlibrary loans for us lately, and I thought they might appreciate the recognition of their efforts.  I think they did - I got a thank you note emailed to me right away.  Brookies are delicious - they have a chocolate chip cookie bottom and a brownie top.  I use the recipe from You've Got it Made, with a slight tweak to the chocolate chip cookie recipe.  (I use white chocolate, dark chocolate and milk chocolate chips, instead of all milk.  It makes a big difference.)

movietickets.com, Pho Duy

Yesterday, I got an email from www.movietickets.com asking if I and up to four of my guests (between the ages of 15 and 54) would like to go see an advance showing of "Country Strong," starring Gwyneth Paltrow.  Of course I like to see free movies.  My husband had no interest in seeing a romantic movie about country music, so he stayed home to put Spencer to bed and a friend joined me for the show.  When we got there, they had just given away the last 2 seats.  We were disappointed until they then gave us 2 free admission passes to anything showing in the theater, other than 3-D features.  We hurried down the hall and watched "The Kids are Alright."  I really liked it - I'd definitely recommend it.  Very smart, very funny.

We were hungry afterwards, so we stopped at Pho Duy.  Great Vietnamese eggrolls, and delicious pho.  The noodle bowls are tasty too.  We didn't realize that they were about to close, but with 2 minutes until closing time, they still seated us and served us a full meal.  Really nice people, and tasty food.  The large noodle bowl is only a little more expensive than the small bowl, and easily feeds two or more people.  (For example, you, your husband who is at home waiting for your leftovers, and your toddler who loves soup.)  I'm grateful to have had such a fun and relaxing day.

B&C Bouncetown, Beth Hensperger

It rained last night and seemed like it might rain this morning.  Spencer had energy to burn, so we went to B&C Bouncetown.  Spencer had a blast.  He has mastered jumping in a bounce house and is no longer even remotely cautious.  Today he experimented with falling on purpose.  He climbed and enjoyed the slides and bonded with the big kids.  It is $8 per child over 2.  Adults are free.  They have nice concession options, including brewed-to-order coffee, but allow you to bring your own food to enjoy in the Birthday Room.  Hours were 10-2 today, but they are open until 7 on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  There are couches and an exersaucer for the smaller crowd.  The bathrooms could stand to be cleaner, but the ladies' room also includes a real changing table (not the kind that folds down from the wall).  There are coupons for buy one-get one half off in the coupon packets you get in the mail, and they have printable coupons here.  Don't forget your socks - even the adults have to wear them.  If you forget, they have clean socks behind the desk.  The staff are very friendly and helpful.

After jumping for 2 hours, Spence was ready for a good nap.  It was a rainy afternoon, so I made a crockpot of chili, using the Gringo Chili from Beth Hensperger's Recipes for Entertaining.  I love her cookbooks - I rarely make a bad meal when I use her recipes, and have discovered several favorites in her collections.  I think I have almost everything she's written, and I have notes all over the pages.  I don't know why she isn't better known - she is worth investigating.

A good friend joined us for dinner with her little boy.  Spencer was so excited to have his friend over.  He showed him around the house, brought him toys to play with, tried to play with him, and of course tried to steal toys a few times.  He has come a long way, though, and I was proud of him.

Rough and Ready Park, Gateway Fun Park, China Gourmet

We went to a birthday party this morning at Rough and Ready Park in Longmont.  (Happy birthday, Miya!)  This is a fun park - lots of things to do, including a modern merry-go-round and a shallow creek area where kids can throw sticks and tiny rocks.  (I know how much my little one likes that activity.)  The ground cover is wood chips, but there is a sand volleyball court.  It is also right next to a dog park.

We went to Gateway Fun Park after nap time.  Spencer loves golf, so I thought this might be a hit, and it was.  He had a wonderful time.  It is so fun to see that he is old enough now to do things that might be fun for most people in the family.  We found a great coupon for a buy one-get one golf game.  Since kids under 3 play golf for free, it was only $6 for the whole (three person) family to play a round.  We played the windmill side, and I think the castle side might be more kid-friendly.  The windmill blades are metal and very tempting, and there is a lot of water to throw your ball into (sometimes accidentally, sometimes not).  The facility is not new, and the golf course is definitely in well-loved condition.  But since we basically were paying $2 per person to play, we couldn't complain about anything at all.  They also have a firetruck ride-on toy outside the main building (50 cents per ride), which Spencer loved.  They have a great train for $1.50 per ride, which lasted a nice long time and was worth the money.  When Spencer dropped his golf ball in the return bucket, he won a free go-kart ride.  He rode in a two-seater with John and completely loved it.  Afterwards, we watched some hockey at the outdoor court for free.  Not a bad evening for $7.50!

On our way home, we stopped at China Gourmet restaurant.  The restaurant was busy, but not too busy for us to find a great table.  The cream cheese wontons were fantastic.  We also had the beef pan fried noodles and the mango chicken special.  It was nice, but nothing too special.  I appreciated that they offered brown rice as an option.  It is cash or check only - no credit cards.  We probably would go back again.  The food was decent, the portions were ok, and the wontons were delicious.

Centennial Lanes, Serendipity, Nest, House Gifts, Sachi Sushi

It's my birthday today, and to celebrate, we did something that my husband doesn't really enjoy - we went bowling.  Centennial Lanes is having their fantastic Super Weekend '10 today and tomorrow.  From 10 a.m. - 9 p.m., it is only 50 cents to bowl, with 50 cent shoe rentals and 75 cent hot dogs and sodas.  So cheap!  They have bowling shoes down to a toddler size 7, bumpers for those who need them, and ramps for the kids to roll their balls down.  They apparently also have cash drawings and a trip for 2 to Vegas.  We had an amazing time, and my 2 1/2 year old bowled a 114, which I think is pretty great.  (I got a 99.)

They have lots of lanes, a snack bar and a bar.  It is an older facility, but it was very clean and the people were friendly.  Plus, our 75 cent hot dogs came with chips and pickle slices.  For that price, I wouldn't have been surprised if they had charged for condiments or a bun.  We were very pleased.

They are also attracting folks to their leagues, and they offer a youth league starting at age 2!  I am tempted...  Their Little Dippers is ages 2-10 and is offered on Saturday mornings at 9 a.m. starting in mid-September.  They have four coaches who will help the little ones, once they are ready; otherwise, it's just $4.50 a game for your toddler to bowl.  (They said most 2 year olds are done after 1 game, and we found that to be accurate today.)

While Spence was napping, I went to Serendipity, House Gifts and Nest.  The shopping was nice, and not having to try to keep Spencer from handling all the merchandise was even nicer.   I liked Serendipity better the last time I was there.  I found the prices to be a bit high this time.  The owner didn't greet me until I had been browsing for 20 minutes, and spent almost all of my visit there talking about how much she resented how her husband misused all her funds for his children and she had sacrificed for years for them.  Not the most relaxing conversation for others to hear, and she and her friend were talking so loudly that I couldn't not hear her.  Also, it was depressing to see how much stuff I have had and got rid of that I could have apparently sold for big money.  House was awesome.  Wonderful consignment, very inexpensively priced, and fantastic house stuff.  I got a really gorgeous pair of shoes for $16.  Loved them.  Nest was fun to browse in and had some amazing things - fantastic scented things, and wonderful vintage stuff.  I wanted almost everything I looked at.  All in all, a great shopping trip.

After naptime, we went for dinner at Sachi Sushi.  We hadn't been here before, and found the reviews to generally be true, although several reviewers mentioned the "worm-hole"-like environment.  I did not find this to be the case.  It is located in the back of the Niwot Market.  Really - you walk through the grocery store to get to the sushi area.  But the sushi area is bright and clean and full of nice tables (not rickety or shaky).  There was a high chair, with a fully functional lap belt.  The reviews had warned that this was a one-man operation, and I definitely found that to be true.  One nice guy who cooked each dish and served it one by one - hot food first, then the miso, then the sushi.  They were out of several of the dishes I wanted to try (the chicken teriyaki, the beef curry), but the owner suggested the Hawaiian style beef dish, and it was great.  Hawaii by way of Japan - no pineapple or anything, more like two meat patties with a tangy tomato-based sauce and an egg.  Hard to describe, but tasty.  Even Spencer gobbled it up.  The miso was not my favorite, but the sushi was fantastic, and cheap!  My definite favorite was the BLT roll - non-traditional but very tasty.  I also picked up a great greeting card in Japanese for my younger sister's birthday.  On the way out, we bought my birthday cake.  We stopped by the park on the way home to let Spence burn off a little energy and then came home for cake.  Such a nice day.

The reviewers of the sushi place were raving about how Sachi Sushi offers real authentic ramen on Sunday afternoons (and only on Sunday afternoons).  I asked the owner while we were there tonight, and he said that they offer the ramen from 11:30-7 on Sundays, and that it is between $9-$11, depending on your choice.  I will have to try that another day - sounds exciting.

Longs Peak Family Practice, La Mariposa

I love my doctor.  Or rather, since my doctor is moving to do rural medicine next month, I love the practice he worked with.  Longs Peak Family Practice is fantastic - helpful, responsive, and quick to work my family in whenever we need.  They remember who we are without having to check a chart.  They are thorough and have very responsive after-hours care.  And if you have an issue, they call to check on you after a day or so and be sure that you don't need to be seen again.  Also, I have never had a problem with their billing.  I mention all this because it turns out that my asthma is back.  I am not happy about that, but I'm really appreciating the care that I am getting in treating it.

Because I'm not feeling well, we went out for dinner tonight.  I'd heard nice things about La Mariposa, so we gave it a try.  (They have a coupon for $5 off a $30 ticket on their website.)  The restaurant was very clean.  The menu was a little small, and kids meals were $3.99 and included a fountain drink.  (99 cents extra for milk or juice.)  My husband had the fajitas and I had the chicken and bean burrito.  It was a nice meal, but not extremely special.  I think I enjoy the food at 3 Margaritas better.  But it was a nice restaurant (did I mention how clean everything was?) and we will probably go back at some point.

Kanemoto swim class, free movies, Chick-fil-A

We started our next round of Water Explorer swim classes today through the Longmont Rec Center.  This time, we are at Kanemoto pool on Wednesday and Friday mornings, before the pool opens.  We know most of the kids in the class this time, and Spence has been taking his lessons to heart - he listened to the teacher and did what she asked for almost all of class.  Really exciting to see!

We finally made it to the Twin Peaks 10 movie theater for the free Family Film Fest.  They offer two different free kids' movies on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m. during the summer.  Today, they offered Clifford's Big Movie.  Spencer loves Clifford, and so we tried it, and I would say that it was an entirely successful experience.  So fun!  The booster seats were all in use, so he cuddled in my lap, and it was just like holding him as a baby, all sweet and kissable, for the entire movie. 

We met up with friends and headed to Chick-Fil-A for lunch.  I love this place - air conditioned, clean, good and healthy food choices, board books as toys, clean and enclosed play place, etc.  After all the activity, Spencer crashed for nap.  I had my sweet little boy back today - friendly, polite and well-behaved.  It helps so much to have mornings like this when we have had a rough day or two - it's a nice reminder that the difficult behavior is just an age or stage, and not the way our lives will be forever.

We're joining the Luna Moms for a Meetup at the Boulder County Fair tomorrow.  I happened to see that there is also a photo contest going on - the best photo of kids loving the fair could win $50.  I think we will try to go hit the rides at the fair tonight, so maybe I can get a great photo then.

Music with Madelyn, Boulder County Fair

We are nearly done with our Music with Madelyn class.  We really love her classes.  They are very high-energy, age appropriate, always involve different instruments and props, and are completely age-appropriate.  We took her younger child class, and it was very different from the toddler class that Spencer is taking now.  He loves it.  The summer classes are being held at Madelyn's home, and after class, she offers organic sliced apples and a chance to romp in her big back yard, complete with swing set, tire swing, large grassy lawn, shade space to color, sand box, and two water features (both shallow and safe).  Spencer really loves this.  She encourages you to bring a lunch or snack and picnic, and doesn't seem to mind if sticks and grass and pinecones and small boats are floated down her creek.  Very worth it.  After class, we sometimes pop over to the Walnut Cafe for lunch (in their S Boulder location) or go to Saver's or the new Goodwill, since they are very close to her.  She is offering Fall classes at the WOW Museum in Lafayette.  We think the WOW is ok, but not the best children's museum ever.  They do try hard and I am glad they are there, so we will think about the classes.  Playing at the WOW is an additional $5 per class, so that is less exciting.

On our way home, we stopped at the Boulder County Fair, which opened to the general public today.  We love the free admission and free petting zoo, but we were not super impressed with the fair itself.  Lots and lots of things for sale, but a complete absence of signage, and none of the people staffing booths could tell you anything either.  For example, where is the kids area where they are making fun crafts?  Where is the petting zoo?  No one knew.  When we found the kids area, at last, it seemed to involve several couches and some coloring pages and crayons.  The craft area in front had some very fun stick horses to be made, and a sign that said they could be made from 11-12:30.  However, the woman controlling the supplies said she was done for the day (although other kids were still making their horses), and walked away when Spencer started to cry.  He really wanted to make a horse.  We will apparently be crafting here at home after nap.  Since she still seemed to have horse heads already cut out and plenty of decorating stuff and another 15 yardsticks (for the horse body) on the table, I am not sure why she suddenly decided to be done, but she did.  Also, she had no badge or sign or anything else to indicate that she was the woman to ask for help.  We stumbled around outside and happened to find the bounce house.  No sign to indicate that it was free (although it was).  Spence was excited to get inside, but it had an open roof, and in the hot sun, it was apparently blazing hot on bare feet.  The black mats for the kids to land on when the slid out of the bounce house had gotten so hot that I could feel them through my sandals.  I caught him rather than let him stand there and he told me that the house was "too hot, needs to cool down."  We ambled around for awhile longer and finally happened to see the petting zoo.  Food was 50 cents, but the exhibit was free.  We got to pet chickens, rabbits, goats, calves and a horse.  Pretty fun, although the poor animals were panting in the heat.  Not much to do about that, I guess.  We looked at the rabbit cages inside for a bit and went home.  The fairway doesn't open until 4, so the rides weren't set up yet.  We will probably go back for those, and we may try the fair again later in the week. 


My husband has been on a business trip for the past few days.  This is very rare, and Spencer misses him keenly.  He keeps asking about Daddy, why he isn't there in the morning, when he is coming home from work, etc.  He's had real conversations with my husband on the phone, which is a big difference from the past.  (Usually he just says "No train today!  I love you, bye-bye!")  But missing Daddy has apparently meant being difficult for Mommy.  Lots of "No!" and "Go away!" today.  Exhausting for all.  I will be glad when my husband comes home tonight and my sweet little boy comes back.

Spencer finished his swim classes at the Longmont Rec Center today.  My husband and I have different styles of playing in the water with Spencer, and usually I take the classes with him, so I thought some daddy time would be nice.  We have taken swimming classes with Spence at the rec center since he was a small baby, and he loves the water.  He is completely fearless and very confident in his abilities.  I love seeing it.  I just learned to swim in the past few years, and I still lack confidence in the water.  I don't want that for him.

Spence is going through his "terrific two"s.  Sometimes he is completely adorable and sweet and darling, and sometimes he kicks the dog and pulls the cat's tail and screams at the top of his lungs, just for fun.  Not ideal, but I think it is normal.  He also says please and thank you and bless you and excuse me (and sorry, after kicking or hitting or otherwise misbehaving).

Today, I found out that a plant that I adore is actually a noxious, Class A weed that could send Spencer to the hospital if he touches it.  

We went to Willow Farm Park tonight.  I can't report on the full facilities, as Spencer mostly just wanted to dig in the sand.  I'll post pictures and more of a review later. 

Longmont Farmer's Market

I had my second garage sale ever this morning.  I joined in my neighbor's sale, and sold $5 worth of assorted books, toys and clothes.  My neighbor gave me some great stuff for Spencer, and I gave her a breadmaker.  Not a bad morning.

I also took Spencer with me to the Longmont Farmer's Market.  Spence loves going to the market.  There are interesting free samples at lots of the booths.  People often bring their dogs (even though there is a sign asking you not to do this).  There is a booth of musicians who will play requests (like "you are my sunshine"), and he enjoys dropping a tip into their guitar case.  Best of all is Gina Patterson of Face to Face Body and Face Painting, an amazing woman who can paint his face to look like any animal, and will make balloon animals to boot.  She operates on a donation policy - whatever you would like to put in her tip jar is ok.  Last time, Spencer was made into a little lion, and today, he was a puppy.  Really cute.   

I got to go to the grocery store without my son this afternoon, which was a treat for me.  After I got home, we all headed out to Five Guys for dinner.  I like Five Guys because the fries actually taste like potato, and the burgers seem very similar to the ones you might grill in the back yard.  They aren't grilled burgers, but they have the grocery store-style bun, the iceberg leaves (not shredded), tomato slices, pickle chips, etc. that you'd expect from a cookout.  That's a nice thing when you are too tired to grill at home.  They have free peanuts to shell and snack on while you wait for your food, and all the toppings are free - no extra charge for grilled mushrooms or extra tomatoes.  The regular-sized burger has two patties, so if you want a smaller option, get the little burger.  The only downside tonight was that the music was cranked so loud that I couldn't hear my husband or son talking at the table.  I asked someone to turn it down, and he shouted into the kitchen for someone to adjust the volume.  He seemed perfectly pleasant about it, but I think the guy in the back room actually turned it up instead of down.

Java Stop

We met a friend and her little girl at the Java Stop today.  The Java Stop is at 3rd and Main, with the entrance on 3rd Street.  I think there is a stroller-friendly entrance on Main - the one on 3rd has stairs, but not so many that it cannot be navigated with a stroller.  The owners are very nice and very child-friendly.  They have a cabinet in the back of the coffee shop (next to the bathroom) full of toys, which the children are free to play with while you sit on the couches and chat.  Be aware that they are cash-only - no credit cards.  If you forget, they keep a tab running behind the register.  The lattes are delicious.  I'd definitely recommend them.  Keep in mind that they are only open until early afternoon, so going here is a pre-naptime activity.  There is no changing table in the bathroom, and anyone using the bathroom has to walk through the play area, but those don't seem like significant drawbacks, considering how tolerant they are of small children.

Afterwards, we swung by Serendipity, which we have not tried before.  I immediately found the Fiestaware luncheon plates I've been looking for, in the color I prefer.  They negotiated on the prices, too.  I didn't get a screaming deal, but I got a decent price.  Unfortunately, Spencer was done being patient, and this is really not a baby-friendly environment, so we bought our plates and left before any damage could be done.  No surprise that an antique store is not ultra baby-friendly.  I would love to come back here without the little guy some time and really explore, though, as they seem to have some great options.

My husband gives Spencer his bath at night while I get his room ready for bedtime.  Tonight, he called me back into the bathroom to show me that Spencer knows his left from his right.

Longmont Rec Center

Spencer overslept this morning, so we didn't make it to the free Stroller Strides class.  Once we got ourselves together, we went to the Rec Center pool.  Spencer loves this place, and since it snowed last night and was cold and drizzly and unpleasant outside this morning, it was perfect for today.  If there are swim lessons happening, the water features are turned off, but there is still plenty to do.  Today, there were no swim lessons.  They have a toddler waterslide that is shaped like a tree trunk, a zero-depth entry, tons of fountains (both on the floor and coming from pipes up above), wheels to operate the fountains, fountains operated by pull-rope, a lazy river, and two adult-sized waterslides.  There are benches and deck chairs around the pool that you can put your stuff on.  Of course there is also the sauna, steam room, and hot tub, but unless I put Spencer in child care, I don't indulge in those.  (Childcare is only $2 an hour, and seems worth it to me.  They can get kind of crowded sometimes, and ALWAYS have cartoons on the tv, but it is cheap and I feel like they really are watching the kids well.)  They also allow you to have inflatables in the pool.  Today we brought the inflatable basketball hoop with a small beach ball, and a few other toys.  Spencer had a wonderful time.  He takes swim classes here, and has since he was tiny, so he has no fear with the water.  We practiced jumping in from the side of the pool, climbing out of the water by himself, floating on his back, kicking his feet, etc.  He's doing pretty well, I think, and seemed to have a lot of fun.

When we got home, he ate his new favorite thing - buffalo meatloaf, leftover from last night.  He's not a picky eater, but it is still nice to see him dive in and really enjoy something.  At naptime, he climbed into bed without nursing, which makes me think we are starting the weaning process.  I feel sad about that and also a little relieved.  It's an odd combination of feelings.

I am reorganizing our bedroom, so we swung by Target for supplies after his nap, and when we got home, we played with his wooden beads.  When he got tired of stringing them, we started stacking them, and I found myself in awe of him once again.  He is my first, so I really don't know when kids things, but it seems like he has new accomplishments every day.  He's articulate and sweet-natured, and even though he is going through a willful (and frustrating) stage right now, he still says "yes please," "no thank you" and "bless you."  He can count to nineteen, more or less.  (One, two, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fiveteen, nineteen.)  He knows some of his colors (red, blue, green, orange, white, black, green) and some of his shapes (heart, star, diamond, triangle, arch, circle, square, and of course "stop sign").  He knows that red means stop and green means go.  He can recognize B and I by sight, and sings his alphabet all day from H-Z.  (I don't know why he doesn't like A-G yet, but he doesn't.)  He knows several songs, and loves singing them.  (The farmer in the dell, itsy bitsy spider, Old Macdonald, and twinkle twinkle little star.)  He can tell you about his day, with the events occurring in the correct order.  He is still cuddly and affectionate.  He can do the chunky-sized puzzles in any arrangement - even when the board is upside-down and all the pieces are presented to him upside-down and backwards and already out of the puzzle board.  He can string beads, knows his animals, and can make all the animal noises.  He can ride a balance bike, roller skate, hit a baseball, play catch, kick a soccer ball while standing on one leg, and jump with both feet in the air.  It is a miracle that kids learn all of this by the time they are two!  I know they all do it; there is nothing super-special about my kid versus anyone else's.  It's just such a pleasure to see him grow and develop.  I'm so glad that he's mine.

Tonight, he learned to use chopsticks at dinner, and used them to eat his broccoli.

Stroller Strides

This morning, Spencer and I made it to our first Stroller Strides session.  Elaine Waterman, who owns the Longmont franchise, is offering a great coupon for this week - all classes this week are free.  Can't beat that! 

We had a good time.  I didn't realize how out of shape I was, and that was a bit disheartening, but it was a very effective workout, and the cameraderie was nice.  A few things I learned today: definitely bring your water bottle.  Also bring snacks that your kids really like, preferably ones that take time to eat.  Consider bringing some easy small toys (without lots of small parts that can be thrown on the ground) to entertain your little one.  There is lots of interaction and songs, but there is also plenty of time watching Mommy do jumping jacks and lunges that can be boring.  And put your park toys (sand buckets, etc.) into the basket of your stroller before starting out, since we wind up at the play structure of the park before we get back to our cars.

It is a bit more workout than I am ready for right now, honestly, but hopefully soon it will be easier.  Like anything, you get what you put into it, and Elaine offers lots of options for various fitness levels.

We loved the Just Between Friends sale this past weekend - many, many thanks to Lainey and Jen for sharing their friends passes with me!  We bought a TON of stuff.  They're coming back in August, I think.  I love these sales so much.  I have learned a few things from past sales, and now I have a strategy when shopping.  First, teachers and first-time parents get all the benefits of consigning without having to consign.  Consigners and volunteers can shop the presale, and they can also take a buddy with them.  They can also shop the half-price sale the day before the general public, and can take a friend with them then, too.  I usually get everything my heart desires that is reasonably priced on the first day, at the presale.  I then go back to the half-price sale and buy for my son's next size.  (That is, right now he wears a 2T, so I am shopping for 3T.  It all gets washed and put into a labeled bag, and then when he outgrows something, it is easy to find, and when I need to get something, I don't have to pay full price for it.)  I'm very happy with it all.

We also saw Babies this past weekend.  We took Spencer with us, and it was not entirely successful.  He is just not quite ready for the movie theater yet, since he wants to tell me about what he is seeing on screen.  The movie was also not entirely appropriate for a young two-year-old.  The breasts didn't bother me - they are all in the context of nursing, and Spencer is completely familiar with that.  There is a little genital nudity, but it is also in a normal context - nude young baby discovers that he has interesting parts.  No big deal.  The slaughtered animals bothered me a little (as far as my son seeing them), but mostly, you just see a dead animal and can understand that it is being butchered.  I think it would be entirely appropriate for a 3 or four-year-old child; it is sweet and very entertaining.  But I wouldn't recommend it for an actual baby.

After the JBF sale, they gave out a flier detailing the free summer movies at the Longmont theater today.  Scroll down the page on the link for the Longmont location.  I think we'll try the Clifford movie for Spencer.

Longmont Museum

The Longmont Museum has a Honkytonk exhibit through April 11.  In addition to all the very hands-on exhibits the museum usually features, this particular gem includes a stage with an electric guitar (plugged in to a speaker), an acoustic guitar and a piano, as well as basic instruction on how to play the instruments.  The kids can handle the instruments in any way they like and can play for as long as they like.  Very fun.  Tonight they had a bluegrass concert.  Spencer liked a bit of it, but he's only 2, so his attention span is short and we ended up playing with the interactive watertable display.  They also have a great observatory room upstairs, including costumes, books, an amazing view, blocks, magnet fun, and a lot of other things to touch, try out and explore.  We really like the museum; it is appropriate for a surprisingly young age, and the kids can touch an astonishing number of things.  It is free (or "donations accepted," so as much as you feel like dropping into the display container) and completely worth your time.  Spencer had a lot of fun.

My husband came home tonight, and it is so nice to have our family back together again.

Stephen Day Park, Chick-Fil-A

Luna Moms had a meetup at Stephen Day Park today.  We generally have a good time at this park.  It is a good stroll from the parking lot to the park, which has pros and cons.  When you are hauling a screaming child back to the car against their will, or realize that you have left the diaper bag or cell phone on the passenger seat, it is a definite con.  When you are enjoying an astoundingly gorgeous spring day as your toddler nicely holds your hand and sings the alphabet song while you trot off to meet up with friends, it is a wonderful plus.  The hills are picturesque.  According to the City of Longmont website, there is a discovery theme at this park, with lots of features that I honestly never noticed.  It is next to an elementary school, which can be really bad - Spencer notices their cool and varied playground equipment, especially if we are at the park during recess hours, and finds poor Stephen Day to be inferior to all the great stuff at the school next door.  But there is a skate park, mountain bike area, rope climbing structure, full size basketball court, lots of grassy area to run on, interesting hills to run up and down, and a nicely laid out and well-marked running path that is very wide and well-suited to pushing your jogging stroller on.  (I have done this, but honestly, only once.  I should do that again.)  We visited here several times before we noticed that there is sand in the volleyball area, and usually no volleyball players, and this has added a lot to our enjoyment of the park.  It also has several of those odd playground features - the red bucket that makes you want to hurl as you spin in it, and the black triangles you sit on and have someone spin for you until, again, you feel nauseous.  Spencer loves both options, both for himself and as a vehicle for spinning wood chips, so I appreciate seeing them.  The very best part of Stephen Day Park isn't open yet, and that is the interactive water spray garden, which is fantastic and completely free.  Looking forward to that.  This park doesn't always keep Spencer's attention as long as some of the others, as there is a limited amount of stuff that he can do yet and no adult swings or bouncy horses, but today, we had a ton of people there and great food, so it worked out ok.  He somehow stole three cupcakes over the course of two hours, so I'm sure he felt like it was a very effective afternoon.

After nap time, we took advantage of the incredible weather and planted peas, dug a new bed in the garden, played basketball and baseball, explored the sandbox, and pulled out the sand-water table for the season.  While we were at it, we pulled dandelions, spotted the first crocus of the year (yellow!) and washed the dog.  After all of that, I was exhausted.  Spencer was somehow still energetic, and since my husband was still away on a business trip, we went to Chick-Fil-A for dinner.

We try not to go too often, but we love this place.  The play area is clean and completely enclosed, with enough stuff to keep Spencer happy for more than an hour.  You get free balloons from each trip, yielding great joy through the next day.  The kids' meals are reasonably priced and can have fruit salad instead of fries.  The under-3 toy is a board book, or can be an ice cream cone, if you'd prefer.  I like the chicken sandwiches and the fresh-squeezed lemonade.  (I found a lemon seed in mine tonight, so I believe that they really do sit in the back room and squeeze lemons, which I find somehow appealing.)  Of course the waffle fries are exciting, and the fruit salad is great.  I am not a fan of their soup, and the chicken on their salad is not the same as the sandwich chicken (and was inedibly bad the last time I got it), so stick with the classic and you won't be disappointed.  The staff is almost always extremely polite - they carry things, come to your table to offer drink refills, and ma'am you to death.  It's nice.  But the whole point of this place is the playroom, and tonight didn't disappoint.  My toddler, who decided that pushing was the best way to get up the steps first, might have disappointed a bit, but the restaurant was nice.

My husband doesn't travel much, at least when we are not with him.  I have enjoyed the time to myself, but I have missed him, and of course Spencer has asked about him nonstop. 

One of the moms mentioned today at the playground that she is due in late September.  I was genuinely happy for her, of course, but also a little sad for myself.  We had a miscarriage a few weeks ago, and it was a bit of a shock to hear my friend's due date and realize, "oh, I would have been 12 weeks now, wouldn't I."  Somehow I hadn't thought of that.  My OB had told me to not be surprised to be sad and angry when I ran into women who would have been on the same pregnancy track as me, but it really hadn't occurred to me until today.  I am grateful for our good medical insurance, as the bills from the surgery and the blood draws and ultrasounds and doctor's visits keep rolling in.  I am grateful to my husband for providing that insurance for our family; I am grateful that my sadness does not have to be tempered with panic over how to pay for all this. 

I waited longer than I wanted to wait to begin to have my family, and I am often grateful that I did wait.  I am more patient now, and I chose a better father for my children than I would have picked when I was younger.  My husband is a great father, and every time I see evidence of that, I feel more and more loving towards him.  I know very well how many not-great fathers there are out there.  Before I had kids, I worried a lot about choosing one of them for my children.  You don't always know who will be patient and sweet and adoring with their children; sometimes people surprise you.  As a stay-at-home mom, I am also very grateful to my husband for making our comfortable life possible.  I know that that is probably not the most culturally acceptable statement I've ever made, but it is still true.  It is not an easy thing to slog to work every day.  Few people really love to do it.  But his doing it makes everything I get to do with Spencer possible - days at the park, time at the pool, afternoons spent playing basketball and gardening in the sunshine, Spencer's music or cooking or tumbling classes.  All he would have to do to end this beautiful life is to quit his job, and suddenly everything would be gone, just like that.  So I'm grateful to him.  I hope that he knows that he is appreciated.

Easter egg hunt, Pearl Street Mall

The Luna Moms meetup group really is fantastic.  If you haven't joined yet, you should!  They hosted an Easter egg hunt playdate today.  Spence had a great time, and claimed 9 eggs for his mommy.  He played hard and was very ready for his nap when we got home.

We were buying a basketball hoop from one of the moms on one of the local Yahoo mom groups.  We have been seeking an outdoor toddler basketball hoop for quite some time, so this was very exciting.  We drove to Boulder for the pick up, and afterwards, Spencer got to play for awhile at the North Boulder Park.  We have driven by this park before, but hadn't stopped, and I was glad we did.  Plenty of friendly parents and kids, a great slide setup for the little ones, and a nice climbing area and curly slide for the bigger kids.  Spencer sampled the smaller play structure before heading for the curly slide.  Since Rope World, he has a lot more confidence that he can handle big metal ladders, and today was no exception.  He scrambled up the curved and straight ladders like a little monkey, took turns nicely, loved the bouncy horses, etc.  I seem to have figured out how to alert him that we are leaving soon without getting him upset, as he trotted off to the car willingly, even though I know he wanted to keep playing.

My husband was out of town, so there was no rush to get home, and I realized that Spencer hasn't spent much time on the Pearl Street Mall.  I found a parking spot and got out the stroller.  He loved the fiddler.  He loved the various stores, especially the one that is full of kites and wind-up toys; he saw his first blacklight room there, and was very excited about that.  Next time, I will plan to put him in white clothing so that he can really enjoy it.  We had a great dinner at Lindsay's Boulder Deli.  Spence liked the tomato soup and helped me eat a TBA.  They have high chairs and are reasonably kid-friendly. Plus, they have cool hand chairs.  (They also have great coupons on their website - next time, I will have to take advantage of that.)

After dinner, we strolled over to Ben and Jerry's.  I know that Haagen-Daas makes fantastic ice cream, but the blackberry frozen yogurt at Ben and Jerry's is my all-time favorite.  (The Haagen-Daas pineapple coconut is pretty amazing too.)  Spence worked on mastering the fine art of eating a kid cone before we went to the climbing rocks to play. 

We drove home for bath and bedtime as the trees turned black against the sunset.  Such a lovely day.

Colorado Railroad Museum

We took advantage of the gorgeous Spring weather and drove to Golden to visit the Colorado Railroad Museum.  If your little one likes trains, this is definitely the place for you - worth the drive, especially when they have trains running.  (They often have steam trains on Saturdays - you can check the schedule here.)  The museum store is great, generally reasonably priced (as museum stores go), and if you are a member, you receive a discount.  They also have the most lax membership rules of any children's museum around - a family membership gives you admission for two adults and up to seven children, and they don't care who the adults are.  That is, you can send the grandparents with your kids to the museum with your pass, or can take a friend and their kids, etc.  Most places will not allow such flexible admission on an annual pass. 

They do have a changing counter in the ladies' room.  It is quite bare bones and does not have a pad, so bring your own changing pad.  The bathrooms in general are old and reminded me of campground bathrooms, but were clean and completely adequate.  They did not sell any kind of food (at least not that I saw), but do sell bottled water in the gift shop and have soda machines on the grounds.  They have lots of picnic tables and don't seem to have any policy against bringing your own food. 

They open various cars, engines, etc. for the kids to go inside and inspect.  They can bounce on the seats or beds in the passenger cars, play with the gears and levers in the engines, ring the bells, etc.  They have trains going from the 1800s up, with an impressive variety.  Use caution and common sense - these are old trains, not designed for use as children's toys.  Make sure the wood looks secure and nothing looks sharp before turning your kids loose.  There are things on display that you wouldn't want your small child touching.

As you first enter the museum, you pass through the store, and be aware that there is a great train table set up with a ton of interesting features.  If your child won't want to give up the train table easily, you'll want to shuttle them directly to the back of the store.  They also sell a ton of Thomas stuff (engines, roundhouses, take-along Thomas, etc.). 

Downstairs, they have an elaborate and wonderful automated train set up.  As long as you keep depositing quarters, your little one will be in heaven.  They have chairs for your child to stand on to better view the train excitement, but you will probably end up having to hold your child up until they are tall enough - probably 3 or 4.  If you have a Kelty backpack, I'd suggest bringing it to give your arms a break. 

All in all, a great excursion for a very happy little boy.

On our way home, we drove past the Southern Sun brew pub.  We used to live in the Table Mesa area in Boulder, and we always loved this place.  Now that we have a child, we like it even more.  First of all, it is a noisy, friendly environment, so no matter how much noise your kid makes, you are unlikely to feel self-conscious.  The people are relaxed and friendly.  The food is good, including the kids' menu, and the beer is fantastic.  There are no tv's, which is nice.  The fries are great, and so is the basil-blue burger.  They have a ton of vegetarian options, a nice beer sampler, and will accommodate any special request I've ever had.  They are a cash-only situation, so keep that in mind - no credit cards accepted.

I'll add that we are not big fans of the Mountain Sun pub, as it is very campus-y, and has always been very crowded when we have visited.  It is worth the drive to South Boulder.  Also, if you join the email list for the pubs, they will email you a coupon for a free pint.

Rope World

We took Spencer to the 6:15 session of Rope World.  If your toddler is willing to try new things, I highly recommend trying out RW.  There are so many things to try, including a zip line, climbing wall, balance beams that can be walked on or slid down, tunnels to crawl through, nets to climb, rope walkways, ropes to climb, foam triangles to roll or somersault down - a ton of stuff. 

Our first time there, Spencer was not yet two, and I was terrified.  He fell flat on his face trying the zip line the first time, with a terrible smacking sound as he hit the mats.  He was unfazed, however, and spent all of his time on the rope swings.  At the playground the next week, his new-found confidence was evident, and so was his new sense of balance.  We went to the 4:15 session that time, and while all the kids were polite and patient, it was a bit crowded.

The next time, we went to the 6:15 session with my husband.  Spence tried the zip line again but couldn't quite manage it - but he didn't fall.  He climbed ladders higher than my husband's head, played on the rope swings a lot, and enjoyed the balance beams.  He did a lot more than I thought he could, and I was impressed.  The next time we went to the playground, Spencer could do all of the slides, climb several of the ladders, and had no fear in tackling nets.  I was amazed.  Every time we go, his confidence in his body and his abilities just skyrockets.

This time, we went to the 6:15 session again.  This is the session I prefer, I think - not crowded at all.  Spence did almost everything except the rope walkway, which I don't think he's quite tall enough for.  He rode the zip line again and again without falling, and was able to follow the proper protocol (dragging the rope back for the next kid in line, waiting for his turn patiently, etc.).  He had a great time and didn't want to leave. 

He looks so tiny climbing ladders, clinging to zip line handles, trying to wrap his legs around the rope swing.  Part of me can't help but worry about his tiny breakable body.  But we are spotting him, and are careful with him, and most of me is proud that he is brave and fearless and happy, and that we are teaching him to be active when he is so small.

Itty Bitty City

dEarly Spring mornings can be tough.  It is too cold to play outside for long periods without a lot of bundling.  (Or rather, Spencer would play outside no matter what the weather, but I don't want to stand around in 30 degree weather saying, "good sliding!" for very long.)  So today, we decided to try Itty Bitty City. 

We have heard a lot about the IBC, but had never been.  For $2 for two hours of playtime, though, how bad could it be?

In fact, it is not bad at all.  There were lots of toys of a wide variety - everything from Easter Bunny coloring stations to toy cars to two cozy coupes.  Lots of different kind of trikes, including ones to pedal and ones to scoot, were on offer.  There was a kid-size basketball hoop, an astonishing quantity of balls of all sizes, a giant parachute, two tunnels, giant building blocks, a trampoline, a balance beam...  They also have many pairs of roller skates.  Spence got to try them for the first time and did very well - he only fell once!  He was sorry to leave after two hours.

There did seem to be a lot of moms who didn't supervise their kids at all.  It is surprising to me that moms of preschoolers find this to be a relaxing place to sip their Starbucks and ignore their offspring.  While IBC seemed very safe, most two-year-olds still need help going across the balance beam, and learning to share (and not shove or swat) is easier when mom is nearby to say, "no - we share with our friends!"  There was free water and coffee outside the door, and the office staff didn't flinch at running a credit card for $2.  Apparently I am not the only mom who never has cash on hand.

Afterwards, we stopped by Once Upon a Child.  OUAC is great for used toys, and they are running a buy two, get one free special on their books.  I find this place to be very hit or miss.  Sometimes winter coats for toddlers are still $30+, even in March, which seems strange to me.  But Melissa and Doug wooden puzzles can be had for $2 or $4, and they frequently seem to have interesting toys - great wooden push toys, interesting Little People options, etc.  We got a Little People circus toy today for $4, and Spencer was in heaven.  They do not have shopping carts with lap belts, which seems like an odd failing for a children's store, but they do have a play area where you can trap your child while you shop for toys, and they sell great snack cups. 

If you find something great at OUAC that is missing a few pieces (like our new circus toy, or the wonderful Laugh and Learn Kitchen), check the manufacturer's website when you get home.  Most of the Fisher-Price/Mattel stuff has replacement parts available on the website for surprisingly reasonable prices - including replacement stickers, which can be great for used toys that have been well-loved.  A Laugh and Learn Kitchen with no accessories can cost around $6, and the manufacturer's website will send you replacements for the balls, shapes to sort, letters for the mailbox, keys for the door, etc., for under $10.  A used Laugh and Learn Kitchen with all the accessories can be more than $30 on craigslist or at OUAC.

Tonight, we are planning to go to Rope World.  We've been twice before, with good results, so I am hopeful for a great night tonight.

Luna Moms Meetup

Our friend Ingrid turned us on to the Luna Moms Meetup Group, and we love them.  Elaine, the group's founder, is incredibly fit and enthusiastic and welcoming and fun, and while she has several businesses (including Stroller Strides and Moxie Moms), she is not pushy about them.  That is, you know they are there, and she would love to tell you all about them, but there is no pressure to join anything or sign up for anything or pay for anything.  The group is very active - tons of playdates, MNO (mom's night out) opportunities, etc.  And the moms in the group are great too - fun, friendly, and welcoming.  We have made some good friends here.  If you haven't joined the group, I would really recommend it!

Tonight, Moxie Moms sponsored a meetup at the Corner Coffee Bar.  I was sorry to have to go home - I had a wonderful time.  Corner Coffee seems like a really nice place.  The coffee was good, the chocolates were excellent, the cherry kuchen was delicious, and it was all free.  No complaints here!  They have booths, tables, couches, etc.  Very warm and cozy.  I didn't see any toys, and I didn't check the bathroom for a changing table, so I can't comment on how baby-friendly they are, but I am definitely willing to go back and find out.  They are starting a system so that you can text them your drink order and they'll have it ready and waiting for you - details are at http://www.splickit.com/  They also have a free $5 drink with your first Splickit order, so it is worth trying.