Week Twenty-Five: Adventures Big and Small

One thing I often forget, is that it really doesn't take much to entertain a toddler. With the right amount of enthusiasm O can be equally as excited about the hose in the backyard as he is about a water park.

But that doesn't mean I'm excited about a hose. And that is part of the reason I try to give O opportunities for awesome experiences. If mom and dad are also having a good time it makes everyone's experience more fun.

Here is a rundown of our week--lots of fun stuff to keep us busy during our first full week at home together for the summer.

Monday:
Hanging around at home because the dishwasher repairman is coming isn't really all that exciting, but a visit from grandma and grandpa is! Even though it was a quick visit {they were fixing our cabinets in the laundry room that FELL OFF THE WALL the other day} it was nice to see them. Hopefully next time they visit we will all have time to do something fun together. Monday was also a big day because O got his shoe on all by himself! He was almost as proud of himself as I was of him. :)

Playing with grandma's necklace.

About to have official shoe putting on success!

Tuesday:
Since we didn't have anything special planned I reverted back to my summer schedule and decided it would be a good day to get some groceries. We have been ordering our groceries online and having them delivered but that only works when you plan ahead. I got O all ready to go. I got myself all ready to go. We got in the car, ready to go to the grocery store. I was backing out of the driveway to go to the grocery store. And then I decided we should go check out Toddler Tuesday at MOA. Whoops! So worth it though. O enjoyed watching the jazzercize for kids {dancercize} and loved getting a sticker after that he proudly put on his shirt. We also checked out some of his favorite fish at the aquarium, played with some legos, played with Bitty Babies, and had a lunch date together {because kids eat free at a bunch of places on Tuesdays}!

Sticker!

Legos!

Wednesday:
Our first play date of the summer! We visited the Minnesota Children's Museum with my friend from work and one of her friends from out of town {my friend has one little boy a few months older than O and her friend had boy/girl twins that were about a month older than O} and it was a blast. The water table area was by far the highlight! We love the MCM and plan to get good use out of our membership this summer and beyond.

All the littles at the ping pong ball/tube water table.

O and J playing with trains. 

Thursday:
Another play date, but this time for moms! I went to my mom group meeting and it was great to chat with other mamas and let the babies play. Some of the moms and babies are the same ones I met when I started going to that group when I was on maternity leave. It is *so* cool to see how our littles are growing up.

He randomly climbed into this bin and just chilled there for quite some time. 

Picnic in the after the mom group. Such a cool dude. 

Thursday Evening:
On a whim we decided to go as a family to Marketfest in White Bear Lake. It is like a mini fair with food vendors, food trucks, games for the kids, and other vendors promoting their businesses. O loved the greyhound rescue booth and had no fear beelining it straight onto a dog bed to hug and pet the dog. Mike and I thoroughly enjoyed the cake walk we paid $2 for, because we each won a cake! Super exciting! Because...cake!!

Best selfie we could manage. 

"Ooo! Ball!"

Friday:
More playtime with the same friends from Wednesday plus another friend of mine and her two littles! This time we went to an awesome splash pad/ playground across town. It was a drive to get there but totally worth it. O loved the water and played so nice with the other kids.

Favorite part of the splash pad. 

Taking turns.

Saturday:
Plans to attend the BWI {babywearing group} anniversary party were squashed by an inopportune nap time, but instead of being bummed out all day we headed to Como Zoo and had a great time before the monsoon hit.

"Baaaa!"

My guys. 

So there ya have it! Adventures big and small this week. I can't wait to share what I'm up to for Make it Monday this coming week. I'm also hoping to post another installment of my Accidentally Crunchy series. Big plans! We will see what happens. :-)

-H