Tot Lot: The End

Tot Lot came to an end last week. I have mixed emotions. Happy not to have to drive there everyday. Very happy not to have to work another Wednesday. Not happy that I don't have the option to pawn off my kids 3 days a week. It was really nice the last couple of weeks because Boston was able to go without me needing to stay. (They have to be 2). But  I'm excited to start a new daily routine and have some fun Summer adventures.

Here is Brighton on her first and last days of Tot Lot. I think the tank top she wore on her first day got handed down to Boston and I'm sure ruined in the first wear. But you can see how tall she's gotten with how short her shorts are!

Summer, here we come!

Tot Lot: Tanaka Farms

For our excursion this month we went to Tanaka Farms. I've always wanted to go, and have heard great things, but we had never been.

What a cool place! They pulled us in a trailer behind a tractor around the farm. Our tour guide was great, and the girls loved to see all of the different types of fruits and vegetables growing. They stopped periodically and passed around different things that are in season. We got fresh carrots, celery, cilantro, and green onions to taste and take home.

They ended the tour at the strawberry patches where the kids got to get out and fill their own carton plus eat all they wanted. Tanaka grows everything organic, so it's safe to just pick and eat. And boy did Boston eat.

 It was extra fun, because these fun friends got to join us as guests.

Please notice Boston's hands and face. She got her grub on.

Oh Brighton.

We can't wait to go back in the Fall for pumpkins!

A Tear Free Day

Today just turned out to be the most fun day. Not for any particular reason...okay maybe it had a lot to do with my attitude. I just woke up ready to go, and with a thousand times for patience than the last few.  Maybe I was saving up so we could have an extra fun, happy day. Who knows.

We had our Tot Lot Easter Party this morning.  We managed to eat, dress and get in the car without any tears. I repeat, any tears. Crazy.

We enjoyed our party, and the girls actually stayed close, and listened to me! Whhhaaaaat? We have our parties at Monte Verde park, and while completely enclosed, it is still big enough that I don't care for my not quite 2 year old to be running all over unsupervised.

They did crafts,

Egg hunted,



And gave dirty looks to the Easter Bunny.  Creepy, right?

High five!

I managed to forgo the completey deep fried lunch (corn dogs, mini corn dogs, chicken nuggets) and we picked up some yummy tortilla soup to take home. Again, the girls listened and stayed close. We got in and out quickly and without any tears.

Back at home, Miss Bossy went down for her nap and Brighton and I had quiet time. She literally played silently, by herself for over an hour. Pure heaven. It was a much needed silent hour after the incredibly loud weekend we had.

Stinker Boston didn't sleep very long, so we decided to take a walk over to Chick Fil A for a treat. It was flippin' hot today! I seriously can't even handle 75 anymore.

Then we had project time while I did some chores in the kitchen.


For dinner, we had a picnic in the family room and watched a movie. I let Brighton pick their meal. "Should we have chicken and hot dogs? Both? Is that a good idea?" Sure, why not.  They sat through the whole thing, and Boston even snuggled with me for most of it. She is such a cute snuggler when she wants to be.


Here are their "mad" faces. Not so sure about Brighton's!


Then off to bed. And not a peep from them. A perfect ending to a fabulous day with my gals. PS. It might have helped that both girls said, "Mommy? I lub you." about 50 times each throughout the day. Melt my heart.

Tot Lot: Brew Bakers

We took a field trip to Brew Bakers in Huntington Beach.  It was a really random place to take a bunch of 2 - 5 year olds, but the idea was cute.  They each got to roll out dough to make a pretzel, and then we made and bottled homemade root beer. The facility wasn't my favorite choice atmosphere, but they had a lot of fun. Both girls were going a bit crazy for a minute during a lull and I said, "Here, look at all of the pictures." Then I looked closer and realized their were quite a few half naked women, and was like, "Um, never mind, don't look too close!"

The kids took turns for 15 minutes or so kicking the root beer barrel back and forth.

Then they each got to fill 2 bottles.

And put bottle caps on them.

Tasting some of their hard work.

Boston loved it too!

Tot Lot: The Ultimate Take Down

The last 15 minutes of tot lot is devoted to a different activity each day.  This particular day was "Rainbow Tag". A child stood in the middle of the grass and called out a color.  If you were wearing that color then you had to run to the other side without the "it" person tagging you. One little boy thought he was supposed to tackle instead of tag. I felt bad for Brighton, but still kind of laugh when I look at these pictures I captured!

Her feelings were so hurt, but she was fine in about 2 minutes.

Tot Lot: My Gym

Last week we went to My Gym in Signal Hill, for our monthly tot lot excursion.  It was a ton of fun. I would highly recommend checking it out! It was a fun facility with a phenomenal staff. I was really impressed how fun and interactive they were with the kids.  Everyone loved them. They did several games, stories, bubbles and even a zip line. Something to think about for a birthday party!

Tot Lot: La Habra Children's Muesum

Once a month we go on an excursion with our fellow tot lotters.  This month was to the La Habra Children's Museum.

We had never been, and I must say we really enjoyed it!

Look at Brighton being a good little student.

She was even the one to volunteer to demonstrate how to pet the animals. A big step for her. So proud.

Um, twins?  Shawna and I were cracking up how much these two looked alike. 

 They had a little carousel with different animals on it.  Brighton talked about her "froggy" for the rest of the day.

Boston petted her chicken and said, "Chicken! Mmmmmm!"

Shawna and Maggers.

Brighton still loves her trains and cars.

One of the rooms was a dress up room, complete with a curtain, stage and microphone.

Gotta love Maggie's style.

Brighton rocking out. (That's the microphone, not a pole)

This is Makayla, one of our good friends from church and tot lot.

We only were able to stay for about an hour and a half, and didn't get a chance to go through all of the rooms.  So we'll definitely be going back.

Most of October

We have lived down the street from a McDonalds for over two years and I finally broke down and took the girls there to play one day.  No offense, but McD's playlands kind of gross me out... But, it was actually pretty clean, and I'm sure we'll go back. 


We also played at Pretend City. Boston made sure to ride every single car, motorcycle, fire truck, etc., there. The water area, as always, was the favorite.  The grocery store was a close second for Brighton. It was fun, although I don't know if I'll go back while both girls are so good at running in opposite directions.

That same day we went to a Chick Fil A in the area. They had a different play area than the other ones I've seen. It was a jungle theme, and both girls loved it. An interesting fact about that location: they only had caffeine free diet coke. (not that I had a problem with that ;)

This little princess...

...hit the jack pot when we went to Disneyland.  I've never seen any of the princesses, and we saw 3! And Mary Poppins.

Of course Brighton through complete tantrums once it was our turn for a picture. This is the only one I got.

We did have fun on a few rides too.

Next on the agenda was a field trip, with Tot Lot, to Pa's Pumpkin Patch.

 Boston's little face poking through makes me giggle every time.

My orange baby loved all of the pumpkins.

After Pa's, we again, ate at Chick-Fil-A.  This time resulting in a foot to Boston's face and a black eye :(

Our ward had our Halloween Party on the 22nd. Which at first I thought was lame, but now realize it's quite nice to have things broken up a bit. The Young Women were put in charge of the decorations, so I took on the task. I died rice yellow and black and had alternating vases on each table. Black rice with orange ribbon, yellow rice with black ribbon.  Then I did balloons around the exterior and a few pumpkins and spiders on the food table.

I had big plans to turn this Cinderella tutu into something more, but... that didn't happen.

Our princesses:  Adalie is on the right, and that is her cousin Chloe in the front.

The good news is... Brighton won the cutest girl award for the 2nd year in a row.

The bad news is... she threw herself on the floor screaming, "I don't want to win!"

After dinner, face painting, awards and tantrums, we went outside for the trunk & treating.

 

Thanks for the cute jammas Grandma!

Tot Lot threw a fun Halloween party last week. They have a lot of our events at Monte Verde park. It is so nice! It's private, small and completely gated.  There's no playground, but a fun walking trail that goes around the perimeter, and tons a running room. It would be really pretty for family pictures, FYI.

Belle and Rapunzel (Makayla)

Tot Lot is great, because this little puppy gets to come to all of the field trips and parties.

And THAT, is most of our October happenings.  The End.