Summer Park Packs for the Kids

 I realize that the point of a trip to the park or the backyard play set is to let the kids play on park equipment and get out their energy. However, lately by kids seem to get bored rather quickly and/or start fighting with each other when they should be having fun. Shocking right.

So while cleaning up the house today, I thought it would be a good idea to put together some more "Park Packs" that we can use throughout the summer. I gathered up some small toys that either aren't being used much inside or would be fun to play with at the park or in the backyard. I put each group of things together in a sack or bag and put them all by the door so they are ready for me to grab when we are headed out.

 The other thing I like about these is its a good way for kids to really play, be creative, and use their imagination. It gets them moving, away from screens, and lets you either play with them or have a moment of downtime while they play nicely with each other.

Pirate goods to pretend any playground is a pirate ship. 

DIY capes with broken nerf guns makes for perfect Superhero play.

Make your own superhero capes out of Dads old shirts. Just cut the sleeves and front of the shirt off. Leave the collar to go around the kids neck. The sleeves make excellent masks! 

Bug Catchers from the Dollar Store that have a built in magnifying glass can be used for all kinds of fun.

 Dinosaurs, Sand shovels, and bug catchers make a great pack for a sandy park for dinosaur excavation.

Balls of every size work great for parks with slides or to throw, kick, (or roll with babies.)

Kaladiascopes, plastic toy dog bones, and plastic dogs for a pack about dog catching or hunting or whatever else they dream up. You can find packs of Kaladiascopes at Walmart for a dollar or two on the party aisle.

 Sandwich containers can be used for snacks or to keep smaller items in to take to the park. 

If you feel like you don't have anything to use head to the local dollar store. You can pick up a few things on the cheap and not worry about it spending the summer outside or getting lost. They also have all kinds of containers for snacks or to put your items in.

Read More

Water You Waiting For: Our Favorite Summer Water Activities for Kids

Its summer. Its hot. The kids are tired of the old garden sprinkler. We have tried dozens of activities for the kids and while we don't claim to be experts by any means, we love to by outside, especially in the summer and we want something fun but simple. Sooo to maintain our mom sanity during the summer we've found that WATER in many forms is a must. So read on for some of our favorite tried and true ways to keep the kids cool while playing in the great outdoors. Hope you and your kids like them as much as we do. Oh, and one more recommendation, next time you are at the grocery store hit the frozen food aisle and pick up a non alcoholic Bacardi mixer. Pop it in the blender with water and ice and enjoy a smooth treat while the kiddos play. You can thank us later.

Pop Bottle DIY Sprinkler

Take a 2 Liter bottle or other plastic bottle and poke holes in it with scissors and a knife. This should be an adults job for obvious reasons. Take it out and attach it to the end of the hose with some duct tape. Its just different enough from the boring old sprinkler that the kids will love it. More holes equal more water.

DIY Water Blob 

These water blobs as they are called are all over Pinterest with varying levels of difficult instructions. We used duct tape and painters plastic to make smaller "blobs" so each child could have their own. Simple buy some plastic, fold it in half so all the sides match and duct tape well around the edges. Leave a small hole for the hose and fill it up with water. Cover the hole with tape and let the kids jump and play on it. You can make these as big or as small as you'd like. 

Kiddie Pools For All Ages

Even if your child has outgrown the kiddie pool, which lets be honest we still stick our feet in them. You can still fill them up with ice, toys, small squirt guns, kitchen utensils, and/or any number of other objects to make it new and different and not just a pool of water. This time of year usually has some great sales on them too. So keep your eyes out.

Paint With Water

Stop by the painter aisle at your local hardware store or even at Walmart and pick up a few cheap paint rollers. Fill sand buckets or any other bucket with water and let the kids "paint" the driveway, sidewalk, or deck with water. It dries fairly quickly and results in no mess for you as it is just water, and the kids love it. Smaller children like the water and the roller, while older children can practice drawing shapes, letters, or anything else they wish.

Dollar Store Finds

Hit up the local dollar store for cheap pool toys, squirt guns, and giant water squirt swords and nearly anything else you can think of and then hit the local lake, splash pad, or pool. If and when the toys break you won't feel too bad about it as it was only a buck.

Water Balloon Fights

Walmart and the dollar store sell packs of 100 water balloons for 1.00. Stock up and every now and again fill them up for the kids to have water fights with you, dad, each other, or just to play with the balloons. We started doing it about once a week and ambush Dad when he walks in from work. It has become something fun we do that the kids really look forward to.

Trampoline Sprinklers

You probably remember doing this as a kid. Our only warning is to make sure that the kids are supervised well as trampolines are slippery when wet. Place a sprinkler underneath and let the kids bounce. As they jump down it creates a double splash that is fun.

Freeze It

Freeze colored water in plastic gloves, small toys in easter eggs or ice cube trays. Peel the gloves off and let the kids play with the hands while they melt. Place them in a small swimming pool or plastic tub full of kids toys and let the kids cool off. These make a fun addition to a sensory table while the ice melts.

DIY Fruity Pops

Popsicle molds can be found at almost any store this time of year. Target, Ikea, Walmart, Smiths, Dollar Store. You name it they have them. Pick them up for a few dollars and let the kids help you make their own popsicles. It can be as simple as freezing their favorite juices or lemonade. You can also freeze smoothies, shakes, root beer floats, strawberry milk, yogurt or the ones pictured below  are coconut water with strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries in them. 

 Bubble Blowing

Sometimes the old classics work best. Some days it is just too hot to be outside and its best to wait for the evening hours and cooler temperatures to head outside and have some fun. We have really liked the bubble bases that hold 3 wands at a time and let the kids blow bubbles on their own. You can refill when you like and it lets several kids (and/or) you play at once.

Read More

Lazy Lake Days with The Baby Cubby

If you don't know the two of us are both expecting babies this fall. Between the two of us it will be baby #4 and #5, which means we have been through our fair share of diaper bags. While on the hunt for new bags for the new babes The Baby Cubby asked us to review one of their bags and we love it. 

Diaper bags, in our minds must meet 3 main requirements:

• Multiple handles so it can be carried several different ways.
• Plenty of pockets and storage space for bit and small items.
• Every surface of the thing must be waterproof and/or wipeable.
• Its a nice added bonus if we like the way it looks. 

After spending a day at the lake with their bag we fell in love and are currently in the middle of an intense game of rock, paper, scissors to see who gets it. 

Why we love it:

• The large middle pocket easily holds diapers, wipes, a changing pad, snacks etc. 
• The front zips open and becomes your wallet should you choose to make it so. There are pockets for credit cards, museum memberships, and any other valuables you'd like to keep there. 
• A long shoulder strap lets you carry it across your body, or on your shoulder while two shorter handles let you carry it more like a purse.
• It comes with stroller straps to attach right to your stroller so you don't have to carry it at all. 
• All surfaces passed the wipe test as surprise surprise apple juice was spilled on it.
• Its well made and can take the use and abuse of being taken on our outdoor outings but still has style for trips around town and out with the girls.
• Two thumbs up for gender neutral. We are having boys, but this bag could easily be used for a girl which makes it usable for multiple children.

The Baby Cubby has given our readers at 10% discount. Use MEGYNJORDYN10 valid thru June 30!


IG: @MEGYNJORDYN

Read More

Mountain Mamas Guide To Rocky Mouth Falls: The Perfect Short Utah Family Hike

While we do love a good long day hike, sometimes we want something short and sweet for the littles and/or our pregnant selves. Enter Rocky Mouth Falls. Located in Sandy at 11248 S Wasatch Blvd the hike leads you up the mountain a half a mile before reaching picturesque falls, a beautiful view of the valley, and several small caves for children and/or adults to explore.

What we love:

A quick short hike, that does not require you to drive INTO any of the canyons. Its located right in Sandy on the mountainside.

At just under 1/2 a mile up and 1/2 a mile back you can have a quick adventure or take your time exploring the trail. Little legs can also handle the trail with ease.

Stairs make up a few of the steep parts of the trail easier for hikers of all levels.

The views of the Salt Lake Valley can't be beat. 

The falls are pretty but still small enough that kids can walk in the water or put their hands in the small stream without the same fear we have at the base of larger falls. (Obviously you should always keep a close eye on your children near ANY water.)

End of May Falls (above) 

End of August Falls (below)

There are plenty of trees on the trail and near the falls which makes for a shaded and more comfortable hiking experience. 

The trail has year round access.

Depending on the time of the year you can climb right up to the base of the falls for photos or to play in the water. However, during spring and early summer the falls have more water and you'll need to keep your distance.

What we don't love:

Because it is a quick short hike near the valley, should you choose to hike on a holiday or Saturday, hit the trail early or be prepared to enjoy the trail with many other families.

The parking lot holds 10 (if that) cars, so once it is full you will need to park on the street.

Part of the "hike" takes you through a neighborhood of homes, which is fine but does take a bit out of the "outdoor" experience. Keep an eye on the kids as cars are always on the street.

**As with any hike, make sure you are prepared with plenty of water, good shoes, and let someone not in your hiking party know where you will be hiking and when to expect you to check in once you have returned from your hike.

DIRECTIONS:

At the intersection of 9400 So & Wasatch Blvd, continue south 3 more miles on Wasatch Blvd., watching for an LDS church building on the RIGHT. Park just south of this chuch, on the EAST side of the road. Walk up all the wooden stairs pictured below, uphill in the neighborhood, passing about 4 homes. Keep your eyes open for a catwalk between two homes. Follow the steep trail to the waterfall.

Happy Hiking Mountain Mamas!

Read More

Moab with Kids

Delicate Arch, Arches National Park

Our little family recently returned from Moab, Utah. We were craving warmer weather, sun on our skin, and a 3 hour drive with a toddler (yeah....not so much the latter). We hit Arches National Park , Dead Horse Point State Park , and Canyonlands National Park. It was a fun family filled vacation, I am sure we will be visiting again where we may have to try out some jeeping or white water rafting. 

Here are a few tips that I learned on our trip: 

We went in March the weather was right on point before the desert climate starts to heat up on those lovely red rocks usually reaching the 100+ degrees. 

We have the National Parks Pass which got us into Arches National Park and Canyon Lands National Park.....not essential but we didn't have to wait in the 30 minute line to get into the park. 

We didn't bring a pack for our toddler (which I don't know how much she would have ridden in it...she loved walking along the trails) but I wish we would have had the option for it especially on the long hikes and especially especially for  when she conked out on dad's shoulder half way onto the trail. 

We had so many comments from people telling us that they wish they would have started traveling with their littles when they were small....so get out there! Don't let your kids keep you from traveling!! 

You have very limited options of dining in Moab, it is your typical outfitter town so instead of hitting the select few chain restaurants hit the local restaurants. We went to Paradox Pizza....big thumbs up!! Thank you Yelp. 

We always try to get a souvenir on our trips (usually it is a Christmas tree ornament....if I can find one that matches my tree) and lets be honest it's always fun to do the touristy things like walk main and check out all the neat shops.

Make it an easy trip by packing light, especially when it was only a two day trip this will make you want to travel more often if it wasn't a pain in the butt to get ready for. We took 1 suitcase for all 3 of us (you can probably tell with all my wardrobe changes).

Take enough photos, whether that be on your phone or camera, looking back on my pictures I wish we would have brought our tripod...we have 1 family shot. You can get some breathtaking images along the red rocks with the snow crested La Sal Mountain range in the backdrop. 

The drive wasn't that bad, we made sure to load up the iPod,  had 1 or 2 new toys for the toddler which easily held her attention for awhile, and packed our cooler with drinks and snacks. 

Of course remember all the essentials, sunblock, hats, hiking shoes, snacks, packs, jackets, cameras, sunglasses, long sleeves for babies/toddlers for sun protection, plenty of water. It's not the end of the world if you forget these, there are markets along main. 

When we got back to the hotel we crashed but I wish we would have headed back out to the Arches to catch the sunset on the red rocks and stars coming out.

Hit up the Moab Information Center on main street, where you can load up on maps and ask questions.

North Window Arch, Arches National Park 

Double Arch, Arches National Park

Mesa Arch, Canyonlands National Park

Delicate Arch, Arches National Park

Dead Horse Point Park overlook 

Read More