momonthegoinholytoledo

Simple-3 Ingredient Apple Crisp Recipe! The Kids will LOVE!

October 6, 2014September 21, 2020momonthegoinholytoledo

It’s getting chilly! So chilly it’s the perfect time to make apple crisp and get out those fall decorations.

This is the easiest apple crisp recipe of all time!

Ingredients:

4 Nature Valley Bars (any kind)

4-5 Apples

½ stick of butter

Directions:

Take 4 Nature Valley bars, we used the Oats n’ Dark Chocolate bars. Open bars and place in Ziploc bag. You might want to double bag them. Have kids smash the heck out of the bars….they can use rolling pins, monster trucks, whatever adds to the fun!
Cut up apples into smaller bite sized pieces. Place apples in 8 x 8 pan.
Sprinkle nature valley bits all over the apples.
Slice butter into 8-10 pieces and place on top.
Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Cover with foil, bake for 25 minutes, and stir halfway through.
Enjoy it while it’s hot and available! Warning: Everyone will want seconds….it will go fast!

Do you hang on to your kiddos past projects/artwork (within reason, of course)? Do you find that they tug at your heartstrings a little harder with each passing year? Why must time go by so fast?

How I Spend my Free Time

October 1, 2014October 2, 2014momonthegoinholytoledo

I lay in bed strategizing ways to tactfully make my way down the stairs, grab my book from the living room, and make a mad dash into the family room without waking up a soul. It was going to happen, today was my day! I was going to do it! I was going to read! After all what is the point of being a part of a book club if you never get to read the darn book!? I glanced at the alarm clock it read 5:30am. Yes! I had the potential to read for an entire hour! The combination of anticipation, excitement, and adrenaline was enough stimulate that I even considered forgoing coffee right away….besides I had not contemplated a side trip to the kitchen, that could foil everything! It was go time!

I climbed over our 4 year old who was sleeping next to me. I tip-toed out of the room while holding my breath, for fear one exhale might be too loud and somehow heard over my husband’s snoring. Haha! I did a weird dance down the stairs in the dark trying to avoid the center of all stairs where the wood creeks. I then walked along the perimeter of the room as to avoid more creeks in the wood (old houses, gotta love em). My cat like reflexes really came in handy when I came in contact with two baseball bats on the living room floor that I had asked our son to put away…to be honest I lost my footing rolled a little, and came a quarter of an inch away from striking the keys on the piano. The dog heard me and barked. This just got real! I ran into the kitchen, forgot we put the baby gate up and half of my body went over it…I am certain it looked hilarious but man it hurt! Removed the gate, guided our blind dog down the stairs, opened the back door and let him out. Closed the back door and he barked to come in. Let the darn dog in walked around the kitchen to find that he was right; he did not need to go out to pee he had already taken care of that in the kitchen. For the love of books, why!!!! So I cleaned up the mess, finally broke his code, he wanted food. So I fed him and quietly walked back to the living room where my book awaited and my 4 year old holding a Belle dress. My dream of reading that morning was officially shattered. Within ten minutes everyone was up. …I wanted to cry but I didn’t. I went on with my morning routine, made breakfast, did laundry, made beds, did hair, daughter hated the way I did her hair so we redid hair, listen to girls argue over a doll, removed said doll, son was concerned about guinea pig because he was dirty, gave guinea pig a bath (because that’s what you do 20 minutes before school), daughter realized there was a back to her homework page, helped her finish her homework, threw some water on my face, put on clean underwear and grabbed clothes off the floor to wear, drove older kiddos to school, drove preschooler to school, and arrived home and glance over at my book, finally, alas! And my phone rang.

For the next two hours I helped a friend with a crisis, switched around the laundry, made dinner, edited pics, filled out forms the kiddos needed in order to get registered for various activities/field trips/etc., stopped at the bank to get preschool tuition and headed to preschool to pick up our 4 year old…all the while wondering how I might be able to finagle a way to read for 20 minutes later in the day.

Get home, make lunch, put 4 year old down for quiet time, 4 year old gets up from quiet time 3 times, finally she settles in with a few books for a little while, I clean bathroom, finish editing pics, workout for 20 minutes…noting I clearly did something to my lower half of my body when it came in contact with the baby gate (get yourself a Beach Body coach and accountability group…best thing ever!), plan a party (which was amazing…Frozen was the theme and kiddos got to build their own snowman…I included a few pics below), organize a few activities for our playgroup, take a call from a friend who needs someone to watch her kiddos…I am totally your girl! (Always make time for others, some of the best advice my momma has ever given me) .Get 4 year old up, we run to car, drive to pick up older kiddos from school when the real chaos begins.

Both kiddos jump in the car eager to tell me about their days and our 4 year old wants to chime too! It is a chorus of chaos those first ten minutes. Once home kiddos put bags on hooks, folders on table for me to go through, grab a snack, and we start on homework. One child reads aloud to me while the other does their math then they switch, I check work, and we go over spelling words while I put the finishing touches on dinner. Dad arrives home, kids set table, we eat, then the older two are off to religious education while I go to the Cub Scout meeting and learn about selling popcorn. All the while I am sitting in the pack meeting my mind keeps going back to the book I never got a chance to read and I wonder how I can do things differently tomorrow morning. Then the meeting is over, I pick up older two from religion education down the street, go home, bath/showers, sit out clothes for the next day, make lunches, and tuck in kiddos. I fold a load of laundry, but on my PJs, grab a glass of wine and that book I have been dreaming of all day and settle into bed. Ten minutes later I am out! LOL!

The next morning I basically go through the same routine but instead of preschool my 4 year old and I head to a playgroup meet up. There I enjoy chatting with other moms while she plays with other kiddos. While chatting one of the moms who has children who are not of school age yet asks me, “So, what do you do with all your free time now that the kids have school?” For a moment I felt complimented, clearly my tired eyes had not given me away and I must look refreshed. Then my blood began to boil a bit….and I thought, free time, what is that? But I finally came to the realization that all of us new moms, myself included, have hope and dream of a utopia like life that will present itself once the children are in school. Sadly it never happens but far be it for me to shatter this young mother’s dream. So, I truthfully replied, “I think about reading a lot.” And I am almost certain she thought I was crazy but that is okay. It is important that we allow those new moms who are in the thick of diaper changing, spit up, potty training, etc. to have their hope. In fact I know of a couple amazing friends who kept their mouths shut when I would dream about what life would be like once my children were in school…though looking back, they did always have a smirk on their faces.

Do tell, how do you spend you free time? Or perhaps I should rephrase the question, how do you dream about spending your free time some day? Haha!

The Key to being a Great Mom!

September 27, 2014momonthegoinholytoledo

Based on the title of this post you are more than likely expecting me to discuss the importance of patience, love, tenderness, not raising your voice, extra hugs and kisses, etc. While all those are very important components they are not the key to being a great mom. The key to being a great mom is to not be one from time-to-time. What! Ludacris! Crazy, right!? Wrong! You want to know what’s crazy, weeping while in the fetal position at 9pm knowing you have to get up and do it all over again in the morning. True story!

Spoiler alert! Sometimes being mom isn’t glamorous (I apologize to all the first time moms whose dreams I might have just shattered). In fact at times I feel like a hybrid of a customer service representative and wall fixture. Don’t get me wrong, motherhood has its perks. I have achieved some mad skills like being able to know where everything is located, making booboos all better, and don’t even get me started on all the ways I can multitask…we are talking cleaning a toilet, bathing one child (not in the toilet…just thought clarification was in order), helping another with homework, all while making a grocery list in my head. Let’s see Dad try that!!

And speaking of Dad, why is it that there is no such thing as daddy guilt? Talk about an oxymoron, right! But mommy guilt, now that is very much real. And that beast often attacks when you least expect. Like when you have exceeded your complaint quota for the day and you’re in the middle of multitasking your multitasking and BAM! You realized you promised your child you would read a book that you never got around to reading. Mommy guilt tells you that you are clearly a horrible mother who breaks promises to her children. Consuming this motherhood cocktail has consequences; it results with your husband finding you weeping while in the fetal position at 9pm.

The good news is there is help. So, how do you cure this ailment? Get out! Have coffee with a friend. Do something, anything without the children. Organize a Moms Night Out. It is so vital that you have time away to rejuvenate and refresh, remember who you are as a person. Your children deserve a mother who isn’t physically and emotionally drained (FYI, this doesn’t mean that they will be 100% on board with you leaving, it might be a little difficult leaving the house so start your goodbyes a ½ hour early and brace yourself for a few tears…from the children too). Motherhood is such an amazing blessing and it is important that we don’t lose sight of that, that we cherish this treasure.

I know I am cherishing motherhood today after having enjoyed a Moms Night Out last night. I came home feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and today I felt like I was in pure mommy bliss. I took the kiddos to the park, we baked cookies, giggled over the dinner table conversation, and I even extended bedtime so we could hang out a little longer (pre-Moms Night Out I was counting down the minutes till bedtime). Just as Date Night is vital to your relationship Moms Night Out is vital in order to be a great mom!

When was the last time you had a Moms Night Out?

PS……

Tuesday’s Tip: Garage Organizing Made Easy

September 23, 2014momonthegoinholytoledo

Let’s be honest that when it comes to organizing, the garage is one of the most difficult rooms in the home to tackle. In our home growing up it was consider the mecca of junk. If anything needed a place to go, by default, it always ended up in the garage. We have created 3 simple steps to get your garage organized this fall season.

Separate Your Storage

Sometimes organizing is as easy as separating your storage. Separating your storage into most used items (short-term storage) and less used items (long-term storage) helps you maintain a balanced, organized garage. Some of the long-term items we find in our home are holiday decorations, these are great for storing on overhead racks, it keeps your items up and out of the way but still accessible to you all year round. Keeping those short-term items closer to the ground on shelves or in cabinets creates a more efficient way to use your belongings. This is also a great way to prevent having to dig thru endless bins and piles of storage.

Utilize Unused Space

A lot of homeowners tend to keep most of their storage on the ground. What we all fail to see is the unlimited space that surrounds our garages. One of the best ways to organize your garage is to get all of the stuff off the ground and utilize wall and ceiling space. Hang your belongings on designated shelving units or hooks, this gives them a proper storage space but also leaving your items accessible to you at all times. Ceiling racks are the best way to take advantage of that unused ceiling space. By utilizing unused space, organizing becomes a whole lot simpler and creates an easier way to maintain an organized garage for years to come.

Get the Family Involved

Since I could remember we had designated days every year to clean out the garage. Getting the family involved is the best way to keep your garage organized. After all, it’s not just your stuff stacked in thereJ. Make it a fun project and lesson for the kids, teaching them the proper way to stay organized by creating designated places for their things to go. This is a fun way to not only get everyone involved, but to get everyone on the same page. Have each member of the family pick a place to store their belongings; designating those areas just for them so there is no confusion on where to find things.

By following these 3 simple steps you are on the right track to a clean, custom organized garage. By separating your storage, utilizing unused space and getting the family involved maintaining an organized garage has never been easier. For more tips and tricks to getting your garage organized check out Organized Garage Solutions.

Bio:

Organized Garage Solutions is your garage storage expert in Toledo. Specializing in garage shelving, cabinets, overhead storage and epoxy flooring they transform your garage from a cluttered mess to a fully functional organized space. Call today for your free, in-home estimate.

Zucchini, dark chocolate, and fig bread!

September 2, 2014momonthegoinholytoledo

The kiddos and I stopped by the orchard and grabbed some apples and zucchini…3 for a $1, no brainer right?! We ate up two of those zucchini that evening for dinner. Hmmm…what to do with that last zucchini? Zucchini bread! But not just any ordinary zucchini bread, we were going to make Zucchini, dark chocolate, and fig bread! Why dark chocolate and fig? Well, everything taste better with chocolate and we have a huge bag of dried figs that momma can’t eat all on her own (though I am totally up to the challenge. Haha! I love a good figs, pecans, and Greek yogurt, with a bit of honey parfait, AMAZING!). To be entirely honest I had no idea what this bread was going to taste like but I knew the girls and I would at least enjoy the experience of making it and the anticipation of tasting it. So we popped in a Billie Holiday CD and measured the ingredients….spoiler alert, the bread was delicious…I say was because our family went through both loaves in the matter of 2 days!!

Ingredients:

4 cups white whole-wheat flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt

1-1/2 cup low-fat milk

4 large eggs

1-1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup canola oil

2 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 cups shredded zucchini

1 cup dried figs

1 cup chocolate chips

(Makes 2 loaves)

Instructions:

Combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt in a large bowl.
Mix milk, eggs, sugar, oil and vanilla in a medium bowl.
Shred Zucchini and cut figs then add to wet ingredients.
Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and add chocolate chips.
Spray 2 loaf pans with cooking spray so bread doesn’t stick.
Bake bread at 350 degrees for 45-55 minutes (check center of loaf to make certain it’s backed all the way through)
Cool for at least 15 minutes, very hot!!

Enjoy! Then place rest in fridge…taste fresher when kept in the fridge…try it! Makes a great after school snack…if it last that long. Haha!

Move backward 3

August 24, 2014momonthegoinholytoledo

It was one of those lazy afternoons mothers long for, no one needed to be anywhere, there was no immediate task that required mom’s attention, and dinner was still a couple hours away. So we decided it might be fun to play a game…I was secretly hoping it might become an impromptu game night! I love a good game night! Anyway, we decided on the game, Sorry.

So we set up the game on the living room floor. Everyone determined which color they wanted to be, which surprisingly takes much longer than one would anticipate, sometimes longer than it takes to play the actual game(first everyone wants to be the same color, then no one wants to be that color, and then our little peacemaker suggests that everyone has one of each color, can you imagine? Haha!). And after two potty breaks and the dog walking through, on, and kicking the pawns a few times (I am pretty sure he was Sorry for his actions…like that? Haha!), we were finally all ready to play. Now, it should be noted that sometimes half the fun in playing a game is just in setting it up, seriously, just asks our 4 year old. She is quite fond of the setting up the game process…and it isn’t unusual for her to just walk away mid-game to set up another game. But this time was different, this time she stayed and played…and even brought along a few spectators.

So we got the game started! The first few cards were pretty simple and since our 4 year old is a champ at counting she thought it was awesome. The cards read, Move forward 12, Move forward 4, and then Move backward 3. “Mom, you can just go forward or pick a different card, we don’t play with those”, explained our 7 year old. What!? “Well, in order to win you need to move forward” he says. I explained that he is correct, in order to win you do need to move forward but the whole point of the game is about being able to handle obstacles that you weren’t expecting, kind of like in life. “No, mom this isn’t Life, it is Sorry” he kindly corrected me. Haha! Clearly my attempt at an analogy was lost. So I just explained that we will be following all the cards for this game, backward, forward, ALL. So we go around the board and everyone received “nice” cards, no go backward cards. Then it is my turn again and I pull a card that states “Take a pawn from Start and switch places with an opponent…bump the opponent back to start” Hmm…which child’s dream of winning this game should I destroy? Seriously, who wrote these cards!? And I had to go and make a big speech about following ALL the cards. What a predicament!! Do I go back on my word? I can understand the lessons learned through going backward, it teaches kids about persevering and not giving up even when they lag behind or fall short but nowhere in life will someone switch places with you. So, do I shatter a child’s dream of winning or go back on my word? Now I know why this stupid game is called Sorry!

What would you do?

Sunday’s Food for the Soul: Are You a TRUE Friend?

August 10, 2014momonthegoinholytoledo

While talking to an acquaintance the other day she had made the comment that she wished she had more GREAT friends. That got me thinking; in today’s culture where the main emphasis is the virtual world, do we all hunger, crave a true, great friendship? However great friendships just don’t happen, to have a great friend you need to be a great friend. What kind of a friend are you?

Do you hold others to unrealistic expectations? If the situation was reversed would you be willing to hold yourself to such high standards?

Are you quick to forgive?

Do you give selflessly, without expectations or an IOU?

Do you judge? Do you base friendships on superficial qualities? What kind of car they drive, house they have, status, profession, etc.?

Are you willing to give your undivided attention?

Do you try to make yourself superior? No one wants to feel like an inconvenience.

Do you build the other up?

If there is a problem can you have a conversation and see where each other is coming from? Do you have sympathy and compassion? Are you understanding of each other’s circumstances?

Have you had a friendship that has lasted the tests of time? How do you make certain your friendships thrive? How do you make certain you are a friend that is worth having?

The Day the Water went Green & I Didn’t!!!

August 5, 2014momonthegoinholytoledo

As many of you know I am very passionate about living a green and sustainable lifestyle. When my children were babies we used cloth diapers, cloth wipes, and our last baby even refused a bottle and strictly nursed (clearly my favorite! Haha! Just kidding!). My household cleaning products consist of water, baking soda, vinegar, and rags. I read labels on products and look out for any carcinogens, pesticides, toxins, etc. I do not purchase paper towels or napkins (oh the heated conversations I had with my husband those first couple years of marriage, yes, napkins…I do realize how silly it sounds, haha!). I am happy to say that we have been using cloth napkins for 9 years now…he has grown accustom to the environmental and financial advantages. I do not purchase disposable dishes, utensils, or sandwich bags. We have a filter on our faucet for our water and we use water canteens and travel mugs when we need to take water with us. I am a ‘just say no’ to water bottles kind of momma! Now, it should be noted that my mommas is not. In fact she is the complete opposite of me. And we are related, crazy, right!? She has tons of water bottles and basically disposable EVERYTHING! I have been on her for quite some time encouraging less consumption! As of yet I have not made much segue, it kills me when I see all the bottle waters stacked up!! WHY!! Why such consumption?

That Horrific Morning…..

August 2, 2014!!! This day will forever go down in history!! It started off like any other morning. I woke up around 7 pm, made my way downstairs to make some much needed coffee. Turned on the television as I walked through the living room then slide in dog pee as I entered the kitchen (I keep it real folks…and the truth is lately I have been slipping on dog pee at least 3 mornings a week…our dog is a diabetic and currently suffers from old dog syndrome, but damn he’s cute!). While cleaning the pee I overheard the news in the other room. It indicated that we should not drink our water…which let’s be honest it happens sometimes and we just boil it….next phrase out of the Newscasters mouth, DO NO BOIL! My first thought was, what!?! My second thought was, oh crap that means no coffee!!! SH*T just got real!!! I have a family of 5, a diabetic old dog, and household to take care of and I cannot do that sans caffeine!!! So the next logical step was, panic. So I tried it for a minute but it literally got me nowhere so I decided to maintain composure and go in search of caffeine, I mean water. By then my 7 year old son was up so I brought him along thinking between his 7 year old brain and my non-caffeinated brain we should have the equivalent of one working adult brain and I figured we would be back in 15 minutes or so. Little did I know!!!

The Hunt for Caffeine, I mean Water….

August 2, 2014 7:45am we arrive at Kroger’s. We walk in, me in my sunglasses, thinking those are more forgiving than my tired eyes and unwashed face…if only I could just splash a little water on my face! And I was rocking a hot bed hair too…looking back I guess I could have brushed my hair, after all there was no ban on brushing, oh well. We grab a cart and make our way to what WAS the isle filled with water, flavored water, and Gatorade, all of which were gone! We left the cart in the isle and made our way back to the car. On our way to the car a gentleman yelled to everyone GO TO MICHIGAN THEY HAVE WATER! So we all piled into our cars and drove to Michigan (BTW, Michigan is literally 8 minutes up the road so we didn’t go far). We get there and SHOCKER, they are all out of water!! At this point I am feeling like such a failure! There was no way I could go home empty handed. And I am starting to suffer from caffeine withdrawal, I am not going to lie, it wasn’t pretty! So I drove a half hour into Michigan and every stop was OUT OF WATER (later they actually typed up signs so you didn’t have to waste your time getting out of the car). Now the real irony was that I was driving all over the place for water while it was pouring down rain outside…in case you were wondering, God definitely has a sense of humor. Haha! What was initially going to only take all of 15 minutes had tuned into 2 hours, and we needed gas! So I pull into a gas station and I finally had the brilliant idea to grab an iced coffee…what can I say, my brain doesn’t function well without caffeine! And of course I looked for water but they were all out! Thus the search continued!!

Time to Eat some Humble pie….

After 3 hours of searching for water, numerous texts coming in from family and friends informing me not to drink the water and to rush out ASAP to grab some (talk about rubbing salt in the wound) I knew what I had to do. I knew it would not be easy. I knew I would have to take a huge piece of humble pie…well, maybe more like the entire pie. I made a call. I called….I called my water bottle loving momma! And she hooked a girl up! She said we were more than welcomed to her bottled waters, disposable dishes, utensils, etc. And not once did she make mention of my green and sustainable ways not being conducive to the situation or say her way was right, nope, because she is one of the most classy, remarkable people I know…always willing to help, to lend a hand, to build you up. Yep, my water bottle loving momma saved this green and sustainable preaching momma, turns out we might just need each other after all, who knew! And hopefully all her consumption and my conserving will somehow balance out in the end, maybe?!

It Kills me to admit….But I had to….I confess….

So this ‘go green’ momma used disposable dishes and utensil because we were not able to use the water to clean our dishes. Used wet wipes as baths for the kids. Hand sanitizer to wash hands. I used paper towels to clean up spills (dog pee) because we couldn’t use hot water to do laundry. And more bottled waters than I would like to admit to in order for the family to drink, dog to drink, and use for anything else…cooking, cleaning, brushing teeth. It kills me to look at the picture of all those items that go against a green and sustainable lifestyle. But I must admit a little wine in the evening and iced coffee in the morning made the experience much more manageable. And the people, oh, the people in Toledo and the surrounding area were absolutely amazing!!

A Huge thank you to everyone who offered their home to us to get showered/cleaned up, who offered water and other necessities, and to all those who helped others, your generosity truly warmed my heart. After witnessing all the kindness bestowed on neighbors this past weekend it has definitely confirmed what I already knew, Toledo is a great place to live because of the people!! God Bless all of you!

101+ Places to go with Kids in Toledo

August 3, 2014April 2, 2018momonthegoinholytoledo

I have collated a list of fun kiddo and family friendly destinations in Toledo and the surrounding area, each has a brief description. Each destination has been linked to the website where you can retrieve more thorough information regarding hours of operation, rates, etc. Know of a fun Toledo destination that isn’t listed? Please feel free to share in the comment thread. Thank you!!

Toledo Metroparks (Offers fun programs for kids and events for families)
Olander Park (Swimming, fishing, playgrounds, etc. Sylvania, OH)
Fort Imagination Playground (Enclosed playground for little kids & large playground for older kids-Woodlands Park, Perrysburg, OH)
Carr Park (Fun playground for all ages-Bedford, MI)
WGTE (Check events and be sure to attend family fun days)
Fossil Park (Bring small/medium paint brush to brush off fossils and baggy to take home fossils- Sylvania, OH)
Toledo Lucas County Public Library (Check times and locations for Story Time and other amazing events for kids and families)
Maumee Bay State Park (Swimming, biking, boardwalk, trails, nature center, cross-country skiing, sledding, etc. Oregon, OH)
Toledo Museum of Art’s Family Center (Children can paint,make theme inspired craft, listen to a story in the gallery, and play at the Family Center)
Gathering Volumes (Story Time –Sun. 1pm, Tues 6pm, & Thurs 10am – Always Check Calendar to confirm times)
Barnes & Noble (Fun themed story times with awesome crafts! Fallen Timbers, Maumee, OH)
Bass Pro Shops (Fun events for kids’ checkout their calendar- Rossford, OH)
Toledo Firefighters’ Museum (Checkout the fire trucks, old equipment, kids learn about fire safety in Jed’s room where a fire is simulated, & more)
Home Depot Kid Workshops (Kids get to use tools and make something to take home)
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge (Checkout the “Let’s Go Outside” Backpack at the visitors center. Each is filled with fun tools for exploring like binoculars, bug jars, magnifying lens, cloud guide, and more! Oak Harbor, OH)
Fallen Timbers (Lil’ Timbers Kids Klub has fun activities throughout the year and there are great seasonal events like ice skating and carriage rides- Maumee, OH)
Toledo Police Museum (Fingerprint Comparitor from the 80s designed to be accessible and appealing to kids. Downtown Toledo)
Sylvania Heritage Museum & Railroad Depot (Genuine railroad depot building that served Sylvania residents for 98 years, from 1858 to 1956. It is the oldest train depot in existence in the State of Ohio. Downtown Sylvania, OH)
Mazza Museum (Largest museum of original artwork by children’s book illustrators in the world. The museum’s goal is to promote literacy and enrich the lives of all people through the art of children’s literature. Findlay, OH)
Levis Commons (Fun seasonal activities for the kids and families like Sandtastic fun & breakfast with Santa!!- Perrysburg, OH)
Imagination Kingdom Playground (Adorable playground for kiddos, pack a picnic and let their imaginations run wild while they burn off all that extra energy- Wauseon, OH)
Butterfly House (Watch a beautiful array of butterflies flutter around while listening to classical music play, try to locate and identify the various butterflies with the brochures provided. Also offers fun Autumn events like the corn maze! Whitehouse, OH)
Gust Brothers Pumpkin Farm (Admission is FREE, but you are going to want to bring some spending cash because it isn’t officially fall until you stop by the farm and see all the farm animals, cows, pigs, chickens, rabbits, and more! Enjoy a hayride and finally pick out the perfect pumpkin!! And other goodies in the store…fresh produce and squash!!-Ottawa Lake, MI)
The Canal Experience at Providence (Go back in time and ride the Volunteer, a reproduction of a mule drawn canal boat, visit the Mill, enjoy characters dressed in period attire-Grand Rapids, OH)
Erie Orchard (You pick…blueberries, apples, pumpkins, and more! But the real fun starts in the fall…enjoy corn maze, hayrides, bounce house, music, and more…check their calendar for events! Erie, MI)
Fort Meigs State Memorial (Fort Meigs State Memorial honors the site of the largest wooden-walled fortress in North America, built during the War of 1812. Take self-guided tours, view weapons demonstrations, and learn the history of the fort. Perrysburg, OH)
The Toledo Symphony (Music under the Stars-FREE concert in the summer)
Valentine Theatre (Check calendar of events…offers great classic film series!! Downtown Toledo)
Ohio Skate (Roller skating!! 2 locations, Maumee, OH and Toledo, OH)
Copper Moon Studios (Fun art classes for kids! Walk-ins welcomed! Holland, OH)
Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center ( Memorial to the 19th President of the United States it contains a treasure trove of information for history buffs. The Center includes the Hayes Mansion, Presidential Library, Museum, and the tomb of the former president- Fremont, OH)
577 Foundation (Offers an array of classes for all ages and encourages ecologically responsible living- Perrysburg, OH)
Art Supply Depot (Offers art classes, paint pottery, and more! Downtown Toledo)
SS. Col. James M. Schoonmaker/National Museum of the Great Lakes (Kids will have a blast when they step foot on a real Ship-Downtown Toledo)
Bowlero ( Bowling alley, awesome arcade where kiddos can win prizes, bowling, food, & fun!)
MacQueens Apple Orchard (Fall destination!! Their apple butter fest is amazing!! Fall events are fun, fun, fun! Check calendar for avtivites and events-Holland, OH)
Interstate Bowling (They participate in the kids bowl for FREE program-Rossford, OH)
Sundance Kid Drive-in (Oregon, OH)
Q-Zar (Laser tag & Arcade- Sylvania, OH)
Ritter Planetarium (Located on the campus of University of Toledo)
Super Suppers (family day…kids help make meals)
Toledo Speedway (there are free kids nights)
Toledo Mud Hens (baseball)
Toledo Rockets (football/basketball)
Toledo Walleye (hockey)
Bowling Green Falcons (football, hockey, basketball, etc.))
Sylvania Playland (Bounce Houses, indoor play sets, and miniature golf-Sylvania, OH)
Par 2 Golf (Go-karts, bumper cars, putt putt, arcade games, & ice cream Toledo, OH)
Toledo Gymnastics Academy (call for open gym time)
Sunrise Gymnastics (call for open gym time)
Sky Zone Toledo (Indoor Trampoline Park- Holland, OH)
Hero’s (Bounce Houses, carnival games, and snacks…open play times available -Perrysburg, OH)
Imagination Station (Hands-on science Museum- Downtown Toledo)
Toledo Zoo (Be sure to checkout the new penguin exhibit and Aquarium!!)
Indian Creek Petting Zoo (walk thru this unique petting zoo…see camels, Zebra, peacocks, bunnies, alligator, and more!! Lambertville, MI)
Uncork the Artist (Instructor guided classes, kiddos leave with an awesome masterpiece!)
BG Bounce (Giant Indoor Sand Box, Toddler Room, Art Room, Science Center, Party Rooms,Nerf Wars, Paint Ball Arena, Dodge Ball, Game Arena Rooms, Food & Fun!)
Peace Love & Pottery (Paint Pottery Sylvania, OH)
Funagins (Paint Ball, Bounce Houses, Arcade, & More!)
Sandpiper (100 passenger cruise vessel located on the Maumee River -Downtown Toledo)
Calder’s Dairy & Farm (Watch them milk the cows, visit the animals on the farm, check out the goat scape, enjoy some yummy ice cream treats, and more! Carleton, MI)
The Petting Farm at Domino’s Farm (Visit all the animals down on the farm, enjoy a hayride, pony rides, and more! Ann Arbor, MI)
Planet Rock (All things climbing…rock wall- Ann Arbor, MI)
Funtastic Play Center (Indoor playground with 2 main areas of play for children under 8 and 2 storey padded play structure with 14 different obstacles including a zip line, rock wall, and 3 slides! Checkout their Facebook page for Open Play times Canton, MI)
Jungle Java (Fun indoor climbing and play area for kids…food available too! Canton, MI)
Hands on Museum (Hands on science museum for kids! Ann Arbor, MI)
The Creature Conservancy (See a wide variety of domestic and exotic animals. You may buy food cones to feed to the barnyard animals. Ann Arbor, MI)
Gallop Canoe Livery (Canoeing as a family is so much fun! This park offers canoe, two-person kayak, one-person kayak, paddleboat, and rowboat rentals, river-themed programs and a coffee shop, score!! Ann Arbor, MI)
Jungle Junction (Largest Indoor Play Area in Ohio-Six levels of adventure with over 60 play features including slides, air cannons, obstacle courses, interactive game panels, toddler zone, & more! Only $6 for ALL day play!!)
Michigan Science Center (With live stage shows, an IMAX® Dome Theatre, a Planetarium, 250+ hands-on exhibits, lab activities, special exhibits and more, there are approximately two dozen ways to customize your MiSci visit. There’s more than you can see and do in a week!)
Monsoon Lagoon Water Park (Splash adventures and games! The park features water playgrounds, slides, Go-Karts, bumper boats and mini-golf. -Port Clinton, OH)
The Scrap Box (kiddos will get a kick out of all the recycled scrapes! Great for arts & craft projects! Ann Arbor, MI)
Rolling Hills Water Park (Ypsilanti, MI)
Bowling Green Water Park (Bolwing Green, OH)
The Old Road Dinner Train (Fun events like Grandparents day, Dad & Daughter Day, Kids Halloween Express, and more! Blissfield, MI)
Snook’s Dream Cars (travel in the past lane…see old cars, parts, etc. Bowling Green, OH)
Ohio Maple Syrup Events (Maple syrup tours, watch it being made, enjoy pancake breakfast, and more…click on link under central ohio for all the maple syrup listings-Central, OH)
Henry Ford Museum (9 acres to explore Americas past and future- Dearborn, MI)
Greenfield Village (Step back in an 80 acre time machine, see Noah Webster’s house, ride and original model ‘T’, train ride, and more! Dearborn, MI)
Liberty Aviation Museum (Determined to showcase the aircraft of Worl War II, the Liberty Aviation Museum was established in 1991. Museum houses dozens of vintage aircrafts, vehicles, and multimedia exhibits Port Clinton, OH)
I-MAX Theater (The ultimate film experience!!! Special projectors, giant screens, 2D & 3D! Dearborn, MI)
Marblehead Lighthouse (Built in 1821, Marblehead Lighthouse is the oldest operating lighthouse on the Great Lakes! Marblehead, OH)
Jiffy Mix Plant Tours (Educational and informative walk through of the plant and refreshments provided Chelsea, MI)
Sauder Village (Offers experiences rich in history and fun…kids will enjoy the train, store, helping make butter, candles, ice cream,etc. Be sure to stop in the bakery for homemade treats! Archbold, OH)
The Chelsea Tree House (Indoor playground/climbing equipment for kids…and offers snacking options)
Erie Spirit Sailing Adventures (Enjoy a family friendly day out on the waters of Lake Erie. Choose from standard tour packages or work out a custom plan with the Captain and let your adventure begin. Marblehead, OH)
COSI (Columbus Ohio Science Institute…amazing exhibits, phenomenal kids area, I-MAX theater, great scientific demonstrations and more!! Get in for FREE with an Imagination Station membership- Columbus, OH)
Boonshoft Museum (This is another awesome hands-on science museum with some added fun, a playground/indoor 3 story slide, fun critters, planetarium, and more!! Get in for FRE with zoo membership-Dayton, OH)
National Museum of the U. S. Air Force (Educational experience to say the least…children will be amazed by the huge air crafts, NASA room, enjoy fun demonstrations, learn about history, tour a real air plane, and more!! Dayton, OH)
Spangler Factory/Dum Dum tours (Enjoy a trolley ride through the factory where you will learn the history behind the Spangler Factory and see how the various candies are made…and enjoy samples!!-Bryan, OH)
Splash Universe (Fun indoor water park!! Dundee, MI)
Great Wolf Lodge (Zero depth outdoor pool and more…indoor lazy river, slides, etc. Sandusky, OH)
African Safari Wildlife Park (Must see experience!! Better than Animal Kingdom at Disney World!! Drive through and view & feed animals!! Walk around, pet animals, and watch animal demonstrations…and ice cream, yum! Port Clinton, OH)
Merry-go-Round Museum (Enjoy a fun and relaxed atmosphere while you tour the Merry-Go-Round Museum and learn about the history and art of the carousel. And enjoy a ride of course! Sandusky, OH)
Kalahari (Zero depth indoor pool/young children play area, wave pool, slides, and more! Sandusky, OH)
Train-o-rama (Featuring Ohio’s largest, multi-gauge model, public railroad display-Marblehead, OH)
Cedar Point (Roller Coaster Capital & Amusement Park…amazing kids Planet Snoopy area, Dinosaurs Live, and more ! Sandusky, OH)
Ghostly Manor Thrill Center (The Travel Channel has featured Ghostly Manor Thrill Center among the best place to visit in a lifetime. Virtual rollercoaster, bounce houses, and more! Sandusky, OH)
Kelley’s Island (Check out the Glacier grooves, neat fossils, bike as a family, see what Kid Stage is up to and more! Kelley’s Island, OH)
Wild Winds Buffalo Preserve (Daily tours into the herd…children can see buffalo up close, horseback riding trails, stay the night in a Tipi or Safari Tent!!Fremont, Indiana)
Pokagon State Park (Swimming, fishing, horseback riding, sledding, tobogganing, skiing, pack a picnic and enjoy the day or spend the night camp or lodge- Angola, Indiana)
Country Tree Lane Farm (Milk a real, live cow, hold baby ducks, chicks and bunnies, feed all the large Farm animals, go thru a straw maze, ride a barrel train, get a pony ride & more. Fun seasonal activities including Easter Bunny Hay Rides, U-Pick pumpkins, & more!)
Clayful Art (Kids Night-Your child will explore their imagination while learning a variety of hand building techniques. They offer complimentary snacks-1 project offered once a month Friday nights from 6-8p.m.)
Paint Your Place (Kiddos have an educated art instructor to help guide them through each stroke till their masterpiece is complete)
Children’s Museum of Findlay (They have so many exhibits for you to explore. To see more or to view the learning topics for each exhibit before your visit, click on the images under Exhibits on their website)
Outdoor Adventure Center (Experience exciting outdoor adventures with hands-on activities, exhibits and simulators — walk behind and touch a waterfall, step into a fishing boat and reel in a big fish, hit the trail on a mountain bike or snowmobile, and much more.)
Nickel World Low-key indoor arcade featuring video games, skeeball & other games all for just one nickel, and kids get plus tickets & prizes.
Toledo Playzone Over 70 Arcade Games Laser Tag Spine Zone Bumper Cars Virtual Reality Games, & Café Menu.
Get Air Trampoline Park (Coming Soon)
Pat Catan’s Craft Center –Craft supply chain, with the makings for scrapbooking, jewelry, needlework, floral arranging & more. Often offers FREE crafts for kids on weekend , check calendar.
The Armstrong Air and Space Museum Located in Wapakoneta, Ohio, is the hometown of Neil Armstrong, first man to set foot on the Moon. The museum chronicles Ohio’s contributions to the history of space flight.

Kid Curated Art Show!!

July 29, 2014momonthegoinholytoledo

Here in NW Ohio we have been receiving some unseasonably cooler temperatures. Thus our typical go to summer activities, like slip ‘n’ slide, waterparks, lounging at the pool, basically any and all water related activities have all been placed on hold till the temperatures rise. So what are the kiddos to do on these long cooler summer days? Here is a boredom buster that takes more of a creative twist, have the kids host and curate an Art Show!!!

Hosting and curating an Art Show is a great way for children to build on life skills such as team cooperation and patience, to listen to others and practice verbal queuing. It is a great way for children to express their creativity. And best of all, it is fun!!!

What you will need:

Index cards
Markers
Crayons
Glitter
Stickers
Construction Paper
Any additional art supplies you have on hand
Allow kiddos to raid the recycling bins

Directions:

Sit all supplies on the table and encourage the children to each make at least one piece to enter in the Art Show. Let their imaginations soar!! Let them draw a picture, create a sculpture, their imagination is literally the limit! If you do have any kits on hand feel free to use those too! (This is a great way to clean out your arts and crafts bin and use up random items) You can allow them to become as sophisticated as they would like….from simple coloring book pages to intricate sculptures and/or paintings.
Once they have completed their pieces give each child an index card for each of their masterpieces and instruct them to write their name, the name of the piece, and the medium used.
Then have each child pick a window to hang their masterpieces (or lay them nearby if they can’t be hanged with masking tape). Have older children assist younger children with hanging up their art work.
Have children make invites for parents or other sibling to addend if they wish.
Then let the show begin!! Have each child take turns being the curator and asking the other artist about their work.

Bonus:

Why not let them express some of their culinary skills too! Help them bake and decorate a cake, cupcakes, etc. and have refreshments ready afterwards!

Ground rules:

It is advised to have a brief conversation before the show. Express to the children that in order to participate all artist must be polite, kind, and respectful of the other artist works. Questions are encouraged but feedback must build up not tear down.

How have you been spending these cooler summer days?

Upcoming topic: Eating out at restaurants with kids…..please feel free to share you thoughts, love it, hate it, prefer not to, share tricks and/or tips…and you will be featured in post.