Toledo Playgrounds are officially OPEN! Here’s how we celebrated…

June 10, 2020momonthegoinholytoledo

Two months and three weeks!!! Ask any child and they could probably give you the time and their exact location when they heard the news that playgrounds were officially closed. March 22, 2020, Gov. Mike DeWine closed all public playgrounds in Ohio in order to limit the spread of the coronavirus. The next day playgrounds everywhere looked like crime scenes, with yellow caution tape draped where kiddos once climbed, slid, & swung. And for the next two month and three weeks we’d walk past the playgrounds at parks fondly remembering endless hours spent at play and longing for those days to return! And return they have, playgrounds opened today! And we didn’t waste a second……

PLAYGROUND HOP

We got up early and hit as many playgrounds as we could!

First stop, Swan Creek!

As we walked up the hill towards the playground I literally thought my youngest might burst from enthusiasm! But once she was face-to-face with the playground she froze for a moment, looked back at me for reassurance, & I gave her the “go for it” nod, and she climbed up, ran over, slid down, and repeated before the rest of us even officially made it all the way up the hill, lol!

We were the only ones at the playground for a while and then another mother and her daughter joined us. The kiddos ran, climbed, laughed, jumped, swung, you could literally feel the joy in the air. I sat on the picnic bench and for the first time in months I can honestly say it felt like pre-pandemic time, it felt amazing, it felt normal!

Swan Creek

Address: 4659 Airport Hwy, Toledo, OH 43615

Phone: (419) 407-9758

Website: https://metroparkstoledo.com/explore-your-parks/swan-creek

Amenities: Restrooms, swinging bridge, picnic shelters, & playgrounds

Next stop, Oak Openings!

Oak Openings

Where: 4139 Girdham Rd, Swanton, OH 43558

Phone: (419) 360-9179

Website: https://metroparkstoledo.com/explore-your-parks/oak-openings/

Amenities: Endless…picnic areas, playgrounds, shelters, horseback riding, camping grounds, restrooms, etc.

Secor was our next Playground!

Secor

Address: 10001 Central Ave, Berkey, OH 43504

Phone: (419) 360-9179

Website: https://metroparkstoledo.com/explore-your-parks/secor-metropark/

Amenities: Restrooms (one next to the playground has been removed), picnic areas, sheltered picnic area, window on wildlife (not open yet)

Stopped off for Ice Cream before heading for our last Playground…

Last playground….

Toledo Botanical Gardens Secret Forest

This was the perfect last stop of the day, we had the secret forest all to ourselves, it was so beautiful and peaceful.

Toledo Botanical Gardens Secret Forest

Address: 5403 Elmer Drive Toledo, Ohio 43615

Phone: 419-270-7500

Website: https://metroparkstoledo.com/explore-your-parks/toledo-botanical-garden/

Hours: Open 7 a.m. until dark every day

Amenities: Picnic area adjacent as well as restrooms

And them home to cool off & play on the water blob….

Today was a great day!

Click here https://momonthegoinholytoledo.com/2018/04/22/10-awesome-playgrounds-in-nw-ohio-se-michigan/ for a list of some more awesome playgrounds to take the kiddos to this summer (please note, some are located in Michigan and may not be open yet).

Did you visit any playgrounds today or have plans to in the near future? Do your kiddos have a favorite playground they are excited to visit?

Rent the Chicken

June 6, 2020momonthegoinholytoledo

Rent the Chicken

Vegetable gardens, compost pile, chickens, oh my! Now those are some serious backyard goals, right!? But, what better way for children to learn about the lifecycle of plants and appreciation for their food than by growing and raising it themselves!? And with the weather finally warming up, ground is thawed, and days are getting longer, tis the season to begin to get these projects underway! While the vegetable garden and compost pile are fairly painless, I have to be honest; I don’t know the first thing about how to make a chicken coop or how to raise chickens, lol! But, check this out, you can rent EVERYTHING!!!

Simple Slime & Goo Recipes

June 1, 2020June 11, 2020momonthegoinholytoledo

Glitter, multi-colored, with googly eyes, frogs…how do your kiddos like their Goo & Slime?

Slime, parents like it because it’s educational and kiddos love it because it’s totally satisfying! I know nothing gets my kiddos gathered around the table faster than the opportunity to make a batch of Slime and/or Goo!!

Slime

Why Now Is the Best Time to Give Yourself A Bit of Love

May 30, 2020June 11, 2020momonthegoinholytoledo

With the uncertainty and restricted movement brought by the Coronavirus pandemic, you need to find time for yourself. Many parents have a great sense of duty, and they spend time giving attention to everyone else with little breaks for themselves. However, everyone needs some time to breathe, relax, and recharge. If you want to pamper yourself after an exhausting day, here are a few things you can for yourself and your happiness! Read more →

Summer Break 2020 Schedule & Weekday Activities

May 29, 2020May 29, 2020momonthegoinholytoledo

Fish out of water! There I stood in front of the school, dropping off the kiddos’ final packets into the bin. As the last paper escaped my grip I felt a coolness fall over my body, I could hear my heart pounding in my head, and it was as if I forgot how to breathe as the realization of, “now what?” sunk in. The kiddos have been home since March, which has been exhausting, but thankfully their classwork continued via packets, Google classroom, Zoom, etc. But now what? Now that they’ve been home for a few months it feels like they should be going back to school, but they’re not, they’re home for 12 MORE WEEKS! I literally felt like a fish out of water, gasping for air, desperate to be thrown back, and rejoin my school. As I drove home I knew what I had to do, have a glass of wine, a good cry, and come up with a solution! Read more →

Low-Carb Eggplant Roll-Ups

May 20, 2020May 20, 2020momonthegoinholytoledo

Looking for clever ways to incorporate more veggies into your kiddo’s diet? Perhaps you’re looking for ways to stretch what little meat you were able to score at the grocery store? Or, maybe you just wanna get out of that meal planning rut? Whatever your reason for trying these Low-Carb Eggplant Roll-Ups I can guarantee you one thing, they will go fast!

Fun Family Rainy Day Activity

May 14, 2020momonthegoinholytoledo

After being quarantined for eternity the last thing we WANT to do is spend one more day indoors! We want to get outside, take bike rides as a fam, pack a picnic, go on scavenger hunts, etc. And to be honest, I think most of us would legit keep our outdoor plans if the forecast just calls for scattered rain showers…we will legit get a bit wet, shoot, we’ll get soaked, but lightning, thunder, a storm is something different. Thus, when the forecast calls for storms here’s an awesome fun activity the entire fam will enjoy! Read more →

Summer 2020 Activities & Ideas to Keep Kids Busy in Toledo (PART 1 of 2)

May 13, 2020May 14, 2020momonthegoinholytoledo

With pools officially closed for the summer, and libraries, museums, playgrounds, & zoos still not opened what’s a parent supposed to do with the kiddos this summer? Here’s a list of some fun activities/ideas to get you started…..

Are you ready for SUMMER 2020?

May 11, 2020May 14, 2020momonthegoinholytoledo

My only sliver of hope these past few months has been SUMMER! Summer, when we travel, spend days on end at the pool, visit Splash Pads, Waterparks, and get lost in new towns/cities, & tours! I figured we’d never go back to school, but I didn’t imagine we’d have no 4^th of July Fireworks display, no city pools, splash pads, or summer concerts. This is BRUTAL!!! After I received the news I cried, had a glass of wine, & then I got down to business!! Read more →

7 Quarantine Date Night Ideas in Toledo

May 1, 2020May 14, 2020momonthegoinholytoledo

Extended! The Stay-at-Home orders have officially been extended in Ohio for another month, through May 29^th, which means there’s still no going out to eat at restaurants, going to a movie theater, “It’s Friday” at Toledo Museum of Art, or any other “usual” Date Night destination. But that doesn’t mean Date Night has to be canceled! Here’s seven clever Date Night Ideas you can do in Toledo during quarantine.