Staycation Challenge: Day 4

We were feeling very brave on our staycation and purchased tickets to Splashtown. ($$ saving tip: find a coupon code online to get the best discount). So once again, we left early to get there when the park opened. We immediately staked a table by their little kids' area and got to playing.

Amelia tried a lot of things, including a small water slide, but eventually decided she liked the lazy river the best. She had the biggest giggles swimming loose in the current.

And apparently small toddlers aren't often seen around Splashtown, so she got a lot of attention. Oohs, ahhs, and "how cutes." I have to agree. She was pretty stinkin' cute with her little orange floatie arms floating down the river.

The hubby and I kinda thought she'd nap sometime after lunch in her big ol' stroller, but Amelia had other plans. So there was a brief period where it started raining, some other family tried to steal our table, and we were dealing with a cranky mom toddler. Thankfully it passed and it turned out to be a great day overall.

I'm sure he'll appreciate my posting a shirtless shot, right?

Total Cost: A more expensive staycation day. Next time we'll have our hand stamped and eat a picnic lunch by the car.

Staycation Challenge: Day 3

We learned that if you get to the zoo close to opening time on a Monday morning, not only will you get awesome parking, but it will be mostly empty. So Amelia got to run free instead of being strapped into a stroller. This made one little girl very happy! We have a zoo membership, so we just opted to see a couple of things and move on to Hermann Park next door.

We took her to the aquarium exhibit...

And to the elephants for bathtime...

Of course, the most interesting thing to her was a bunny in the bushes.

Hermann Park was also mostly empty. I decided I'd definitely be scheduling a playdate here soon.

At Hermann Park, we rode the train...

Rented a pedal boat and fed the ducks...

FYI: This life jacket smelled like a sweaty armpit.

Had a picnic lunch...

Played at the splash pad...

And had the playground all to ourselves...

Full day of family fun for less than $20.

Staycation Challenge: Day 2

How to make a little girl happy:

1. Purchase circus tickets in the cheap seats during a scarcely attended Sunday afternoon show. Then move up to the empty seats up close during intermission.

2. Prepare by reading a circus book from the library and watching some youtube videos. The elephants had her at "hello."

3. Invite Mimi to go along.

4. Indulge in never-before-tried sugary treats.

5. Throw in some "neigh-neighs."

6. Splurge on a super special souvenir.

Total Cost: A more expensive staycation day, but totally worth it.

Staycation Challenge: Day 1

I'm smelly, sweaty, and tired. I guess those are the signs that it's been a good vacation so far.

I'll keep it short and post some pictures of our "staycation kick-off party." We went swimming at Mimi's house. This was much more favorable than spending a bunch of hours in a car with a toddler in order to swim in a hotel pool.

So score one for staying home.

Bonus points for everyone else preparing dinner while I relaxed alone here:

Oh, and this little fish decided to grow up overnight without mama's permission and is swimming on her own with this life jacket thingy:

And these two? Well, smiles like this are what vacation is all about, right?

Total cost: FREE

Staycation Challenge

I'm insisting on a family vacation this summer. The kind with just me, the hubby, and the kiddo. The kind with sightseeing and sun and family photos in front of roadside attractions or sweeping landscapes. But mainly the kind where you get to spend fun times together.

Unfortunately, the ol' budget insists that this vacation take place in the city we live in. That's right. We're doing a staycation.

It helps that we actually live in a destination city. That means there's lots of stuff to do. Touristy things. We started listing all the things we wanted to do and see and filled a whole page with brainstorming.

Lots of the stuff we plan on doing is new to one or all of us. Most of it is low-cost. All of it fits in a much nicer budget range than a trip elsewhere.

It will be fun times together as a family.

And I'm going to document it just like a "real" vacation. And share it with ya'll. Because maybe you want to vacation here someday! Or maybe you're challenging yourself to an awesome, low-budget staycation too.

Either way: Bon Voyage to...

 HOUSTON!

Pig Tails

Mia's hair is finally long enough for two of the tiniest, cutest pig tails you've ever seen.

 

 Eee! Adorable!

I took pictures as soon as her hair was done, because I knew it was only a matter of time until she pulled them out. Amazingly, it lasted through morning playgroup, all the way to naptime.

I used a few barrettes to keep all the little strays in place.

 Still pretty sparse in the front though.

Book Review

The Help

I've seen movie trailers for this one and knew I wanted to read the book. It was excellent. Okay, I waited too long after reading it to do this little review, so I don't remember all the details. But I remember that I enjoyed being immersed in the time period and these women's lives. You should read it. 5 out of 5 stars. Wow, I really know how to sell a book, right?

The Wednesday Sisters
In some ways this was a typical girl-friends book, ala Traveling Pants or Ya-Ya Sisterhood. Set in the 60's, moms find friends at the playground. They meet every Wednesday and support each other through life's challenges. And start a writing group? This was the part that made it different. Because five female friends with distinct personalities going through cliche chick challenges was not different. While it was not top notch literature or anything, I liked it. It made me want to write about my life. How empowering! Plus, I actually have a group of real-life mom friends whom I met through a regular Wednesday baby program at the local library. So they got me there. 4 out of 5 stars.

Mortified
This book also made me think about writing. It is a series of diary/journal entries made by angsty teenagers from decades past. But instead of making me want to write, it made me never want to write down any thought again. How embarrassing! Because apparently what is important to you now will be hilariously dated and stupid in ten years or so. However, this made for a very entertaining read. 4 out of 5 stars.


 
Books that are not worth the time to blog about, but somehow I still finished them:

The Perks of Being a Wallflower- could not identify with this guy AT ALL. Coming of age high school tale. His high school experience was not so much mine. 1 out of 5 stars.

Almost Moon- creepy main character kills her mom. There isn't much action, we're just in her head the whole time. Pretty much boring. 1 out of 5 stars.