Don't Feed the Ducks! But You Can Play with a Turtle!

Don't do this! Ha, even though my daughter (3) did fall in the water, that's not why. You're not supposed to feed the ducks at Bass Lake. In fact, you're not supposed to feed any of the wildlife. WHOOPS!

My friend, Amanda, and I were so bored last week. We just couldn't think of anything to do. We almost just stayed back played in the cul de sac, again.

Instead we grabbed some old bread and headed to Bass Lake Park (off of Bass Lake Road) in Holly Springs. Since there are two 1-year-olds and one 2-year-old between us, we missed a few signs. The girls started to feed the ducks, who darted toward us at the edge of the water. In fact, they wouldn't leave us alone when the bread quickly ran out.

About 5 minutes later, park personell came over to show us, rather politely I might add, that there were signs (which we were almost sitting on) asking people not to feed the animals. WHOOPS!

But he was incredibly nice and told us about a little nature center in the Bass Lake Park pavilion. I must say, I've been to Bass Lake a dozen times and had no idea this was there. I knew about the ducks, the boat rental, the beautiful deck on the pavilion and even the trails (which are a bit rough for toddlers).

The North Carolina Environmental Education Center was wonderful. Ella and Dani (both 1 1/2) and Jordan (almost 3) loved it. They played for at least 30 minutes without a problem. There were live snakes, fish, books, toys and even a live turtle that wasn't even contained. All three girls loved the turtle. I appropriately named it Shelly.

I don't usually encourage rule breaking, but this is the exception. If we hadn't broken their rules, we wouldn't have met Shelly or found this great little facility.

Bass Lake Park
900 Bass Lake Road
Holly Springs, NC

HIGHLIGHTS: Live animals (but in terrariums so you don't have to touch them), lots of books, friendly staff and other educational toys/tools. (See also cost)

LOW LIGHTS: There were a few unprotected "don't-touch" items and even a few rock samples which both 1-year-olds put in their mouths. It's not terribly clean. 

COST: FREE

Beat The Heat with the BUG BEAT!

When it's 95 degrees and sweltering hot, we tend to do the same things over and over. By August it can get very boring! I am not the craft person some of my mommy friends are. I just didn't get "that" gene. Gimme a ball and bat, a swing set, jungle gym, swimming pool -- ANYTHING -- but don't coop me up inside!

However, there are a few things I do LOVE to do with my girls (18 months & almost 3) when we just can't deal with the weather anymore. My favorite is the dance parties! For a baby shower gift my mom gave me a book Do Bugs Have Belly Buttons? by Christine Tortorella. It's a CD book. No, it's not just an audio book but a CD with the front cover as the page-turning book. It's adorable.

My girls absolutely love the music, specifically the song "Bug Beat." It's impossible to describe, so I'll just show you (video above).  -- She also offers free downloads of her song on her website dobugshavebellybuttons.com!

I recently learned the author, wife of New York Rangers coach John Tortorella, gives all proceeds from the sale of her books to literacy programs. Love that.

HIGHLIGHTS: It's a great way to get your kids on your feet when it's too hot to run around outside.

LOW LIGHTS: Sometimes they make me listen to it 100 times.

COST: FREE or for book $10 + $1.95 shipping

Story time At Holly Springs Library

Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the Holly Springs Library (at 10 and 11 a.m.) there is story time. Since my girls are 1 & 2, we go to the early session. At 11 the story teller caters to pre-schoolers (3 & 4).

Story Time is money on a rainy, blazing hot or freezing cold day. But it's pretty packed on those extreme-weather days. There's singing, reading (of course), puppet shows and after it's over, they offer coloring or craft activities.  Even my 17-month old stands still for a few minutes to watch Miss Terry read her stories or sing a song and dance. 

Jordan (2) is getting more involved, answer questions, raising her hand to participate and singing and dancing along to the songs. It's really been wonderful, and it's so close to home it's an easy default for me when I don't want to pack a lunch or plan ahead.  There are also sessions on Mondays for babies (under 18 months, I believe). I've never been to these, but I like Tuesdays & Wednesdays so I can only imagine it's worth a shot if you have a little one.

\HIGHLIGHTS: It's so close to home, easy parking and my kids love Miss Terry.

LOW LIGHTS: It can get very crowded, and it's at a library so there are a lot of things my kids can get into.

COST: FREE -- My favorite!

Turtle Park (AKA Crowder Park) is A Nice Change

Crowder Park in Apex, NC off of Ten-Ten Road is another fun park to try out. It's not my favorite, but it's pretty fun, especially the first time you go. It's pretty shaded, too, so it's a great park to go to when it gets hot.

Both of my daughters absolutely screached when they saw the turtles from the bridge that connects two sections of the park. The turtles swim up, almost right at you, and then duck under water and swim away. There's a 3-acre pond, Crowder Pond?, that runs through the park. The turtles are everywhere. We counted at least 15 when we were there last time, and we weren't there long. There are two areas with playgrounds and a couple shelters and paved trails.

Next time we go we'll pack a lunch and have a little picnic. Oh, yeah, and the squirrels were incredibly friendly and not scared of people That scared me a little bit. Wild animals and toddlers don't generally mix well, but the saving grace is that the animals run away from the kids. They didn't here. The squirrels were actually playing under the playground equipment. Dani (15 months) loved it. She chased the squirrels for 30 minutes, screaming the whole time. Needless to say, she barely made it out of the parking lot before falling asleep in her carseat.

I cannot decide if that friendly animals are a positive or a negative. But the play equipment is wonderful, and there are several areas with equipment. So if one area is crowded, just keep walking onto the next.

4709 Ten Ten Rd.
Apex, NC 27539
Phone: 919-662-2850

HIGHLIGHTS: Free, the pond loaded with turtles, lots of shelters, two separate areas with playgrounds

LOW LIGHTS: Animals may just be a bit friendly, it can get crowded because there are lots of kids groups that go there, there always seems to be some kind of construction or repairs on the equipment (not good for the very little ones)

PRICE: FREE!!!

Later Crocodiles

See You at Brueggers?

My mother, and inspiration for most of my mothering ways, made a suggestion that I tell you all where I'm going next so perhaps you can go, too (if it's a scheduled activity)!

Tomorrow I am heading to Brueggers Bagels in Apex at 10 a.m. for music time.

Address & Phone
760 West Williams Street
Apex, NC 27502
(919) 367-7720

Every Thursday at 10 a.m. they host what our family calls "music time." I'm not even sure this is the official name.
This wonderful woman comes, plays music and sings for the kids with a box full of stuffed animals.
I can never remember her name, but my kids love her!

So that's where I'll be tomorrow. Hope to see you there.

Later Crocodiles

A Crafty Little Visit to the Library



(Left to right) Daniel and Jordan display their train craft at the Holly Springs Library on Tuesday.
(Note the mess on the table behind them).



Yesterday morning I was feeling a little crafty. My very fabulous friend, Amanda, invited us to do a train craft with them at the Holly Springs Library for drop-in craft time.

It was pretty fun for my 2 1/2 year old, Jordan, although not a terribly clever craft. The craft leader printed out and cut train cars (4) to be colored or to cover in sparkles and glue by the children. Also, the kids (mostly 18 mos to 3 years) were instructed to glue together the cars. My oldest didn't really get that part, and\ it took her awhile to understand that the sparkles don't stick unless you use glue. I THINK, that's my fault. I'm not very crafty. I don't even think we have a glue stick in the house.  

It was messy; but it wasn't messy at my house!!!!





My 1-year-old, Dani, decided eating the crayons was a better idea than coloring with them. She also tried to color someones shirt. Thankfully, she too had "been there" so the mom (victim of Dani's plot) laughed along with us.



The best part was meeting the other moms and watching them laugh and struggle to instruct their children along with me. Once again, the imperfect outing introduced me to some WONDERFUL moms. The best thing about wonderful moms, they give me more ideas of what to do in the area!!! A couple of them left early (it was not an age-appropriate craft for their little ones) to go to Womble Park. I've driven by but never played there that I can remember.



There are 20 libraries in the Wake County Public Library System. If the other 19 are anything like Holly Springs, there are lots of activities like this one. (Click above for more information) The next scheduled Drop-In Craft for Holly Springs Library is June 20 from 4-5 p.m.

HIGHLIGHTS: Something different for my kids (whose mom is NOT crafty), I didn't have to clean up the HUGE mess Jordan made, Jordan & I both made friends (Kim & Daniel - Daniel is pictured in the top picture)

LOW LIGHTS: My 1-year-old wanted little to nothing to do with it; it was inside when the sun was shining

COST: Free (MY FAVORITE!)

GAS: Less than $1 for those who live in Holly Springs

ADDRESS & PHONE:

300 West Ballentine Street  

Holly Springs, NC 27540
(919) 577-1660

 

 

Later Crocodile!