Fuquay-Varina Library - It's Story Time

Wanna see a magic trick? 1, 2, 3  Shhhhhhhhh

And as easy as that, a room full of toddlers and preschoolers quiets down. I've been to the Fuquay-Varina story time a half a dozen times, and Miss Laura is wonderful! She captures the kids attention quickly and quietly and entertains with music, puppets and books for a solid story time!

We went last week, of course it's the last story time until after the holidays, but there was a cute little boy in the group and she had him clapping, ooohing and aaaahing the whole time. Even my 22 month old, who is now called the Tazmanian Devil by my husband and I, sat in my lap and watched almost the whole time. She did get up when the puppets started blowing bubbles, but Miss Laura didn't seem to mind, and the kids loved it.

If you live in the area and need an indoor activity or learning experience, go see Miss Laura at Fuquay-Varina Library on Wednesday and Thursday mornings. Click here for their schedule, Story Time resumes after the holidays on January 2, 2013.

When you're done with story time, you can check out the Library Park. It's just a little jungle gym, but there's wide open spaces, too, for your kids to run around.




133 S. Fuquay Avenue
Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526


HIGHLIGHTS: Small and good for little ones, a great indoor activity, puppet show, singing and dancing and Miss Laura really keeps their attention, also very close to a park and the library has a real bunny my girls love to visit.

LOW LIGHTS: Story time has odd schedules and they start and stop, and I am never able to keep track of when it's going on. I am sure the information is available on the website, but I'm not much of a planner.

COST: Free.

Not Just a Walk in The Park!

I slugged my way over to Apex Community Park for a fun morning, and quite a surprise I might add, with Stroller Strides.

This is kind of a first for me, reviewing an actual company rather than a park/farm/museum/activity. Stroller Strides is a workout group for mommies of children 6 weeks to 4 years old (and dads, too). I thought it was just going to be a walk in the park - literally and figuratively. IT WAS NOT! It was so fun. It was interval exercises, some strength, conditioning, aerobic, mixed in with a walk/run while the kids watch and take in the sights from their strollers. In fact, I have a bad back problem that keeps me from doing any impact workouts at all (doctors and physical therapist's orders). There were a lot of things I couldn't do, unfortunately. But I don't think the workouts were ridiculously strenuous or requiring top-level fitness either. It was the kind of class that you get out of it what you put into it - it works you as hard as you work it.

Let me just say, if it were not for my back problem, this would have been perfect for me! I loved it. It was a chance to socialize with other moms, who were very cool by the way. And it was a great way to think outside the box on my workouts. You can do it up to six days a week, too, including Saturdays.

The cost is $55/month for unlimited attendance at a number of different parks and locations, including Apex Community Park, Pullen Park, Crowder Park, North Hills Mall and more. Most urgently, though, is this week (Sept. 24-29) is free. Click here if you want to try it for locations and times.

Also, if you decide you want to join, Stroller Strides is offering 15% off the first three months if you mention this blog (The Not-So Stay-At-Home Mommy or www.wheretogowithyourkids.com)
Jennifer Kedrowski, who was my instructor, said most moms do a monthly unlimited membership option, $55/month plus one-time registration fee but some also do a 10-class pass that lasts three months for $110, which is more of a drop-in style membership.

HIGHLIGHTS: Really fun way to work out with your young kids, it's not just a stroller walk, you get to check out different parks and work out at the same time, meeting new moms and kids.

LOW LIGHTS: My little one (20 months) doesn't like sitting in the stroller very long unless she's moving, so it was a little hairy when we'd stop to do the interval work.

COST:$55/monthly or $110 for 10 sessions over three months. (Mention this blog for a 15% off discount for the first three months)

For the record, this is NOT an advertisement, and I received no money or special treatment to write this blog. As this is my first real review of a "mommy group" I thought you should know!

Kid-friendly Bluegrass Show in Cary

Bluegrass Wednesday at Koka Booth was fantastic! It was $5 for me and my husband (each), parking was free and the show was great. I am not a huge bluegrass fan, but it was great music. Also, there were about 60 kids there, all running around and playing. Many people brought food for picnics, and even more people brought their dogs! I didn't even know they could do that.

Every Wednesday in September, only one left I believe, there is a bluegrass band at Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary, NC. It is just so much fun. I highly recommend it for families. It was really, absolutely worth it! And my kids were in bed at bedtime. Now, that's not just kid-friendly, that's mom-friendly! Also, it's just five minutes from Waverly Place, where we went before the show because we were a little ahead of schedule. And I love Waverly Place.

Tickets can be purchased at Etix.com or from the Koka Booth Box office. For more information, www.boothamphitheatre.com

8003 Regency Parkway
Cary, NC

HIGHLIGHTS: Gorgeous venue, sheltered or open/lawn seating, dogs allowed, kids are free, music was great, friendly people and friendly staff at Koka Booth.

LOW LIGHTS: Parking was a little hike from actually stage, but was perfect for a stroller!

COST: $5 per adult and children are free, as well as parking!

Blue Grass at Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Raleigh

Acoustic Manner to Play Sept. 12

This sounds really kid friendly! I think I'm going to go with some great neighbors tomorrow. On Wednesday (throughout the month of September), Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary has a different bluegrass artist perform. It says at the "Crescent Deck" but I've never been there so I'm not sure what that means. It's from 5:30 to 8:30, and you can eat their food or bring your own cooler with food and beverages (no alcohol).

Tickets are $5 for adults and kids under 12 are FREE. Now that's Kristin & Kid Friendly.

Tickets can be purchased at Etix.com or from the Koka Booth Box office. For more information, www.boothamphitheatre.com 

8003 Regency Parkway
Cary, NC

 

Kazoom into Raleigh

Kazoom is a great little puppet show by Carolina Puppet Theatre in downtown Raleigh at the Comedy Worx location. I really forgot to write this blog about a month ago, and now I am at a loss for what to tell you. Go figure, mommy brain at work again!

Here goes anyway: Bartlet (pictured above) is a cute little puppet that sings, flips his hair back (as he thinks he's a "star") and reads little letters that the kids/spectators bring for him. Jordan loves it! In the middle of the show they bring kids on the stage to help tell a story, usually within a theme for the day. They get to dress up, hold stuffed animals and participate. It's pretty amazing, and well worth the 30-minute plus drive for me to downtown.

They have shows at 10 and 11:10 a.m. The days vary, so you'll need to check out the website. Click here to visit Carolina Puppet Theatre

431 Peace Street

Raleigh, NC

HIGHLIGHTS: My girls love it. It's stimulating, funny, interactive and educational. Also, it's not far from Mellow Mushroom Pizza which has kid-friendly staff and kid-friendly menu (but that's another blog!) It's also a great indoor activity.

LOW LIGHTS: It's downtown Raleigh. They don't take credit cards. Parking is a MESS, but do-able.  

COST: $5 for everyone 12 months and up (parents, too). They don't take credit cards.

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!

Busch Gardens Weekend Vacation



Jordan and her Nana getting on Prince Elmo's Spire, one of many rides available for toddlers.



Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Va was a huge surprise! I cannot believe I spent a whole day in an amusement park with a 2- & 1-year-old and had a great time.

Dani playing in the water section of Forest of Fun at Busch Gardens.



There is an entire section for young children like Jordan and Dani called the Forest of Fun. It's an Elmo and friends themed portion of the park with water play, rides for really little ones and so much more. Right next to it was an animal petting area (which we never made it to because there were so many other things to do).



Jordan (2) went on several rides, by herself, and was having a blast. Dani (15 months) even rode a couple rides with her dad. It was incredible. They were smiling, clapping and begging for more despite a few lines in which they had to wait 15 minutes or more (an eternity to a toddler).

Kids under 3 are free, too! I cannot wait to get back. I want to go again before Jordan's third birthday. It was incredible. But it wasn't cheap!

HIGHLIGHTS: The rides designed for kids her age, Forest of Fun with Elmo, lots of shaded areas

LOW LIGHTS: Lines, expensive food, it doesn't open until 10 a.m. (which is 3 hours before naptime in my house), it takes 3 or more hours to get there from the RDU area

COST:  $66.99 per adult, $56.99 for children 3 and older

Later Crocodile

It's Dancy-Dance Time

I love my Thursday mornings at Brueggers Bagels for music time with Miss Tina (10 a.m.). She's energetic, great with the kids and I cannot say enough good things about this toddler activity.

However, I am at a loss to think of any more right now because my little stinkers were a hot mess this morning. As much as I hate to say a bad word about an activity we love, you would never (and should never) believe that my 1- & 2-year-olds behave all the time!

So here goes: Jordan (2) had the death grip on my leg for the first 15 minutes. And since it was cut a bit short today because Miss Tina had to catch a plane, she basically let go of me for three songs. UGH! Dani (1) is usually a champ on Thursdays. She loves to dance, play with the other kids, and give hugs and kisses to Miss Tina's stuffed animals. Not today.

She played "prison break" the whole time. Dani would dance for about 30 seconds, lulling me into thinking she was having fun and behaving. I would then turn to look for Jordan or console her for ... I DON'T KNOW WHAT. When I looked back, Dani was gone. She made a run for the chip display and had her hands on her chosen bag by the time I was able to peel Jordan off my leg and fight through the crowd of people to stop her.

She did this no less than five times in about 30 minutes. And there was so much more, but who wants to hear about all that?

Do I recommend music time with Miss Tina at Brueggers Bagels in Apex off of Williams Street (near Harris Teeter)? YUP, sure do. Do I recommend going with my children? Hmmmm, I'll have to get back to you on that one.

ADDRESS:

760 West Williams Street

Apex, NC 27502

HIGHLIGHTS: It's free, super yummy bagels, lots of kids to play with, Miss Tina is fantastic!

LOW LIGHTS: It can get crowded (getting there early is a must if you want a good seat), there are super yummy bagels there (and I am perpetually on a diet), and it is a restaurant, so not everybody there is excited about music time

COST: Free, unless you get some food

GAS: My GPS estimated less than $2 to and from Holly Springs

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