simply FOuR us: January 2012

A Few of My Favorite Things - Favorite Places to go with kids

As a parent, packing up kids and taking them on an outing can be frustrating sometimes! Preparation is a key to a happy ending! Sometimes we run over to the bike path to bike or walk. Other days we may plan a grander outing. Snacks, matching clothes (so I can spot them easily!), comfortable shoes, extra diapers and a backpack are just a few of our must haves for a good experience! That is another post! Our top 10 favorite places to go are:

Zoo!
Pittsburgh (Museums, Sidewalk Dancing Fountains, Farmers Market)
Maple festivals
PBS - Plant A Seed to Read Day
YMCA Healthy Kids Day
Washington, DC (Museums, White house, sidewalk artists)
Local MOPS meeting (Mothers Of Preschoolers)
Library (Music and Movement Classes, Story time)
Air Balloon Festivals
Local Bike path

Recipe of the Week: Grands Ham and Cheese Melts

Grands! Ham and Cheese Melts

You can find the original recipe here!

can (16.3 oz) Pillsbury® Grands!® refrigerated biscuits (any variety)

slices American cheese

oz thinly sliced deli ham

egg

teaspoon water

DIRECTIONS:

Heat oven to 375°F. Press 4 biscuits into 5-inch rounds on ungreased large cookie sheet. Top each with 2 slices cheese and 2 ounces ham.
Press remaining 4 biscuits into 6-inch rounds; place over ham. Press edges with fork to seal. Beat egg and water with fork; brush over biscuits.
Bake 13 to 18 minutes or until golden brown. Cut each in half. Serve warm.

Travel - A visit to the White house

We have seen television series and movies that have taken place in the White house

over the past many years, but have never made the trip to see it in person.

We got the chance when we visited my Sister's family.

Here is a shot of the back of the White house. We were a bit disappointed because you couldn't get very close and there was a lot of construction going on.

It was pretty cold that day, but it was mid December so no complaints here.

Here is the National Christmas Tree. We had seen it in the past and it was huge. When we arrived we couldn't believe how small it was. I guess there was a big storm this year that broke the Original Tree so they replaced it with a small live tree. The tree at The Toledo Zoo is much bigger and impressive, but in about 40 years this tree should be very nice! You can check it out here!

We loved the trains!

As the train circled the tree people would flip coins and try to get it in the caboose.

The joke was that if you got it in you wouldn't have to pay your taxes ever again!

Big Sis flipped her coin and guess what....It went in! Great Job Big Sis!!!

We found Jesus at the White house!

Here is the tree that represents the State of Ohio.

It was neat to walk around and see the trees that represented each state!

A couple days later we parked and walked to the front of the White house. It was a beautiful day in the 60's! No coats needed! We met a few friends that were playing at the White house!

Polly...Pip Squeeker...Sammy...Matty...Benny...is that you?

Did you follow us here all the way from Grandma's house?

He just stole a bite from Big Sis's graham cracker!

Oh no...."Nate grab her, here comes a guard!"

Phew, the guard was going to talk to a man on a bike with a backpack. We're safe!

"Buddy....Let Go... LET GO....c'mon buddy, You have to let go!"Lil Sis

It took all of Daddy's strength to get Lil Bro to let go!

After all of the playing, posing, and dancing in front of the white house, we were on our way home.

Travel: Trip to the Smithsonian!

Washington DC is a city that is chalked full of things to do, things to see and fun things to enjoy! It is amazing to me that the museums are free to enjoy! We went to the Smithsonian twice and could have spent a week there. The kids like to see everything and read the signage for everything as well!

You can check out the Smithsonian's website by clicking here!

Here is a small portion of the things we saw.

Posing in the Main Entrance!

We enjoyed the movie about Jefferson's Bible. It was neat to see the real thing too!

You can check it out by clicking here!

Big Sis finally got to see Abe Lincoln's hat! She has wanted to find this since Kindergarten! Yes, two years ago! I am not sure what her Kindergarten teacher said about this hat but Big Sis has said that she has wanted to find it in a museum in Washington DC! We did and here it is!!!

Everyone else had already moved on but she wanted to read every word about it!

We found a few neat things!

They loved the shoes! Now they will have to see the movie.

"These sure are funny guys!" said Lil Sis.

I am remembering Night at the Museum!

We got to see the Hope Diamond!

I thought I would never be able to get the girls out of this room!

Ohhhhh...Ahhhh....

"Mommy, Take my picture by this one too!" Middle Sis

This was one of the coolest rooms!

Tuesday mornings the museum gives free entry into the Butterfly habitat to the first few hundred people. We were excited to be in that group! It was amazing to see all of the butterfly's but it was even more amazing to watch the kids reaction as butterflies flew all around the and even landed on them! We had so many favorite parts of this museum and as the kids would say, "They are all of our favorites"!