Another co-worker of mine just told me about a place that does swimming lessons for kids as young as 6 months old.  I am going to try and get my son into some swimming lessons.  My siblings and I all knew how to swim before the age of 6 years old.  I think it's definitely a good idea for everyone to know how to swim.  

My family and I are thinking about taking a trip to Branson this summer.  Does anyone have any great places that they have stayed at before.  We are looking for a condo to rent.

I am not sure about you guys but I am definitely ready for the pools to open.  The weather lately has been great  !  I think I could handle this weather all year round.  

One of my co-workers just told me about a really neat place to take kids of all ages.  It's called Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead.  They have vegetable and flower gardens, fishing pond, pony rides and much more.  She said she went their for her grandson's birthday over the weekend and the kids loved it.  Has anyone ever taken their kids here?

Another big attraction that is all around our area are the new water parks (indoor and outdoor). 

         ·            The Schlitterbahn Waterpark is going to be the biggest water park in the area once it is completed.

         ·            The water park at Tiffany Springs is on the smaller side but is really inexpensive.  You can take the whole family for the price of one ticket to the others.    

         ·            The Great Wolfe Lodge is a great indoor pool for the kiddos all year long.

         ·            Coco Keys is a little smaller than The Great Wolfe Lodge but is also a lot less expensive than them too.

I found this website that sounds really cool.  It has 50 things to do with your kids before they grow up.  http://alphamom.com/family-fun/activities/50-things-to-do-with-kids-in-the-kansas-city-area-before-or-even-after-they-grow-up/    

         ·            Adopt a duck in the duck derby on Brush Creek at the Plaza.

         ·            Visit the City Market.

         ·            Toy and Miniature Museum of Kansas City.

         ·            Hallmark’s Kaleidoscope.

         ·            Kansas City fountains.

I noticed two fun adventures for the kids have opened at Crown Center.  There is the Kansas City Sea life Aquarium and LEGOLAND Discovery Center.  I am excited to take our son to the Sea life Aquarium.  He might be a little small for the LEGOLAND Discovery Center.  Has anyone visited the LEGOLAND Discovery Center?     

This Easter will definitely be fun now that our son is a little bit older.  My mom always has an Easter egg hunt at her house.  This year he should be able to find some on his own. 

I tried taking him to see the Easter bunny last weekend and he would look at him but not come within 5 feet of him.

Some fun ideas to do with older children:

• Let the kids design their own dinner place mats.  Get the paints, markers and crayons out and let their minds go to work.
• Grab some very inexpensive sidewalk chalk and let the kids decorate your driveway and sidewalks.
• Its Easter time, so right now is a great time to dye some eggs with the kids.
• Load the kids and the bikes up and head to the nearest empty church or school parking lot to let them have space to ride their bikes. 

Some fun, low cost adventures parents can do with their toddlers:

         ·            Visit your local playgrounds and parks.

         ·            Take a loaf of bread and feed the geese.

         ·            Buy a poster board and some paint and let them go to town (I would definitely strip them down to their diaper for this one).

         ·            When it’s raining or after the rain, put their favorite rain boots on and let them go outside to splash in the puddles.

         ·            Go to your local mini water park (you can usually find a free one in your local neighborhood).

It is so funny to watch him being so nosey when we stroll through the neighborhood.  He is such a curious kid. 

Now that the weather is nice there are many fun adventures that we can do with our son.