Fun To Do's...La Habra Children's Museum!

SUPER FUN!

If you live in south Orange County, it's a drive (45+minutes) but totally worth it for the kiddos! K's preschool groups went on field trip today and had a blast....we could've easily spent a lot more time there and I will definitely be taking all of my kids back...SOON!

As soon as the kids got out of the car they were off and running....to the fun Dinosaurs in front of the museum (little did we know that we could've let them run around this all morning and not paid admission to go into the actual museum and they would've been perfectly content!)

Inside were 8 rooms-o-fun to play in....a grocery shopping area, a real OCTA Bus (the favorite for most of the kids), an "around the world" room (fun dress-ups & and play things from a handful of different countries), train exhibits, the "room with the gong" (one child in particular spent a majority if his time banging that gong with all his might!), dress-up/stage/acting room, treehouse, puppet show, carousel...such fun things for these kids to play with!  Everything is hands on and VERY kid friendly!

click HERE for more info on the LaHabra Children's Museum

Just a Hint....

I have been collecting ideas for 7 years and rounding up materials for 8 months....I have FINALLY started my first real home facelift!  This is our 5th home, we've been in it almost 3.5 years and I have been dying to really make it "ours"....as much as I can since the Mr & I don't have exactly the same tastes!  For instance....our downstairs bath....inspired by this Pottery Barn Kids Nursery (the Sadie Nursery)....and by inspired, i mean the color scheme only (no animals...and so far no polka dots!)...only imagine the yellow a very bright, wake-you-up-in-the-morning type of color....as in the 4th picture....he tells me he has to close his eyes every time he walks in!  I will have before and after pics SOON....just finishing up the final details of my own bathroom (wall decor, bead board, etc....)  i LOVE how it is turning out...i KNOW my mom will HATE it....but i have never had the courage to just pick something i like and go for it.  I always choose something safe..."Macaw Yellow" is not safe and definitely will not be a selling point for this house....good thing we aren't trying to move anytime soon!

The grayscale pics are ideas for our Master Bedroom.  We are going with total grayscale - Silver, Pewter, Creek Bend, Black & White....I like the stripes behind the pictures & the kitchen picture is for the all color....we have been back and forth about wall color for the main living areas downstairs...because we aren't able to change our flooring we are having to make a MAJOR compromise with wall color!  Mr and I agreed 100% on a cinderblock/urban loft/silvery-gray color....but it TOTALLY clashes with our brown/tan/beige tile floors....oh well...a girl can dream.  We are set on making our house reflect us while being both comfortable to be in and aesthetically pleasing (clearly the Macaw Yellow bathroom is NOT a relaxing place of rest....but sometimes I go in and turn on the light because it makes me smile!!)

The whole bathroom started out dark red, cabinets began brown (stock builder cabinets that are throughout our house....all of which are being redone)....look closely and you'll be able to see the birth of my bright smiling yellow!  A complete before-and-after is SO CLOSE to being posted.... 

BTW---the work is further along than this picture....walls are done, cabinets are done...the red is almost completely covered....

Fun To Do's...CPK

California Pizza Kitchen....been there?

GO!!  Especially if you round up a group of kids (ages 5-8), call ahead of time to schedule an appointment, and get to have a great time FOR FREE touring the restaurant, kitchen, preparing your own personal pizza & then tasting the Y-U-M-M-Y goodness you created!

We took K's preschool for a field trip last week and had a tasty time!  The best part (that us moms couldn't believe) was that it was 100% FREE.  zip, zilch, nada...the kids walked in, sat down to color their kids menus, went on the official tour with Chef Anothony (Gen Mgr), took a looksee into each part of the kitchen (where we were all amazed....the pantries only hold 1.5 days worth of food!  you can't imagine how many bottle of hershey's syrup this place goes through in a day!)  At one point we were in the refrigerator....a so-called sound-proof room....Chef Anothony really asked for it when he told the kids to 1-2-3 SCREEAAM at the top of your lungs...."sound-proof"?  not exactly when you're talkin' about 12 4 & 5 yr old kids!

After the tour it was off to the tables to prepare our pizzas (this is a watching field trip for parents...free pizzas only go to the kids....though he did bring out drinks for all the moms...he must have seen that "we need caffeine" look we were giving....at least from me...everyone else wanted lemonade!)  The kids each got their own drinks, colored while waiting for the pizza to cook and then it was tasting time!  K thoroughly enjoyed her pizza & earned her CPK Certificate (also good for another free kids meal when we bring the family back....here's the part that isn't so free!)

If you live around me....stay tuned for a summer outing....HOPEFULLY....wouldn't it be fun to get a group to go again?

click HERE for more CPK info

By The Way....

If you really want a great blog with awesome finds, deals, places to go, & freebies...click HERE!

A friend of mine, Coleen, started Just Spotted with her friend Kelly...My blogs on places to go and things to do around here is SOOOOO WEAK compared to theirs....but mine has the occasional family pic....

In case you are visiting or really are interested in finding somewhere to go EVERYDAY...check out THIS BLOG....seriously.  Scan down far enough and you'll find a listing for happenings every day during April...WHY DIDN'T I CHECK THIS SOONER?!  I was itching for fun easter things to do and Earth Day celebrations (read on and you'll see I ended up at PB Kids at the mall...I now realize I could have done WAY better!)

the reason

How boring is a blog that has no people in the pictures (or at least people you KNOW)??  SUPER BORING.  And how fun is it to receive 10+ emails at a time full of explanation and pictures either too large or too small to really see that slow down your computer for long periods of time while they are trying to load?  NOT FUN....this is my current "blogging practice" for grandparents & relatives...oh well...respecting my husbands wishes to not post family stuff...I really do try to be a good wife.  

Staying true to my word I finally got around to the beginning postings of fun things to do in Orange County (and other various places we visit).... and sorry babe, but Yes...I am sneaking in a few pictures! Please forgive me.

The hope is that I can add something new here every week...I go so many places and do tons with preschool and my kids that filling the posts shouldn't be too difficult!

Fun To Do's...OCFA

OCFA

(orange county fire association)

Every year in October...and it's 100% FREE

The biggest fire-to-do ever!  From watching a fire being put out in 4 story building, lights & sirens blazing, fire trucks galore to climb on and explore, equipment & gear to play with & try on, firemen for as far as you can see to meet & talk to, AWESOME car fires & jaws of life demonstrations, a job fair (if you're the market for new employment or you just want fun freebies from each of the tables), a stage show with a firedog clown, free hot dog lunch, bounce houses, fire truck rides, helicopter fly-bys, a chance to shoot the fire hose....this is the place to be every October.  We have gone for the past 3 years and LOVE it!  If you live in Orange County, most all the local fire stations put on an open house on the same day, but activities are fewer locally....Headquarters is the place to be for TONS of fun (top of Jamboree bordering Tustin in Irvine)!  My fam rocks our local station Tees (Ladera Ranch, Station 58!) which I bought from our station ahead of time so we could show support!

(I thought I could sneak in this family pic....it's from an open house a LONG time ago....that's okay right...just so long as it isn't a "current" picture?)

click HERE for more OCFA info

**current Open House 2009 info may not be available until august or september**

You hear "dispatch" call that a fire has started and then you plug your ears

....3 fire trucks come BLAZING around the corner and get fully set-up...

ladders, hoses, full gear...it's Awesome!

The car starts out in one piece...by the end all windows have been shattered, doors pulled off & the jaws of life pulled this car COMPLETELY apart!

What do Policemen & Firemen have in common??

They ALL want to be Firemen!

Fun To Do's...The Santa Ana Zoo

The Santa Ana Zoo...

I can't say it is my MOST favorite Zoo to visit, but it CAN be a LOT of fun if you make it that way!  I have it on the list of field trips every year for my preschool groups.  There is a small bird sanctuary, monkeys and a few other random animals, including the 4-legged farm-types (which are usually the high-light).  There is a Petting Zoo, an insect house (totally disgusting to me, but the kids LOVE it), big animal statues throughout for kids to play on, a train ride around the perimeter of the zoo (complete with a tunnel), a Merry-Go-Round, snack bar (though I would suggest packing your own snacks/lunches....costs aren't super high, but not worth what you get), a semi-tree-shaded play ground & various activities put on through the year like Sheep Shearing & Breakfast with the Animals. Entrance fees are fairly inexpensive (under $10).

click HERE for more info.

My 2nd daughter, K, and her preschool friends!

Earth Day 2009!

My family LOVES to go to the mall...seriously, it's an outing of fun for my kids!  The Shops at Mission Viejo mall has a kids play area, pet store, water fountain and a glass elevator (which truly is a highlight to ride for my boys!  they are so easily entertained!)  Today is Earth Day and we celebrated at PB Kids!  I took my 4 babes and 2 of their friends to Earth Day Storytime where they furthered their knowledge of how to take care of our Earth and at the end they each got a packet of Sunflower Seeds & a Plantable Bookmark (post on this coming soon).

Then off to ride the "evelator" going to the Sweet Factory for yummy all you can eat candy treats---holy expensive for candy....this will not be a regular happening, but it sure was fun for the kids to wander around and fill their own bags of tummy-aches!!

 My sweet little friend Hannah (well...J & K's friend really...we love to have her along for family fun days!)

Back to the car to head to the pool and a short play at the park....such a fun mom-day for me....Tomorrow we are going to plant the Sunflower Seeds & Plantable Bookmark...I hope to have some good growth pics to post soon!

This was day 2 of swimming...day 1 broke 100 degrees at one point, but the very next day was down to 69!  swimming wasn't quite as pleasant..hence the mummy wraps!

I love watching my boys wrestle!  Little J doesn't quite get it when C runs head on, wraps up and tackles him to the ground, but they both giggle in delight, stand up and start all over as though it's new every time!

**is it REALLY breaking the husband rules if I post most pictures so you can't really see the faces & I don't include any names?