Toddler’s 1st Movie Theater Experience

Monsters University at Emagine theater in Woodhaven, MI was our first choice for a mother-son morning. First of all, I love this theater because they serve beer (and everything else) although I did not have a beer this time, it was a cool and refreshing respite from the heat wave, while giving B and I something to do on a steamy July morning.

I followed a few simple suggestions from moms who’ve come before me, this is what they told me:
1. Choose a morning show time. (Most likely the crowd will be other kids who might be less likely to get bothered by toddler behavior.)
2. Arrive ten minutes (or more) after the posted show time to avoid the trailers. Most toddlers have a 90 minute max on their ability to sit still, even in this scenario.
3. Get your toddler a kid sized snack pack to hold, they will be mesmerized at least as long as the popcorn lasts.
4. Get the booster seat! B would’ve fallen through the crack in the seat if we hadn’t requested it. They are free but were not (hello, why not?!) at the entrance of Monsters University. B is a BIG two year old, and it was necessary for him.

Even though B and I did not sit through the ending credits like his dad and I would have, we had a very nice morning. Was it perfect, no, of course not. Between potty breaks and pure silly’s we saw about 80% of the movie. But, for a first time out, I was proud if B and me for our results.

Happy trails!! (His dad and I went to see The Lone Ranger after that…alone)

20130715-134957.jpg

20130715-135055.jpg

20130715-135126.jpg

A trip to Trader Joe’s is just as educational as the zoo, right?

20130711-013854.jpg

A quick morning errand turned into an education for mom & tot.

Visiting the new Trader Joe’s on Telegraph Rd. and Maple (15 Mile Rd.) gave B the chance to explore hands- on fruits, vegetables, dairy and grains from around the globe. Sipping coffee from a just-his-size sample cup (what, your toddler doesn’t like coffee?) and pushing his cart, he was allowed to be the “big boy” that he so fiercely proclaims to be. We talked about colors, letters, shapes, smells and textures all while trying to watch our manners (no running into the ankles of other patrons with your cart). B showed me and everyone at the store he was more than worthy of that free organic lollipop the cashier offered him.

Zoo, schmoo, how can watching a seemingly lifeless lioness (no matter how close that new glass enclosure can get you) compare to cool air conditioned independence??

Thank you Trader Joe’s, see you next week!

Toddler Yoga (favorite books)

These are our favorite yoga books to read in the morning or afternoon. Whenever we can sneak in some “at-home” yoga.

Little Yoga: A Toddler’s First Book of Yoga
http://amzn.com/0805078797

You Are a Lion! And Other Fun Yoga Poses
http://amzn.com/0399256024

What are your favorite yoga books or DVD’s to practice with your toddler?

20130710-005749.jpg

Mom & Tot Yoga – review

I love yoga. Since having B, my practice has severely diminished. However, recently a new class has become available in the Dearborn/downriver area that I love. I just had to shout it from the rooftops!

http://rowantreeyoga.com

(The website didn’t have the new classes listed, so I cut and pasted the July classes from the newsletter below)

20130709-223515.jpg

DETAILS:

1. It’s CASH ONLY and drop-in, so no commitments.

2. They have mats and blankets for you to borrow.

3. You don’t need special clothes because, if you’re like me, you’re probably already in yoga pants everyday, right?!

It’s ” mom & tot” so, if your kid is like mine and feels the need to run, skip, yelp or fart, it’s okay, you’re amongst those who understand! If you have two little ones, it’ll cost you $5 more, but don’t feel like you can’t attend because you can’t “control” both of them. This class is designed for little ones with even littler attention spans. No one expects your little ones to just stay on their mat. Mom gets a few poses in while junior may be trying to climb your tree pose or limbo under your down dog, that’s okaaaaay!!!! It’s still having a positive effect on your family, I promise. B takes the best naps when we go.

Where have you done mommy & me yoga with your little one?

A Girls Guide to Detroit [short film]

Absolutely worth your time to watch this short film. Phenomenal content, top of the line cinematography and featuring Detroiters being awesome!

GWOP's avatarGWOP MAGAZINE

Detroit is a place that attracts a certain type of individual. Someone that’s both tough and independent.

That’s especially true for the women who have chosen to stake their claim in one of the nation’s most complicated cities. Fearless, talented, and ambitious, these women are shaping Detroit’s future.

EXECUTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR:
Toby Barlow

PRODUCED BY:
4exit4

DIRECTED BY:
Amanda LeClaire & Andrew Miller

source

View original post

Construction Vehicles!! (Books & Activity)

They say there are only two seasons in Michigan: Winter and Construction.

That’s fine with us!

B is totally fascinated with construction vehicles. If we see a construction site, he absolutely must stop and watch. He loves how big and noisy they are. He loves how they can rip an entire tree from the ground by its’ roots or crunch concrete like it were a piece of tissue paper.

This is my own compilation of B tested and approved books with a sensory bin that has been a total hit with every toddler (and most adults) that have come in contact with it.

HOW TO MAKE THE BIN:

I found an “under the bed” bin on clearance and stowed it in the laundry room until all of my bin materials could get pulled together. I used:

1. An old 5lb bag of flavored coffee beans that have been in my freezer for at least three years.

2. White beans that were on the bottom shelf and on clearance at Kroger. (You could also try the bulk aisle at Meijer).

3. A 5-pack of CAT construction vehicles from the toy aisle at Target for $6.00, totally worth every penny!

4. Some old fake moss rocks I had in a bowl on our coffee table before B could walk. They had been “retired” to the bookshelf collecting dust for over a year.

5. We colored a paper plate blue, cut it out (together) and taped it to the bottom at one end of the bin for a “lake”.

DONE.

Easy and cheap for ALL of the ten minute intervals it has given me.

What works in your home to get those “ten minutes”?

20130708-130043.jpg

20130708-130109.jpg

20130708-130316.jpg

20130708-130624.jpg

20130708-131603.jpg

What are your toddlers favorite books?

Moo Cluck Moo Review

20130708-010002.jpg

Moo Cluck Moo- restaurant review

http://www.moocluckmoo.com/

Cross Streets: Telegraph Rd. & Joy Rd.

Bathroom: NONE (apparently when you are a “carry out only” establishment you are not required to offer any facilities to your customers.)

Food: YUM to the capital Y U and M. We used our groupon for two “all american BBQ” burgers and added regular fries (although they had many options) and a salted caramel chocolate milk shake. An amazing pickled cole slaw topped my BBQ burger that blew my mind, it was SO good!

Seating: A few bar height two tops inside and some rickety two tops outside on the blacktop within feet of cars whizzing by at 60mph. We attempted to dine outside as the inside was jammed but found it too challenging to balance a toddler on one knee and eat. Plus, you could barely hear each other talk with the whooshing of traffic.

Staff: The employees were amazing. I would be happy if any of them were my neighbor or lab partner.

To solve the “family dining” issue we drove a few blocks off Telegraph to a playground attached to a school. It was in a cute brick home lined neighborhood and we attempted to eat “picnic style”. However, as soon as B saw the playscape, he was off and running, big daddy in hot pursuit!

20130708-020527.jpg

20130708-021143.jpg

20130708-021157.jpg

This is a picture of the school parking lot. There was one other family there that looked like they had the same meal plan we did.

20130708-021520.jpg

Overall, I felt good about giving B a “fast food” burger from here. I was just surprised about the “carry out only” scenario. Now that I am prepared, I can go with the right attitude to fully enjoy this great food served up by an uber friendly staff.

And the Heavy Fireworks Start…..

And the Heavy Fireworks Start…...

PD9: Township Jazz Project

PD9: Township Jazz Project.

Toddler Bowling

It’s a rainy day and our active family cannot be cooped up at home for long or we start to get crabby. So we tried a bowling alley in Allen Park, MI.
http://www.rooseveltlanes.com/open.html

A friend had pointed us in their direction because it is small, clean and family owned and operated, my kind of place.

For less than $5 our toddler got shoes, a ball he could lift (6 pounds) and an open lane. The staff gave us an apparatus that is used by bowlers in a wheelchair but it worked perfect for our two year old. They raised the “bumpers” on the lane so no matter how B threw the bowling ball, it would make it down the lane.

After a few rolls, B wanted to try to throw it down the lane like Daddy does. Now, Daddy has two 300 rings from league play, so, I think it’s safe to say, we’d all like to throw the ball like him, but regardless, B was done with the handicap ramp. He rolled the ball as hard as could down the lane and it literally took so long to get to the pubs the roll didn’t even register! Too funny! It was about as fun as watching paint dry but B got his silly’s out and we all had a few laughs.

20130705-135733.jpg

We played two games and B was beyond done. It took about an hour to complete the two games. Then we went into the “game room”. B doesn’t have the skills or interest to really play, so we saved our quarters but he had about another twenty minted of fun just clicking buttons and touching all if the games with their blinking lights.

We are potty training B now, so the bathroom is a really big deal when we go somewhere. When it was “time”, B was able to relieve himself with daddy in a clean bathroom, always a positive. No kiddy potty or step stool at the sink but, we still rated it high. There was also a changing table for the needs of tiny ones.