Activities for Kids

Have you noticed how I pair children activities with good food?? ;) Needless to say, I needed it after this outing.  On to the story .. I saw a deal come through for the Children’s Museum of Phoenix on Groupon and decided to buy it, wanting something indoor to do with Jace, and something that didn’t involve 112 degree weather and a swimming pool. We set out on a Sunday morning, knowing this was going to be a crazy fun day for Jace face. And boy was it.  It literally felt like we were in the mind of a child. And every room was like a different child-like dream. One room you’re in a miniature grocery store where children are stocking shelves and running the cashier. Another you are painting a castle, chasing yoga balls or running through pool noodles. In another area you’re scooping foam ice cream, driving a pickle for a vehicle, building a city out of blocks and shooting scarves out of tubes. And I’m pretty sure they recreated the tree house from Hook (see below). Pretty rad. However,  it was utter chaos, every where you looked. Jace is still that age where we need to hover over him most of the time, so it was crazy trying to keep him in check without him face planting into the floor every minute. He was non-stop. My favorite room was the calmest one of all, the reading nook. Perhaps that’s what my mind looked like as a child ;) All in all, it was a great place to take the little one. Lots of things to interact and engage with. But after 2 hours I was ready to get the h*ll out of there (and also swear off any more children!).

We spent most of our time playing in these noodles. Hahahaha The best part of this day you ask? I would have to say FEDERAL PIZZA!!! It’s been on my list to try for quite some time now and since we were close by in Phoenix, I decided to take us there for lunch after the museum. Best decision ever. It was delicious. We ordered two of their pizzas and some pasta for little boy. Great service, very family friendly and fabulous happy hour. We’ll definitely be going back. Stuffing our faces with good pizza really made all the anxiety of the children’s museum go away. Crazy how food does that;)

My friend Sarah invited Jace and I to the Arizona Science Center a couple weekends back. Yes, I’m 2 weeks backlogged in blogging! As soon as we got to the Science Center we spent a good amount of time at the first exhibit, pictured here with the balls and water slides and shoots. So much fun!! Jace was in ball heaven. From there, we went on to explore and build things… and throw balls in a nose that sneezed. We watched a cow’s eye be dissected  .. until it was too gross to watch any more. Jace climbed into a heart, slid down a stomach, heard his heart beat through his hand .. walked on a bridge of nobs, watched more balls float, ran in the hallways, played in the ocean sand and created a cloud.

I think the best exhibit BY FAR was the Immersion Theater in the Forces of Nature exhibit — you stand in the middle of the stage while mother nature takes over. You really feel like you’re in the middle of the storm, feeling the rain from the hurricane, the wind from the tornado, the ground shaking from the volcano erupting and more. It was awesome. Jace hugged up to his bestie James for protection, it was so cute. No tears just excitement! Who needs Mom when you’ve got a new bro to follow around?! Next time I want to go to the Grossology exhibit — look disgusting but so intriguing!

The smile on this boy’s face – melts my heart. Love you James. Afterwards  we washed hands and went to Pizzeria Bianco, right down the way, for some wood-fired pizza. I couldn’t have asked for a better pair to hang with this Saturday. Sarah and James know how to have fun. I can’t wait for our next outing together, where ever it might be. Love you Sarah! xoxoxoxo

And then Jace crashed hard on the couch when we got home. Best. day. ever. with my son.