The Little Gym: VB

We were lucky enough to be invited to a birthday party at The Little Gym Virginia Beach last weekend. I'll be very honest- RT is very, very shy at first. He didn't want to go in with all of the other kids until we sat inside the room with him. During the classes, this is allowed but kids are encouraged to go in alone, but because it was a birthday party, the adults were able to go in! Once we got him out there, he had a blast and didn't want to leave.

The birthday party was a mix of free play and planned activities. The coordinators did a great job of switching between the two about every two minutes to keep the kids occupied. Activities included a game with a ball, parachute play, and bouncing on an inflatable.  In between each activity kids could free play in the gym while the next activity was being set up. That tells me that they really understand the attention span of a toddler! 

The bathroom really impressed me too. Inside they not only had a changing table and a stool, but also bins with every size diapers for those who forgot, and this light switch helper for kids who can't reach. Outside of the gym is a small playroom with puzzles and a few small toys for little kids also. 

The Little Gym has two locations, one in Virginia Beach and one in Chesapeake and offers classes from 4 months to 12 years. They also offer parent night outs and both locations on Saturdays, alternating between the two locations. 

Tidewater Holiday Experience Guide

I know, I know. Every kid loves getting gifts on the holidays, and moms dream of the moment when their kid sees a mountain of wrapped gifts. This mama is tired though. Tired of cleaning up toys. Tired of stepping on toys. Tired of throwing toys away. For the last two years we have been asking for gift cards and experiences over toys and yet somehow my boys are not deprived.

We have been lucky enough to have been gifted a zoo membership from my mom and aunt who get together for their birthdays. That membership alone has given us the ability to participate in all that they offer plus their swaps. My cousin gave us a Children's Museum membership and we have used the reciprocity program in so many places to get in for free. Memberships are the way to go if you can swing it or if you can get a group to go in on them together.

Here's my list of top experiences for our area:

• Jump Giftcard 
• Funville Passes- $12.00 per kid per visit, $5.00 for toddler only area
• Skinny Dip/ Cold Stone / Rita's Giftcard
• Zoo passes or membership
• Aquarium passes or membership
• Cinema Cafe movie tickets
• Botanical Gardens day pass
• Busch Gardens membership 
• Chuck-E-Cheese/Dave and Busters/ Gameworks card
• Hunt Club Farm pass or membership 
• Kroc Center Passes ($12.00 per person for day pass)
• Ocean Breeze daily or season pass 
• Katie's Kickers Gift card for lessons
• Bowling prepaid games 
• A month at The Little Gym (they have Black Friday sales!)
• Hike-it-Baby Membership (only ten bucks!)
• Cookie Cutters Giftcard- they have a prepaid card where you get one free 
• Tickets to Ride the Tide (RT LOVES this. Neil takes him regularly. Kids are free, so only adults need a ticket.)
• Highlights magazine subscription
• A trip to Build a Bear
• Trip to Charles Dickens Christmastowne (open till New Years Eve)
• Trip to Great Wolf Lodge (check groupon!)
• Passes to The Pink Roller (new location since our post)

Here is a more extensive, more general Hampton Roads list for all toddlers, not so focused on our personal likes and here is a birthday list with experience ideas too. Check these places on Black Friday for deals! 

Stocking Stuffer Ideas

There is no Jewish equivalent to stockings, but I have to say that I like this aspect of Christmas a lot. If I had my way family members would just trade names and do stockings instead of big gifts when we celebrate with Neil's family. (Mimi wasn't on board.) I've compiled a list of things that are great for filling a stocking for each age group. Happy stuffing!

Holiday Gift Guide 2019

I can't believe the holidays are here already! My friend Cayte and I were just saying how it seems like now that our second babies are here time goes by even faster. I had some time to sit down and think about what we all really could use this holiday. I love getting memberships and passes to places, but I know that our family also likes to have the boys open something. I put together a few things that we could all use. There are a lot of picture frames, but it's both because we have the new baby and because we moved into the new house. 

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Some notes on his, those pacis are the only ones he will take, we loved these snack containers with RT but seemed to have lost some of the parts, these bibs with the chew things are awesome and if you've never had Bambas you. are. missing. out! Babies all over Israel eat them, and there are very few nut allergies there. Lastly, this duck was glued to RT and is a hit with baby R too. I put it on here even though we have it in case anyone else is looking for a great gift. It is an Eric Carle product and has bright colors, things that make noise, and things to bite on.

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This is a Christmas book, but we love this series, which is why the plate is there too. We plan on taking RT snowboarding this year- so lots of items for that. Numbers eight and nine are awesome. We received the claw painter as a gift and plan on getting him some of these refills because he loves it. 

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Tomato jam is awesome on fried cheese, so bring on all the jam.  Apparently I somehow have no clothes. No basic white t's, no black t-shirts. I love that this one has the leopard print pocket. I know I'm getting old because Vans is now making shoes with extra cushioning. The flats have awesome reviews from teachers. Also these are the best pens. 

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Neil's list is a combo of practical and whimsical. I always get him some kind of funny socks during this time of year because we feel like it's one of the few places you can still be funny under professional clothing. Neil's a fan of Wild Turkey, so there are a few nods to that too. This jerky pack features all different kinds of jerky, and while I'm a vegetarian, Neil is not. 

Hope these give you some ideas. I'll be posting my local experience favorites very soon! 

Disney Junior Live Holiday Party on Tour

This is the first year of the Disney Junior Holiday Party Tour and we were lucky enough to have Norfolk as one of the stops. It featured appearances by some of the Disney classics as well as new ones like Puppy Dog Pals and Fancy Nancy. The show was 75 minutes long  made up of two 30 minute acts with a 15 minute intermission in between.

Out of the thirty times we took this picture, this is the best one....?

Muppet Babies has apparently come back-something apparently I'm the last to know. The show included some Christmas songs as well as an appearance by Santa,  and I was so pleasantly surprised to see two Hanukkah songs! Kids were singing and many were dancing, and mine sat memorized. The audience was full of families out on a rainy Friday night. Disney Junior brings a show here almost annually, so be sure to check one out next time they come. Tickets can usually be purchased on Groupon for a short time, or if you're lucky enough- you might even win them from us!