Taking Advantage of the Sunshine

Since moving to the Pacific Northwest sunny days are few and far in between.  So when the sun shines I try to make as much use of it as I can.  Today was absolutely beautiful!  There were clear blue skies that you find after a good rain storm.

We started the day early with breakfast and people watching at the local Starbucks.  With a full tummy, my baby "dare devil" took her like trike for a spin warning off other drivers with her Dora the Explorer bell.

After lunch we got in kicking the ball around, making chalk master pieces on the drive way and monkeying around at the playground.  I would have thought that would have tired her out. No such luck, she's still a ball of energy.  How did you enjoy the day?

Jetty Island

Today I headed out to Jetty Island with Isabel to meet up with a mommy play group.  Jetty Island is a long strip of land in the bay off the coast of Everett, WA.  I've heard from a few co-workers that it was a great place to bring your kids but I never made the journey before.  For one, it would have been just Izzy and I and it's not as fun without other kids to join in.  Since The North shore mommy play group planned to met there it was the perfect opportunity to check it out.

There is a short ferry ride to and from the island which is free.  There is limited seating so I would suggest getting there early to get a ticket.  There also isn't a fee for parking except Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  So there is even more incentive to go during the week.  Once you get to the island pick up your tickets right away they go fast and you don't want to get stuck there until the late afternoon.

I packed spare clothes for warm and cool weather, light lunch, snacks, towel, water bottle, sunscreen, first aid stuff, bathing suit for Iz, water/sand toys, a kite and a empty bag.  The sun came out during our stay and there wasn't any place to get out of the sun.  Fortunately, there was a breeze or the sun would have been unbearable.  Next time I'll bring a umbrella or sun shade.  The kite was a hit with all the kids there and with the constant breeze I was able to tie it up to my water bottle and just let it fly.  There is only one bathroom but it's more of a porta potty so the sanitizing hand gel and extra baby wipes helped with cleaning up.

Iz had a blast with the shallow pools and I didn't have to worry about having to fish her out of the water.  We have a great time and this is definitely a place I would come back to again.

Pros - location, no cost, great place for water and sand activities
Cons - only one bathroom, no shade, distance to carry stuff from the ferry dock

Bike Safety

When it comes to my daughter, safety is our number one priority.  Between my hubby and I we've researched the products we buy through multiple sources and reviews to be sure that we pick the right one for our daughter.  During spring and summer there are lots of great activities you can do with your kids outdoors.  One of them I wanted to touch on, is biking.  I can't stress how important it is for your children to be safe while biking.

Ever since we bought the Bike Trailer I've been taking her out for rides as often as I can.  She's not old enough to ride her own bike so I make sure she's safe while ridding with me.  I found information at KidsHealth.org on bike safety written for all ages, adults, teens, and kids.  One sentence jumped out at me, "Every year, about 300,000 kids go to the emergency department because of bike injuries, and at least 10,000 kids have injuries that require a few days in the hospital."  I would be devastated if anything happened to her.   One last note, don't forget that your kids also learn from you.  They will be more willing to wear their helmets in and away from your view if you always model wearing your own helmets.  Have fun out there mommas and be safe!