Monday was not only free ice cream cone day at Dairy Queen …
It was gorgeous out! It was in the 80′ s and we checked out Campbell Recreation Area in Clive.
Campbell Recreation Area is located at 12385 Woodlands Parkway. It is nestled back into a residential area. It is a huge park (34 acres), with lots to do!
There are two different playground available to play on. One is smaller for kids under age 5 years, although if you are older than 5 years, you are okay to play on it.
There is a larger playground for kids over 5 years. Monte who is only 3 years spent most of his time playing on this one. There is lots of climbing and a few tall slides.
The park had a large open air shelter with several picnic tables. It was a nice place to sit, cool off and have a snack. There are grills available too. You can rent this shelter here for different events.
If you are interested in grilling and gathering in a shady area a little ways from the park, there is a small gazebo available with tables and a grill. You cannot rent the gazebo.
My favorite part of the park was the large open fields. There is plenty of room to play football, catch, roll around, kick a ball, etc. Bring a large blanket and have a picnic!
This park is not only perfect for children, but it’s for adults too! There are three adult softball fields, two sand volleyball courts, a basketball court AND three tennis courts.
Greenbelt Bike Trail also goes pass Campbell Recreation Area and there are detours off of it that lead into the park.
This is another park you can plan a day to spend at! Make sure to check it out this Spring and Summer!
If you are a babywearer you NEED to check it out. Rhockett Weaving is owned and operated by Rhonda Brackett. After she fell in love with babywearing and discovered it was a necessity in her life, she began creating her own signature style wraps. She also takes custom orders, if you are wanting something really special.
This April, is the very first Rhockett Retreat. This is a place where people come together, who love wrapping as much as you! There will be good food, henna from Alternative Artistry, babywearing yoga, babywearing art, campfires & s’mores, and MORE!
There will be classes through out the the three-day, two-night event including weaving, dyeing fabric and learning different wrapping instructions. You can also check out some awesome local vendors such as Finnabug Bags, Starbright Baby, and Alternative Artistry.
The Rhockett Retreat is being held …
Friday, April 24th through Sunday, April 26th
You can come by yourself, you can come with your little one OR you can bring the entire family. Not everyone needs to attend all the fun classes, but there will be no child supervision provided. There is also a charge for each additional person, to cover room and board.
This years Rhockett Retreat is being held in Ogden, Iowa. You can choose to stay the entire time or drive for only the day on Saturday and/or Sunday. You can register here for whatever option you choose! If you register for the entire retreat you will receive a FREE swag bag!
To help get everyone excited about this fun babywearing retreat, we are doing a GIVEAWAY!
One lucky winner will win a waldorf inspired babywearing doll created from Rhockett Weaving scraps!
The contest begins TODAY and will end Friday, March 13th! I will post the winner on my Facebook page. Good luck!
Monte and the entire family had a blast! Not only was the entire Science Center open to roam through, but there was also live music, crafts, jugglers, balloon animals, face painting and more!
Every Family Rocks! is a family fun event and concert for all ages. This event benefits EFR Employee & Family Resources. It was free for Science Center members, $8 for ages 2-12, $13 for Adults & $8 for Seniors.
There were some awesome bands and singers. I loved all the upbeat music and all the movement, from all the kids! Everyone was dancing and hula hooping around 🙂 Artists included:
Aaron Nigel Smith: I absolutely loved him and his band! I loved their reggae type vibe and we had a lot of fun dancing to their music.
Debbie Do Wop & Dynamite Dan: These guys were so much fun and very entertaining! They had colorful scarves to dance with and other awesome instruments to play with!
Monte loved the Sparkle Hula Hoop dance, balloon animals and magic from Jonathan May, and trying all the different instruments available from Rieman Music Interactive Music Booth.
There were also some great craft stations such as a DIY yarn streamer and animal rocks.
We had so much fun and Monte was definitely exhausted after we left! We are looking forward to next year’s Every Family Rocks!
The kids and I checked out Science Sleuths Friday at the Urbandale Public Library. The Urbandale Public Library has become one of our favorite hang outs this winter. They have so much to offer!
On the second Friday of every month, they offer Science Sleuths. This is a half hour program, that takes place in the story room. Each session has a different lesson. Friday’s lesson was ‘Sink or Float’. The kids had a blast learning about items that could sink or float!
We first listened to a couple of stories explaining why some items may sink or float.
Then we did a hands on activity to discover for ourselves, what sinks or floats. Our teacher brought in a large tub full of water and several different items such as: a plastic spoon, penny, balloon, CD, and more! She placed two signs up on the walls, in separate areas of the room. One sign read ‘sink’ and the other sign read ‘float’. Before she placed the item in the tub, the kids had to go stand by the sign that read what they thought would happen! Not only was this a good learning experience, but it also got the kids up and moving!
After the activity the kids were able to create their own sail boats using foam cups and/or trays, a dowel, paper, and tape. The kids enjoyed cutting and taping and creating their own boats that would sink or float in the tub of water. Some kids also experimented with placing items on their boats, to see if it would still float.
The kids were also given a worksheet to take home to extend their learning!
I highly recommend Science Sleuths! This is a FREE class! It is designed for children ages 3 years to 6 years, accompanied by an adult. I was also able to bring Amelia in with me. She enjoyed listening and watching 🙂 You must pre-register by calling 331-4490.
Monte experienced his first, live show on Sunday! When we heard Disney Jr. Live! was coming to town we KNEW we had to purchase tickets to take Monte. I was a little worried about how well he would do sitting there, but once the show began, I knew there was nothing to worry about.
This tour was the Disney Jr. Live! Pirate and Princess Adventure. Monte LOVES Jake and the Neverland Pirates. He loves anything pirates right now. We dressed him up like Jake and he looked adorable!
At the beginning of the show, while everyone is getting seated and adjusted, Doc McStuffins comes out with her toy “Monte” the Monster Truck (what a coincidence!) 🙂 All the children helped Doc make her truck feel better.
Of course, Mickey and Minnie Mouse were there! They helped introduce the princesses and pirates!
The first half of the show was Sofia the First and all the princesses, including Cinderella!
The second half of the show was Jake and the Neverland Pirates and Peter Pan!
Monte enjoyed dancing, singing and getting involved in all the stories.
If you have not taken your children to a live show before, I think this one would be perfect.
WARNING: Be prepared to spend a ridiculous amount of extra money on light up toys, snow cones and food :/
I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgivings! Now, the fun begins 🙂 Lots of holiday events are going on through out the Des Moines area. Here are some events and activities, but do not forget to check out my event calendar on the right hand of the page!
1. Frosty Returns with the Grinch
When: Friday 6pm – 8 pm
Where and What: Meet Frosty, The Grinch, Flip the Penguin and Santa! Get your picture taken with one, and there will be special skating exhibitions! $5 to skate and FREE skate rentals! For more information check out the Southridge Mall event page.
2. Disney on Ice: Passport to Adventure
When: Wednesday, November 27th – Sunday, December 1st
Where and What: Is your kiddo a fan of the Disney gang? Or are you even a fan of the Disney gang? You have to see everyone at Disney on Ice at the Wells Fargo Arena. This is a fun event for the whole family! To purchase tickets and to see show times check out the Iowa Events Center website.
3. Festival of Trees and Lights
When: Wednesday, November 27th – Sunday, December 1st
Where and What: This is an event that has been going on in the Des Moines area since 1984! You do not want to miss the decorated trees, children’s area, food, shopping and entertainment. The revenue from this festival helps support the Blank Children’s Hospital. For more information about this events, times, and ticket prices check out the Iowa Events Center website.
4. Jolly Holiday Lights
When: Tuesday, November 26th – Wednesday, January 1st: 5:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Where and What: A classic Des Moines event, that goes on everyday until the New Year. Grab your family, jump in a car and drive through to check out all the holiday light displays! All proceeds go to benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation! $10 per car load,$20 per limo load, $45 per bus load.
5. Little Padded Seats 1-Year Anniversary
When: Saturday 10 am – 12 pm
Where and What: Come out to Little Padded Seats, located in Valley West Mall to celebrate their 1-year anniversary being located at Valley West Mall! There will be cake, prizes, specials, and much more! Get a little Christmas shopping done and stop by!
6. Spirit of the Season at the Science Center of Iowa
When: Saturday 5 pm – 8 pm
What: Join others at the Science Center of Iowa to kick off their holiday events, every weekend up to the New Year! FREE general admission 5 – 8 pm. Tree lighting. FREE cocoa and cookie decorating. Holiday crafts. Discounted admission to see The Polar Express at the IMAX for $5. Fireworks to end the evening! Check out the Science Center of Iowa event page for more details!
7. Cloth Diaper 101 at Little Padded Seats
When: Sunday 2 pm – 4 pm
What: Are you wanting to learn more about cloth diapers? Not sure what to purchase or how to care for them? This class is PERFECT for you! Located at the local Little Padded Seats, you will learn everything you need to know. Check out Little Padded Seats website for more information.
8. Pet Photos with Santa at Jordan Creek Town Center
When: Monday 6 pm – 8 pm
What: This is the perfect opportunity for your furry, four-legged friend to see Santa. Cats AND dogs! Bring your pet out to Jordan Creek Towncenter in the photo area. There will be several packages of pictures to choose from.
9. Southridge Mall Tree Lighting and Santa
When: Tuesday 5 pm – 8 pm
What: Bring the whole family to check out the beautiful lit tree and handmade ornaments. There will be entertainment, shopping and hot cocoa & cookies available! You can also receive a FREE picture with Santa! For more details check out the Southridge Mall event page.
10. Rainforest Romp and the Science Center of Iowa
When: Wednesday 10 am – 11 am
What: For ages 3-5 and their families! Genercal admission to the Sciece Center is included. Discover one of the world’s biggest and most incredible mysteries as we uncover life in the rainforest! Where are rainforests located? What animals live there? Find out all about this amazing ecosystem, the animals that live there and the amazing explorers who help us to understand it better.
11. Children’s Craft Days and Center Grove Orchard
When: Wednesday 10 am – 12 pm
What: Bring the children out and create a kids holiday craft, eat some sweet treats, do a scavenger hunt, and story time! There will also be some lunch items available for purchase. $4.95 per child. Check out the Center Grove flyer for more details!
A lot of FREE events going on this weekend for your kiddos! Also, this is the last weekend for the Des Moines area Haunted Houses!
Also, do not forget we FALL BACK this weekend! Do not forget to change your clocks!
1. Wonder of Words
When: November 2nd – November 12th
What and Where: This is a unique event that connects writers, readers, and publishers in several events around the Des Moines area. There are several events scheduled within the ten days. Please check the Wonder of Words website for a complete schedule and more information about Wonder of Words!
2. Wicked
When: Thursday, October 31st – Sunday, November 10th
What and Where: Wicked is at the Des Moines Civic Center! If you have not seen this amazing show, now is the time! Tickets may still be available for various times. Please check the Des Moines Performing Arts website for times and ticket availability.
3. Mixology Night
When: Friday 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM
What and Where: A fun date night! The Science Center of Iowa is hosting another Mixology Night. There will be drinks, science, experiments, entertainment, and lots of mingling! Admission is $5 BUT if you are a Science Center of Iowa member it is FREE!
4. Fall Back Festival
When: Saturday, 10 am – 3 pm
What and Where:Grimes United Methodist Church is holding a Fall Festival! There will be horse rides, relay races, bounce houses, fall snacks, and much more! This whole event is FREE! So bring out the entire family and celebrate!
5. Magickal Costume Party
When: Saturday at 1 pm
What and Where:Beaverdale Books is hosting a Magickal Costume Party! Dress up in your best wizard costume! There will also be a book signing by Alan Lance Anderson and activities. Costume judging begins at 1:30 pm and you can win some awesome prizes! The is event is FREE!
6. Kanzi’s Carnival
When: Saturday 2 pm – 4 pm
What and Where: Iowa Primate Learning Sanctuary is celebrating Kanzi’s 33rd brithday! This is a great event for the whole family, especially for the little ones. Kanzi will be having a carnival themed birthday party with popcorn, face painting, clowns, balloons, and more! All the proceeds for this event will directly benefit Kanzi and his family! Tickets are $10 per person, kids 2 and under are FREE! Reserve your tickets today at the Iowa Primate Learning Sanctuary site.
What and Where: A fun run to help benefit Above & Beyond Cancer. This run will take place at Principal Park. $38.00 for early bird registration and for the Kids Fun Run is $5.00 registration. A great event for the whole family to get some fresh air and be active!
8. Crafty Readers
When: Tuesday at 4 pm
What and Where: The Franklin Avenue Library and Central Library are hosting a fun reading event for preschoolers to second grade. Come listen and read “The Dot” and do a fun craft to take home! Another great, FREE event for the kiddos!
Plan Ahead …
Yes, the Holiday season is just around the corner and NOW is the time to start planning for some of those special events!
1. Nutcracker at Hoyt Sherman Place
When: December 12th – 15th
Where: These tickets are now on sale! Make sure to purchase soon if you are wanting to see this Holiday classic! Go to Hoyt Sherman Place for information on show times and ticket prices.
2. Santa Express
When: November 29th – December 14th
Where:Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad is offering the Santa Express again this year! A perfect event for your little ones. You will travel to the “North Pole” while singing Christmas carols, have hot chocolate and a cookie, meet Santa and receive a silver bell! Tickets are on sale today! Make sure to reserve your ticket soon, because they will go fast. Check out the website for times and prices.
When and Where: Friday 11 am – 1:30 pm, Walnut Street between 6th & 7th Street
What: This is the last Welcome Back to Walnut Street of the summer! Walk along and check out all the food vendors, and live music during your lunch break. The Des Moines Ballet will also be performing! Check out here for more information and the names of specific vendors!
2. Science Center Family Night
When and Where: Friday 5-8 pm at the Science Center of Iowa
What: Bring the whole family to the Science Center, $5 for general admission. During this time do several activities including building a rocket, check out the I-MAX theater and much more! The Science Center cafe, The Food Chain, also has food specials available. For more information check out the Science Center of Iowa.
3. Beaverdale Fall Festival
When: Friday 7 am – 11 pm & Saturday 7:30 am – 11 pm
What: Located in the Beaverdale area, come out for live music, a carnival, activities, food and more! Friday evening there will be fireworks and Saturday morning there will be a parade starting at 10 am. Entrance into the festival is FREE! Check out their official site for maps and more information regarding vendors here.
4. Iowa State vs. Iowa Football Game
When and Where: Saturday @ 5 pm at Jack Trice Stadium
What: The Iowa State Cyclones (0-1) will take on the Iowa Hawkeyes (1-1) in the annual Cy-Hawk game! If you do not have tickets to watch it in Ames this year, a lot of bars in the Des Moines area will be offering specials for the game. Get dressed up, meet up with friends, and watch the game! Check out this weeks Datebook for specific Hawkeye fan bars and Cyclone fan bars!
5. Free Cheerleading Clinic
When and Where: Saturday 10 am – 12 pm at Apex Athletics in Johnston
What: Do you have an aspiring cheerleader on your hands? This would be the perfect opportunity for your little one to learn more about cheering and tumbling. This is for kids ages 3 and up. This clinic is free! Go here to pre-register! Also, while registering check out all of the other awesome classes they offer!
6. Des Moines Renaissance Faire
When: Saturday 10 am – 6 pm & Sunday 10 am – 6 pm
Where and What: This is the FINAL weekend of the Renaissance Faire! Get out to Sleepy Hollow Sports Park where the Renaissance Fare is being held! Lots of food, entertainment, and activities. There is surely something for everyone! For more information check out their official website here.
7. Day out with Thomas the Tank Engine
When: September 14 & 15 and September 20-22
Where: Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad & Museum
What: This starts this weekend! There may be some tickets still available, so if you are interested check it out! Take a ride on Thomas and meet Sir Topham Hatt! Check out the official website here for more information and to purchase tickets.
8. Art in the Barn
When and Where: Sunday 4- 7 pm at Simpson Barn in Johnston
What: Come out to Simpson Barn and enjoy wine and cheese! This event is to help raise money for the Johnston Public Library. Last year, they raised $3,500 and used it towards purchasing computers for the children’s section in the library. This year there will be even more artists displayed! You can purchase tickets at Hy-Vee or the Johnston Public Library for $20. For more information check it out here.
PLAN AHEAD …
1. World Food & Music Festival
When: September 20th – 22nd, Friday & Saturday 11 am -10 pm, Sunday 11 am – 5 pm
Where: Historic East Village
What: Great event for the whole family! Free to attend. $1 samples all entrees are $5 or less. Check out the live music and cooking demonstrations! For more information check out their official website here.
2. White Christmas
When: December 10th – 15th
Where: Des Moines Civic Center
What: Yes, the holiday season is just around the corner! Tickets go on sale for this classic on September 23rd at 9 am!
