67 Ways to delay spring cleaning

Wake up late
Pretend it is still winter
Surf online
Check email
Check phone settings
Check tv settings
Check tv listings
Re organize tv series
Get a virus
Remodel the house
Ask for help from the kids
Ask for help from hubby
Go to the library
Join Netflix
Have playdates
Sprain a muscle
Break a bone
Get food poisoning
Go shopping
Shop online for deals
Check social networking sites
Sign up for more social networking sites
Spend lots of time on privacy settings and profile
Install a new app on your mobile device
Buy a new mobile device
Buy a new pc
Buy a laptop
Buy a new phone
Buy a new car
Try to sell your car
List the house
Go to open houses
Buy a pet
Try to train the pet
Take care of the pet
Consider elective surgery
Visit doctors to discuss elective surgery
Go on a trip
Plan a vacation
Shop around for a vacation
Sign up for frequent flyer cards
Sign up for hotel rewards cards
Consider a timeshare
Buy a timeshare
Book appointment for hair
Hair style
Do nails
Consider tanning
Research tanning safety
Take vitamin d
Research vitamins and minerals
Research supplements
Research diet
Join a co-op
Plan a garden
Start a garden
Read about garden surplus
Can your surplus
Read books on nutrition
Read books on parenting
Read relationship books
Borrow books on decorating
Go to the park
Read blogs
Start a blog
Monitor and maintain blog
Consider a change in career
Go out to lunch with friends
Take a walk with friends
Read a book about friends
Consider a new book group
XO

Local children's museums

Our family motto is try most things once.  So we sign up for lots of different activities and events and some of them we love.  Below are some that we have tried locally and recommend.

Morris museum 

We love this small and sufficient museum, it has lots to do from toddlers up to adults.  The toddlers come first with the music room filled with things to interact with for kids (and adults) of all ages. Its other collections include costumes and textiles, fine art, decorative art, dolls and toys, natural science, geology and paleontology, and anthropology.  They have programs and events running at various times in the year and various times of the day.  Their summer camps are very popular and affordable.  They also have a donation night where for the cost of a donation you can enter for free.  

I've also heard great things about the Zimmerli museum but for one reason or another haven't tried it yet.

Imagine that Museum, Florham park. Not really a historical museum but a hands on activity center. It is specializes in pre-school age and young school children.  Kids love playing here.

We've also heard about the Princeton Art museum family Saturdays but distance has prevented us from experiencing this program. Let me know if you've tried this museum.

The Children's Museum in Bridgewater.  The Children's Museum has educational exhibits and programs and this museum may travel from location to location.  Young kids love this and it is stress free and suggested donation so very economical.  I'd say kids from 3-10 might like this museum.

xo

Saving money on toys & clothes

I was much more involved in my older sons toys. We had only one kid, so it was easier to focus on his interests and play. We bought loads of Thomas trains, Mickey Mouse and motorized toys (ride ons and remote control cars) as he loved them. He also loved bike riding and playgrounds, balls and other gross motor activities. So we stocked up on all of the above. We have 4-5 bikes of different sizes, we have various types & sizes of balls, and all sorts of motorized toys and little tykes are scattered all over our back yard. And we had lots of opportunities to use these toys.

One benefit to having two kids of the same sex is that they will be close to one another and perhaps also save us a bundle buying new clothes and toys and things. Well, along came son #2 and he is mixing things up.  He was initially afraid of motorized toys - now what do I do with the ride ons and remote control cars and other toys? He didn't love Thomas trains and my boys bathroom is decorated in Thomas exclusively... wow saving loads of money (Not!). He also has physical challenges which make balls and gross motor activities more difficult for him. So, while he likes those activities, it is frustrating to him (and us) to use them.  Not saving money yet, and frightened and frustrated.

Also son #2 likes older kid toys, of course ;) . I didn't need to save all the baby toys since he wants to play with his older brothers toys anyway.  So no Little Bear, Sesame Street or Barney VHS episodes for us - instead he likes Power Rangers, Transformers, Superheroes and Rescue Heroes. Perhaps his Dad can relate to those interests.

Of course I kept most of the boy clothes, but kid #2 is opinionated about clothes too. Wasn't that supposed to be a girl trait?  Boys just wear whatever they are given, right?  Can someone explain this to my son who decides he wants something else to wear other than the 5 outfits I gave him to choose from?  Older son wore clothes for comfort and movement, but second son wants dressier jeans, camouflage, or perhaps something trendy or cool. Only shirts with logos on them will do and they have to be the RIGHT logos too.  Have I mentioned he is only 4 and he started doing this at age 2?  I'm in trouble when he reaches his teens.

I would never take my older son shopping, as he was too much to handle and ran around and I'd lose him...  let alone the tantrums when he couldn't have the item he wanted. But #2 is impossible to shop with without getting an item he wants. He will either be a lawyer or hostage negotiator when he grows up, and wears me down in stores (and I had 2 cups of coffee that day ;) ).

At least #2 hasn't been too opinionated about furniture... yet.

Perhaps they will at least be close as brothers when they are older. ;)

xo

Thank goodness for libraries!

Is there something libraries can't do?  My local libraries have classes for kids for babies all the way up to seniors and everyone in between.  Once my kids were babies we would trek to the library weekly or more often for all sorts of classes.  Anything from music for babies (enhances neural development) to concerts, petting zoos, science classes and hypnosis!  Honestly the last one blew my mind.  A local library is now running annual weight control hypnosis classes.  Imagine that! These classes typically cost $70 at any other venue but you can get it for free thanks to library budgets and your tax dollars.  Also libraries will typically let you in on their classes even if you aren't a resident via a waiting list or you can donate to the library friends groups.

Lots of storytimes and craft times happen at the library.

I have been to umpteen classes at the libraries such as 'all about Korea' which included a full 3 course meal.  Other classes include a meditation class, an organizing class, a movie, gardening -included passing out flats of flowers ;)  My kids have been signed up for many classes and have learned and enjoyed a lot.

Older kids can do legos and other clubs

Lets not forget that you can borrow books and more, magazines, music, some have posters, kids work boxes (for home enrichment), you can save money renting/borrowing movies, free ebooks and more.

Somehow even babies are drawn to the kids computers and they know how to use them too!

And there are loads of libraries around you may have access to.  We all know we have our local town library but did you know you could probably borrow books at other libraries, such as a school library, a medical & therapeutic toy library via a medical facility, a church library, some work place libraries are available to the public and more.  I particularly like the LRC via the state government funded by IDEA, has so many educational resources it it mind blowing.  Also lets not forget the environmental libraries run by the environmental centers of the counties, they have loads of gardening, animal and landscaping books.

Acting and a show at the local library!

There are online reading libraries, online ebook libraries etc.  What is the most interesting lending library you have heard of and what is the most unusual class you have been to?

Poster at the NJ LRC

Lets hear it for the libraries!

xo

Photos, Macs & Woodloch

One new thing I've done this year is convert our old Mac into a slideshow of our digital photos (we turn it on in the morning and off at night).  It looks good and we love to see what photo will pop up.  Who prints photos anymore anyway?  The kids love it and my youngest child is home a lot more than my eldest so he gets to see lots of old photos.  In particular, photos of the eldest having fun in lots of different pictures.  'No, that isn't you in the photos, it is your brother on vacation/at the amusement park/with friends/out/doing things etc' :(

We've been stressed lately with day to day life (can you tell we live in the NE?) that we've made an effort to take more breaks this year.  Especially since my youngest child is now no longer a baby (and doesn't need baby paraphernalia).  Also we promise to take him to as many activities as (the pictures prove) his brother went to.

So Woodloch was the perfect starting point.  It is a great all inclusive family resort.  We loved it the first time we went with my oldest child.  It has loads of activities to keep kids busy and the parents hence get a break and might enjoy it too.  Also mom doesn't need to stress out about meals, they are included and the options are good.  'Junior doesn't want the sandwich he ordered?  No problem, would he like a fruit salad, yogurt, ice cream etc? ' Also costume characters would appear during the meal so that the parents might get some time to enjoy their meal while the kids were amused. And the meals were very good, home cooked food.  Lots of courses too, in case you are hungry: salad, soup, main meal, bread, sides, dessert.

Popular activities this time around were the go carts, bumper cars, ride on jeeps, art & craft room, storytime, did I mention pool!  They added a splash area since we were there last time and the kids had a blast, I got to sit in the hot tub (no kids under 14 ;) ) till I wrinkled.  Life guards on duty but parents should be nearby (thanks hubby) to watch younger kids.  Snow tubing (great snow tube run right by our room), indoor playgym, games room, and more.

You can use the resort any time you get to the resort (even if your room isn't ready) and you can also use it the last day of your trip till late. So with that said and with occasional discounts and off season rates it is an affordable nearby trip!

Of course we took lots of pictures to add to our digital images on the Mac, but somehow it didn't seem as many pictures as the first time around ;(

xo