Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Gifts That Keep on Giving

Last year for Christmas, my parents gave us a family membership to the Zoo. And let me tell you how we have given that sucker a workout. Nothing like waking up in the morning, realizing it's a nice day and high tailing it downtown in 15 minutes to check out the animals, burn off some energy at the playground and enjoy the outdoors. It's nothing short of a miracle, some days.

So this year, of course we asked grandma and grandpa to regift. No need for original ideas here, just more Zoo please. And Nana added to the fun by giving us a membership to our local Children's Museum. Now we have an indoor and outdoor option. Nothing like waking up int he morning, realizing it's a crappy day and high tailing it downtown in 10 minutes to check out the moon sand, John Deere tractor and mechanical ball mouse trap. It's nothing short of a miracle.

I have recently learned, however, of a free option that as soon as my peanut is potty trained (really? you're sure you're not ready yet?) I can take advantage of. The free babysitting ball pit at IKEA. Oh, sure. You can't leave the premises, but mama can meet some gal pals for lunch at the cheapo cafe or have a coffee with a book or do some actual shopping. And it's only 5 minutes from my house. Taking advantage of a customer courtesy? Maybe. But 90 minutes of free babysitting? Now that's a miracle.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Day care at the gym. I'm tell you it has saved my sanity on more than one occasion.

Amy Jo said...

I've thought about the ikea play area a few times, but since Lulu isn't potty trained, it would only give me half a break.

I have to agree with K, however. The Y baby sitting is awesome. If you ever join the Sanders Y, the child care facilities there are nicer than the school Sam goes to now. And the pool is fantastic in the summer!

Loukia said...

I remember when my 2 year old wasn't quite poppy trained yet... and they wouldn't let him in the ball room at IKEA. I thought it might be more sanitary to ONLY let kids in who WERE wearing diapers, because what if a child had an accident... and then all the other kids would end up rolling around in some other child's pee... eww!

CDB said...

OMG.. I wonder if our IKEA up here has that?! If so I'm driving to Woodbridge every other day.

Meredith said...

just watch out for those ball pits - when I look at them, all I see is a ball room full of pink eye - not sure why since I've never actually gotten pink eye from a ball pit - I can just imagine - and my imagination is worse than reality.