A Very Busy Week!!!

This past week was a very busy weekend for some of our MOPS ladies and MOPPETS!

On Tuesday, several of us met for Tot Time at Trousdell Activity Pool so the little ones could swim and play in the water without getting run over by the big kids.  It was not very crowded, so the moms actually got to visit while the kids swam.

On Wednesday, some moms and kids got together at one of the mom's houses for a fun play date and then went to lunch at Red Elephant to celebrate one of the mom's birthdays.

On Thursday afternoon, some of us met for snowballs at our favorite place, Mardi Gras Snowballs!  We had two first-timers, and I think they both really liked their first snowball!

Friday morning, a couple of moms and children met at the Brogan Museum.  One of the ladies is thinking about joining our group, and I sincerely hope she does, because she and her daughter are a joy to be around, and I know they would love being a part of our MOPS group!

Another fun thing several people participated in last week was the Vacation Bible School at North Florida Christian Church. The theme was "Panda Mania", and it was extremely well-organized, and all the kids had a blast!  One of our MOPS ladies volunteered as a Crew Leader, and even though she worked long hours, she really enjoyed taking care of our MOPPETS that participated, and they were all so grateful to have her there. The closing ceremony Friday night was completely amazing, and it was evident how much time and effort went into VBS there this summer.

We have some fun events planned this week as well:  a backstage kitchen tour at the Chick fil A on North Monroe Street on Tuesday, and a birthday lunch for a mom on Wednesday at Morelia's. Both of these events were distributed as Facebook events, so please RSVP to let us know if you're coming!  They are also on the Yahoo! calendar, which can be found by clicking on the Calendar link from this page.

Fun Station, Jr.

 

Last Friday, several MOPS moms and MOPPETS went to Fun Station, Jr. (previously known as Zoinks) which is a family entertainment center featuring lots of bouncy houses (including two just for the three and under crowd), a huge climbing structure, arcade games, and a small section of cars and a carousel for the little kids to ride on.  The moms got to visit while the kids had a blast!  It's a great place for summer time because the kids can run and bounce off all of their energy while keeping cool at the same time.

There was one arcade game in particular that all the kids loved, because they had the chance to win up to 75 tickets!  I think each child there played that game at least twice!  Here are two playing the game....

And here is one who won a bunch of tickets....

Wakulla Springs

Located just 45 minutes away from our MOPS home (Bradfordville First Baptist Church), there is a state park called Wakulla Springs, home of one of the largest and deepest freshwater springs in the world.  There is a small beach area where the kids can play in the sand, and diving platforms for the brave big kids and adults.  There are River Boat tours which are 40-60 minute which takes visitors on a three mile loop downstream and back among majestic bald cypress trees, elegant wading birds and toothy alligators.  Once in a while, you can even see manatee!  They used to have glass bottom boat tours, but those are very rare these days due to poor visibility.  There is a lodge built in 1937 where you can see “Old Joe” — an 11-foot, 2-inch alligator enshrined in glass.
 
This past Friday a few MOPS moms and kids headed to Wakulla Springs for a morning of sand and water fun!  Unfortunately, due to car troubles, and rain, our morning was cut short, but I think everyone had a great time while we were there.  There is definite interest in returning, because several moms who were out of town wanted to go, so there will be another trip planned there soon!

Story Time at the Northeast Branch Library

Every Thursday, there is a Story Time at the Northeast Branch Library (on Thomasville Road, across from Walmart).  This week, several MOPS moms and kids attended. Story Time usually starts off with Raffi’s “Shake Your Sillies Out”, which all the kids love to dance to, then Miss Caroline (the Story Time leader) takes out “Book Worm” and the kids all try to get a book from Book Worm by yelling “Book!”  Then she reads a couple of books, interspersed with some dancing or finger activities such as “Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Turn Around”,  “Open, Shut Them”, and “If You’re Happy and You Know it”. One of the last things Miss Caroline does is a puppet show.  These are always a huge hit with the audience.  This week, the theme of Story Time was "Bugs" so Miss Caroline read a few books about bugs, and then did a really cute puppet show with all kinds of bug puppets, including ladybugs, butterflies, spiders, and even a roach!  There was a lot of screaming and squealing from both moms and kids!

Brogan Buddies!

 On the second and fourth Mondays of the month, Brogan has a 30-minute early-learning class designed for preschoolers and an adult helper.  This Monday’s theme was “Sidewalk Wonders” and the children learned about colors and what colors you can make by mixing other colors, such as mixing blue and yellow to create green. They were then each given a small cup of chalk dust, and then added the colors they wanted to mix, plus some water, and stirred it all up.  When we went back an hour later, they each had chalk!  All of the kids who participated really seemed to enjoy the activity!

 While we waited for the chalk to harden, we went to see the Giant Bugs Exhibit on the first floor (a traveling exhibition featuring bugs of giant proportions that are computer controlled and pneumatically operated to move their heads, wiggle their antennae, buzz their wings, gnash their mandibles, and extend their enormous bodies)!

Then we went to explore the second floor exhibits, including the Early Learners area where the kids had fun playing on the crane; doing puppet shows; playing with the train table; and all the fun toys.  We all explored the Eco Lab to see the fish, turtles, crabs, and shells. 

We will definitely have another play date to the Brogan Museum soon!

33rd Annual Tallahassee Museum Swamp Stomp!

If you're looking for something fun to do with the family this weekend, the Tallahassee Museum is having their 33rd Annual Swamp Stomp this Saturday, July 9th from 4-9 p.m. at the Tallahassee Museum.  "The Swamp Stomp is a festival of talented singers and songwriters including folk, bluegrass, pop, jazz and even some rock, which is really exciting — performed on acoustic instruments for the most part. So it's going be a really amazing event and we're really excited to host it once again this year," said Marguerite Martin, spokeswoman for the museum.  This year's lineup includes Hot Tamale, Cheap and Easy, the Sarah Mac Band, Ric Edmiston, and The New 76ers.  Festival Organizer Del Suggs said the event is a great way to celebrate Tallahassee's local roots through an evening of music set alongside the museum's lakeside oaks.  "The Swamp Stomp is always an amazing musical event. It's the closest thing we have in Tallahassee to an acoustic music festival," he said.  "While nearly a thousand people will attend, it never seems crowded because the museum is so large.  People can listen to music some, and wander over to see the exhibits or the animals, so it's a great family event, too."  Along with the music, you can enjoy outdoor games, face-painting, close-up animal encounters, living history demonstrations, and environmental education.  For the main event, stake out a shady spot among the lakeside oaks and enjoy hours of great music into the cool of the evening.  Festival goers also can grab a bite to eat and quench their thirst at the museum's Trail Break Cafe, which offers fresh sandwiches and wraps with a variety of sides as well as desserts.  Regular museum admission fee of $9 for adults, $8.50 for college student with valid IDs and senior citizens, $6 for children ages 4-15, and free for children 3 and younger, and for museum members.

What's going on in July

We finally have a Mom's Night Out scheduled at Morelia's for Wednesday, July 6th at 6:30!  A lot of people are out of town, but hopefully, we will have some moms come for food and fellowship! 

The first play date at Lake Hall/Maclay Gardens was so successful, we're having another one Friday, July 8th at 9:30.  Admission to Maclay Gardens is $6.00 per vehicle and there is a limit of 8 people per vehicle.  Once you pay at the ranger station, take your first right to the "Recreation Area" and you will see the lake and beach area to your right.  There are dressing rooms for changing, and bathrooms and picnic areas.  There is also a playground!  We are also meeting for snow balls in the afternoon at Mardi Gras Snowballs at 3:30 on this day, so join us for one or both!

On Monday, July 11th, we are meeting at the Brogan Museum at 10:00.  They are having "Brogan Buddies" since it's the second Monday.  Brogan Buddies is a 30 minute program designed for early learners and an adult helper.  This Brogan Buddies is called "Sidewalk Wonders".  Have some summer fun inside learning colors and how to mix them.  Then take the fun outside with your very own sidewalk chalk!  For those not interested in doing the Brogan Buddies program, the Brogan Museum is a world-class educational and cultural organization that incorporates hands-on science activities with visual art exhibits that teach as well as entertain. There are currently two exhibits, one geared towards kids: The World of Giant Insects, a traveling exhibition featuring insects of giant proportions! From 60 to 600 times actual size, computer controlled and pneumatically operated, these big, ugly bugs move their heads, wiggle their antennae, buzz their wings, gnash their mandibles and extend their enormous bodies for visitors.  

On Friday, July 15th, we are heading to Wakulla Springs at 9:30.  Home of one of the largest and deepest freshwater springs in the world, this park plays host to an abundance of wildlife, including alligators, turtles, deer, and birds. Daily guided riverboat tours provide a closer view of wildlife.  There is a $6.00 admission fee, limit of 8 people per vehicle. River boat tours are extra-$8.00 for adults and $5.00 per child, 12 and under.  Join us for some sand and water fun!

 Fun Station, Jr (formerly known as Zoinks Kid Station) is our destination on July 22nd at 10:00.  The kids can bounce off some energy, while the moms visit!  The cost is $5.00 for unlimited jumping.  If your kids like to ride the "kiddie carousel", the cars, or play the arcade-style games, you can purchase tokens.  

So Far this Summer....

The MOPS moms and MOPPETS have managed to see each other quite a bit so far this summer! We had an official play date scheduled once a week every week in June, plus impromptu gatherings at Trousdell Pool; our new favorite place, Mardi Gras Snowballs; and the movie theatre for the Summer Movie Express ($1.00 movie special). Some of the fun things we have done are a play date at Winthrop Park; gathering for snow balls at Mardi Gras Snowballs; sand and water play at Lake Hall/Maclay Gardens; and an ice cream date at Lofty Pursuits.  It's been a great way for us to keep in touch with each other during the summer, and gives us all something fun to do to while away those looooong summer days, and keep our kids (and us!) from being bored.  It's also a great way for moms-to-be or new moms who are thinking about joining us to get to know the current MOPS moms on a more informal basis.  We had one friend join us at Lofty Pursuits, and we are hoping she will decide to join our group in the Fall!