My dad is so good at bringing some of my visions to life. There has been several times now that I’ve shown him a few pictures of things I liked and he just drew up plans so we could build it ourselves.
So when he asked what E might like for her birthday this year, I asked if he was up for another project : ) I really thought she would enjoy an outdoor easel.
Oh my goodness! It turned out better than I imagined! the easel is made of plexiglass so it is double sided. My dad also created a ledge to hold the paint. It’s so sturdy and well made!
Outdoor Easel
We also ordered a little pump sprayer and squeegee so she can easily clean the paint off.
The pump sprayer is already a hit 😆 while I stained the easel, E spent a good 30 minutes spraying random things in the yard with water. This one turned out to be the perfect size (https://amzn.to/3KnXlNG)
If you’re looking for more ways to entertain your little ones outdoors, an easel is perfect for just that! It gives kids a simple space to paint, create on, and get messy. Then just hose it off!
They can be pretty expensive to buy but there are so many ways to build your own! You can really customize it to fit your budget.
There is just something special about an easel outside! Kids tend gravitate towards it.
Associate Link for handheld pump sprayer: https://amzn.to/3KnXlNG
My family and I enjoyed a few days at the Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City. It was the perfect little spring getaway!
Not only does the Lodge have a huge indoor water park, but there are several other activities. It has a bowling alley, mini golf, an arcade, a Build a Bear Workshop, Magiquest, and several restaurants. Plenty to keep your family busy and entertained for days! We didn’t have much time left to adventure out and explore Traverse City.
The water park has something for all ages. Our daughter had a little growth spurt right before our trip so we were surprised to find out she reached the 42” height requirement for the big slides! My husband and daughter had such a great time on the slides together. Because I’m pregnant, I enjoyed the more mellow sides of the water park, like the lazy River.
The rooms were very spacious. Ours had a little seating area and 2 queen beds. The rooms included a mini fridge and microwave, which was perfect for storing drinks and snacks without having to buy them the whole time. I was pleasantly surprised that you were allowed to bring in outside food/drinks.
Our little one had such a great time at Great Wolf Lodge. I’m sure we will go back!
The DNR Outdoor Adventure Center in Detroit is the perfect place to learn and explore a little bit of Michigans great outdoors! Experience exciting outdoor adventures with hands-on activities, exhibits, simulators and more!
This is a place the whole family can enjoy. My daughter loved exploring, playing in the treehouse and trying out the simulators. We look forward to our next visit at the OAC!
This summer, we took our daughter to the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History for the first time. She’s really interested in dinosaurs so it was a big hit!
General admission to the museum is always FREE, but donations are gratefully accepted.
Hours vary slightly throughout the year, so be sure to check their website for the hours before making your trip to the museum.
Location: (I found this information from their website so helpful!)
The Biological Sciences Building (BSB) is located 1105 N. University Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, next to the museum’s old home in the Ruthven Building—just across the plaza to the north. You can identify us by the “Golden Dome” of our new Planetarium & Dome Theater off of Washtenaw Avenue, north of Geddes Avenue.
The Palmer Visitor Parking Structure is just north of the museum and is recommended for visitors. Parking can be difficult on weekdays during the University of Michigan’s fall and winter semesters.
Within the Palmer Structure, take the South Elevator to the Plaza Level (P), turn right as you exit and walk around to the front of the Biological Sciences Building on the south side of the building. Enter through the doors flanked by two statues of pumas at the east end of the building.
$2.00 per hour
7:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday
On Sundays, free parking is also available in unmarked “Blue” faculty/staff spaces.
My family and I really enjoyed wandering the Toledo Botanical Gardens. This place is so beautiful. There are over 60 acres of display gardens to explore. It would be such a quiet, relaxing spot for a picnic.
My daughters favorite spot was the secret forest! The secret forest is a playground that connects children with the garden and nature in a fun way.
If you find yourself in the Toledo, OH area it is definitely worth checking out!
Oh my goodness! E and I had the chance to cuddle cows at New Creation Family Farm. They were the sweetest babies! Three little cows, so content to be cuddled and loved. It was so cute to watch them fall asleep as you pet them. I loved every minute of it.
I’ve learned recently that cows are basically really big dogs 😆 They can be really social, affectionate and love to be pet. Who knew!
At New Creation Family Farm you can reserve a time to cuddle with the cows. You won’t regret it!
For a limited time you could see the dinosaurs at the Detroit Zoo! My little one was so amazed!
“This immersive walk-through experience will take you back in time to a world of prehistoric wonder as you journey through a lush and winding trail with incredible sights at every turn. Dinosauria features 29 life-like animatronic dinosaurs, including a towering, 65-foot-long Brachiosaurus!”
We will be on the look out to see when they come back!
My little one has been talking about caterpillars and butterflies for months! We decided to order the butterfly garden kit from Insect Lore.
The butterfly garden kit comes with five live baby caterpillars or you can choose to receive a voucher to receive the caterpillars at a later date (perfect for gifting). The kit also comes with everything you need for them to grow; all the food, a pop-up reusable mesh habitat, a chrysalis holding log, flower shaped butterfly feeder, sugar packets, and a feeding dropper. It also comes with a STEM Butterfly Journal with fun science, math and writing activities. My little one wasn’t quite ready for the activities in the journal but she enjoyed flipping through it.
My daughter was SO EXCITED when the caterpillars arrived. She counted them and talked to them.
For the first several days, you simply watch the caterpillars move and grow. After about 6 days our caterpillars began to form their chrysalises. We were amazed how fast it happened. We never did see them forming. Within two days they were all hanging in their chrysalises from the top of the container.
After 3 days, you gently remove the lid and use a cotton swab to remove the webbing from around the chrysalises. This is to prevent the wings from getting caught when the butterflies emerge from the chrysalis. Carefully place the lid sideways into the Chrysalis Holding Log, and then place it in the butterfly habitat.
Just 6 days later, the butterflies began to emerge one by one. We kept them in a location that we constantly walk by throughout the day. It made it easy to keep an eye on them. I was shocked how quick they come out. I walked by one moment and the habitat looked the same and when I walked by again a few minutes later there was a butterfly! Throughout the day all five butterflies emerged. We missed seeing the majority, but we were able to watch one emerge from the chrysalis. My daughter was so excited.
At first the wings are soft and crumpled but then they will slowly stretch and strengthen their wings. It was important not to touch the newly emerged butterflies. We waited 2-3 hours and then gave them a few drops of sugar water in the feeder. The next day we put a few small pieces of watermelon on a plate inside their habitat. It was neat to watch them eat.
I learned that butterflies do not have mouths. Instead, they have a proboscis extending from their head, a straw-like tube that coils up when not in use. They have a liquid diet; they get all of their nutrients from nectar, tree saps, rotting fruits and other sources.
We enjoyed watching our butterflies for a few more days in the habitat and then we set them free! I had to prepare my daughter those few days, she was not interested in letting them go. She wanted to keep them safe inside.
I didn’t get any pictures of the butterflies when we set them free. It happened so quick! I’m not sure any of us actually held one before they flew away. It was a fun experience and I was amazed how much of the process my three year old understood. She constantly talked about how the caterpillars formed a chrysalis and they would become butterflies!
We would definitely get more caterpillars and do this again. I have heard of people making it an annual tradition with their little ones and I think I like the idea!
Keep in mind, it is best to do this project when daytime temperatures in your area are between 55-85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Over spring break, we had the chance to go to story time at Tony Lions Cat Cafe in Ann Arbor, MI. My little one LOVES cats! We aren’t able to have a car of our because of allergies, but what better way to spend a morning than snuggling and reading books with kittens!
When we arrived, there were activities set out for the children. My little one was interested for just a moment but the cats had her attention. We spent a little while playing and then we all sat down for story time. The theme particular day was cats! We listened to a story about a family who adopted a cat and a felt story about a cat who got into some sort of trouble each day of the week.
After the stories, the children had the option to do a craft, play with toys or interact with the cats. My little one chose to snuggle the tiniest kitten while listening to more stories. She kept telling me to put the kitty in a cage and take it home. It was so sweet! I wanted to take it home too…
There were 11 kittens at the cafe that day. They were all already adopted and waiting to be picked up by their new families. Thank goodness because it is so hard to leave without wanting to adopt one yourself!
Tiny Tails Story Time: -ages 2-5 -preregistration is required -$7/child. Adults and babies under the age of 1 are free. -Wednesdays 10:30-11:30
Are you looking for a new winter activity to entertain your little ones? Snow volcano’s are really quick, easy and you probably have all the ingredients already in your kitchen.
All you need is a cup, bottle, 1/4 cup of baking soda, dish soap, 1 cup of vinegar and food coloring! Start by mixing some baking soda, food coloring and dish soap in the bottle, then set aside. Fill the cup with vinegar.
Outside, build up the snow around the bottle in the shape of a volcano, leaving the opening at the top. Then simply poor the vinegar into the bottle and watch your volcano erupt! A fun little winter science experiment for the kids AND you get to leave the mess outside.
