Thomas the Train Visits the Capital

By Kamerine

Last weekend was a special weekend in Ottawa. Thomas the train made a  visit to the St. Laurent Mall. He was there for two free shows both Saturday and Sunday. We took in the 11am show on Sunday.

We arrived a few minutes before 11 to a packed house. Kids and babies and parents and strollers everywhere. The show was in an open area on the main floor and there was an area near the stage for stroller parking.

We actually went up to the second floor to look down at the show. There were less people and we knew that would be better for our kids. They were buzzing with excitement waiting for Thomas.

The show started with an emcee who got the kids excited, cheering and clapping, and then it was time for Driver Sam, a bubbly girl who sang songs and danced. Sir Topham Hatt came next, building the excitement with more songs and a dance. Eventually it was time for Thomas. The second the theme song started up the kids were all smiles.

The show was a little long and dragged at times, but overall was really fun. The kids were so excited and only a little disappointed that none of Thomas' friends were there. For a free event it was great, an amazing memory for the kids, and a fun time as a parent seeing them so excited.

Did you make it out to see Thomas? He's making his way across most of Canada on his live tour.

Taking Advantage of Ottawa's Wading Pools

COVID-19 Update: 53 wading pools will be opening in a phased in approach with limited admission numbers to allow for physical distancing. For more information visit the city’s web site. Some information below will not apply for this year.

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Tomorrow is officially the first day of summer and what says summer better than visiting a splash pad? For those of us lucky enough to be living in the Ottawa area, a secret gem in the summer is the abundance of wading pools and splash pads across the area. Did you know that in Ottawa, there are 56 wading pools and splash pads all over the city?

What's also pretty cool about our city's wading pools are the special events that take place all summer. Almost every weekend, there will  Wading Pool Special Events.  All special events are held from 11 am to 4 pm, featuring arts and crafts, games, prizes, and lots of time to stay cool.  Some events even have featured guest activities, a free barbecue and a lunchtime Performing Arts Series between 11:30 and 12:30.  A new feature this year are Friday Fun Days . Every Friday, you and the kids can visit one of the City of Ottawa wading pools and participate in kid-themed fun and games.

You can also take part in the Waterplay program. This program uses fun and interactive games and learn-to-swim activities to offer a basic instruction in necessary water skills. This is a great opportunity for kids to have fun at the wading pools while also building foundational swimming skills and learning water safety. Waterplay is an informal program available to the public free of charge at all wading pools across the city.

For kids who don’t want to get wet, but still want to hang at the pool, they can participate in Park-ticipate, a free, informal drop-in program offered at various water parks throughout Ottawa. Children aged 4 to 10 are invited to join city staff sports, crafts and games led by city staff. A great way for you to relax, as long as you stay close by.

All the Ottawa area Wading pools are open daily from 11 am to closing time and will run from June 28 to August 16, 2013. Don’t know where to find a splash pad close to you? Use this City of Ottawa Map, to see where all the Splash pads are located.

What's your favourite Splash Pad or Wading Pool in Ottawa? 

The Adventures of Mr. Potato Head Giveaway - Closed

By Kamerine I don't think there's a single person who hasn't heard of Mr. Potato Head. Even if you didn't have one of these toys as a child, chances are you know someone who did or your kids now have one. At the very least you've seen him in the Toy Story movies.

Mr. Potato Head has been around for about 60 years and started out as pieces to stick into actual potatoes. Over the years, Mr. Potato Head has changed and is now bigger and comes with a plastic potato body. I didn't know this, but there was even a Mr. Potato Head show that aired in the 90s.

It's fitting that the Children's Museum has created a special Mr. Potato Head exhibit to celebrate this popular toy. I had seen the ads forThe Adventures of Mr. Potato Head and was excited to get the chance to take my kids, ages 2 and 3, to check it out. And wow, it was incredible!

We couldn't get more than 5 feet into the exhibit because right at the door is a section with 7 Mr. Potato Head bodies and loads and loads of pieces. The kids dug around and picked out eyes, mouths, feet, arms, and silly hats for their potatoes. When they were satisfied we moved farther into the room. There was so much to take in: to the left a section for digging for artifacts, flashing lights in the back left fighting for our attention, a jeep right in the middle for safari fun, and a spaceship in the back right beckoning us. In fact, each of these are special adventure-themed zones with clever descriptions you can read about on the museum's website.

We slowly made our way around the room, exploring the different parts with the help of museum employees. We checked out the light wall that is motion-sensitive and twinkles when you move in front or touch it and then fades away as you move away. We dug for artifacts and found the pieces to make a crown. We checked out the submarine and played with the underwater sounds. We sat in the spaceship and saw ourselves on the screen. We checked out the coral reef and read some books about going on safari. We sat in the jeep and played with the binoculars.

And on our way out the kids couldn't help but build more Mr. Potato Heads at the activity table near the door.

The exhibit was well done and bigger than I imagined. So many things to see and do, including some activities that we didn't try that are probably better suited for children a older than mine.

The Adventures of Mr. Potato Head is a special exhibit at the Canadian Children's Museum (inside the Museum of Civilization) and runs until January 5, 2014. On top of the exhibit, there are special events for more hands-on fun. I hope you get a chance to visit the museum. My kids liked digging for artifacts in Spud Quest best.

Have you visited the Adventures of Mr. Potato Head Yet? We're so sure you'll love it, we're giving away a family pass for the exhibit! Just tell us what you loved about Mr. Potato Head as a kid in the comments below and you're entered! Contest ends June 27th!

Kamerine is mom to 3 year old Little J and 2 year old  Little K.  She documents her life with two toddlers, a husband and a cat at The Life of K.

In the Name of the Father

Father's Day is almost here and I have already completed our family tradition:

Now I'm trying to figure out what else the kid could do to surprise Daddy on Sunday.

I'm not a crafty mom so I always go to Pinterest when it comes to finding crafts and activities, and I've gotten a few ideas:

T-Shirt Quilt

For our first Christmas together I got my husband a t-shirt that was kind of an inside joke. Since then it's become sort of a tradition and he's got a lot of shirts that are wearing out, I've got shirts that are just memories, and our daughter has old favourites that she just keeps growing out of. Gathering all of these things together and creating a memory quilt for our bed seems like a really great idea. I thought of surprising Joe with such a quilt, but I worried about sneaking his favourite shirts out of his drawer so I think I'll actually ask him.

Daddy's Mug

For her daycare provider at Christmas last year the kid painted a mug with special ceramic paint. It was a quick project, but Pinterest has shown me an even easier way – the Sharpie mug. You draw on a plain mug with a Sharpie permanent marker and then bake it. Now that my kid is learning how to write her letters this could be a fantastic gift that would help Daddy remember his three-year old as she keeps on growing.

An Interview

One thing that my husband and I have both done in the past is interview our daughter. Last year I asked her a few questions about her Daddy – like what his name is, how old he is, what she likes doing with him – and sent them to him. Doing this every year and watching the answers change and grow would be a great tradition.

Artistic Kid

One of my favourite things that I've seen on Pinterest that I haven't done yet is this great idea – having your child paint or create something and photographing them while they work, and then framing the photo with the artwork. It's something I would love to have hanging in my own home.

Really my husband doesn't need any more than a hug and a kiss and 'I love you Daddy' (and he probably wants to sleep in that day), but it's nice to have something that reminds you year after year of your child growing up.

Are you doing anything special for Father's Day?

Amy is mom to three year old The Kid and a 7 year old schnauzer named Henry. You can read her blog at amyboughner.ca where she writes about motherhood and anything else that’s on her mind.

Planning for Westfest: Westboro's Giant Street Party

Westfest is one of Ottawa's most happening arts and music festivals, featuring a whole slew of great Canadian talent. It’s basically a giant, free, four-day party in Westboro and after a year of waiting for the excitement, Westfest is back and it starts tonight!

 If you’ve been to Westfest before, you understand what all the excitement is about and if you’ve never been, do yourself (and the kiddies) a favor and get out there and enjoy. Some rules of thumb to remember when attending Westfest with the kids:

Walk if you Can

If you live close enough to Westfest you really should consider walking since parking is extremely limited. If you live too far away to walk, prepare to park away from the action.

Wear your best walking shoes and don’t forget your stroller because Westfest covers nearly 15 blocks, about a one kilometre chunk of Richmond Road, which can feel very long if your feet hurt or if you have short little legs. Biking is also a great way to get around.

Check the Weather

Check the weather before you leave the house, and if you’re planning on spending some time there, prepare for any weather-related eventuality. If it’s hot, bring water, lots of sunscreen and hats. For chilly weather, bring sweaters and blankets for strollers. Westfest happens rain or shine so always have an umbrella is you’re willing to brave the rain.

Have a Food Plan

If it’s a nice day it’s pretty much guaranteed that all the restaurants will be jam-packed. Some restaurants will have a special Westfest menu and have seating out on the street. If you have little ones, figuring out how and when to feed them beforehand is a pretty important piece of the puzzle if you want your day to run smoothly.

Plan Your Day

There is so much for kids to see and do on the street. There are always some really cool street performers, a bunch of inflatable bouncy things, awesome face-painting artists. This year, for the kids, there is a Dovercourt Funzone, ScotiaBank Kidzone and some pretty awesome balloonists from The World’s Greatest Balloons. There will be so much to do that you’re kids won’t be bored. But it is easy for them to get overwhelmed so having a plan of what you want to do is critical.

Plan Some Adult Time

One of the best parts of Westfest, however, and a part that shouldn’t be missed is the music. This year, Jane Siberry, The Skydiggers and Fiftymen are some of the big name draws. You can check out the lineup here. The music during the day is fun for the kids but don’t forget to book a sitter if you want some adult time to walk, eat and enjoy as well.

Are you heading out to Westfest this weekend? What is your favorite part?