First Fingerpainting Fun

Yesterday, Rhys and I tagged along on a trip out towards Cape Cod, Massachusetts where my husband had a business meeting.  We browsed around in some stores at Wareham Crossing while we waited for him and were excited about picking up Crayola finger paints.  The plan was to use the finger paints on Rhys' pumpkin for Halloween, as he is a bit too young to carve his own pumpkin at age 2.  Of course, this morning the finger paint was the first thing on Rhys' mind.  As a relatively inexperienced mom, I began to wonder what I had been thinking.  Rhys is my first child and I don't belong to a mother's group where I could pick up tips from seasoned moms.  Prior to Rhys' birth, we did lots of reading about the baby's development, as well as what life would be like once he arrived.  Once he arrived, there seemed to be little time for the same level of research - especially for activities like finger painting.  I didn't have plastic trays for the paint or even newspaper lying around the house so we improvised.  I used tissue paper on the dining room table and tore the tops off paper dixie cups to use as dipping containers for the paints.  I grabbed some blank sheets of paper, paper plates, napkins and a play smock Rhys already happened to own.  In the back of my mind, I couldn't help but wonder how "washable" these washable finger paints would be.  Here goes nothing! 

Our first experience with the finger paints was very positive.  Rhys was pretty mild mannered throughout the experience.  He carefully dipped his fingers in the different colors and began his works of art.  He told me, "this is fun!" I demonstrated how to make hand prints and it was when I decided to show him how to mix the colors to make new colors that his alter ego - Rhys the Beast - shined through.  With only a minor melt down, I explained that we were sharing in the fun and that there was plenty of paint to go around.  He quickly calmed down and we continued to play.

After a while, Rhys told me he wanted to clean up.  And so he followed me to the bathroom sink without touching anything and with soap, warm water and some gentle scrubbing - our hands were clean.  Success!  Rhys and Mommy give both the experience and Crayola finger paints two thumbs up!

A day in the life of a puggle...

Jim and I own 2 puggles, Pugsley and Brody.  Puggles are a wonderful breed.  They are medium sized (ours both weigh around 20 pounds) dogs.  They are very active and if you like to exercise - they are thrilled to join you.  They love to cuddle and sleep.  Our two dogs are males and have interesting personalities.  Pugsley has more pug traits and Brody more beagle.  Pugsley is loyal and loving, but boy is he trouble.  Since we have owned Pugsley (he's five)- he has had 2 multiple day emergency room visits for blockages (one requiring surgery).  He has had surgery on his eye (no fault of his own).  He has had unexpected trips to the vet where we have been able to induce vomitting to get whatever he ate (typically a sock) out of his system before he starts digesting it.  I have gotten better at doing this myself - but it is no small feat.  We have caught both Brody and Pugsley playing with dead animals they have caught from squirrels, to birds to mice.  Yuck! 

Who me?!?

Pugsley pulling

Pugsley is an escape artist.  Our back yard is fenced, but that doesn't stop him.  In the winter, if we get a lot of snow, he will climb snow piles and go over the fence.  Once the snow starts to melt and the ground is soft and wet or if it rains - he takes the opportunity to dig holes and go under the fence.  Brody takes no part in the behavior.  As a matter of fact, he will run over to the door and lead us to the scene of the crime to let us know what has happened.  When Pugsley gets out he bolts.  My husband chases him all over the neighborhood.  He darts in front of cars and deep into the woods across the street.  We try to bribe him with treats; however, he truly seems to have a death wish at times.  Last night, we were just about to put my son Rhys to sleep when I went out back to check on the dogs.  Brody came in and Pugsley was no where to be found.  I told my husband who immediately went out back to double check and then jumped in the car to start our search.  I assumed our chances of finding him at night were slim.  He backed up slowly (just in case) when he saw something a couple of houses down the street moving in the front lawn.  It was Pugsley.  He is very hard to see at night since he has black fur.  Jim put on his hazard lights in the car and blocked the road hoping this would signal to any approaching cars that something was going on.  I went to the front door when I heard Jim yelling and start calling for Pugsley and asking if he wanted peanut butter.  He came sprinting from the neighbors lawn directly towards the door.  Rhys was excited as he was approaching. Pugsley ran in, grabbed the bread from Rhys' hand as he zoomed by and headed towards the kitchen.  Breadless, the excitement for Rhys wore off.  We were happy and shocked as the chases have often lasted 30 - 60 minutes in the past.  Perhaps he sensed he would be a goner out there over night.  What a beast!

Prince Brody

Brody hiking

Acadia

Feast with the Beasts

Today my family and I went to enjoy the day with my in-laws (Nana & Papa).  When we left Rhode Island and headed north of Boston the skies were gray and the air was brisk.  We decided to check out the Food Truck Festival of New England being held for the 2nd year at Suffolk Downs in East Boston, Massachusetts (my personal first).  The place is a horse track so it was slightly dirty and smelly (of smoke, luckily no horse poop), but actually fairly well maintained for the occasion.  The set up inside was a bit lacking.  There were no more than a half dozen companies selling their products or distributing free samples piled close together.  We sampled some juices from Nantucket Nectar & Snapple and Jim managed to score a sample of black lava salt and we moved on.  As we walked outside, the day began to clear - big puffy white clouds in a blue sky and the weather warmed up.  The vendors were lined up around the park and the majority of them were from Massachusetts although we did see Del's representing Rhode Island and maybe a couple of places from New Hampshire.  Food  trucks in Rhode Island have grown in popularity, but on this occasion they were scare - not surprising, as I have met Rhode Islanders who have never left the state, let alone go to Boston. The event sold tickets that you used to purchase food ($13 for 10 tickets or $25 for 20 tickets).  The event website recommended walking around to view all the trucks before making a selection, which we did.  After we walked across the park we decided to indulge in dessert first to avoid the appearance of my son's alter ego, Rhys the Beast.  Dessert was red velvet with white chocolate chunk cookies (3 tickets for 2 big cookies-fairly priced) from The Cookie Monstah (Boston, Mass.).  In one word - yum!  The cookie was soft, moist and almost cake-like.  The flavor combination was a delicate balance of sweet perfection.  They left Rhys the Beast satisfied and asking for more. 

Next we walked back across the park to Captain Marden's Mobile Cuisine (Westwood, Mass.).  My husband and I split the the New Enlgand style clam chowder and the seafood stuffed potato and enjoyed both.  The chowder was the perfect thickness and had a good amount of clams & accompaniments.  The flavor was creamy and oceany and the clams were tender with no grit.  The Beast ate some oyster crackers.  The seafood stuffed potato was served hot, plentifully stuffed and topped with cheese. 

After taking a breather, we tried to purchase some mac n cheese for our son Rhys (Big Moe's M&M Ribs; 3 tickets for small container - overpriced).  The dish came in a styrofoam container with a plastic lid.  I was hoping for something a little more homemade or innovative tasting and I definitely have a preference for healthier, more eco-friendly packaging.  Some of the other plates that came out looked okay.  The truck was meat dominant and I do not eat land meat.  I think this one is a pass for me next time.

We still had a few tickets remaining so our quest for food continued.  We hit up our next spot, Boston Super Dog (Roxbury, Mass.), specifically for the pickles.  Grillo's Pickles was founded when Travis Grillo began selling his family's homemade pickles to the public.  The pickles grew in popularity after opening a pickle cart in Boston Common.  Grillo nows partners with Whole Foods as a primary means of distribution.  My first experience with Grillo's Pickles was at a Whole Foods in Bellingham, MA when they were beginning to expand.  We sampled and were hooked.  My husband, Jim, enjoys anything fried -so this was perfect.  When we first walked by the pickles were 2 pickles for 3 tickets...then they were bumped to 2 pickles for 4 tickets.  Should've stayed with 3! They were good (and so was the mustard on the side).  If you ever spot the truck and you do eat meat, my husband mentioned the pastrami sandwich looked great and in his words "was the size of a football."   

We used my in-laws remaining tickets and each household took home a whoopie pie from The Whoo(pie) Wagon.  Ours was pumpkin and frosting - brought me back to childhood immediately with a more modern twist.  The appearance, taste and texture to a T.

To all my Foodie friends - Keep your eyes peeled for next year's event! And yes this event is child friendly.  There is plenty of food they would enjoy, green space to run around and airplanes & horses as other points of interest for any little boy or girl. 

Quenching my thirst for fall

September and the beginning of Autumn are one of my favorite times of year in New England.  This week in particular was filled with lots of local excitement for the Gibson Family.  First we visited a local farm called Phantom Farms in Cumberland, RI.  Phantom Farms is a great stopping place no matter the time of year, but autumn is amongst the best.  They are known for apple picking, delicious baked goods & treats (like muffins, pastries, cider & candy apples), local vegetables and even a pumpkin playground of sorts for small children with a potato sack maze...oh the excitement in the air.  We visited during the week to avoid the crowds which was very pleasant.  We felt we had the orchard to ourselves - picking apples, climbing trees, laughing and playing.  There are always people at the farm whether it be for a quick purchase or a relaxing visit rocking on the front porch. 

Our next stop was next door at Diamond Hill Vineyard where they offer complimentary tastings.  The former proprietor, Claire, was very helpful.  Diamond Hill is a small family owned vineyard and they could not be more proud of their establishment.  The customer service is unbeatable - and always a family member so you are sure to see a familiar face. They produce an estate grown Pinot Noir and Pinot Noir Rose, as well as a variety of fruit wines.   For the fruit wines they now partner with other local farms for their produce and go organic when possible.  The store offers a number of other wine themed goodies - from cheese & crackers, salsas & dressings, and a variety of gift items.  On this particular occasion we enjoyed the peach wine that had a great sangria recipe printed on the back label as well as the Pinot Noir Rose.  We purchased the Pinot Noir Rose which we paired with an apple smoked cheddar cheese and a sliced apple we had just picked next door.  The property is beautiful and the family invites you to stay and enjoy the beautiful gardens while you are visiting.  There are several tables set up on the patio as well as picnic tables in the lawn.  It was the perfect casual atmosphere to visit with a 2 year old. They even had a kids table with crayons and a few books.  Our son Rhys was able to run about and enjoy his muffin and cider, while my husband Jim and I enjoyed our adult selections.

It is so important that we support local businesses in our communities.  The people who run these establishments are our neighbors, friends, and even family.  By supporting local you are not only purchasing high quality and affordable goods, but you are also reducing dependency on foreign oil required to get not-so-local products to the stores near you, driving up costs, polluting the environment and increasing the useage of a finite resource.  Small decisions can make a big impact on quality of life - for your family and for the earth!

Beasting in Boston - The Boston Children's Museum

The Boston Children's Museum (BCM) is located on Congress Street next to the Financial District and right on the waterfront - quite beautiful. Boston has made countless improvements over the last ten years or so.  There were a number of parking garages nearby offering rates between $12-$15 (not too bad, although the Providence Children's Museum offers limited free parking).  Admission is $14 per person ages 1+.  Our family has a membership to the Providence Children's Museum that allows us to visit other museums for free (sadly this type of pass is going away in 2013). 

September was a great time to visit the area.  We arrived around noon and met my in-laws who took a ferry from Revere into Boston.  The weather had warmed and the sun was shining brightly.  The boardwalk area was bustling with local workers out and about during their lunchbreaks.  We decided to grab lunch at The Barking Crab, also on the waterfront, before entering the museum.  The location was probably the best thing going for the place.  It was casual, which worked for us with a restless 2-year old in tow after sitting in traffic.  The seafood was fresh, the service was sub-par and the prices were moderately high for lunch.  It looked like a nice location for an after work beverage for locals.

TThe BCM is a LEED certified facility (Leader in Energy and Environmental Design), boasting their green roofs, storm water reclaimation and recycled, local or low-emitting building materials.  The multi-level museum is very large, which is why I recommend the afforable children's museum memberships.  You can always come back!  There were many fun, educational and physical activities throughout the museum - something for everyone.  Our son, Rhys, loves to climb so it was no surprise that he could not pass by the first exhibit.  However, once he climbed up, he could not figure out how to climb back out.  Note to parents:  This cool climbing feature is not built for larger adults.  Naturally, I sent my 6' 3'' husband in after him.  :)

After playing with balls, water and bubbles, we found another more physical area of the museum.  We peddled on bikes, shot some basketballs and of course hit the climbing wall.

The museum features some well known PBS attractions, including Arthur and Peep.  Our little guy gave these sections two thumbs up.  He excitedly ran around exploring each room.  Overall, we had a wonderful experience.  Everyone went home tired and happy. 

   

Creative little beast

Today was a day spent at home, catching up around the house.  I happened to notice that Rhys had gotten a hold of the camera.  He was laughing hysterically and snapping photos of himself.  Check out the results from this budding photographer:

Toes



Love the mischievous look in his eyes even though he had his finger over the lens.



Read my lips

Oh boy-this is fun!

There I am!

Zoo Beasts - Roger Williams Park Zoo

The Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, RI is one of my favorite places to spend a day.  The zoo is located right off the highway (Interstate 95 and Rt. 10) and is part of Roger Williams Park, which offers a host of other activities from Japanese Gardens, to paddle boats, to a playground & carousel, a casino (a mansion for events, not the gambling kind), botanical gardens, picnic areas, etc.  The zoo has a large parking lot that offers free parking for visitors.  Concessions vary by season.  Zoo memberships are very affordable and worthwhile for locals with families.  The membership allows you unlimited visits throughout the entire year.  With a 2-year old it is great because we can visit for a couple hours rather than feel pressure to see everything in the zoo each time we visit.

The zoo has hundreds of different species to explore including giraffes, elephants, harbor seals, penguins, a snow leopard, takins, flamingos, turtles, an anteater and baby, monkeys, exotic birds, kangaroos, moon bears and much, much more.  On a variety of visits, we've witnessed elephant and giraffe feedings, baths, and weigh ins.  There are many opportunities to get up close and personal with the animals.  On this particular visit, I observed a new "home" for the red pandas, one of my personal favorite animals at this zoo.  The home is in the same location; however, there is more room to climb and lounge. 

Look at these cuties relaxing!
Red Pandas, Roger Williams Park Zoo

In addition, we finally got to see the King Vulture exhibit we watched being built over the summer.

King Vultures
Roger Williams Park Zoo

During the summer of 2010, a new exhibit called "Our Big Backyard" opened.  The exhibit was sponsored by Hasbro and is absolutely engaging for children.  We have visited several times since the opening and each time, Rhys discovers something new.  You could literally spend a couple hours playing at this fun, outdoor space.

Rhys laughing in the water!

Rhys fishing with his grandpa

Painting on an eisel

Rhys exploring with his Dad in the treehouse

The zoo is always expanding and adding new animals.  No matter what time of year you plan your visit, I am sure it will be special!