Visiting the American Museum of Natural History

My daughter won a raffle ticket good for 4 people to American Museum of Natural History from Windsor Park Library's Read to Me program by submitting her reading log so off we went to American Museum of natural History.

Passing My Road Test

I'm both happy and relieved that I finally passed my road test. I'll admit taking a bus with a toddler is a bit tricky. Especially those times when she fell asleep and I had to carry her on one hand and the stroller on the other hand while getting off the bus. Not so fun at all! Then taking three buses to get to her art class or to Gymboree while it is raining or snowing is just too much sometimes, but if you don't drive what can you do when your child really likes these activities.

A friend of my husband ask him why do I wanted to drive so much. Sometimes people who always drive don't realize how convenient it is for them to drive anywhere they want to. Passing my road test means no more awkward moments when I have to hold the umbrella in one hand and push the stroller with the other hand, when it is raining and my daughter and I have to go somewhere. Passing my road test means that what takes an hour and a half commute one way just to go to an art class will be less than 30 minutes of driving there instead. It means easily going to other library programs we usually go to by bus and getting there early. It means going on an outing with other Moms and their kids not just around the neighborhood but outside of our neighborhood too. I had to give up Mommy and Me Meetup when my child was barely two because most of the meeting took place where a car is needed.

Taking a road test is nerve racking but the nice lady who was my examiner just give directions no critical comments during the road test and she has an even tone not annoyed or anything. Her demeanor  really help! At the end of my road test when she was suggesting that I had to work on my parking and K-turn I automatically thank her thinking that I failed again. When I looked at the things that she handed to me, she was out of the car already and I just realized that she only give back my learner's permit, and that score receipt or something and it said passed. And she only took 5 points off for excessive maneuvers during parking and K-turn and another 5 points for a wide left turn. For that parking, the road was sloping down at the back of the car so I had to move forward or the wheels will hit the curve then obviously I had to go backwards again to bring the car parallel to the curve, so I really did more than the usual three maneuvers. As for the K-turn, when she said do K-turn I automatically did like a robot because my driving instructors told me that to pass when the examiner told me something do it plus the fact that I was nervous, then I realized I might be too close to the car in the opposite side of the street so I had to reverse before I completed maneuver that will make the car perpendicular to the opposite side of the street because I was afraid I might hit the other parked car.

To the road test lady examiner that passed me, thank you, you made a Mom's life easier. May you be blessed the way you empower me and other people out there like me.

Attending Commencement Ceremony

Going back to school when you're already have family is a little tricky. It means less sleep, sometimes skipping to do unending but much needed to do chores. You also have to spend less time with family because instead of going out together, you have to do presentation, a paper or study for quizzes and exams.

Lucky for me my husband is supportive. He usually take my daughter to Gymboree Open Gym and I can do school assignments or study for quizzes and exams. He didn't complain when his clothes are not folded sooner or when our home is messy.

I was a September 2012 graduate hence I had to attend my graduation ceremony this June. Although I already received my diploma, attending the ceremony is still awesome. Listening to the speakers, remind me of my goals, and inspires me again. I was always sad that I choose not to attend my graduation ceremony four years ago but attending my graduation ceremony this time  made me realized that I made a good decision not to attend then. I had a C-section two weeks before the ceremony at that time, and I don't think I could have managed standing in line waiting for the graduates procession for hours.

Kid Friendly Beaches

If your family want to enjoy amusement park aside from relaxing on the beach go to Coney Island Beach and Boardwalk in Corbin Pl. to W.37 St., Boardwalk. If you prefer less crowd, you and your family can go to Manhattan Beach in Oriental Blvd. between Ocean Ave. and Mackenzie St. It has playground on both ends. You have to pay $20 for parking during the weekend and holidays.

Clearwater Beach in Florida is a beautiful beach. Too bad it was too cold to take off our jackets when we get there.

Visiting Adventureland

We visited Adventureland at 2245 Broad Hollow Road (RT. 110) 
Farmingdale, NY 11735 during the Memorial day weekend.

Kids Activities in NYC

If your child or children don't mind the loud music, you can go have Kiddie Cruise. It is a boat ride along the New York City harbor. There are three floors in the boat with simultaneous activities. There are face painting, puppet show, arts and crafts, magician, etc. There was just a long line for the balloon animals for kids. Some kids lined up more than twice. It is supposed to be a Princess and Pirate Family adventure so your child or children can come dressed up as pirate or princess.

Mommy and Me play dates are also fun. Check out Mommy and Me Groups in your area through MeetUp.

During the week you can take advantages of free programs offered by your library. My daughter enjoys Toddler story time and Arts and Crafts offered by the library for FREE. Check out Kids Events by the Queens Library if you live in Queens. If you drive, you can bring your child to different library programs for children near you. Listening to someone read a story other than his/her parents, not getting distracted by other kids and just focusing the on the story, sharing crayons and other materials with other children during arts and crafts are good training before he/she goes to preschool. 

Amusement Parks

Is your child already 33"? Does your child enjoy carousel?  Fantasy Forest at the Flushing Meadows Carousel located 111th St. and 55th Ave., Queens, New York is a good destination. They also offered free entertainment like magicians and clowns every Sunday and holidays between Memorial Day and Labor Day at 2 - 4 PM.

The Adventureland located in 2245 Broad Hollow Road (RT. 110) Farmindale, New York is a good destination for families with kids. They have rides for kids of different ages.

We are going to check out Dutch Wonderland Family Amusement Park located in 2249 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster, Pennsylvania sometime in the future. I've seen pictures of friends and they looked like they really enjoy it.

Another amusement park worth checking over is Quassy Amusement Park in Lake Quassapaug, Rt. 64 (2132 Middlebury Road), Middlebury, Connecticut. We really enjoyed the paddle boat ride after all the kiddie rides.

Lake Compounce is another amusement park in Connecticut, located in 822 Lake Ave, Bristol, Connecticut.

Children's Museums

The NY Hall of Science in 47-01 111th Street, Queens, NY is our favorite we go there every year. My daughter just love the place. It is a good place to go when it is raining although they have out door playground as well.

Brooklyn's Children's Museum in 145 Brooklyn Avenue, Brooklyn New York. Totally Tots exhibit for children 5 and under seems interesting.

Children's Museum of Manhattan in the Tisch Building, 212 West 83rd Street, New York, New York has different exhibits for all ages.

If your children are into pretend play, they will enjoy Playmobil toys in The World to Play exhibit and Little West Side in the Creativity Lab. They will also enjoy Adventure with Dora and Diego, PlayWorks and City Splash.

The Staten Island Children's Museum in 1000 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, New York offers different interesting exhibits like Portia's Playhouse, Ladder 11, House About It, among other things.

The Children's Museum of the Arts in 103 Charlton St., New York between Hudson & Greenwich streets where you and your children can explore art materials in WEE Arts.

The Long Island Children's Museum in 11 Davis Avenue, Garden City, New York is a nice place to visit. My daughter enjoyed making big bubbles. We enjoyed listening to our own recording in Communication Station too. But Tot Spot was really a big hit. She enjoyed sitting inside the toy crane and in the motorcycle in the gas station corner.

This summer we planned on going to Imagine That A New Jersey Children's Museum located in 4 Vreeland Rd., Florham Park, New Jersey. Heard from friends that it is interesting.

We're also planning on checking out the Wonderland exhibit in Please Touch Museum located in Fairmount Park 4231 Avenue of the Republic(formerly North Concourse Drive) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Some friends also visited that place and we heard they had a blast,

Pick-Your-Own Farms near NYC

Going to Trehune Orchards in 330 Cold Soil Road in Princeton, New Jersey is also a long trip. It took us almost 2 hours going there and more than two hours coming back but they have dwarf apple trees.  Even my toddler has to bend to pick some apples.

 

Garden of Eve Organic Farm and Market in 4558 Sound Ave, Riverhead, NY might be consider by some to be a long drive from New York City but it is worth it. It is almost an hour and a half from our home but at least they have organic strawberries.

They have a playground in the farm and my daughter absolutely enjoyed it. I think she enjoyed the playground more than the straw berry picking but when she looked at pictures she always say let's go back pick strawberries again.

Family Friendly Places in NYC

If you have children you probably looking for places where to take them during the weekend. Exposing kids to different experiences build their language skills and improve their knowledge of the world. Children's Museum are a good way to start. There is Brooklyn's Children's Museum in 145 Brooklyn Avenue, Brooklyn New York. They have Totally Tots exhibit for children 5 and under.

The Children's Museum of Manhattan in the Tisch Building, 212 West 83rd Street, New York, New York offers cool exhibits like Adventure with Dora and Diego.

The NY Hall of Science in 47-01 111th Street, Queens, NY is a nice family friendly weekend destination if you live in New York City.  Your kids will enjoy it whether it rain or shine. My toddler really enjoy it every time we go there.

Another great family weekend destination is the NYAquarium in Surf Avenue & West Street in Brooklyn, New York. The sea lion show in the aqua theater is a joy to watch. The dolphins' antics are also amusing. It is nice to see so many kinds of fishes.

Take advantage of the zoo around you. You can bring your children to the Bronx Zoo in 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, New York  if they don't mind a lot of walking. The Central Park Zoo located in 64th Street and Fifth Avenue, New York is also a great weekend family destination. It is fascinating to watch the polar bear swim.

Another family friendly destination are the beaches. New York City has lots of beaches like Coney Island Beach and Boardwalk in Corbin Pl. to W.37 St., Boardwalk. If you prefer less crowd, you and your family can go to Manhattan Beach in Oriental Blvd. between Ocean Ave. and Mackenzie St. It has playground on both ends. You have to pay $20 for parking during the weekend and holidays.

Libraries always have a lot to offer children. The Queens Library have program for children usually during week days  that your child will enjoy. My daughter enjoys Toddler story time and Arts and Crafts offered by the library for FREE. Check out Kids Events.

NY Petting Farms

If you have an active  toddler, visiting a petting farm with rides and bouncers might just be perfect to channel that excess energy. White Post Farms Animal Farm and Petting Zoo in 250 Old County Road, Melville, NY can offer all these amenities. It was definitely worth the 30 minutes ride from our home in Queens.

You and your kids can feed the goats. Sometimes a cow is insides some of their pen though, whenever the cow tried to come near we just go to another stall.

It was surprising to see camel in a pet farm so it was a surprise.

There was a cute little village of colorful little play houses.

There was also a train ride.

We choose to let my daughter enjoy the bouncers as her last stop in the farm because we're afraid she won't go to the other parts of the farm otherwise.

The Queens County Farm in 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park, New York has a lot to offer young children, from hay ride to pony rides to pumpkin patch or corn maze, my toddler enjoy herself.

Green Meadows Petting Farm located in Floral Park, New York is also another great family weekend destination. They have pony rides, hay rides, chickens, sheep and a lot more.