August Roundup

It’s time for another monthly roundup!

I can’t believe that summer is pretty much over and that the kids are all heading back to school.  But as Shawna mentioned in her Wordless Wednesday post this week, Fall is just around the corner and there are so many fun Fall activities awaiting us.  The other good news is that all our August activities are things that can be enjoyed year-round.  So check out what we have been up to this past month and maybe you will be inspired to add something new to your calendar.

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To begin with, I’ve got to mention a few milestones we hit this month.  These aren’t really “activities” but they are things definitely worth celebrating.

#1 The birth of my sweet girl: Though she still does not have her blog name yet (despite the suggestion of “Twinkles” by our friend Amy), my baby girl is now three weeks old and doing well.  I won’t jinx my good luck by telling you how much she sleeps at night, but all I can say is my sleep deprivation is nothing compared to what I experienced with the twins!

#2  Boo turning two:  The babies are growing up and we were so excited to wish Boo a happy 2nd birthday!  I know everyone says this, but it really feels like just yesterday Shawna was welcoming him into the world.  We can’t wait to experience another year of OAAM adventures from the perspective of these growing toddlers.

 

#3 Our one year blog-a-versary:  We celebrated with a slide show and a handy-dandy list of our favorite outings over the last year.

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This month we also featured some great new activities for the kids.  As I mentioned previously, these aren’t just summertime activities, they are things that can be enjoyed year-round.

#4 My Gym Gymsters Class in Glastonbury:  Shawna tells you all about the fun that she and Boo had at this class specifically designed for those 23 months to 2 1/2 years old.  Not only does she give you all the nitty gritty details about what to expect at this class, but the post also contains an exclusive deal for OAAM readers.

 

#5 Imagine Nation Children’s Museum in Bristol:  My sisters joined me and the twins in our inaugural visit to this local children’s museum.  From imaginative play of many kinds, to arts and crafts and even an opportunity to practice for their future role on ESPN’s Sports Center, there was a lot of fun to be had at this destination.

 

#6 Jumpin Jonnies in Vernon:  If your child loves bouncing away on inflatables, this is the place to be.  With over 12,000 square feet of space for the kids to run around, there is plenty to keep them entertained.

 

 

#7 Mystic River Park Playground:  If you love taking a trip to Mystic as much as I do, you will be excited to learn about this completely fenced-in playground located within walking distance to downtown.

 

 

#8 The New Playscape at The Shoppes at Buckland Hills in Manchester:  We had heard that there had been a refurbishment of this great, free, indoor playscape.  Shawna went to check it out and got the scoop on the fresh new space.  This will certainly be a hot spot on those days when it is too cold to be outside.

 

#9 Buffalo Wild Wings in Manchester:  As a college football lover myself (go Georgia Bulldogs!), I was excited to learn about Shawna’s find.  This family-friendly restaurant has plenty of giant tv’s available for some great fall football watching.

 

 

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And then last, but certainly not least, we were excited to be able to feature this month a few mom entrepreneurs and their fabulous business ventures.

#10 Kathryn Deane Photography:  Thanks to Kathryn, we had a great photo shoot and now have updated pictures of the kids.  Hopefully I can get my post-natal act together and get them up on the website soon!  In the meantime, check out the post with information on this great local photographer (and get the scoop on her discount available exclusively for OAAM readers).

#11 Baby Boot Camp:  The timing couldn’t have been better to get pre and post-natal exercising tips from this local mom who runs a baby boot camp class at the Shoppes of Farmington Valley in Canton.  I can’t wait to start exercising again and this post certainly has gotten me motivated.

#12 Homegrown Friends:  Another great new business from a local mom is Homegrown Friends.  This is a playgroup matching service that also provides information on activities for the playgroup participants.  It is rolling out all across our state this month (and even in some other states) and as an OAAM reader, you have an opportunity to win a one-year free membership.  Just check out the instructions in the post and enter to win by September 2nd.

Well that is the roundup for this month!  There was certainly a lot going on at Out and About Mom and I have to mention that none of it could have been possible without all the effort put in by my fabulous blogging partner Shawna.  Thank you, Shawna, for carrying the torch this month while I welcomed the new addition to our family.  Who knows what our readers would have gotten this month if I had to carry my weight 🙂

What was your favorite OAAM August adventure? Let us know in the comment section below.

Coming Up:  On Tuesday I will be taking you on a little trip to a neighboring state to visit probably the best children’s museum I have been to yet. Then on Thursday, you will get all the details from one of our featured guest bloggers on her baby boot camp class.

Want to keep up with all our Out and About Mom adventures?

Check back every Tuesday and Thursday as we dish up more Momsense for getting out and about with your little ones. Don’t have time to check back in? Let us send you an automatic notification of new posts straight to your email inbox by signing up here. Also, you can like us on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with the latest posts and get some extra tidbits we share only through those sites.