The Park: Clayton Community Park

Goodmorning lovlies. Just a quick little snippet today about the Clayton Community Park located right next to the Clayton Community Center. Since my family lives outside of Raleigh this park is great for anyone living in the Clayton/Garner area. It's right behind the Little Gym in Clayton.

I love this park to take the kids to and have a little picnic and playtime. It has two playgrounds which is nice because one is a little bit bigger and geared towards the older kiddos and the other is a short walk away but slightly smaller for the slightly smaller ones. There's some great climbing structures for them to play on, slides, a large sandbox, swings and a pretty large shaded picnic area. Along with the playgrounds there is also two sand volleyball courts, baseball fields, tennis courts, and a half mile paved path that goes around the park and a large pond. 

The park isn't very shaded expect for around the pond so don't forget to pack and put on your sunscreen. Overall though, the park is great and a great way to spend a couple of hours with the kids. Sometimes I'll pack up their bikes to ride around the path while I trail behind :)

Case of the Mondays

Ok, for those of you who know me, I hate Mondays. Not only because it's the end of the weekend and back to work, but also because most of the places to take the kids to are closed. I'm not sure why but Jumpin' Jax, Marbles, Tag Ur It, and on and on all close on Mondays... maybe they have the Mondays too. Anyways, on these days I usually struggle to find something to do with D.

We used to go to the Little Gym on Mondays for a morning class but D has outgrown them/taken most of the classes there so now I need to find a filler for that time. 

Here is just a little list of things we do sometimes on Monday and I frequently come to consult my list:

-Take it easy, relax, watch Nick Jr and snuggle for awhile and play.
- Go to the park and have a picnic lunch (if the weather is nice)
- Visit the train station or airport
- Go for a walk or bike ride
- Go swimming at the Smithfeild Aquatic Center or HealthQuest (also in Smithfeild)
- Story time at the library
- Bowling
- Go to the movies


I like to save things like bowling for when I have both C and D, that way it's a little more fun and the game doesn't go by so fast!

All in all, every Monday rolls around and I'm stuck saying the same thing every week. What to do? What to do?

Lake Wheeler

Visit Lake Wheeler's Website

Out of all the parks that I have been to, walk around, or visited in Raleigh, Lake Wheeler remains on of my favorites. I think I like it because it's a little more tucked away from the highways and it's usually not as busy as Lake Johnson or Umstead.

Lake Wheeler has a great picnic area and playground for the little one's to go run and jump and play in. It's really shaded so it doesn't get too hot there in the summer time. When I've taken C and D, we've always packed a picnic lunch and just enjoyed the park. The downside is Lake Wheeler doesn't offer much in the way of walking trails or paths but it makes up for that with the lake. It is beautiful and expansive. For a reasonable rate you can rent paddle boats (C and D were not big fans of this... be ready for your leg work out!), canoes, kyaks, john boats, you name it! When the boy and I went out there we rented a canoe and paddled around the water for at least an hour.

Also, there are tons of birds! It would be a great place to do a little nature lesson with the kids or to highlight whatever science curriculum they are learning in school. 

In all its such a beautiful and relaxing atmosphere it's hard not to have a good time while your visiting.

Don't forget your sunscreen and have fun!

xxxo

ms. omi

Trains and Planes

With my little ones, I have the treat of working with a boy and a girl so I usually have to find activities that are fun and engaging for the both of them. However, there are days when I am with just D, who is all boy.

What I like to do on our days together is plan something that is going to be fun for him. Some of the things I like to do are plan a picnic at the train station or the airport. Since my family lives in Clayton we usually frequent the Selma Train Station and the Johnston County Airport. I really like the Selma train station, which has been restored to it's 1924 splendor. Inside there are few displays on the history of trains and the railroad.  There is a train car outside the station that you can climb and play on... but it is locked except for twice a year.

However, both of these are small and out of the way if your living in Raleigh but you do have the advantage of going to RDU and there is the Amtrak downtown and also on in Cary.

If you are going to the train station I suggest looking up the times trains are arriving and departing the station. Nothing is worse than trying to entertain a toddler while waiting for the train.