Life with Dylan

Category: Family activities

  • The Irvine Park Railroad Easter Eggstravaganza is Eggsellent!

    Here comes Peter Cottontail, hopping down the bunny trail train track, hippity-hoppity Easter’s on it’s way!

    Well, that isn’t exactly how the song goes. However, if you head over to Irvine Park Railroad that is the song you will be singing.  It’s springtime and the park is filled with flowers, bunnies, chicks, and your favorite bunny of all is visiting to wish you a Happy Easter.

    In true Irvine Park Railroad fashion, there is something for everyone … games, bounce house, cookies, hay rides, train rides, and an Easter egg hunt .. Oh my!

    (more…)

  • Family Time

    There is something to be said for spending time together as a family. Not just sitting in front of the television together, but real quality time together. This doesn’t mean you have to spend lots of money – be creative and think about what your child enjoys doing.

    You may be surprised at how the simplest things, like playing a game of checkers with your child, will mean more to them than spending the day at an amusement park. It’s the time when you turn off the television. Unplug from the internet. Put down the phone. (yes, I did pause to take this picture and was quickly reminded of the rules – No phone Mom) The time when you give all of your attention to your child.

    This is what they will remember. Believe it or not, children pay more attention to the times we say “Just a minute” or “I can look when I finish my work” than we think they do. And before long, they will stop asking you to look at the picture they just drew – or the LEGO creation they just made.

    Before you know it, your child will be too busy with their friends to even want to play a board game with you or swing at the park. I often wonder how my son got so big so fast – and before I know it, he will be dating and going off to college.

    This may sound far fetched since he is only 8 years old, but these past eight years flew by. So who’s to say the next eight years won’t fly by just as fast?

    Quality time can’t be bought.

    Quality time is priceless.

    How much quality time do you spend together as a family?

  • Our Day at Centennial Farm

    This past weekend I decided to not work and spend some quality time with Dylan. Since funds are tight, I was looking for something fun to do that wouldn’t cost a lot of money. The Orange County Register has a great listing on Saturdays called Cheap and Fun Things To Do Today in the OC so I took a look and saw Centennial Farm. We haven’t been there in a long time, so I thought this would be the perfect thing for us to do. Dylan thought so too. We spent almost 2 hours here and spent no money. The perfect Saturday!

    Centennial Farm is part of the Orange County Fairgrounds and many people don’t know it’s even there. This is a real working farm. School groups can come here and learn about what products come from the animals, watch and learn how to milk a cow, and see an amazing garden! The farm is open to the public at no cost, of course donations are always appreciated.

    No farm is complete without a red barn!

    Inside the barn we learned all about pigs and cows. What type of food we get from the animals and what kinds of products are made from the the animals. Did you know that crayons are made with byproducts from pigs? I sure didn’t!

    Everyone knows that dairy products come from cows, but Dylan found it interesting to see what parts of the cow different meat came from. He also learned about the various types of cows and how only certain cows are used for milk. I didn’t have the heart to tell him where veal came from.
    I don’t like veal, so I  figured it was ok – since we won’t be having veal anytime soon.

    (more…)

  • Do Your Kids Play?

    A new school year has begun and we are finally getting back in the swing of things. Homework, packing lunches, nightly reading, and so on. And as this school year begins, I once again find myself contemplating how I can make this year better than last year.

    The emails and papers coming home from Dylan’s school about various after-school clubs and sports are well … to be honest, a little overwhelming.

    They all sound wonderful, but come with a price. Yes, the clubs and sports programs will cost me money – money that isn’t really in my budget – but the other cost is much greater in my opinion.

    The cost of my son’s childhood.

    He loves Cub Scouts and the after-school science program. He joined the science program last year and really got something out of it. I don’t mind paying for this. The program meets right after school one day a week and lasts only one hour. It ends just in time for me to pick him up after I get off work.

    So what about soccer, tennis, Spanish, keyboard, chess, art, music, and swimming? These are all excellent programs for children, but do children really need to participate in all of them? Many parents will sign their children up for multiple after-school programs. Who makes this decision?

    (more…)

  • Blue Whale Trip with Aquarium of the Pacific aboard Harbor Breeze Cruises

    Dylan and I recently had the opportunity to join Aquarium of the Pacific on a special Blue Whale Trip with world-renowned Blue Whale expert, John Calambokidis aboard Harbor Breeze Cruises. This was not an ordinary whale watching trip. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that required me missing work and Dylan missing school.

    Anyone who knows Dylan, or reads this blog, knows how much he loves animals and learning about how to save the planet – one animal at a time.
    Me, well I’m partial to marine animals. Specifically dolphins and whales. Many people don’t know this, but many moons ago I majored in Marine Biology. Yes, this was my first choice of study … until I realized how much math and science were involved, which have never been my strong point.

    So tell me, how many people can say that they have seen a Blue Whale, the world’s largest animal, up close and in person … swimming wild and free in the ocean?

    Photo courtesy of Aquarium of the Pacific, Kera Mathes

    Well, you can add two more people to whatever that number may be because Dylan and I saw not one Blue Whale, but four Blue Whales!

    The weather wasn’t looking good – it was pouring down rain! By the time we arrived the rain and slowed to a light mist and things were looking good. Nothing was going to stop us from this adventure.

  • Cub Scout Time Again!

    After taking a break from Cub Scouts this summer, it’s time to get out the uniform and prepare for another fun year of scouting. This year, Dylan is a Bear Cub and he couldn’t be more excited.

    To kick off the new year, the pack took part in a beach cleanup at Big Corona to show our community that Cub Scouts believe strongly in Leaving No Trace Behind. The beach cleanup was a huge success and of course all the boys enjoyed roasting hot dogs and s’mores afterward.

    You can read all about the impact these boys made in the article I wrote over at OC Moms for The Orange County Register.

    Go Cub Scouts!!

  • Do You Live an Earth-friendly Lifestyle?

    Recycling is the most common thing people do to help the environment. Many think that this is all they need to do and nothing else really matters. Well, have you ever thought about how you recycle your aluminum cans and plastic bottles? Most people grab a plastic bag and start filling it up. When the bag is full they head over to the recycling center and collect the money.
    Well, that plastic bag is usually just thrown away. Plastic bags do not go away. Plastic bags end up polluting the ocean, harming marine life, and filling up our landfills. Think outside the box when you recycle your cans and bottles. All those reusable shopping bags you have … I know I have at least 15 in my trunk and about 10 in my home. These reusable bags make a great way to collect your recyclables until you make a trip to the recycling center. Especially if you live in an apartment.

    (more…)

  • How Does Your Garden Grow?

    I have always loved gardens and the peace I feel when my hands touch the soil. I don’t think of it as getting dirty because it’s not dirt … it’s soil. A place where my plants will call home and flourish. Living in an apartment certainly has limitations when it comes to a garden, but after my recent visit to The Dragonfly Shops & Gardens the creative juices are flowing again.

    Located in historic Old Town Orange, The Dragonfly Shops & Gardens is nestled away from the busy streets and shops. When you walk through the archway of this vintage 1920’s house that has been converted into a retail store, you are instantly transported to a land of nymphs and fairies. I could have spent an hour just wondering through the front yard. Inside the house, you will wander through various rooms filled with unique treasures made by local artisans.

    Can I just take this entire collection home?

    Dylan and I had the opportunity to attend a class with OC Family and learn how to make our very own fairy garden in Dragonfly Hollow. Yes, I said fairy garden. What, you don’t believe in fairies? How else do you think those little rocks get moved in your garden?

    Dylan said he didn’t want to get his hands dirty … haha

    Carefully placing the rocks

    He refused to have fairy dust put in his garden because it was purple.

    Ever try getting 7 kids to look at the camera?

    Dylan’s garden, complete with a pirate!

    The kids had so much fun and I can’t wait to go back so I can make a garden or two of my own in Dragonfly Hollow. Just look at all of the items you can choose from.

    These are my favorites…

    Dragonfly Hollow Fairy Garden classes ($10) are offered the 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month at 10:00 am and Children’s Fairy Garden classes ($20) are offered on the 3rd Saturday of the month at 9:00 am. Call 714-289-4689 to reserve your spot in the garden.

    If you are in Orange County, you should definitely visit The Dragonfly Shops & Gardens … I promise you won’t leave empty handed or disappointed.


    The ladies of Dragonfly Hollow were so nice and they even offered all of my readers a 20% discount just for mentioning Life with Dylan.

    You can find The Dragonfly Shops & Gardens on Facebook and Twitter

  • More Fun Activities at The ENC

    I recently had the pleasure of spending some time at The Environmental Nature Center (ENC) with Dylan and learned about some of the exciting events coming up this year.

    You can read about some of the upcoming ENC activities in the article I wrote for the OC Moms over at the Orange County Register.