Monroe Parenting

By Shawna Schmitt, sschmitt@monroenews.com

Keegan had his first kids meal today at Wendy’s. I know you’re probably thinking that he’s not old enough yet for such a thing, right? Obviously, you’ve never seen the child eat!!

The last time we took him with us to Wendy’s he ended up eating a quarter of my mom’s hamburger, half a carton of fries and a kiddie vanilla Frosty! So today, since Caitlyn seemed to be hungry and unwilling to share her food, I just went ahead and bought both kids their own happy meals.

Caitlyn had chicken nuggets and Keegan had a plain hamburger. I was certain that there would be plenty left over for them to munch on later….WRONG!

By the time I finished getting the kids’ drinks organized with the straws and got done gathering ketchup and napkins, Caitlyn had already downed her four nuggets. They were completely gone and she was working her way through her fries like there was no tomorrow.

Since I had eaten earlier, I only had to worry about feeding Keegan, and he was more than happy to do his share!! I couldn’t believe that child ate the entire hamburger!! Not all at once, of course, but in small pieces over 30 minutes time. And it was a good thing he finished it, too, because Caitlyn was starting to notice that her brother still had fries left and she wanted to “help him” with those.

By the time we left the restaurant, both kids had finished all their food and all we had left was kiddie toys in an empty bag.

If, at 10 months old, Keegan can already pack away a whole hamburger, most of a carton of fries and part of a kiddie frosty, what is my food bill going to look like in the future?!

By Shawna Schmitt, sschmitt@monroenews.com

I just realized that Keegan’s 1st birthday is less than 2 months away!!!!!! Holy cow where did the time go?!

Caitlyn has decided that her baby brother needs to have a Clifford the Big Red Dog birthday party (since we’re big into themes at my house) but I’m running into the problem that nobody carries Clifford party stuff. I checked on eBay but I hate to fork over $6 bucks for a pack of napkins.

Does anybody have any thoughts about where I might be able to snag some Clifford goods? And any thoughts on what would make cute goodie bags for his guests — kids between the ages of 13 all the way down to 2 years old? I thought about giving all the kids a copy of the Clifford birthday book or perhaps a “doggie bag” full of dog-boned shaped cookies. Something along those lines.

The only thing I have nailed down for sure is that we’re having a giant “dog-bone” cake………

I’d love to hear any suggestions!!

By Shawna Schmitt, sschmitt@monroenews.com

Apparently, we just can’t get enough of going to splash parks because that’s what we did for Memorial Day — we enjoyed Dundee’s latest attraction. Caitlyn had a free pass to the park that she got for participating in Dundee Library’s summer reading program last year so we went.

Since we recently went to the splash park in Frankenmuth, we were immediately comparing the two places. While Dundee’s RiverRun was a good time, we all agreed that we enjoyed Zehnder’s Splash Village a bit more. The main difference was that there would have been nothing for Keegan to enjoy at RiverRun (he got to spend the day with Grandma and Papa while we took Caitlyn).

In a previous post I mentioned how much Keegan enjoyed the water jumparoos at Splash Village, but there wasn’t anything comparable at RiverRun. Its “small child area” consisted of two tiny water slides, a water sprinkler and some water chutes where the kids can direct the flow of water. All this is contained in a very shallow pool area. The best Keegan could have done was just sat in the water and splashed and he could do that just as easily at home in the bathtub for free!

The giant water tubes at RiverRun were much fun, but I discovered once I climbed all the way to the top with Caitlyn that I wasn’t allowed to hold her on my lap with a single tube. You had to use the double tubes. Caitlyn was tall enough to ride in the double tube but I was very worried about her falling off the front, especially since the first time we went down the slide we had a tube that had no bottom to the front half and she was trying very hard to keep her legs up and not fall through the hole. (This was before we realized that they had tubes with bottoms………)

One thing that could have been improved was the “lazy river” that you can float around in circles on a tube. At Splash Village you shoot out of the giant tubes and immediately drift right into the river. At RiverRun you have to exit the pool as soon as you get out of the tubes and then walk over to the river — it kinda kills the momentum. Also, the river has a rip tide pull to it, so the minute you move off the steps you are pulled to the left and away you go. The only problem with this is if you don’t have an inner tube with you the you may get run over by people who do have tubes.

I highly recommend using a tube there because the water isn’t that deep. If you want to do anything other than walk around the river you must be careful for your knees and legs because the bottom of the river is concrete and will leave you sore and maybe even scraped up a bit.

As to the other part of the water park, we all enjoyed the play fort area with buckets of dumping water, more tube slides and puddles galore. Dave and Caitlyn splashed around there for a bit while I enjoyed the adult-only hot tub area. Ahhhh, very relaxing in its cave-like setting. As long as I knew that Caitlyn was with her daddy I could kick back and enjoy the hot tub without worrying about the fact that I couldn’t see her from the cave.

And for the kids who want to enjoy the water jets and bubbles, RiverRun has a family hot tub area sectioned off in the middle of the river area. The water isn’t hot at all (which is a plus for families with little ones) and it is plenty big enough that many families can enjoy it at the same time without bumping into each other.

They also have an arcade (which we just walked through since we weren’t carrying any cash in our swimsuits) and an eating area. The only thing I would recommend would be more seating along the wall in front of the arcade in case people would like to take a break or just watch their kids play. The only place to sit on the downstairs level is in the eatery area and the only thing you really can see from there is the kiddie pool.

Overall, RiverRun is a fun water park and a good way to spend a free day. I give this splash park three and a half stars on the mommy meter.

By Shawna Schmitt, sschmitt@monroenews.com

Since when does pastel equal pricey??

I was on this Web site for a kids’ magazine geared toward parents (which I suppose should remain nameless) and it had links to their favorite stores that feature kid products. So, like a crazy person, I decide to start clicking on the links just for fun.

Well, perhaps I’m just a discount store kind of gal, but who in their right mind would pay $200 for the ugliest diaper bag in the whole world?! Ugh!

It seems like all the fabrics on everything (and I’m talking diaper bags, kid furniture, stuffed animals, etc.) are all in these bland pastel colors with totally bizarre patterns that would be deemed horrible even at a thrift store.

And yet….and yet, these are the items that are selling for $200-$900 each. Why is this?! Why would people think that their kids want to be surrounded by ugly things that scream “Don’t touch me! And don’t you dare get dirt on me! I am for looks only!!”

Where are all the sturdy, brightly colored toys and furniture? I mean, being a kid is all about having fun and learning, but when I look at these items it seems as though they have sucked all the joy and fun out of life.

I guess I’m just not cut out to be a rich mom because I would be snubbing my nose at all the “trendy items” in favor of the fun things that can be purchased at a normal price. And don’t even get me started on all the cool kid stuff you can find at the Dollar Store!!

By Shawna Schmitt, sschmitt@monroenews.com

Poor Caitlyn. She just doesn’t know what to make of all these winning Detroit sports teams. She likes to watch the Pistons with my sisters (who are crazy, crazy Pistons fans) and last year they taught her to say “Deeeeeeee-troit Basketbaaaaallll!!!”

But with the recent sports bonanza of the Tigers, Pistons and Red Wings, she just didn’t know how to answer when someone said “Deeee-troit…….” and waited for her to finish the sentence.

Last night she looked up at me when I did that and said “Tigers?”

Hey, that’s not a wrong answer. So I asked her who her Tiger was.

“Puuuuuuuuuuuudge!!!” she answered with her face all lit up. I think she just likes to say Pudge.

So I said “Okay, Caity, who’s your Piston?”

Without missing a beat she said “Chauncey! And Aunt Keeker likes C. Webb!!”

So she was 2 for 2 and I thought I would go for the gold.

“Alright Caity, who’s your Red Wing??”

She looked like a deer caught in the headlights. I could see she was trying to think of something to say, but finally she gave up.

“Um, no. I don’t know Wings,” she said.

Ah well. With so much excitement going on, 2 out of 3 ain’t bad!

By Shawna Schmitt, sschmitt@monroenews.com

For all you bargain hunters out there (who haven’t left town for the weekend) Carter’s is having a fabulous sidewalk sale through Monday. All summer playclothes are 50 percent off and certain racks are 70 percent off.

Even better are the racks of PJs that are half off and the other racks of clothing that are $5/item or $2.99/item.

I also heard that they were going to have a carnival-like atmosphere for the kids with popcorn and clowns, but those weren’t ready yet when we showed up this morning. Perhaps the rain kept them away…..

Oh, and if you don’t know where Carter’s is located it’s in the Manufacturer’s Marketplace complex off of LaPlaisance Rd.

By Shawna Schmitt, sschmitt@monroenews.com

Are these gas prices scaring anyone else? I almost feel like we’re about to become prisoners in our own home. True we can walk to local parks and can even make it to the Danny’s Frozen Custard stand, but how can people afford to take their kids anywhere that’s not within walking distance??

I have a feeling that the vacation we went on last week may be the last one we have for quite some time. With gas reaching $3.60/gallon at some stations, our whole vacation fund would be eaten up just by driving somewhere and back.

Last summer we wanted to take Caitlyn up to Mackinac Island for a few days. I always loved going there as a child, and I thought she would love it, too. But then gas prices soared close to the $3 mark and we thought there was no way we could afford to drive all the way up there. We opted to do short day trips in the area instead, such as to The Toledo Zoo and Cosi.

I know we’re starting to feel the gas price crunch in our family. Dave works in Detroit so he’s filling up his vehicle twice a week. I fill up my Escape once a week, but that is still costing $45 to get to the top of the tank. It’s almost painful to pull into the gas station….

I was looking in the kids’ baby books last night and the price of gas when Caitlyn was born was $1.69 — and that was only in 2004. When Keegan was born last year it was at $2.39.

It makes me wonder how high prices will go. Will I one day be forced to choose buying gas for my car to get to work instead of something my children need?

How much do you suppose gas will be when my kids finally reach adulthood???

By Shawna Schmitt, sschmitt@monroenews.com

I jinxed myself. I was just thinking the other day that it sure has been a while since Caitlyn and Keegan were sick. I mean months without even a sniffle! And now it appears that they both came home from vacation with the flu, which the doctor confirmed yesterday. Keegan also has an ear infection in his left ear.

Now I’m wondering whether I’m to blame because I took them to a water park. They had such a good time, but perhaps it was too much for them being in the water with other kids?? I guess they would have gotten it somewhere if it hadn’t been the water park. I just hate seeing them both so sick!

By Shawna Schmitt, sschmitt@monroenews.com

Sadly, all good things must come to an end. The only thing that is worse than going back to work after a vacation, is going to back on a Saturday night — which is where I am now, staring blankly at my computer screen.

We just had one of the best mini-vacations ever! We decided to take the kids up to Zehnder’s Splash Village in Frankenmuth, located next to Bronner’s.

Our first inkling of just how fabulous it was going to be happened on the way there…..Dave called while we were on the road to double-check our reservations and to see if they put us in a room with two queen beds or one king-size bed. Turns out, the hotel wasn’t very full (probably due to it being a Wednesday and school is still in session) so they upgraded us to a family suite at no extra charge! Woo hooo!!! That is what I wanted to reserve to begin with, but it’s kinda pricey.

So we had a ginormous room with two beds, a sitting area complete with fireplace and Internet access and a huge whirlpool tub in the bathroom with jets.

Once again, it was the middle of the week, so we almost had the splash park to ourselves. Keegan loved sitting in this contraption that was kind of like a jumparoo only it was suspended over a kiddie pool. Every time he bounced his legs and bottom would be in the water. Now what could be more fun than that? Jumping and splashing in water?! He was in heaven!

Caitlyn was a trooper and wanted to go straight for the giant water tube slides — the ones that you had to climb virtually to the ceiling to get into. One of us stayed with Keegan and the other got to lug the inner tube up the stairs behind a very excited Caitlyn. The first time I almost lost my lunch because it’s completely dark in there and you have no clue which way you’re about to turn. But after that it was a blast!

I wish we could have stayed longer; there was just so much to do! Buckets dumping water everywhere; sprayers, squirters, slides and nets. No wonder the kids were tuckered out the next day! And we didn’t even get time to explore the arcade or the actual swimming pool area…..

The next time we go the the Splash Park — and yes, there will be a next time because it’s just that awesome — we will have to stay for at least two or three days. If you’re ever up near Frankenmuth it’s a great place to take the kids. I don’t think I’ve ever met a more helpful, easygoing staff or a been to a more kid-friendly hotel.

On this mommy’s list, it gets 5 stars!

By Shawna Schmitt, sschmitt@monroenews.com

The Schmitt family is hitting the road this afternoon for our yearly mini-vacation. I’ll be back on Friday with all the fun details!!!!