Park Quest 2014

Here in the Giggles and Grass Stains household we start to get super excited about our Summer when it's Park Quest signup time. Early in May we mark our calendars to be ready for Park Quest registration. This is the time Mommy starts pulling out her hair and sweating, pressing the refresh button over and over. If you're unfamiliar with Park Quest check out some of our previous posts located at the top of the page under Park Quest. The Park Quest program only allows 1,000 families in. So it's a mad house on registration day trying to get your family signed up in time. Every year, I stress and think what if I don't get in. My family would be so devastated. Park Quest has been an on going thing for us every Summer we make it a huge deal the whole Summer long.

Well....We got in again!! Shew!

 

We can't wait! We get to start Memorial Day weekend! We've booked camping sites at Deep Creek Lake again and, Jane's Island. We hope to complete all 24 quest, something we aim to do every year but, can't seem to do. This year is going to be the year!!!

The boys put a list of activities they would like to do this Summer while Park Questing if we can fit it in:

Make Walking Taco

Visit the pool at Pocomoke State Park

Visit Ocean City

Make Park Quest shirts

Fishing

Try and find and take pictures of birds on our list

Crabbing

We hope to add more to our list as we come up with more fun idea.

Do you participate in Park Quest or a similar program?

If so, what's your team name? 

What's your favorite Maryland State Park to visit? 

What's your favorite activity to do while visiting State Parks?

 

 

Park Quest #2: Seneca Creek State Park

I mentioned last week we crossed off another Park Quest and Bucket List activity! Canoeing at Seneca Creek State Park.

I wanted to give more detail about the quest and post some pictures!

The quest was at the beautiful Seneca Creek State Park located in Gaithersburg, MD. Because we are part of the Park Quest program and have our trusty Park Quest passport, we were allowed to check out two canoes, kayaks, or paddle boats. We opted for the canoe and, we only needed one for the 4 of us. We were given a map, a pencil, directions, an animal identification sheet and, life jackets!

The directions that were given to us stated we needed to follow the map to find 7 different posts. On those posts would be 3 different pictures of animal species found at Seneca Creek or in MD. We would then need to identify that species and write it down. If you get stumped there was an animal identification sheet that helped out.

Conner knew most of the animals names, he needed a little help with the different fish names. Carson enjoyed the ride and putting his hands in the water. The paddle around the lake took us about 1.5 hours. We were lucky to have a little bit of a breeze to help us along the way. If you go on this quests  or just to paddle around the lake, keep an eye out for a blue heron that hangs out there. He was so pretty. When we found him he was hunting for fish!

 After the quest we let the boys play at the fun tire park. While at the park a park ranger came over and held a short lesson on animals in MD. The boys got to identify animals by their skulls and fur.

Overall, we had a blast at this quest!

Wordless Wednesday: Summer Bucket List: Ride a horse!

One more off the Bucket List!! We went to a family member's birthday party and had the chance to ride a horse. Carson had so much fun! Conner chose not to ride the horse. 

 

Weekly Portrait Project {Week 2}

 Weekly Portrait Project is something we have started to hopefully keep up for the boys until they graduate. We will post a favorite picture of each of the boys once a week!

We have been away on Vacation so Week 2 is coming a bit late.

Behind the Camera!

Over the weekend my oldest went to a beginners photography class. He had such a fantastic time. All the volunteers were so helpful. They taught him so much. We took about an hour to walk around downtown. We saw plants, animals, architecture, patterns and, people. Conner really has a great eye for beautiful things. I was taking some photos along with him and he got a lot of things I didn't see.

After we walked around snapping photos, we went back inside where we got to rate all of our pictures 0-2. 0: being one we didn't really like or was out of focus. 1: being one we so so liked but maybe there was something a little off. 2: Was one we really enjoyed. Then we took all the 2's and narrowed it down to the best one. He got to print the best one off to hang at the local library. We can't wait to go back later this week to see it hung up with the rest of the class photos. I couldn't believe all that they did and that it was totally free!! What a treat!!

Here's a couple photos I got of Conner!

Here are a couple of his favorite shots!! The lily is hanging at the library and he titled it "Flower Reflections".

Weekly Portrait Project {Week 1}

I have been following the Solar family over at The Happy Family Movement. One of their weekly posts is a portrait project where they post a weekly portrait of their children. They are collecting weekly portraits for their children for when they graduate! I am not sure if I can keep up until the kids graduate but, I'd love to try. I think it's a great idea. So here starts the 1st installment of the Giggles & Grass Stains family weekly portrait project!! If you decide to join me post your link below, I'd love to see your photos!

Semi Wordless Wednesday: Summer Bucket List #4: Fishing!!

The boys went fishing with their dad and pappy! They caught tons of fish!

I had to share this...it looks much worse than it was. He cried only for a little while getting it out. He was fine after. He went to cast his line and he did not reel it in before casting, it went out and came back at him hooking his face.  He was very lucky not to get his eye and it didn't hook in enough to make it bleed. He's a trooper!

Summer Fun doesn't have to break the bank!

Since making our Summer bucket list, I have had a lot of people telling me they can't make a bucket list because they don't have a lot of money to spend this Summer.

This Summer our family has decided to try and save as much money as we can. Last year, we spent a lot on trips, gas, and treats. We wanted to prove to those people it can still be done.

I have already mentioned some free programs and low cost activities already in the past month. Dig into Reading, Library visits, Park Quest, and Slip n slide fun. Some more that we enjoy are lake visits at a local State Park, Swimming, crafts, water balloon fights, playing in the creek, chalk drawing, park visits, free bowling, and so many more. There are a ton of ways you can still be budget friendly while having fun this Summer.

Last weekend, we tried out another free program for the first time. The Build and Grow program that Lowes puts on at their stores. They hold these workshops on specific Saturdays throughout the month. During your visit you are given all the supplies to make that weeks activities and a patch of completion. At your first visit you are also given a certificate, an apron and safety goggles. My boys had a fantastic time and were begging to go back. Everything is free but, you do need to go online and register for a spot at your local store.

My boys made a Monster's University wooden treasure chest. Then, they decorated them with stickers. Their chests both turned out amazing!!

Rainy Day Activities

So it's finally Summer Vacation time! Only one problem it's raining. We're not letting it get us down,  I've asked my favorite 4 yr old and 8 yr old to help me with this post. Our favorite rainy day activities!


Carson's favorite activities (4.5 yr old)

*Go to inflatable jumping place

*Build a fort with our Fort Magic

*Play games on my Nabi: I love angry birds, Where's my Water, and Cut the rope.
*Read books with my mommy
*Baking with my mommy
*Have an indoor picnic

*Watch and play with Transformers



Conner's favorite Activities (8.5 yr old)

* Board Games: My favorite board game is Mancala!
*Go to the Library
*Read books: Loves Magic Tree House and, Black Lagoon Series

*Go to the batting cages
*Play my Ipod: My favorite apps are; Minecraft, Blockhead and, Amazing Ants.
*Watch Video's on Youtube (Mostly Minecraft video's)
*Playing card games
*Watch Kicking it.

What's your child's favorite rainy day activity?

Park Quest #1: South Mountain/Weverton Cliffs

We finally had time to go out on our 1st Park Quest of this Summer.  We chose the South Mountain quest that listed in the description, would be a 2 mile hike to the Weverton Cliffs. We were going with another family who also had a smaller child Carson's age. We were hesitant about making the full 2 mile hike up to the cliffs because we were told it was a hard hike. In the Park Quest book it describes it as a not for the faint and a 4 "Hat" difficulty. We decided we would hike to as far as we could and come back down.

We were pleasantly surprised by the young ones. They never once complained they were tired or wanted to quit. The older boys were super stars leading the way and even leaving the parents in the dust. The 2 mile hike taught us about the Appalachian trail, thru-hikers, about erosion and, switch- backs. The Cliffs overlooked the Potomac River, CSX Railroad, West Virgina, Virginia and, Maryland. It was such a beautiful view. 

We ended our quest with a trip to South Mountain Creamery which has some of the best ice cream! The boys both opted for mint chocolate chip while I got caramel sundae!

What a great 1st Quest! We can't wait for the next one!

Last Day of School Fun!

For the last day of school I wanted to do something different. We usually go swimming and take the boys out for dinner or ice cream. This year, Conner got out of school 2 hours early and had his 2nd baseball tournament game later that day. I didn't want to tire him out from swimming for his game so I wanted to plan something different.

I decided to hold a mini neighborhood party for the kids. A welcome Summer party! I made a banner for them to crash through, had popsicles and ice cream and let them play games outside. It was a lot of fun! The kids were surprised when they got off the bus.

After the mini party we went to Conner's game. This game was 1 of 2 games that night to determine who would be playing the championship game. I was super impressed with Conner and his team. He caught an amazing pop up and had a couple RBI's!  Unfortunately, his team did not advance to the next round. He was sad that his season had come to an end but, I reminded him that we had a ton to do over the Summer and after the Summer we'd be back for baseball.

After the game we celebrated Conner's good grades for the term, his amazing game and, the end of the school year out at dinner!

It was a fun day!

Summer Bucket List #3: Library Passport

As I have mentioned previously, the boys are signed up for a local Reading program through the Summer. It is a free program being offered though our public library.

As bad as it sounds we have a library right down the road that we have never visited before. We used to be members at a library in another county where we lived but, since moving we haven't been to a library. We decided to take the boys to the local library down the street to get them their own library cards. We wanted to show them how to be responsible for the books and be rewarded by getting new books.

The boys learned where the children's section was, that they had fun computer games to play, Conner read Carson a book in a cool play house and, we checked out some fun books. I was very surprised to see that Conner wanted history books!?! He wanted to learn about different world history. No idea where that came from but, he is enjoying the book so far. Carson chose a shark book while, I chose him an alphabet book, counting book and, a shape book!!

While we were there we got our passport stamped for visiting the 1st of 8 libraries in our area. The boys also got to pick a prize from the treasure chest for completing their 1st of 3 lines on their "Dig into Reading" book.

They had a great time and can't wait to go back! I see lots of visits to the library in our future!

To read more about the program see my previous post here!

Wordless Wednesday: Summer Bucket List #2 - Picking Strawberries!