Shelley_Callico

How parents can play role in keeping kids fit

I read this article in the Atlanta Journal Constitution abbout how to keep your kids fit.  It was interesting to see how other parents and exercise professionals are breaking out of the TV and video game mold.  For a KaBoomer, it is refershing to see that others also share the same values.  

Read this http://www.ajc.com/lifestyle/how-parents-can-play-592956.html

I ask you, how are you keeping your kids active now that school has started? (Yes, we are in our second week in Georgia.) 

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Day 32: Family Reunion with a Green Caterpillar  

 

Weldon Springs State Park, Clinton, Illinois 61727

Meadowview Picnic area

 

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We took the Park-a-Day Challenge on the Road to Decatur, Illinois for a wedding and family reunion.  

On the last day, we gathered for a family reunion at the Weldon Springs State Park at the Meadowview Picnic area in Clinton, Illinois 61727.  There was a pavilion with primitive L bathrooms.  It was located right next to a small playground that was ADA accessible which was convenient since my cousin uses a wheelchair.  

 

 

 

 

 

We enjoyed reconnecting and talking with our extended family that I haven’t seen in about 8 years.  Here are some pics of the kids playing on the swings and the playground itself. 

 

 

 

 

The bigger kids also played volleyball in a sand pit for a while.

 

 

 

 

My daughter’s most memorable experience here was meeting a green and black striped caterpillar.  It hopefully will become a Black Swallowtail; American Swallowtail Butterfly.  (Check out this cool Caterpillar Search Engine http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?guide=Caterpillars ) She wanted to know what it ate and tried to give it an ice cube. (I quickly took the ice away – don’t think that is good for caterpillars.)

She carried the caterpillar around everywhere.  It even made it into the family pictures, so he will be remembered for a very long time.  Here’s a close up:

 

 

 

 

 

We have also have a book about caterpillars – “I am a Little Caterpillar” by Francois Crozet.  The caterpillars look somewhat alike. 

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/I-Am-a-Little-Caterpillar/Francois-Crozat/e/9780812064858

 Overall, it was great to see a parks in a different part of the country for a change.  And it was MUCH cooler in Illinois than in Atlanta. 

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 Weldon Springs State Park

4734 Weldon Springs Rd
Clinton, IL 61727
217.935.2644

http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&fb=1&gl=us&hq=state+parks&hnear=Decatur,+IL&hl=en&q=http://dnrgis.state.il.us/website/dnr.kmz&ftid=679F1423A925DB0B&ved=0CLYBEJsF&sa=X&ei=U_JqTNfwJJyszAS72f2LCA

http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/PARKS/R3/Weldonra.htm

 

 

 

Day 30: Visiting Family at Weldon Springs State Park Campground

 

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During a recent trip to Decatur, Illinois for a family reunion and wedding, we took in several parks and playgrounds along with our multitude of cousins and second cousins. 

 

We visited the campground at Weldon Springs State Park in Clinton, Illinois.  My husband took the kids to the playground (sorry no pics) and visit Salt Creek that flows into Weldon Spring Lake, a reservoir.  He said that there was a huge crane bird that was sitting on this log and flew off suddenly when they came around the corner.   

We also found a huge clamshell on the shore of Weldon Spring Lake, a reservoir.  Here’s the inside for closer inspection. 

 

 

Walking down the boardwalk.

 

 

 

 

The kids played well into the night and came back with flashlights.  The ladies sent the guys to make sure that they were ok. 

 

We are lucky to be able to visit Weldon Spring State Park, which was one of the parks scheduled to close in 2008.  In 2009, it made it off of the closure list and was reopened. 

 

 

101 THINGS TO DO AT WELDON STATE PARK

We barely touched the surface of things to do at this state park.  Here’s a list of things to do at the park in all seasons – imagine ice fishing as a KaBoom activity!  http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/PARKS/R3/wls/101.htm Here’s the list of what we did at the park:

 

 

16.       Photography – My husband and I took pictures of the flowers, landscapes, insects and animals.

20.       Weiner Roast -- We roasted hotdogs and hamburgers over a campfire with our extended family. 

21.       Picnic – We enjoyed a family picnic at a shelter in the Meadowview Picnic area.   

 

25.       Hold a Reunion - Reunite with family, friends, or classmates for a picnic or barbeque. Some shelters can be reserved in advance to assure a good site.

60.       Hummingbirds – I saw a ruby-throated hummingbird several times at my aunt’s campsite.  She had a bird feeder and a hummingbird feeder that they were checking out.

 62.       Look for butterflies – The caterpillar we found on Day 30 should become a green and black striped caterpillar.  It hopefully will become a Black Swallowtail or American Swallowtail Butterfly in several weeks.

 

 

77.       Take a wildflower walk – We saw lots of this purple flower near the picnic pavilion.

80.       Take a child for a discovery walk – Daddy took all of the cousins exploring the day before.

 

 

101.     Bring a friend – does the caterpillar count?

 

 

Weldon Springs State Park

4734 Weldon Springs Rd
Clinton, IL 61727

217.935.2644

 http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&fb=1&gl=us&hq=state+parks&hnear=Decatur,+IL&hl=en&q=http://dnrgis.state.il.us/website/dnr.kmz&ftid=679F1423A925DB0B&ved=0CLYBEJsF&sa=X&ei=U_JqTNfwJJyszAS72f2LCA

 

http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/PARKS/R3/Weldonra.htm

 

 

“Playground Day!” by Jennifer J. Merz

 

 

My five-year-old daughter and I have been reading “Playground Day!” by Jennifer J. Merz.  It is now due back at the library so I now is a good time to write about the book.

 

http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/catalog/titledetail.cfm?titleNumber=100552

 

http://www.amazon.com/Playground-Day-ebook/dp/B003X09XZC

 

It is a fun book for little ones to pretend and have fun at the playground with their moms.  I really enjoy the collage-style pictures that are very colorful and jump off of the page. The story has great rhymes and alliteration.  My daughter wants to act out the story every time we read it.

 

The little girl in the story brings her stuffed animals to life and plays on the playground.  From a KaBoom! perspective, the boomers would really enjoy the illustrations of the different types of equipment:  slides, tubes, merry-go-rounds, tunnels, ladders, swings, teeter-totters, and a sand box.  The kids even have snack time and water fountain!

 

At the end, she laments, “do we have to go now?” and declares that “We’ll be back another day.” 

 

Isn’t that what we tell the kids every time?  

 

 

Park-a-Day Challenge Road Trip! 

 

Day 30: Visiting the Animals and a Walk Down Memory Lane

 

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This is the second part of the Day 30! 

We took the Park-a-Day Challenge on the Road to Decatur, Illinois for a wedding and family reunion. We visited Scovill Park and Zoo which is very unique since the City Parks District owns and operates the zoo.  This is a place that I grew up going to over the years and site of the majority of birthday celebrations in my youth.  It is very special to see our extended family gather here to play and visit the animals. 

 

The Scovill Park Zoo in Decatur, Illinois was the site of many birthday parties when I was growing up.  My cousin is exactly 363 days younger than me, so we usually celebrated our birthdays together when we were young.  So I find it very special that we are getting together to have all of our children (second cousins to each other) to get together to play as a big group. 

 

We visited the very cool park outside of the zoo first.  Here’s the link to the first blog post.  It is used a lot and is in great condition.  The school systems bring lots of kids here for trips and it is well used. 

 

The small 15-acre zoo has more than 500 animals.  Miranda loved seeing all of the animals.  We were just looking at one when she’d say, “Let’s go see more!!” Here are a few of our favorites and her responses:

 

 

 

 

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Eagle -- she wanted to know why it didn't fly away.  It was hurt and rescued by the Illinois Dept. of Natural REsources.  They gave it to the zoo to care for it.  

 

 

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Deer -- she liked pointing it out to the older cousins who could not see it hiding in the bushes. 

 

 

 

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Alligator

 

Red Panda

Groundhog

Meerkats -- these don't have as much energy as this bunch of cousins 

Vulture

Hawk

 

 

 

Peacock and White Peacock

Camels

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zebra

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tortoise – these are still teenagers and are always doing something inappropriate that you try not to explain to kids.  ;-)

 

 

 

 

Monitor

 

Ring Tailed Lemur

Red Monkey

Kangaroo

 

 

 

 

One of the highlights of the visit to this zoo and park is a visit to the petting zoo.  I remember visiting here as a child.  You can buy a handful of food to feed the goats, lamas, bunnies and chickens.  The goats are VERY VERY aggressive.  They jump up and put their hooves on your legs to get to the food.  The smaller goats climb up on the fences and stand on the railing next to the candy-machine style food dispenser.  They are very adept at getting the food out of it!  One of them chewed on my cousin’s long hair and we had to act quickly to get it out of its mouth!! But the kids loved feeding the goats.  She still talks about the visit there all the time. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outside of the monkey exhibit, there are several monkey bars that all of the cousins liked to hang upside down on. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Zoo also features the Endangered Species Carousel where people can sponsor an animal on the carousel.  I like seeing which animal that each cousin picked out to visit. 

 

 

 

http://www.experiencedecatur.com/attractions.php

http://www.decatur-parks.org/zoo/index.php

http://www.decatur-parks.org/photoGallery.php?eventID=45&photos=1 

 

71 South Country Club Road • Decatur, IL 62521 • 217-421-743

 

 Day 45: East Cobb Park / Fuller’s Park

 

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East Cobb Park

3322 Roswell Road

Marietta, 30068

Technology has failed me again.   I had lots of pictures from our three hour visit to this wonderful park, located in the northeast Metro Atlanta area, but the digital camera SD card ate all of my pictures.  So, here are some pictures from the great web sites at

 

The Cobb County Parks & Rec web site http://prca.cobbcountyga.gov/EastCobbPark.htm

East Cobb Park on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/eastcobbpark/sets/72157602160025813/with/4126622051/

 

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East Cobb Park is a public/private partnership with a nonprofit organization who manages the park and the activities.  I went to high school in this area and remember how it was a large open tract of land that was privately owned.  In 1998 a private group – Friends for East Cobb Park -- started to raise the money to purchase the 13-acre park.  I watched as the big red thermometer kept rising with community donations and from families and people like me.  Today, this park is a jewel in the county system and thousands use it daily. 

The park has a huge open field with lots of parking.  http://www.flickr.com/photos/eastcobbpark/1439899946/in/set-72157602160025813/

Families were there with their kids practicing running drills, soccer and just running around.  There were a few small cones that people picked up at the covered pavilion that is just off of the field.  It also has a view of the large playground area and is ringed by a paved and gravel path. http://www.flickr.com/photos/eastcobbpark/1439903118/in/set-72157602160025813/

 

There were many many kids, families and individuals at this park.  Many times on our Park-A-Day Challenge, we have been the only people at the park.  On this visit, she lad lots of kids of all ages to play with.  We also petted about 25 dogs.  It is a very popular dog park area and the park provides doggie bags for owners to pick up after their dogs.   My daughter has rarely ever met a dog that she didn’t like.  One nice dog owner let her hold the leash to walk the dog on the paved path for a little while.  This was a big highlight of the trip.

 

STAGE

http://www.flickr.com/photos/eastcobbpark/2039825596/in/set-72157602160025813/

The park hosts many community events including weekly play date events with a local singer for kids, and monthly movies on a big screen.  http://www.flickr.com/photos/eastcobbpark/4126623033/in/set-72157602160025813/Check them out here.  There’s a big pavilion that Miranda and I got up on the stage and sang a Justin Bieber song together. 

 

THE PLAYGROUND

http://www.flickr.com/photos/eastcobbpark/1439044193/in/set-72157602160025813/

The large playground area has about 5 different play zones for younger and older kids.  It is surrounded by a picket fence – you can sponsor/buy a picket for the fence and names are engraved on each wooden slat. All over the park, there are benches and stones that can be purchased to show your support for the park.  http://www.flickr.com/photos/eastcobbpark/4127393938/in/set-72157602160025813/ At the entrance: there’s a play structure with tubes and slides for the littler kids under age 5.  Kids can ride in one of the two spring bouncy cars off to the side – one is a desert storm humvee and another is a green race car. 

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/eastcobbpark/2039000675/in/set-72157602160025813/My five-year-old daughter was loved RUNNING on the log wheel feature.  There were two horizontal spinning “logs” that had beavers and squirrels on the sides with a hand rail on each side.  She stood up, held on to the hand rails and ran over the spinning wheel.  She did this about 10 times.  (I though she would sleep well that night!!)

 

A separate large green dinosaur slide feature got a lot of visitors.  It was good for both the big and little kids.  http://www.flickr.com/photos/eastcobbpark/1439043943/in/set-72157602160025813/

 

There was also two very creative and cool underground tubes where you can speak and the other person could hear you about 25 feet away.  We tried but she was not tall enough to get her ear up to the speaker.  Her idea was to yell loudly, “Mommy, can you hear me?!”

 

The older kids’ playground (ages 5-12) was a cool tree house theme with a green roof and cute butterfly and leaf cutout rails.  http://www.flickr.com/photos/eastcobbpark/2039000773/in/set-72157602160025813/ The play structure has several two story twisty and straight slides that were very fast – which my daughter liked. 

 

There were swings (only 2 big kid swings, but 4 baby swings) and a merry-go-round.  Since it had been raining all weekend, the area under the merry-go-round was flooded, except for one area.  The kids took turns pushing each other by standing on the mat in the dry area. 

 

It has been a day of firsts.  My daughter also brought her new roller blades and tried to skate while holding onto mommy.  She has been testing out her newly found kindergarten independence and is trying to do more things without me there.  She also learned to tie her shoes today. 

 

NATURE

http://www.flickr.com/photos/eastcobbpark/4126622051/in/set-72157602160025813/

The park connects to another older park that has baseball fields and batting cages as well as a small playground. My daughter had her second birthday party at a pavilion next to the playground. 

 

We liked the hike over to Fuller’s park on the Cardinal Loop Trail.  There was a very nice bridge over the large creek.  http://www.flickr.com/photos/eastcobbpark/4127393644/in/set-72157602160025813/

Lots of landscaping highlights the entrance to the trails.  Miranda found a small fuzzy white caterpillar and we put it back onto a leaf.  She has been into bugs and caterpillars lately. 

 

There are also many desk-style overlooks for the large stream.  Each is sponsored by a company or nonprofit service group.  My daughter ran to look at several of these overlooks – she said, “This is so cool!!!” She loved checking to see if there were fish or rapids.  There was a waterfall that she really liked. 

 

RATING

Overall I give this park 4.75 out of 5.  Because the park is so heavily used, more mulch is needed in the playground areas and the black plastic weed barrier was coming up in many areas of the playground. 

 

On the plus side, there are two excellent playground areas as well as very well maintained bathrooms. 

 

However, this park was heavily damaged in the historic 500-year floods that hit the metro Atlanta area in September 2009.  The community rallied around this park to rebuild in a massive effort.  I love the way that this park is run and maintained by a public-private partnership.  I hope that you will check it out too! 

 

For information on The Friends for East Cobb Park, see their website at www.eastcobbpark.org.  You will find upcoming events, newsletters, and opportunities to become involved with this community group.

Click here to see photos of East Cobb Park as provided by The Friends of East Cobb Park.

 

 

 

Ben Hill Strickland Sr. Park – Part II

                              

“Children have a natural affinity towards nature. Dirt, water, plants, and small animals attract and hold children’s attention for hours, days, even a lifetime.” 

-- Robin C. Moore and Herb H Wong 

 

Day 30: Project Playground and a Walk Down Memory Lane

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We took the Park-a-Day Challenge on the Road to Decatur, Illinois for a wedding and family reunion. We visited Scovill Park and Zoo which is very unique since the City Parks District owns and operates the zoo. This is a place that I grew up going to over the years and site of the majority of birthday celebrations in my youth. It is very special to see our extended family gather here to play and visit the animals.

 

Recently the city of Decatur has completely renovated the former wooden playground that was built in 1991 (which was really cool in its day) with a state-of-the-art play area called “Project Playground.” The playground features a labyrinth of catwalks and monkey bars for kids to swing climb and balance on the playground. (Pictures of their October 2008 Build Day here) Here are some of the cool features as experienced by my daughter, and her cousins and second cousins!

 

Upon entering the large Project Playground, you can enter the playground via the catwalk labyrinth or stay on the ground to see the vast array of climbing and monkey bars.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s one of the twirling bars. She was hesitant at first…then the other cousins came to join her and she lost her inhibitions (and her shoes).   All of the kids loved taking turns and twirling around. 

 

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They also liked the climbing equipment: Circle climber, rock climber wall, and a large plastic climbing rock. Cousin David proclaimed himself “King of the Rock”! Miranda is in her "Super Girl" Pose atop the catwalk!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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One of the most used Project Playground features was the large circular twirling monkey bars. One cousin made good use of it to sit way up high waiting for the arrival of the second cousins. Then when the crowd arrived, spun around and hung off it like ribbons from a may pole. It was fun to watch but a little scary for the parents (the grown up cousins).

 

 

 

 

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It is interesting to watch Miranda play with the group of her cousins since she is the youngest of the bunch. She rises to their level and tries to do all of the daring things that they are doing – even though she is much younger and littler than them. She tries to hold onto the high monkey bars and then calls out for mommy to rescue her. That is the crux of parenthood: pushing them farther to achieve while still holding onto the sweetness of youth.

 

 

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That is the crux of parenthood:  pushing them farther to achieve while still holding onto the sweetness of youth.

 

 

 

 

 

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The park also has a complete drum line section, featuring bongos, a slider to go over the ribbed instrument, and African style gourds with beads inside to make cool noises. Check out these rhythmic cousins! (Hey are the drums supposed to be played with your feet?!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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There are cool details in the park: Decatur is known for their trains since the Wabash and services Staley’s and ADM. There’s a train front with the cow catcher and, of course, a train wheel to steer the train.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also like the giant dinosaur that greets you at the entrance to the park as well as the dinosaur details under the slides. Next to the dinosaur there is a huge web that the kids liked to climb on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Miranda and I had fun playing with another fun feature, a Magic 8 Ball style wheel (with red wheel) that you could ask questions.  

 

Q: Will kids enjoy playing on this very cool Project Playground?

A: “Who Knows?!” says the Project Playground question wheel.

 

Watch for my next post on the zoo and carousel which is located right next to the Project Playground.

 

http://www.experiencedecatur.com/attractions.php

http://www.decatur-parks.org/zoo/index.php

http://www.decatur-parks.org/photoGallery.php?eventID=45&photos=1

71 South Country Club Road • Decatur, IL 62521 • 217-421-743

http://preview.tinyurl.com/2eblw5t

 

As an avid park visitor and parent, this story chilled me.  In Atlanta, we have been having serious afternoon thunderstorms that are weakening the older trees.  This park was actually named after a family who was killed by a tree falling on their SUV several years ago.  

 

While this appears to have happened to a healthy tree, this is a call for all parks and recreation departments and cities to maintain their playgrounds and parks carefully to maximize safety for their youngest visitors.  

 

Prayers for these families.  

 

P.S. I just checked the playspace finder and our family visited this park during the Virginia Highlands Festival this year.  We spent several hours playing on these innovative a cool playgrounds while listening to the music from the nearby field.  Sad story...I am hoping the kids will be ok. 

http://playspacefinder.kaboom.org/playspaces/3139-cunard-memorial-playground/photos/4309

The hidden city

 

Over this weekend, my daughter and I helped our church with a community service project at a local mobile home community that is just a mile from our church.  This part of Marietta/Kennesaw has been identified as one of the neediest areas in the county by our local community service organizations. 

 

I was struck by the lack of access to play facilities and the condition of the existing “equipment” in the mobile home park.  The ground was covered with broken glass from beer bottles…which my daughter was trying to pick up and “collect” since she’d never seen anything like it.  The basketball court did not have a net and was covered with glass.  The old pipe style swing posts were still there, but the swings were long gone.  There’s still a single pipe monkey bar that reaches up to the sky, but I never saw a single kid go near it. 

 

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There are no cool pictures of this site since I did not bring my camera, but you can easily get the picture of the site in your mind. 

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There was a big field with absolutely no shade anywhere.  It was very very hot, but a bunch of kids and parents still came out to the family fun day for the free hotdog cook out and bouncy castle/slide that we brought out.   We also brought relay games, face painting and soccer balls.  They did not need equipment to have fun…they just needed each other and a ball.  They needed the interaction of other teen and adult facilitators to create a relay or game.  They needed other kids to challenge each other to try something new and do more.  They just needed a tree to climb to get a new perspective on life.

 

Many of the children in this community do not have access to transportation or families only have one vehicle, leaving mom or caregivers at home.  The unemployment rate in our county has now topped the national average and the economic situation is difficult for many households.  Many of the residents also face steep language and cultural barriers to finding places to play.  Driving to a local park is not a financial option for many of these caregivers.  Unfortunately, in my county, public transportation is limited or not available in many areas. 

 

The beautiful public city                                

 

The community I live in is an affluent suburb of Metro Atlanta. Within just a few miles of this community are multi-million dollar home communities with access to private community playgrounds.  My county boasts lovely playgrounds that are open and accessible to all.  If only they could walk to one close by….

 

I have lamented that there’s not a playground within walking distance of my house, but I can afford to drive to the playgrounds that are 6 miles away or further. 

 

On Day 24, this “playground” visit was really an eye opener.  Instead of commenting what cool play equipment there was at the site, I can make a whole list of what is lacking and needed at this site.  I hope that this post has challenged you to look at a different side of your community that you’ve never seen before.

 

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Day 21:  Ben Hill Strickland Sr. Memorial Park

 

My daughter went to this park with her school friends.  Her favorite part was feeding the ducks in the large pretty pond. 

 

In the continuing quest to go somewhere NEW and FUN, this will be on our list for this weekend. 

 

The Ben Hill Strickland Sr. Memorial Park is located near historic downtown Hiram. The Park offers more than 12 acres of natural beauty and activity amenities catering to the fitness enthusiast as well as those simply seeking a leisurely nature stroll. 

Amenities include:

·                       Nature trail and pond

·                       Pavilions

·                       Perimeter sidewalk 

·                       Picnic green 

·                       Playgrounds

·                       Tennis and basketball courts 

The Park is also the site of the City of Hiram Amphitheater, which is used for City-hosted concerts, events, and movies in the park. 

Ben Hill Strickland Sr. Memorial Park
372 Oak St. 
Hiram, GA 30141
Ph: (770) 943-3726
Hours: Daylight - 11:00 pm

 

 

Oregon Park: Day 15

 

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Oregon Park is one of our favorite parks and we visit here all the time. The playground is great for little kids to play on while their siblings might be playing baseball or softball. But what really makes this park unique is the disc (frisbee) golf course, which is one of the best in the county. It has become a very fun activity for a late afternoon since it is shady. Be aware that the participants of this sport are very serious – it’s not using traditional frisbees but little discs that go really fast.  Kids can play in the creek area and toss their frisbees at the goals. But heads up for those serious disc players who may want to play through!

We chose this park because we wanted to go when it was cooler after dinner.  It is close to home and has lots of shady areas.  We have had to think out of the box to find playgrounds that we can go to to stand the heat. 

We decided to bring the dog with us.  Our first stop was to take the dog along a quiet part of the park…but he managed to get into a yellow jackets nest somehow.  My 40+ year record of never being stung by a bee has been broken.  (This wasn’t an “official” part of the park…I’m sticking to the trails next time!) Miranda really liked taking the dog with us.  Since he is a Lab, he loved jumping into the creek!

 

Site of yellow jacket encounter... Looks great huh?

 

 

 

Playground is great for little kids.  Miranda is 5 now and doesn't find it too exciting, but it has a balance beam, slides and monkey bars.  The best part is that it is completely shaded and has a nice picnic table for parents to sit at.  

This park is a major center for baseball in West Cobb county.  The county has also purchased a farm next door for a total of additional 220-acres.  The land will be used for an interpretive farm site, passive-green space, and additional Frisbee golf.  Hopefully there will be room for more area for dogs and picnicking.  According to the county, they may be expanding the space.  I’d LOVE to see a KaBOOM playground for bigger kids.  The closest big kid playground is about 10 miles away.  There is no place to play within walking distance.

LOCATION: Oregon Park; 145 Old Hamilton Rd, Marietta 30064 

>> Quick Location Map
>> Interactive GIS Map

Amenities: 8 baseball fields, 4 tennis courts, 5 batting cages, playground, fitness trail, 3 picnic pavilions and disk golf course

 

 

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Backyard Football: Day 21

 

Miranda has really gotten excited about sports.  She wants to be a soccer player and have everyone watch her play in a stadium.  (Fueled by our visit to see The Atlanta Beat www.theatlantabeat.com. The next day it is gymnastics all over the living room. 

 

Last night she wanted to play football in the back yard with our dog.  Mommy (Georgia fan), Daddy (UK fan) and Miranda (undecided, likes butterfly team) played for a while until the thunderstorms and mosquitoes sent us inside for cover.  It was really fun for this Southern mamma to teach her baby girl to throw a football the right way.  She almost got it right…but it was only her first time throwing it.  So there’s still a chance that she can make the University of Georgia’s team in the future! 

 

Here are a few quotes about Southern Girls and their football:

 

ü       A southern girl is a girl who knows full and well that she can open a door for herself but prefers for the gentleman to do it because it demonstrates a sense of respect. After all, every girl wants to be treated like a princess. We know how to make sweet tea and grits while telling you everything about any football team in the SEC. We pick our battles and fight with the heart of a pit bull while still maintaining grace and elegance. Our mystique is that of a soft-spoken, mild-mannered southern bell who could direct an army, loves her momma and will always be daddy's little girl.

 

ü      A whole collection of Southernisms http://mysree.wordpress.com/2007/04/22/southern-girls-football-season-north-vs-south/

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Day at Lake Allatoona: Day 17 

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What summer is complete without a day at the Lake?  We visited Lake Allatoona with friends for a huge potluck picnic. Thanks to a Navy veteran friend we were able to go to beautiful campground / picnic area that is for military families.  

 

Even though the Navy Lake Site is restricted, there are lots of places to visit on Lake Allatoona, which is just 30 miles from Atlanta.  There are really cool county, city and state parks to choose from.  Here are just a few that you could visit: 

 

• Lake Acworth Beach   http://www.allatoonalake.org/parks/acworth_beach.html


• Red Top Mountain  http://hubpages.com/hub/Red-Top-Mountain 


• Bartow Carver Park  http://www.allatoonalake.org/parks/bartow-carver-park.html

 

 

Because Miranda was *so excited* about going to the beach to swim, she was not very happy to eat first.  This is the only picture that I have of her that day. 

 We also invited other 5-year-olds to come to the event so that we could all have a great time! The adults floated in inner tubes at the lake/beach and the kids played along the shore.  She got brave enough to float out to visit at times.  She liked playing in the sand and collecting treasures. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I agree. where's a good place for us to suggest that Cobb County put a park?

 

Day 17:  White Oak Park

 

Have you ever gotten out of your comfort zone and been pleasantly surprised? 

 

Well, we had gotten in a rut and gone to the same playgrounds in Cobb County – because we live here…. 

 

My daughter has really been enjoying this challenge.  She keeps asking, “Mommy, can we go on an ADVENTURE?!”  Her other request is to go somewhere that we have never been before.  Well this new park, fits both of her new requirements!

 

At the recommendation of two people I ran into, I set out to White Oak Park in Paulding County GA (298 Mustang Dr., Dallas, GA 30157). It has quickly become my favorite park and playground!

They had the most awesome playground with a giant two-story playground barn, a John Deere tractor play equipment for the little kids, a climbing wall, a four-person teeter totter bouncer, and a separate smaller kids equipment.  All of this was surrounded by a beautiful pasture with a big hill and ringed by a walking fitness trail with stations.  My camera batteries died or I'd have more pics of the cool playground. (I took this with my camera phone.)

Even with the coolest playground EVER! Miranda’s favorite part of the trip was that we caught 5 fish on the first time that we took our 5 year old fishing.  This is a catch and release lake. It has a large fishing dock and two large pavillions.  There are also lots of ducks and the lake has bass, blue gill and sunfish.  

For the more adventuresome, there's disc (frisbee) golf and volleyball sand pit.  You can grill out in one of the pretty pavilions at the top of the hill and kids can play on a second smaller playground.  We will be coming back here with friends to cook out.  It is only 15 miles from our house. 

Amenities

3 Picnic Pavilions
1 Enclosed Pavilion
Picnic Tables with grills
3 Lakes
Sand Volleyball
2 Playgrounds
Disc Golf
Walking Trails
Trail Fitness System

 

Day 20:  Tramore Park -- Austell, GA 

 

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Everyone loves ice cream....especially on a hot summer night when you've been playing hard and are all hot and sweaty.  Can you remember stopping to catch your breath after playing tag or monster on the playground?  Then you hear the familiar tinking misic of the ice cream truck?  You quickly check your pockets for any precious change you stuck in there?  Or, if you are close enough, you run home and franticaly ask, "Mom, Mom!  The icecream truck is here!!! Can I have some?!" 

What was your favorite?  Those gigantic blue bomber ice pops? The classic orange push up? Or the old standard ice cream sandwich?  I prefer those ice cream cones with the nuts and chocolate inside.  

 

 

 

 

 

Last night was one of those nights.  It has been excruciatingly HOT in Atlanta this summer.  So we've beena going out to parks after dinner.   Bed time can wait till we are exhausted.  We decided to visit one of our old standby parks -- Tramore Park on the East West Connector in Austell.  If you've been reading my blog, you know that we have been going during the day and since it is so hot, there's not many other kids to play with. 

 

We'll that was not the case last night.  There was about 50 people out with their kiddos enjoying the cooler evening weather and watching their kids play on the playground or kicking soccer balls on the many fields nearby.  

 

 

 

Mastering the Monkey Bars?

With all of the other older kids around, I enjoyed watching Miranda interacting with the other kids.  At five-years-old, she has this love-hate relationship with the monkey bars.  She always wants to hang on them, but gets scared and ends up wanting me to rescue her.  The other little kids were challenging each other to see who could touch the farthest bars.  She is now hanging with both arms on two farther out.  (Talk about bravery! ;-) Then, one of the older girls was hanging upside down on the monkey bars.  She wanted to do it too.  She got upside down but was couldn't get her legs untangled.  

 

When we went to bed, I asked her for her favorite things from this park: 

3) The creek -- she loved jumping from rock to rock across the creek. 

2) Monkey Bars

1) Ice Cream...'nough said. 

 

 

 

• Tramore Park
• Oregon Park