Fisher Price Little People Play Zone at momstown Oakville's Birthday Party

momstown Oakville is so excited to have Fisher Price sending in toys for the Fisher Price Little People Play Area at our 6th Birthday Party!

Moms and kids will get the opportunity to try them out and at the end of the party we'll raffle each of them off.  Here's a glimpse of what we have in store:

You can enjoy these great toys plus a few extra surprises that are on the way! In order to win these prizes you will need to check in at the registration table. Register ahead of time to earn an extra ballot! More details about our free birthday event can be found here: momstown Birthday Party.

Looking forward to seeing you at the party!

Fern Resort In Orillia Delivers Perfect Family Fun

This past weekend, my family and I were lucky enough to spend a few days at Fern Resort in Orillia, Ontario.  Fern Resort is an all inclusive resort that does an outstanding job at taking care of families and making sure that they have an unforgettable vacation.  I am fortunate to have access to a cottage on both sides of my family, but Fern can't be compared to going to a cottage.  That's like comparing apples to oranges. For parents, Fern Resort offers you a break from cooking, cleaning and being the social entertainment planner for the kids.  At the cottage, I still have to do all those things. You really get to relax at Fern and spend some time as a family and as a couple and get alone time too (there is a spa, tennis courts, golf, a fitness centre and a jogging track too!)  - Fern really is the best of all options when it comes to all members of the family feeling like they got a vacation.

Check out more pictures of the resort here.

When we got up the next morning, the kids really wanted to hit the pool.  Lucky for them, Fern Resort actually has three pools!  After a delicious breakfast in the main dining room, we changed into our bathing suits and hit the pool deck.  All of the pools are surrounded by inviting lounge chairs, even the kiddie pool has kid sized lounge chairs.  While we were in all three of the pools, the favourite was the small wading pool that was nice and warm and very shallow.  After working up an appetite, we grabbed lunch pool side.  The kids had choices of hamburgers, tacos, hot dogs, wraps, pizza and there was lots of fruit and veggies to choose from as well.  And let's not forget the dessert station which offered ice cream sundaes, freezies, tarts and cakes too!

My littlest succumbed to an afternoon nap on Saturday and that left my son and I some time to explore the resort a bit more.  In one afternoon he tried several things he'd never done before.  First up, we relaxed for a bit in the hammocks by the lake.  Then we tried our hand at fishing (those sneaky fish stole our worm twice but the two kids next to us were having lots of luck!) and finally the trampolines and then the low ropes course. Yup, all that stuff is at Fern Resort for kids to do plus so many other options and I haven't even gotten to the Play Village yet!

Left to Right - Climbing the low ropes course, playing life size checkers and walking across the suspension bridge

The Fern Resort Play Village is  really quite amazing.  I have not come across such comprehensive children's
programming at an Ontario resort before.  Just take a look here at a sample of their weekly program.  One morning, my kids got to make their own superhero mask and have a pony ride!  They went back in the late afternoon and had fun with motorized jeeps (my 4 year old son was in absolutely heaven).  The Play Village has secure indoor and outdoor areas to play and breaks down the programming by age.  They will take infants from 2 weeks of age!  And what did Mom and Dad do while the kids were having a blast in the Play Village?  Well, we had a quiet coffee by the lake, we did Archery and tried out a dual pedal bike and even got to have dinner alone while the kids watched a movie with the Play Village staff.  The resort has done a great job at thinking of every last detail to make being away from home with kids easy and enjoyable.

Motorized Jeeps!  

My final note would be to say that Fern is not just your summer vacation destination!  This Halloween weekend package caught our eye and be sure to find out about their New Year's family friendly celebration too!  Check out all Fern has to offer on their website, you won't regret it!  Momstown members always get a 5% discount off of any price too!

Et Tu Salad Kits Get Oakville Kids Making Salads!

momstown Oakville's special Et Tu salad Junior Chef event was a little overcast and we had some light rain to deal with but that didn't stop the kids from getting very hands on in the preparation of today's Junior Chef creation.  It can be hard to get kids to eat salad but one of the best tips provided is to get them involved in the preparation of the food and they are more likely to eat it.

So how did we do that when it came to making a Caesar salad using an Et Tu Salad Kit?  By involving one thing that kids just can't ignore....spray bottles!

We gave our momstown Oakville Junior Chefs spray bottles full of water to clean and wipe down the lettuce. Then they dried the lettuce and ripped it up into a few big bowls.

Once the lettuce was prepped and ready to go, we opened the Et Tu Caesar salad kits which contained everything we needed to make a complete Caesar salad - croutons, real bacon bits, parmesan cheese, seasoning and dressing.  

Kids loved being able to pour the Et Tu items into the bowl all by themselves

We added grilled chicken to the salad and then had wraps on hand to make an easy sandwich for kids. There are so many ways you can modify this meal such as adding tomatoes to make it more of a Clubhouse Chicken Caesar or adding another type of protein such as turkey breast or shrimp.  The best thing about an Et Tu salad kit is that it is a pantry item - keep some kits on hand for those busy nights where you need a quick meal.  All you need is some lettuce and you've got something yummy to add to the dinner table in minutes.  And our Junior Chefs proved today that a toddler or preschooler can help you assemble the salad!

Eating her creation in style!

We were lucky to have a few extra Et Tu salad kits and sent some home with happy moms who commented that they found the kits to be very handy to have stocked at home.  With the new school year starting soon, an Et Tu salad kit is an easy 'go-to' for those very busy nights.  Thanks to all our Junior Chefs for all their hard work!  

momstown Oakville's Mom & Baby Program Heads Outside To Sing, Rattle & Read

momstown Oakville has lots of programs each month perfect for moms and babies.  In addition to our weekly Baby Basics mom and baby program, we also have a Sing, Rattle & Read program that gets Oakville moms and babies moving and grooving!  This month we gathered outside to enjoy the beautiful summer weather and were thrilled to have such a large group join us.  Not surprising, but 20 little ones can make a lot of noise!

Everyone was up on their feet and participating in action songs and rhymes before we broke out some instruments and let the babies shake til their hearts content!  Each month we read and then give away one copy of a Scholastic Canada Book at our mom and baby Sing, Rattle & Read program.  This month the book was called 'No more puppies jumping on the bed' and the winner was Sylvia and her daughter Ariana!

We finished the morning blowing bubbles and watching them get carried away in the gently breeze.  Bubbles are always a hit and an easy way to get some giggles!

momstown Oakville's mom and baby programs run all summer long and you can join at any time.  Visit our website to start your free 4 week trial or purchase your yearly membership for just $45.  Your membership also includes a 12 month subscription to Today's Parent magazine!

Arrival of the Royal Baby Is Exciting, But My Heart Goes Out To Prince William

I was part of the crew anxiously waiting for Royal Baby news yesterday.  I guessed correctly that a new Prince would be born and I can't wait to see a picture of the new little guy and find out the name that has been chosen.  It is a very exciting time and nice to be flooded with good news for a change.

As the world focuses on the new mom and the bundle of joy, William will, like most new Dads, get pushed to the back of the spotlight for a little bit.  But I feel for him.  I just can't forget that he is experiencing one of the best things that can happen in life but at the same time, must be fiercely missing his Mom.  It always seems to be the large life events that allow heartache to creep back in even if its been decades since the loss of a loved one.  Coincidentally, my Dad and Princess Diana both died in August of 1997.

Prince William will be overjoyed while holding his new son, he will marvel at the amazing strength of his wife, at the outpouring of love and support from family and friends but I know he would just love to have his Mom teach him how to swaddle a newborn baby.  He would love to have her walk the halls with the baby during a fussy period or capture a picture of his Mom holding his son and her pride of being a first time Grandmother. He would also be gaining a new perspective and understanding about the love his mother had for him, something all adult children realize once they have a child of their own. Royal or not, this wonderful time will be slightly overshadowed for William by Princess Diana's absence.

But as they settle into their new life as a family of three, William will catch glimpses of Diana in his son, whether it be his smile, a mannerism or perhaps his eyes.  I have no doubt that William will find a way to pull Diana into the life of his little one (and any future little ones!) and speak about her, show pictures and talk about what his Mom was like.  There has already been speculation that the polka dot dress that Kate wore yesterday when leaving the hospital was a tribute to Diana.

I wish the new parents all the best and think the new Prince has a very bright future ahead.  How can he not with a incredible destiny already predetermined and with Diana looking out for him wherever she may be.

Best Summer Camp Songs For Ages 3 And Up

My son is having a blast at the summer camp he is going to and comes home each week with a new song that he loves to sing.  Some of them I recognize from when I was a kid and they bring back great summer time memories.  I was also impressed with the length and complexity of the songs he was remembering.  As a parent, I was happy to realize that memorizing these fun songs are a great way to keep his brain working over the summer!  Here are some summer time camp songs for ages three and up that are favourites in my house right now.

Herman The Worm

Sittin' on my fencepost, cheweing my bubblegum (chew, chew, chew, chew)
Playin' with my yo-yo, wee-oo! wee-oo!
When along came Herman the worm
And he was this big (make a motion as if measuring a tiny worm)
And I said: "Herman? What happened?"
"I ate my sister."

Sittin' on my fencepost, cheweing my bubblegum (chew, chew, chew, chew)
Playin' with my yo-yo, wee-oo! wee-oo!
When along came Herman the worm
And he was this big (make a motion as if measuring a bigger worm)
And I said: "Herman? What happened?"
"I ate my brother."

Sittin' on my fencepost, cheweing my bubblegum (chew, chew, chew, chew)
Playin' with my yo-yo, wee-oo! wee-oo!
When along came Herman the worm
And he was this big (make a motion as if measuring a bigger worm)
And I said: "Herman? What happened?"
"I ate my Mother."

Sittin' on my fencepost, cheweing my bubblegum (chew, chew, chew, chew)
Playin' with my yo-yo, wee-oo! wee-oo!
When along came Herman the worm
And he was this big (make a motion as if measuring a bigger worm)
And I said: "Herman? What happened?"
"I ate my father."

Sittin' on my fencepost, cheweing my bubblegum (chew, chew, chew, chew)
Playin' with my yo-yo, wee-oo! wee-oo!
When along came Herman the worm
And he was this big (make a motion as if measuring a tiny worm)
And I said: "Herman? What happened?"
"I burped."

Purple Stew

I'm making a purple stew,
Whip whip, whip whip,
I'm making a purple stew,
Shooby dudby do,
With purple potatoes,
And purple tomatoes,
How 'bout you in my purple stew?

Button Factory

Hello, my name is Joe
I have a wife and a dog and a family
I work (all day) in the button factory
One day, my boss came up to me and said,
"Hey Joe, are you busy?"
I said, "No, heck no!"
"Then do this..."
(this can be anything from pushing a button to jumping on one foot, be creative)

What was your favourite camp song?

Lettuce Wraps Recipe

Thanks to Amanda, one of our momstown Oakville members, for sharing this yummy recipe!  This is a great appetizer or also a light summer meal when paired with another yummy side dish.

Photo credit

Ingredients required:

16 Boston or Bibb lettuce leaves (you can also use a regular head of lettuce, rinsed - use the large leaves)
1 pound ground chicken breast
1 large onion -- chopped
2 Tbsp minced garlic
1 Tbsp reduced-sodium soy sauce
1/2 cup hoisin sauce
2 tsp minced fresh ginger
1 Tbsp rice wine vinegar or red wine vinegar
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper or 1/2 tsp dried red chili flakes (optional)
1 can (8 ounce size) sliced water chestnuts -- drained and finely chopped
1 bunch green onions, slice thinly
2 tsp sesame oil

How To Make:

Rinse lettuce leaves, keeping them whole. Set aside to drain.

Cook chicken in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring often to break up the meat. Add onion, garlic, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, ginger, vinegar and spices. Cook until the meat is crumbled and brown. Add water chestnuts and green onions. Cook until onions begin to soften, about 2 minutes.

Stir in sesame oil. Arrange lettuce leaves on the outer edge of a platter. Spoon meat mixture in center and eat like a taco!