Adding A Little Excitement to Walking the Dog

For the first few weeks after we got our dog there was a lot of novelty in walking him.  He was also a puppy who couldn't walk very far.  Seven months later, Molly remains my number one dog walking buddy, whereas Jack needs a little extra motivation to accompany me on a lengthy walk.  The time Molly and I get during a walk to talk about everything from her day at school, to things that are bugging her, to her favourite SpongeBob characters (and why they're her favourites) - makes these walks amazing.

Most of the time, I walk Ted in the morning (after the kids have gone to school) and in the evening while Jack stays home with dad, Molly and I go out.  There are other times, like PA days, and when Chris is out of town when I need to take everyone on the road so Ted can get a good walk.

Since it was a beautiful day on Easter Monday when the kids didn't have school, I figured a lengthier hike was in order.  To keep things more fun (see to stop Jack from complaining every two minutes that he was tired, bored, or sweaty) I created nature and urban based scavenger hunt check lists for each child to fill out during our hike.

My make-shift scavenger hunt list

The result...A very tired puppy who slept for two hours straight, my kids working together on their lists (because they asked that each list be different), and a request from Jack to go out and do another scavenger hunt walk next weekend.

The kids checking off items

WIN WIN!

I'm going to be working on some urban scavenger hunts as well as nature trail ones...stay tuned for more details!

Wonderwall - Our Trip To Canada's Wonderland

Sometimes a splurge is worth it.  This was the case for our day at Canada's Wonderland - Only we didn't know the return on our investment until after the day was over!

There's a couple more weeks left until summer is officially over, so we're still knocking the items off of our summer bucket list.  We had received coupons with their report cards for $12 off admission and I thought that would make things a lot more affordable (little did I know that this discount only applied to adults and parking alone would cost $22).

We still had some money left over from Nana and Papa for the minions birthdays, so thankfully we could use that towards a really great day, with a really hefty price-tag. With our discounts adult admission was still $58 and $45.50 for each child.  So when you include a pizza lunch (because there is no outside food allowed within the park gates), two drinks which we all shared and the promised funnel cake they'd try, a day for a family of four costs close to $275.00 (YOWZA!)  If you want to save a bit of cash you can bring a picnic, you just need to leave the park to enjoy it.

I now totally understand why people pay a little bit more to secure a season's pass, because it is worth it, but at this point we didn't know how the kids would fare at Wonderland, so it wasn't worth the gamble.  But for anyone interested in going, they currently have a deal going on where you can purchase a 2018 season pass and get one entry for this fall.

The kids were so excited to ride the red baron

Jack decided it would be fun to zip up his hoodie and pretend to be Dr. Scorpion for many of his ride experiences at the park. Which was pretty amusing for us to watch.

Flying high on the Great Pumpkin

Dr. Scorpion rides again

Chilling with Peppermint Patty

Checking out the iconic waterfall with Aunt S.

The trip was great, and the kids had a blast.  We really got to explore some roller coasters with them, and both kids love rides.  Favourites included the Ghoster-Coaster, and The Fly.  Both liked taking Thunder Run through the mountain, however there was some hesitation about going into the dark and seeing the dragon.

I'm on the fence as to whether or not this goes on our bucket list for next year, although both kids have said this was the most amazing day ever, so odds are we'll get a little more organized and make another visit next September, pay a few more bucks, and end up with 2019 season passes for our little thrill seekers.  Or I'll be keeping an eye out for a killer Groupon deal.

What are your favourite annual traditions with your kid?  What are their favourite theme parks?  I'm always looking for suggestions!

To get access to the newest posts from Multiple Momstrosity and more on Facebook click here and follow today

Follow Multiple Momstrosity on Twitter @Sarabethbug

Funky Donkey - Our Visit To The Donkey Sanctuary

Since I first met my husband he and his entire family have been talking about The Donkey Sanctuary of Canada as a fantastic place to spend a couple of hours.  Since Chris and I met in 2003, it's even more surprising that I'd never visited this wonderful place until this summer when the family decided to go out for an overdue visit.

Molly Brushing

So What's The Donkey Sanctuary?

Located near Guelph, The Donkey Sanctuary opened their doors in 1992 as a refuge for donkeys, mules and hinnies who were abused, neglected, or had owners who could no longer take care of them. At the sanctuary these donkeys are cared for, which can often save their lives, and can enjoy the rest of their lives in peace.  There are nearly 100 acres of space and 100 donkeys currently called The Donkey Sanctuary their home.

When Can I Go?

Visitors can stop by The Donkey Sanctuary on Sundays from 10AM-3PM in May to October, as well as Wednesdays 10AM-3PM in July and August.  It was about a 45-60 minute drive from Toronto for us

Donkeys Can Be Quite Social Animals & A Number of Them Even Have Best Friends

How Much Does It Cost?

Suggested donations are $10 per person.  All donations go towards caring for the donkeys.  Donations over $25 qualify for charitable tax receipts.

What Can I Do There?

After a donkey safety and etiquette lesson at the gate you can go and visit the donkeys, hinnies and mules and learn more about them and their story.  For those inclined, you can watch a donkey care demonstration or attend on of the two 'Donkey Talks' at 11AM and 1PM.  There are some light hiking trails and a picnic area nearby so you can enjoy a bite to eat (just don't eat near the donkeys).  Bring your own food, there is none for sale at the sanctuary.

A Donkey Playing By Rolling In The Dirt

The White Hinny is Molly, beside her BFF Miss J who is a Mule (Father a Donkey, Mother A Horse)

What The Kids Loved

Molly was much more into the experience than Jack who was more fascinated by the turtle shells on display by the barn.  Molly had a blast visiting Molly the Hinny (an animal with a horse for a father and a donkey for a mother) and brushing a number of donkeys.  Molly even bought a stuffed donkey from the store with some of her summer vacation money and has slept with it nearly every night since our visit.

More Brushing and Donkey Care

How Much Time Will I Spend Here?

Budget for an hour and a half to two hours, depending on the attention span of your children, and whether or not you'll want to attend a 'Donkey Talk" or have a picnic by the pond.

Will We Go Back?

Totally!  I can see this becoming something we regularly do every two or three summers!  This visit also let us cross 'Visit a farm' off of our Summer Bucket List.

To get access to the newest posts from Multiple Momstrosity and more on Facebook click here and follow today

Follow Multiple Momstrosity on Twitter @Sarabethbug

The Whole World Is Our Playground: Grange Park Playground Review

We've managed to make our summer more about play and kid focused, which means I'll be posting a lot more content in the next few weeks.

One of our summer bucket list items was to explore at least three new parks.  When we heard about the brand spanking new Grange Park we just knew we had to check it out!

My park review disclaimer: If you don't live in the area I hope you enjoy the pics and can use some of the ideas to inspire and explore in your own city. If you have any recommendations for great playgrounds (or new criteria I haven't thought of) please post a comment on this post or email me at multiplemomstrosity @ gmail.com .

Park Name:

Grange Park

In the heart of downtown Toronto, beside the Art Gallery of Ontario & OCAD
(Spanning the space between the intersections of Beverly Street & McCaul Street and Dundas Street and Queen Street)

Parking:

There is some pay parking available on the street, or you can walk over from St. Patrick Subway station or arrive via the Dundas or Queen Street car).

Theme of Park:

Innovative, artistic, modernly designed playground meant to inspire within the local art community.

Ground Coverage:

The playground has ample shade coverage and has soft wood chips to cushion any kid related falls.

Variety of Equipment for different ages:

Most equipment is designed for kids between 5-12 years old, but younger kids were happy to toddle, slide, and swing with the assistance of their caregivers.

Best Parts of the Park:

This park was amazingly innovative and accessible.  Even the benches have spaces for a person in a wheelchair to enjoy a snack.  The slides were some of the highest I've seen in a long time.  Both Molly and Jack agreed that their favourite part was climbing the giant barrel structure.

Jackie Climbs

Downfalls:

The splash pad sprinkler system either isn't working yet, or wasn't activated the day that we were there.  This was a major disappointment to Jack who wants all of our summer playground outings to involve water.

Overall Rating:

I would rate this playground a 4.5 out of 5.  The kids loved all the different structures to play on, and the shade of the trees was perfect for picnicking together.  There was a craft market very close by, so those attending on weekends may get to enjoy a little shopping with their play.

To view my playground review of the playground with the boat (Vermont Square) click here.

To view my playground review of Pricefield Road Playground click here.

To get access to the newest posts from Multiple Momstrosity and more on Facebook click here and follow today

Follow Multiple Momstrosity on Twitter @Sarabethbug