Loving the playdates!

For the past two weeks, the girls and I have been scheduling playdates with some friends of ours - Stephen & Holly. What's really cool? They have two girls, Karly & Kynly, who are almost the exact same age as ours! What a perfect match, right?

Last week, we played at their house...then a couple days later, they came to ours.

And this week, we went to Paradise Park (sorry...no pics!) one day, and then Deanna Rose Farmstead the next. What a fun time :) I am looking forward to getting together with them more often this summer!

Going Places

Living close to Kansas City definitely has its perks - there is always something to do! There are museums, parks, play places, nature centers, shopping centers and more!

I am not sure how often I will get out to travel with being a mom of two under two, but I thought I would share some things I have found that are either free or pretty cheap for young and some older children. Some of these places we have been to, and others we have not.

Indoors:

Paradise Park (Lee's Summit) - Every Monday Mom's get in for free! Destin loves this place!
http://www.paradise-park.com/

Gymboree (Lee's Summit & other locations) - They offer a free class to new members
http://www.gymboree.com.hk/

Xtreme Gymnatics (or any gymnastics place in the area) - Most of them provide a free trial class just to see if your little one is interested. All you have to do is call and try it out!

Wonderscope (Shawnee, KS): I came here a few years ago with my mom & little brother (before Destin). Here are the prices: Ages 3-63 - $7; Ages 64 and up - $6; 1 and 2 year olds - $4 ; Infants under 1 year/members are FREE
http://www.wonderscope.org/

Tunnel Voyage (Lee's Summit) - This place closed 9/30/10...we only got to go one time :(

Johnson County Museum - This place is FREE. We have never been here but would love to check it out!
http://www.jocomuseum.org/EXH/kidscape.shtml

Jumping Jax (Overland Park, KS) - I would like to check this place out...Prices: Under 2 is $4.00; Age 2 and up is $8.00 for your first child,$5.00 each additional child. Parents are always FREE
http://www.jumpingjaxparties.com/

Monkey Bizness (Shawnee Mission and Olathe, KS) - We have never been here but the prices aren't too bad, $7.50 for children over 1; $5.00 for crawlers; parents/infants are free.
http://www.monkeybizness.com/index.html

Chuck E. Cheese (Independence)
http://www.chuckecheese.com/

Midcontinent Public Library
http://www.mymcpl.org/

Paul Messner Puppet Shows
http://www.paulmesnerpuppets.org/company.html

Build A Bear Workshop (at the Indep Center)

Dave & Busters (at the Legends shopping center in KS) - This place is FREE, but of course you have to pay money to play the games and/or eat there!

T Rex Cafe (at the Legends as well) - Fun place eat, and lots to look at!

Matt Ross Community Center Indoor Playground (Overland Park, KS) - This place is FREE

Zonkers (at the Great Mall & Oak Park Mall) - some type of playplace with video games...we have never been before.
http://www.zonkers.com/DNN/default.aspx

Outdoors:

Deanna Rose Farmstead (see previous post on blog)

The Kansas City Zoo - We love it there! We have a family pass & go all the time!

Nature Centers (Burr Oak Woods, Lakeside Nature Center, ...)

Local Parks in your area

Pumpkin Patches/Farms - there are too many to list!

Festivals in the Fall/Spring/Summer - we usually go to all of the ones in Lee's Summit

Most of these places I found just by driving by, or I found them at http://www.kcparent.com/. This website (which is also a magazine) provides hundreds, if not thousands of places to go, events, contests and more for the local KC parent.