Posts Tagged ‘Things to do in the OC’

I’m always looking for fun stuff to do with the kiddos and it’s no secret The Discovery Science Center is one of our favorite spots! We were invited to  check out the new Dora & Diego – Let’s Explore! exhibit.

The kiddos were just giddy to get inside! Can you see the excitement on Cora Jane’s face!? She is VERY into Dora. So much so, that I may or may not have accused them of using subliminal messages in some way shape or form.

The exhibit is hands-on-fun. I got to follow Cy around while my hubby hung out with the big kids. It was awesome to watch him discover everything on his own. Though the exhibit is geared for 3-8 year-olds (in my opinion), he was able to find lots to do at each station. The maze below was a big hit with him…

How was I able to hang out with Cy??

I pawned off Tess on some friends. Jill from Sandy Toes and Popsicles and Liz from Thoughts of a Mommy. Thank you guys for blessing me with free arms!

Everything was really fun and the pirate ship was a huge hit with Eli!

The Dora and Diego – Let’s Explore! is fun fun fun. I recommend going if you have little ones. It was super interactive just like the Sesame Street one last year. There is so much to do it would be perfect for a one on one day. The exhibit will run from January 28th- – May 6th and is included in the regular ticket price (adult – $14.95, children 12.95). For loads of info about each part of the Dora & Diego exhibit click here.

Of course we have to do our regular Discovery Science Center stuff…

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    I think Tess may be a future Dora lover too…

Sunday we were invited to Knott’s Merry Farm!!

Knott’s is all decked out for the holidays!

Let me tell ya a bit about it…

The Gift of the Magi and A Christmas Carol (running till Jan 1st) are over at the Birdcage Theatre. We saw The Gift of the Magi and it held all my kiddos attention.

I was shocked.

No one seemed to mind me nursing Tess the whole time.

In the front row.

Did I accidently flash the actors?

I’ll never tell. Hopefully they won’t!

Next we popped over to Camp Snoopy to see Charlie Brown, Lucy and Linus perform in Winter Wonderland.

Again, the kiddos were totally into it…

A visit to Camp Snoopy means rides rides rides. This was the first time Eli went on the up and down ride. I think he only went because he saw his friend go first!

Snoopy is dressed like Santa and I took this great self-portrait on a Christmas tree ornament just like Momfluential!

Probably the highlight of my kiddos’ day was the blacksmith, Robert. (Not just a Christmas thing.) At the beginning of the day we saw him start a decorative dragon hook and before we left we got to see the finished product! Robert answered all our kiddos questions… “do you make swords? How hot is the fire?” and more.

Knott’s Merry Farm was so much fun! Great entertainment, no crowds and plenty to do in my kiddos’ age range! I even looked into getting a season pass. Only $65 for the year!!! The kiddos were shorting out so we didn’t stay to see all the Christmas lights that evening and we hope to go back soon to see the ice spectacular, “It’s Christmas, Snoopy!” 

And of course you can never leave Knott’s without the obligatory coffin picture…

Last night we were invited to the grand opening of Discovery Science Center’s STAR WARS: Where Science Meets Imagination exhibit.

It was awesome.

Like a must see for Star Wars fans.

Really!

The kiddos were a little excited…

In case you were wondering, I did stop off at Old Navy on the way so the kiddos would have Star Wars Tees…

We got to see life size characters and LOADS of artifacts from the movies. Each display had a written explanation along with phone-like audio commentary gadgets…

The exhibit was very interactive with a drivable hover craft and robots you can build and program to move. Both were a hit! (FYI – you have to be 5 years old and a certain height – it looked around 48” – to ride the hover craft. You might need to pre prep little ones who won’t be able to ride.)

Outside there is a full-size replica of the cockpit of the Star Wars IV’s Millennium Falcon. (Think Star Tours Light). You get to see some pretty amazing real life pictures of our own galaxy.

Click here to read an overview of the whole STAR WARS: Where Science Meets Imagination exhibit!

Tickets are $24.95 adults (15-59), $20.95 for seniors (60+), and $20.95 children (3-14). ($14.95/12.95 for the general admission and only an additional $10/8 for the exhibit!) Advance ticket reservations are recommended. For more information or to reserve tickets, visit http://www.discoverycube.org/starwars or call 714-513-CUBE. (Members can purchase exhibition tickets at a special rate of $8.00 for adults, seniors and children. There is also special field trip & group pricing!!

How do you like this family pic?)

Eli was so nervous to stand with the Storm Troopers… I’m wondering if he thinks Star Wars is real. Eeeek!

I’m alive!! (just got internet figured out and found the camera cord!)

The move went great and so far we are in the 10% of boomerang-ers who are doing awesome back at home.

I just wanted to do a quick post today about the last of our Fall adventures!

Halloween Zootacular…

Zootacular is over but you can always check out the Irvine Park Railroad railroad anytime! For more information call 714-973-6846 or visit the OC Zoo website here.

If you haven’t already, you can follow OC Parks (@OCParks) or find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OrangeCountyParks.

Orange County Zoo. 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange, CA 92869.

And Halloween…

I love dressing up for anything… add a family theme and I’m so on it. Unless I just moved the day before! We were (and are) still getting settled but we had the best time trick-or-treating in the neighborhood I grew up in…

AND the winner of the Beverly Hills Basics JP giveaway is Hollie from Holls Goes Social!! YAY!!

We were invited to go check out Knott’s Berry Farms Camp Spooky.

So fun!!

We started the day with breakfast at Lucy’s Lunchbox as the Peanuts characters came around to meet us – dressed up for Halloween of course! There was one friendly monster that most kiddos weren’t too hot on… I’ll let you guess which one it was… (monster pic stolen from my friend Kyla) 

Kiddos are encouraged to dress up and get trick-or-treat all over Camp Spooky but parent costumes aren’t allowed. As much as I love to dress up for Halloween I LOVE this rule. It made me feel good to know adults who might dress too scary or skanky wouldn’t be allowed with the kiddos.

Camp Spooky was decorated for fall – even a haystack maze. And you know a trip to Knott’s wouldn’t be complete without rides rides rides…

MORE FALL SUFF:

~ The Discovery Science Cube has their Bug Invasion Exhibit again! YAY! I didn’t get a chance to go this year but check out my post from last year. It’s super fun. Especially for lil’ boys. Also it is a hop-skip-and-jump away from the Pumpkin Factory. So you can check out the bugs then get all your pumpkin fun done in one day. They have games and kiddo activities galore!

~ The Cube is also hosting their annual Pumpkin Launch event on November 5th. We have never been but it looks like SO MUCH fun. It’s at Cal State Fullerton (where I got married) and I’m 99% sure we’ll be there this year!! Meet us!!

~Pretend City has a new program called Baby Steps. It’s pretty cool! They close down the Library, Café, and Construction Site from 2-3:30pm certain days and parents get to engage in age-appropriate facilitated activities with their infants, 0-16 months old! If you are interested the next one is this Monday the 24th, details here!

AND…

…the winners for the OC Mommies Discount Club Cards are

Christine

Jami

Kyla

Naomi

Congrats all!! I’ll be sending you an email for your address to send out your card!!