Muddling Momma

08
Sep
2014

Mike: August 2014

MA –

Summer is over, and it was a really mild season compared to the usual hazy, hot and humid DC summers. We had a lot of fun stuff to do to close out the summer.

{National Night Out} Our community hosted a National Night Out event with food, games and a visit from the Fairfax County Police. You had a lot of fun sitting in the cop cars (front seat only!), walking around with another little girl in the neighborhood and charming the police officers.

{Summerfest} A tradition for Mommy and then Daddy and now you! This year was much more fun because you and Mollie are older and really took in the event. You even rode a horse!! You had a blast eating everything in sight (think hot dogs, funnel cake, ice cream and french fries). You danced to the Mike Hines Band and played in Boxtown. I had a hard time convincing you to leave.

{Charlie} I’ve always known you and Charlie would get along, but until recently you have been simply coexisting. Now you give him pets – sometimes gentle, sometimes you need a reminder but you try your best. If you are hanging out and Charlie walks by you laugh so hard and point. You also give him kisses. I bet it won’t be much longer before you guys are best of friends.

{Belly Button} Did you know you have a belly button? Yep. You do. And it isn’t going anywhere. Promise. But you feel the need to check a few times a day to make sure it is still there. We ask you where your belly button is and you stop what you are doing, look down, pull up your shirt and then pull up your Buddha belly to poke it. You also like looking for Momma and Daddy’s belly buttons. Often in public places like Walmart. Maybe next we will work on the concept of privacy.

{Food, Glorious Food} Dude. You like to eat. Last month Daddy was worried you weren’t eating enough but now there is no question. You are very adventurous but really love pasta, strawberries, cauliflower, applesauce, yogurt, ice cream and hot dogs. The picture of health! I’m pretty sure you will eat anything that isn’t nailed down.

It was a fun month Bug, watching you figure out new things is really the best part of my day. I know Daddy agrees too.

I’ll eat you up I love you so,

Momma

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04
Sep
2014

Why is it Not Friday?

categories: Being Mom, Toddler, Working Mom

Oh friends. Do you ever have one of those mornings where feel like it should be bed time by 9AM? That was my morning. Here’s how it went down in the W home this morning:

1AM – I suddenly find myself wide awake for no good reason. While staring at the ceiling, I realize I am hearing a helicopter. We are in the flight path for a major airport, so airplanes are so common I don’t even register the noise anymore, but a helicopter is another story. I peek out the window and sure enough – slowly circling our area. I do a little research, since I am wide awake, on Twitter and the local news and I don’t see anything of note. Hey Fairfax County? I just signed up for your new alert system and marked about 45 things I want to be alerted about. Perhaps you should have an option to get a text or email if there is a homicidal manic running around my community.

5:45AM – I wake up to spend some time chatting with S. before he leaves for work. The minute he leaves, Mike starts to stir. MUCH earlier than usual. I take a quick shower and get dressed.

6:15AM – I get Mike up and dressed

6:30AM – I make Mike a bottle of milk, put it on the stove and while my back is turned he pulls it down and it is perfectly times to get milk on both of us head to toe. We both strip down and he finishes his milk while I try to find something else to wear. This would be easier if I had done my ‘special wash’ last night like I intended. Oh, and if it wasn’t 97% humidity today.

7:00AM – We are ready to face the day! Mike and I take Charlie out for a walk, which is usually a fun and relaxing time. Again, the 97% humidity doesn’t make this morning much fun. Half way on our walk, we run into a neighbor and his dog Bacon (uh, huh). Apparently the dogs have met before and are nice to each other, but Bacon is high energy and is clearly in the mood to play. Charlie is friendly until he is ‘over it’ and I was worried about how all this energy would go with Mike standing next to me. Bacon’s Dad is chatting my ear off and then Charlie walks around Mike and knocks him over. Nothing terrible, but enough for him to burst into hysterical tears while the dogs are barking at each other and Bacon’s Dad continues his story about … something. I can’t even focus because I am waiting for my conversational ‘out’ while trying to get the point across that he needs to MOVE ALONG. It is easier to manage his one dog versus me trying to corral my circus. We finally move along. #awkward

7:20AM – We get Charlie his Kong so we can slip out without the typical beagle drama. We didn’t get far before I was sweating everywhere and Charlie was howling.

7:30AM – Quick stop for gas.

7:35AM – Quick stop at the ATM.

7:45AM – A crow flies into my drivers side window. Yep. A crow. I saw it coming, but I assumed it would swoop up. Apparently not. That’s not like a bad omen or anything right?

7:47AM – I drop Mike off at daycare. He seemed in a good mood since we spent the morning talking about his friends and the fun stuff he will do (which seems to help with drop off). He walks up the driveway with purpose, marches down the sidewalk, crawls up the steps like he’s been doing it all his life and then they open the front door. My little guy quickly turns around like, ‘that was fun, let’s go Ma’. I turned him around in time to see the waterworks start. Being a working momma isn’t always fun.

7:55AM – Yay! Momma time. My 40 minute commute means loud music or my Mike O’Meara Show podcast. Then I saw the big board telling me my 8 mile trip down 66E to the Beltway will take me 27 minutes. Insert Napoleon Dynamite ‘uggggh’.

8:45AM – Arrived safely to work but feel like I’ve been awake for twice as long as I actually have.

It can only go up from here right?

Oh hey! There is still time to comment on my Bloomers bra fitting review post to win a BraMaid!

Bloomers Bra Fitting & a Giveaway!

categories: Product Reviews

I used to work for a lingerie chain that is found in almost every mall across the country. I was in college and it was very short lived. Apparently my future didn’t lie in hanging itty bitty teeny tiny thongs. When I wasn’t counting boy shorts, I was measuring for bra sizes. I want to publicly apologize to all women who came to me for a bra fitting. I had no idea what I was doing. I had one lesson, was handed a pink tape measure and was sent on my merry way. Because of this experience, I didn’t put a lot of stock in getting measured.

Flash forward 10 years. Weight changes, a baby, a short stint breastfeeding and your guess is as good as mine what size I am. When my Momma friend Jen mentioned on our Facebook group she was ready to get a bra fitting, I knew just the place – Bloomers in Old Town Alexandria.

I think of Bloomers as a practical underwear store. It’s small, independently owned and just pretty. Beautiful displays, neat racks with soft fabrics and ideal lighting. While there is a handful of sexy lingerie, what you will mostly find is nude and black bras, seamless panties and products to help the *ahem* girls. Think nipple tape, inserts and the like.

Jen, and her little Pheebe met up during lunch and were greeted by a happy, knowledgeable Bloomer’s employee. She led us to the back and explained the process. Measurements are ‘vague’ for a reason – the cut, style and brand make a difference. It was comfortable, not intimating and she had actually been TRAINED in bra fitting. I was also impressed she put Jen in a changing room to do the measurement, despite not being naked. I like that kind of attention to people’s potential privacy concerns. Who wants a stranger touching their boobs in the middle of a store?

Guess what? I am wearing the wrong size, and so was Jen. Jen took the opportunity to try on bras and …. checked in with her regularly, looked at the fit and made suggestions. It seemed that their employees are trained in top notch customer service and have a handle on the level of attention a customer would like.

My only complaint, and I can’t even say it’s a complaint because I understand the reason, is their size selection. HOWEVER, I got measured and had a good sense of my size, then ordered from a large company that carried my size. If you are looking for amazingly comfy jammies or trendy undies (panties is one of the worst words in the world), call and make sure they carry your size.

While Jen tried on bras, Miss Pheebe played with the bucket of toys. You heard me. BUCKET OF TOYS. Specifically for kids to play with while Mom shops. This is reason enough to go in and get a bra fitting.

If you can’t make it to Old Town Alexandria or Shirlington, check out their bra fitting guide online and head to your favorite lingerie store. Every Momma needs a fitting and deserves to toss out the maternity underwear.

Once you have that perfectly fitting bra, how do you wash it? How about in a Bra Maid? Protect your investment! Thanks to Bloomers, I am giving away one pink Bra Maid. Leave a comment below letting me know the last time you had a bra fitting and you might be randomly selected to ‘protect your assets’.

This giveaway is closed. Congrats to Jen N who won the BraMaid!

Yep, you guessed it. This post is sponsored. They might have offered the product, but I offered my honest opinion. This post also might have affiliate links. I might get a small kick back, nothing that will let me quit my day job and nothing that will raise the price for you. You’ve been warned.

The Magic of Home Movies

categories: Family

For years I’ve been trying to get my Momma to hand over our VHS home videos so we could put them on DVD. We long ago got rid of our HUGE video camera, and shortly after that, VHS became obsolete. I pictured our 10 years of memories – first days of school, ballet recitals, our day to day minutia – literally deteriorating.

Come to find out, my mother-in-law’s ex-neighbor’s husband (got that?) had the ability to put those worn VHS tapes on DVDs for super cheap. But then we had to FIND them. See, when my brother was younger, he loved watching them. So much so, a rule was started that they were only available to watch during the Christmas season. Of course, the VHS player was kaput, so there was no reason to pull them out for the last 10 years. After we all refused to believe they were missing for good, we finally found them in the coat closet. Fast forward to this weekend when I got the DVDs.

Wow. As S. said, “This is telling.” From the 7 hours of Barry Family Home Movies (which were about 10 tapes, none labelled so each one was a mystery), I learned a lot. Not just about my family, but the value of video in general. Here’s my take away:

1. Home movies – in any form – are so, SO, important. My grandmother died in 2007.When she appeared on screen playing with my brother, a lot of memories came flooding back with her voice. I could feel her silky polyester old lady shirt and smell her Windsong perfume.

2. When my brother was a toddler, he thought I was hilarious.

3. Our house was filled with music. Loud music. And we danced a lot. I had a vague memory of this, but the videos really enforced it. It’s funny because in our house now, there is a lot of music and yes, even some dancing. I want Mike to have those same memories.

4. Parents who sit through dance recitals deserve instant tickets to heaven. Sure, there is about 15 total minutes of enjoyment when it is your kid dancing, but otherwise there is about 3 hours of, “Oh my god, is it over yet?” when other kids are dancing. Mom, Dad? You are my heroes.

5. My parents are how I remember them. My Dad is the funny guy who took a 20 minute video of trains – just trains – during our 1989 vacation to Gettysburg. My Mom is so patient. I was pretty chatty and she listened to everything and engaged in conversation even when other stuff was going on – like Christmas morning. Not to say they weren’t BOTH funny and patient, but it stands out on camera the most.

6. I loved the spotlight. And I was bossy. I am sorry, David, for forcing you to dance and play Ring Around the Rosey. You were a good sport.

7. It’s amazing what traits our kids have from us that we didn’t realize. Mollie, David’s daughter, fusses the same as David did. And eats the same. It’s really funny. Since there aren’t any videos of me when I was a baby, I will have to revisit these (since we can) when Mike is 6 or 7 to make some comparisons.

Now that I’ve seen how important video memories are, I am making more of a point to capture day to day life for Mikey. Our YouTube page is full of 1 – 3 minute videos right now, and I can’t wait for him to become a talker so we can capture more funny moments and conversations. And not just videos of Mike – our family and friends need some time in the spotlight as well!

It also helps that we don’t have 20lb cameras anymore. We use a General Electric HD Camera and I love it.

How often do you take videos of the world around you?

RocksBox Review & Free Month!

categories: Product Reviews

Look in your jewelry box Mommas. When was the last time you wore that necklace? When was the last time you bought a set of earrings? Not diamonds, but something of the Charming Charlie variety? I love collecting fun fashion pieces, but rarely wear anything but a pair of earrings and my second wedding band (the one I got when my fingers swelled and now I rather not have Mike chew on my engagement ring). I was so excited to hear about the latest addition to the subscription box industry. Welcome RocksBox.

I first heard about RocksBox on Forbes and was intrigued by the idea of ‘rental jewelry’. I know some Momma’s have trouble feeling pretty or like themselves after the little one arrives and I know first hand shopping for jewelry is not high on the list of priorities. RocksBox not only makes it simple, but it makes it affordable.

Here’s the low down:

Sign up for $19 a month. You get 3 pieces of designer jewelry you can keep as long as you want. Return the jewelry in a prepaid envelope and they send you 3 more pieces to try. You can return your collection as many times as you like for the same monthly price. If you fall in love with a piece, you can buy it with a 20% discount. Would you rather spend $15 at Target for a necklace, or spend $19 a month for a few pricier pieces you can return when you get tired of them? I had to give it a try.

The sign up process was stupid simple. I took a survey about my ‘style’ – long necklaces or short? Statement pieces? Studs or hoop earrings? They also wanted to know where I wear jewelry – out on the town or in an office.

Next was the fun part! There were pictures of different pieces and I selected the ones that appeal to me. I used this opportunity to pick what I would normally wear. BUT you can change this at any time. So when I return my pieces, I will update my profile to show some more funky, statement pieces.

When I got the email my box was shipped, my mailman should have taken out a restraining order on me. I couldn’t wait to see what the stylist had picked! I was pleasantly surprised. The packaging was beautiful – a white box with a pink ribbon. Inside was a blue tissue paper hiding 3 sheer white bags.

My first RocksBox collection has a Charlene K Sterling Silver Circle Chain Necklace (retail: $140), Urban Gem Purple Druzy Studs in Gold (retail: $48) and Nakamol Mixed Crystals Five Times Blue Leather Wrap Bracelet (retail: $54). Side note – I didn’t get a good picture of the earrings, but the picture here is as close as I could find to the pair. They were ah-mazing!

Would I have picked these in the store? YES! The necklace is simple, long and perfect dressed up or down. The earrings are super pretty and the bracelet is stylish. My first RocksBox … well, rocks. I am going to wear these pieces, snap some selfies and send them back Monday to see what other goodies I get.

So far, so good RocksBox!

Oh, and because you are a friend of mine, sign up yourself for Rocksbox and get a FREE month! Make sure you use one of the links within this post. This subscription box would be a great gift for a new momma.

You guess it, this blog was sponsored. They might have provided me the goods, but no one can afford to buy a positive review from me, so what you read is the truth. Oh, and if you click on a link, it might be an affiliate link. It won’t cost you more, just a little somethin’ somethin’ for me.

Craving Mikey Snuggles

categories: Being Mom, Working Mom

Sometimes being a working momma sucks. For no reason and every reason I missing this kid today. 6PM can’t come quick enough.

Mikey: July 2014

categories: Dear Mike

Mike –

For once kiddo, we had a pretty tame month. July was all about readjusting and settling into a new routine. Momma started a new job with predictable hours and no weekends and it is really working for our family.

{Schedule} In the mornings you wake up around 6:15 – it takes you a little while, but you sit up, look around, grab your WubbaNub and eventually stand up and walk the perimeter of your crib. If I go in and get you before you are ready, it is does not make for a pleasant morning, so I usually take my time. We walk back to Momma and Daddy’s bed and you snuggle with me while having a bottle and watching Disney Junior. We spend the next hour getting dressed, picking up, having our morning brushies and heading out the door.

In the evenings, Daddy gets to pick you up from Miss Gita’s house and play with you until I get home about an hour or so later. We have dinner, FaceTime with Bubbe, Grandma and Grandpa, have a bath and play. Our nighttime routine is my favorite. We go into your room around 7:15, you have some milk and snuggle while we read a book. Then each of us says what we are thankful for, who we want to pray for and what we hope for tomorrow. Then it’s night time brushies and bed time. You are usually asleep within 15 minutes.

{Eating} You are becoming quite an eater! You really like broccoli and ham and you never turn down yogurt. It seems though you are interested in whatever Momma and Daddy are eating and sometimes we share with you.

{Walking} You finally decided walking was going to be your main mode of transportation. It is so much fun watching you wobble around with, what seems like, so much purpose. You seem to know exactly where you are going and why. Aunt Rachel described it perfectly – you look like a baby giraffe who is taking his first steps. Very stiff legged.

{Wubba} The attachment to your WubbaNub is interesting. You used a Wubba when you first brought you home, but you weren’t that excited after about a month. Suddenly you found one in a basket and you have one near you at all times. I wouldn’t say you are addicted, we take it away and you are no worse for wear, but you certainly love carrying them around. Sometimes you have one in your mouth and one in each fist. You like to try to shove the extra Wubbas in your ears, eyes or even your mouth. You think it’s hilarious when we pop it out of your mouth and pop it in our mouth.

Bubbe came and visited and you enjoyed hosting her. Grandma stopped by too after her conference and you convinced her to join you in the pool. We also went to the Udvar Hazy Air and Space Museum again and you loved toddling around the airplanes. And let’s not forget Atlantis Waterpark!

Well love bug, it’s been a quiet month and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Hopefully August will bring more opportunities to play in the pool!

I’ll eat you up I love you so,

Momma xoxo

Been There, Done That: Udvar Hazy Museum

categories: Been There Done That

One would think that living in the DC Metro Area we are ‘downtown’ on the weekends taking advantage of the free museums, live music, outside dining, and beautiful, historic monuments. Sadly, most people who don’t live IN Washington DC will tell you this is not true. Even before Mike arrived S. and I rarely made the trek downtown. The Metro, though convenient, is really a pain in the butt and, if I am being honest, the city is full of people. In the summers, it is swarming with tourists and the rest of the year it is full of field trips. There is hardly an ideal time to hit up the museums to avoid crowds. Also, S. and I both grew up within a two hour drive of the Smithsonian Institute, so we have seen it a hundred times thanks to those exciting field trips.

However, 10 minutes from our house is the Udvar Hazy Air and Space Museum. A taste of the Smithsonian without the Metro! We first visited when Mike was just a month old. We really wanted to get out of the house and practice maneuvering in the land of the living with an infant. We decided to go back again over the July 4th weekend – almost exactly a year later and had a fun time.

Like all the Smithsonian, UHASM is free admission – after you pay the $15 for parking. It’s about what it would cost for the metro ride downtown and the parking lot is huge, so we can overlook it. No food or drink, but they have a McDonald’s onsite, or you can indulge in space ice cream from the gift shop. We were able to bring in one sealed bottle of water and an empty sippy cup for Mike. There is also a lot of shade and picnic tables outside if you want to take a break for lunch.

The museum is a great size – you can walk the whole thing in about two hours. S. is a fan of space travel, I have no interest in anything air OR space related, but it’s a great walk and interesting none the less. They have a few cool features – an IMAX for the older bunch, an observation tower linked to Dulles Airport (no strollers allowed so be prepared to leave it in the ‘stroller parking lot’) and the restoration hanger where you can watch them work on old stuff during the week. According to their site, they also have learning labs and events.

As most people with a little one, we got there right as it opened to beat the crowds. It was July 4th weekend and though we weren’t the first ones there by any stretch, it didn’t feel crowded.

This time Mike was awake and a few times we let him out of the stroller to toddle around. He loved it! Since not many people were there, there was a lot of open space to run around. Most of the exhibits have interactive kiosks so he found that fascinating as well. Just keep an eye on the short kids. The exhibits have a small partition that Mike could have easily crawled under. There were plenty of big, clean bathrooms with a changing table in both men and women’s restrooms.

Udvar Hazy is a great, inexpensive stop for families with kids of all ages. The littlest of kids will sleep while you get some exercise in, the elementary school age will like the exhibits (or space ice cream) and watching the airplanes come in, the middlers and high schoolers will find the exhibits interesting and really like the IMAX.

You can do the whole thing in a couple hours and be home before nap time. When we were leaving the parking lot capacity had tripled, but there was no line at security.

Quick and Dirty:

Cost? Free, but parking is $15. Additional cost for simulators, IMAX and food

Age Group? Depends on the goal. Suitable for ALL ages

Parking? Plenty, $15

Food Options? Meh. McDonalds or space ice cream

Stroller Friendly? Yes, very. Wide walking paths, big bathrooms, elevators and ramps

Changing Tables? Yep, in both bathrooms

Safety: Debatable. Plenty of security and staff milling around, but the exhibits have open railings. So a little one could get curious and duck underneath.

See you there? Yep! It’s worth a once a year trip. Expect to find us when they open.

Don’t Overpack for the Hospital

categories: Pregnancy, Product Reviews

I know it’s been over a year since I spent 5 nights in the lovely Fair Oaks Hospital with my newborn, but I remember my hospital bag vividly. It was heavy. I am a ‘just in case packer’. Though my C-Section was scheduled well in advance, you never know when plans change – what if I decide last minute to have a water birth? I need my snorkel! Or what if I get hungry? I need multiple snack options (you know, because the hospital is in the middle of nowhere and doesn’t have a cafeteria or vending machine)! Let me breakdown, in my opinion, what you truly need when having a baby.

{Socks} I was so thankful to have my cheesy, fuzzy socks in the hospital. On the operating table it kept me warm and during my stay (which was longer than anticipated), it was nice to have some comforts of home. Plus, those rubber tread hospital socks are just not comfortable.

{Big Clothes} I remember watching an episode of Reba when Cheyenne was a pregnant teen having a baby shower. Her friend gave her a teeny tiny shirt and Reba said it would be cute on the baby. Cheyenne replied it was for her to wear home from the hospital. Sorry Momma-to-be, you will still have a belly. I brought my maternity yoga pants, nursing tanks and a light cardigan for when I had callers. I left the hospital in what I came in – a maxi dress.

PS – The minute you feel up to it, go to Target and get clothes that fit. Don’t look at the size. Don’t expect to fit in your skinny jeans. Be comfortable for the next few weeks. Your body just spent 9 months growing a little human. It needs some time.

{Toiletries} Small bottles of shampoo, a tube of toothpaste, toothbrush … all the normal overnight stuff take with you. I couldn’t WAIT to take a shower a few days after giving birth. I felt so human again and with deliciously smelly hair it was hard not to. I also asked my Momma to bring my mascara. It was pointless, but it just made me feel better.

{Pillow and/or Pillowcase} I am all for being comfortable and though I didn’t bring my pillow from home, I brought my neck roll pillow which I am attached to. It just felt good having something from home since we were there for awhile.

{Swaddlers} I am a terrible swaddler, S. is the pro. I will forever be grateful for the SwaddleMe velcro sacks. It made it so much easier for me to wrap Mike up since every half hour someone was coming in, undoing it and checking vitals, giving shots, etc.

{Boppy} I’ve seen a few blogs about how pointless Boppys are, but I disagree. I brought mine to the hospital and it helped me when I was breastfeeding and I wanted to put Mike down near me. I also seem to remember S. using it as a pillow at one point …

{Chargers} I am pretty sure we packed every single electronic we owned. And two chargers for each just in case. Oh, and extra batteries. I don’t think we used anything but our cell phones and chargers. Be realistic and if you change your mind, send someone home to get your stuff. If you are thinking about packing a book, you are clearly kidding yourself. You will either be sleeping or staring at your little wonder.

I’m probably missing something, but the point is, don’t overpack. Save room for the freebies – diapers, formula samples, and wipes. Don’t be afraid to ask for extras! You just pushed out a human. You’ve earned it.

Been There, Done That: Atlantis Water Park, Centreville, VA

categories: Been There Done That

When S. and I were dating, we loved going to Fairfax County’s small ‘water parks’. Especially ones with wave pools or lazy rivers. Now that Mike is a water lover it adds a whole new element to our water park journeys.

On July 4th we opted to go to Atlantis Water Park at Bull Run in Manassas. Mainly because kids under 2 get in for free (adults are $6.75) and it’s about 10 minutes from our apartment. They have a large pool, a water slide, a splash pad, a sand pit, and a kiddie pool. We stayed for about an hour and it was well worth the price of admission.

We got there right as they opened (as per our usual MO) and there was a short line, but a lot of people were turning around and kids crying. Uh oh. Turns out the main pool had a ‘problem’ and was closed. On a holiday weekend no less. However, the splash pad and the kiddie pool were open which is all we wanted to do anyway.

There was plenty of seating, shade and room for a stroller. We immediately got into the kiddie pool and Mike had a hard time adjusting. It was windy and we think that might have had an impact on his fun level since he was shivering. He walked around with Dad in the shallow kiddie pool and then we walked over to the splash pad.

The splash pad looked like so much fun! A bell rang warning people to either run closer or run away from the massive bucket that dumped water all over anxious, laughing kids and some adults. There were places to slide down, climb up and stand under streams of water. While Mike wasn’t a fan of getting his face wet, he liked ‘helping’ pull the rope that turned the water on and got Momma wet.

The splash pad also had small water spurts that Mike liked putting his hand over.

A few things of note for your trip to Atlantis:

No food or drink is allowed in the park, but we were able to bring 1 bottle of water in and an empty sippy cup. They have a snack bar with the usual – hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken fingers, ice cream, etc. There is also a nice seating area where you have to eat. IF you do bring your own food, there are lots of picnic tables in the shade outside the water park.

Babies have to wear swim diapers and can’t go in the main pool. There is also big locker room with showers and changing tables. Plus you can buy the diapers, sunscreen, etc at the front desk if you forgot anything. Oh, and they will check their bag when you come in.

Each section of the park is enclosed with a latching gate. So if you have a wanderer you don’t have to worry TOO much about him finding his way from the kiddie pool to the main pool. Not advocating you take a nap in the sun while your toddler plays in the water, but you know what I mean.

If you are not a Fairfax County resident you have to pay to to enter the park AND the water park.

There was an abundance of staff members and lifeguards, even around the main pool that was closed.

Quick and Dirty:

Cost? Affordable (1 kid, 2 adults, no extras = $14)

Age Group? All ages.

Parking? Parking lot’s free with plenty of spots and shade.

Food Options? You can’t bring your own in but the snack bar had kid friendly options.

Stroller Friendly? Very. Lots of flat, wide walkways and room to ‘park’.

Changing Tables? Yes, in both men and women’s locker rooms.

Safety: Lots of lifeguards, staff and gates.

See you there? You bet! As long as you are there when it opens.

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