Moolah, Scratch, Dough, Bucks

C-note, Benjamin ($100), Jackson, twankie, double sawbuck ($20), sawbuck ($10), fin ($5), buck ($1) Bucks, bills, dollas, cash, paper, greenbacks, moolah, scratch, scrip (usually not legal tender), green, long green, cabbage, kale, lettuce, loot, dough, potatoes (pronounced puhtaytuhs), bread, bacon, clams, one large ($100), Fin (Five) Cheese, Cheddar


I am sure many of you wonder how we are able to do so many fun activities or better yet, how YOU can do so many fun activities. We just like the rest of the nation, are strapped for cash. We have 5 kids in diapers and 4 that drink milk like it is going out of style. Then you add in the clothes, the doctor appointments, food, gas, etc. You all know what it costs to raise a child. Anyway, my point for this entry is that YOU too can go on field trips. Almost everything we do is free or pretty darn cheap. Here are some ideas.

Always pack your own food.
To save gas money stay local. There really isn't a need to drive hours. Look in your own front yard. You could even walk.
We visit places that have free first time visits or that are just plain free. For example-
Feeding the horses= the cost of the carrots, really not necessary anyway.
Park= free and most towns and cities have more than one to try out.
Your local dairy= free
Feeding ducks= free
Wild donkeys= free
Sensory Time= free first time visit. They do have specials that are pretty cheap. When I first looked at their website I dismissed them because it seemed to expensive but I dug a little deeper.
Pet Store- once a week we try to go to a pet store. The kids get the pet fix and are entertained for an hour.
Go to the library=free and they have story time, puppet shows, etc
Go to the grocery store. We do this just to get out of the house!
Picnic (we have picnics in our yard too)
Local farmers markets are always free and entertaining
Plan a playdate with other multiples or non-multiples
Plan a park day with your local church or playgroup
Our Zoo pass was $70 or 80 for the year. We bought it and have used it. Don't buy passes unless you are going to use them! For our family of 7 that is pretty cheap and was worth it for us.

There are so many free things out there we just have to search for them. For my kids, they love everything. Really, who loves going to the grocery store other than a 2 year old? Granted I don't get my grocery shopping done (you have to remember a 2 year old is easily entertained and easily bored so keep moving), but my kids are happy for 30-40 minutes. Good luck to all you fellow field trippers. If you have any cool and budget friendly ideas, please share!

Old McDonald Had A Farm

For our weekly adventure with the Fiore family we went to the local dairy. We orginally had a tour scheduled but it was raining and we were late so we skipped the tour. It turned out to be a good thing. I don't think any of our kids would have been interested in touring the dairy anyway. The dairy had a free petting zoo and they got to look at the cows. I ended up buying 5 gallons of organic milk for the kiddos at a great price. The dairy is about 9 miles from our house so I think I will start buying our milk from there.

It was freezing and it was raining when we got there. I was so glad I had my emergency supply of winter supplies in the car. It took me about 20 minutes to get everyone dressed. Anthony was the first so I let him out to look at the cows. He was so excited!

Jake got out next and joined Anthony.

Little Annie stayed in the stroller. I tried to keep the cover over her but she kept pushing it off because she couldn't see everything.

Annie

Jaileigh stayed in the stroller too. She is such a girl. She didn't want to get dirty or wet.

Jake looking at the goats.

Michael in deep contemplation

Anthony was brave enough to try and pet the bunny.

These geese were MEAN! They kept hissing at us. I can't believe they were part of the petting zoo.

The boys.

Michael, Anthony, and Jakey

Michael smiling

Checking the bunnies out.

Anthony, Jake, Michael, and Aiden

Annie with Jaileigh peaking over.

The cow was going to the bathroom. The kids still talk about the cow going poo.



SeNsOrY TiMe

There is the neatest place, in our neighboring city, called Sensory Time.   Here is the description from their website.

"SensoryTime is a Multi-sensory, therapeutically designed Child Development Center for special needs children and all children.  Playing in this type of environment can assist children to better develop their sensory processing skills, fine and gross motor skills, as well as their emotional and social skills."

This center was so much fun! We hope to visit often.

They had this cool climbing mountain that, of course, my kids LOVED!

Anthony

Jake

Michael and Jake

Even Annie loved it.

Michael and Anthony

Anthony

Jaileigh on the slide.

Jaileigh taking a short breather on the bean bag

Our friends the Fiore's came with us.

Audrina and Jake

This room was really neat. It was dark and the walls were painted blue. One of the walls was mirrored and the water and fish tubes along with a spotlight made a really neat atmosphere. It was very relaxing.

There was a light table in the room too.

Jake and his crazy hair that needs cut

The room also had this train table.

Michael and Annie

This lawnmower caused many fights. Brutal fist, biting, scratching fights.

Michael happy he has control of it for a minute.

I loved this "toy". It was a huge innertube with bars to hang on to so you could jump really high.

Anthony, Jaileigh, Audrina, Michael

You can see how high Michael and Anthony are jumping. The kids had so much fun on this. Annie wanted to join in too.

Jaileigh rolling in a barrel

Annie loved the lawnmower just as much as the quads. She ran all over the place with it.

There were two trampolines.

Jaileigh, Anthony and Michael

Anthony played basketball with the squishy ball

Anthony and the rocking horse.

The boys on the swing, swinging each other.

Anthony and Jake

Somehow Jaileigh got talked into pushing Anthony.

Jaileigh trying to figure out this crazy car. I think she was too little to fit in the seat correctly.

Annie with a rainstick.

Annie had so much fun. She cruised all over. I had a hard time keeping up with her.

Towards the end of our visit they turned on the bubble machine.

Bubbles, bubbles. bubbles

Michael

Jake and the bubbles. I didn't get too many pictures of Jake. I think it was because he was running all over the place. He couldn't sit still, he was sooooo excited.

Jaileigh and the bubbles.

Michael, Jake, and Jaileigh

Jake and Jaileigh

Annie climbing up the slide. She was setting a bad example for all the younger kids. There was another little boy that kept trying to do it too. His mom wouldn't let him. I apologized and told her that Annie had older siblings that taught her naughty things. She didn't even think it was funny.

Anthony and Jake on another cool toy.

Anthony taking a rest. He played on this car for quite awhile. He was kneeling on his knees because he was too tall for it.

Jaileigh following Annie up the slide. Annie does actually get all the way to the top by herself. This girl is amazing.

Big cheesy grin.

Annie and Jaileigh

Sweet, sweet sisters!

I hope we will be back many times to this fabulous place.