Our Favorite Mother/Daughter Spots | December 2016 | 614 Mom

I grew up as an only child to a single mother so getting quality time with just her wasn't something we ever had to plan for or make happen.  It was just us, living life, doing normal things, and I didn't really think anything of it. Sure, there were times we did extra special things like our trips to New York, or the time she took me to see The Nutcracker for the first time, but everyday was a  mother/daughter date.  Fast forward to 2014 - I now have my husband, my daughter and my son.  There was no big conversation on how we needed to make this a priority, we just made it a priority.  My husband and I started taking our oldest on dates, the days and times would change, the things we'd do would be different every time, but at the end of the day it wasn't really about what we did but that we were spending quality one on one time with each other.  I've compiled a list of our favorite Mommy/Daughter dates.  Hopefully some of these can inspire you to find the perfect thing to do with your little ones.  Also, check back because I will be sharing my husband's favorite places to take our daughter, as well as our favorite places to take our son on dates.  

1. Cambridge Tea House - We LOVE the Cambridge Tea House in Grandview. It has quickly grew into "our place" for my daughter and I. We celebrate the small and big moments here, we dash off for scones and iced tea any chance we get. My daughter loves getting dressed up to go here and politely requesting that I wear a dress as well.  The staff is always so friendly, the food is delicious and the tea is the best I've ever had.  I love that there is a place in Columbus that my daughter and I can call our special place.  I would highly recommend reservations. We've tried to just pop by occasionally when we were able to get away but sometimes they run out of scones, or have a full house.  If you do wait - trust me it's worth it. 

2. Spa Day - I'm raising a diva and I'm okay with that.  E and I LOVE spa days.  Not kidding, her favorite place for a mani/pedi is The W Nail Bar, in the Short North.  I one time made the mistake of letting her pick what type of pedicure she wanted and she picked coffee.  WOW! Let me tell you, the coffee in your pedicure really does give you a burst of energy. Luckily it was just us in the space - plus about 5 of my closest friends, so I didn't have to worry too much because everyone thought it was hilarious but wow was my girl was bouncing off the walls.  So, just a little tip - get yourself the coffee in your pedicure but make your little ones get the rose petals.  ;-) We are also obsessed with The Blowout Bar.  This is a personal favorite of mine.  They have two locations, Dublin and Grandview, that are equally amazing.  Blowouts for Mom are $40, and Blowouts for 10 and under are 25. They have a ton of other options like up dos, dry style, I woke up like this, hair extensions, and my personal fav 10 minute scalp massage.  They have all of their menu selections with prices listen on their website to help you plan. 

3. Lunch and Craft at American Girl Store - If you have a little girl I'm sure you are at least aware that there is an American Girl Store at Easton now.  We've had a few lunches there and enjoyed it every time.  We went for my daughter's birthday almost two years ago, for the first time and it was very sweet. They had high chairs for her dolls, the staff was very kind, and they had a very special birthday cake for her.  We've also been on a random day and had just as much fun.  If you ask - they have crafts in the back that they can bring out for your little ones (for a fee) which are fun to do while you wait on your food.   Make reservations ahead of time! 

4. Ice Skating - We have a few options for this fun date.  The Chiller is an obvious first choice but if you don't need to rent skates Dublin offers a fun outside option at Coffman Park.  In February Winter Park downtown opens - right next to Nationwide Arena. $5 per skater and includes skate rental. This year it opens February 3 and it looks like they will also have snow tubing as a fun option.  Bonus, there is a Tim Hortons right across the street.  

5. Seeing a performance - Seeing a play at the theatre is one of our favorite things to do together.  Whether it's heading to Children's Theatre to see their newest feature or catching a musical with Broadway In Columbus - we always leave with our hearts full.  I absolutely love that she is as into the theatre as I am.  It has created lasting memories for us and I can't wait to take her to her first Broadway musical in New York.  Note: CAPA is a great resource for all live entertainment in Columbus.

6. Paint Your Own Pottery - Oh, this one is so fun.  We really enjoy our time at Color Me Mine in Dublin.  They have a whole line of princesses, super heroes, unicorns, and so many really cool things for the kiddos to paint.  They also have seasonal items, and the items do change often so you'll never run out of things to paint.  We really enjoy this because we get the chance to sit and talk to each other while it's peaceful and calm.  

7.  Lunch at her favorite place - My girl is known to change her favorite place for lunch often.  Occasionally it's North Star, sometimes it's Red Robin, sometimes it's Rusty Bucket.  I just never know.  Right now she's on a Chinese Food kick so I imagine she would pick a new restaurant if I were to ask her tomorrow.  Letting her pick gives her so much power which is super fun for that age...which leads me to my next idea. 

8. Let her take the lead - These days are my FAVORITE!!! I can only ever do them when we have all day to spend otherwise I end up having to cut it short and that makes her sad.  We start mid morning/early afternoon and it's her day until bedtime.  Typically it starts with brunch, some shopping, pedicures, stopping at every photo booth we see, getting an Iced Tea from Panera, and a whole lot of other random things she feels like doing. It's the perfect day. Sometimes I wish I could do this with her everyday, but then they wouldn't be as special.  

9.  Hiking - We normally do this as a mom/dad/daughter date.  Our girl is very adventurous so it's better when it's 2 against 1 so that we can keep her safe.  It's so fun and opens up so many conversations about nature, the world, and adventure.  Our family favorite is Hocking Hills. 

10.  Mommy/Me Yoga - I am very active, I love staying fit and taking care of my body.  My daughter sees that when I take her to the gym with me but she gets so sad that she can't work out with me.  While the gym doesn't allow kids under 12 anywhere besides childcare and the pool - I can still get her passionate about fitness through Mommy/Me fitness classes. I've found yoga as the best option for her age.   

Remember, it's not always about what you do or how much money you spend, it's about spending quality time just the two of you. These are memories she will look back and remember.  She may remember that time you slipped on ice, or the way you laughed when she told a joke, she may remember you teaching her to ice skate and making her get back up when she fell, or the way you'd kiss her boo boo. The point is, she will remember these moments big or small and it's important to have these special memories between just the two of you.  

Chinese Lantern Festival | December 2016 | 614 Mom

The Sunday after Thanksgiving, we bundled up the kids and we headed to the Ohio Chinese Lantern Festival.  This was a new experience for all of us but it's safe to say that it's a new favorite. My kids have already asked when we can go back and my husband and I really enjoyed it.  The larger than life illuminated displays are crafted by Chinese artisans from Zigong, Sichuan.  You can also enjoy nightly performances at 6:30 and 8 as well as a 9:30 show added for Friday and Saturday evenings only.  Craft and food vendors are on site with one of a kind traditional Chinese crafts to purchase and plenty of delicious food for everyone. 

I would highly recommend this as a fun family event! My kids loved the lights and it was an easy and enjoyable path all the way through.  

The Details

Where: Ohio State Expo Center
717 E 17th Ave. Columbus, 43211

When: Nightly until January 2nd
5pm - 10pm

Cost: $15 Adults
$10 Youth (17 and under)
$12 Military
 

Deal: You can purchase the Family Four Pack on the website.  $40 for two adults and two youth.  ($10 savings) 

Enjoy some pictures from our fun night at the Festival.  Be sure to follow them on social media to see even more photos.  Note: It wasn't super cold the night we went - but I would make sure to bundle up, there aren't any places to get warm. 

Macy's Believe Day | December 2016 | 614 Mom

I am so excited to share with you a fun event happening this Friday December 9 2016 at the Easton Macy's.  Believe Day is a FREE family friendly event with balloon twisting, face painting, crafts, and so much more. You won't want to miss it - we love visiting Macy's during the holidays and this is a favorite event of ours.  You can find out more details below.  

During Believe Day at Macy's make sure to drop a stamped letter off to Santa in the big red letterbox and Macy's will give a DOUBLE donation.  Providing an additional $1 to Make-A-Wish, up to $1 Million.  

Macy's Believe Day

Location: 4141 Easton Loop E
Columbus, OH 43219

Date: December 9th 2016

Time: 12 pm

Cost: FREE

For more information on this and other events with Macy's this holiday season be sure to check here.  

“This post is sponsored by Everywhere Agency on behalf of Macy’s; however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.“

Sweet Gifts For The Mamas In Your Life | Shop Local | 614 Mom

My favorite gifts are the thoughtful gifts that come from the heart.  The ones that you can tell someone put a lot of thought and love into.  I've complied a list of really sweet gifts to give the mom (or grandma) on your list this holiday season.  The best part?  All the items on this list are from local businesses.  Shop local while getting something to be treasured for a lifetime by the mama you're shopping for.  Moms - send this to your significant other. Husbands/Wives/Boyfriends/Girlfriends - book mark this page, it will still be here in April when you're starting your Mother's Day shopping.  ;-) I do this because I love you! 

To my husband - I will take them all! ;) 

1. Tag Necklace from BOHINDI - this particular piece is one of my personal favorites. I love that it is a gorgeous classic piece that I can love for a lifetime. It's not overly trendy so I know even in 10 years I could still wear this and love it. I love that you can add different tags as your family grows and each tag can have something different on it. The length makes it even better - 20" inches for the chain - yes please.

2. Custom watercolor family portrait from ElmerConceptions - Amanda, a local mom of 6, hand creates these beautiful custom watercolor family portraits. I can't wait until our bundle of joy gets here so I can order one when we officially become a family of five. :-) I follow Amanda on Instagram and had the pleasure of meeting her at 614 Mom's Celebrating You event last year and she is the sweetest woman with such amazing talent. This gift would make any mama heart happy. It's too late to order one of these for the holidays but you can always get a gift certificate through Amanda, and allow mom to pick the photo she loves the most to use as inspiration for this custom artwork. :)

3. Almost anything from Good Makery - located in Grandview, Good Makery, allows children (or adults) to create one of a kind gifts using their own handwriting. Some ideas I'd have for you would be picture frame, surprise candle, keepsake box, necklaces, or ornaments. Personally, I am obsessed with my daughter's handwriting. I think it's the most adorable thing ever - so to have something I could have forever with such sweet moments of their childhood would mean the world to me. I can't be the only mama that feels this way.

4. Silhouettes from Little Mugshots - You may have read all about my love for Stephanie and Little Mugshots on the blog a few days ago. This is a definite must for this list. Stephanie offers one of a kind hand drawn silhouettes on both paper and Christmas ornaments. This is such a sweet gift for any mom on your list. Hurry, you only have until December 5th to make sure you get your order by Christmas.

5. Beloved Names Necklace from Geo Supply Co - This is such a classic and beautiful piece that allows you to make it your own by customizing the names on the necklace. This necklace can fit up to 4 names with 9 letters per name. Geo Supply Co also offers the most adorable marble + rose gold Christmas ornaments. They deserve all the heart eyes.

6. Take your kiddos to Clay Cafe to make a special gift for mom - these handmade gifts are probably the most cherished by mom. A lifetime of memories in one hand painted piece. Nothing will ever replace that time your two year old made you a purple dinosaur because purple is your favorite color and a dinosaur is his favorite animal. :-)

Foundations Learning Academy Has A Lot To Be Thankful For This Year Part 2

At the beginning of November I sent an email to my friend at Foundations Learning Academy and asked if she would mind asking the parents and the teachers at her school what they are most thankful for during this month of gratitude.  I think it's really important to remember why we are thankful and hear what others have to say.  You can read what the teachers at Foundations Learning Academy love about their jobs in part one of this series and below read all about why the parents who send their kids to FLA are thankful for such a great center.  

“The care and affection that is given to our daughter. Thank you for always smiling and offering to hug or sit with her to make her feel loved and safe. She loves Foundations. ”

— Barry & Nicole B

“We are thankful for the caring, compassionate, and understanding teachers and director who take care of our children. ”

— Deanna G.

“Thankful I have such nice and welcoming people who work at Foundations. ”

— Stephanie.

“The staff is so caring, sweet, and patient. They are my kids second mom. We love them like family.”

— Erica S.

“My kids love to go to school and love and trust their teachers. I’m thankful for daycare providers I can trust. ”

— Brittany F.

“We are so thankful to have such reliable and loving care for our daughter when we can’t be there for her. ”

— Megan R.

“I am thankful for the one-on-one care and attention that all of the teachers show. They make it easy to leave him while I’m at work because I know he is being loved and spoiled. ”

— Aaron & Lindsey T.

“Our son loves it there and the staff seem to really care about him. He is also learning a lot. ”

— Monica & Jason D.

“I am thankful for the care and involvement in providing for our children. A great learning & caring environment. ”

— Bekah M.

“The peace of mind Foundations Learning Academy gives me. Knowing that my kids are safe and happy while I’m at work. ”

— Ali D.

“Mrs. Susan is amazing!!!”

“We are thankful our sons are in good hands when they cannot be in ours. ”

— Tynan's

“Knowing my children are properly cared for, learning and growing, getting on routine. Love, love, love, the precious moments app. ”

— Wendy W.

Little Mugshots | Create Happiness | 614 Mom

One of my favorite parts of social media is finding amazing people doing great things, that I otherwise probably wouldn't have found.  A few months ago, while doing my normal post bedtime browsing on Instagram, I came across an Instagram page called Little Mugshots.  I started browsing the feed and instantly fell in love, I knew I had to follow along with her journey and even more than that I really wanted to place an order.   Stephanie, the owner, offers hand-drawn paper-cut silhouette portraits as well as water color typography.  She is truly so talented and brought me to tears with the silhouettes she drew of my children - they will forever hang in our home.  

I can't even begin to express how deeply I fell in love with Stephanie's silhouettes of my children.  Some days are hard, the laundry piles up, the attitudes of little Eryn's running around my house (have you ever tried to discipline yourself?1? That's my life...daily), my constant need to make everything perfect for them, and everything in between.  Then I pause and I look at these beautiful, peaceful, amazing, children that make me laugh, cry, smile, burst with joy in these perfect hand drawn silhouettes hanging above my dresser, right above my jewelry box and I feel all sorts of pride and joy. These are my babies, and they are the reason I work hard everyday, and strive for perfection.  They deserve every last ounce of my energy.  I'm not exaggerating when I tell you that's truly how I feel every single time I look at what Stephanie drew for me.  I am brought to tears looking at my beautiful babies, and while I love her Instagram feed (and I REALLY do) I never knew I would feel this way every single time I'd see the artwork hanging in my home. 

Ordering was very simple - I ordered through her website and then emailed her profile pictures of my children and within a week she sent me proofs.  It was so easy and the quality is top notch.  

We are lucky enough to have Little Mugshots in our community because Stephanie was creating these one of a kind masterpieces for her friends and family as a hobby and once word got out she started getting so many requests she knew it was time to turn her hobby into a business.  Her husband, Anthony, is in the Army and currently their family is stationed in Columbus, which they love. They have two adorable children, who make occasional appearances on the Little Mugshots Instagram page, Josephine and Evan.  Columbus is home to them - they both grew up in Ohio and they met while attending Ohio State University.  They have lived in 4 different states over the last 10 years and know that Columbus may not be their forever home but that doesn't stop them from investing their time and energy into our community.    Our wonderful city has taken note of Stephanie's passion for her business and has been so supportive from her wonderful customers who love shopping local to fellow makers who have embraced another creative brain in our city - Stephanie is feeling the love.  

You can see some images of what she made for me below! I ordered an 8x10 of each child (and pre-ordered for the little one we are expecting shortly) and a Christmas ornament of each child.  I practically squealed when I saw that she also offered Christmas ornaments!!! 

“Above all else, I love what I do. I love creating modern heirlooms, I love connecting with people and customers, and I love having built a small business that can grow and move with me and our Army family. ”

— Stephanie Douglass

Juvly Aesthetics | 614 Mom | Lifestyle

Juvly Aesthetics offers cutting edge cosmetic services, with accessible pricing, a welcoming atmosphere, and highly trained staff, all right here in Columbus, OH. They offer a wide range of services from wrinkle relaxers, dermal fillers, body, face, and medical treatments.  You can get a better list of too the left and an even more extensive list on their website.  I can't wait to try some of their services so I can tell you about it first hand, and I have plans to do that after I have this baby! Hello, stretch mark therapy! ;-) Seriously I CANNOT wait!! 

Juvly was started right here in Columbus and has expanded to New York, Cincinnati and soon another location in Columbus.   They sell a top of the line skin care line that is a serious miracle worker.  I tried one of the hydrators that they offer and fell madly in love.  

I have extremely dry skin, and this fall and winter weather in Ohio have my skin a hot mess - that was until I tried a bottle of HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator .  Every morning after showering (which dries out my skin a lot - to the point that I can feel how dry it is, ouch)  I put some of this miracle product on my face and neck, I can instantly feel the change in my skin, I follow it up with my moisturizer as directed and of course my moisturizer has a good SPF (yours should too).  I've been using it for a few weeks now and I am loving the results, you can see the difference in my skin and I can really feel it.  It used to be that I would put on my moisturizer on my face and have to reapply two to three times in one day because my face would hurt due to the chronic dryness. Not anymore!! YAY!! My skin is soft all day and I'm more confident in my skin texture. I haven't worn foundation in weeks because I'm just loving my soft face - make up free! 

I can't say enough great things about Juvly.  The location is in the heart of downtown, with easy parking, and when you walk in you're immediately greeted by the sweetest staff who are focused on one thing - providing excellent care to their client.  The rooms are clean and cozy, it allows you to really relax and make the most of your time there. 

I can't wait to share with you about my journey with Juvly and the stretch mark therapy, but until then be sure to check them out for all of your skin care needs.  

Teacher Gift Guide

The holidays are approaching and we have a long list of people to shop for, kids, spouses, in laws, friends, and everyone in between.  One very special person that is most likely on that list is your child's teacher.  They spend all year taking care of our little ones making sure they are learning, staying safe, teaching them to good be friends, and so much more. 

I know that I have struggled in the past coming up with a gift for my daughter's teachers that they will truly enjoy. I don't want to get them a pack of lotion that they don't like the scent of and ends up in the back of their vanity, or thrown away.  It's a waste of my money and it's not a great gift if they don't like it. I've spoken with a lot of teachers and the general opinion is that they appreciate gift cards the most.  So I've came up with a long list of places that offer gift cards that also allows you to put some thought into it.  You may not know enough about your child's teacher to put them into a category of local lover, spa goer, or active, and that's okay - at the end I have a list of Obvious, Can't Go Wrong Gifts.   I kept it simple with only a few options in each category so it doesn't seem overwhelming, I promise you can't go wrong with any of these options.  I made sure to include something for every budget.  Where are my teachers at? What would you add to this list?  

To Help Them Relax

Blowout at the Blowout Bar 

Mani or Pedi at The W Nail Bar

Massage at Spa at River Ridge 

Float from True Rest Float Spa

Blowout from Blowdry Cafe 

Airbrush Tan from Bliss 

 

For The Active Teacher

3 class pass from Barre3

Ride pass from Cycle Bar 

Class Pass from Balanced Yoga

Holiday Pass from Cycle 614 

Barre Pass at Pure Barre 

Gift Card to Columbus Running 

Gift Card to GoYoga

For the Local Lover

Columbus Food Adventures Tour 

Columbus Brew Adventures Tour

Gift card to The Candle Lab

Membership to one of the many wonderful attractions we have in Columbus (you may want to ask if they have a membership before purchasing) 

Wine Club Membership at Camelot Cellars

Tickets to an OSU, Blue Jackets, or Clippers Game 

Gift Card to Simply Vague

Columbus Monthly Subscription 

Treats from a local bakery - Dough Mama, Mrs. Goodman's, Bake Me Happy

 

The Obvious, Can't Go Wrong Here, Gifts

                                                                                                                

Target Gift Card

Starbucks Gift Card 

Food Gift Cards - local restaurants that you think or know they love?  Tucci's, Paulie Gee's, Cameron Mitchell, Katalina's, Red Hook Grill, Third & Hollywood all come to mind.  We have an amazing food scene in Columbus so the options are endless. 

Easton Gift Card

Gas Gift Card 

*Tip: If you're getting a gift card to a place that provides a service - make sure it's enough to cover at least 1 service,even if it's the basic, nothing is worse than showing up for a mani and finding out that your gift card only has $5 on it.  

**This post is sponsored by Foundations Learning Academy but all thoughts and opinions remain my own. 

My Favorite Holiday Traditions

The holidays are my favorite, I love this time of year more than anything.  When I was growing up my Grandma Remy would always go all out for Christmas and I know that my love for Christmas comes from her love for Christmas and the joy she had around the holidays.   Sadly, my grandma is no longer celebrating Christmas on Earth with the rest of us but I am determined to make the holidays as memorable for my kids as she did for me.  I have taken some of my favorite traditions from my childhood, and added a few new fun ones that we love.  

Our Thanksgiving celebration is always so fun, and we make it extra special by creating our gingerbread house during our celebration. As the kids get older I see an annual gingerbread competition in our future! Nothing better than a little family fun! 

Thanksgiving weekend is filled with Christmas scented candles, Christmas movies, and decorating our house for our favorite holiday of the year.  We put the tree up, stay in our PJs, and sing Christmas music.  If everyone is feeling up for it we head to Easton to finalize Christmas lists and see the beautiful tree.  

Christmas Shopping Trip - Every year my grandma would take us to The Lee Middleton Doll Factory and let all the granddaughters pick out a special doll, we'd follow it up with Christmas shopping, and a fun lunch.  I have started doing this in two ways.  1. My husband and I do a date night, where we head to the toy stores, spoil our kids, and then head to dinner out together.  I buy a lot online to save money but we enjoy doing this shopping trip together, and it's fun for me to watch him spoil our kiddos.  2. My daughter and I also have a shopping day together.  She and I start with afternoon tea at Cambridge Tea House, followed by shopping for those she wants to shop for.  I love doing this with her and I'm so happy to carry on a tradition so special with my daughter.  I can't wait to do this with both of my daughters next year and watch them together as we make wonderful memories. 

Make A Gift - This tradition started with my mom, her sisters, and their spouses many years ago.  Every year they would draw names and whoever's name you got, you had to make a gift for them. You could buy materials but you absolutely could not buy the gift.  I always loved this gift exchange but was never allowed to be part of it, they had a rule that you had to be 16 years old to be allowed to be included, and by the time I was old enough they had stopped doing it. I never understood why.   So in our house we do a smaller version of this gift exchange, because we include our kids and there are only 4 of us. My husband, our kids, and myself draw names and then we make a gift for the person we get.  I am the only one allowed to know who has who, because let's be honest I'm the one helping both kids create their gifts.  This tradition is so fun, you get to see everyone's creativity, the hard work and thought that goes into every gift, and I love teaching our kids that money doesn't buy happiness.  If you give from the heart - that's what's matters.  

Christmas Cookie Party - Every year my mom would invite all of my cousins over to our house close to December 25, and together we would make sugar cookies, decorate them with way too much icing and tons of sprinkles, while singing Christmas carols and watching How The Grinch Stole Christmas.  Unfortunately, my kids don't have any cousins, with me being an only child and my husband having much younger siblings. That doesn't stop us from carrying on this tradition.  We invite some of our closest friends and their kiddos of course and decorate cookies, play fun games, eat way too much sugar and laugh until we cry. This is one of my favorite days of the year and I love that we have such great friends to spend it with.

Jam out to Christmas music in the car - This one is from my Pa, like my Grandma Remy, he is celebrating Christmas in Heaven now but every time, Little Drummer Boy, comes on the radio you better believe I am using the steering wheel as my drum and singing that song at the top of my lungs.  Embarrassing my kids a little and laughing with them a lot. We do something similar with a lot of other Christmas carols.    

Christmas Pjs - Every year my mom would let me open ONE gift on Christmas Eve, and every year I knew exactly what that gift would be....Christmas Pajamas.  A different pair every year but always very festive and fun.  She made me fall in love with this so much that I refuse to give up wearing Christmas Pjs as an adult, so even now as an adult with kids of my mom, my mom buys us ALL Christmas Pjs and I LOVE it!!! 

Those are all the big ones - we also watch How The Grinch Stole Christmas a lot, drive around looking at pretty lights, I wear red and dress up on Christmas Eve, we wear comfy clothes on Christmas, we have no rules on the holidays which basically means my kids eat way too much sugar and my husband takes a nap while laying on the playroom floor (haha - no seriously happens every year but he deserves it with as many toys as he has to put together),  Santa brings mom and dad stockings every year and I love seeing what my husband fills my stocking with, we have matching stockings from Pottery Barn and I am madly in love with them, we play board games on Christmas Day, we visit the Statehouse for their annual tree lighting in early December, we play in the snow if it's there, and we smile and laugh a lot.  

These are the moments I will remember for the rest of my life and I hope my kids know how much I love celebrating these moments with them.  I hope they find comfort in some of these traditions as they grow into adulthood and I can help them carry on some or all with their families.  

3 Reasons we are Thankful for Goldfish

Last week at our weekly swim lessons E and I noticed a giant turkey on the bulletin board near the front desk. Kids were eagerly writing down what they were thankful for on colorful feathers and placing them around the turkey. Of course, my kiddos wanted in on the fun so we headed to to the front desk where the feathers and pens were and we started discussing what made us thankful for Goldfish.  We each came up with one thing and I wanted to share them with you. 

1. "My teacher" - Emmalyn

Spending 30 minutes each week with Ms. Taryne is one of the highlights of Emmalyn's week. When I asked Emmalyn what made her most thankful for Ms. Taryne she said "She's very nice, Mommy. Its fun to be in her class, she makes it soooooo fun.  I love her" 

2.  "Swimming with Daddy" - Owen.  

It's no secret that my husband works long hours between his full time job and his start up that he is working so hard on, so we don't get to see him as often as we'd like (we are very proud of him though and love seeing him chase his dreams).  All of that means that when my kids do get some quality time with Daddy, they love it! Owen is thankful for Goldfish because it gives him 30 minutes of undivided Daddy/Owen time each week.  If you're looking for a great parent/me class, Goldfish is the way to go.  We love it so much!! 

3.  "The People" - Mommy

The people that work at Goldfish Swim School Westerville are some of my favorite people in the world.  My world can get a little crazy sometimes with working from home, two kids, being pregnant, and everything else so when I get my kids to Goldfish chances are I've forgotten something. I'm hoping this is just pregnancy brain but who knows, it could just be the start to having three kids. :-)  The wonderful people at Goldfish never judge, they just love my kids, smile and laugh with me about how wild my kids are, and understand and forgive if I forget the goggles or even a towel at home.  They've got my back and I always appreciate it.  Mindy, Tracey, Taryne, and Emma - I love you all! I am thankful for all of you!