The Ultimate Columbus Spring Staycation For Families

It’s March which means Spring Break is near (or currently happening depending on which school district you’re in). It’s the perfect time to try new things or visit some tried and true favorites.  I’ve put together my list of must do activities this spring with a little info on each item so that you can decide what’s best for your family.

Legoland Discovery Center Columbus

Ever since Legoland opened we have been regular visitors.  My kids love every single thing about it and I really like that it’s something my 8,5, and 2 year old ALL love. It’s definitely a plus that they serve Starbucks and have really cool kids meals and as an annual passholder I get a discount on those purchases.  That really is truly priceless. Right now we are loving the 4D Cinema that’s actually playing The Lego Movie- A New Adventure.

COSI

COSI is also one of those places we can go that is a hit with all three of our kids and right now they are excited to go visit all the new fun things.  If you’d rather not pay that fee there are plenty of other fun things to do at COSI including Kidspace, Dinosaur Alley, and Crocs.  You can’t really go wrong with COSI.  

The Columbus Zoo

It’s Ohio which means we could have a really nice spring break or a really cold spring break.  If it’s nice I really recommend the zoo as a great place to spend a few hours, run off that energy that’s been inside all winter, and enjoy the amazing animals.  Triple check the hours before you go because the hours during this time of year is slightly different than summer hours.

Franklin Park Conservatory

Blooms and Butterflies kicked off March 9th and will be there until September 15th so you have some time if you can’t fit it in this week but if you can, do it. It’s so much fun and the my kids always love watching those beauties fly.  

Ohio History Museum - Ohio–Champion of Sports

This exhibit features more than 70 stories and 56 first-person interviews covering more than 26 sports ranging from baseball, football and basketball to roller derby, skateboarding and e-gaming. The exhibit showcases the Ohio athletes, coaches, owners and fans at the center of the action.

This is more than just a stroll around a museum---there are several interactive components that kids (young and old) will love: Wall of Hoops, “victory dance” video station to share with family and friends (complete with props and “boomerang-esque” effects”), obstacle course, opportunity to contribute personal sports photos to add to the museum experience, etc.

Cotton Candy Burrito from Simply Rolled

What kid wouldn’t LOVE a cotton candy burrito? Simply Rolled has come up with the best treat that my kids loved.  Cotton candy ice-cream with sprinkles, marshmallow sauce, fruity pebbles, & more marshmallows, all rolled into a burrito made of cotton candy!

Creative Art Bar

We love Creative Art Bar. They offer really fun activities perfect for every age and budget.  

Paint Your Own Pottery

Paint Your Own Pottery is a really fun way to try something new and have a fun piece of art for your house.  We really like Color Me Mine in Dublin and Clay Cafe in Grandview. If you have another great one - leave it in the comments please.

The Kitchen

The Kitchen is hosting some really fun spring break camps this year. The themes are Harry Potter and Star Wars where kids 8-12 can play with food, learn about cooking, and have fun staying on theme with some of their favorite characters.  Dates vary but time is 8:30am-12:30pm and it’s $40 a session.

Catco is Kids

Going to the theater is always a fun way to spend the day.  

Glow Putt

Miniature golf is popular with many age groups which makes it a go to for so many families. But what do you do when your family wants to go golfing but it’s still freezing (or too late)?  Glow Putt, located in Gahanna, is an indoor, glow in the dark, miniature golf course.  As always triple check the hours before driving over there.

Blue Jackets Game

Luckily spring break happens to also be in season for our favorite hometown hockey team.  I recently did a full write up with tips for taking your kids to a Blue Jackets game complete with how to save $$ on tickets.  

North Market

There is so much to do in the Short North for families and I think it’s often overlooked.  We love walking around the North Market and grabbing some food and then going to Goodale Park and Rocket Fizz for some fun unique candy.  

I hope these tips are helpful. Is there something you’d add to the list?  Let me know by leaving it in the comments. I love hearing from you!

My Newest Obsession with Balanced Family Academy

I love to cook - trying new recipes, baking with my kids, you name it and I love it.  But that doesn’t mean I’m always great at it. :-) Ask my kids about the day I tried to make lasagna with broccoli and they will tell you how delicious the pizza was that we ordered shortly after they all refused to eat a second bite.

It is important to me that I give my kids the opportunity to try new foods even if I’m not great at cooking them. Which is why I’m so thankful that at my son’s school they offer made from scratch meals throughout the day and even allow us the opportunity to order a meal for our home every Wednesday evening.

Wednesdays are actually the busiest days of the week for us so it works out so perfectly. Every Sunday I get an email with that week’s menu with a link to order, I easily submit how many servings I need for that week and submit my payment info. It takes one meal off of my rotation each week and I know that the food is not only delicious but it’s good for us. Much better than that midweek drive thru as we rush to get everything done.  

Balanced Family Academy has been such a blessing for our family since the end of last year and we can’t thank them enough for the hard work they pour into every single thing they do to promote community within the school including the amazing Whisk Prep Kitchen.  

Whisk Prep Kitchen.

Their menu focus on seasonal ingredients sourced from local farmers as often as possible and they source organically-grown produce. The milk that is produced without the use of rBST or rBGH, and meats are hormone and antibiotic free. Those are just a few key pieces to what sets Whisk Prep Kitchen and Balanced Family Academy apart.

Some of the things my son loves most on the menu for lunch -

Chicken apple chili, scrambled eggs, Hawaiian meatballs, teriyaki tofu (something he never would have tried if I made it at home) and basically any cracker or muffin. He is my kid after all :-)

One of the meals we recently ordered was the spaghetti and meatballs, with fresh garden salad, and baguette.  It happened to be my daughter’s birthday and between work and the crazy weather (SO many snow days this year) I was just behind in so many things so when I picked up my son from BFA I checked the refrigerator and luckily they had a few extra meals so I grabbed them for my family and we were able to enjoy the baby’s birthday dinner without stress.  It was such a lifesaver.

If you’re looking for a childcare facility for your children I can’t recommend BFA enough.  I’m actually really picky with care for my kids and it takes me forever before I can trust someone else to care for them but with BFA it just felt right. I’m sure as a parent you know important that feeling is.  If you ever have any questions about BFA I’m more than happy to answer - shoot me an email or comment below.

8 Tips For Taking Your Kids To Their First Blue Jackets Game

If you follow 614 Mom on Instagram you know that I recently took my family to their first hockey game! I’ve always been a huge fan of the Columbus Blue Jackets (I used to have season tickets and never missed a game) so I was very excited to take them to their first game! I came prepared to do all the things - get the cotton candy, buy the souvenirs that they would inevitably want, and simply enjoy a fun night of hockey with my family.  

My son had actually just signed up for the Blue Jackets Learn to Play program that same day, during his weekly skating lesson, so he was really excited to see a real life hockey game.  If your child would be interested in learning to play - I highly recommend checking it out. It’s a great learning opportunity for them and is easy on the budget.  Anyways - back to their first Blue Jackets game.

My husband and I decided to keep it a complete secret - they knew we were going somewhere but they had no idea where.  After we parked at the Nationwide Arena Parking Garage we headed towards dinner.  On our walk we shared with them our plans and they literally jumped up and down with excitement.  It was seriously the cutest thing.

We grabbed dinner at Buca di Beppo which is right next door to the arena which made it easy and convenient.  Buca is home to one of my favorite salads in town - the Apple Gorgonzola Salad. Buca was, as always, a great place to kick off the night.  We were able to fill the little tummies and not feel rushed as we walked over to the game.

During our experience I came up with a list of tips so that when you take your kids to their first (or 100th) Blue Jackets Game you can go prepared and make the whole experience something for everyone to remember for a lifetime.  

8 Tips For Taking Your Kids To Their First Blue Jackets Game

1. Grab dinner beforehand. This helps limit the amount of lines you’re in and allows you more time in your seats to enjoy the game. I recommend Buca di Beppo or Boston’s.  If you don’t have time to get food before, there are plenty of options inside the arena for yummy food.

2. Pregame Warmups: 6:30 p.m. or 7 p.m. or half hour before puck drop. Arrive early enough to watch from ice level where you can hold your homemade signs and maybe even catch a puck that a player may flip over the glass.

3. Order team apparel ahead of time by visiting the Blue Line online store.

4. If it’s your child’s first game you can visit the desk next to the Blue Line store for a commemorative hockey puck with their name written on it.  This was really special for my three. I highly recommend making time for this.

5. Let the kids play - The IGS Energy Zone (located on main concourse near sections 108-109) features family-friendly activities such as a floor hockey rink where kids can play, interactive games for fans of all ages and a photo station where fans can take home a keepsake from the game.  

6. Be ready to answer a lot of questions. Read up on your hockey knowledge before you go :)

7. The Cannon: Nationwide Arena, the centerpiece of Columbus’ Arena District, is home for the Jackets where its fan experience consistently ranks among the best in the NHL and a cannon is a featured attraction. The Jackets’ game presentation includes a replica 1857 Napoleon field cannon that fires each time the home team scores a goal and takes the ice to start the game. The cannon is beloved by locals and despised by visitors (players, media, fans) who hate it for surprising them and the fact that it triggers a CBJ goal celebration. Fans line up before the game and during intermissions to get their photos taken at the cannon or with members of its Cannon Crew.

8. Don’t leave early.  I know with little kids and traffic sometimes it makes sense to leave just a few minutes early but let me tell you watching the Blue Jackets win is powerful and the room is filled with so much energy.  You don’t want to miss that. Traffic is handled really well in my experience.

Thrifting Tips with Volunteers of America and 614 Mom

Every time I hop on social media there is someone talking about how they are cleaning our their closets or doing a deep clean of their house to try and minimalize.  I get it - our house is full of clothing my kids have outgrown, household items we no longer need, and toys that my kids were given as presents that they never played with.  I’m always trying to find the best organization to donate our gently used items (and sometimes new items) but to be honest it’s been hard to figure out exactly which option is the best.

After a lot of research I’ve found that Volunteers of America is the best place for us to donate our items.  Volunteers of America (VOA) is a nonprofit dedicated to helping people in need rebuild their lives and reach their full potential.  Established in 1896 they have helped support different community groups including veterans, homeless individual and families, low income seniors, men and women coming home from incarceration and those recovering from addiction.  

In Central Ohio they focus on veterans, housing, and community enrichment.  There are many ways you can help support Volunteers of America in Central Ohio and one of those ways is through their thrift stores.

By donating and shopping you are helping them raise money to serve people and communities in need.  In Columbus there are four different stores to shop from with unique finds in every shop.

I know thrifting can be overwhelming sometimes - what should I look for, where is the best store, what days are the best day for me to go, etc. I’ve done a lot of research and talked to an expert in the field to share those tips with you.  Do you have a thrifting tip? Drop them in the comments below so I can add them to the list! :)

Thrifting Tips

·       On the last Tuesday of the month, everything in the store is 50% off.

·       Every Monday, veterans and Golden Buckeye card holders get 10% off.

·       Every day there are three sale tag colors and items with those sale tags are wither 25%, 50% or 75% off.

·       They add over 40,000 fresh items onto the sales floor each week

·       Approximately 80% of the sales floor is $1.99 and under.

·       Clothing is sorted by color because of sizing differences among clothing brands.

·       They have fitting rooms at all of the thrift stores

·       Bring a paper outline of your kid’s shoe size to pull out when you find a pair of shoes your kids might like.

·       Remove your hangers while waiting in line to speed up check out

·       Bring your own reusable bag or rolling cart, especially on sale day when it can get crowded

·       Shop with a buddy. They can help you find things you might’ve missed

·       They are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization where every dollar you spend goes to help serve people and communities in need.

·       When you get home, you can remove the price markings from items by using nail polish remover, Goo Gone, rubbing alcohol or WD-40.

Schedule a free home pickup of stuff you no longer want by calling Volunteers of America at 1-800-873-4505 emailing askthrift@voago.org or going online. You can also drop off donations at any of their thrift stores or in a donation drop box in your area. Your donations are tax-deductible and they are happy to give you a tax receipt.

DHL Supply Chain - Change The Way You Work

Are you or someone you know looking for a new employment opportunity that gives you flexibility in your schedule? Keep reading because I’ve got the best job for you.

I get asked all the time if I know of any jobs for stay at home parents or parents in Columbus who need a flexible job due to schedules with their kids. I’m now happy to report that I have found THE PERFECT opportunity.

DHL Supply Chain is hiring for multiple shifts for a variety of job roles including packer, order filler, material handler. Your shifts could be as little as 3 hours per day or as much as 8 hours and is great for stay at home parents that need a flexible schedule. You choose your hours!! What could be better than that?

Click the button below to learn more and apply for the job of your choice.

Wear Red For Congenital Heart Defect Awareness | 614 Mom

Thank you Chelsea from Strive Less Live More for sharing her story with all 614 Moms. See her story below and make sure to check out her blog and Instagram channels. She’s the biggest advocate for postpartum care and is truly a rockstar. I love her and I know you will too.

Today you’re likely to see a lot of red. Not only is it the start of February, the month we attribute to love, heart decor, and Valentines Day, but today is National Wear Red Day. National Wear Red Day exists to spread awareness about heart disease. According to the CDC, 1 in 4 deaths are linked to heart disease and heart disease is the leading cause of death in women. These statistics are alarming. As a society, we are educated often about the things we can do to reduce our risk of heart disease: avoid tobacco, exercise regularly, make nutritional food choices and try to keep cholesterol and blood pressure low. What we don’t hear as much about, though, are the lives that are affected by heart disease from the very start.

Congenital Heart Defects (CHDs) happen in 1 out of 100 children, making CHDs the most common birth defect (Pediatric Congenital Heart Association). There are 2-3 million adults living with CHDs and 40,000 babies born in the US each year with CHDs. According to Heart Heroes, there are over 40 identified types of CHDs and these types vary greatly in severity. All Congenital Heart Defects require monitoring for a lifetime. For 25% of babies born with CHDs, surgery is required. For some children, the complications of a CHD cannot be repaired, making it also the leading cause of death in infants related to a birth defect. (PCHA)

It’s hard to think about something like this, but it is also important. As mentioned, CHDs are prevalent, and yet, there is a lack of awareness surrounding them. My daughter is 1 in 100. When my husband, 2-year-old son, and I went to our 20-week anatomy scan, we had one thing on our mind- find out the gender of our baby and plan a fun reveal party. After what felt like an abnormally long ultrasound, what was revealed to us was more than we anticipated. Prior to this, my knowledge of Congenital Heart Defects was very limited. I knew that a family friend had surgery as a young child and had a scar on his chest, but that was the extent of my understanding. When a doctor came in following the ultrasound and paired the words “heart” and “defect” my body went limp. Honestly, I don’t remember much more from that appointment as I wept in my husband’s arms. Most of what he said felt like a foreign language to me, but after picking myself back up a few weeks later, I set out to educate myself and others.

As a mother, the two things I immediately wondered is if I did something to cause this struggle for my little girl and how would it affect her life? The causes of CHDs are largely unknown. However, there are some factors such as genetics and environmental factors that can play a part (American Academy of Pediatrics). For our family, we have yet to discover any substantial links after evaluating the environmental factors and completing extensive genetic testing both prenatally and after birth.

As for the long term effects, children with CHDs may have other physical and developmental disorders and are often linked with other congenital defects. Today we are seeing more infants grow into adolescence and adulthood due to continual research and treatment progress. Prenatal diagnosis can help a family like ours prepare for this life change, and yet currently only a fraction of CHDs are spotted before the baby is born (and still yet some are not detected until the baby is older and displays complications or a doctor detects a murmur.)

Here in Central Ohio, we are fortunate to have a highly recognized cardiology team at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. NCH performs hundreds of heart surgeries each year on patients from hours old into their adult lives. NCH is highly rated as an innovative hospital with consistent growth and outcomes.

For our family, this diagnosis rocked our world and yet it also sparked a new appreciation in us. As I mentioned before, we received this diagnosis prenatally. It was at this appointment that we heard the name “Tetralogy of Fallot” for the first time. While most people go to a 20-week ultrasound calling it the “gender” ultrasound, this is truly called an “anatomy scan.” I encourage all mothers to be aware of what can be discovered at these scans aside from gender- whether it is a CHD or other birth defect, early detection can have a huge impact on the planning and treatment possibilities. Don’t be afraid to prepare questions to ask throughout your scan and ensure that your team is looking carefully at each part of your baby in utero. I am forever grateful for our ultrasound tech who spent extra time exploring our baby’s heart because she saw something that looked abnormal.

Our little girl, Sage, will have a reparative open heart surgery this spring. She will be a mere 5 months old when she undergoes surgery. There is no cure for CHDs, but 25% of children receive reparative surgeries. Some children undergo surgery within days or weeks of birth, many have surgery within their first year, and some are able to wait longer. Many will also have subsequent surgeries. We expect our daughter to have a subsequent surgery in her teen years to continue to repair her faulty valve. From the outside, you would never know that one of her vital organs is failing her body.  She cries when she’s hungry, she loves her milk, she laughs at her big brother and fits right into our family. Some days I completely forget about her heart defect, and some days it fills my mind at all hours (you can read more about the mental journey on my personal blog).

Congenital Heart Defects are prevalent, but our awareness of them is not. More than likely, you know someone who has a CHD but you may never know from the outside. We do not have a cure for CHDs, but we have the ability to educate ourselves and others and support those who are facing this complication. Today as you see red, take a moment to talk about what you may have learned about heart disease and congenital heart defects. Share something with a co-worker, a family member, or a friend you see this weekend. Take a moment to read more about how Nationwide Children's Hospital serves the heart community every day and celebrate these hearts by loving on your family a little extra as we enjoy all that February brings.

Health and Fitness at Balanced Family Academy

We recently became a BFA family and if you’re not sure what that means let me share a little about Balanced Family Academy (BFA) with you.  Balanced Family Academy is a childcare and preschool for kids ages six weeks - kindergarten. With a balance of teacher-led and child-initiated play, positive reinforcement, and open communication it is truly the best fit for our family.  

Over the next few months I’m going to be sharing more about our experience at Balanced Family Academy and of course, if you ever have any questions email me eryn@614mom.com I’m always happy to answer whatever I know and if I don’t know, I’ll ask for you.  :)

One of my favorite things about BFA is how they care about the whole family and the whole body.  As many of you know fitness is a huge part of my life and I’m passionate about creating a love of being active in my kids. BFA gives me so many convenient opportunities to make that happen by providing so many organized activities for every member of our family.  

For The Kids

The following programs are provided during the school day as part of the curriculum.  

Yoga

Yoga has so many benefits for kids that will help them in school, at home, and on the playground.  Through yoga practice kids learn to be aware of their body, build concentration, increase confidence, and manage stress through breathing and meditation.  You can learn more about the benefits of yoga here.

JumpBunch

Kids need a lot of activity and BFA has partnered with JumpBunch to provide a fun and structured exercise once a week.  The class starts with a warmup, sports activity of the week, stretching and a cool down. I love getting photos of my son during JumpBunch. I can see the joy on his face.  He’s learned a lot and gets to burn some energy.

Gymnastics

Gymnastics helps kids with coordination, sportsmanship, discipline, and goal setting.  BFA provides the students with gymnastics 1x per week along with the other two activities listed above.   

I love that each activity that BFA offers provides different benefits to the students. I know that my kids are learning so many different skills through yoga, JumpBunch, and gymnastics while having a lot of fun in the process.  

For The Parents

BFA knows that being a parent is busy and they are here to make life easier for the BFA families.  They offer classes right around pickup time while the center is still open to allow you time to get your workout in before picking up your kiddos.

Cardio & Strength

Mondays from 5pm-5:45.  A quick workout with maximum impact. I haven't had the chance to take this class yet but it’s on my list.  I’ve heard it’s really great. I’ll report back when I experience it firsthand.

Barre

Tuesday 5pm-5:45. Get your zen on before picking up your kiddo(s).  I just wrapped up the barre class this evening and it was both challenging and fun. The perfect combo.

**If you join BFA, I’d love to have you join me in a class. Just let me know and we will schedule it.

For The Whole Family

Family Yoga

Family Yoga is offered once a month on the last Saturday of the month.  Remember all of those benefits that kids gain from yoga? Imagine how impactful it would be for your kid to be gaining confidence and learning to manage stress right next to the most important people in their lives.  My kids always love a good excuse to share their school with the rest of our family so you can count on seeing our family every single month at family yoga.

5 Ways to Enjoy Kona Ice All Year Round | 614 Mom

Earlier this year I shared all about the Kona Ice House Calls and you guys LOVED it. I had so many messages asking for more information and thanking me for sharing the info, I was tagged in your photos, and Kona Ice had their phone ringing off the hook. Now that we are all bundled up in coats and scarves it’s not as appealing to sit outside in a line to order a large Kona Ice cup with cotton candy flavor but I know you all love Kona just like my family so I wanted to share with you some ways you can still enjoy the treat without freezing.  :-)

Indoor Events

Last year I planned the carnival at my daughter’s school as a fundraiser for the PTO and one of the biggest hits was the Kona Ice cart.  The kids loved getting an unexpected frozen treat after running around playing games.

Birthday/Corporate Parties

My son has requested to have Kona Ice at his birthday party this winter and I mean can you blame him? Nothing says Kona Ice quite like an indoor pool party.

School Lunches

School Lunches would be the perfect place for the Kona Ice mini cart - it’s a fun and inexpensive way to have some fun during the cold winter months. Looking for a great PTO activity - I’ve got you. Call Austin.

School Dances

I don’t know about you but I would have loved my school to get Kona when I was going to school dances. The cotton candy flavor is the B E S T.

Sport Tournaments

We just sat through hours at a local sports tournament for a friend and as a mom I know that I would have paid good money for a small treat for my (impatient) kids.  

Is there an event you are thinking would be the perfect fit for Kona Ice?  Give Austin a call at 614-586-6999 and tell him Eryn sent ya :-)

Slow Cooker Apple Crisp

Thank you Pazazz for sponsoring this post. As always all thoughts and opinions remain my own. Thank you to my readers for supporting the brands who support 614 Mom.

This time of year my home is filled with the smell of freshly baked cookies, muffins, and pinterest fails (I’m looking at you peppermint ornaments) but nothing makes a cold day a little warmer than my favorite apple crisp in the slow cooker.  It’s my favorite thing to throw together before a potluck, holiday event with our families, or a random Tuesday evening when we just need some comfort food.

We LOVE apples in this house, it’s actually one of the only fruits that every single member of my family likes so we always have a bunch on hand which makes it easier to throw this together in minutes. I’m really picky about the quality of my produce so I’ve recently been trying out some new brands and Pazazz is my new favorite orrrrr obsession is actually the better word!  Pazazz apples are descended from the Honeycrisp with a beautiful red color and delicious mix of sweet and tart.  They are available in the fall and winter so it’s such a treat when they come in season. You can find Pazazz Apples in Meijer and Kroger and just to save you some time you can get them delivered from Shipt through Meijer. Just a little FYI! :) I’m all about helping make your lives easier - just search Pazazz and they pop right up.

This recipe is so easy to make with my kids because I use the slow cooker so we can put together the entire recipe before turning up the heat and while I love cooking with my kids - the dangers of cooking with children can stress me out! Anyone else feel me.

I highly encourage gathering up all of your ingredients beforehand and even peeling the apples before passing them along to your kids to chop.  

Ingredients

Base

10 Pazazz Apples

1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice

⅓ cup brown sugar

3 teaspoons of cinnamon

Pinch of salt

Crumble

1 cup of uncooked oats (old fashioned)

⅔ cup chopped walnuts (you could also use almonds instead)

½ cup flour

½ cup brown sugar

2 teaspoons cinnamon

4 tablespoon coconut oil (I’ve also used butter but I like the coconut oil better)

Directions

1. Peel, core and chop the apples into thin slices.  I allow my kids to use their safety knife to cut the apples so for us the apples are all different sizes.  

2. Add lemon juice to apples and mix brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt until the apples are covered completely

3. Using a separate bowl make the crumble topping - by gently mixing the oats, flour, walnuts, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt together.

4. Add the base to the slow cooker and then top with oat crumble.

5. Drizzle coconut oil on top and add lid and set to high heat for 3-4 hours.

This pairs perfectly with a bowl of vanilla ice cream or by itself.  If you give it a try be sure to tell me how it turns out for you. You can head to my Facebook page to watch my son and I make this recipe LIVE!

Experiences Over Things | 2019 Holiday Gift Guide | 614 Mom

My husband and I are big believers in experiences over things when it comes to gifts for our kids.  Don't get me wrong - we are not against toys, we just try to make smart choices when it comes to toys and then use the rest of the budget for fun experiences.  We will happily spend more to make this a reality.  Instead of that $14, cheaply made, random toy from Target we will spend more on tickets to a play or a membership to a local museum.  This isn't because we think toys are evil or that our kids shouldn't have them, but because we want our kids to understand the value in making memories with their loved ones over material items.  We of course still buy them toys and with the exception of that bunny rabbit our daughter asked for one time, have made all of their big wishes come true.  However you won't catch me buying a cheap plastic toy - ever.  Instead I want to create those memories. I've done a lot of research on different fun experiences happening in Columbus over the next few months, that would be perfect for our kids, and I'm sharing it all below.  I hope it helps inspire you to find something fun to experience with your family.  

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We are so lucky in Columbus, to have some amazing museums in our backyard.  My husband and I definitely take advantage of those because it opens the door for so many fun memories at a pretty low cost.  Franklin Park Conservatory is a huge family favorite, we also really love The Columbus Zoo & The Wilds, The Columbus Museum of Art, Ohio Historical Society, and my kids have been obsessed with COSI since they were infants.  Depending on the place and level of membership you're looking at, the price may seem a bit high, but remember they come with a lot of perks - like unlimited admission, free or discounted parking, special member only events, and discounts.  Memberships are always at the top of our lists for holiday gift ideas. New to Columbus this year is LEGOLAND Discovery Center at Easton and don’t tell my kids but they are getting this membership and a few others for Christmas this year.

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Now my personal favorite memories to give my kids (or anyone, really) are the ones that are once in a lifetime or once a year memories.  Tickets to The Nutcracker, or taking my son to see an OSU basketball game, those aren't things we do on a weekly basis so when the kids open those, they get really excited.  The excitement builds up from the time they open the gift until the day of the event.  Their happiness is so contagious and I just love getting to experience these memories with them.  Below are some events coming to Columbus at the end of 2018 and throughout 2019 that are perfect for family memories.  

1. Pete The Cat will be at the Children's Theatre January 17 - February 3, 2019 and Marry Poppins will be there May 17-19, 2019. These are perfect because they are short plays, a great introduction to theater and so much fun! The tickets are also very affordable, They have more shows in 2019 like Tuck Everlasting.

2. Tickets to see a show from CATCO is Kids. This is another great option for the young kiddos. Shows like BABE, The Sheep Pig, Seussical Kids, Madagascar a Musical Adventure Jr, and more.. Generally tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children.

3. Tickets to an OSU game - basketball, hockey, football, depending on the level of interest of your kiddos. My son loves all things Buckeye so we are planning on getting him OSU basketball tickets for Christmas.

4. Bundle up and head to Nationwide Arena for a Blue Jackets Game. Make a night of it by heading down a little early and grabbing dinner at Nada, Boston's, or Buca. (Note: Amazon sells youth Blue Jackets replica jerseys that would make attending the game even more fun for your kiddo)

5. Harlem Globetrotters will be in Columbus on December 30th and make a perfect stocking stuffer. You can even get tickets to go out on the court with the stars themselves. Seriously considering this one for our kids. Has anyone been? I'd love your thoughts. I haven't been since I was a kid.

6. Disney On Ice presents Frozen will be in Columbus April 18-April 21, 2019. We are huge fans of the Disney on Ice shows and will definitely be there for Frozen. Will we see you there?

7. Sesame Street Live! Make Your Magic is coming to the Schottenstein Center on April 3, 2019 and tickets go on sale on December 18, 2018 at 10am EST. My two year old loves Elmo and this show looks so fun!

8. Cirque du Soleil Crystal is coming to Nationwide Arena on January 23 - January 27, 2019. We took our kids to a different Cirque du Soleil a few years ago and they really enjoyed it.

9. DANIEL TIGER is coming to Columbus!! Seriously, this is my favorite cartoon for my kids. It’s really a good one. You can catch Daniel and the gang live on April 28, 2019 at Palace Theatre at 4pm.

10. A gift card for bowling and laser tag at Ten Pin Alley! We are OBSESSED with Ten Pin and my kids are always asking to go play there so getting a gift card for the holidays is perfect.

11. Skating passes to The Chiller Ice Rink - we love doing this while my husband has some time off around the holidays and then again all year round.

12. Tickets to go Tubing at Mad River Mountain. A few quick things to know about snow tubing - there are no minimum/maximum age requirements at Avalanche Tubing Park, only one person can ride in a tube but you can be linked together with other tubes by each holding on to the other tube. Wear layers for this fun, seasonal, activity.

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We want to create memories in our home as well, so we've thought a lot about the best toys to purchase that will allow us to create memories together as a family. 

• Legos

• Magna-Tiles

• Art Supplies

• Board Games - Monopoly Jr., Jenga, Connect 4, and Uno are some of our favorites

Do you have anything you'd add to this list?  I'd love to hear! Leave your suggestions in the comments below.  :-)