Our Summer Recap 2014

This summer has been a busy one, to say the least.  I was in my third trimester and had two active boys at home that I had to keep busy and entertained.  It was one of my hardest pregnancies and all I wanted to do was sleep. Of course that wasn’t an option on most days so I found other ways to keep ourselves occupied and to keep me on my feet.  Here are some of our favourite summer activities and outings.

1. Zoo

The Zoo is one of my sons favourite places to go to.  Even though it’s at least a 30 minute drive from home, located in the suburbs of Toronto, we were there almost every week throughout the summer.  It’s large enough that we were able to see a different area with each visit. One of the activities we always have to do is go on the Zoomobile, a “train” that goes around the perimeter of the zoo.  The staff on the Zoomobile are extremely friendly and informative.  We learned tons of great tidbits about the Zoo and its animals on every ride.  The other thing my son insists on doing with every visit is going on the carousal.  During the summer months, the Zoo has an amazing splash pad that’s perfect for kids of all ages.

2. Canada’s Wonderland

While it’s located in the North end of the GTA and at least a 40 minute drive from home, both of my sons enjoy spending time at Canada’s Wonderland. Luckily, my younger son is fearless and at the young age of 17 months, he was willing to go on some rides alone or with his brother.  This was great as I couldn’t go on most rides due to my pregnancy. Planet Snoopy and Kidzville has tons of rides, shows, games and food options.  Before we knew it, a full day has passed at Wonderland.

3. Cottage

During the summer, our weekends are spent up north at the cottage. Even though this is a 2.5+ hour trip, its definitely worth it.  The weather this summer wasn’t spectacular, but there’s nothing like getting away from the city and spending time outdoors.  Our days were spent on the dock busying ourselves with a sand and water table, going for boat rides or swimming in the lake. This summer, our time up north was particularly short as we closed down early due to the impending birth of our third son. We’re already looking forward to next summer knowing we can spend more time up there as a new family of five.

As most parents can attest, driving far distances with a young child isn’t always easy or fun. Toddlers tend to get bored and fussy on drives, regardless of the distance. That’s why it’s important to be prepared. While part of the solution is to have a lot of toys and snacks for them, the other part includes having a comfortable car seat. That’s why we love our Evenflo Platinum Symphony DLX. Not only does it look great and the fabric is great and it comes with high safety ratings, it’s extremely comfortable. My son easily falls asleep in it and it’s spacious enough for him to grow into it. Just look how happy and comfortable he looks.  With such a great car seat, who wouldn’t love being in the car for an extended period of time!