Shlagel Farms - Strawberry Picking

Yum, yum, yum!


There's a playground set, a few picnic tables and a sand box.  Eat lunch before you go or bring lunch and THEN you can feel good about purchasing a strawberry shortcake or milkshake.


Bring your own collection container or you can use one of theirs.

Baltimore Zoo

I was surprisingly pleased with this trip.  As a native Washingtonian, I hadn't made sense to pay for the zoo, but I had a change of heart when my daughter's school decided to charter a bus the National Zoo and charge $16.  I figured I might as well check out the Baltimore Zoo instead of paying to go to a free zoo.
We were excited about feed the giraffes, but we missed the opportunity.  I don't know why they it's not an all day feature.  So, be sure to check the feeding times before you go.  We did however, make it for the camel ride!!
I recommend going to the Baltimore Zoo.  It was worth the money.   Note:  We paid extra for riding the camel and there is a fee for feeding the giraffes.

Apple Picking at Larriland

We went apple picking at Larriland Farm in Woodbine, MD.  We picked Gala apples. I was a little disappointed because the apple trees actually looked more like apple bushes, but I guess that's how Gala apple "trees" look.  I will have to do some research on types of apples that grow on trees that are tall.

 
Their store is charming and the people are friendly and helpful.  If you're picking apples, they're on the opposite side of the street from the big red barn.  So, park across the street from the big red barn and then visit the barn before you go home.  That's where the store is located.  Near the store, there are 3 portable toilets, running water and soap for your hands.

Girlsports Kit

A picture is worth a thousand words.  I don't know what I was expecting to be in the Girlsports Kit, but it wasn't anything close to what I received.  The kit comes in two net bags and a large plastic foot locker. 

What's not pictured is the manual.  What's not in the manual is a lot of team building activities which is what I was expecting.  The activities are supposed to build confidence.  The only problem is the kit is designed for more than a month of meetings and you're only allowed to keep it for three weeks.  Our troop only meets twice a month, so there wasn't enough time for confidence building or skill building.  Overall it's a great kit if you want to plan a play day outside or if you meet in a gym or the cafetorium : -)

Girl Scout Camp Winona in Hughesville, MD

We went to Camp Winona for an Early Bird Registration Celebration for those who registered early.  The drive to the camp is very straight forward.  The trip is mostly on 301 and 5.  After being on 5 for about 10 miles, you're practically there.  On-line directions said that you have to make a U-turn, but it wasn't a u-turn.  It was actually two lefts and there's a sign that directs you to the street and then you're almost there.

It was a worthwhile trip.  My Junior had her first experience in a canoe and my Daisies had their first experience fishing.  Fish were actually caught, just not by my children.  They also had an opportunity to swim in the pool, not Trefoil Pond!  So, we had a great time!  It was an hour long drive.  I'd do it again.  Kudos to the Waldorf Office for a job well done!

The Six Flags List

I am not an amusement park kind of mom, but to appease my children - off we went to Six Flags.  I decided I would make the most of this outing by doing some research on the rides. (In retrospect, I wish I had also done some research on the park's hours - but I'll get to that later in this post.)   I have 4 children between the ages of 3 and 9.  It was important to me that all six of us (my wonderful husband went) rode as many rides together as possible and then I would relax as they splashed in the water rides section with me watching on. 

So, I went on the park's website to learn the height requirements for the various rides.  I measured all of my children and made a list.  I like making lists.  My husband on the other hand is not so much a fan of my lists.  So, when he thrice told me what a good idea it was to make a list of the rides and who could get on each one; I was surprised to say the least.  When I took my place on a bench for the last open hour of the park, he even asked to take my list with him as he took the children to ride rides until the park closed.

So, here's what the list/chart basically looked like:

LOCATION---RIDE-----RIDERS-TYPE
Nantucket --- Cyclone-------------ALL-spinning
Nantucket --- Shipwreck Falls --- ALL---Water raft
Olde Boston--Tea cups-------------ALL
Gotham city--Penguins Blizzard-ALL----inner tube/water slide
Skull Island --Pirates Flight-------Lyn,Ry,Mai
Skull Island---ROAR---------------Mai----Roller Coaster (RC)
Southwest----The Wild One------Mai-----RC


Water Section-Castaway Creek- ALL-river
Water Section - Calypso----------Mai-slide

Now, what wasn't on the list was the park hours!!!!
The water section of the park closed an HOUR before the park ANDDDDDD the park closes at 8pm on weekdays!!!  So, we missed the water section all together.  So, now you know or maybe I'm the last to know:

They close really early on the weekdays
AND
the water park always closes before the main park.

Oh, they also have rides that require an additional "nominal fee". 

FYI:  My favorite ride was the Penguins Blizzard!  I screamed all the way down.  I had a blast!

ALDI Rookie

So, I went to ALDI's.  I knew that I needed a quarter to borrow a shopping cart and my own bags for transporting my groceries.  Turns out that I had plenty of change, but no quarters.  The cashier politely gave me a quarter in exchange for twenty-five cents.  I picked up a few things. Tossed my reuseable grocery bags on the belt.   (I was proud of myself for remembering to bring them.)  When I paid for my purchases I pushed the shopping cart out and looked at my bill.  I spent about $30.  I was pleased.  What was funny was that the bag of bags were in the shopping cart just as I had placed them on the belt (empty bags in an empty bag).  So, when one goes to ALDI please know....

1 - Bring a quarter or case quarter as we used to say so that you may borrow a shopping cart.  You can have it back when you replace the shopping cart back where you took it from.
2-  Bring your own bags.
3- You will pack your own groceries in your own bags if you remember to bring them : -)

What I would buy again at ALDI (haven't tried everything):

French toast sticks
cucumbers