A Day out with Thomas, and why this was so significant for us.

When it comes to family activities, we are all for the free/cheap fun. I have discovered that my kids typically will have just as much, if not more fun without costing us much or any money. So when I saw the price tag on the Day out with Thomas tickets, I was more than a little hesitant. The tickets would cost a little more than $60 for the family, not to mention that gas money for the two hour car trip. And while that may not seem like a lot for some, for this frugal momma, it was enough to make me more than a little uncomfortable!

After a lot of discussion with the hubby, going back and forth about it several times, we realized that events like this are why we wanted to get our budget under control. My son, Jameson, is absolutely nuts about Thomas the Train. There is not a day that goes by when he doesn't play with his trains, heck, the kid has a Thomas the Train bed! This was not something that would just be a fun outing for the family- it would truly be a dream come true for my little boy.

A year or so ago, something like this would have resulted in one of two scenarios:

1. We would decide not to go because we couldn't afford it since we had no money in savings and be bummed that we couldn't get this experience for my kiddos.
2. We would go anyway, put it on a credit card, and I would feel guilty about it the whole time.

But this time, the money was there. We have been saving for a mini-vacation for our family this summer. Based on our preliminary figuring, it is going to be a pretty inexpensive vacation that we had over-saved for, which meant that we had plenty that we could pull from that budget column to pay for the tickets. Also, we have been really good at conserving our gas this week, so we would have plenty in the gas budget to cover the extra gas for the trip.

Since we have gotten such a grasp on our finances, we were able to easily pay cash for the whole thing. Again, I realize that while $60 isn't much to some of you, others might actually think we are crazy for dropping that kind of money on a 20 minute train ride (since the other activities were all free). But you know what? We had the money because we have worked hard to save it, and we created family memories that we all, especially Jameson, will not soon forget. Want more convincing? Let these pictures do the job:

Posing in front of Thomas- and of course I took my own pictures instead of buying theirs! Duh! You couldn't have expected me to go totally crazy :)

Crazy girl coloring.

Chugging along the track!

Showing off their tattoos!

Waiting for the bouncy slide

Jump!

We met Sir Topam Hatt!

Crazy drivers!

More posting with Thomas!

Petting zoo 

Showing me his ticket for the train ride

Sassy girl

So excited to be walking up this train aisle!

I love her "cheese" face

This smile made it ALL worth it!

Me and my little train nut

So silly!

Amazing family memories- worth every penny!

Our "True meaning of Easter" night

During Christmas time, we have a night where we have a birthday party for Jesus and spend the whole evening talking about the true meaning of Christmas. We do the same for Easter. Even though we talk about the stories throughout the holidays, I think it is important that we have a night devoted to talking about the meaning behind Christmas and Easter so that they can grow up knowing what it they are all about.

One thing I have discovered as the mother of young children is that the story of Christmas is easy to get kids interested in- pretty star, cute animals in a barn, sweet little baby. 

Easter??? Little different. Even if your kiddo understands death, which most 3-year-olds don't- trying to explain rising from the dead is dang near impossible. But, we do the best we can!

We started with sticker scenes. I explained the Easter story in the most simple, yet straight forward words I could. Then, they made their sticker scenes.

Delaney's is on the left, Jameson's, the right

I wasn't sure if Jameson was picking up on everything, but then he told me that he wanted Jesus out of the "cave" because that is where Jesus went. I was pretty satisfied with that!

Next, we made Resurrection Rolls. These are tasty little treats you can use to explain Easter.

Resurrection rolls

*I wish I could give credit to where I got this idea from, but I honestly don't remember!*

1 pkg of crescent rolls

8 marshmallows

3 T butter

2 T sugar

2 T cinnamon

(you may had to add more of the bottom three ingredients depending on how good your kiddos are at the roll in butter and cake in cinnamon/sugar thing).

• Separate the crescent rolls into the individual triangles. You will start with explaining the marshmallows. Explain that, pure and white, the marshmallows are like Jesus- pure and without sin.
• Next, roll the marshmallow in the butter, and then the cinnamon and sugar- explain that this is like how they anointed Jesus with oils and herbs.
• Wrap the marshmallow in a crescent roll, careful to close it off as well as possible. Explain that this is like how they placed Jesus in the tomb.
• Place the rolls on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees until lightly brown, around 8-10 minutes. 
• Let cool. Before you break the rolls open, remind the kiddos that there was a marshmallow inside when you made them.
• When the rolls are broken open, the marshmallows are gone! Explain that this is like how, when the women went to the tomb, Jesus was gone.

Getting started

Putting the rolls together.

Delaney enjoyed making the rolls eating the marshmallows.

I wish we could have gotten a shot of when he first opened the roll. He was so amazed! 

He told us that the marshmallow was gone just like Jesus was from the tomb. Then, he told us that Jesus is fluffy like a marshmallow. Oh well, I'll consider it a half success... :)

Butterflies!

Yesterday we went to the Butterflies! exhibit at the mall and loved it! For $2 a person, it was a frugal little treat for all of us. I love to go to these kinds of things because we can have a fun, educational experience for the kids that fits well within our budget. They also limit the group that is in at a time, so it wasn't overly crowded like I was afraid it would be.

Delaney was a little freaked but enjoyed them. But Jameson was a pro! He was so gentle and wanted to hold one after the other!

Delaney loved to look at them but wasn't interested in holding any. She tried to grab at a few but, luckily, there were no casualties!

Jameson learned a lot. When we got home we talked about how catepillars change to butterflies, so Jameson now knows all about "metmorfsesess" (aka, metamorphosis).

Apparently Shaun's hat attracted the butterflies somehow because there was always at least one on his hat.

My attempt at getting a good photo quality one. Note: Don't expect to get good butterfly pictures when you have two small children with you...

I was just so proud of Jameson. He did such a good job. He used to be afraid of EVERYTHING. A year ago this would have freaked him out. 

Delaney is thinking "What the heck is on your finger grandma!"

Before we went in, Jameson found a little butterfly toy he wanted. I was considering getting it for him since it was only $2. But, after we left, we found this free butterfly craft instead and he forgot all about the toy! Score! 

I am now wishing that we would have gotten a little butterfly garden, though. I haven't found them cheaper online and the ones there partially go to United Way, so I might stop in before they leave to pick one up.

If you are in the Manhattan area you should definitely stop in and check it out!