Jump-N-Jimmy's

Mickey Mouse Bounce House,
for 3 & under

When we first moved here, I was honestly a little concerned about meeting people and making friends.  Our neighbor's are great, of course, but I wanted to have some other friends as well.  Hubs is working in a place that is mostly civilian, so there's not much of a Wardroom or "military family" atmosphere there.  We obviously don't live on base as we did in California, and I'm not working, or in classes yet.  I didn't really have a niche in which to meet other ladies and make friends.  Particularly friends with kids about my boys' ages in order to "kill two birds with one stone".  I was excited when I saw in the church bulletin that there was a Mom's Group within our parish!

While I am certainly not a holy roller, I figure that it can't hurt to join a church group.  As neighbors have a commonality within the community or homeowners association, there is yet another similarity in making friends within our faith community.  So I scoured the bulletin every week for news on their meetings.  Shortly before Dutch was born, there was an ad about a meeting.  I put it on the calendar and made plans to attend.  And the day of the meeting I totally forgot about it.  So I started scouring again.  Nothing.  I was so sad, and really wanting to make a connection.

I found an email address for the group, but even after sending them a note, I never got a response.  Well, after several weeks, they finally wrote back!  And they already had an outing planned for this week!

The long and short is that we had a modified schedule at home today, which included an early nap (which I'm pretty sure translated into no nap and playtime in the bedroom instead).  And this afternoon we packed up and headed off to Jump-N-Jimmy's right down the road from our house!

Each bouncey house has an appropriately sized slide, so
kiddos can bounce where they feel most comfortable
(although the Mickey bouncer is always reserved for 3 & under)

Jump-N-Jimmy's is a bounce house practically in our neighborhood, and boasts four or five bouncers, to include one dedicated to toddlers three and under.  For just $9 per bouncer (under 18 months are free!) you can bounce to your heart's content during open bounce, and for fairly reasonable fees you can rent out the entire complex for a private birthday party.  Not only did Buddy Man have a great time (ok, he was a bit timid at first, but it didn't take more than 10 or 15 minutes for him to figure out that bouncing was fun!) but he also wore himself out!  I imagine that this is a place we'll take advantage of in the months to come as a special treat (and might even buy a frequent bouncer pass!) especially when the cold months of winter set in and we need an outlet for physical activity!

If you're ever in the area and need something to help your kiddos burn off some energy, be sure to check out Jump-N-Jimmy's!  And, if you're not in the area, do a quick Google search for a bounce house near you; your kids will love it!

Lovin' on Mickey!

Twilight Polo at Great Meadow

After a morning at the neighborhood pool, I had yet another new experience up my sleeve to round out a fun-filled weekend with my mom and little brother!  We headed a mere fifteen minutes from the house to The Plains for Twilight Polo at Great Meadows.

For just $30 a carload, you get full access to the grounds, admission to three polo matches, and a great atmosphere.  Picnicking is encouraged, and we complied with a basket of sandwiches, chips, and cookies...and of course a cooler full of choice beverages (you can be sure that some bourbon was present given that it's practically a requirement for equine sporting events in the South!).  We spread a blanket (ok, a padded mat that the movers left after delivering our new dining room furniture six months ago) and enjoyed our meal on the grassy knoll overlooking the field.

Mama got the closest to figuring out the rules of the game and we each took turns going for a walk with Buddy Man to keep him occupied.  There was plenty of space, the venue was doggy-friendly, and the evening was something I'm so glad I was able to experience.  Oh, and did I mention that last night was Military-Appreciation Night, so with an Active Duty ID our car was free?

If you're ever in the Northern Virginia area in the summertime, I highly recommend Great Meadows as a fabulous group activity, family adventure, or even an out-of-the-ordinary date night!  For more ideas on fun outings, check out the travel tabs at the top of my page and search by city!

Pickle Bob's Ice Cream

A while ago, when I was picking up a pizza in Haymarket, I discovered a food truck parked behind a gas station that advertised soft-serve ice cream.  Always up for a little variety, and happy to help local businesses, I made a mental note and mentioned to Hubs that we should keep the ice cream stand in mind for hot summer evenings when a treat is in store.

And, a couple of weekends ago, such an evening arose!  We'd spent a day at the pool, we wanted to get out of the house a little, and we'd already enjoyed a yummy pizza dinner...the perfect Saturday...made only more perfect with ice cream!  Hubs and I opted for a large Tornado with cookie dough topping, splitting the ginormous cup three ways, and impressed with the flavor of basic soft-serve ice cream.  But really, the memory isn't in the quality of the cone, but in the experience.

Pickle Bob's is nothing but a food truck, permanently parked behind a gas station in downtown Haymarket.  They only offer two flavors.  But they have picnic tables and benches set up to eat in the sunshine.  They have a fun pickle dude out front for family photo-ops.  And you can't beat the price!  In a time when we have a lot of big ticket items coming up (mostly due to my going back to school), good cheap inexpensive fun is just what the doctor ordered!  To be perfectly honest, I'm having a lot of fun researching fun summer activities and outings that are low on cost but high on fun...and so far, it's shaping up to be a great summer!

So, I decided that another day at Pickle Bob might be in store the next time we had visitors!  And, after a full day of picking lavender, I thought it would be the perfect ending to a fun day.  Mama and I had dropped Little Brother off at my house for a much-needed nap after chasing Buddy Man around all day before I ran over to my doctor's office to get a vaccine I need for school.  After patiently waiting in the car, we drove down the street to Pickle Bob's for vanilla cones and lots of smiles...

...and I just know it won't be our last visit this summer!

Seven Oaks Lavender Farm & City Tavern

Growing up military, it seemed we were constantly in a new place, even when that new place was "home".  As such, it could have been very easy for us to be bitter about being far from home, away from family, and perpetual newcomers.  My parents were wisely of the opinion that if they made things fun, my brothers and I were sure to follow suit and view our nomadic life as one big adventure.  In doing so, weekends were often full of family outings, scoping out new places, exploring our new hometown, and experiencing all that the area had to offer.  It's a goal I've set for myself as an adult, and something that has become even more important since having a family...especially with the impending start of a new chapter of my life in nursing school and then going back to work.  I want my sons to understand that family time is important.  I want them to have fun childhood memories.  I want them, years from now, to look back at this time with a smile and say, "Remember that time when we...".

And, not only do I want to build wonderful memories for my children, but I'm not the type of person who is wont to sit still for long.  I don't like sitting around on the weekends.  I don't like "ordinary" and I don't like doing the same old thing week after week.  I love having new experiences, seeing new things, and sharing them with my loved ones.  So, when my family comes to visit, I can't stand to simply visit.  I want to go do something.  Something out of the ordinary.  Something we can't do anywhere.  Something that is a one-of-a-kind experience.

So, when Mama A and Little Brother came for a weekend visit, I had 48 hours of fun planned.  It's a bit more difficult with two little boys, but it's certainly not impossible, and definitely not an excuse to just stay home and sit around for a few days!  Instead, we hopped in the car and drove about half an hour to Seven Oaks Lavender Farm.

Lavender is at the height of its blooming season throughout June and into early July.  For $6 admission, you can visit the farm and pick as much fragrant lavender as your heart desires!  At just 12 cents per stem, that's a pretty fair price for a wonderful bouquet...not to mention the wonderful photo opportunities for your family!  There is plenty of space to take a picnic and enjoy it under the shade of the many trees on the property or on the huge porch of the farmhouse.  Bring some extra cash and enjoy a cold glass of lavender lemonade or lavender sweet tea while you cool off.

Also of note are the classes and workshops available at Seven Oaks.  Yoga classes, early morning Doggy Days, wreath- and sachet-making classes, and more are all available throughout the month.  An adorable giftshop is on-site with dozens of fragrant products, all made from lavender grown on the farm, as well.  I was super excited to come home with some lavender handsoap and wish I'd bought a jar of the honey and jam as well!

Following a fun morning of chasing butterflies at Seven Oaks, we drove in to Old Town Manassas for lunch and a bit of window shopping.  Unfortunately, a sore knee for my mom, a cranky toddler, and an impending storm cut the shopping short.  But we did enjoy a yummy lunch at City Tavern Grille!  My BLT and coke hit the spot, but if you're looking for a burger and more adult beverage, this is also the place for you!  Outdoor patio dining, bellying up to the bar, or a quiet booth outfitted with highchairs, City Tavern has it all!