Pea of Sweetness

A Winter Weekend Getaway at Castaway Bay

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Having lived in Ohio most of my life you would think the unpredictable weather this time of year would’t surprise me anymore. But the constant change between feeling so much like spring followed by a period of snow and ice has left me scratching my head. Regardless of the weather, we were definitely in need of a little winter weekend getaway. Since Castaway Bay is always a perfect 82 degrees it’s definitely an ideal place for a winter weekend getaway! The timing ended up being perfect because it was quite cold the weekend we went!
Castaway Bay Logo
Disclosure: I received complimentary accommodations and other promotional items to facilitate my review. Regardless, all opinions are my own and those of my family. Please see my Disclosure Policy for more information.
The kids were more than just a little excited to head up to Castaway Bay for the weekend. I was definitely in need of a bit of a break as well! Although it was a little snowy the day we drove up there, nothing was going to stop us from going! We couldn’t wait to enjoy the 38,000-square-foot indoor waterpark and fun activities.

The Fun Begins

When we arrived we piled out of our car with our bags eager to drop them off in our room and go have some fun! Castaway Bay not only has an indoor waterpark, arcade and fitness center, but they also have a variety of kid-friendly activities as well! All the day’s activities can be found on the Island Times which can be picked up at the front desk and is displayed in the elevators as well.
Castaway Bay Activities
We arrived just before 3pm which was the perfect time because cookie decorating was about to begin! So we dropped off our bags and headed to Club Castaway to decorate some cookies as well as souvenir bags and t-shirts. The movie Zootopia was playing on the big screen while we enjoyed the cookies and coloring. Then we had personalized souvenirs to take home!

Good Food

After making our souvenirs we were ready for dinner. The Quaker Steak & Lube is actually connected to Castaway Bay which means we didn’t even have to go back out into the cold. It has such a fun atmosphere! We really enjoy eating there. My chicken tenders and fried pickles were so good! Plus we had food left over to take back to our room.
Food at Quaker Steak and Lube

A Beautiful Bay View

Our room was on the first floor, but we still had a balcony with a breathtaking view of the Sandusky Bay. If you haven’t seen the bay in the winter with snow and ice on it, you definitely should! It’s beautiful!
We were in a Starfish Bay-View Room which includes two double beds, a single sleeper chair, fridge and microwave, coffee maker and the private screened balcony. Like all rooms, free WIFI and waterpark passes for the day of check-in and check-out are included. In order to do more this year, I brought my mom with us to help with the kids. The Starfish room can accommodate up to 5 people, but it was a little snug. I think it would be perfect for families with smaller children.
Starfish Room at Castaway Bay
The door has multiple lock options from the inside. This is something you may not give much thought to, but I was definitely grateful for them as my sleep walking child tried to walk out the door around midnight!

Castaway Bay Indoor Waterpark Fun

After dinner on Saturday we were ready for some fun at the waterpark! The Wave Pool is always a favorite, and we all enjoyed some time in it. Because I had help this year I was able to do more with the kids including riding Rendezvous Run (also known as the “water rollercoaster”) with my oldest, go down some slides, play on the animal rafts with my youngest two and enjoy the hot tub with my daughter. This was all in one day!
Castaway Bay Wave Pool
Something neat I discovered this year was that the hot tub actually goes outdoors. We went out there, and it’s a really neat experience to be in a hot tub in freezing cold weather, but we didn’t stay out there long! I was convinced my hair was going to freeze!
As always, we felt safe with plenty of lifeguards on duty and looking out for everyone’s safety. They even checked up on my daughter to make sure she was over the height requirements for wear a life jacket in the Wave Pool. She was, but I appreciate that they check.

Our Winter Weekend Getaway

Winter Weekend Getaway at Castaway Bay
We had a great time at Castaway Bay, and the timing was fantastic! There is nothing better for cabin fever than having fun at an indoor waterpark. With multiple activities both in and out of the waterpark, beautiful views, good food and a fun arcade (which we surprisingly didn’t spend time in this year), Castaway Bay is a great place for families looking to beat those winter blues!
If you just want waterpark fun without the stay, day passes are available (and you could win some as well below!).

Connect with Castaway Bay

Website | Facebook | Twitter
 

*Giveaway!!!*

Would you like to enjoy some family fun at Castaway Bay? You could win 4 Day Passes to the Indoor Waterpark! This giveaway runs through 3/14/18 and is open to US residents ages 18+. *Please note travel and accommodations are not included.*

Enter the Giveaway by Clicking Here!

 

4 Ways to Study Space in Northwest Ohio

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Our kids have been interested in learning more about space, particularly constellations. Our oldest son has even been learning Astronomy with Memoria Press. Since he started this curriculum he has been asking more about the stars and looking for and pointing out constellations. All of our children are very hands-on learners, so in order to foster this interest I knew we needed to do some hands-on activities.

4 Ways to Study Space in Northwest Ohio

4 Ways to Study Space in Northwest Ohio

*Armstrong Air and Space Museum


Armstrong Air and Space Museum
The Armstrong Air and Space Museum in Wapakoneta is owned by the state of Ohio and is part of the Ohio History Connection’s statewide system of historic sites and museums. With access right off of I-75 it’s easy to get to as well! We connected with a local homeschool group and visited the Armstrong Air and Space Museum. It has a lot more to it than just studying space, though!
We got to start off our visit with the perfect hands-on activity – making our own constellations. All three of our kids participated in the activity, and it was so much fun! We used black tissue paper over a toilet roll and punched holes of our favorite constellations. When you shine a light through it in the dark you can see the constellation. As an added bonus, we got to learn a little more about the constellations as well.
Making Constellations
The tour is educational, and there is so much to see and learn. In addition to astronauts and space we also learned more about aviation and general. I learned quite a few things myself! What really left a big impression for us was all the interactive activities! The kids got to experience Zero Gravity, use a Lunar Landing Simulator, and even pretend they’re at the controls of a spaceship.
Learn more and plan your trip with their Hours and Admission.
Hands-on fun at Armstrong Air and Space Museum

*Millstream Astronomy Club


The Millstream Astronomy Club offers public events on Saturdays at Riverbend Park in Findlay at Shelter #5. Times vary due to the phases of the moon. They offer public viewings as well as education. We, personally, haven’t attended one yet, but I’m keeping their schedule on hand.

*Newhard Planetarium


Newhard Planetarium
Photo Credit: University of Findlay
This little gem is found at the University of Findlay. I live just a few blocks away and had no idea there was a planetarium so close! We visited the Newhard Planetarium with our 4-H group. We got to learn more about the stars and constellations. We watched a great video outlying the sheer vastness of space. What we really appreciated is it was presented from a Biblical perspective.
We got to chart the stars and were challenged with questions regarding what we were learning. It looks fairly small on the outside, but it really is bigger than it seems. It easily fit our whole group with seats to spare! It has 65 seats total. The Newhard Planetarium is part of the Brewer Science Hall at the University of Findlay.

*BGSU Planetarium


If you drive North a little, you can also check out the Planetarium at Bowling Green State University. We, personally, haven’t visited yet, but it’s something we’re making plans for! It’s a little bigger than Newhard Planetarium with 118 seats, so it could definitely host a larger group.
The BGSU Planetarium offers Public Planetarium Programs that are open to all and are given from September to May each year. These programs feature a star talk showing the current evening sky followed by a multimedia planetarium show. They also offer weekend programs which are followed by stargazing at the Observatory on the roof if the weather permits.
 

Study Space in Northwest Ohio

When it comes to studying space in Northwest Ohio I love that there are multiple resources available! It’s a great way to get kids more interested and involved in the study of space. It has really enhanced what we’ve been learning about Astronomy in a hands-on way. Plus, they accommodate a variety of ages, which is always an advantage!
How do you study space in Northwest Ohio?
 

Having Fun with Music Together

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Our family loves music. I love that our kids respond well to it and learn through it as well. As a homeschool mom, I always appreciate the opportunity for music education as well, so when I was presented with the opportunity to take a Music Together class with our youngest son thanks to Moms Meet, I was very excited to check it out!
Music Together Logo
Disclosure: I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product.
Music Together nurtures the natural musicality of each child from babies through the early elementary years. In family classes, adults learn together with their children and can then re-create the fun at home with recordings and songbooks. The curriculum of Music Together is deeply integrated into the classroom experience all day long and then continues at home as families are encouraged to use the music and home materials to further their child’s learning and fun.
Music Together classes for babies, toddlers, preschoolers and big kids (ages 5-7) are found in more than 2500 communities in 41 countries around the world. Everyone participates at his or her own developmental level in classes of mixed ages, which child development researchers find fosters natural, family-style learning. Classes are 45 minutes of fun and in a non-performance-oriented setting. There are a variety of songs and musical styles that are pitched in perfect range for children’s early voices.

Music Together Review

For our Music Together review we had the opportunity to attend a local Music Together class and received a variety of music and curricula materials including:

  • Fiddle CD and code for the online Family Music Zone, which provides access to downloadable songs, activities and more
  • Fiddle songbook, which includes the music notation and lyrics as well as activities for each song on the CD
  • Helpful books for welcoming families and information to help us get started
  • Family Favorites CD’s
  • A pair of egg shakers
  • Their award-winning Singalong Storybook, Hello Everybody!

It was all packaged in a cute bag!
Music Together Review
The materials we received were wonderful. I actually wasn’t sure where to start! I decided to start with the Fiddle book and CD so I could get familiar with the way the Music Together Curriculum is structured. This not only helped me prepare, but I feel like it gave Chaz an idea of what we would be doing and that it is FUN! Chaz has Sensory Processing Disorder, so it is easy for him to get anxious about participating in group settings, but he really enjoyed the music, and I think it really helped not only lessen his anxiety but encourage him to go to a class! This curriculum is provided to parents each semester.
Music Together Review Curriculum
The information books really helped me to get a feel for what to expect as well – not only in class but what I can do at home as well. I love music and although we do use a music curricula in our homeschool, it helped me realize I actually overlook it quite often – especially when we have a full day. It’s so important, though, and I’m so glad it made me reevaluate how often we use music in our home.
The CD’s definitely added a great way to do so! Even our older two children like to sing along! I have found they’re also a great intercession between our homeschool studies, which is important for our kids because they all have special needs and need breaks in between subjects. Plus, I love all the great activity suggestions!
Music Together CDs
The Hello, Everybody! story book is so much fun! If you’re familiar with the song, you can sing it together with your child(ren). It also is nice to just read as well. The book has eye-catching illustrations with bright colors that kids love. It is not just a story. It contains information for using the book, activities, information on how to get the Music Together music and a music page with the song. Although I don’t consider myself a skilled piano player, it is very basic notes, and I was able to play it easily while we all sang together.
Music Together Review Hello Everybody book

Music Together Review – Music Together Findlay Class

We were definitely excited for the opportunity to visit a local Music Together Class. Music Together Findlay offers a variety of class days and times, which makes it easy to fit your schedule. There are daytime classes as well as evening classes. Being a homeschool family, we have a flexible schedule and I, personally, prefer to avoid going out in the evenings, so I was thrilled to be able to visit a daytime class.
Music Together Findlay
When we first arrived we were greeted warmly and Chaz instantly started running around. My mom instinct is to ask him to sit down, but that’s one of the reasons it’s hard for us to attend group classes because he can’t just sit down all the time. As a special needs mom, I often feel uncomfortable in group situations because I’m always worried we won’t be welcome, but our kids need them. I didn’t feel like that at all in our Music Together class. Chaz did have a meltdown near the end, but even then I didn’t feel uncomfortable like I have otherwise, and I just took him to the bathroom to let the sensory overload pass.
Music Together Review Findlay
It really was a lot of fun! I know I had fun participating, and Chaz really did as well! He usually doesn’t participate, so I was surprised how much he was participating! He was really having a good time! We sang a variety of songs and did a lot of fun activities. He had the opportunity to interact with other children as well as the adults. I loved that parents are encouraged to participate and that they did! I really think it helps the children feel comfortable so they are more likely to participate as well.
Overall, we really had a great time! Chaz had fun participating, and despite feeling a little overwhelmed at the end, he talks about it positively. It makes me feel good when I know he really enjoyed something!

Visit a Music Together Class

Music Together has classes in many locations! Learn more about joining a Music Together Class and get a free lullaby song!
Tuition for a ten-week Music Together semester varies by location, but averages about $180-$200. Tuition includes weekly classes, at-home materials, and access to the online parents-only website with bonus activities and digital versions of the songs.

For More Information:

Visit the Music Together Website
Connect with Music Together on Facebook and YouTube

*Giveaway!!!*

Would you like to win a great resource from Music Together? One winner will receive the Hey, Diddle, Diddle Gift Set! This giveaway runs through 1/28/16 and is open to US residents ages 18+. Enter the Giveaway Now!