Little Toot Dolphin Sighting Boat Tour in Clearwater, Florida

January 15, 2012 by 18 Comments

Little Toot is an adorable dolphin adventure, perfect for couples or families. If you are in the Clearwater, Florida area and you are looking for a great way to spend a couple of hours, I can’t recommend Little Toot Dolphin Adventure enough!

Little Toot is a small dolphin sightseeing boat tour in Clearwater, Florida.
The Little Toot is the only Dolphin boat that can go into the shallows as well as the Gulf to ensure more Dolphin sightings and closer Dolphin contact. GUARANTEED to see dolphins or your next trip is FREE! Plus, since it has a “tug boat” quality, they can create waves that the dolphins like to play in.

My kids had so much fun. Not only was the boat itself just too cute (nothing ordinary, it looks like a little tugboat right out of a children’s storybook) but the crew was as nice as can be. There were passengers of all ages aboard, and nothing was overlooked, from comfort (there was a place to purchase drinks and snacks and the seats were shaded- Florida is HOT!) to safety. Don’t worry about a thing- just enjoy the ride, and find yourself a dolphin or two!

The scenery was lovely as we sailed along- seeing [Read more…]

Filed Under: animals, family, kids, travel

Growing Family? What to Look for in a New Home

January 13, 2012 by 1 Comment

Whether you’re currently renting a home, you may be looking for an upgrade when you find your family
expanding. Kids and pets certainly take up space in and of themselves, but they also come with a lot of
detritus like beds, toys, clothing, and so on. This can quickly turn your house into a storage unit that is
busting at the seams. But even in this current market it can be difficult to find the home you’re looking
for. Sure the monthly rates are great, but the market is so saturated with properties that you may not
know quite where to begin. So if you’re interested in starting your home search but you’re feeling
overwhelmed, here are a few tips to get you on track to the home of your dreams.

For starters you need to go into the process with a clear idea of what you want. You likely have some
basics in mind, but let’s start with the size of your house. Considering that the reason you’re looking
to make a move is that your growing family needs the space, the question of size is of the utmost
importance. You don’t just want adequate space for your current family; you may also want to consider
the probability that you’ll need more room down the line. For example, you could look for a three-
bedroom home for you, your spouse, and your two kids, but you might do better getting an extra
bedroom [Read more…]

Filed Under: family, home

We will be on our way to Disney On Ice shortly!

January 12, 2012 by 2 Comments

We are on our way out to see Disney On Ice presents Mickey & Minnie’s Magical Journey- and Little is super excited!
We will be tweeting from the show, so I hope you are a follower (How else can I tell you how cool the show is while it’s happening!) @HaveSippy

Hope to see you there, or hear about a show near you!

Tickets for Disney On Ice presents Mickey & Minnie’s Magical Journey are $80.00, $55.00, $35.00, and $25.00 [Read more…]

Filed Under: disney, family, kids

Winter the Dolphin- an inspiring true story

January 11, 2012 by 21 Comments

When planning a visit to Clearwater, Florida, no trip would be complete without a trip to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. While it has been a Clearwater institution since 1978, it recently became quite famous for one reason- a little dolphin named “Winter”.

When little Winter was only 2 or 3 months old, she became tangled in a crab trap line, wrapping her into a “C” shaped position and (in short) killing her tail. Her peduncle (The lower trunk, extending from the dorsal fin to the fluke. The peduncle is very muscular and generates the power that propels dolphins through the water at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour) was ruined, and needed to be amputated.

Found in Florida’s Indian River Lagoon, several rescues collaborated to save her and bring her to Clearwater. None of them thought she would live, she was very young and small, and her injuries were very severe. While not a malicious attack, and purely accidental, she was still very stressed and this was very damaging to her and her hormones, which can have long term effects- as was having to be formula fed. Winter had no mom to protect and love her. She was named Winter because that is when she was found- in December of ’05.

She was with humans 24/7 for continues care, quality control, treatment, etc. After about 6 months, several cautious surgeries, weaning onto solid food, and the first prosthetic tail ever made incorporating a joint- Winter was placed with an older female “companion”, [Read more…]

Filed Under: animals, family, kids, movie, travel

A Train Ride with Clifford the Big Red Dog on the LM and M Railroad

January 11, 2012 by 21 Comments

What can be better for any kid then a train ride? How about a “Train Ride with Clifford the Big Red Dog” on the LM&M Railroad? Yeah, that is SIGNIFICANTLY better!!!

If you are in the Warren County, Ohio area- or are planning to be (and you should be! They don’t call it “Ohio’s Largest Playground for nothing!) there is one stop that any train lover, large or small will need to make sure is on your itinerary- the LM&M Railroad!

“The Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad (LM&M Railroad) operating from Historic Downtown Lebanon offers scenic train rides through Southwestern Ohio in Warren County. These nostalgic train rides present passengers with the opportunity to learn about local history and railroad operations while creating everlasting memories with family and friends. The unique location of the Historic Downtown Lebanon grants visitors the ability to experience the local splendor through shopping and dining in the charming tourist town. More information about the LM&M and it’s history can be found by checking out our history page!”

While we were there, the event going on was a train ride with Clifford, the Big Red Dog. I could not have been more thrilled- because you all know how much my Little love dogs! I mean really- trains AND dogs? Done! The LM&M Railroad was awesome for kids- the train even had a little snack station in the back where you can pick up drinks and snacks if you forgot to bring any along. One word of warning- BRING BUG SPRAY, the playground was crazy buggy- and there are no bathrooms on the train itself- the ride isn’t long, but if you are potty training, just beware, and perhaps use a pull-up vs. underpants, [Read more…]

Filed Under: family, kids, travel

Village Ice Cream Parlor- a fun stop in Downtown Lebanon, Ohio

January 6, 2012 by 25 Comments
If you are craving something sweet, but don’t want to eat in some chain restaurant, I know the perfect place for you! Not only can you get a full menu of delicious and well made meals at a family friendly price (served to you by a friendly staff, as well!) but you can find a delicious and wide array of treats, ranging from the old fashioned favorites to new and interesting finds the kids will love.
You’ll step back in time when you enter the Village Ice Cream Parlor and Restaurant, a historic parlor located in the heart of downtown Lebanon. Known for old-fashioned ice cream sodas and famous faces who have visited, it’s a must when visiting this historic town. What is their claim to fame? “Enjoy the continuing tradition of historic Lebanon Ohio’s great soda fountains…The Village Ice Cream Parlor offers classic concoctions and homestyle cooking.” And I have to agree- this was a fun place to be. I felt like I stepped into another era- the restaurant was set up like an old-fashioned soda shoppe- because it is!

In operation as it’s current ice cream parlor and restaurant since [Read more…]
Filed Under: family, food, travel

Travelling Overseas With Young Children

January 4, 2012 by 11 Comments

The common wisdom is that children and overseas flights do not go well together. The many hours of travel, the lack of familiar resources, and the constant responsibility of caring for your child make it that the benefits of such a trip are often not worth the costs. Instead, parents stick to shorter, less glamorous trips while young kids are in tow. The overseas trips are consequently the domain of young couples and empty nesters.
But this belies the point that there are still many parents who travel with children overseas, often times for a job or family reason rather than for a vacation. While such trips can be stressful with youngsters in tow, they are certainly manageable – so long as you are prepared for the challenges. Here are a few suggestions to help insure that you are:

Allocate More Funds

Travelling with children is always more expensive than you think, so your best bet is to be flexible and have money easily available. This may mean taking a cab instead of the subway or going to an amusement park rather than sitting on the beach. You’ll also never know when you may need diapers, medication, toys, or various other items. On this note, it’s good to always carry no foreign transaction fee credit [Read more…]

Filed Under: family, kids, travel

Looking for Holiday Games? Check these out!

December 23, 2011 by 6 Comments
Winners of many 2011 honors for new games that feature beloved characters from classic brands such as Dr. Seuss and Richard Scarry and newer family favorites Angelina Ballerina and Chuggington- if you are looking for fun and educational games both you and the kids will love this year, Wonder Forge is the place for you!

Here’s our Wonder Forge Awards News – http://eon.businesswire.com/news/eon/20111219006394/en/game-awards/toy-industry-awards/wonder-forge
This game may be aimed at girls, but my son, who is in dance classes, also loves it. Your child can learn the dance moves right along with Angelina and her buddies- one of whom is a boy, yes, LOL. Help your child learn coordination, patience, repetition, and a love of dance, rhythm, and movement with Angelina Ballerina!

Angelina Ballerina Dance with Me Game
Angelina Ballerina is the star of the show – and guess who she wants on stage, too? YOU! Practice the dance moves, step by step. Every time you play, it’s a new ballet routine! When showtime arrives, turn on the music and take center stage!
Age: 3+
Number of Players: 2 or more
MSRP: $19.99
Richard Scarry’s Busytown™ Busy, Busy Airport Game
It’s a busy, busy day at the airport – and you’re the pilot! Set up “destination” game boards around the room. Load your plane with your favorite Busytown characters and wait for the “all clear” for take-off. Then fly to faraway places – the beach, mountains, the city, and more. Collect souvenirs wherever you go.
Age: 3+
Number of Players: 2 to 4
MSRP: $19.99
Chuggington Let’s Ride the Rails! Game
Help the Chuggington trainees Wilson, Brewster and Koko bring the farm animals to the County Fair – but there’s a mystery animal who is already there! Which is it? Players work together to move the beautifully sculpted chugger figurines along the gigantic game-board, picking up farm animals and discovering who the mystery animal might be. When all the trains arrive at the fair, see if you can guess the mystery animal. If your guess is correct, you’re a winner!
Age: 3+
Number of Players: 1 or more
MSRP: $19.99
To purchase: [Read more…]
Filed Under: family, kids