This past weekend, I threw a birthday party for my newly 5-year-old daughter.  15 adorable little girls showed up in their crinolines and party shoes, and settled into an arts and crafts project that I thought would entertain them for a good 30 minutes or so.  8 empty paint tubes later I popped inside for extra paper towels and returned to find said 15 girls (AND their crinolines AND their party shoes!) knee deep in our muddy stream catching frogs. 

The party was a great success (sorry Moms, for all the muddy clothes) and served to remind me that nothing entertains kids like the good old outdoors and all that it offers.  Below are several Nature Museums and Nature Centers in Fairfield County where you and your kids can go enjoy this beautiful spring weather.  Crinolines and party shoes optional!

[UPDATED 3/31/13]

Trying to find a summer camp for your youngster in Fairfield County?  No problem.  Trying to find an inexpensive summer camp for your youngster in Fairfield County?  Now that’s a bit more of a challenge!  Not to worry.  We’ve looked high and low and found some great options for summer camps that won’t break the bank.

Often the best bet for reasonably priced day camps are those camps run by individual town’s Parks and Recreations Departments.  Wilton, Greenwich and Bridgeport all have town-sponsored programs that are reasonably priced.

This spring my daughters have requested that they be allowed to take up tennis, lacrosse, piano, hip hop, sculpting, drumming (heaven help me), acting, soccer, karate, hockey, photography, Italian, and guitar.  Hmmm...

While they would love for me to sign them each up for 85 after school activities per week, I’ve limited them each to two.  Partly for their well being, and well…largely for my own sanity.  I’m thinking, however, that summer camp might be the ticket in terms of letting them try some new fun activities without committing ourselves to a whole year of it. After all, who really knows how long an 8-year old’s passion for the tambourine will last?

There is nothing as delicate and exquisite as the way in which maple sugar candy melts on your tongue.  Happily, maple sugar season is upon us!  So get those pancake recipes out, and hit these local spots where you can participate in the making of the syrup...before you participate in the eating of the syrup.

St Patrick’s Day in CT!

March 17th brings out the Irish in all of us – even in those of who can’t claim even a drop of Irish blood!  There are lots of ways to celebrate the day, but a few of the most traditional (or so my Irish husband tells me) are feasting on corn beef and cabbage, reveling in some Irish music, or enjoying a parade.  Happily, there are lots of places in Fairfield County where you can celebrate St. Patty’s day in one of these traditional ways…as well as in a few less traditional ways.

As there is no shortage of drama in my house (3 girls!), I’ve decided to embrace the theatrics by enrolling them into some drama and dance camps this summer.  Happily I’ve found a number of options for my budding thespians and dancers in the Fairfield County area:

This time of year, I am always ready for the arrival of spring.  I know, I know...we haven’t REALLY had winter this year, but still!  February vacation is coming to an end, the groundhog has come and gone, the Superbowl has passed….time to bring on Spring!  And to kick off Spring in this family, we like to pack up our car take a day trip to New London’s Connecticut College for an early season lacrosse game.

Why Connecticut College, you ask?  Well – for several reasons.  Their New London campus is right on the water, and nothing makes me feel like Spring more than an ocean breeze blowing.   Plus, the convenient New London location makes it an ideal spot to meet up with Boston friends who might be heading south to catch the game.  

I love making lists in the first few months of the New Year!  And here’s a great list to start tackling: 30 Things to do with your Kids in and around Fairfield County before They Grow up.