Fire Station Playroom {Christmas 2012}

Hoping you all had an amazing Christmas! I actually ended up with a horrible cold right alongside Izzy, but we made it through and had a great time spending the holidays with family.

Our Christmas revolved around the "Fireman" theme yet again. We thought maybe our little man Judah would focus in on a new subject matter by now, but it's just not the case. We are living in a constant world of "emergencies." There is always a fire to be put out, a rescue mission to be conducted, a paramedic that needs to give a hurt person some attention, you name it- we are on call 24/7.

We got majorily (I know it's not a word) spoiled this Christmas. Judah's dreams came true with his new fireman gear costume, water tank, fire car, and fireman pole (Don't worry- not all of it was from us, we clued the grandparents into what was on our little man's wish list).

Through a little Pinterest perusing and some Busy Kids inspiration- I got a new vision for our playroom (It's probably about the 4th time we have re-done our playroom and I have a feeling that number is going to keep going up). I often find it hard to want to "play" in our playroom because it always felt like there were toys everywhere and we had no order to our madness. I'm so grateful for other geniuses out there who help solve my problems by giving me some structure (which I tend to lack- I'm a free spirit kind of person). So, I took what we already had, an amazing room, and decided to organize it. Wanna guess what we organized it to be? You're right! A FIRE STATION! And let me tell you, this fire station has been in use since the plan began to unfold. I so wish I had taken better before and after pictures- but I'll give you some of the afters in a second. It's still in Phase 1 of becoming a "cute" fire station, but it's a working one none-the-less.

We created a climbing area from an old slide (still looking for a cheap ladder) which leads Fireman Judah up to his bunk. We got a crib mattress and a pillow up on the window sill which created a great fireman bed and also will be used for a reading nook as he gets older (the visions in my head). Then, we ran into a store manager at Lowe's who dreamed with us and gave us all the tools needed to create a fire pole that he could slide down. (If you are interested in those building materials- comment below and I can write a post on those- it's super simple and cheap- but don't want to waste the time explaining if nobody wants that info.) You have to see him live in action here:

Next, we cleaned out the storage of my crafts/wrapping paper and junk from our wardrobe area, and we placed all fire equipment, gear, costumes, trucks and gadgets hidden away for him to access during emergencies. This way too- he's got a place for ALL fire stuff- it doesn't randomly disappear across the room and he's very serious about keeping it organized- because fire guys always put their stuff back in their "garages."

We moved our play kitchen over near the "garage." You must know that fireman have kitchens at their stations. Our play kitchen is now the fire station kitchen and I get served some great meals from there. Our TV and sitting area is now the common area where the firemen can relax while waiting for an emergency, etc. You get the point right? The best part of it all, we have purpose in the playroom. The toys are getting played with and stuck back where they belong before moving to the next thing. It's seriously a Christmas miracle. It's working out great for our little family.

Our little Izzy loves being outside and with the new "fire truck" (it was the cheapest motorized car we could find for Judah's big gift) we get lots of playtime outside riding around our street and Izz has learned to ride Judah's little three-wheeler car too (she got other toys for Christmas too- don't worry- but she still is in the go-with-the-flow phase of life). Izzy is Judah's right-hand-girl. She'll become whatever he wants her to be at the moment (fireman, paramedic, person needing rescue, etc) with no complaint.

If you are ever bored and need to spend some time at a fire station, come on over. Judah will tell you what to do. He's great at that.

Here's to a New Year with lots more "rescues" to be had.

Just in case you need a little more of this cute little fireman:

My weekend of FIRSTS . . .

My week started off fairly normal. Then I learned that I was turning 29! Yep, that's right. I only have one year left before the BIG 30. I don't really feel freaked out though, cause I'm still told I look like a 16 year old...thanks mom for the baby face. Ha.

"First" number 1.
I turned 29. That's only going to happen once in my life. Yep. On March 31, I became a year older. Thanks to family for spoiling me, friends for all the facebook messages, and my kids for wanting to sing happy birthday over and over and eat sweet treats.

"First" number 2.

We got Judah his first big guy bike with training wheels. He thinks he is so cool. The first day was a little slow just learning how to peddle. But by the second day, you would've thought he'd been riding for months. He loves his new helmet, wears daddy's softball gloves (cause he thinks it makes him cooler), and wants to jump on and go up and down the street all day long. He's growing up too fast.

"First" number 3.

Ireland got to ride in a swing. It was so sweet. She loved every minute of it and Judah loved having the companion. I wish I had the picts to show you, which leads me to number 4.

"First" number 4.

I had to get a new phone because my mic on my old phone had a malfunction. Luckily it was covered under warranty. I thought I backed up my phone this morning before heading into apple, but forgot I had to manually sync my photos and videos because I have too much on my phone and need to go through and organize it all. I only lost 1 weeks worth of stuff...but it had both Judah learning to ride his bike, and Izzy's first swing ride on there...bummer I know...but we can capture it again and pretend it's the first time...=) Good news- I just remembered that I uploaded videos to youtube...(as you'll see above, I luckily have those 2 "firsts" still...no photos, just the videos) This is my fourth phone in about a 2-year span. Between Judah dropping it twice on tile, leaving it on my car and then watching it get run over after I realized where it was, I invested in an Otter Box Defender Case and haven't had any troubles with phones breaking! If you have kids, an Otter Box is definitely worth the investment! Maybe not too fashion forward, but Judah can play games on it, throw it across a room, and it's still brand new underneath the case...gotta love it. Available at REI.

Well, that's the majority of my firsts. But it was definitely an eventful week. And it will continue to be eventful as Easter approaches, and Joe's birthday is on April 10 too...so more celebrating is ahead! I love the spring. I love experiencing new things too. I like to keep my "everydays" interesting.

Till next time.

how I explained death to a 2 year old . . .

I hope this doesn't bum you out, but I thought I should probably share my life experiences from the past few weeks. Yep, our life has changed dramatically. My incredible grandfather passed away unexpectedly on Valentine's Day, February 12, 2012. The day started off rather typical. I got the kids ready for daycare/preschool and was off to work. I was sitting in my office when my Aunt was taking a phone call and told me I needed to come into her office and try to get a hold of my dad. At that point, we weren't really sure what was going on, but knew that Grandpa was with the paramedics. After a few moments on the phone with my dad, we got the news that he had officially passed and we were in disbelief.

I left work on a whirlwind and headed to my parents house to be with the family and then we all headed to the hospital to attempt to say our goodbye's. I left the kids at daycare/preschool and pretended to make it a normal day for them. Obviously, Ireland has no clue what's happend. But Judah knew something was up when daddy had come with me to pick him up. We took the kids to Momo & Popo's house thinking it would be a nice distraction- and after several texts/phone calls from so many dear friends who are probably reading this (I can't say thanks enough) we decided to send the kids home with Joe's parents for the night so we could get a full night's sleep and rest and be with my family for "adult" time. Really, I can't say thanks enough to all of you who offered to spend time with the kids...

When we picked Judah up from preschool, we explained to him that Gpa (Great-grandpa) had gone up to heaven to be with Jesus. His immediate response was, "I want to go to heaven and play with Jesus too!" We told him he wasn't going to get to see Gpa anymore, but we could look at lots of pictures and videos we have of him and it would make us smile. Judah is a pretty curious kid and he likes to ask lots of questions. We tried to keep his routine pretty normal, but with all the family get-togethers, dinners, services, people constantly around us, he knew something was up. Especially because GG (Great-grandma) was with us and he couldn't understand why Gpa wasn't there too. So pretty much every time we see GG- he asks for Gpa...and we ask Judah right back, "Where do you think Gpa is?" and he'll say, "He's in heaven playing with Jesus." or "He's in heaven playing his trumpet." It's probably a daily routine with him right now. But it's one that I cherish. Because you know that he loved and misses Gpa as much as we do and he keeps his legacy alive.

We didn't get together as often as we should have with Gpa, but when we did, Judah was sure to have a blast. Gpa would get down on his hands and knees and play "tractors" with him. He would play his trumpet for him whenever he asked. He watch goofy youtube videos with him on his computer, shared ice cream with him, commented on every facebook post with Judah (or commented to me via text), and was always so proud of our little 2 year old. There aren't too many great-grandpa's that I know that would crawl around on the ground with a 2 year old. He lit up the few times we surprised him for a visit at church and would take us to lunch and spoil us rotten! Those memories I will forever cherish.

When he sees balloons, Judah thinks of Gpa in heaven (we sent balloons to him- it just seemed like a practical way to reach heaven to a 2 year old). We were given a flower to plant in honor of Gpa and we see it everyday as we drive out of the driveway and Judah mentions that it's his flower for Gpa. I was getting stuff together to get out of the house this morning when Judah comes to me with a paper in his hand saying, "Mommy, it's Gpa, it's Gpa!" and he shows me a christmas newsletter with Gpa's picture he found in our office at home. We'll have to keep that newsletter tradition alive still to show of the great-grandkids as they continue to grow.

It's the little things in life, like trying to explain heaven to a 2 year old that increases your faith. It makes you think, "Do I really believe all this stuff about heaven"...and the awe and amazement that I see from him, the purity and innocence and of course the Bible- make it oh so real. With Easter being right around the corner, we've been reading Bible books about Jesus rising from the dead and going to heaven. With excitement - Judah says, "Jesus is going to see Gpa"...and we'll say...yep, Jesus and Gpa get to hang out all the time, and they are looking out for us. Don't be naughty, cause Gpa can see you...=)

We get to pray together every night before bed, and I always ask Judah who he wants to pray for. We go through the typical list of family members, friends, and people we saw that day and we get to talk to Jesus. The night after the memorial service, the first person Judah asked to pray for was GG (Great-grandma). This was a first. I asked him why he wanted to pray for her, and he said, "So she isn't sad anymore." We must have told him she might be sad, because he hasn't seen her cry or anything like that. But his sensitive little heart wanted to cover her in prayers. So, so sweet. Again, these moments make my heart smile.

There is so much more I could write in honor of my Grandpa. I think we are still a little in shock. It's going to be more real around the holidays and birthdays when we get together and our grandpa isn't there to make us laugh and tell us how proud he is. We know he still is, and we are so grateful for his life and for all those that he touched.

Here is a preview of a rare moment that I got to catch on video by accident. Moments like these either make me tear up a little or puts a huge smile on my face because the impact Gpa had was so huge in my life and even in my 2-year old's. It's not the greatest video because I was trying to catch Ireland playing with her bottle holder and she wasn't cooperating-but I thought I'd share it so you could see his authentic excitement:

Rare and Beautiful Treasures

Do you freak out when things don't go as planned? How do you respond to the unknown?

I don't always understand why life happens the way it does, but I'm super grateful for my supportive family and a God who has it all figured out and cares about our unique situations.

I can distinctly remember two incidents in my married life when it seemed like we lost everything. The first occurred right before I had Judah and the second right before Ireland. I think God liked messing with my already hormonal self during both pregnancies.

Joe was blessed with the ability to purchase his first home before we got married. It was (what we thought at the time) our dream home. We had all the upgrades, space and luxury that we wanted. There was so much room we couldn't even fill the house with the stuff we had. We were doing our best to budget our money wisely, tithe, and save for furniture items to complete our lavish home. That's when the economy decided to take a turn and the job that was providing for us became a little dry.

My mom had given me a cd on continuing to put your trust in God with your money and there was a verse that stuck out to me that I decided to cling to. Proverbs 24:4 "through wisdom and knowledge a home is filled with rare and beautiful treasures" (I paraphrased)...but decided to make it a prayer of mine through the hard times. It was our first year of marriage, and what we thought would be an easy street turned out to be financially difficult. We were warned in premarital counseling that finances can be tricky in a marriage but neither of us had any issues prior to being married. The story is long and I could go into more detail, but we ended up losing our home and moving into a townhouse 2 weeks before I had Judah. I was super pregnant and hauling items up and down stairs (I thought for sure it was going to induce me- but I ended up being late and getting induced in the hospital- it was a great experience and a whole other blog)...all of this to say- I ended up rocking Judah in the middle of the night in our new townhouse when I heard God say (not audibly but in my head)- "Laine- I have filled your home with a rare and beautiful treasure- I've been listening- your prayer is answered"...Yep, I cried as I sat there with my little man in my arms thinking how amazing God was and how his answers were far better than mine.

Now, fast forward 2 years, I was 9 months pregnant with Ireland when I got a phone call from Joe that he was let go from what we thought again was a dream job. It was a whirlwind of emotions. We had just switched all of our health insurance over to Joe's job, our gas was covered and we had a steady income. We luckily had been meeting with a financial planner a few months prior to this experience and had a emergency fund together- and for some strange reason- I just had a complete peace during the whole situation. Here we were about to welcome our second child into our family not quite sure how all of our financial needs would be met. We both clung to the fact that God was in control and must have better plans.

We are so blessed by Joe's job offer a month later - and I'm so grateful that God always provides at the right time. He literally allowed Joe to be home with me during the last month of being extremely prego with a wild, active 2 year old. Joe was able to say home with me for two weeks after Ireland was born and started his new job on October 10. It's just crazy how when I don't stress out and just cling to what God says in his Word- everything works out for the better!

Fast forward again to Thanksgiving 2011 when I'm up in the middle of the night feeding Ireland on Thursday, November 24 when I scroll threw Proverbs on my phone and read "with wisdom and knowledge a home is filled with rare and beautiful treasures." I couldn't help but wipe the tears from my eyes at 3am just sitting in God's presence thinking- "Wow, God you really have it all under control- I don't have to worry about tomorrow- your ways are far greater than mine and you continue to make me smile as I cling to your truth in times when I could really get bummed out..."

All of this to say (and sorry I'm long winded and on a spiritual talk today), run to God when it doesn't make sense. Run to Him and read TRUTH in His word. He will never leave you or forsake you. His plans are far greater than yours.

My rare and beautiful treasures:

Hope this read encourages you today wherever you are at on your journey! Thanks for reading!

Gymnastics debut . . .

In an effort to get out of the house on Mondays and Fridays (my days at home with the kids) I decided to sign Judah up for gymnastics. We tested out our first class today at Trick's and I have to say it was a HUGE success. Judah loved every minute of it and was quite entertaining to watch. I was a little nervous, cause you never know how a 2 year old can react in various situations. It was either going to be a hit or a major failure . . . Luckily for this experience . . . it was a major hit! This isn't the best pictures, but his smile says it all:

They began with following some simple instructions in circle time, sang a song, then watched a demonstration of various activities to do in the toddler area. Judah's eyes immediately lit up when he saw the teacher climb up a ramp and jump in the foam pit. Needless to say, we spent the next 20 minutes of play time climbing a ramp, jumping in the foam pit, and sliding down the next ramp. He was in toddler gymnastics heaven. These eyes say it all:

We moved from there to free time - climbing foam structures and running down the long trampoline. Then, the next highlights of the day- the teacher drew with chalk on a trampoline and each kid took turns jumping from the square to the circle, singing ring around the rosie and bouncing all around. Judah could hardly wait his turn he was so excited to "perform" for everyone. He enjoyed the applause after completing his turn too.

It's a parent involvement class, so I was carrying Izzy in the bjorn the entire class which worked out well. But Judah decided he wanted to hang out with the teacher more than me (probably cause she could throw him around a little more). His favorite was laying on the parachute and having the teacher slide him down to the center when lifting it up. Then jumping on the bubbles, banging the drum sticks and so much more. The class was structured very well and moved quickly from one thing to the next. We had a great experience for sure. He got stamps on his hands, toes and tummy at the end of the class:
I just bought the Groupon My Gym class so we are going to test that one out next and decide which gym we like more. All I know is that Judah thrives in situations like this. He loves to be active, try new things, and loves the structure of these types of classes (especially since I stay there the whole time too). We made some new friends and we are going to make gymnastics part of our weekly routine now! I would definitely suggest it as a MUST if you like to get out of the house!

Here is Judah jumping with the teacher:

Child proof door locks...next purchase on my list.

My two-year old has decided he wants to be a baby again and get special attention in the middle of the night. He wakes up and walks into our room demanding a bottle aka milk around 2am. My two-month old on the other hand sleeps from about 8pm-5am...I should be a happy mom getting lots of sleep, but Judah thinks otherwise in the sleep department.

I think I've mentioned before, I'm pretty sure his love language is physical touch. He loves cuddling and being close to whoever will give him attention. Good news for me since my love language is the same- but bad news since he is no longer confined to a crib which is much easier for the "cry it out" method.

We have tried lots of different suggestions, and I've received lots of great mom advice- but I think I'm officially going for the door lock at this point. Child abuse? I think not. I'm pretty sure it's going to be my sanity at this point. Great for tantrums, bed and nap times.

I'll let you know our progress once they are purchased and installed. My sweet little boy who gets his way now (due to my exhaustion in the middle of the night) is in for a surprise once he attempts his first escape.

Love and door locks!

Potty Training Day 1 {part 1}

Judah has been showing some interest for going potty on the "big boy seat" so we decided to try and dedicate Labor Day weekend to seeing if it sticks. He's almost 2 (just one month shy) and I've been told Joe was potty trained before age 2, so we are thinking maybe it'll run in the family.

Our first advice we were told, was to take him on trips to get "big boy undies," a potty seat, and some M&M's. He was really into purchasing all of these items.
1. Tractor undies for Gap Outlet

My mom also splurged and got him some shark undies too:


2. Potty Seat at Babies R Us (Baby Bjorn)


3. M&M's- big bag from costco to last us for the weekend (plus the parents get a treat too right?)


We have sat him on the seat (without actually going) a few times now, just to test it out and get him excited about the M&M treats, etc. I also was informed about the Pull Ups "I Go Potty" app, so both Joe and I downloaded it for free. They have a funny "Potty Dance" video that we have watched a few times and tried to emulate (I'll have to get that on video as well).

He's still sleeping, but first thing on the "to do" list today is to get him stripped down and let him walk around naked all day. I'll let you know how it goes. Stay tuned for part 2 of day 1.

Here is the video of our way to Baby Gap outlets for "tractor undies"...


(PS- guess we need to get rid of the pacifier too- one step at a time people, one step at a time)

on a budget . . . buy invites at costco!

I'm trying to figure out how to write short and to-the-point blogs. However (as my husband would point out)...I'm kind of long-winded. Trying to get over it...I just like giving lots of details (even though you could live without some of them).

I discovered for Judah's first bday that you can print custom invites from costco's photo center. So, he's turning 2...and i did it all over again. It's only $14.99 for 50 bday invites and envelopes included. That's a steal (especially since you can customize). They are 6x7.5 and they even throw in a few calendars w/ a photo of your choice for free. Under the "more" tab they have an option for a custom template. Check it out if you are into designing your own cards...

Take a look at Judah's 2nd bday party invite...=)
Thinking of Joe (I blurred out the contact info...)

Note to self too: I did a little survey from moms with kids on facebook as to what time to throw a bday party. There was an overwhelming 10am-12pm vote...so we are going to try it out...I'll let you know how it goes...party is coming soon before baby #2 hopefully!

Ps: Thanks again to Alyssa Ballisty for shooting the photos of Judah in the laundromat!

San Fran LOVE with Judah . . .

One of our favorite places to vacate is San Francisco. Joe and I often take mini-weekend trips there for anniversaries, time to get away, and family shopping trips as well. This last trip was different though. It was all about seeing the city from our almost 2 year olds eyes (22 months). We discovered new places, and experienced love for boats, buses, and otters like never before.

I have some of the fondest memories taking family vacations. Some were elaborate (Disney World, Hawaii) and others were simply time-well spent together. Either way, my parents made it a priority to make "us kids" a priority. This is a tradition that Joe and I decided we would like to continue. The biggest trick is that you (Joe/I) often need a vacation from the kid-focused vacation too (all something we will figure out how to balance in time).

There is nothing that moves me more than seeing Judah in his element. I love watching him experience life, knowing he is loved, and seeing joy written from cheek to cheek. We only took two days in the city, but they were packed from sunrise to sunset. We started our journey with a trip to Discovery Bay Museum. Neither Joe or I had ever heard of it before this trip, but after looking online - we had a gut feeling it would be something Judah would love - and LOVE he did. There were things to explore, touch, see, climb, get dirty . . . all things a 2 year old live for. We got to play in water, paint, push tractors, look for treasure, jump on trampolines, mini-golf, see curious george, train tables, boat tables, and more!




We timed our departure perfectly so he would crash on route to our next location - lunch on Union street. Since becoming a mom, I've discovered a couple boutiques in San Fran that I love. We always hit up this fun urban area of the city to eat and shop. Judah slept so it felt like a date for Joe and I. Some of our favorite places: Jovino (great breakfast/coffee), The Brixton (food), Bubble (baby boutique), Sprout (baby boutique). There is so much more, but those are a few that never fail us.

A trip to San Fran isn't complete without a trip to Fisherman's Wharf. Judah loves seeing the boats, the sea lions (which he calls "otters" or "doggies"), the candy store, good food, etc. So we met up with one of Joe's old college friends/family and had a blast exploring with them and catching up! We didn't take any pictures which I'm now bummed about. It was the perfect ending to a great day. We were wiped out.

We woke up in Union Square (used priceline to get the hotel for the first time- not too bad) and headed for breakfast. Judah could hardly sit through it - he new we were going somewhere new and exciting again. The San Fran Zoo! We had never been and he loved it. They have a great farm space, all the animals he can name - we even got to go on our first "choo choo" ride. We did whatever made him smile and wore him out!


All in all- it was our first family vacation success! We were exhausted and grateful that we got to experience life through Judah's eyes. Nothing like getting to hang out with all the attention on him. A great memory before Ireland arrives...

swimming lessons . . . just keep swimming, just keep swimming

I'm sure most of you have seen Finding Nemo at some point in your life. If not, it's a cute story of a little fish who has to prove how brave he is and ends up getting captured but then has a great escape moment. My little man is similar - he likes to think of himself as an adventurous spirit and once he sets his mind to something, it's really tricky distracting him away from his goals.

For mother's day, my mom got me a gift of swim lessons with Judah. They have a pool at their house, and it's a great way to get him used to the water, teach us some tricks on how to make it fun and also learn some safety tips. We got a deal on Living Social at the Swimstitute which has worked out well since it's pretty close to our house. We are in the class for 6 month-24 month olds. Judah is the oldest in the class and also probably the loudest. I wish the 6 month olds new how to say the word "NO" as well as he does.

As with any class, there are parts he likes and parts he doesn't like. He loves singing the songs, climbing in and out of the pool and playing with the toys (balls, floating sticks, and his new favorite "turtles"). He's not a huge fan of getting dunked, having to trade off to the instructor holding him, and sometimes once he climbs out he thinks he should stay out of the water (the instructor today chased him around the pool for me - I think she felt sorry for me cause I was struggling climbing out w/ the prego belly...)

Regardless of what we learn (or if we walk away a swimmer), it's been a fun bonding time for us and it wipes him out too. I also invested in a washable swim diaper (like $7- which you can find at Target, Walmart, etc) and it's saving us some money (they don't allow disposable diapers in this pool). We've only got 2 more classes left and it's been a fun journey. However, I'm thinking next summer is really going to be the fun one for him.

I wish I had on camera the moments of tears and his loud echoing "no's" but I try to capture the happy moments. Here is a quick glance of blowing bubbles:


It's nothing really too significant today, just the summer Saturday morning routine.

Enjoy your weekend!

Splish, Splash I was . . . . playgrounds

In researching for Splash Playgrounds in the Sacramento Area...I've been finding some helpful websites...and then searching for others on my own as well...here is a collective list of what I have found...

First, one of my favorite Sacramento Blogs with great pictures of the spray parks:
Sacramento Sidetracks includes:
1. Bridgeway Lakes Park, West Sac
2. Kunsting Park, Elk Grove
3. Lonetree Park, Rocklin
4. Morse Park, Elk Grove
5. Seely Park, Sacramento
6. Swanston Park, Sacramento
See photos of the parks and addresses on the above link...
Funny thing is, I haven't tried any of these out- but it's on my list of things to tackle this summer!

Then, I decided to put some into categories based on location . . .

We live in Orangevale, and there are absolutely NO spray parks in our region from the park and rec district (minus the community pool which has a cost)...so the next closest to me is:

Folsom Area:
1. Livermore Park (6004 Riley Street Folsom Ca 95630)
The fun feature here is the little mini-creek. Bring boats or anything that floats to keep the little ones entertained. It kept Judah's interest for about 5 minutes. Then there is a big bucket that dumps and is great for the big kids (or little ones if your kids love getting splashed). The water features are nice and unique, but it didn't keep Judah too enthralled. The park area is nice and spread out. They have outdoor sand volleyball courts, some slides and swings...but overall it wasn't our favorite.


2. John Kemp Park (1322 Bundrick Drive Folsom, CA 95630)
Judah and I LOVED this one...it has great shade, the perfect playground for toddlers and the water feature was just right for a 2 year old as well. The sprinklers just puddled and there wasn't anything too crazy going on. Great park benches for eating lunch too. We will go back for sure. Here is a link to the Folsom Park & Rec District for other listings. These 2 above (I believe) are the only spray parks in Folsom.


2. Folsom Aquatic Center (1200 Riley Street, Folsom)
Never been here, but I drive by it all the time. Check out a great stay-at-home-mom's blog (The SAHM Account) for more information on this one!

El Dorado Hills Area:
1. Promontory Park (2700 Alexandra Way El Dorado Hills, CA 95762)
I've been told this park is also referred to as the "Bug" park. We haven't made our way out here yet, but we are going with Capital MOMS for the Water Park Bonanza event on July 29 (if we don't get out there sooner...) Their park district does a great job with photos, click here to view more details!
2. Peter Bertelsen Park (860 Redwood Ln, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762)
Again, never been...and i've heard it's a small water feature, but when it's 100+ and you have to get out of the house with your kiddos, might be worth a shot-especially if you are close by the neighborhood. Check out photos here!

Rancho Cordova Area:
1. Stone Creek Community Park (3625 Spoto Drive, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670)
We have now had a few MOMS group events out at this park and it seems to be a hit. It's a pretty central location for the Sacramento area with a fun water feature, cool skate park, good slides/swings and seating areas. Great for a good get-together in the hot sun.
2. The Village Green Park (3141 Bridgeway Drive)
This park is across the street from Lowes/Chilis/Subway/Starbucks- great shopping area and meet up spot. The spray park is a hit for the neighborhood and it has restrooms, ampitheatre, and sitting areas. There are no slides and swings at this particular spot, but you can take a 2 minute walk to the neighborhood park if it's a must for your kids.
Here is a link to the Rancho Cordova Park District.

Elk Grove Area:
1. Elaine & Jim Wright Park (9370 Sierra River Drive at Trolio Way Elk Grove, CA 95624)
So, I don't live out in Elk Grove, but I've got a great friend and family that does! This is my absolute favorite right now. Great shade, great play structures (they even have a work out are for parents- that I have yet to use)...and a great spray feature. The kids always love it here and we do too!


There is a list of others above from Sacramento Side Tracks in the Elk Grove Area- as well as this link below to Sacramento Moms Like Me...Check it out! They also give a list to local pools in the Sacramento area...

I really want to check out:
1. Bertha Henschel Play Pool (A St. & 45th St.)

Open June 21/closes August 22. Open 12-4pm for recreational swim Monday-Friday. Open 1-5pm for recreational swim Saturday/Sunday. This might be a fun stop this summer.

I'm sure there are several others that I'm missing. If you have a great one in your neighborhood, let me know! Judah loves to get out of the house...and so do I!