Mommy-Daughter & Daddy-Daughter Dates

Ken and I decided that it was important to us to have Daddy-Daughter and Mommy-Daughter dates with our girls regularly. We sat down with our family calendar and scheduled them about once per month. Each month one of us will take one girl out while the other has an "at-home date" with the other. This has been working really well for us so far and I'm so glad we're doing it!

Talia & I with our Dessert

A couple of months ago, I took Katrina on a swim date. She had been talking about going swimming at a local public pool for quite some time, so we found out when their public swim times were and we made it happen! It was really nice to do that with her and to have that one-on-one time! She practiced her swimming and diving and I helped her out. She came up with her own system for putting her arm up if she felt she needed my help to get above water and it worked really well- we were quite a team! ;) We took a quarter with us to get a treat from the vending machine when we were finished, only to find that the machines had been removed! So, we drove to the closest Walmart and bought a treat there. :)

Most recently, it was my turn to take Talia out on a date, and I took her to Applebee's for dinner (kids eat free on Wednesdays) and dessert. I took her there once before and she really liked it, so requested to go back again this time! I love introducing her to some of my favourite places to eat (food or dessert) and sharing that fun with her! On our way home, we stopped at a few stores and found her some new sandals and pajamas. :) Meanwhile Ken and Katrina had walked to a fast food place near our home for their dinner date. In the evening, Ken shared with me some of the funny conversation they had during their walk. :)

This has been such a fun tradition to start with our kids!

Do you do things like this with your kids? 

I'd love to know what your favourite Mommy or Daddy Daughter dates have been!

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Canine All Stars are Making a Splash at Canada's Wonderland!

It has been 4 years since the summer we had Season Passes to Canada's Wonderland and sadly, we hadn't been back to the park since! It was lovely to go back again last weekend! Wonderland holds a lot of special memories for Ken and I because it was one of the first places we went on a group date when we were 16 years old! It is so fun to return with our girls who are old enough to ride some of the big rides, but still young enough to enjoy the children's area. We got a taste of everything from thrill rides to kiddie rides to delicious treats and live entertainment (including a fabulous dog show that's new this year)!

10 Ways to Soothe and Prevent Sore Feet at Theme Parks!

When we visited Disney World, we did a LOT of walking! My feet suffered and I had a hard time with it some of the days! I now know a few things that I would do differently (or avoid doing) next time, so I thought I'd share them with you in case you're preparing for a similar trip and would like to try and avoid having sore feet after Disney or something like it!

1. Wear Good Walking Shoes

You'll want to make sure you have comfortable shoes with you. You can find advice online about the best shoes for Disneyland or the best walking shoes for sore feet but unless you have time for breaking in shoes before your trip I suggest you don't bring new shoes (if you haven't "worn them in", they could give you blisters!). Bring something tried and true.

2. Moisture Wicking Socks

The best socks for walking are socks that are made for sports and for sweaty feet. Look for something that's moisture wicking. I had a mixture of moisture wicking and regular socks and I noticed a big difference on the day that I didn't wear moisture wicking socks! It can mean avoiding blisters- totally worthwhile!

3. Change your Footwear

If you're going to be heading back to the park several days in a row like we did, you might want to consider bringing a second pair of shoes or even sandals. I have found that just changing the shape of my shoes gives my feet a refresh! It gives them a break from rubbing in the same places. I wore flip flops one day after my feet had gotten particularly sore and it was nice to let my feet "breathe"! Switching shoes partway through the day is also a good idea.