It is January and you can still find some warmer days perfect for a fall park day or stroll.  So if you have been wondering what Robious Landing Park in Midlothian looks like and why it has not made it on our playground list.  Here it is:

It is actually two little playgrounds in one

The closer to the road one is for older kids

With a one slide/walk contraption

Which includes wall, spiral climb and slide

This side also includes two older kid swings

The younger kids side has few structures, first one is a simple slide

The second and third can be described as sailboat and another ship

geared towards 2-5 year old crowd

The swings on this side have bucket seats

Even though the playground is small and does not offer too many structures it is great for kids imagination.  The paths around Robious Landing Park are fun and include not only scenic views of the river but little streams and bridges.  If you happen to go to this park in the spring you may see James River High School Crew Team practicing on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school or on Saturday Mornings.  On April 14, 2012 the High School will host James River Regatta inviting area high school teams to compete, starting 8:30 am.

If your New Year’s Resolution consisted of spending more quality time with your kids (hey, you never know?) or if you are just thinking of something interesting to do on a chilly day Bevell’s Train Display is a place to be.  Believe ME !!! When you enter the store first you see this Amazing Carnivale/Circus. [...]

When my friend Pam asked me to write a post about Polish Christmas Traditions I really did not know where to start.  There are so many of them, many more then I can remember since Christmas is a Polish national holiday celebrated since it became Catholic in 966.  There are family traditions, regional traditions and [...]

You have heard me on numerous times complain about how I just can’t buy things or serve dinner on paper plates.  It is really hard for me, so hard that in some very exhausting situations I even wondered if there was a pill I could take.  Even though I do not know how to cure [...]

I have been meaning to write about out County’s  wonderful children programs for a while now.  In the past year we have seen:  Scenes from the Nutcracker, local animals and snakes, a magician, a juggler, numerous puppet shows and silly acting all for free.  Yes free.  There is really no better way then to spend [...]

My kids have turned 4 years old this past weekend and it seems like their birthday celebration lasts for at least two weeks.  Between the preschool party few days before, family celebration on their birthday and their birthday party a week later it keep going and going and going.  Which has got me thinking about [...]

I would be lying if I said I did not like Virginia.  I do miss Chicago and everything that the big city has to offer, including my family, but the history and weather almost make up for it.  For example last weekend, that is the week and a half ago since this past week and [...]

It is fall.  Time to think about warmer sweaters, soups, apples and pumpkins.  If you live in the Richmond area there are a lot of Pumpkin Patches to choose from: There is an Ashland Berry Farm in Ashland known for its spooky Haunted Forest, and getting a  little bit crowded on weekends. There is a Chesterfield [...]

What happens when you rent six cabins, each with at least one couple and 4 children.  Well it depends who you ask. For me you get a family tradition and a way to enjoy the state parks without roughing it too much. A way to go for long walks and pick wild flowers. maybe even [...]

As if the Earthquake post was not enough now I am following with a hurricane.  In a span of a week I experienced both and I have to say that I have a favorite.  When forced with a choice of  Earthquake over Hurricane I definitely choose the former.  It lasts only few seconds, minutes at [...]

I was suppose to write about something silly, something everydayish but in fact my day has not really been everydayish at all.  Like most of us East Coasters I have experienced my first Earthquake.  I don’t think I ever lived anywhere that was remotely earthquakey.  Europe in general is tectonically steady, so is Chicago (till [...]

Recently I was honored to receive the “One Lovely Blog” award from the beautiful blog Cook and Be Merry.  I seriously am not sure what Lynn was thinking, she is the one with exceptional culinary talent, years of schooling in the field and amazing camera skills.  The only thing I can think of is that [...]

In case you have not noticed Summer is slowly winding down and even though there are no signs of fall yet we are all thinking about school.  If you have not had a chance to take a vacation, planning a staycation or only a day away Little Island Park is a perfect.  Located on the [...]

Another summer day means another playground and just in case you missed our park list here is a link.  This park is for my Chester friends who may find it a hike to go all the way up to Richmond for a day of fun. The best thing about this park is that is really [...]

Westover Hills Park is a part of United Methodist Church Preschool and even though I said that I would not show private parks on this site, I am not quite certain how private this park is.  I am sure that you should not use it during preschool hours, but since it is summer and the [...]

Cheswick Park may not be the pretties park on our list but it has something very pertinent to any business: Location, Location, Location.  It is located right across the street from Henrico Doctors Hospital Forest Campus.  We have all been in a crowded waiting room trying to entertain or calm down an energetic kid while [...]

It is officially August and the summer is winding down, meaning if you are like me you have already exhausted all the to do kids activities in the area.  If you are like me you are tired of the same old playgrounds and pools and need somethin’ new.  So this past week I looked into [...]

I love summer and all the fun outside activities for everyone. I especially love all the fairs.  Where else can a city kid, we are talking about me now, can experience a semi country life? Where else can you eat fried overpriced foods and blame it on that fact that it all happens at the [...]

We have a seven year old cat named kitty at our house.  She stays at home is totally fixed proper lady but there is always neighborhood free cat that finds his ways close to our house.  So when we say a black cat lingering around we figured it was one of kitty’s boyfriends trying to [...]

I am really behind in my posts since my kiddos are taking a lot of time and energy this summer.  Now that they are 3 they want to be entertained, played with or fed which means that I can’t seem to do anything anymore.  If I ignore them then they beat up on each other [...]

When is it too early to teach kids about History?  To teach them that 4th of July is not just a date and Holiday but a time to Celebrate our Independence not just from the British but from everyone else who throughout these past four centuries have tried to take it away. That the day [...]

I love road trips but until now I have never taken a road trip by myself with kids.  I had an amazing side kick last year during our impromptu trip to Canada who could answer all the pressing questions that a 2 year old could have like: Mommy I want my monkey (which have fallen [...]

  My kids have officially finished school and came home with an arsenal of preschool things.  Photos, drawings you name it are now covering the floor in their tiny room and making me wonder what to do with it.  I want to keep them all but just like most parents I do not have the [...]

Few weeks ago we took the kids to their first Symphony.  I was a little reserved even though the program was geared for kids 3 and older with a theme of Animal Carnival.  First I was not sure if I could con my husband to go see a Symphony and with kids.  He is not [...]

  To say it has been a weird year is an understatement.  This year for me has been especially trying.  Not only did I loose a brother in law, deal with my father’s heart surgery but also stare at my daughters broken leg daily that is refusing to heal after over 3 months. In reality [...]

To all the Moms that have forgotten their given names To all the Moms that hear word Mom at least 20 times before they fully get out of bed To all the Moms balancing your kids, the world and yourself (most likely in that order) To all the Moms that do SO MUCH but at [...]

I hate when my kids sit at home, they fight or watch TV, which I despise almost equally.  Not that TV is bad, without it I would certainly be submitted to looneyville.  Plus, according to my husband, my kids would certainly not know how to read simple words without educational programs on PBS. There is [...]

This week has been rough on technology in this house.  Of course it was rough on my technology not my husband’s.  I am very bad with things, things in general.  I break them easily and should not be trusted with most things breakable.  Kids are fine, computers, phones not so much.  But it gets even [...]

The other day I was trying to have a conversation with my sister in Poland via Viber, an iphone application that lets you talk to other users for free all over the world via WiFi  (Voice over Internet to be exact), when my authoritative daughter  starting yelling. “Don’t say that !!!… Stop it !!!… Please [...]

Sometimes I wonder why I even teach my kids things?  What is the point?  Yes they are getting smarter and more independent but in reality it only makes my life harder.  Just like teaching manners in not a great idea, I beg you from  teaching kids how to read too early.  I know it is tough [...]

There is something magical, beautiful and haunting at the same time about the old European cemeteries.   The portraits of faces that passed staring into eternity.  Maybe it is my morbid sense of beauty but I think you can learn a lot about a country based on their cemeteries. Why do you hire famous architects to [...]

There is a Legend behind the building of St. Mary’s Church (Kosciol Mariacki) and since I am sick in bed what is there better to do then tell you about it as I take a swig of my codeine loaded cough syrup. Once upon a time….  between XIII and XIV Century the citizens of Krakow [...]

It has been almost a week since I posted, since I have spent it in Krakow, Poland instead.  I was thinking of being a good blogger and bringing my computer, but since it has to survive with me and little kids it is a really sorry case.  It had few baths in coffee, replaced keyboard, [...]

I am sitting on a plane alone.  No preschoolers that have been tied to my hip for over 3 years, no husband that has been at my side for over 7.  It is quiet.  A child is crying kicking the back of my chair.  I want to tell him to relax, take a breath, take [...]

Since it has been getting nice and warm here in January I decided to go back to rating or reviewing Richmond area playgrounds that I may have missed in the past winter months.  In case you are looking for a different park or for a list of Richmond area fun click here. Harry Daniel Park [...]

Roses is red, Violets are blue You read my posts for which I love you. You eat what I cook and don’t really whine, not like that other Valentine. Your kids play our games and make fun crafts hopefully it keeps them from driving you nuts. Thanks for supporting all the things I do, I’m [...]

Remember when your parents got their first VCR or Microwave but did not know how to use it?  They were afraid to touch the buttons because they were not sure what they would do.  As a child you stepped in when “someone broke the vcr” realizing that instead they pressed power or mute button. Children [...]

You know those days when your house becomes a pharmacy?  I seem to have officially entered these days.  My children in the past two weeks have had case of bronchitis each, double ear infection each, flu and who knows what else, of course never at the same time.  At this moment a sleep deprived mother [...]

Mommy, mommy I am a humongous Tyrannosaurus Rex and I am a Theropod, says my 3 year old boy. And I am a Pteranodon, and I live in the Cretaceous period, chimes in his twin sister. Could you draw us a Quetzalcoatlus? I am sorry a WHAT?  What is a Quetza blah blah? Quetzalcoatlus is [...]

I can imagine how hard it is for pragmatic thinking parents to have a feeling child. You know an artist an individual.  It is hard for me even though my brain is lingering somewhere between the artsy and pragmatic functions.  I also married an architect which for me was a perfect balance of artsy and [...]

My son loves puzzles and if you come visit chances are there will be puzzle pieces, or completed one laying on the floor.  Sometimes it is both since there is not point of cleaning up if he will just dump it and start making it again.  For me the puzzle making is a a gift [...]

I have been slightly slacking for the past week but I do have a wonderful excuse.  I had a visitor.  A visitor that I rarely see, come to think of it this is the second time I saw her in the past 20 years and the last time was a year ago for three days.  [...]

Last week I took my kids ice skating for the second time in their lifes.  The first time was when they were two years old and it is safe to say it was a disaster.  The kids refused to put their feet on ice even though they enjoyed walking and balancing on their ice skates.  [...]

The fun of having kids the same age, or almost the same age is to watch them play together, make up silly games and execute them.  In this game the speaker acted as stage where various animals were taking turns performing.  I sat, watched and filmed.  When I watched it again later, I realized the [...]

I love New Years Resolutions.  I make them all year long, which will make them not really New Year’s resolutions but resolutions period, or as I like to call them goals.  Right now this blog is a 4 year goal and its final review will come the summer before the kids start school.  I am [...]

Happy Healthy and Prosperous New Year !!! May your New Years Resolutions last at least till March, May you have the foresight to see where you are heading and a map how to get there, May you grow spiritually, mentally, emotionally and if needed loose corporally May you look at snow, sleet, rain through the eyes [...]

We live in Richmond Virginia when on average we receive one snow fall a year.  Well for us it is a snowfall for others it is a sprinkling or dusting of snow.  The schools close the kids are happy hoping to gather all the snow in the neighborhood into one measly snowball. So you can [...]

The tree is here, the stockings are hung Kids not quite certain what presents will come They follow Santa to see where he is Making sure he brings presents to all that please The house is filled with Merry and Cheer Knowing that Jesus will soon be here MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS [...]

It is winter break and our Mommy and Me group decided to do something extra fun, go bowling.  Why not I thought?  The kiddos are 3 years old they should be able to grasp the concept, especially after bumpers where in place.  I mean how tough is it, they are really two rules: 1. Wait [...]

We finally got a Christmas Tree this past weekend and I thought it may be fun to involve the kids in decorating.  What was I thinking? The moment they saw the tree they wanted to decorate it.  Way before I got a chance to put any lights on.  So we decorated. I mean they decorated [...]

In the next 24 hours I will be making 25 pieces of  Chicken and Goat  Cheese Burritos for my Mommy and Me Party Tonight. 15 Rice Crispy Treat Christmas Trees for my kids Preschool Party tomorrow and 100-150 cake pops for my other daughters Middle School family tradition fest.  I guess cake pops are now [...]

I woke up to winter wonderland outside my front door, which is really a rare case in Richmond.  Even though I was suppose to continue with decking the halls the day just got the best of me.  The kiddos were too overtired and cranky to pack up and play in this sprinkling of snow. Maybe it is the ex Chicagoan talking [...]

I am sure that I am not the only mother to admit that she would rather sort socks for 3 hours then to go buy new ones. No I don’t enjoy sorting socks, well maybe I do a little, it is almost like playing solitaire especially since most of ours are white and come in [...]

Happy Saint Nicolas Day !!!  As I try to figure out how to present Santa Claus into my kids lives while taking into consideration two cultures and some calendar miss haps.  You see in most of the European Countries Santa Claus traditionally comes baring gifts on Dec.6.  Yes Today not on Christmas Eve.  In Poland he [...]

Before the snow sets in, unless it already did head to the open yard and act like a kid swim, dive and throw some leaves pick as many as you can and squeeze, squeeze, squeeze Laugh and giggle, scream and run enjoy the fall, have lots of fun.

Beautiful Avery’s  Branch Farm in Amelia opened its doors to public this weekend and I could not think of a better way of spending a weekend before Thanksgiving.  The weather was beautiful and fall air really put me in a Thanksgiving mood.  I am sure that my perception of the farm was a lot different [...]

So it is 11 o’clock and night and guess what I am doing?  No I am not sleeping… I am going to see the new Harry Potter. How did I ever get myself in this predicament you ask?  Quite frankly I have no idea.  I am usually up at this time anyway so why not [...]

One of the things that I miss about Chicago is trains.  Is it weird?  The old towns that center around train stations that lead to the Big City.  The shops, the restaurants and the coffee houses surrounding.  The trains and the elevated trains all over the town that make Chicago so special.  So whenever I [...]

Once upon a time there was a brother and sister that could not look more different.  She was a blond with blue eyes he was a brunette with brown eyes and they also shared a birthday and where only 6 minutes apart.  You would never guess now that the blondie was older and that she [...]

Few days ago my kids log books arrived.  They are the books that pilots use to record their learning and flying progress.  They keep them meticulous so they can answer silly questions like how many hours do you have in up to the minute precision.  Thank Goodness we don’t do that with cars.  Personally I don’t [...]

For the past couple of days I have been missing.  I have been chasing goblins from my kitchen and playing paleontologist to the family of Pteranodons that has been blessed with a one random TRex sibling.   Don’t ask.  In order to understand you must have small kids that are glued to Jim Henson Company’s Dinosaur [...]

I seem to be cooking all the time and my toddlers seem to be getting better and better at helping and not helping me with the cooking.  By now they have figured out how to sift flower. And how to steal sugar and how to do it in large quantities They are great in sharing, [...]

Meadow Highland Games and Celtic Fest is a mouth full but what it really stands for is a fun place where you can see more men in skirts then women, feel bad when you are not drinking beer or whiskey, find out about your heritage and watch large and skinny men throw big heavy objects. [...]

Last weekend we went to Ashland Berry Farm to pick some pumpkins (as you can tell I am a little behind on my posts).  I have never previously been there since I live really close to Chesterfield Berry Farm and usually end up there.  But this seemed like a logical choice, with some older kids [...]

My husband loves flying and planes.  He would rather spend his time up in the air then doing most things on the ground.  So when he mentioned that we were going to see a Flying Circus Air Show I was skeptical.  Very skeptical. What?  What the heck is a flying circus?  Are we just going [...]

When Apple Picking last week we found yourselves in beautiful Monticello.  No I don’t mean Monitcello California heart of Napa Valley or Monticello Indiana home of  Madonna Resort.  We are talking about Monticello, Virginia the home of Thomas Jefferson, the author of Declaration of Independence and third president of United States of America. The guy [...]

It is Apple picking time so we headed back to Farmville to pick some apples.  It was also an apple festival so it was a lot more crowded then last time we were there for peach picking.  In fact it was so crowded that there was a line to get off the highway.  At first we [...]

I am sure at this moment you are wondering what the heck I will be talking about.  See in Polish we often use the phrase “spitefulness of inanimate objects” (Zlosliwosc rzeczy martwych) to describe the instances where all those objects we live with decide to take their revenge.  It is as if all of a [...]

What do you get when you mix six cabins located on a beautiful Virginia State Park Lake, 8 families, 19 adults and 21 children?     Fishing Football Fish Bait Falling Rocks or more like rocks being thrown, which in fact made the fishing not that easy There were guitars, lacrosse sticks, puzzles, horseshoes Canoes and row boats That [...]

OK.  First of all I am a foreigner.  I was not born in this country nor really raised in it.  My up bringing was not only foreign but it was also communist, which means I was being tough English behind the veil of secrecy and deceit.  So you can now understand my struggle when I [...]

So today my lovely girlie decided to go through my purse, again.  It is one of her favorite pass times, especially when opening my goody bag of make up.  This time however she found something else. “Money”- she explained “Money. Money, Money, I love Money” Then decided to do a little funny dance and left [...]

We took a road trip to Dulles Airport today to say Good Bye to my niece that has spend the last two months, give or take her other excursions, with us.  We have been through a lot.  We discovered the wonders of Canada, been sprayed by Niagara Falls, Baptized few babies and even encountered a [...]

It is so tough to figure out where you want to raise your kids.  Do you want them to live in the city? suburbs or country? Each of them provides different types of experiences and development.  Yes in the country and suburbs you don’t have to worry about cars, crime or schools but will your [...]

I really have no idea how this has started but lately my toddler twins sometime decide to answer me by signing.  Usually it is a monotone syllables ending on a high note like “mo my i would like a coo kieeeeee” but lately it has become more show offie. Once when visiting Colonial Williamsburg they [...]

There is a reason why most Christian faiths Baptize infants or wait till an adult- believer age to do so.  Baptizing talking and walking toddlers, especially twins is tough, funny, inappropriate and exhausting. My husband and I arrived with overtired kids to mass prior to the baptism.  In all honesty what where we thinking not [...]

Just in case you are like me and refuse to except that summer is over even though they kicked you out of the outside pool, the school bus has picked up your older children and the temperature dropped about 10 deg.  Nope its not over and if you are like me this place is perfect. [...]

Happy Labor Day Everyone !!! Which for me means: Hello School- calmness, to do lists, organization and schedules Goodbye Navy Whites- less bleach, nicer fingernails, what fingernails? Hello Preschool-yes, yes, yes, 6 hours for me extra time and I have about 40 hours of things allocated to each one Goodbye Pool- no need to try to [...]

  So our last stop on the Canadian Excursion was Montreal.  By that time my kids have been asking to go home the moment I packed them into the car.  Can we go home mommy?  I wanna go home?  Obviously they are not at all good at traveling or staying in the hotels.  Which is [...]

  Out of all the cities that we visited on our impromptu Canadian trip, Ottawa was my favorite.  My opinion is not based on a specific scientific study but on visual tourist attractions that can be seen while walking or chasing toddlers.  My little butt did not make it into any museums, night clubs or fancy restaurants [...]

  I have been to Niagara Falls numerous times.  This was actually the second time my 2 year old twins have been there.  I have however never been to the Canadian side.  Actually I lied.  I have been to the Casino on Canadian side once in the dead of Upstate NY winter, and at night.  [...]

  Sometimes I feel like a College student who all of a sudden realizes that it is Spring Break or a 3 day weekend and they have a car.  Which really means Road Trip.  You open up a map and figure out where you can go on your limited budget.  This weekend was not much different.  [...]

If you think of teaching your kids proper manners, DON’T.  Really there is no point.  Yes their sweet voices telling you please and thank you will melt your heart.  They will put a smile on your face and make you feel like you are doing a good job parenting.  Your family and acquaintances may praise [...]

I think I am getting a little forgetful these days, if you can call it that.  I think my memory bank is often running on empty.  Why can’t you just buy an external hard drive for your memory? Today I think I drove off with my phone on top of my car.  I am not [...]

Through this heat and rain I am still looking at area playgrounds to give you a comprehensive go to site for your excursions.  If you missed any of the others here you go.  Really no reason to thank me,  I just try to get my kids exhausted like any other parent.  Based on their six [...]

Summer is almost over and if you are like me you may be a little summered out of all the crazy things and ideas you constantly need to come up with to keep these kiddos busy.  At least this Saturday you will get some free help.  Henrico County is organizing a free Pirates Paradise fest [...]

    I have noticed a trend with my daughter lately.  When she decides to flip through the channels she often lands on Spanish speaking one and can spend hours watching blues clues in Spanish.  I guess that would not be a problem if her second first language was Spanish but it is not.  As [...]

I packed up my kids and took them peach picking.  I have been dreaming about picking peaches for about a month now and finally got a chance to do it.  I didn’t want to miss out on the season.  I did not want to miss out on getting my kids tired out.  God knows we [...]

When I lived in Chicago summer meant that on Saturdays I could walk down my street to a farmers market and find the freshest fruits, flowers, cheeses and even honeys.  Then for the rest of the week my little condo was filled with aromas of the things I picked.  Not only do the Farmers Market bring [...]

I have been researching the local Parks and Playgrounds this summer to give you more ways to exhaust your kids.  You know just in case the 104 degree heat we have been having did not work.  I know there are plenty of playgrounds to still visit in Richmond but chances are you will be venturing [...]

This past weekend I decided to take the kids and participate in the First Annual Dragon Boat Festival in Richmond.  I have never ever heard of Dragon boat racing before. Dragon boat is a traditional long boat in various designs and sizes and decorated with dragon heads and tails. This team paddling sport originated in China [...]

Cobblestones Water Park in located in the north side of Richmond.  It is made up of two giant pools each with slides that tend to kids in all ages.  These photos were actually taken last year when my kids were 18 months old and they really enjoyed some of the slides, the smaller ones of [...]

It has been hot to say it lightly.  If hot for you means 105 deg.  For me that means boiling and sitting home with AC on the max next to the fan.  I know most of us do it but sooner or later our toddlers get a little crazy.  Stir crazy, home crazy, or just [...]

Yes I believe in child labor.  If my kids want strawberries, blueberries, cherries or peaches they better pick them themselves.  Unfortunately I do not have any growing in my back yard, nor do I have a second home in Chile so I have to buy them in the supermarket, a lot. What I am trying [...]

It has been so hot around Richmond and East Coast that frankly I forgot about my idea of visiting and rating each public playground around Richmond.  I figured that sitting in the air conditioned place was so much better then peeling my screaming kids from slides, or going to the playground for 2.5 seconds just [...]

When we finally decided to take our first fight with daddy we headed to Tangier Island located in the lower eastern shore of Chesapeake Bay. This town/island of approximately 600 inhabitants is my husbands frequent destination for crab cakes or at times just an excuse to go somewhere. There are only two ways to arrive [...]

This past weekend we took our first plane ride with my husband as a pilot.  He has had his private pilot license for almost 3 years but it has taken us this long to go anywhere with him.  While he was getting the plane ready for flight we were hanging out in the hangar, which [...]

This weekend we did our Daddy a huge favor.  We allowed him to take us all flying, well almost all of us.  You see my husband has his private pilot license and loves flying.   Some say that he loves it way too much.  I personally call it the mistress and his instructor a “drug dealer”.  [...]

My kids have spent most of the morning singing “Happy Birthday Dear America” since that was the only way I could teach them at a mere age of 2 what Independence Day really means.  I have thought them about neighborhood parades. American Flags, Fire Trucks, Marching Bands, even Irish Dancing and importance of being kind [...]

When I started blogging less then 3 months ago I was not expecting to meet so many wonderful people that make up this community.  Of course I heard stories of people that made friendships with others while blogging but I though the “sparks” most likely happened during a conference or meeting.  You can imagine my [...]

Pocahontas State Park is located about 20 miles from downtown Richmond and is home to a lot of traditional park activities like camping, hiking, biking etc.  There is one thing especially that makes this park so much different then other traditional parks, it has a water park. The water park consists of four pools each [...]