Chug-a, Chug-a, Choo, Choo

Most kids love trains, mine included. So what could be more fun than a train ride? In Fort Worth there are several opportunities to ride a train, and all three are different types of trains. So, all aboard Thomas lovers!

Forest Park Miniature Railroad - This five-mile, forty-minute train ride is perfect on a beautiful Texas day, which can happen in the summer or winter. The train has specific times for each season. During the summer it runs Tuesday-Sunday, though the winter schedule is only on the weekends. There is at least one train each hour and the prices are a great deal (adults $3.00, kids $2.50), but remember it's cash only. They do request that you don't bring any outside food or drinks and each depot has concessions for sale. But, who really follows that rule? You can board the train at the Forest Park or Trinity Park Depot. Check the website for specific schedule and running times.

Trinity Railway Express (TRE) - This true commuter train between Fort Worth and Dallas can be a great day trip in any kind of weather. You can catch the train at various stops in Fort Worth and ride all the way to Downtown Dallas, about a one-hour trip. On Saturday's the train operates every 1 1/2 hours, and is closed on Sundays. Children under five are free and other fares vary depending on how far you want to ride. Each station has free parking. The ticket kiosks in Tarrant County are currently cash only. If you aren't familiar with how the train operates and it's schedule, spend some time on the website before you are stuck on the platform trying to buy a ticket from the kiosk with a line of people behind you. My husband and I have both taken our daughter on the train when she was in a stroller and it was fairly easy to get on and off. The train is safe and clean.

Grapevine Vintage Railroad - You can board this vintage railroad train in Grapevine for a two-way trip to the Fort Worth Stockyards and back (including a two-hour layover to explore the Stockyards) or board in Fort Worth for a one-way trip to Grapevine. Children under three are free and adults are $20 and kids 3-12 are $10. The cost is about half that for the one-way trip. The train runs Friday-Sunday (depending on the season) and departs from Grapevine at 1:00 or the Stockyards at 3:15. The train also has special events for the holidays, including the Halloween Scream Train and the North Pole Express. The train is open-air, with operable windows, so check the weather. I have been told that the route isn't extremely scenic, but I'm sure the younger kids won't even notice.

Any of the these train trips would make a great day or half-day trip. You can always pack a picnic lunch to eat on the train, or eat at your destination when you arrive. If you wanted to make an overnight trip, you can ride the one-way train to Grapevine from Fort Worth, spend the night in historic downtown Grapevine, and return to Fort Worth the next day. The Forest Park and the Grapevine train also offer group rates and could make for a memorable birthday for your little one. You can reserve a pavilion at Trinity Park for birthday cake and presents, the kids can play at the playground (or you could rent a bounce house), then ride the train to Forest Park and back. A lot of fun for not much effort on your part.

Party Warehouse--cheap party supplies

I wandered into Party Warehouse on Camp Bowie today after Kelli told me she had been in the one on McCart and was impressed. I was there to buy plates and cups for a baby shower, and I too became part of the Impressed club. Rows and rows of party supplies and the prices made it even better.



I had been to another Party supplier on Hulen earlier this year to purchase things for my daughter's birthday party and when all was said and done (and most importantly, rung up at the register), I wasn't even excited anymore. Why did it all have to be so expensive?

Fortunately, Party Warehouse must have heard this cry from my rooftop, and their prices were nice and low. Everything is stamped with these neon orange stickers, making the prices easy to spot, all the while touting its thriftiness.

The selection is pretty extensive--many of your child's favorite characters, and even these, which I loved. Vintage-looking plates, cups, napkins, and party favor bags for the horse-lover in all of us girls. I love these! I might start encouraging a love of horses onto my daughter just so I can purchase these one day for her birthday party!




Truthful tip: As for the creative, classy stuff you see at Target, I might choose Party Warehouse items to match those plates and napkins you splurge on there.

I'm mentally bookmarking this place for my daughter's next birthday! As for my baby shower items that I purchased, I found and happily paid for them there. No crying from my rooftop today!

Halloween Happenings

Whether you pound the pavement and trick-or-treat on your street or head out to a community or church festival, there are plenty of Halloween activities to be found. Below is a list of some we have researched. In the future we plan to have a more extensive list of activities. If you know of any other carnivals or actitivities, please add them in the comments. All events are on Oct. 31, unless otherwise noted.

Abundant Life Family Church, Watagua; 6:00-8:00, free
Castle Park, Benbrook; 5:30-8:30, free
Fall Fest, Fort Worth; 2:00-5;00, free
First Church of the Nazarene, Crowley; 6:30-9:30, free
Fort Worth Stockyards - Treat Street, Fort Worth; 6:00-8:00, free
Frontline Church; 4:00-7:00, free
Good Shepherd Baptist Church, Grand Prairie; 5:00-8:00, free
Lake Country Church; 6:30-8:30, free
McKinney Church, Fort Worth; 3:00-5:00, one canned good and one bag of candy
Southcliff Baptist Church, Fort Worth; 6:00, free
Wedgwood Baptist Church, Fort Worth, 6:00-8:00, free
Westminster Presbyterian Church; 4:00-7:00, free

your house and Fort Worth ISD

Bookmark this post. Now.

Go ahead, I'll wait.

Got it? Good!

If you're like me, even with a two-year-old, I'm already scoping out Fort Worth schools. Private, public, charter, montessori, you name it, I'm researching it. Fort Worth ISD schools are known to be both great and....well, not so great. Maybe you already know these things, but maybe you're looking to move to Fort Worth or just in your preferred school district. How do you know if the house you're interested in buying--or your house--really falls into that school's district?

Click here to download a document on Fort Worth ISD's site that details what street falls in what school's district. It was fascinating to me to see streets divided down the middle--one side going to one school that was Exemplary and another going to one that was not-so-Exemplary!

Glad you bookmarked this, huh?

I thought so.

Make a Day of It

I love it when I find an entertaining activity to take my daughter too, but since most activities last less than an hour, that leaves me many more hours of the day to provide entertainment. I have a few "combo" trips I like to take her on that provide at least a morning or afternoon's worth of activity. Make a Day of It will be a regular feature for when we have new ideas that will provide more than 30 minutes of activity.

Wednesday Mornings
10:00 - Ridgmar Mall Play place to play (you can also explore the various fountains in the mall or ride the carousel)
11:00 - Build-a-Bear Workshop for the "Beary" Active Morning Toddler Time; this 30-minute time includes, flash cards with shapes and colors, singing, exercises, and games. Afterward kids receive a goody bag with stickers and sometimes a coloring book. You also get a Chick-Fil-A coupon good for a free kids meal with the purchase of an adult meal.
11:45 - Lunch at Chick-Fil-A with your coupon.

If you want to add a "mommy" element to this day of activity, get to the mall about 9:15 or 9:30 and walk around the top floor for some exercise. To keep my daughter happy, there is always a snack included and there is a lot of fun stuff to point out as you walk around the mall.

"C" is for Cookie and Mommy's Bliss

It's no secret that grocery shopping is best when your child is quiet. And the best way I've found for that quiet to happen is when my daughter's mouth is full...more specifically, of a free cookie from Tom Thumb. Maybe their sales aren't always the best, but if I get all the way to the frozen food aisles and she's still happily nibbling on it, it's worth an extra mile or dollar...maybe even more.

Go by the bakery and ask for a free cookie for your child. Please add any other stores that you know do this in the comments.

swim lessons all year round!

You don't have to wait until summer for your waterbabies. Aqua Kids, a swim lesson facility located in Keller and Flower Mounds offers lessons all year round; plus, it's indoors and heated. I enrolled my little girl in the classes last summer and for the most part, she loved them. I loved having the security of a well trained staff (both for peace of mind for my child and my money). We live in southwest Fort Worth, so driving to Keller was a little difficult during rush hour mornings (when our class was scheduled) and because my daughter could not wait to get in the water. Cue, "Are we at the swimming pool, Mommy?" a few hundred times up I-35. Add a little fear of going under the water, we decided to opt out of our class early halfway through them. However, I still recommend them due to their impressive company and facilities.

Click here for their website.

Click here for classes.

Boo at the Zoo

Boo at the Fort Worth Zoo is one of Fort Worth's favorite Halloween traditions. From October 22-27 at 5:30 to 8:00 pm, your child can enjoy a kid-friendly Halloween event with pumpkin patches, a bag of treats, carnival games, and more. Click here to get more details from the Fort Worth zoo.

Storytimes

Storytimes are a great way to get out of the house, educate your child, and they're free! Libraries and bookstores offer one at least once a week. The following have been tested and approved by our kiddos.

--Barnes and Noble @ University--Story time is on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11am in the children's are. They usually start 10 or 15 minutes late, but any little people protests or whines about this are shushed by a dixie cup full of goldfish crackers or Cherrios. After a book is read, coloring sheets are passed out. Somewhat crowded in the summer, this activity is still worth the crowd.

For more Barnes and Noble storytimes near you in Fort Worth, click here.

--Borders @ W. Freeway--Story time is on Wednesdays at 11:30am in the children's area. Several books are read at a table and then milk and cookies are passed out. This event seems to still be in its beginning stages, however. New employees aren't certain of the protocol (and parents may have to tell them what to do), and there is not much of a crowd at all. For more activities at this store, click here.

For more Border storytimes near you in Fort Worth, click here.

--Libraries--Libraries are a great place for storytimes. The Southwest Regional Library storytime on Wednesdays at 10:30 or 11:15 has been attended by the FWM kiddos, but to find a Fort Worth library storytime near you, click here. If other storytimes are similar, the age range is broader, which may be great for a large family, but important to keep in mind for those kids on the younger and older side of the range.