Today was cold and rainy. We had originally hoped to go to the zoo but that wasn’t in the cards. So today was reserved for an indoor activity with would still wear the kids out.

We decided to check out our local children’s museum. I hadn’t been here since well before Covid so it was fun to see Theo trying to keep up with the big kids. Did you know that if your child has an IEP or 504 plan or participates in early intervention, your family qualify for a $25 annual membership to the DuPage Children’s Museum? Other qualifiers include SNAP benefits, foster child, refugee/asylum stays, Medicaid, All-Kids or Section 8, WIC or childcare subsidies.

The kids had a blast building and creating. As always the bubbles and water table were favorite stops. There’s so much to explore and get your hands (or feet) on. I knew there was no way we were going to be able to be able to get them to leave. Theo was sure to throw a tantrum. I was fully not prepared to deal with this being on sensory overload as it was.

Then brilliance struck. McKenna’s favorite treat in the whole world is pineapple Dole Whip. You know the kind…from Disney. There is restaurant near us called Island Fin Poke that serves 2 flavors of Dole Whip daily. I called to verify today’s flavors…pineapple and raspberry! We were in luck! I told the kids if we left now, we would make it in time for Dole Whip happy hour—just $4 for a GIANT serving—and they had our favorite flavor. They were all in.

It was the perfect ending to a fun afternoon. We checked off an additional thing off the list—Children’s Museum. I was able to enjoy a much needed girls’ night out with my grad school friends after dropping off the crew to hang with dad for the night. Always such a fun way to cap off a great day.