playdate at tinkertopia (happy earth day)

(the kids with their creations following our playdate at tinkertopia… lots of swords and robots!)

after a long and soggy winter and spring in seattle, it can get rather challenging to think of fun and unique outings to take the kids on. i mean, there are only so many coffee shop dates one can attend before the hot cocoa and pastries loose their  excitement…. at least for the kids!

a couple weeks ago (however) over spring break we discovered and planned a playdate with stacy and her boys at a make & take – creative reuse center called Tinkertopia, and had a blast.

since it’s earth day i thought i’d share snippets from our outing and maybe inspire some earth day-ish creations!

  

when you walk into the store they have a gigantic selection of little (and big) treasures you can buy in bulk for a flat rate and bring home. just pick a bag size and the kids can fill it up with whatever their little hearts desire. it was so entertaining to see what trinkets they got excited about and their explanation of what each item actually was. serious cuteness nod to the little mermaid (you want thing-a-ma-bobs? i’ve got plenty…). if my husband was there he would have for sure busted out in song.

move further into the store and you’ll find a “tinker-space” that is filled with worktables, supplies and tools for the kids (or adults for that matter) to get crafty with. they had everything from scrap wood and a drill to a dye cutter and hot glue gun.

it took the kids a few minutes to get started and decide on a project, but once they did there was no stopping them…. resourcefulness at it’s finest.

(mama side note: i get giddy anytime we plan something ALL of my kids can participate in and tinkertopia was the perfect setting because each kid was able to focus on their own project. even though i had to beg ozzie to tag along on this trip in the end he was happy he went – and for me it was nice not to have to worry about my teenager taking out someone else’s toddler in a bouncy house. definitely a win-win.)

(aren’t those tennis rackets fun!?)

we wrapped up our outing with a hot dog and chips from a stand down the street and then headed home for naps (myself included). it was a successful day that is worth repeating in the future, but i’m also looking forward to warmer (dryer) days and outdoor meet-ups at the park that involve iced drinks instead of hot chocolates.

is there anything your looking forward to this spring or a fun recycled project you have planned for today!?

happy earth day!

xo . rae

(images c/o stacy jacobsen!)