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- Hello, I'm Alexis. Welcome to Capitol Momma! I'm always out having fun with my little ones, exploring all that there is to see & do in the DC Metro area for kids. Join us on our adventures!
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Category Archives: Lessons
The Little Gym
The Little Gym at Downtown Crown
116 Ellington Blvd
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
www.thelittlegym.com
My youngest daughter Mae and I recently tried the Super Beasts parent/child class at The Little Gym of Gaithersburg at Downtown Crown. It’s an understatement to say Mae enjoyed the class – she was smiling from the moment we arrived and was enthusiastically talking about how fun it was after it ended.
The class started in circle time with introductions and a hello song. Then Ms. Ally brought out the sticks and lead the group in some counting exercises and songs. There were only a few children in the class, which I thought was nice – the kids were not overwhelmed with the chaos of a large group and the instructor could give enough attention to each child.
Throughout the class, the kids had some time to explore the gym on their own, while Ms. Ally set up for different skills. The children worked on their forward rolls, walking across the balance beam, and donkey kicks. At the end of class the kids all shrieked when Ms. Ally brought out the balls. And of course the bubbles were a big hit too!
The Little Gym does such a great job of creating a fun program for physical development and socialization. The instructors are so energetic and bubbly and really make an effort to get to know each child. Parents can relax knowing that the gym is sparkling clean!
We also recently attended a birthday party at this location and I was impressed at how well run it was for a large group of about 25 children. Ms. Victoria and Ms. Jackie lead the kids in group activities, gave them free time to explore the gym, and brought out the tumble track for lots of jumping (Mae’s favorite part)!
The Little Gym offers a great summer camp for children ages 3-12. And there is currently a Certifikid deal for half-day camp at 11 different locations in the DC area. My oldest daughter, Clara participated in the camp in previous summers and it was one of her favorites!
The Little Gym has a lot to offer – check out their variety of classes here! We couldn’t be more happy with our experience!
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POSTED IN: The Little Gym, The Little Gym at Downtown Crown, The Little Gym of Gaithersburg
POSTED IN: The Little Gym, The Little Gym at Downtown Crown, The Little Gym of Gaithersburg
January 2016 – Monthly Roundup
January is usually a pretty boring month and I start to feel the effects of cabin fever. So every year we take a trip down to Florida to visit my parents. It’s a nice break from cold, dreary DC and it feels so great to be able to play outside with my girls. This year we timed it just right and missed the blizzard! My girls were happy that the snow stuck around and they were still able to play in it when we got home.
Since we spent 10 days in Florida, our list of adventures and activities in DC is short this month. But we did make some time for a few fun outings in the area before and after our trip. At the beginning of the month we visited the Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum. It is one of the best hidden gems in the DC area for small children. I definitely recommend checking it out if you haven’t been yet. And last week we visited the Wonder exhibit at the Renwick Gallery. I had been wanting to see this exhibit for quite a while and when it was announced that we were having yet another snow day on Friday, I decided it was a great time to take my girls. I was a little unsure if it was appropriate for small children (especially questioning it for my 2-year old). But I ended up being surprised at how kid-friendly it is and how much my girls enjoyed the experience.
Places we visited:
• Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum – Blog post here
• Lake Needwood – Blog post on nearby Lake Frank here
• MagicGround
• Bowlmor Bethesda
• Wonder exhibit at the Renwick Gallery
• Sky Zone Gaithersburg
• Rockin’ Jump Gaithersburg
Events we attended:
• Snow White at Encore Stage & Studio – Blog post here
• A Year with Frog and Toad at Imagination Stage – no longer showing but “Jack and Phil, Slayers of Giants-INC” is playing Feb 3- Mar 13
Classes and camps we attended:
• Georgetown Prep Tennis Club
• Ballet Petite
• My Gym Potomac
• Funfit Tots
I hope you found some new and fun ideas for your family in this month’s roundup! I am looking forward to all the hearts this month! Kids make the holidays so much more fun and special. And lets hope the groundhog is right and we really will have an early spring!
Also, I use instagram as my everyday blog and share a lot of photos from our adventures in my gallery. I’d love to have you follow along!
Instagram: capitol.momma
And I share more information and photos from our field trips and outings on facebook.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/capitolmommablog
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POSTED IN: Ballet Petite, Bowlmor Bethesda, Encore Stage & Studio, Funfit Tots, Georgetown Prep Tennis Club, Imagination Stage, Lake Needwood, Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum, MagicGround, My Gym, Rockin' Jump Gaithersburg, Sky Zone, Wonder exibit at the Renwick Gallery
POSTED IN: Ballet Petite, Bowlmor Bethesda, Encore Stage & Studio, Funfit Tots, Georgetown Prep Tennis Club, Imagination Stage, Lake Needwood, Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum, MagicGround, My Gym, Rockin' Jump Gaithersburg, Sky Zone, Wonder exibit at the Renwick Gallery
December 2015 – Monthly Roundup
Happy New Year! December was a fun filled month and a great one to end the year. There are so many fun holiday events throughout the month in the DC area and we tried to do as many as possible. I love experiencing the magic of Christmas through my children. These years when they are little and truly believe in Santa is precious and I want to make the most of this time. So, we went to few different Santa events, a couple of light displays, a gingerbread house workshop, and a few different holiday shows in the theaters for a thoroughly festive Christmas season.
Below is a recap of where our adventures took us this month. Dumbarton Oaks was one of my favorite new (to us) places we explored and my girls really loved it too. The best part is that it is free during the winter months, so take advantage and check it out on a warmer winter day. You can also take your kids to the playground at Montrose Park right next door while you are there. The National Postal Museum was also surprisingly nice! No crowds and lots of different interactive exhibits for kids. And it’s right across the street from Union Station where you can grab lunch.
Places we visited:
• Dumbarton Oaks
• Smithsonian National Postal Museum
• Union Station – (Christmas tree & train display)
• South Mountain Creamery
• Glen Echo Park Aquarium
• Potomac Library
Events we attended:
• Winter Lights Festival – Seneca Creek State Park
• Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas – BlackRock Center for the Arts
• Santa and Mrs. Claus’ visit at BusyBees
• Garden of Lights – Brookside Gardens
• Garden Railway Exhibit – Brookside Gardens
• Walkersville Santa Train
• Gingerbread House Workshop at Tudor Place
• The Nutcracker – Metropolitan Ballet Theatre & Academy
• The Nutcracker – The Puppet Co
Classes and camps we attended:
• My Gym Potomac
• Kids First Swim School – Blog post here
• Tennis – Pauline Betz Addie Tennis Center
Parks we played at:
• Montrose Park – Georgetown
• Glen Echo Playground
• Hadley’s Playground – Potomac, MD - #41 – top 50 playgrounds in the US
• Cabin John Park – Bethesda, MD
• Avenel Park – Potomac, MD
I hope you found some good ideas for your family in this month’s list. Thank you for following along on our adventures and for all your support over the past year! Wishing everyone a wonderful 2016!
Also, I use instagram as my everyday blog and share a lot of photos from our adventures in my gallery. I’d love to have you follow along!
Instagram: capitol.momma
And I share more information and photos from our field trips and outings on facebook.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/capitolmommablog
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POSTED IN: Brookside Gardens, Busybees, Dumbarton Oaks, Smithsonian National Postal Museum, South Mountain Creamery, Tudor Place, Union Station, Walkersville Santa Train
POSTED IN: Brookside Gardens, Busybees, Dumbarton Oaks, Smithsonian National Postal Museum, South Mountain Creamery, Tudor Place, Union Station, Walkersville Santa Train
Tysons Corner Ice Rink + Giveaway!
Tysons Corner Center Ice Rink
1961 Chain Bridge Rd
McLean, VA 22102
703-356-1240
www.tysonscornericerink.com
Last weekend I was invited to attend a party at the Tysons Corner Ice Rink by Andrea at Northern Virginia Housewives. The ice rink just opened for its second season so I was excited to help kick off the opening weekend of skating fun at Tysons!
It had been many, many years since I had put on a pair of ice skates but I found that it is just like riding a bike and I didn’t forget how! Phew! Clara had taken a few ice skating lessons last winter but I wasn’t sure how it would go since it had been a year. However, she did great! And thankfully Tysons Corner Ice Rink has the child skate trainers for the kids to push around the rink making it a lot easier for them.
We had so much fun we skated for quite a while before taking a break to have hot chocolate from Earl’s Kitchen + Bar, located on the plaza next to the ice rink. There are multiple fire pits to cozy up to as well.
Clara has been asking to go back to ice skate pretty much every day since, so I’m sure we will be back soon!
The rink is located on the new plaza between Lord & Taylor and Hyatt Regency. And the skate shop is located inside the mall on the 2nd floor next to Lord & Taylor.
Hours and Pricing:
Monday-Tuesday: 3pm-7pm
Wednesday-Thursday: 3pm-9pm
Friday: 3pm-11pm
Saturday: 11am-11pm
Sunday: 11am-7pm
Extended hours during the Holidays.
Adult Admission: $10
Children/Seniors/Military Admission: $9
Skate Rental: $6
Season Pass (Individual) $195 (includes admission and rentals)
Season Pass (Family) $395 (includes admission and rentals for up to 4 people)
10 Visit Pass $85 (admission only)
Group Rate: $12 (10 guests or more)
Socks: $5
Gloves: $5
I am excited to be giving away 4 passes to the Tysons Corner Ice Rink. Please enter via the Rafflecopter below. Good luck!
May – Monthly Roundup
May was a busy month full of fun adventures with my girls. We spent a lot of time outdoors at different farms and parks. It was filled with lots of flowers and happy moments. I’ve always thought fall was my favorite time in the DC area but I’m not sure anymore because this spring has been pretty amazing. We visited some really pretty places and made a lot of great memories!
Places we visited:
• United States National Arboretum
• Wegmeyers Farm – Oatlands Historic House and Gardens – blog post here
• Homestead Farm – blog post from last fall here
• Hillwood Estate Museum and Gardens
• Washington National Cathedral and Bishop’s Garden
• Beauvoir Outdoors
• Scott’s Run Nature Preserve
• Croydon Creek Nature Center
• Fountains at Rockville Town Square
Events we attended:
• Day Out with Thomas – B&O Railroad Museum – blog post here
• Royal Tea Party – Thomas Farm Community Center
• Spring Market Fair – Claude Moore Colonial Farm
• Fairytale Ballet Tea Party – Metropolitan Ballet Theatre
• Hometown Holidays – Rockville Town Square
Classes/Camps we attended:
• My Gym
• Funfit Tots
• FS Soccer
Parks we played at:
• Meridian Hill Park – Washington, DC
• Chevy Chase Playground and Splash Park – Washington, DC – blog post here
• Clemyjontri Park – McLean, VA – blog post here – #4 in a list of the top 50 playgrounds in the US
• Hadley’s Playground – Potomac, MD - #41 in a list of the top 50 playgrounds in the US
• North Farm Park – Rockville, MD
• Cabin John Park – Bethesda, MD
• Potomac Woods Park – Rockville, MD
I hope this roundup has given you some new ideas and inspired you to go out and explore with your kids! Have a fabulous June!
Also, I use instagram as my everyday blog and share a lot of photos from our adventures on my feed.
Instagram: capitol.momma
And I share more information and photos from our field trips and outings on facebook.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/capitolmommablog
No Comments
POSTED IN: B&O Railroad Museum, Beauvoir Outdoors, Cabin John Park, chevy chase playground, Claude Moore Park, Clemyjontri Park, Croydon Creek Nature Center, FS Soccer, Funfit Tots, Hadley's Playground, Hillwood Estate Museum and Gardens, Homestead Farm, Meridian Hill Park, Metropolitan Ballet Theatre, My Gym, North Farm Park, Oatlands Historic House and Gardens, Potomac Woods Park, Rockville Town Square, Scott's Run Nature Preserve, Thomas Farm Community Center, United States National Arboretum, Washington National Cathedral, Wegmeyers Farm
POSTED IN: B&O Railroad Museum, Beauvoir Outdoors, Cabin John Park, chevy chase playground, Claude Moore Park, Clemyjontri Park, Croydon Creek Nature Center, FS Soccer, Funfit Tots, Hadley's Playground, Hillwood Estate Museum and Gardens, Homestead Farm, Meridian Hill Park, Metropolitan Ballet Theatre, My Gym, North Farm Park, Oatlands Historic House and Gardens, Potomac Woods Park, Rockville Town Square, Scott's Run Nature Preserve, Thomas Farm Community Center, United States National Arboretum, Washington National Cathedral, Wegmeyers Farm
Summer Bucket List – 2015
We are ready for summer! There are so many fun things to do in the DC area and every summer seems to go by faster and faster. This year I decided to make a list of our top activities that we want to do. This is also Clara’s last summer before starting a full day pre-kindergarten program in the fall. So, we want to make this one count! In between trips to Nebraska and Rehoboth Beach, camps, pool time, bbqs, and tennis and swim lessons, we hope to fit these other fun things into our days. Some of these activities are our tried-and-true favorites and some are new things that we will be doing for the first time. I hope this gives you some good ideas of fun things to do with your family. Hooray for summer, it’s going to be a good one!
1. Go berry picking – Wegmeyer Farms, Homestead Farms, and Butler’s Orchard are a few of our favorite places to pick strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries
2. Play at splash parks – Chevy Chase Playground, Palisades Recreation Center, South Germantown Splash Park are some of our favorites
3. Go hiking – Croydon Creek Nature Center, Black Hills Regional Park, Lake Frank, Lake Needwood, Sugarloaf Mountain are some on our list
4. Attend the Hometown Holidays street festival at Rockville Town Square
5. Visit the United States National Arboretum (again)
5. Go see Encore Stage & Studio’s production of Alice in Wonderland
6. Attend at least one of the Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods programs at Wolf Trap
7. Visit a new park – Temple Hall Farm Park, Meridian Hill Park, Yards Park, Burke Lake Park, and Fort Washington Park are on our list
8. Check out a few farmer’s markets – Potomac Farm Market, Rockville Farmer’s Market, Potomac Village Farmer’s Market, Garrett Park Farmer’s Market, and Dupont Circle are on our list
9. Attend one of the Backyard Theater for Children shows at Strathmore
10. Play at BusyBees, a new indoor playground opening in Falls Church
11. Go to a Nationals baseball game
12. Ride the Cabin John train
13. Play in the Fountain at Rockville Town Square
14. Attend the Summer Market Fair at Claude Moore Colonial Farm
15. Take a Boomerang Pirate Ship Cruise on the Potomac
16. Tour the National Cathedral and Bishop’s Garden and play at nearby Beauvoir Playground
17. Explore a new farm during the Montgomery County Farm Tour
18. Visit South Mountain Creamery
19. Ride the carousel at Glen Echo Park
20. Go on rides and visit the animals at the Montgomery County Fair
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POSTED IN: Boomerang Pirate Ship Cruise, Butler's Orchard, Cabin John Train, Glen Echo Carousel, Green Meadows Petting Farm, Homestead Farm, Summer Bucket List, Wegmeyer Farms
POSTED IN: Boomerang Pirate Ship Cruise, Butler's Orchard, Cabin John Train, Glen Echo Carousel, Green Meadows Petting Farm, Homestead Farm, Summer Bucket List, Wegmeyer Farms
Kids First Swim School North Bethesda + Giveaway!
Kids First Swim School
Randolph Hills Shopping Center
4888 Boiling Brook Parkway
North Bethesda, MD 20852
301-984-7946(SWIM) www. kidsfirstswimschools.com
4888 Boiling Brook Parkway
North Bethesda, MD 20852
301-984-7946(SWIM) www. kidsfirstswimschools.com
My four-year-old daughter Clara has had such a positive experience at the Kids First Swim School in North Bethesda. I highly recommend it to all! I feel that learning to swim is so important for children, not only for enjoyment but for the life saving skills. I have two small children to watch at the pool this summer, so its been a priority of mine to have Clara attend lessons consistently the past several months. Interesting fact: participation in formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88 percent among children aged one to four years. (Source: Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine 2009)
Clara first started lessons at the Kids First location in Rockville last June and then switched over to the new North Bethesda location once they opened in August. Before participating in lessons, Clara did not even like putting her face in the water and she always needed to wear her puddle jumper to feel comfortable in the water. Now, just seven months later she has moved up from level 1 to level 3. She is now holding her breath underwater for more than 10 seconds, is doing front and back floats, bobs with rhythmic breathing, jumping into deep water, retrieving objects in chest deep water and working on sitting dives. I’ve been amazed! I honestly didn’t think she would make so much progress this quickly! I must give credit to all the amazing instructors we’ve had a Kids First who have made Clara feel so comfortable and have motivated her to work hard on her swimming skills.
The facility itself is meticulously clean as well as the pool which is maintained at 90 degrees, providing a perfect environment to learn in. No shivering kiddos at Kids First!
Clara still gets excited to go to lessons every week. The instructors do a great job of making the lessons fun for the little ones. There are no more than five children in the small group lessons, so each child receives plenty of attention during the 30 minutes of instruction. There are also family swim sessions held on Saturday and Sunday evenings for extra practice and play time in the water.
Session 3 is starting next week and runs for six weeks from March 23rd through May 3rd.
Kids First North Bethesda has generously offered to give away a $100 gift certificate to one lucky Capitol Momma reader! The gift certificate can be used towards lessons or a birthday party. The giveaway is open now through Sunday, March 22nd. The winner will be announced Monday, March 23rd – just in time for the next session!
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POSTED IN: Kids First North Bethesda, Kids First Swim School, Kids First Swim School North Bethesda, Maryland, North Bethesda, Swimming lessons
POSTED IN: Kids First North Bethesda, Kids First Swim School, Kids First Swim School North Bethesda, Maryland, North Bethesda, Swimming lessons