If you've never visited the Fulton St Farmers Market, plan to go this year.  The market is open for business now, although the number of vendors increases as the weather gets warmer and the crop variety improves.

Why shop the market with kids?  Because it is a colorful, fun, educational experience.  You'll have the opportunity to talk to the farmers & bakers and help kids understand where there food really comes from.  It's also a great time to talk about supporting local farmers and having less of an impact on the earth by buying locally.

You'll find (in season): bedding plants, hanging baskets, cut flowers, fruits & vegetables, bread, honey, arts & crafts, and more. 

The best time to go to the market with kids is a Wednesday or Friday morning.  The number of vendors decreases as the day wears on, as does the selection at the remaining booths.  Saturday mornings are difficult because they are extremely crowded; it's near impossible to push a stroller at the farmers market on Saturday morning (or find a parking space!)

Open Tues, Wed, Fri & Sat from 8am to 4pm

Safe Kids is now offering Evening Hours for Car Seat Checks!

These hours are by appointment only! Call 391-7233 x 2 to schedule
Hours of Operation: 2nd Thursday of each month 5:00 - 7:30 pm
Location: Wyoming Fire Department ( 1500 Burton SW)
Available appointments on May 14, June17, July 9

These pictures are from the City of Rockford's website.  You can get a lot of info about the town on this site.

Our family stopped off at Rockford on our way home from a trip up north to get out and stretch our legs.  I knew from years past that there were cute shops to stroll by and the river would be fun to look at for the kids.

Imagine our amazement when we found the whole riverfront area redone.  There are pedestrian pathways everywhere.  Paths and parks are beautiful and plentiful.  We had a fabulous time watching a few anglers pull in large rainbow trout, and we weren't their only audience.  There are also new buildings along the river's edge.  One beauty houses Frenz Coffee House (they have Silly Dilly songs for kids every few Tuesdays...check the event calendar,) and Reds on the River...an upscale restaurant.

There is also a new boardwalk that winds alongside the river...fun & safe for the kids to run down.  This is also a spot where you can catch the White Pine Trail.

Finally, we saw many happy people licking ice cream cones from Custard by the Dam.  This ice cream shop also has a nice supply of candy and other menu items.

Other Rockford hints or tips?  Share them here!

Knapps Corner- Meijer Grocery Express
1997 East Beltline NE
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49525
Corner of Knapp & East Beltline Grocery Express:
Phone: (616) 447-1525
Hours: 11am – 8pm

Meijer has truly made shopping easier.  Who wants to lug 50 pounds of toddler through the snow when you can click through your list, drive to the store, and call them to let them know you're in the parking lot?

The cost?  Just $6.95 per order or $24.95 for a 30-Day Pick-up Subscription. A subscription allows unlimited pick-ups for 30 days.

Have you used grocery express?  What do you think?  Are there other similar services out there?

The Kentwood Parks & Recreation Department is selling tickets for these amusement parks at discounted rates.  Good through Labor Day weekend.  No refunds.

Cedar Point
Child under 48" is $18
Adult/1 day ticket is $36.25
Adult/2 day ticket is $68.25

Michigan's Adventure
All tickets - Ages 3+ are $24

Do you know of other discounts?  Please share!

Our family took a trip to Aerials & Baranis, a gymnastics center on the NE side, for a birthday celebration for West Michigan Parents Network (WMPN is a website that connects parents in the area for play dates, sponsors activities, and has a forum so you can network with other moms and dads around the region.)

Some of the fun things we found here during open gym was a giant inflatable climb/slide structure (good for kids 4 and over) and a place for the little ones to play apart from the bigger equipment.

For those of you with daredevil jumpers, there is a high platform for jumping (into a foam pit) and many in-ground trampolines. 

It was very easy to spend an hour here!  And it was lots of fun getting to know other moms from WMPN.

Here's where to look if you're interested in open gyms at Aerials & Baranis.  Of course, if you visit them, please tell them that you saw it on Grand Rapids Kids!

Here's something from Grand Rapids Kids to help you plan for summer:

What a perfect idea for little girls who can't get enough of dress-up...a summer camp devoted to "earning her wings."  This East Grand Rapids Parks & Rec Class sounds like a blast...read for yourself.

Come be enchanted at Fairy Camp 2009.
The fairies are back, and ready to spend the summer with you! Camp will explore fairy tales, costumes, songs, dances and fairy homes. We will spend the week learning the ways of the fairies in the hopes of earning our wings! Camp will include many activities for even the seasoned fairy camper. We will end the week with a fairy tea party for family and friends.
Age: 4-7
Dates: Jun. 22 – 26
Dates: Aug. 3 - 7

Cost: Res $72, N. Res $82 (ages 4)
Res $83, N. Res $93 (ages 5 – 7)

EGR Parks and Recreation 616.949.1750

(Don't forget to tell them that you saw it on grkids.com!)

Five years ago you wouldn't have caught me with a Meijer Gardens Membership.  I didn't have kids and I thought that they were expensive...only a certain group of people could afford such a luxury.  Besides, I didn't really understand art.  Looking at a bunch of sculptures really wasn't my thing.  But then life happened. Shortly after my son was born we moved from Alger Heights to a fixer-upper in Cascade.  I met other moms who were members at Meijer Gardens and decided to give it a try.

Those of you who have been there know what I found...a wonderful place to visit with your children, year round!  I admit I was shocked when I found myself paying the yearly membership fee, but that quickly wore off.  Let me tell you how this Grand Rapids Kids family uses our membership...

We go to visit the butterflies at 4 pm while everyone else is leaving.  How wonderful to have the place to yourselves!

We stop in for just a few minutes after a shopping trip to visit the childrens garden.

We linger at the free August concerts.

We visit Santa and take our Christmas photos in front of the beautiful assortment of trees.

We walk with other moms and strollers and stop by the waterfall to see the giant fish in the pond.

We climb on the pumpkin patch pumpkins and admire the giant pumpkins on loan from area farmers.

We visit the Childrens Museum in May because our membership allows us to do that for free.

I've found that our membership gets used over and over, and every year we find new ways to enjoy the place.  If you have a chance, check out the Gardens and see if they are a good fit for you.  (And I'm not being paid to say any of this!)

Tomorrow is the start of WGVU's (your PBS station) online auction.  It is a very big fundraiser for them and a great way for you to get some fabulous bargains.

To participate you need to register, which you can do before the auction begins.  They actually want you to do this so you will be ready to bid once the items go live.

In support of their fundraising efforts, Grand Rapids Kids has donated advertising space on the website.

If you use any of the public TV or radio station services, this is a great way to support them.  Happy Bidding!

Here's a perk of being a Grand Rapids Kids user!  Right now you can get a $25 gift certificate to USA Baby from the WOOD TV.com. 

Just go to the main page for www.woodtv.com and scroll to the bottom where it says Directory and has an "e-moms" tab, then click on USA Baby.  You have to register for the gift certificate...it e-mails it directly to you in a few minutes to print.  No catch...no minimum purchase required. 

I've printed my certificate but I haven't used it yet.  This appears to be legitimate, and I've heard one person already used her certificate to buy Robeez...