Hi, friends! This post is for my local peeps, but if you are simply entertained by my writing (laughing with me or at me??), keep on reading.
Visiting libraries is one of our go-to family activities. They’re cheap; free, come to think of it! Well, as long as you are diligent about returning books on time. Our libraries around here are a part of a regional network (Mid-York), so you can borrow books at one library and return at any library. I have no idea if that’s the norm around the country, but either way, when I stop and think about it, it’s extremely convenient.
Anyway, we library hop pretty often, checking out their toys as much as their books. Every library is a bit different, so my kids enjoy the change of scenery, creative stimulation, and socialization with other kids. This past summer, we kind of made it a point of trying some new ones (to us) out.
The biggest library in our area (actually, I’m making an assumption, but surely it must be true?), the Utica library was one I actually hadn’t visited with the kids! Perhaps some of my teacher friends can relate, I basically got in the habit of not spending a lot of time in Utica, since I was a teacher there. I wanted to separate church and state, so to speak. Dumb, I know, but regardless, I had basically gotten myself in the habit of not heading into the city a whole lot. And the UPL is right in downtown.
You know. A whole, like, ten minutes away.
Anyway, so mom of the year hadn’t taken her kids to the UPL until August 2018. We went, and get this- the children’s library was closed for renovations! Go figure. And we drove so far out of the way. ?
So in that fantastic timeless void that is between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, we finally took a little adventure into the big city (lol), and visited the newly remodeled children’s area of the Utica Library! And we had a great time.
Since I’ve done what I do best, which is use far too many words to get a point across, I shall now engage you all with some pictures! They are worth a thousand words.
What other free activities do you like to do with your kids?