Gymboree!!!

Last month, I bought a Groupon deal for a discounted month at Gymboree, which is a kids' gym where they have learning, music, and art classes for different age groups.  The monthly fee is SO expensive (even WITH the Groupon!) which is such a shame because Arlo LOVED it and I know so many kids would benefit from having access to such a great program if it were a little more affordable.

We attended our first class this morning.  It's a play/learning class for 10-16 month olds.  Arlo was the youngest and the only not-yet-walker, but he was BY FAR the sweetest, cutest, bravest, friendliest, most adventurous kid there.  I was (as always) a proud mama.  :) 

I brought my old digital camera so I wouldn't have to lug the big 'un around.  It was a funny sight...I kept putting my eye up to the viewfinder like on my new camera, but there is no viewfinder of course, so my nose would just smush into the screen.  And I forgot how stinkin' long it takes to TAKE A PICTURE.  That is why so many of these look like something cool just happened.  It's because my slow camera just missed it. 

Like this.

 

And this.

The structured activities were really fun, but they are not too different from the songs and games we play at the library storytime for free!  But the gym equipment here is so awesome.  Everything is cushy, there are slides, climbing walls, tunnels, bridges, balls, mirrors, and lots of other fun stuff.  The kids have the greatest time just climbing on stuff. And this is something that is hard to find/replicate.  (Still so not worth the $70/month membership fee, in my humble opinion. Seriously!)

Silly face in the tunnel. 

One of his favorite things was this basketball goal. 

He also loves to touch anything that looks like a button, which in this case, was a metal bolt.  Fascinating.

Near the end of the class, they get out one of those big parachutes (doesn't that bring back memories from gym class as a kid?).  The kiddos play underneath it and then they sit on top and we pull them around in a circle.  They also blew bubbles (always a big hit!), played with musical toys, and played baby "soccer" where we basically swing the kids' legs into the beach ball in an attempt to "pass" it to someone else.  Arlo loved it! 

We had a great time and are looking forward to class next week!