Free and Fun is the Best Combo!
![](https://www.coffeepluskids.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/20201007_145738-768x1024.jpg)
Eli and Ava were sooooo good during the move and being flexible with eating schedules and not getting as much 1:1 attention from Sam and me as usual, so I decided to treat them this week with a Halloween surprise. I told them if they got all their school work done in the morning (which meant doing a LOT to catch up on what we didn’t do during the move!) I had a surprise for them. Worked like a charm! “Surprises” in our house are always fun ~ exploring new parks, grabbing a treat at a new bakery or ice cream shop, visiting a friend, etc. None of those jumping out from behind a dark corner scaring the crap out of you surprises that some people find hilarious. Inside scoop – I’m NOT one of those people!! So, I’ve made it my mission to always equate “surprise” with something fun. And if it’s free???? Even better!
![](https://www.coffeepluskids.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/20201007_150749-1024x768.jpg)
If you have kids under 7, you need to check out Hoover Gardens in Westerville. They have a free “haunted” (I use that term very loosely) maze/house, plus tons of pumpkin displays and Halloween inflatables throughout the garden center. On the weekends, they have pumpkin painting for $3. The maze was so cool because it was inside a greenhouse, so it was light and the “scare factor” came from the decorations inside – ghosts, goblins, mummies, witches, spider webs. I say “kids under 7” because Eli was right on the cusp of saying “this is boring” but I think because Ava thought it was awesome, the excitement level was fun for Eli, too. We went through it 4 times and even played hide and go seek once 🙂 We would have stayed longer and likely gone through many more times, but Eli apparently decided to ignore my instructions to go potty before leaving the house and the next thing I know, he is walking out of the maze with his knees bent together.
![](https://www.coffeepluskids.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/20201007_150828-768x1024.jpg)
Me: Eli, did you have an accident?
Eli: Yea, but just a pee accident. No poop.
Me: Well, I’m glad for that. Your socks are wet! Did you pee a lot?
Eli: No, just a little, but I’m not wearing underwear, so it got on my socks. But at least it didn’t get on the straw floor!
*Shaking my head as we walk to the car*
Just another day in the life of a mom with a child who hates wearing underwear. Even when I think I am in control of the surprise, I never really am 🙂