Although we fortunately are a safe distance from the incredibly large and destructive "Station Fire" burning here in Los Angeles, that has not kept our air quality from registering anywhere from dangerous to hazardous for the last week. Our choices were to stay inside the apartment all day (not Jack's favorite choice . . . nor mine by the end of the day) or escape. Late last week we tried escaping to one of the many indoor play areas here, but the scene there -- because of the combination of dangerous air quality and children being out of school -- was chaotic at best and I sort of kept waiting to see a Lord of the Flies reenactment spring up right in front of me.
So this week we got more creative. On Monday we headed to the beach with some friends . . .
Another day we found refuge in IKEA -- yes, the store IKEA. And just for your information, if you live near an IKEA store, have a young child and have not tapped into this warehouse of unexpected entertainment (not to mention free childcare/play area for the slightly bigger kids), you really must give it a try. This is not my and Jack's first extended trip to IKEA but this is the first time I had no intention of buying anything and still turned our trip into a four-hour indoor getaway complete with a cheap, yummy dinner.
We made a game out of following the arrows around the (huge) store as Jack pushed one of the carts that was on display in the kids' area.
(What's showing: Winnie the Pooh)
( If you are thinking this little Jack-sized sink in the bathroom is pretty damn cool, you are not alone. Jack played there for about ten minutes and then only left with promises of riding the escalators some more.)
