L.O.L. Family Zone is F.U.N.

There's a new business in town! 

This weekend, Jackson & I checked out the brand new Laugh Out Loud Family Zone in downtown Lawrence (and dropped another clothespin in the bucket!).  Our community really needed a place like this and it sure didn't disappoint.  I have a feeling the rest of this post is going to sound a little like a paid advertisement, but I assure you that not only do I have no financial stake whatsoever in the business (unfortunately) I don't even know the owners.  We're just paying customers who had a super awesome time.

And jeez, who wouldn't have fun bouncing on a massive "jump pillow"?

Or climbing in this awesome indoor play structure?

Those two items alone were worth the price of admission, but there's still so much more.  There are different centers set up throughout the building with a variety of activities for kids of all ages. 

Like this stage - which is completely stocked with dress up clothes, puppets and everything you would need for dramatic play.  Including a ventriloquist dummy that Jackson was apparently scolding while dressed in a Super Mario costume.  Dramatic, indeed.

This section included a train table, kitchen set full of pretend food and dolls with all the accessories.

I didn't even get photos of the rock wall, toddler area, and quiet room for reading and puzzles.  Or the big parachute (boy do I remember these from elementary school gym class) that some boys turned into a fort and the pile of hula hoops. 

This isn't the best picture, but that big white square on the ground is an interactive computerized floor - I saw bowling, car racing and a giant piano (think Tom Hanks in the movie Big).  And the 3 doors at the back...space for even more fun!

Here's Jackson in the "Creation Station".  An art room stocked with anything and everything you can possibly imagine for being crafty.

He especially loved the moon sand.  I think he played with it for 20 minutes - an eternity in Jack time.

The other rooms are the "Celebration Room" that can be rented for private functions (side note: you can also buy out the entire building outside of their regular business hours) and a "Dance Party" room with music, mirrors and flashlights.  You should have seen Jack's face when We Are Young started playing.

There are some creature comforts for parents, too.  You can purchase food and drink - as long as you keep it in the designated eating area.  I even took a picture of the menu as it was clearly put together by a parent.  Where else can you purchase snacks like string cheese, mandarin orange cups and goldfish packs. And check out the variety of peanut butter sandwiches!  The prices are right, too.

Perhaps the icing on the cake was the free wifi in the building allowing me to peruse the Internet on my iPad while Jack played his heart out in a safe environment.  Win-Win!

Told you this was going to sound like a paid advertisement. 

But in all honesty, we loved it.  So much so that we spent 3 hours there and I still had to drag Jackson out the door.  Looking like this:

Nothing says fun like a little boy covered in sweat and glitter (and I mean that in a totally innocent non-stripper-like way).

PS - Did I mention Jackson was sound asleep at 8:05 pm?  We will definitely be going back to the Laugh Out Loud Family Zone.  Next time, you'll have to join us!