We spent a lot of time outdoors this week, and why not? It's been absolutely lovely, the perfect weather for exploring our city.

We had a super-cool time at a nearby water park, hit a Destination Playground in Harlem and rounded up amazing nature spots. Plus, we spent a day marveling at the amazing Lego animals at the Bronx Zoo—and we've got a great giveaway to go with our review.

Of course we spent some time indoors, too. We've been hard at work on our upcoming sister sites in Boston, Los Angeles and Orlando. To make sure you're notified when they launch, sign up for the newsletters now. And let your friends with families in those cities know that we're coming!

And that's just a bit of what's going on. Here's what we covered this week on Mommy Poppins in NYC, New Jersey, Long Island and Connecticut.

I don't know about you, but I am excited about all of the great things to do this weekend with the kids. We plan on having some summer fun at the Kent Fireman's Carnival  and the Water Ski Show at Bantam Lake. If we can fit it in I'd love to take everybody to the Civil War Re-enactment in Woodbury. Lyman Orchard's Clam Bake sounds deliciously divine as does the Indian Fest in Danbury. The frisbee golf lessons at the Bridgeport First In Flight Festival are sure to be a big hit as well. If you are looking to check out a new CT Beach you can read our post on 6 affordable CT beaches. Have fun and enjoy one of our last (boo hoo!) summer weekends with the family!

All WEEKEND
53rd Water Ski Show at Bantam Lake - Litchfield
Swimming, prizes, and food. Check out the 11 person pyramid jumps, barefoot skiers and wacky costumes. Sure to be a fun day at the lake.

Kent Fireman's Fair - Kent
The Kent Firemen’s Fair is an opportunity to enjoy small-town fun – games, food and carnival rides – are all designed to provide residents and visitors with an enjoyable three-day event.

Annual Sharon Audubon Center Festival - Sharon
The festival features two full days of nature-related programs and walks for people of all ages. Visitors can choose from a variety of programs they wish to attend including topics on various insects, raptors, trees and plants, amphibians, pond live, nature photography, and more. Mini kids programs are scheduled throughout both days.

Amazingly, it is the middle of August and there's only two weeks left of summer. Before you start crying into your mojito, remember that with September's cool breezes come... back to school for the small people. Which just might be cause to celebrate for some of us weary parents. Or maybe that's just me. In any case, there's plenty of fun stuff happening mid-August, like outdoor parties, fests, bug-eating, art, rubber ducks, surfing and so much more. Enjoy!

Butterflies, dragonflies, bubbles and...tractors! Variety is definitely the theme of this weekend and we’ve got events to fit every member of the family. And if you haven't hit the golf course this summer, you can find a family golf outing in our coverage of 6 Great Mini Golf Courses on Long Island. Or if you are feeling the need to cool off, check out the Mommy Poppins NYC post on our very own Splish Splash Water Park. Have a great weekend!

Welcome to another New York City weekend jam-packed with fantastic and mostly free things to do for families. Cool vintage VW vehicles are riding onto Governors Island, Staten Island's Garibaldi-Meucci Museum throws its annual Ferragosto fest and Brooklyn Bridge Park hosts its first-ever Kite Festival. The New York International Fringe Festival also kicks off this weekend, and while most of the offerings aren't for kids, its FringeJr shows are specifically aimed at families.

My family and I plan to hit the second Saturday of Summer Streets and then head to Flushing Meadows Corona Park for the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival with a quick stop at the New York Hall of Science's Circus! Science Under the Big Top. If we manage to do it all, I suspect we'll spend Sunday sleeping.

And that's just a bit of what's going on. All of our best bets for the weekend are below. You can find additional seasonal fun in our Summer Fun Guide and our Event Calendar.

From sailing and canoeing on the Charles River to whale watching and sightseeing cruises in the Harbor, Boston offers plenty of opportunities to get out on the water.

And for those who want to find a piece of the great outdoors within sight of the city skyline, the Boston Harbor Islands offer plenty of choices for families, from easy hikes on Spectacle Island, Peddocks Island, or Worlds End and overnight camping on Bumpkin Island, Grape Island, or Lovells Island to visiting historical landmarks like Fort Warren on Georges Island and tours, performances, demonstrations and kid-friendly activities all spring, summer, and fall.

Did you know that New Jersey is home to one of the largest and best areas in the country for late Cretaceous period fossils? And you don’t
even have to be a fancy archaeologist with special permits to search for fossils! So if your kids are like mine and get excited about walking in knee high water in search of 40-million-year-old treasure, just keep on reading…

With the stock market crashing and... well, the stock market crashing (that really is all anyone's talking about this week, right?), we decided to do a links roundup on the lighter side.

We've got info on an addictive new smartphone game, a smelly NYC children's book (yup, we said smelly!) and an Upper East Side mom who was banned from Fairway for life. Yikes! Plus a few other stories that should have you smiling not crying.