We were all snugly sleeping in our tent. The hubs and myself comfortably (mostly) on our bourgeois air mattress, and the kids in their sleeping bags surrounded by 82 glow sticks. Then I heard through my mom half-sleep, a pleading whine, along with the rustle, rustle of dog feet. There at the end of the tent was my ridiculous little dog, who I wouldn’t describe as outdoorsy, staring at me with bug-eyed dog panic. He clearly had to go outside, but maybe couldn’t figure out if the tent was technically already outside. Oh, to be so walnut-brained. After he left the tent and did his business — which I won’t elaborate on, except to say that I think he ate some bad mushrooms while securing the campsite perimeter — and was once again snoring an inch from my face, I laid there imagining how I might save us all if someone with an ax decided to stop by. Finally, I slept. This is camping, family-edition.

Summer’s here, time to set sail! There is so much to do and see in Long Island but sometimes you need a new perspective. Boat tours are an excellent way to see all of the beauty of Long Island while enjoying a cruise on the water. We’ve got some great boat tours featured here that you and your family will enjoy. One of these boat rides may even become your new summer tradition!

One of the positive aspects of having a child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder is that there is so much support out there for you!  You just have to find it and navigating the internet through tons of websites and even more pages, tabs & links can be quite stressful.  However, the information and services you receive can actually help alleviate some of your stress, so if you’re not computer-savvy, or just can’t seem to bring yourself to spend hours looking for all these services, go to a support group.  One of your best resources is other parents who are going through the same thing, and contact with other adults is so much more beneficial than sitting in front of a computer.  Sometimes I yearn for adult conversation after being with my boys all day.  (Don’t get me wrong, I love my boys to death but sometimes it gets to the point that if I talk about Transformers one more time I’m going to completely lose it.)  There are other things I want to talk about, other people I want to talk to, and other places I want to be at times.  A support group is a really great way to do all these things, and get some inner peace and great information while you’re there! 

Looking for 4th of July Fireworks in Connecticut? There are many ways to celebrate our nation's independence but nothing does the job like good old fashioned fireworks. Most towns throw their own celebration, some bigger than others. On the following list you'll find firework celebrations that are being held over the 4th of July weekend. If your town isn't listed they may be doing shows the following weekend. Some towns require you to get a pass prior to attending the show. Details are provided where possible. Tips: Getting there early ensures that you will get a parking spot and a comfortable seat with a good view. Having something for the kids to do before the show can be a real life saver. Remember to bring bug spray, snacks and patience (for those who will have to wait in the parking lot afterwards.) Enjoy the magic!

When my kids were little, they treated their strollers like rolling food carts. So now that they're big, I'm not surprised they're gaga for gourmet food trucks. No stale pretzels or hot dogs for them; they want high-end on-the-go eats, be it dumplings or desserts.

Getting grub from a food truck has many advantages. There's a huge selection of cuisines to choose from, often there's no wait (or a reasonably short one), and your kids don't have to worry about their table manners or using indoor voices.

The downside, of course, is that there aren't tables or bathrooms. But in the summer, many of them strategically park near green spaces, so you've got an instant picnic.

Here are my family's picks for the top twelve food trucks in New York City.

It's been a whirlwind of hellos (what's up, summer?) and goodbyes (see ya, school). Tuesday marks the last day of classes for public school students, and since most camps don't begin until after the Fourth of July, we know you'll be looking for things to do next week—and beyond. That's why we rounded up 100 free things to do this summer, with ideas for every single day through the end of August.

Next week's picks include cool concerts, no-cost admission to the Staten Island Children's Museum and the Children's Museum of Manhattan, and SummerStage's Bronx Family Day. Click here for the complete list, and start planning your summer staycation.

We also wanted to highlight two new additions to our site. We're now posting slide shows. That way when we do something extra-cool, like rock climbing at Brooklyn Boulders, you can actually see how much fun we had. Also, if you've been wondering who the mommies of Mommy Poppins are, check out our revamped About page. There you'll find links to bios for our current contributors, and other great info about the site.

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.