Seeking Free Mommy and Me Groups

I don't know where you live, but check out the website www.aroundtownkids.com
It has TONS of great information!

The Carrollton libraries have "toddler time" that would be perfect for your kid's ages (here's the schedule: http://www.eventkeeper.com/code/events.cfm?curOrg=CARROLL.... I took my one-year-old all summer and had a great time, especially when "Miss Pam" was doing the reading.

My other fun free activity is just taking my son to the pet store ... for a toddler, its a bit like going to the zoo, just cheaper and easier!

It sounds like you'd enjoy joining a mom's club or MOPS group. You can find a chapter near you at www.momsclub.org(only $20 per yr)or www.mops.org. Also, there are always mom's groups and activities listed in Dallas Child and North Texas Kids magazines. All the jump places have open gyms- Bounce U, Bounce Town, Pump It Up Jr, Jump Town that are pretty inexpensive.

You can find all sorts of Mom's groups on www.meetup.com
I have weekly outings with other Moms and we do fun cheap things together. I also like the social interactions my son gets.

Not sure where you're located exactly, but most Barnes & Nobles and Pottery Barns have weekly story times that kids really enjoy!

When my oldest was in school and I had my 2-3 year old at home, we enjoyed our family's zoo membership together. We would job big brother at school then go to the nearest DART station for a fun train ride straight to the front gate to the zoo (you may or may not want to add this adventure with a 10 month old!). Whe nyou go early on a weekday you have the zoo practically to yourselves. We got there one morning at 9:00, just as the zoo opened, and di not see another visitor for 5-10 minutes. We got to talk to the bird keepers who were feeding the birds, saw the pigs get bathed in the children's zoo, and heard a lot more of the animals "talking" than you do later in the day.

We also had a membership at the Science Meseum at Fair Park and went to the preschool time. Not a huge program, but a neat little free (with admission or membership) thing to do once a week.

There are many early childhood PTAs in the Dallas and surrounding area. Membership is just a nominal cost, but the friendships and connections you make will be invaluable. Here is a partial list of some in your area. They sponsor monthly meetings, educational speakers, crafts for kids, field trips, mom and me activities, sometimes dad and me activities, family activities, couples activities, etc. I was involved for over 10 years when my children were young. It was a great experience that lead to life-long friendships for all of us. What have you got to lose? Check one out today! :)

North Dallas Early Childhood PTA www.ndecpta.com
Lakewood Early Childhood PTA www.lecpta.org
Far North Dallas Early Childhood PTA www.fndecpta.txpta.org
Garland Area Early Childhood PTA www.earlychildhoodpta.com
Lake Highlands Area Early Childhood PTA www.lhaecpta.org
Rosemont Early Childhood PTA (Oak Cliff) www.recpta.org
Cedar Hill/Duncanville Early Childhood PTA www.chdecpta.org

The arboretum has great Mommy & me Mondays in the fall and spring - check their website for when it starts up again.
Don't know where you live, but there's a library story time at a different library in Dallas each day - and Northpark mall has the new Bookmarks children's library that's open in the mall.
I also like to take my daughter (who's 2) to pet stores - it's like a zoo for her. She can see the fish, hamsters, kittens....
The Dallas World Aquarium is great for the ages of your 2 youngest too - but it's a little pricey. We got a membership and have spent alot of time there this summer since it's been too hot to go outside.

Hope that helps.