Day 10 - Heart Attacking

We are super lucky to have great extended family living close by. The only problem is, our schedules have been off for a while now. We haven't been able to hang out with them for a bit so we wanted to let them know we still love them and miss seeing them. So today, we decided to give them a heart attack.

Heart attacking someone is the best because it combines showing someone they are loved with the fun equivalent to toilet papering someone's house. You get to be sneaky and sort of a vandal, but you know whoever your victim is will love it.

How to give someone you love a heart attack

The simplest way is just cut out a bunch of hearts and use them to decorate someone's yard. Throw them across the lawn and stick them around with tape. We like to get a little more creative, though.

• Use chalk. Decorate the driveway and sidewalk with drawn hearts and sweet messages.
• Decorate with streamers. It's almost toilet papering, except it's decorating so it's cute. 
• Use plastic forks. This is the coolest trick. Stick plastic forks in the lawn, prong side up. Then you can use the prongs to hold things up; decorated paper plates, cut out hearts, nice notes, balloons, etc.
• Use pictures. You can cut out pictures of things your "victim" likes out of magazines (in heart shapes of course). Today, we printed pictures of the kids cousins in black and white, then colored them in silly ways.
  
• Write nice messages. Today we wrote something we liked about each member on the family on the back of their pictures.
• Leave a treat. Make cookies or brownies and leave them on the doorstep. Sweets are the best way to show love, right?

Day 9 - Chuck E Cheese's

We survived our first full week of summer. The kids did a pretty good job with their chores and earned some tokens (refer to my token reward system here). That meant today we needed to go spend them. We decided to try the new Chuck E. Cheese location in Chandler, AZ. You can check out my review of this location here.

I think of myself as somewhat of a Chuck E Cheese expert. We love to visit Chuck E Cheese around home, when we are traveling with Daddy on business trips, or going to Grandma's house. My kids even got a ton of CEC tokens from Santa this year. I love that all the games are only one token. I also love that I can get great deals on tokens.

Tips for Visiting Chuck E Cheese's (CEC)

• Never play $.0.25 for a token. The most you should ever pay for tokens is 20 cents, but I usually wait until there is a deal that makes tokens around 15 cents each. 
• There are always coupons on the CEC website (although not the best ones). Our best coupons come in the newspaper inserts. My favorite one is 150 tokens and a large 1-topping pizza for $22. 
• Our CEC also has weekday lunch specials when school is in session. One of these deals is "Buy 30 tokens, get 30 free." You don't have to use the tokens right when you buy them. I usually have a stash saved up of cheap tokens that I bring with us on vacations.
• Another was to get discounted tokens is to use CEC rewards calendars. You can print these reward calendars from the CEC website and redeem them for 10 free tokens. The drawback to these is they require a food purchase to redeem. I haven't tried it before but maybe you could just buy a drink?
• Play online CEC games for free tickets. The CEC website has fun games that reward you
  
  with real tickets you can redeem at CEC. You can use one printed ticket reward per child per day, so print one for each child. Again, these now require a food purchase to redeem (lame!).
• If you have a choice, choose a CEC with a playground. It is nice to have something for the kids to do that doesn't cost tokens. Right now, since my kids have an uneven amount of tokens to spend, some finish sooner than others. Having tubes to crawl around in keep them entertained instead of complaining. 
• Don't give your kids all their tokens at once. Parcel out a few and then they have to return for more. This has a few benefits. They have to keep checking in, they don't spill and lose their tokens, and they don't waste all their tokens on games that don't require any play besides dropping in the token.
• Try some of the games yourself. If I bring my husband, I know beforehand I'm going to have to set some tokens aside for him. It's fun to take a trip back to the old days and play skee ball. And the kids love getting all the tickets you earn.
  
• Save a token for the picture machine. Almost all CECs have a "sketch your portrait" machine. It is so fun to take a family portrait every time we go to save as a souvenir. 
• Help with ticket redemption for little ones. When we just had the kindergartners and under, everyone would turn in all their tickets to me. Then they would all tell me one thing they wanted within certain ticket categories. If there were still enough tickets left, I would let them choose one thing more. Everyone got the same number of prizes, regardless of ticket worth. If we had leftover tickets, I would save them for next time. Now that I have older kids getting varying amounts of tokens, they manage their own tickets, but I still help with the littles and have a ticket stash of my own for days when they don't quite earn enough to get the prize they want. (It has been my experience that CEC employees round up your total tickets)
• Visit on a weekday morning. Saturday mornings are usually very busy with birthday parties. Evenings also tend to be busier. To avoid crowds and have younger playmates, arrive as close to opening as possible. 

What are your Chuck E Cheese tips?

Day 8 - Mesquite Groves Aquatic Center

The public pools here are pretty awesome and cheap. Apparently, that's no secret because Mesquite Groves Aquatic Center in Chandler, AZ was filled to capacity today. Even with all the new friends playing nearby, we had a wonderful day.

Read my review about this great aquatics center here on Trekaroo.com

Day 7 - i.d.e.a. Museum

It's starting to get hot. That means we need more indoor activities. My oldest daughter hadn't been to the children's art museum, the i.d.e.a. Museum in Mesa, AZ and had been begging to go. We used my membership I bought with a groupon deal ( admission for up to 4 people) and Kid One's Pogo Pass (discount pass for multiple Phoenix attractions) for a free, fun outing. Read my review of the i.d.e.a. Museum here.

Why I Love Children's Museums

My kids love to craft, but I hate the wasted glue, tape, and paper and even more, the mess. That is why the I.d.e.a. is so great! The museum provides all the craft supplies and the glue and scraps don't get on my table. My kids can make all the junk they want and we can leave it on the table for other visitors to admire instead of bringing it home to clutter up the house.

Speaking of messes, I love that the employees are wandering around picking up stray trash and toys while I just get to play with the kids. I don't need to worry about the clutter around me when we are at a children's museum. I can enjoy my children without the stress of household responsibilities right in my face.

Another thing I love about children's museums is that everything is a novelty to my kids. We don't have a light bright wall at home so they think it's extra special and sit and and stick pegs in holes for half an hour. The toys are all new to them so it takes longer for them to get bored.

I like that there are areas specifically for babies. Kid Five gets attached my her brothers all day at home but in the baby zone, big brother's aren't even allowed. I know she is safe from bigger kids who do t know to watch out for little hands. I also know she has age appropriate toys that she can't hurt herself on.

Last but not least, I love that I can have fun too. I also like to create things out of old scraps of cardboard, but I don't have time at home. I enjoy putting on a puppet show with my son or doing puzzle on a giant touch screen while the kids play around me. I like interactive museums as much as my children.

What do you love about going to children's museums? 

Day 6 - Bleach Print Shirts

My kids have loved doing tie-dye the past few summers, but since one can only have so many tie-dyed shirts, I decided to try something new. I've had friends do these type of shirts in the past but I followed a basic guideline from here.

How-To Make Bleach Print Shirts

Supplies

• Colored t-shirts (ours are from Dollar Tree)
• Spray bottle
• Bleach
• Gloves (to protect hands from bleach)
• Cardboard boxes (cereal boxes work fine)
• Scissors
• Tape if you want

We thought about sponging the bleach solution on but decided against it (that's why we had sponges and a cake pan)

1. Cut shapes out of cardboard. We just used cracker boxes. Most of the shapes we did free-hand, but I did print a silhouette of a car that I traced. 
   
2. Mix a solution of half bleach, half water inside your spray bottle. A stronger solution might work well too but since I'm working with kids, I decided to go with a 50/50 mix. 
3. Put a sheet of cardboard inside your shirt. This protects the shirt from getting image bleached through to the other side.
4. Arrange shapes on your shirt. I just set the shapes onto my shirt, but for the kids we did tape them down so they wouldn't blow away.
   
5. Spray with bleach/water solution. From about 2 feet away, spray around all your images, but avoid soaking the shirt. If it's too wet the bleach will bleed under your stencil.
   
6. Allow image to develop. We removed the stencils and let the bleach sit until the surrounding area was a light as we wanted.
   
7. Rinse shirt. To stop the bleach from doing its job, give it a quick rinse with the hose.
   
8. Wash before wearing. You want to be sure you've removed all the bleach. 
   

Tips:

*Use simple, clearly defined shapes without too much detail

*Wear clothes you don't care about in case of bleach spills

*Make sure you give the bleach enough time to develop before rinsing

*Darker shirts work better (we really like the rust color the bleach produces on the black and navy blue shirts)

*Spray from above as opposed to from the side. This prevents the bleach from going under your stencils. 

*Don't over-saturate your shirt. It seemed to work best doing a light but completely covering spray from about a 2-feet above the shirt. (also, make sure your spray bottle lid is on tight so it doesn't spill on your shirt like it did for kid 4)

Have you done bleach print shirts? Share your images in the comments.

Day 5 - Swim Lessons

It's important for kids to know how to swim at a very young age in Arizona. Even though we don't have a pool, most of our friends and neighbors do. Much of the summer fun here revolves around a pool. Although most of my children are already swimming, they could stand to improve their technique. These next two weeks, we will all be enjoying swim lessons through the town's recreation department.

City Swim Lessons

Gilbert offers great recreation programs for a good price. Swim lessons for all levels (except Tadpoles which is 3 students to 1 teacher) is only $25 for 8-1/2 hour lessons. The city of Phoenix has the same swim program for only $15 a session. I love that they have a variety of lesson levels to choose from. The baby and I are in a parent/tot class together. Kids over 5 have the opportunity to take diving lessons. Our aquatics department also organizes swim and dive teams. Check out what your town's recreation department offers.

Private/Semi-Private Swim Lessons 

Semi-Private Lessons 2014

I do have to say, if your child needs to learn how to swim, it is best to start with private or semi-private lessons. They do cost quite a bit more, but the difference in how quick a child learns is huge. Teachers are able to work on your child's specific needs instead of following a standard lesson plan for a class of 7 or 8 students. Usually, private teachers have more experience than city swim teachers. They know how to combine the right amount of play and learning. Sometimes it's necessary for a child to go under the water and an experienced teacher isn't going to be afraid to make them do it. When finding a teacher, ask for recommendations from friends and look for class sizes no larger than 4 students,

Day 4 - Silly Mountain Hike

My kids are not big fans of hiking. But c'mon, a high of 88 in Phoenix on Memorial Day? I had to take advantage of the weather and do something outside! I'd heard good things about the hiking for families at Silly Mountain in Apache Junction, AZ. It was a little challenging but we had a great time. You can read my full review of Silly Mountain Park here.

The Art of Persuasion

Sometimes I really want to do something and my kids don't (for example this hike). Usually, once we head out, they have fun. The problem is convincing them they want to head out in the first place. I could just drag them out with me (and sometimes I do), but everything is a lot more enjoyable without whining children. I have a few tricks of persuasion that work...sometimes. 

Trick #1: Combine the planned activity with something they like. Kid 2 loves climbing rocks, so I made sure to find a hike he could climb on. 

Trick #2: Make a deal. Let them choose the next day's outing if they agree to go along with yours without complaining. Kid 1 had been wanting to go on a date with Daddy. She was much more agreeable about today's hike after her breakfast out with Dad.

Trick #3: Bribe them. Yes, I sometimes bribe my children. Today, if they did a good job on the hike, we could stop by Chick-Fil-A for lunch. Kid 3 loves to go his own pace, which is slow. Telling him he could get a kid's meal for lunch if he kept up with his older siblings really sped him along.

I'd love to hear your tricks of persuasion! I could always use a few more tricks up my sleeve.
Find tips for hiking with kids here.

Day 3 - Cookies and Cards

In our religion, we try to keep the Sabbath Day holy. That means something a little different for every family. For us, it means less active activities and a break from video games and television (except for the occasional Veggie Tales). We try to do things that bring us closer as a family or bring us closer to our Savior. One of our activities today was making chocolate chips cookies together.  We then made cards together for people we thought might want one and delivered them with the cookies. We talked about how we were showing love for others like Jesus did.

Sunday Activity Ideas

We sometime struggle with Sabbath Day activities. Like everything else, it helps to plan ahead. Here is my list of simple Sunday family activities:

• Write letters to friends and family
• Read stories together and write our own stories to share with each other
• Play board games
• Print pictures and make scrapbooks
• Write in journals about what we did that week
• Visit the temple grounds (or a peaceful garden)
• Watch a video about the life of Christ or other scripture stories
• Go for a nature walk
• Visit a retirement home
• Sing at a hospital 
• Find a service project on justserve.org
• Visit extended family
• Make a meal together to bring to a family in need (maybe a freezer meal)

There is a great list with more ideas here. What are your favorite Sunday activities?

Day 2 - Hiking "A" Mountain

Usually, hiking isn't a pastime we Arizonan's get to enjoy to much in the summertime, but lucky for us, we've had some unseasonably cool weekends. To make the most of the nice weather today, we decided to try hiking "A" Mountain in Tempe, Arizona. You can read my full review of the hike here.

Tips for Hiking with Kids

• Bring snacks and water: My kids will hike farther and complain less if they aren't hungry or
  thristy
• Have designated stopping points: Find a point in the distance and say, "That is where we will
  
  take our next break." That way it doesn't feel like endless walking. The kids know they can at least make it to that next point.
• Get a good baby carrier: I love my Ergo for our almost one-year-old. She almost always falls asleep as soon as we put her in. We've also borrowed a Kelty pack for a longer hike that was comfortable for both Daddy and Baby.
• Choose hikes over trails: I don't know if this is true for all kids, but mine move a lot better when they are climbing or navigating over rocks verses walking a flat trail. 
• Research hikes to make sure they are kid-friendly: My favorite list of family-friendly hikes for the Phoenix area can be found here.
• Look for nearby Geocaches: Searching for a geocache or letterbox quickly turns a hike into a treasure hunt.

What tips would you add? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Day 1 - Camping at Canyon Point

It's finally here! We can't wait to get out and enjoy our summer vacation. So hubby and I packed up the car and after the kids finished their last day of school, we drove up to Canyon Point Campground near Heber, Arizona. It was freezing up there so we only ended up sleeping there one night but we still had a great time.

Meals

This was just supposed to be a 2-night camping trip and we wanted to keep thing as simple as possible. Of course, camping involves a lot of prep and is never totally simple, but we kept the menu pretty easy. I didn't want to bring a camp stove so these are all things we could cook over the fire.

• Thursday Dinner: Hot Dogs & Chili w/ chips
• Friday Breakfast: Baggie Omletes & premade pancakes (warmed over the fire)
• Friday Lunch: PB&J's or Turkey & Cheese Sandwiches with fruit
• Friday Dinner: Quesadillas and Corn on the Cob
• Saturday Breakfast: premade Muffins and fruit

Hiking

Canyon Point is a great campground for families. One of the things that makes it so great is the hike to a beautiful sinkhole that starts within the camp (right across from site 44). This hike is perfect for families. It is mainly flat and very well marked with blue diamonds on the trees. My boys loved running from diamond to diamond. The path winds through the woods and felt very secluded. The trail continues down into the sinkhole and at this point is a little more of a hike. Once at the bottom of the sinkhole we were rewarded with huge fallen logs to climb over. We were also blocked from the freezing wind and able to feel the warmth of the sun was we lay on the forest floor. We stayed at the bottom of the sinkhole for almost an hour. The whole trail is 1.4 miles round trip.

Playing

One of my favorite things about camping is that the kids don't get bored. The campsites here are surrounded by woods to explore and the kids loved doing just that. I did bring games to play together, but due to the wind, we weren't able to play card games. We did enjoy a round of dominos together before the boys went back to their "secret hide-out" in the trees.

If you are considering staying at Canyon Point Campground, you can read my campground review here.

Saving Money while Traveling with Kids

You don't want to miss out on any of the top attractions when visiting another city. But with kids (especially a large family) costs of entertainment add up quickly. Luckily. There are lots of deals out there for those who are willing to look. Here are my top places for finding deals while traveling.

Entertainment Book

Enchanted Island in Phoenix, AZ
BOGO Discount with Entertainment Book

This is a book of huge coupons that kids used to sell for fundraisers. You buy it for a certain location and your coupons are for that metro area. There are restaurant deals, attraction coupons, and deals for services. Thanks to the wonder of technology, your Entertainment book now gets your deals all over that nation. After you buy a book (watch for deals, mine only cost $5!) you register on their website, entertainment.com. You now have access to digital and printable coupons all the Entertainment Book locations. There is also an Entertainment Book app you can use to look up and use coupons while you are out, no printer needed. We love the app for dining out.

Groupon & Living Social Deals

Scuba Diving in Hawaii
Over 50% off with Groupon

I always check our vacation destinations for Groupon and LivingSocial deals. The best time to look is
when there is a discount code for the deal sites. I was able to go scuba diving in Hawaii for under $50. Search under Things to Do and Restaurants. Make sure to check expiration dates to make sure your deal doesn't end before your vacation starts.

ASTC Passport Program & AZA Reciprocity Program

Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, Utah
Free admission with ASTC Passport Program

If you have a membership to a museum of zoo, check if it belongs to one of these, or another reciprocal program. Your local membership many allow you free or discounted admission to hundreds of other museum's and zoos. I bought a family membership to our local Arizona Science Center for over 50% off on Groupon. I've used it to get into to Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, Utah, Fleet Science a Center in San Diego, California, The Discovery Museum in Reno, Nevada, and so much more! 

Flyers, Pamphlets, and Discount Days

Don't forget to keep your eyes open for potential deals. Look through the flyers and pamphlets in your hotel lobby or ask the concierge if she has any coupons. Look at the flyers sitting on restaurants check-out stands or in racks by the doors. Do an Internet search for discounts to the paces you want to visit while on vacation. Museums often have free or discount days. Many amusement parks have discounted admission after a certain time.

Summer Rules, Routines, and Rewards

Things can get out of control pretty fast with 5 kids during the summer. Although it is a time to be laid back, kids still need structure. And my house, more than ever, needs to get cleaned. Before school gets out, we determine what everyone's responsibilities are and how our rules are going to be enforced.

Rules and Routine

During the school year, my kids have a list they need to finish every morning that includes getting ready, cleaning their room, and doing their homework. We modify it for the summertime. I like having everything that they need to do written out so instead of saying, "Did you brush your teeth?" "Did you clean your room?" I can just ask if they finished their list. Their summertime lists include the following: Get Dressed, Brush Teeth, Say Prayers, Clean Room, Do Chore. Since the boys all share a room, Kid Two gets room cleaning responsibility, Kid Three (age 5) has folding on his list and Kid Four (age 3) has the job of emptying bathroom trash cans.

I type up the list in the computer and let each child choose the pictures to go with each list item. This helps the non-readers recognize their list items and everyone to feel ownership of their list.

Each child also has a rotating weekly chore that has to be completed everyday. I plan to let them know my expectation for their chore on Monday and hopefully they will get better at it as the week goes on. Weekly chores will include Dishes, Bathrooms, Playroom, Vacuum and Dust, and more as I see a need.

Rewards

We work on a "token" system in the summer. My kids love pizza/arcades like Chuck E Cheese and Peter Piper Pizza. If they complete their lists by 10 AM, they get three tokens. This encourages them to get up and get going so we aren't waiting around for someone to finish their job. Tokens can be lost through misbehavior. If they kids fight or disobey, they lose tokens.  Then, periodically, we go to Chuck E Cheese (or a similar alternative) and the kids get to use their tokens. 

To save money, I usually stock up on Chuck E Cheese tokens when I have a coupon. Their coupons online aren't that great. Watch for better ones in mailers. Our Chuck E Cheese also offers get deals on tokens while school is in session (11-3 PM on weekdays). If yours does the same you could buy a bunch of tokens before summer break.

Meals during Summer Vacation

Stressing about meals is the worst. But meal prep can be fun and easy, especially in the summertime.

Free Summer Lunch in Rexburg, Idaho

Breakfast

Making Crepes with the Velata Crepe Maker

You don't have to hurry the kids off to school in the summer! If you don't have something planned early in the day, you can take time to make those longer breakfasts that you never have a chance to make during the school year. Let the kids make their own crepes. Make a big batch of muffins together and freeze some for a morning then you are in a hurry to get out and have an adventure. 

Lunch

Free Summer Lunch in Gilbert, AZ

This is where my kids get most of their pre-packaged/ less nutritious food. We are rarely home for lunch during the summer so I throw together some PB&J's, put some cuties, apple sauce pouches, fruit leather, and carrot sticks in a cooler bag, and bring them with us on our day's adventure. If we are staying at a hotel that offers free breakfast, I usually snag some extras to throw in our lunch bag.

Another great lunch option is the free lunch program offered through many school districts. Free lunch is available for children ages 1-18 years at some schools and parks. Adults are able to purchase a lunch for a small fee (ours is $2.75). The little ones who aren't in school yet think it's really fun to go through the lunch line and get their food. Do an internet search or check with your local school district to find a free lunch location near you.

Dinner

Crock pots are my favorite kitchen gadget in the summer. I can get dinner ready in the morning and have it ready and waiting when we are home from our day's adventure. There is the added benefit of not heating up the kitchen with the oven. And crock pot meals usually freeze well, so if you make extra, you have a meal for another day, too.

Make-Your-Own-Pizza Night

On the subject of making extra, we usually have a big, meaty meal on Sunday (like a whole marinated chicken or a roast). This provides lots of extra meat to use for meals during the week. I love turning Sunday's pot roast into Tuesday's beef burritos. Or we just eat the leftovers without the transformation. Either way, it makes for a quick meal.

The other great option for dinner is to make it your fun activity of the day. Our kids love "Make-Your-Own-Pizza Night." They've recently enjoyed making creative burritos as well. 

Tips

Involve the kids as much as possible - during the school year they learn facts from their teachers. During they summer, they learn practical skills from you. Now is a great time to teach the fundamentals off cooking.

Make extras and freeze them - if you are making a meal that freezes well, double it, then freeze what you don't eat for another day. Freezer meals are real time savers for busy days and keep you from buying fast food.

80/20 rule - My amazing friend and neighbor has a philosophy when it comes to feeding your family. You feed them healthy, real food 80% of the time, and 20% of the time you allow prepacked, full of sugar & preservative food. We all want our kids to eat healthy, but having Little Caesars for dinner once a week won't hurt anybody.

Free and Cheap Fun for Families Around Town

It is easy to blow the budget in the summertime. There are so many great theme parks, museums, and camps to try. But spending a bundle isn't necessary for having a great time. 

Lowe's Build-and-Grow 

In the summertime, there are so many free and cheap programs for kids. The best was to find out about these activities are tips I mentioned in the article for finding local events. Some programs have to be signed-up for, and in a family-friendly area like Gilbert, AZ, those fill up fast. My advice is to register as soon as possible, even if you aren't sure you can make it or that it's something your kids will want to do. You can always cancel later.

Some of our favorite free summer programs include:

• Disney Play Days-Stop by the Disney Store for activities including Art of Animation, Storytime, Trivia, and Showtime. Last year, kids got a different button to put on a lanyard each

  

  Disney Play Days - Art of Animation

  week that they attended an event. These events are happening June, July, and August. Times and activities vary weekly so call ahead to find out what time to attend.
• Storytime at bookstores-Barnes & Noble stores frequently have story times and family-friendly events. You can find them on your local stores website. Some BN stores offer more programs than others so if you have more than one in your area, check both. They also have a summer reading program that let's kids earn a free book. Local bookstores love to get families in there and often have reading stories or programs, too.
• library programs-The summer reading program at the Maricopa County Libraries was pretty lame last year, with no weekly incentives or goals beyond digital badges. BUT there are still some fun programs going on. We have both county and city libraries. The county library's activities have a limit of attendees and fill up quickly. I love Chandler City libraries. They also have some events that have to be registered for, but they offer lots of free programs for all ages and don't seem to be as crowded. They also offer the Culture Pass which allows you to "check out" 2 free passes to local museums, gardens, and zoos. Many libraries have similar programs so check yours.
• free summer lunch programs-Certain schools offer free lunches (and breakfasts) to kids ages 1-18 years throughout the summer. These aren't just for poor families. The schools want you to attend because they get funded based on the number of people that attend. To find free lunch in your area just do a quick internet search.   
• Bass Pro Family Summer Camp-for about a month in the summer (usually around July), families can participate in free activities and crafts. Check your local Bass Pro for specific times and dates.
• Home Depot & Lowe's Kids Workshops-These are offered year-round but get pretty busy in the summer. Be sure to register early for Lowe's and show up early for Home Depot (registration is not required but they do like to have an idea how many people are going to show up). My kids love collecting new project patches for their Lowe's aprons. Their favorite things about Home Depot that you get to paint your project. They do have recommended ages for these programs, but they let any age kids participate with their parents. 

  

  San Tan Village Splash Pad

Parks and splash pads are also a great, free summer option. Since it gets so hot here, we sometimes head to the park right when we wake up, which is between 6 and 7 A.M. If we're wanting to play at a park later in the day, you better bet it will have a splash pad and Mama will be right in there with the kids. Here is my list of splash pads in the Greater Phoenix area.

Cow Appreciation Day

To find cheap activities, check Groupon, Living Social, and local mailers. They often have discount tickets, or even better, museum/zoo memberships. The Arizona Science Center recently had a Groupon for a family pass. Not only will that let us enjoy the Science Center all summer, they are also part of the ASTC Passport program that allows members to get in free to museums all over the country. 

Most movie theaters offer a kids summer movie program. Here they show previously released movies for $1 and also offer concession deals. Check your local theater for details.

Make sure to take advantage of free days at local museums, zoos, and gardens. The Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix is free the 2nd Tuesday of every month. Some restaurants also offer free days. One of our favorites is Cow Appreciation Day at Chick-Fil-A. Dress like a cow for a free meal.

What are your free and cheap activities around town? Share your favorites in a comment.