No, I am not referring to the awkward school pictures that kids usually take in elementary school; I am laughing at the creative license the parents take with naming their kids.

While thumbing through the yearbook, I came across boys named “Boxer,” “Havoc” and “Welcome.”  Evidently, Boxer and Havoc’s parents wanted to give their sons macho names to live up to.  Welcome’s parents just wanted him to belong.

I was also intrigued by the number of “INITIES” I encountered.  There were young ladies named “Destiny,” “Uniti,” “Divihnity” (with the extra “h” included), and “Trinity” (ironically, there were three of them!)  I felt all we needed was a “Nativity” and an “Annuity” to round out the “creativity” and “eccentricity” of the parents’ selections.  Let the “hilarity” ensue.

Ok, I concede that parents should be able to name their children anything they want to; I am just weird about names.  I understand that people want to express themselves by giving their kids unique names, but I am old school.  A name like “Daniel” may seem old-fashioned to some, but I think it sound like a solid man’s name.  It’s easy to pronounce, it can be shortened; there are a variety of reasons I like the name.  I am sure that the parents of children with unconventional names feel the same way, and they are certainly entitled to their opinions.  I just know that children can be cruel, and having a different name is an invitation to harassment.  While it’s true, some children embrace their distinctive names or maybe an unusual spelling of a conventional name.  In my opinion, however, I don’t see the need to “Welcome” “Havoc” in a kid’s life.

The post The Name Game appeared first on Arizona Mama.

Take Advantage of the Continental Breakfast

Sometimes this means getting up earlier than I would like, but FREE is my favorite word so I get up and eat when I can, and sometimes go back to bed.

Frozen Microwave Meals

Our hotel room had a “Kitchenette” that came with a microwave, decent size mini-fridge and freezer. Paying extra to have these in a hotel room may be worth the cost that you save by not going out. We stocked up on frozen food: Chicken Nuggets, Hot Pockets, and Pot Pies.

Other Microwave Meals

• Bean and Cheese Burritos: Can of Beans, Tortillas, Taco Bell Mild Sauce, Cheese (Kept Refrigerated)
• Chili Dogs: Can of Chili, Hot Dog Buns, Hot Dogs (Kept Refrigerated), Cheese (Kept Refrigerated)
• Easy Mac, Top Ramen, Canned Soup, Instant Potatoes, Instant Rice
• Leftovers! When you do eat out, save what you can to eat for lunch or a snack the next day.

Coffee Maker Meals

If your hotel room doesn’t come with anything but a coffee maker you can still make a couple meals in your room. Anything that just takes hot water you could make with just the coffee maker. I made a few of these when my son was sleeping because the microwave was too loud.

• Oatmeal
• Ramen
• Soup
• Instant Rice
• Instant Potatoes

If you want to get crazy with making things from your coffee maker check out Geekosystem’s post: Coffee Maker Food

We also bought stuff for some sandwiches, plenty of snacks and drinks. Don’t forget to bring plates, silverware and a microwave dish. We have a nice pocket knife we plan on using for the fruit. Check out my ideas on snacks to bring to the zoo- they would work well to bring to your hotel room as well!

Do you ever eat in your hotel room, if so what do you usually eat?

Other Traveling Tips:
Airport Traveling Tips
Road Trip Packing List Printable, And One For Toddler’s Stuff
On-the-Go Squeezy Applesauce
DIY Personalized Suitcase

The post Eating Out of a Hotel Room {Vacation Money Saving Ideas} appeared first on Arizona Mama.

This is the first year where I had to really come up with an end of the year gift for my son’s teachers, aides, bus drivers, and bus aides.  It has been quite a challenge to keep it from busting our family budget.  I was stumped for the longest time trying to figure out what to give a bus driver when chocolate or really anything that melts isn’t an option.  Because I work with teachers, administrators and have family and friends who are teachers, I polled them to see what their favorite types of gifts would be that doesn’t break the bank.  I found that the more creative gifts and more personalized gifts were very appreciated.   Here are some ideas to get you started:

1) Gift cards

These are great if you know a little more about what they like and you don’t have a lot of people to buy for on your list.  Most people like Starbucks, but if you know they like juice or something else, go for that.  Just keep in mind that if you do only $5 that it doesn’t go very far.  Bookstores, massages, movie theatres, etc. are some types of gifts to get.  Just think about the things that can help them relax, too!  Teaching can be stressful!

2) Classroom supplies

Teachers always appreciate anything they can add to their classroom without it coming out of their pocket!  Some teachers have received unique pencils, pen sets, briefcase, books, flowers, or anything that is fun and useful.

3) Consider the gender…

of your teacher along with their likes.  Also, observe how they decorate their classroom.  This is where the briefcase or a special homemade gift is appropriate.

4) Candles or candle holders

Just make sure they don’t have any major allergies!  I happen to have access to some amazing candles due to my side job, but anything that fits with the teacher’s personality is great no matter where you get it.  This just doesn’t work so well for bus drivers and aides because of the heat.  Unfortunately, not all buses have air conditioning.

5) Water bottles

I decided to go to a dollar store and see what kind of inexpensive water bottle I could find.  This is a great gift for bus drivers that they can use throughout the year.  I filled it with some candy that won’t melt along with some drink mixes.  I also put gum in there because sometimes it helps to have something to chew if you are hungry and have a long day or a long drive.

6) Hugs

Teachers always love hugs from their students.

7) Specialty candy or specialty desserts

If you know they have a sweet tooth, this is a great way to go.  Think about what specialty local shops are around and see what they have to offer in your budget.

8) Handmade items

Vases, pencil boxes, apples, etc. are great things to have your child make for them.

9) Picture of your child. 

Teachers love to have pictures of the children that they serve as reminders of them.  They can make a picture frame or buy one to decorate.  It’s a great way to say thank you.

10)  Pictures that your child draws.

Sometimes even the simplest gifts are the best.  Teachers, aides, and anyone involved in working with children love receiving stuff made by kids.

These are only a few suggestions, but be creative! One of my teacher friends once received cereal and she said it was the best thing!  Gifts do not have to be expensive or even cost anything.   It really is the gratitude you are showing the person for taking care of your child and helping them grow and learn amazing things.  Everyone who works in the school should be appreciated no matter what position they hold.  They are a big part of our child’s life.

The post Gift Ideas for Teachers, Aides, Bus Drivers, and more! appeared first on Arizona Mama.

Plant something

Nothing says spring like planting a garden! If you have a Wolf Cub, he can pass off Elective 15a – d by planting and raising a box garden, a flower bed, vegetables or growing a plant indoors. Our family has mastered the art of planting – it’s the growing part that gives us trouble. The Bear Scouts have a landscaping elective (number 14). Webelos need to plant 20 forest tree seedlings for Requirement 8 of their Forester pin.

We had fun planting our own Chia Pets. Pour a cup of potting soil into the toe of a knee high nylon, put and then sprinkle grass seed on top.  Tie a knot to keep everything in place.  Next we hot glued google eyes and pom-poms to make a face (or something like a face).  Soak it in water and set in a sunny place.  I was surprised at how quickly they started growing grass; it was less than a week.

A visit to the Desert Botanical Garden is not only fun, it passes off Wolf Elective 15e.

Service project

A great way to spring into action is with a service project. How about a family service walk? You get exercise, clean up the neighborhood and your Wolf scout can pass off Achievement 7d. Bear requirement 6b can is planting a tree, which combines growing something with a service project. An outdoor conservation project is part of the Webelos Outdoorsman requirements.

Mad jumping skills

Why not get outside and see who has the best standing long jump (Wolf Elective 20i), high jump (Wolf Requirement 1f), or running jump. 10 second sprints are always fun – and exhausting! (Wolf Elective 20h) Some of the same activities can be used for Bear Scouts to pass off Achievement 16a and c. Webelos can develop their skills while working on their Athlete pin.

Remember to keep the outing in Scouting. Even if your family doesn’t include a Cub Scout these are great activities to get outside and enjoy nature! If you do have Cub Scouts, it’s always good to kill two birds with one stone so to speak. (No birds or Cub Scouts were harmed in the writing of this article.)

If you like these springy activity ideas, be sure to check the following:

Paper Bag Kites

Flight Activities for Kids

Mesa Community College Planetarium

The post Spring Into Action with Cub Scouts appeared first on Arizona Mama.

Today I met Daisy, and she broke my heart.  I’ve met a multitude of adorable babies at the retail store where I work, but Daisy sticks out in my mind.  Daisy, a foster care child, was born HIV positive.

Her foster mom, a woman I will aptly name “Angel,” and I struck up a conversation one day at the baby store.  Little Daisy was all dressed up and her beautiful blue eyes caught my attention.  During the course of our conversation, “Angel” divulged that four-month old Daisy, as alert and adorable as she could be, was also an HIV baby.  Daisy was currently undergoing an antibody treatment that could potentially eradicate the disease from her tiny body.  I was taken aback; I did not even know that was possible!  Angel also disclosed that Daisy had two older siblings, ages 2 and 1, and both were undergoing the same treatment.  Although the older children seemed to be responding well, Angel stated that the mortality rate for children under 2 with HIV is 50%.

When I heard these statistics, it immediately changed my perspective.  Certainly we’ve all had those days where we feel exasperated, or like we’ve been dealt a bad hand.  Suddenly, I realized I was holding four aces in comparison to Daisy’s proverbial poker hand.

And then, there was Angel, herself.  Imagine accepting a child into your home and your heart knowing that any day, that child could either die or be removed from your care.  “Angel” was hopeful she would be able to one day adopt Daisy, but she did not have her hopes held high.  Angel had been a foster parent previously, and her charges were unceremoniously taken away from her when an obscure family member decided they wanted the children instead.  No good-byes, no transition period, just off they went, leaving Angel broken hearted but ready to love again.

So why do foster parents do it?  The financial reward isn’t great incentive and the probability of a broken heart is a real possibility.  My only guess is that some people, like “Angel,” have an overabundance of love to share and for them, nothing else can fill that void.  They’re givers, in the true sense of the word.  Without these fabulous foster parents, many children would be substantially worse off.  They thrive on the love, patience and consistency these foster parents provide.

While not all foster children are blessed with nurturing foster parents, Daisy is one of the lucky ones.  She has her guardian, “Angel.”

The post Foster Parents: Angels Among Us appeared first on Arizona Mama.

Everytime I think I can stop looking for activities, I end up finding more!  Here are more fun events happening this month to keep you and your family busy, happy, and learning.

Free Science Saturdays - Chandler.  Tumbleweed Ranch.  2nd Saturday, October -May (excluding November and March).  Noon -4pm.  The whole family can participate in a science experiment.  The ranch features animals, older buildings, etc.  It will keep even the older kids interested.

Phoenix Comic Con – May 23-26, Phoenix Convention Center. This isn’t for just trekkies and Star Wars junkies.  There are super heroes and there are some family friendly comics out there.  Pay attention to what they are doing on particular days and there are some people who do dress up.  It is an interesting event.

Neon Splash Dance - May 11th.  Scottsdale.  It’s a 5k run event at night where you run or dance through different splash zones and you are “splashed” of sprayed with neon colored water.  There is also an after party with lots of music and afterglow!

Free Art Friday – Tempe.  Fridays.  You can learn about music or create an art piece.  Every month is a different theme.

4th Annual May Day Celebration - Pine.  May 11 and 12.  Antique Tractor Show, entertainment, crafts, food, etc.  It’s a small town celebration that’s close enough for us “city folks.”

MISS Foundation 3rd Annual Kindness Walk and Safety Fair - May 19.  Cesar Chavez Plaza, Phoenix.  Registration 8 am.  The MISS Foundation, an Arizona-based international non-profit organization, comes to the aid of thousands of families who have experienced the heartbreak of child death.

 Make It and Take It Wednesdays – 3rd Wednesday.  Mesa.  8 years and up.  4:30 -5:30 pm.  Kids can make art projects from a variety of materials and then take them home.

11th Annual Soar Into Spring Kite Festival - Flagstaff.  May 11.  12-4 pm.  Kite flying, arts & crafts, carnival games and rides, bounce houses,  face painting, library activities, food, prizes and giveaways, etc.  This a great family event and you can get out of the heat!

Taylor Trapper Days - Taylor.  May 25.  BBQ, Mutt Show, craft show, horsehoe tournament, and more.  This is another great event to beath the heat and enjoy seeing part of Arizona.

Public Astronomy Night – Sierra Vista.  6:30 pm.  You will get to use the Patterson telescope to view the stars, moon, and much more.  Free.

Annual Nature Center Work Day & Tent Raising – Pinetop-Lakeside.  May 18th.  Volunteers needed to help take care of nature and complete projects.  Fun for the family to help work in nature.

Go Outdoors! Event  - May 18th and 19th.  Prescott.  This event showcases all of the things you can do in the outdoors in Arizona.  It’s a great opportunity to see what is out there for you and your family.  If you are looking for things to do this summer, this is a great place to start.

33rd Annual Wyatt Earp Days – May 25-27.  Tombstone.  The town will be celebrating one of their famous former residents with chili cook-offs, hangings, gunfights, 1880s fashion show, and much more.  If you want your children to see history up close, this is a great place to take them.

This is a great month for getting in a lot of the last minute outdoors events in the Phoenix area before we reach heat stroke temperatures.  Take advantage of what Arizona has to offer.  Enjoy!

The post AZ Things to Do May 2013 Part 2 appeared first on Arizona Mama.

The clock ticked 7:05 p.m. Could it only have been thirty-five minutes that had gone by?  Seriously, it felt like hours.  As I sat in the audience of my son’s band concert, I then started to feel guilty.  Do all parents feel this way about their child’s band concert?

Of course, I love my son and I want to support him in all his endeavors.  When he decided he wanted to play the trombone, I was behind him 100%.  While I recognize that playing this instrument may not be his life’s calling, I know that he will greatly benefit from learning to read music, mastering a music instrument and from playing in the group.  Now if he were only good at it…

It takes an honest parent to admit when your child is lacking in an extracurricular pursuit.  Daniel has many talents; his ability to quote any tv, movie, or song is quite the skill.  He’s great at math and baseball and is a really sweet kid.  However, music may not be his forte.

As I sat in the audience, anticipating the start of the elementary school band concert, I watched as my son nervously prepared his instrument onstage.  They began the evening with “Frere Jacque,” and I watched as Daniel puffed out his cheeks and moved the slide part of his trombone back and forth.  As I watched the kids play, I smiled.  “Frere Jacque” holds a place in my heart because when my kids were little, I would change the words and sing my version to them.  Daniel’s rendition went, “Daniel Allen, Daniel Allen, I love you.  Yes I do.  You’re my little baby, and I really love you, yes I do.  I love you.”

They played four songs total–four long, slightly off key, ear drum battering songs.  My thoughts turned to the band teacher and I thought how patient he must be!  He must truly love music and teaching to be able to withstand that sort of punishment on a daily basis!

When Daniel’s group was done, the older kids took the stage.  Daniel sat next to me as a group of girls performed together.  Daniel leaned in towards me and whispered, “That’s called a trio.”  I smiled and nodded.

As I pondered all the other places I could have been that Tuesday evening, all the chores I could have been catching up on, all the bills I needed to pay, I happened to glance over at my son.  I watched as he listened without prejudice to his classmates, smiling as he recognized that he was a part of this special group of kids, that he was a part of the bigger picture.  It was then that I heard the music as he heard it, and realized that that there was no other place I’d rather be.

The post The Elementary School Band Concert (My Ears Are Still Ringing) appeared first on Arizona Mama.

I just had the best date of my life.  Granted, my date was substantially younger than I am and I did have to pay for dinner, yet it was still a memorable evening.  Our conversation included deep subjects such as which Ninja Turtle is the coolest and information for an upcoming school project.  All in all, a perfect night.

My date, of course, was with my 10 year-old son, Daniel.  He had just finished a little league baseball game and all of our other family members where occupied for the evening, so Daniel and I decided that a dinner together was in order.  I asked Daniel where he wanted to go.

“How about Olive Garden?”  he suggested.

“Sure.  Why Olive Garden?”  I asked.

“Because I have never been there,” he replied.  Obviously, I had been neglecting my duties as a parent.  It was something I intended to rectify that night.

We cruised into Olive Garden and sat down at a booth for two.  I had Daniel remove his baseball hat and received an approving nod from the older couple seated at the next table.  Daniel and I discussed the menu options including the salad and breadsticks.  I couldn’t let my kid leave Olive Garden without trying the famous salad and breadsticks!

One bite of a breadstick and he was in love.  He really liked the salad, too and even ate his first pepperoncini.  It was a night of firsts.

“Ya know, Mom,” Daniel said as he looked around the restaurant, “this place feels like France.”

“France?” I repeated.  “Well, it’s Italian food, but maybe you mean it has a European atmosphere,” I smiled.

He nodded in agreement as he ate his spaghetti and meatball.

“It’s not as good as my spaghetti, huh?” I teased.

“No, it is!” he answered enthusiastically.  I just laughed.

As we finished our meal (and took a lot of it home) he challenged me to some games of  TIC-TAC-TOE.  Daniel was beaming by this point.  After we paid, we walked out of the restaurant and Daniel stopped and reached for my hand.

“Mom, I had a really good time tonight,” he said to me.  The sincerity in his voice almost made me cry.  He gazed at me lovingly and all I could think was how sweet my was that night.  Some girl will be very lucky in a few years.  I realize his infatuation with me will be fleeting and he will soon replace me with…other girls.

He held my hand all the van and gave me a small thank you kiss as we proceeded to get into the vehicle.  He gushed about our “date” for days afterward.  It made as much of an impression on him as it did on me.

“Can we do it again, soon?” he asked me.

“Certainly,” was my reply.  I winked and added, “but next time, you pay.”

The post The Best Date Ever appeared first on Arizona Mama.

While I was very appreciative of the free tickets, their location left me less than enthusastic.  They were at the very top of the arena and I am petrified of heights!  As we climbed the mountain of stairs, I was relieved to find St. Peter, saving our seats for us, right next to the Pearly Gates…

stairway to Heaven

At first, the boys seemed very interested in the game, especially the pulse-pounding music played to keep the fans’ energy level high.  The boys shouted, stomped, yelled “Hey!” at the appropriate times and enjoyed their monkey masks, courtesy of the Suns’ Gorilla.

They also wanted to eat.  They ate dinner from McDonald’s and ice cream from Cold Stone.  Once they polished that off, the excitement of a professional basketball game was waning.

They got bored.

It’s no wonder, either.  As much as I love sports and I try to support my home teams, it’s hard to get behind a team whose roster reads like a “who’s who” of anonymous tall guys.  To say this game had all the action of a high school basketball game would be an insult to dedicated high school players everywhere.  I felt badly for the Suns’ players; you could tell they were really trying, but it just was not clicking for them.  Their opponents, the Memphis Grizzlies, played more aggressively and thus, won the game.  To illustrate:

• The Grizzlies were in the key more often than people who live in Florida;
• The Grizzlies did more pushing than a mom in a delivery room;
• Memphis did more dunking than cops having breakfast;
• The Grizzlies had more rebounds than Taylor Swift;
• Those Grizzlies were in the paint more than Sherwin Williams;

It goes on and on, but to say  the Suns didn’t rise to the occasion would be just another bad (true) pun.  However, spending time with the boys was definitely…a slam dunk!

The post A Punny Look at the Phoenix Suns appeared first on Arizona Mama.

It’s getting hot already and there are still some cool things to do!  I have compiled some things to do ranging from the nerdy stuff to fun family activities. There are some great free events coming up, so this is the time to take advantage of them before we become recluses this summer.  Enjoy!

Free Comic Book Day -First Saturday in May.  Only participating comic book shops will do this, but the website will detail all of the locations where you can obtain a free comic book.  It’s a great way to give your child something fun to read this summer without paying a dime!  It’s also not just for boys.  There are some really cool comics for girls.

International Museum Day -May 18th.  Enjoy special programs or free admission to many different museums.  Some local museums are participating.  You will need to check with the museum you wish to visit to make sure they participate.

Peach Festival -May 18, 19, 25, 26, and 27.  Schepf Farms has an annual festival where you can sample peachy foods, go on a hay ride, pick peaches, peach pie eating and other various events.  It’s free to attend, but food, rides and peach items are extra.

Butterfly Wonderland -This is a new attraction in the Phoenix area.  Located on the Salt River Reservation you will be able to see one of the largest collections of butterflies, ants, and other creatures.  The exhibits walk you through the life of a typical butterfly and allows you to experience them flying around you.  It’s a little on the pricey side, but it is worth it if you have little ones in preschool and kindergarten.  It’s part of the mainstream curriculum to study butterflies and this is a great opportunity to see them up close.

 Weather or Not:  Art with Atmosphere - Now through May 26th.  This is a unique, artistic look at weather at the Arizona Museum for Youth.   Kids will love the glow-in-the-dark weather room and creating their own tornadoes.

Getting to the Point of Water Safety Event – May 11th.  9 am-1 pm.  Learn about water safety while enjoying the pool at Pointe Squaw Peak for free!  Raffles, sports mascots, fire department, rescue demos, swimming lessons, local celebrities and more!  Great event for families to learn about water safety while enjoying a great pool.

 Night of Giving at Enchanted Island -May 16th.  5-8 pm.  All proceeds go towards Face In The Mirror Cancer Center.  $3 unlimited rides.  It’s a great event for the price and helps others, too!

Cinco De Mayo at Enchanted Island -May 5th.  11 am-8 pm.  Free pinata bashing, music and other entertainment.  Iron Man will be making an appearance for pictures and autograpsh.

Papi’s Weekend Cinco De Mayo Weekend -May 5th. 11am -2pm Family Friendly games.  Music, outdoor games, and more.  Cover charge of $5.

The Twelve News La Voz Cinco De Mayo Phoenix Festival - May 4th and 5th.  Largest Cinco De Mayo Festival in the valley for 20 years.  Entertainment, food, activities, givesways, raffles, family fun, and more.  $5 admission.

 Mother’s Day Celebration in Historic Glendale -May 11.  10 am-4 pm.  Take mom to the visitor center for a free flower and coupons just for mom.  There will be many different events going on at the vendors in Glendale.  They will also be collecting books for the use of the local libraries.

Surprise Memorial Day Parade and Pancake Breakfast – Event will include a pancake breakfast, guest speakers, color guard and a military vehicle display.  Pancake Breakfast starting at 6:30 a.m. is $3 per person. Program begins at 8:30 a.m. Call for information 623-222-2000.   Surprise Recreation Campus.

11th Annual Memorial Day Celebration -May 27th.  4-8 pm.  Family style food, entertainment and raffles.  The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps will debut their 2013 musical production “Pianoman.”

Memorial Day Weekend BBQ and Fireworks Show -Visit Wet’N Wild and then stay for the “All You Can Eat” BBQ and Fireworks show.  The BBQ is an additional fee.

Bark in the Park -May 27th.  The Arizona Diamondbacks hosts a puppy rally and parade pregame along with watching the game with your furry friend.  There will be other things to do at this event for the dogs.

Itty Bitty Beach Parties – Surprise.  May 23rd.  Kids 6 years and younger can enjoy games, crafts, and more!

National Train Day -May 11th.  Free admission to Arizona Railway Museum, Yuma has events at the Quartermaster Depot State Historical Park, and many other train parks.  Check out the main site for the event and find one you want to visit.

There are a lot of things to do in the Valley of the Sun, but these are the most family and wallet friendly.  Enjoy!

The post Arizona Activities – May 2013 appeared first on Arizona Mama.