Summer Activities for Families in Mesa

Thank you Shelley so very much for compiling such a great list of summer-time activities. Hit us up in the comment section if you have any other recommendations!

INDOOR PLAY PLACES

Bounce U
1166 S. Gilbert Rd. Gilbert, AZ 85296
Cost: $8.95/child
Description: Indoor inflatable playground, arcade, party rooms.
More Info: (480) 632-9663 or http://www.bounceu.com/

Imagination Avenue
10614 N. 32nd Street, Phoenix AZ 85028
Cost: $9/person; Under 1 free
Description: This 3,500 square foot indoor play center contains a child sized town /
More Info: 602-765-3192 or  http://www.imaginationavenue.us

Jump Street
455 E. Warner Rd, Chandler, AZ 85225
Cost: $8-10/person
Description: The valley’s first and only indoor trampoline parks and family sports fun centers
More Info: http://www.gotjump.com/

Makutu’s Island
6919 W Ray Rd, Chandler, AZ 85226
Cost: $8.50/kids; $3.50/adults; Under 1 free
Description: Makutu’s Island is a 20,000 square foot, multi-level indoor playground in Chandler, AZ. Made for children and adults
More Info: (480) 344-3741 or http://www.makutusisland.com/

Great Play

2855 W. Ray Road, Chandler, AZ 85226

Cost: Free trial available, prices not listed

Description: Fun way for kids to develop motor skills, sport skills and coordination in an interactive arena.

For ages 6 mo.-12 years

More info: (480) 726-7529 or www.greatplay.com 

WATER PARKS / THEME PARKS

Big Surf Waterpark
1500 N. McClintock Dr., Tempe, AZ 85281
Cost: $19.50/ 3+; $26/adults; $3/under 3
Description: Wave pools, waterslides and more
More Info: 480-994-2297 or http://www.bigsurffun.com/ 

Golfland Sunsplash Mesa
155 W. Hampton Ave., Mesa, AZ 85210
Cost:$10 - $30/person
Description: Water slides, wave pool, toddler pool, mini golf, laser tag, bumper boats and more
More Info: http://www.golfland.com/mesa/

Mesquite Groves Aquatic Center
 5901 S. Hillcrest Dr, Chandler, AZ
Cost: $1/children; $2.25/adults
Description: Water playground, lazy river, lap pool, diving pool, toddler pool, splash pad and water slides.
More Info: http://www.chandleraz.gov/default.aspx?pageid=733

Tempe Town Lake, Splash Playground
Located at the south bank of Tempe Town Lake at Tempe Beach Park near the entrance to the park at Rio Salado Parkway and Mill Avenue
Cost: Free
Description: One-acre playground for children
More info: (480) 350-8625 or  http://www.tempetownlake.com

INDOOR SKATING / ACTIVITIES

Skateland

7 E. Southern Ave., Mesa Arizona 85210

Cost: $1-11…check website for summer specials

Description:  Indoor roller skate and inline skating rink

More info: 480-833-7775 or www.skatelandmesa.com or facebook.com/skatelandmesaaz

Gilbert Polar Ice

2305 E. Knox Ave, Gilbert, AZ 85296

Cost: $3.50 for 3 and under, $11 12 and under, $12 13 and older, includes skate rental

Description:  Indoor family-oriented venue for safe and enjoyable ice activities for all ages.  Open skate and lessons available.  See website for open skate calendar.

More info:  (480) 503-7080 or www.polaricegilbert.com 

MUSEUMS & ZOOS

Arizona Museum for Youth
35 N. Robson, Mesa, Arizona 85201
Cost: $7/person; under 2 free
Description: Hand-on art, learning and music exhibits
More Info: 480-644-2467 or http://www.arizonamuseumforyouth.com/

Arizona Natural History Museum
53 N. Macdonald, Mesa, AZ 85201
Cost: $6/ children; $9/adults; under 2 free
Description: Dinosaur water exhibit, art projects, walk-through jail, etc.
More Info: 480-644-2230 or  http://www.azmnh.org

Arizona Science Center
600 E. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85004
Cost: $10/child; $12/adult
Description: Participate in interactive exhibits, watch 5-story tall movies, or take a trip through the stars at the planetarium
More Info: (602) 716-2000 or  http://www.azscience.org

Children’s Museum of Phoenix
215 N. 7th Street, Phoenix, AZ  85034
Cost: $11/person; Under 1 free
Description: Dozens of hands-on, interactive exhibits designed for children ages birth to 10, the Museum focuses on learning through play, with emphasis on early childhood education and school-readiness
More Info: 602-253-0501 or http://www.childrensmuseumofphoenix.org/  

Phoenix Zoo
455 North Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, AZ 85008
Cost: $9/child; $18/adult; Under 2 free
Description: Animals, rides, splash pads, etc.
More Info: 602.273.1341 or http://www.phoenixzoo.org

Sea Life Arizona
5000 S. Arizona Mills Circle, Ste. 145 Tempe, AZ 85282 (located at the northeast corner of Arizona Mills Mall)
Cost: $11/children & $18/adults
Description: Providing close encounters with a vast array of creatures including seahorses, sharks, rays, tropical fish and more
More Info: http://www.visitsealife.com/Arizona/

Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium
16501 W. Northern Ave., Litchfield Park, AZ 85340
Cost: $14.25/child; $27.50/adult; under 2 free
Description: Some 75 indoor exhibits featuring fish, mammals, birds, invertebrates, amphibians, and reptiles located in three buildings
More Info: 623-935-9453 or http://www.wildlifeworld.com/

Natural Window Cleaner Recipes

Looking to cut back on chemicals, and yet still keep your windows sparkling? I am excited to try these few recipes out... although little handprints are cute, there does come a time for mom-here to wipe windows and sliding glass doors clean! :-)

Here are three different recipes we've found for natural, homemade window cleaners:

Super-duper Simple:

Image: www.makeyourownzone.com

Simple:

Image: www.mayamade.blogspot.com

Bit-more-complex:

Image: hostesswiththemostest.com

April Announcements

Starting in April we will go from two postings a week, to a once a week posting on Mondays. Please let us know how we can serve you with this blog.

There are some great events coming up for your family and YOU at church this month:

Spring Community BBQ
Sunday, April 7th from 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
The event itself is free. Food is $5 per person or $15 for a family.

For more info and to register to help out, please click here.

Girlfriend's Game Night
Friday, April 19th from 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

For more info, click here.

Amped Up
April 27th from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Enjoy an evening with Dennis Lee and the Funky Monkey Bunch to benefit KidZ at Heart. It's upbeat entertainment for the whole family.

For more info, click here.


Don't forget: mom2mom's next meeting is Thursday, April 11th! Same time (9:30 am) just a week earlier than normal. Hope to see you all there!

March Meeting Recap

So good to see many of you at our March meeting this past Friday, we also missed many of you and hope everyone had a great Spring Break with your kiddos.

A reminder that our next meeting arrives early and falls on April 11th.

At our meeting on Friday, we discussed Postpartum Depression and heard from women who have personally experienced it. Postpartum Depression usually takes place 1-3 weeks after childbirth. It can include fear, anxiety, fatigue, and unusual thoughts. The following are resources given from Friday's talk:

Scriptures:
Psalm 94:19 "In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul" KJV
Psalm 34:18 "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed." NLT

Websites:
Joy Choquette:
http://postpartumdepression.yuku.com
www.postpartumfaith.com

Heather Bixler:
www.CSAHM.com
www.HeatherBixler.com

Christina Fox:
www.toshowthemjesus.com

Elder paper on depression by Pastor Bob Fox www.rmcchurch.org:
http://s3.amazonaws.com/churchplantmedia-cms/redmountaincommunity/depression.pdf

Books:
Desires of My Heart by Heather Bixler

Jesus Calling and Jesus Today by Sarah Young

Unglued by Lysa Terkeurst

Recipe Link: Resurrection Rolls

Click here for recipe and explanation for kiddos!

Resource From Busy Kids = Happy Mom: Simple Preparations for Easter

Busy Kids = Happy Mom: Simple Preparations for Easter: We're preparing for Easter!  As a Christian, it's our most important celebration of the year.


Click on the above words underlined in blue to be redirected to the blog post on simple ways to focus on Easter.

Easy St. Patrick Day Crafts

3 fun, and simple, projects to brighten your St. Patrick's Day with your kiddos. Simply click on the images below for step by step instructions.

www.spoonful.com

www.secondchancetodream.com