Rawhide Western Town and Steakhouse, located at 5700 West North Loop Road in Chandler Arizona, is open year round as a themed amusement park. The premises include a steakhouse, a confection’s shop, a photo emporium, and a number of attractions.

Our 2-year-old was particularly keen on the train ride, while our 5-year-old appreciated the challenge of panning for gold. Other attractions include burro rides, a stagecoach ride, a rock climbing wall, a petting zoo, and two live shows. Tickets are $5/per attraction or $15 for an unlimited wristband.

If you’re celebrating something special, we recommend the Steakhouse. Decorated with red-and-white checkered tablecloths and lovely lanterns, the ranch house-style restaurant features steak, ribs, salads, and a children’s menu. Entrees ranges from $15-$28. Kid’s plates are $7 and include fries or fresh fruit, plus soda. Live music accompanies dinner and a dance floor is available for your line-dancing pleasure. “Arizona” was the band on the night we were there and they were outstanding.

If you visit in the winter, be sure to bring sweatshirts for after sundown since the town is mostly outdoors. Fortunately, you’ll be able to stop and warm yourself at a number of open fires on property. You can even buy a S’mores kit for $3 and roast marshmallows.

Also – don’t forget your camera as there are plenty of great photo opps!

Rawhide is an especially excellent place to visit for east-coasters and/or people traveling from abroad, but everyone will appreciate experiencing the history of Arizona in living color.

P.S. Rawhide will be celebrating its’ 41st Birthday on February 25-26 2012 – and you’re invited! Free parking. Free admission. Free attractions. Plus, a free hat & bandana for the kids!

Have you ever been to Rawhide? What did you like/not like about it?

* Special thanks to Rawhide for providing town passes and dinner at the steakhouse.

Janelle, a mom of three boys and active twitterite, started the shop this past year. Her hand-stamped silver jewelry focuses on God’s love and grace.

Examples:

The necklaces are affordably priced at $24-$32. You can also order a custom piece of jewelry if you have a “word of the year” or a phrase that you’d like to keep close to your heart.

P.S. Grace Tags is on Facebook.

WIN IT! One winner will receive a necklace from Grace Tags Hand Stamped Christian Jewelry! To enter, leave any topic-related comment on this post prior to Wednesday, February 8 at 11:59 p.m. All generic comments like “Enter me!” or “Love it” will be disqualified. Winner must provide a US mailing address.

Whole Foods Market - Austin, TX

I am a fan of upscale grocery stores. They have wide aisles and beautiful displays. They tend to offer in-store amenities and samples. They usually offer superior customer service. AND – they save us money.

In our family, we don’t abide by the “eat everything on your plate” mentality. In fact, we adopt quite a different philosophy: “Eat delicious, healthful foods until you are full.” If we buy rolls and they end up being stale, we throw them away. If I go to a dinner party, sample a truffle, and don’t care for it…I (discreetly) throw it away. If I order something at a restaurant and find that the side dish is salty and unsatisfying, I leave it on my plate.

It is important to clarify that our family does not invite complaint, rudeness, or unnecessary waste to sit at our table. We are teaching our girls to say “please,” “you’re welcome,” “excuse me” and – especially – “thank you.” We encourage them to try new foods and, if they don’t like something, to eat other foods quietly. We strive to lead by example in practicing these principles.

The purpose of food is twofold: to nourish us AND to be enjoyed.

We save money when we buy from high-quality food vendors (upscale grocery stores, independent bakeries, farmer’s markets, health food stores) because we tend to eat all of the food. The produce is more likely to be ripe and in-season. The meat is more likely to be organic and unadulterated. The bread is more likely to be fresh and heavenly. We eat every last morsel – or save the rest for leftovers (which we actually eat). Zero waste. Plus, our bodies feel alive and energetic (rather than sluggish from eating processed, hormoned, salted, and high-fructosed foods).

Over the years, we have acquired a taste for good-for-you food. Our girls love peas, corn, broccoli, pears, peaches, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, fresh bread, and whole milk.

One time, when we were very busy, we took the girls to Chic-Fil-A and ordered a kids meal. Our 4-year-old took about 2 bites of the chicken nuggets and fries, and then said quietly, “This doesn’t taste good.” Touché. I didn’t have the heart to make them finish.

Another time, we bought a smoothie from a fast-food place. “Our smoothies are better,” our 4-year-old declared after a few sips. Maybe because they actually have fruit in them?!

When we drive by Burger King or a similar establishment, they wrinkle their noses, “What’s that smell?“

Even on a meager budget, eating well is possible. Think: rice, beans, frozen veggies, made-from-scratch baked goods, and as much produce as you can manage (look into co-ops and CSA’s).

We save money at better grocery stores because the quality of the food is better…which means that we waste less and also stay healthier (less illness; fewer doctor’s visits). Food is medicine, after all. I do believe that.

* We also cut corners by limiting meat consumption, eating simple meals, and – most importantly – eating IN. 

How do you save money at the grocery store? Please share your expertise.  (I’m still looking for ways to bring our monthly total down a notch).

Yes, my sweet girls, YES.

People often ask about my favorite parenting books.

It’s a fair question, particularly because I am a prolific reader. If you were to peek into my childhood, you would see a girl with a worn-out library card, binders of favorite poems, and a certificate for winning 3rd place in the spelling bee.

Even now, I choose books over television ten times out of ten (In fact, our family doesn’t own a TV). Because I read at an above-average speed, I go through books at a tremendous rate.

Despite this, I can’t name a single “parenting” book that I would highly recommend. Not a one.

Most parenting books take a tactical approach. Say these magic words. Implement this routine. Set up this procedure. And your kids will surely be obedient and successful.

But these promises are deceptive. I’m afraid that it’s much more difficult than that. Raising children requires that we raise OURSELVES…to higher standards.

Although parenting books are not necessarily a poor investment of time, they tend to neglect the most important thing. Parenting is not, by and large, about “discipline” or schedules or self-esteem or “love & logic.” The painful, honest truth is that it’s about example.

Our kids see us with brilliant clarity. Do we gossip about our coworkers? Do we extend grace when mistakes are made? Do we pray? Are we sarcastic? Are we wise with our money? Do we – ahem – say “please” and “thank you” and “I’m sorry”? Do we exercise with regularity? Are we good listeners? Are we thankful? Do we consume media that is intelligent and pure? Do we yell when we should be gentle? Do we whisper when we should speak loudly with conviction?

As Ann Voskamp wrote so eloquently, “The parent must always self-parent first, self-preach before child-teach, because who can bring peace unless they’ve held their own peace?“

This truth is both terrifying and liberating: Who I am striving to BE is who they will BECOME.

In light of this realization:

• I work to develop my character – to cut out bad habits, to implement good practices.
• I gather wisdom from unexpected places like Stafford’s Too Small To Ignore and classic works of fiction and stories from other fathers & mothers.
• I pray - not as much as I ought to - but daily, desperately.
• I cling to the Words that have the power to heal and transform.

And when I fail, I get up again. Because I know they are watching it all.

Liv colored a dozen pictures and kept announcing, “It’s a present – FOR YOU!”

Kayla insisted that I receive flowers – lime and purple and cherry red.

Tim did the remarkable things he does every day. He did laundry. Loaded the dishwasher. Scratched the girls back in the middle of the night. Talked to me about dreams. Loved me with a crystal love that is rare among men.

My parents brought over a round chocolate cake and a card to their “curly-haired girl.”

Kristen sent me a handwritten letter on beautiful bird-themed stationary. I could almost hear her voice through the cursive. (Miss you).

Three of my favorite friends – Darcie, Nicole, and Dayna – planned a quiet celebration (the best kind). Darcie hosted at her house and served a 4-course meal that easily beat any restaurant in town. (No, seriously).

It’s nice to be remembered, isn’t it? 

(Thank you to my family + friends).

(I’m thirty and it feels just fine).

her signature pose - hand on the hips

She stands in the 3am light in the doorway of our master bedroom, one hand on her tiny hip. Pink monkey pajama pants. Sweetest of 2-year-old voices, “I need to go potty.”

I take her to the bathroom. We are both quiet, too tired to speak. Afterward, Tim opens his arms and she snuggles in, grateful, not wanting to go back to the room across the house.

Five minutes later, her older sister appears. Five years old, with gangly limbs and extra-long eyelashes, she prefers to be squished in bed with all of us than have a mattress to herself.

Tim says, “Oh, fine. Come on in.” I giggle softly from my side – and the girls do too, before slipping off to slumber.

All four of us – no, wait, five of us – on a queen size bed.

Yesterday, Tim said, “Sometimes I think about downsizing. We only use two rooms in our house anyway.”  Mmmm. I murmur in agreement. I know he’s not joking. Neither am I.

We have less stuff than ever, but we are slowing re-discovering what happiness looks like. And it’s certainly not found in Target.

At 28weeks pregnant, however, I’ve committed to walking 1-1.5miles/day. More power to the women who run 5Ks and 1/2 marathons with bulging bellies, but it’s not for me.

Tim, however, has been running in the recently debuted New Balance Minimus. They’re like the Vibram FiveFingers shoes – but without the alien toe look. He says they remind him of race shoes…like the ones from his bygone high school track & field competitions. Little padding. Lightweight. Lots of traction. Ideal for short distances. Although he’s not completely sold on barefoot running science, he does think it’s been to fun to give them a go on his nightly runs.

Available for both men and women, the shoes come in a variety of colors and for a variety of purposes (trail, cross-trainer, etc.).

Have you joined the “barefoot running” club? What style shoe do you most prefer?

WIN IT! One winner will receive a pair of New Balance Minimus shoes! To enter, leave any topic-related comment on this post prior to Sunday, January 22 at 11:59 p.m. All generic comments like “Enter me!” or “Love it” will be disqualified. Winner must provide a US mailing address.

* Thanks to New Balance for providing two pairs of shoes – one for review and one for this giveaway.  

*UPDATE* The winner is #63 Renee C. Congratulations!

Contests

Are you or do you know a mom who’s made a real difference in her community’s schools? Nominate her to receive an all-expenses-paid trip to DC to attend the 2012 Mom Congress. Deadline: Feb 15.

Good Reads

Convicted by Laura’s thought-provoking post: Learning from Imperfect People.

Standing ovation for this post by Miriam: Flirting with babies. (I agree 100%).

Erin talks about her Real Marriage. I especially like the bits about homemaking and sex books.

Nicholas reminds us that, “The crucial period seems to be from conception through early childhood.”

Andrews gives 9 (extremely compelling) reasons NOT to plant a church in 2012.

Miscellany

This Small House only has one room, but I think our family could live in it just fine. Beautiful.

Favorite New Song of the Week: Somebody That I Used to Know by Gotye.

You were my first kiss. My first everything. We grew up together – you & I.

High school plays and soccer games, $1 pasta dinners in college, changing careers, and then tiny feet in our hallway.

I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Jan 4, 2002

2002

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

I love you – then, now, and always.