I chose her post “New to Arizona or Just Looking for Some New Ideas? Top Ten Things to do with Your Kids!” . Why? Because I always forget about fun stuff to do like the Children’s Museum and this is a great reminder. Plus? All of her ideas in this post work for every season. The Railroad Park has misters. The splash pad? need I say more. The Zoo opened it’s splash playground for the season which makes a morning run around the animals seem much more manageable when it’s 105. So read on,  get out and enjoy. And thank you Angela for such great ideas! ~Beth

New to Arizona or Just Looking for Some New Ideas? Top Ten Things to do with Your Kids!

A couple of weeks ago I received an email from a reader new to Arizona. She was looking for things to do with her kids. I told her about a couple of places, but since then I keep thinking of more and more places that I should have told her about that offer really great things to do with the family. Duh!

So here is my attempt to redeem myself with a list of 10 fun things to do in the Valley with the kids if you are new to the area or just looking for something new to do!  

1)      The Phoenix Zoo (maybe obvious to you, but there are always new things going on there, so it is totally worth visiting if you haven’t been in awhile)

2)      The McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park- aka The Train Park (I think this is one of the best things we have going on here)

3)      The Children’s Museum of Phoenix (so much to do, you can barely fit it in one day)

4)      MacDonald’s Ranch (great for the horse-loving little ones)

5)      The Simple Farm (Cate wrote a great blog about visiting this place, it is now on my list of favorites –  check out her blog here)

6)      AZ Air Time Trampoline Park (brand new, fun place in Scottsdale)

7)      The Scottsdale Public Libraries and the Phoenix Public Libraries (both have fun story times and great kid sections at their various branches)

8)      Pack a picnic and check out a new park at www.parkgrades.com (there are so many parks here, we could go to a different one every day of the week, and most are within five or so miles from our house)

9)      Visit one of the splash pads (we like Desert Ridge or Scottsdale Quarter)

10)   Plan a trip to the play area at the mall (Paradise Valley Mall has a carousel for the kids or Fashion Square Mall has Nordstrom for me. . . . .this is pretty much a tie in my book)

So, whether you are relatively new to the area or a native, what are your favorite places to go with your kids? Please post below!

About CHI Au Pair USA

CHI Au Pair USA is part of Cultural Homestay International, a non-profit organization that has been dedicated to building international understanding through cultural exchange for over thirty years. As one of the leading Au Pair agencies, CHI Au Pair USA values customer service and one-on-one attention to our families. We provide a diverse selection of highly screened applicants from around the world who all share a love for children.

Why an Au Pair?

• Affordable: For approximately $7.60 an hour, per family, this is a remarkable value, especially for families with multiple children.
• Flexible: Set your own schedule for your au pair. Within guidelines of up to 45 hours a week, and 10 hours a day, the rest is up to you.
• Enriching: By choosing a CHI Au Pair USA your family will have the unique opportunity to be exposed to another language and culture.
• Family: You are not only receiving childcare for your children, you are welcoming a friendly new face into your family.

CHI Au Pair USA goes above and beyond the basic requirements

CHI Au Pair USA supports Au Pairs and families by providing Au Pairs with a 4 day intense orientation and training in Washington DC with the Regional Director. Local Au Pair Coordinators (APC) live in your local area and are your direct contact to provide you with individualized help in matching with an au pair, answering your questions, and providing families with their own orientation and one on one support. Local Au Pair Coordinators organize monthly au pair meetings so they have social support and can meet one another and explore the exciting culture of Arizona’s South West.  Each year, the APC also organizes a Family Day so families, au pairs and the local staff can all enjoy one another and create our own “family” within CHI.

The majority of our au pairs have over 500 hours of childcare experience and often have professional experience as teachers or nurses in their home country. Our au pairs are capable and skilled and ready for this amazing experience.

CHI Au Pair USA maintains a strict and thorough screening and admissions procedure based on program visa requirements. Both the au pair and host family benefit from this detailed process and can feel confident that they are entering a program that exceeds the regulatory standards.

The EduCare Au Pair program is similar to the traditional Au Pair program. EduCare is a wonderful alternative for families with school-aged children who require childcare both before and after school.

At only $295 a week, the EduCare Au Pair program is an attractive cost effective choice. EduCare au pairs live as a member of your family and provide 30 hours of childcare a week. This is great for those families who need help getting kids off to school, picking them up, taking them to sports activities, helping with homework, and those special date nights for mom and dad!

CHI Au Pair USA Referral Bonus! Refer a new family to CHI Au Pair USA and receive $250 when their au pair arrives.

CHI Au Pair USA Summer Discounts! Special pricing and discounts are available to existing CHI families as well as new families. Get your application fee ($100) waived and up to $500 off program fees! For details contact Stacy (info below).

If you are an interested family, request more information and inquire about the CHI Au Pair USA program by visiting our website at www.chiaupairusa.org or by calling the Local Au Pair Counselor, Stacy Moreno, at 480-427-6204 or by email at CHIAuPairPhoenix@yahoo.com. Stacy is not only an APC, but has been a host family to an au pair and can relate to any concern or question you may have!

I choose this post because I have days where I feel guilty for not being “super mom”. Like the time I forgot that it was picture day . . .again. And of course this was the day I let my three year old pick out her clothes. And I realized as I walked into the classroom that she still had a little bit of breakfast on her face. Ugh. Tracy’s post reminds me that I don’t have to be perfect and I don’t have to get it right all of the time. I think this is an important reminder to all of us moms especially as the chaos of summer, travel and too many hot days are about to begin! Enjoy! ~Angela

A Rally Cry for Being Real

Can I be honest with you? I can? Oh good. Great, thanks.

I have kind of been in a Mom funk lately. In the midst of day-to-day activities and the monotony of motherhood I just can’t seem to find the joy. I mean do these little people really have to get hungry three times a day?  Wait, don’t answer that. Yes of course they do, but do I have to be the one to fix them all the food? Ok, don’t answer that one either.

The point is that it’s tough going here, friends, and I just want to be honest that in our Pinterest-divine/Facebook-perfect/Instagram-the-beautiful/Tweet-the-hilarious snapshots of life sometimes it really looks nothing like that!

People come to counseling for a variety of reasons but the underlying theme I see in most of my clients is a deep desire to have someone resonate with their imperfections. The vulnerable, brave people that sit in my office are looking for someone to give them permission in the midst of grief or tragedy or more often than not, a simple bump in the road of life, to NOT have to have it all together. And you know what? I do this with great joy.

I consider it a gift I can give them in those 50 minutes of togetherness. I trust they see it that way.  And virtually I would like to give you that gift as well. You just don’t have to have it all together. I’m serious. You can stop trying if you need to; stop worrying, stop over-analyzing, or thinking you might not be fill-in-the-blank enough for something. It is more than OK to be exactly where you are in this moment of motherhood because we can’t ever always have it all together. It’s a miracle really that you even had a minute to yourself to sit down and check our blog today because the demands that are placed on you are extreme. You have little people that need to be fed and attended to as well. You have hearts to invest in and souls to grow and the tiling of the soil of childhood is very hard work. You don’t have to do it perfectly. And really, you just can’t. None of us can. When we start to give ourselves permission to be normal human beings and not super mom you will find that you place a lot less pressure on yourself.

I don’t assume anything about our readers, all I know is that you are most likely a mom and really for me, that is all I need to know to tell you that you are doing a wonderful job. How do I know? Because I am right there with you and I have to remind myself of this truth often.  My moments might not all be wonderful, my joy might be lost, my temper might flare, and my patience worn out, but we are doing it. Day in and day out, we get up in the night, we are spit and spilled upon, we are demanded of and whined at, and we are rarely thanked, but we keep on going because we love these little people more than our hearts could ever describe. 

I write these words with conviction because I need to tell them to myself right along with you. They are a proclamation of sorts; that I am done comparing or judging, lamenting my failures and over-analyzing my shortcomings. I just want to be comfortable not having it all together. My counselor self would tell my client self that it is totally and completely OK to be just where I am. I am going to make mistakes,I am going to slip up but those aren’t the moments that will define me as a mother. My children will eventually define my mothering and that definition develops over time- a very long time (Thank the Lord)- that has a multitude of moments.

Let’s celebrate all the moments- mundane and magnificent, Facebook worthy and not, let’s celebrate the 20 step craft projects as well as the paper towel tube that becomes a sword or drumstick or magic wand.  Let’s celebrate the detailed menus as well as the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Let’s celebrate the fine motor skills development lessons as well as the spilled cheerios that can serve the same purpose.

Let’s just celebrate all of it.

Let’s celebrate the fact that we don’t have to be Super Mom and while we are celebrating, let’s just celebrate the fact that in this crazy season we are in, we are not alone. Press on, fellow warrior; you are doing a great job. 

photo credit: Flickr user AngryLambie

Every time a new City Moms Blog Network site launches, we feel pretty proud.

This time, we couldn’t be more happy for our neighbors JUST to the west – today marks the official launch of West Valley Moms Blog, right here in the Phoenix area!

Whether you live in the West Valley, or just want to help support our sisters on the other side of town, head on over to West Valley Moms Blog and enter to win the first of a WHOLE WEEK of giveaways!

Congrats and welcome to the whole WVMB team!

love, your fellow mamas from the east

I had a VERY hard time picking my favorite – because there’s just so much in Kirsten’s writing that I admire.  I love her subtle whit and humor and how each posts weaves you through a story.  I look forward to each and every one of her posts, wondering where she will take me this time.  I finally settled on this specific post because I thought it was filled with WONDERFUL reminders as the heat builds up and we head to the pool.  And I honestly can’t wait to hear if she still feels the same way about her pool at the close of THIS summer!  Enjoy ~Abbi

Swimming season is over! Forever? The love/hate relationship of one Scottsdale Mom and her swimming pool

(oh, and don’t forget to put July 31 on your calendar NOW – that’s when the next Mom’s Night Out Arizona will be held at The Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa!!)

First of all, thanks once again to our amazing hosts, Ice Den and 18° Neighborhood Grill for the food, wine and hospitality!

And oh, these cupcakes by Simply Sweets – YUM!

Word on the street is the many of you have already used your 50% off coupon at Rolf’s Salon – thanks again to our partners at Rolf’s for the pre-event makeovers and amazing swag bags, as well as those coupons inside.

Congrats to our many GIVEAWAY winners, and a huge HUG to all our giveaway sponsors – so much fun!

How lucky were we to have representatives from Rodan + Fields and Origami Owl right onsite?

And a big thanks to Divalicious Boutique for dressing members of our lovely contributor team, and for giving all of us a chance to SHOP during the event!

Thanks to all of YOU who donated diapers and baby wash to Moms Place. We’re looking forward to incorporating an element of giving back to moms in our community to future Mom’s Night Out events as well.

And here are a few parting shots from Jessica…enjoy!

I start by sauteing red onion and garlic in olive oil in the pan…

Then I wash and slice the Brussels sprouts and toss them in once the onions are nearing translucent along with a little salt and pepper…
I purposely put them face down because I like to brown them as it adds great flavor:

Once the sprouts are nice and brown on one side I add just enough water to cover the bottom of the pan and place a top on to steam the sprouts for the final cooking (about 5 -7 minutes)…

Once they are done the sprouts (as well as the caramelized onions) go into the bowl and I give it a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese and voila: Bon Appetite!

SO so yummy. I promise, you have to try it at least once. And if you do, let me know what you think?

Or, do you already like Brussels sprouts, have any great tips of your own?

Even then our babies can become victims of the heat. Steph has shared very candidly about their experiences in hopes of helping other moms.  You can read her post here. Sometimes, though, we are more vigilant in protecting our children and forget about caring for ourselves, too.

This weekend, my family got a huge scare. While getting ready for work, my healthy, active husband collapsed on the floor. He was disoriented and not answering my questions in a clear way. He just said he was exhausted and needed to go back to bed. So not like him. As it was super early, I had our doctor on call paged to see what he thought. Within a few seconds of speaking, the doctor asked me to hang up and take him to the ER immediately. He said not only was the behavior not typical, it gave me, as his wife, pause. He said, “you know your husband.” That is so true. I probably didn’t even need to call, but sometimes we need that extra confirmation from an expert that we are on the right track.

Super long story short. He was severely dehydrated. He had none of the typical early warning signs, though. No thirst or even a headache. He jumped all the way to disorientation, muscle weakness and decreased blood pressure. When the doctors and nurses spoke to him he would give long delayed answers that made no sense. Two rounds of IV fluids and he was finally back to himself. He was holding his head up, chatting and cracking jokes. But for 6 straight hours, my heart stopped beating.

So here is my plea to you. The temperatures are rising. Please take care of yourself. Force yourself to drink water. As adults, we may not have or notice early dehydration. The recommended amount is 64 ounces a day– more if you are outside or pregnant. My hubby even started lining up water bottles this week to make sure he had gotten enough during the day. And I know this is TMI, but check your urine. If it is dark or smells, you aren’t getting enough water.

Scottsdale is one of the most beautiful places in the world. It is still the desert, though, and it can be dangerous. Let’s have a safe and hydrated summer.

So when this week hit 108 - yikes! I began searching the cobwebs of my brain for some of our favorite ways to keep cool.  These are some {hopefully} easy ideas for when you don’t feel like loading up the car and venturing out into the heat.

1. Slide + baby pool = fun.  Really, any slide and baby pool.  We have a little tikes mini-climber set with a 2 ft long little slide and my almost 7 year old thinks its a blast and I picked up a blowup baby pool for $10 at Target.  I love this because all the girls – ages 2 to almost 7 can play and I don’t have to worry about being in the pool too.

2. Pudding paint.  Make your own pudding or pick up some pre-made containers…either way, the kids love it.  They can paint each other, the ground, the walls, and it all just washes away.  And the part my girls like most – licking their fingers.

3. Water balloons.  This long-time game from my childhood is still as big of a hit as it was when I was little.  My girls would play water balloon games every day if I would let them.  Don’t have a backyard worthy of play?  Take a cooler of them to your nearest park and have at it!  Also, I usually throw in some spray bottles of water as well

4. Summer Bridge Books.  So some kids might not find this so fun, but my girls love their summer bridge workbooks.  We order these (appropriate by age/grade) and I get a special coloring book for my 2 year old.  This is going to be our third summer using these books.  I love them because they are basic, the are fun, and they only have 2 pages of activities per day.  Enough to keep things fresh but not too much to feel like they are always doing school.

5. Crafts.  Ok, so this is a little broad but here’s how I tackle summer crafts.  I would love to say that I have a pinterest board full of crafts (I do) and the supplies on hand (I don’t) to make them all and each and every day I have a craft scheduled.  But I’ve accepted that that’s just not realistic for my house.  So, my summer craft supply usually comes from JoAnn’s and Michael’s and consists of many of their pre-made kits. However, I do try to throw a few pinterest worthy crafts into the mix.  Whatever your style, summer and crafts just seem to go hand-in-hand!

One last quick tip that has saved me MANY times – I keep extra swim suits in the center console of my car.  You never know when you think you’re just going to be out and end up needing them, whether it be running into friends and going for a swim or a splash pad that’s just to fun to resist!

What are your favorite summer day activites??

To see what ceramic and glass projects are scheduled for each day (available Monday, Wednesday and Friday through June and July), check out this website.  They ask that you register in advance for each class.

Ceramics Classes run $25 per day and is for age 5 and up.

Glass Classes are $35 per day and available for ages 10 and up (available Fridays only).

Good news! As You Wish is offering a free camp class (up to $35 value!) to TWO Scottsdale Moms Blog readers!

Classes must be redeemed this summer and can be taken at any As You Wish location. Pre-registration is required. As always, to enter to win, you have to do a little something…

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In it to WIN IT:

*One entry per person per method of entry. Be sure to enter a separate comment for each method of entry (one comment for Facebook, one comment for Twitter, etc.). This way you have a higher chance of winning.

1. COMMENT: Check out the projects available here and leave a comment below telling us which one project you think your child would like best.

2. TWITTER: Tweet about the giveaway – just copy and paste this message into your tweet – Hey! @ScottsdaleMoms is giving away 2 free summer camp classes at As You Wish Pottery http://wp.me/p1nIcu-2ZT - then leave a comment below saying you did so.

3. FACEBOOK: Like As You Wish Pottery on Facebook, and then leave a comment below on the blog letting us know you did.

Giveaway ends Friday May 25. Winner will be chosen at random and notified by email over the weekend. Good luck and thanks to As You Wish Pottery!