Finish a Marathon...Kid Style!

"One of the best lessons a child can learn is that exercise can be fun. Teach that, and you've laid the foundation for a lifetime of healthy living. Laying that foundation is what 'Kids Rock' is all about. Make a difference in a child's life today - generously contribute to the Phoenix Children's Hospital. (see online entry for details)

Finish a Marathon...Kid Style!
Saturday, January 17, 2009 - Tempe, AZ
Finishing a marathon is child's play with the Phoenix Children's Hospital Kids Rock -

a one-mile fun run for children in grades K - 6. This non-competitive, non-timed event is all about having fun and making it to the finish line.
Participants can become full marathon finishers by completing a 25.2-mile training program prior to January 17th, or they can just run, walk or jog the one-mile course on race day. Every child is a winner and will be rewarded with an official race number, T-shirt, goodie bag, free headliner concert and medal - just for finishing!

Christmas Festivities Outside the East Valley-Adventure of the Week

There are many events to do outside of the East Valley. So if you've got the time check them out, so here they are to name a few:

Glendale

Carols From Around the World (Dec 15 & 19-21). The Phoenix Boys Choir performs traditional classics and seasonal favorites. $10-$30. 6:30pm Dec 15 at American Lutheran Church of Sun City; 7:30pm Dec 19 at Mesa Arts Center; 7:30pm Dec 20 at Orpheum Theater; 5pm Dec 21 at Chaparral Christian Church. 602-264-5328 or boyschoir.org.

Celebration of Lights (through Jan 4). 2-mile journey through the state's largest drive-through light display. 6-9pm Mon-Thur, 6-10pm Fri-Sun. $10/vehicle Mon-Thur, $12/vehicle Fri-Sun; $2 discount per vehicle with donation of 3 cans of food. Community Church of Joy, 21000 N 75th Ave, Glendale. 623-561-0500 or joyonline.org.

Flagstaff

Holiday Lights Display (through Jan 31). More than one million lights throughout the resort. 6:30pm nightly. Free. Little America Hotel, 2515 E Butler Ave, Flagstaff. 800-435-2493 or littleamerica.com/flagstaff.

Holiday Skies Program (Dec 12, 15, 17, 19, 20 & 22). Learn about the mythology and science of the winter sky, including a discussion of the Star of Bethlehem. 7pm. $6 adults, $5 students/seniors, $3 ages 5-17. Lowell Observatory, 1400 W Mars Hill Rd, Flagstaff. 928-233-3210 or lowell.edu.

Sedona

Red Rock Fantasy (through Jan 3). More than a million lights, kids activities, concerts, carriage rides and special events. Proceeds benefit local charities. 5-9pm Sun-Thur, 5-10pm Fri-Sat (weather permitting). $6 adults, $5 seniors, $4 ages 4-12, 3 & under free. Los Abrigados Resort and Spa, Sedona. 928-282-1777, 800-521-3131 or redrockfantasy.com.

Prescott

World’s Largest Gingerbread Village (through Dec 28). More than 100 gingerbread structures in a winter wonderland that includes an electric train. Free. Prescott Resort Hotel lobby, 1500 Hwy 69, Prescott. 800-96PINES or prescottresort.com.

Phoenix

A Christmas Celebration (Thur Dec 18). Ages 6 & up. Chandler Children's Choir performs holiday favorites. 7:30pm. $10 ($8 is purchased in advance). Phoenix Camelback Seventh Day Adventist Church, 5902 E Camelback Rd. chandlerchildrenschoir.com.

Snowman

Page Pets & MySpace Layouts

Zoo Lights-Adventure of the Week

"The 17th annual ZooLights is going ape with orangutans! A larger than life lighted orangutan will greet you at the entrance while other primate light displays swing through the trees above your head! When the sun goes down and the animals go to sleep, the Phoenix Zoo transforms into one of the largest holiday lighting events in the southwest with 2.5 million lights and more than 400 light sculptures from small stars to life size giraffe, elephants and orangutans."

November 27 – January 11, 2009,
6 – 10 p.m. nightly
Phoenix Zoo Member's Nights: November 24, 25 & 26

ZooLights will be brighter this year with the addition of several new features:
• "Music in Motion" Dancing Tree Show has new music and all LED energy-saving lights
• Additional LED lighting along pathways for more vibrant, cost-effective color
• Photo opportunity with orangutan art• And more!Don't miss:
• Jengo the talking giraffe• Carousel, wagon and camel rides (separate fees apply)
• Stingray Bay presented by Bank of America (separate fee applies)
• Animal presentations Thursday thru Sunday

NINTENDO DS Lite (NIB)

Brand new in box PINK Nintendo DS Lite! I bought it last year 'cause Courtney lost hers & she was going to earn the new one! Then of course she found her old one! So I was going to sell it on EBAY over the summer...ya... that didn't happen! Now I want a black or Blue one for Connor, but I don't remember where I bought it and no receipt! So if someone wants to buy it from me for the store asking price 129.99, you can have it. Or you can buy a black or blue one and I'll trade you! If not you, then do you know someone who wants one for their daughter? -Kristen N.

Jamba Juice

Hey, Marie let me in on a secret that you guys may already know.

At Jamba Juice you can buy 1 and get the second for free between the hours of 6-8 on any given night.

Plus they have a family night where they bring out board games and enjoy that same free offer.

Cool beans huh, I mean juice.

Safely Gathered In

So many women, including myself have been inspired to work more diligently on our food preparedness.
I thought I would share a great blog that been around for a while now.
These women are awesome and have really dedicated their time and skills in helping us be better prepared with our food storage, 72 hour kits etc... on a budget and a good time line to get it done.

safelygatheredin.blogspot.com

The schedule for their blog is as follows:
Monday - A little reminder about why this project is so important and, basically, give us all a little push to succeed.
Tuesday - We will give you "assignments" as to what you should set aside that week for your three-month supply, as well as one or two items to put in your car emergency box or 72-hour kit. Sometimes you will already have these things in your home, and other times you will have to purchase them.
Wednesday & Thursday - We'll be posting how-to's, and we'll also be writing series of articles on different topics.
Friday - Food Storage Friday! We will share recipes for meals you can make using food storage items only!
Saturday - Roundup - We love to read blogs about frugal living and food storage, and we'll share links to our favorite things we read during the previous week.

What's going on in OUR town- Adventure of the Week

Tree Lighting Kicks off Nights of Lights




"Celebrate the season with a free night of singing, Santa and holiday cheer at the first annual Gilbert's Holiday Nights of Lights. The month-long display of lights begins with a lighting ceremony on December 4 on the lawn of Gilbert Town Hall. Visitors will wee the lighting of a 28 foot-tall tree that is surrounded by other lighted holiday displays. The vent will feature entertainment and music from local school groups. Food and beverages will also be for sale. Bring the entire family out for a night of holiday cheer."

New Year's Eve party is a Fun Family Event




"The family-oriented Mayor's New Year's Eve party held on December 31st is an annual event that includes live entertainment and many fun events and activities for people of all ages.

This year's party will be held from 8 pm until midnight at McQueen Park Activity Center. Admission is only $5.00 per family or $2.00 a person and includes entertainment for all ages and an official countdown at midnight with a balloon drop.

Its a fun safe way for families to welcome the new year. "

Luminaria at the Lake

"Usher in the holiday season with the annual Luminaria at the Lake, a free event at the Riparian Reserve that features hundreds of Lights "
Saturday, December 6, 6:30to 8:30

Breakfast with Santa

"Santa is in Town for a pancake breakfast, arts and crafts and to meet kids for photos."
Saturday, December 6, 9 to 10:30 am.

One man's trash, another man's treasure

Hey ladies! If you are looking to get a little more extra room in your closets for the holidays and plan to donate your items anyway, I want to open my garage to you. I know a family who has lost their main source of income and are trying to make ends meet by selling things on eBay and on Craigslist until they can find more lucrative employment. I can collect any items you don't want, have them sort through it for what is sellable, and then take any remainder to DI.

Thanks a lot and happy holidays!

Polar Express - Adventure of the Week

"Experience the magic of The Polar Express™, the classic children's book by Chris Van Allsburg. The Polar Express comes to life when the train departs the Williams Depot for a journey through the dark and quiet wilderness for a special visit to the "North Pole." Enjoy hot chocolate and cookies while listening to the magical story. Watch the joy on the children's faces when the train arrives at the North Pole, where Santa Claus and his reindeer are waiting! Santa will board The Polar Express and hand each child their own special gift. Make this a family holiday tradition. Call today to make your reservations because space is limited to those who truly believe in the spirit of Christmas!"

Check the website out for Polar Express Packages!
www.thetrain.com/polarexpress/

Tickets:
Adults $26
Child (2-12) $14

The train leaves each night at 6:30 p.m. Most evenings have a second departure time at 8:00 p.m.

Polar Express Tickets Go Fast!
The trains to the North Pole sell out every year. Call 1-800-THE-TRAIN now to reserve your Polar Express seat!

Winter Events in the East Valley -Adventure of the Week

Grab your family and check out something new and exciting this coming month, you'll be glad you did!

Please share if there are any events that I've missed.

Chandler
The first of the Home for the Holidays events will be on Saturday, November 22, 2008, with a day of skating, crafts and cookie decorating, beginning with a singing performance by Dickens Carolers at 1 p.m. Santa will also be on site from 4-6 p.m.

But, the day’s main attraction is a synthetic skating rink that will be set up outdoors within Dr. A.J. Chandler Park from 1 to 9 p.m. Chandler families can enjoy this unique skating experience, and children can also make holiday crafts and decorate cookies. Visitors will first want to stop by the skating rink to receive their free ticket for an assigned skate time. Skates will be provided for all participants. While all of these activities are free participants are asked to bring a non-perishable food donation.

The second Home for the Holidays event is a visit by Santa and a double-feature movie in the park on Saturday, November 29.

Bring a blanket or lawn chairs to Dr. A.J. Chandler Park and relax under the stars for a showing of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” staring Jim Carrey at 5 p.m., followed by the Jimmy Stewart classic, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Santa will be on site from 3-5 p.m.

Finally, the biggest Home for the Holidays events of all take place from 4:30 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, December 6, with the annual Parade of Lights and the Tumbleweed Tree Lighting Ceremony. The festivities include a variety of musical performances, more craft activities for kids, and pictures with Santa.

Details on all these events are online at www.chandleraz.gov/special-events

Gilbert

Gilbert’s Holiday Nights of Lights

Get in the holiday spirit and join us for Nights of Lights. Be there for the lighting of our Town’s first 28 foot tree and experience ground displays, community entertainment, sweet treats and a visit from Santa. The tree and light displays will remain lit through January 4th. Bring your family and friends and be a part of this inaugural event.

For more information, please call (480) 503-6224.
Date: Thursday, December 4, 2008 Time: 6-8:30pm The Tree Lighting Ceremony will begin at 6:30pm. Location: Gilbert Civic Center North Campus, 50 E Civic Center Drive

Mesa

Arizona Mormon Temple Holiday Lighting 600,000 twinkling lights decorate the Temple grounds
November-December 525 E. Main St
http://www.lds.org/

Scottsdale

Holiday Lights
December 12th,through January 3rd, excluding Dec. 24th, 25th & 31st .
The event runs from 6:30pm – 9:00pm each night.

Arizona’s most unique holiday event, take a train ride through more than 100,000 lights and featuring a variety of holiday displays turning the Railroad Park into a winter wonderland. Opening night festivities will begin at 6:30pm and includes a tree lighting ceremony, entertainment and a visit from Santa. Santa will be at the park through December 23rd. Train rides are $2.00 each and carousel $1.00 each with children under three riding free with a paying adult.

Gilbert Days - Adventure of the Week

November 8th-23rd is the annual Gilbert Days celebration. It is a week long series of events and activities that pay tribute to the Town's rich western heritage and a parade commemorating the original paving of Gilbert Road.

"The Pony Express ride kicks of Gilbert Days every year and commemorates the famed rides made by brave horsemen carrying mail int he early 1860's.

Gilbert Days Parade is one of the biggest events of its kind in the state and is the event most associated with Gilbert Days. The parade involves peopes from hundreds of public and private organizations all over the state and draws tens of thousands of people to downtown Gilbert each year. After the parade residents can celebrate at the Gilbert Days festival with activities, vendors, food, live entertainment and pony rides.

Teh entire family will enjoy the rodeo which is one of the largest International Pro Rodeo in the southwest. Come and enjoy roping, barrel racing and bronco busting also the Lil' Dudes.

Gilbert Days has something for everyone, so come out and enjoy this year's events."

To get the most of out of Gilbert Days, refer to http://www.gilbertdays.com/ for a complete and detailed listing of events and prices.

• Gilbert Days Parade- Saturday, Novmeber 15 9 am
• Pony Express Kickoff- Friday, November 14, 8 am
• Jackpot Roping- Wednesday, November 19, 7 pm
• Gilbert Days Classic 5-D Barrel Race- Thursday, November 20, 7 pm
• Gilbert Days 5K Fun Run- Friday, November 21, 4:45 pm
• Gilbert Days Carnival - Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November 21-23
• Lil' Dudes Rodeo - Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November 21-23
• Gilbert Days Rodeo- Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November 21-23
• 19th Annual Gilbert Softball Tournament- Frida, Saturday and Sunday, November 21-23
• Saturday Night Dance- Saturday, November 22, 8:30pm

Chocolate in Bulk ....Interested?

Would you like a chance to pick up Hershey baking products in bulk for a great price?

These discounted prices are available through my sister in law and her mothers home ward as part of a large group order.

The deadline for orders and money is November 17th!! I will collect the money if you are interested and can pick up your order when it arrives.

If anyone wants to go in on an order let me know too.

Double click on the order form to see it in better detail.

San Tan 2nd Ward Adult party~~ Sat. Nov. 22

Adult Fall Chili & Pie Cook-Off:

San Tan 2nd Ward

Saturday November 22nd

6:30-8:30pm in cultural hall.

Bring your favorite recipes & big appetites. Everyone votes. Invite your neighbors & get your babysitter early...you won’t want to miss this one!

Sign-up & get flyers in activity folders. If questions call Sheryl @480-707-8706, or Tina at 480-773-0252!

It's coming!

Twilight Trailer in HD


who's in for a girls night to go see it? Friday pm, (not the midnight showing).

Does anyone know...

where to get cheap colored copies around here? I'm looking for a reference. Thanks

impressMe!

My aunt has started her own business making portrait stamps. She is a very talented artist and just wanted to share her cute website. This would make a fun gift! Check it out at www.impressmestamps.com. Enjoy!

Scottsdale Festival of Greece - Adventure of the Week

Greeks are known for their love of life, whether it's food, music, dance, or lively conversation. Explore the many facets of life in a Greek village...

"Greece has been called the 'Cradle of Western Civilization' because much of the western world's philosophy and art was born in ancient Greece. Greece also was the first democracy in the ancient civilized world. The popular features of Greek culture in food, music, and dance, reflect the cultural development of over five thousand years, and we're delighted to share it with you!

For Free!
• Live Greek music
• Greek food, pastries and more!
• Greek folk dancers
• Readings, mini-lectures, discussion
• Greek cooking demonstrations
• Greek films
• Orthodox bookstore
• Various vendors and exhibits
• Children's Olympic Fun Zone

Check their website for the music and dance schedule, their menu, venues and a lot more!
azgreekfest.com

For more information about Greek culture and history, please visit the following sites:

Greece: Cradle of Western Civilization
http://www.mrdowling.com/701greece.html

Get travel information from the Greek Tourism Organization
http://www.gnto.gr/?langID=2

Join us at Scottsdale Civic Mall:

Friday, November 7 (11am-10pm)
Saturday, November 8 (11am-10pm)
Sunday, November 9 (11am-7pm)
The Festival will be held at the Scottsdale Civic Center Mall at

7380 E. 2nd St Scottsdale, AZ 85251 Eastward from Brown Avenue to 75th Street
Southward from 1st Avenue to 2nd Street.

Public parking for Scottsdale Festival of Greece is available in the public parking garage located to the west of the Center for the Arts building and directly behind Los Olivos Restaurant on Wells Fargo Ave.

Additional parking is available at the library parking garage located on Drinkwater Blvd., south of Indian School Rd and just east of the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts.

Vote Yes for Marriage!

Don't forget to Vote tomorrow!

A YES vote on Prop 102 does one thing and one thing only – defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman in the Arizona Constitution, the highest law in our state.
One man. One Woman. Prop 102. That's Marriage.

Click on the image for more information.

Need a reference

Does anyone have a reference of where to go to for cheap colored copies?
Thanks for your ideas!

Need a reference

Does anyone have a reference of where to go to for cheap colored copies?
Thanks for your ideas!

Just a reminder.

As a reminder playgroup in the park IS still going on every Friday at the Train Park near the elementary school. I haven't been able to attend these last two weeks but I do know other mom have gone in past. This is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and get to know other women. If you are interested we would Love to see you there.

Organ Stop - Adventure of the Week

Organ Stop Pizza is home to The Mighty Wurlitzer.

Organ Stop's Mighty Wurlitzer is one of the largest and finest theater organs in the world today. Its nearly 6000 pipes, numerous percussions, and countless traps are masterfully presented by the Musical Staff who are world class musicians.

It surely is a sight to see and hear.

I have to admit the pizza is not so great but the environment cannot be beat! so it makes it worth it.

1149 E Southern Ave.
480-813-5700
http://www.organstoppizza.com/

Go to the website: for more and great information about the history of the restaurant, the organ and the menu.

Hours: Thanksgiving -Mid April, Sun- Thurs 4:00pm-9:00pm, Fri and Sat. 4:00pm-10:00pm, Mid April -Thanksgiving Sun - Thurs 5:00-9:00pm, Fri and Sat 5:00-10:00pm

Prices: Pizzas range from $4.69-$15.59

Tutu's and Tootles

My sister...very crafty...has had her own side business for a while making bows and tutu's for little girls. She recently started an online store!
She just started the online thing, so check back often for more items...like she hasn't added her tutu's on there yet I don't think. They are really reasonably priced comparitively!
Here is the website:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6368904

In Need of Child Care?

Do you or someone you know need child care? I'd love to help! Please feel free to call me at 480-626-4261 or e-mail me at shauna.fuller@hotmail.com for more information. Thank you!!!

Good Reads, worth checking out

I was introduced to Good Reads by my sister-in-law. It is a wonderful way to keep track of what books you are reading, have read, or want to read. The site allows you to post reviews about books you've read, and leave comments on books read by friends. It's a nice way to keep up with each other's readings, and to suggest books that might not make it into a bookclub otherwise.

Baby Stuff Giveaway

wSeriously, Liz may regret allowing me to post after this.

My sister-in-law's sister has this great web-site that they are officially launching, Saucy Creations, specializing in baby and children's accessories. In honor of their launch, they are having a big givaway. Entering is easy, and the prizes are great! We have had the privialge of getting a few of these treasures, and the products are great. Anyway, check out their site, they have everything from diaper bags to binkie clips to baby bedding; all of it super cute, and reasonable priced.

CHEAP GASOLINE !!!!!!!

For those of you that need to gas up your cars, Bashas' at Higley/Elliott has it priced at $2.80! Yes that's right ladies...$2.80 ! So go top off your car before the price shoots up after the elections...oh ya...don't forget to vote!

spotlight

some crazy lady named katrina thought that my life might be an interesting read so hopefully i do not disapoint all of you!

i was born on march 27, 1979 in orange, ca. i am adopted (my birth mother was only 17 when she had me) and my parents got me when i was 6 weeks old. i lived in a foster home for those first 6 weeks while the paper work was going through and my name in the foster home was "deidra". do i look like a deidra to you? ummm... not so much. i have one brother, aaron who is 4 years older than me. we were buddies as young kids but seemed to go our seperate ways as he got into his teenage years. i think seeing how close my LDS friends were with their siblings was a big part of why i was drawn to the church.

i grew up in yorba linda, ca, a.k.a. the o.c. (don't tell lars that i used the term "the o.c." it embarrasses him but he's just jealous that i grew up somewhere that had a tv show named after it!) all of my extended family lived in connecticut and massachusetts (both of my parents are from connecticut). it kind of stunk not ever having family around like all of my friends. i grew up jewish (my mom is jewish and my dad was raised catholic but doesn't practice. he isn't one for organized religion). we always celebrated hannukah & christmas, which was oh so wonderful! the family room was decorated for christmas and the living room was decorated for hannukah. when i was 13 i had a bat mitzvah (thank goodness i don't have a picture of that blessed event available. talk about an awkward stage in life! YIKES!) but pretty much after that i didn't practice any religion.

i loved playing soccer as a kid. i started playing when i was 5 and i played until i was 12. my dad was my coach for all 7 years and my team's name was "the wildcats" for all of those years.

once i hit junior high i was more into dancing & singing. i was in a few musicals and in a traveling show group. in high school i was on the dance team. for the fall & winter we performed the field show at the football game as well as competing at competitions and a parade routine for competitions. i think that this type of thing is more common in ca. than it is here in az. in the spring we did indoor dance competitions which were regular dance routines like jazz and lyrical. this picture is one of my costumes from a field show my junior year. yes, i did dance with it on my head!! (don't be jealous of the costume. after all we can't all prance around in fruit hats)

i graduated from high school in 1997 & i went to Santa Barbara for my first year of college. i decided that it wasn't for me & i came home after one year. it was then that i took the missionary discussions. two of my best friends growing up were LDS so i called one of them up & told her that i wanted to become mormon. i took all of the discussions at my friend's parent's house but decided to think about it before i got baptized. i moved to san diego to go to fashion design school & while i was living there i was baptized. in 2002 i moved to provo, utah to go to cosmetology school. (okay so at this point you are thinking that i am CRAZY for going to 4 different colleges but let's just say i could never figured out what i wanted to do. being a mom was my real desire but now with three kids 3 and under a job at mcdonalds some days sounds appealing!) it was in provo that i met lars on a blind date that actually didn't go horribly wrong for once. we decided that we wanted to be like everyone else in provo so we got married 5 months later. we were married in the los angeles, ca temple on august 16, 2003.

lars graduated from byu in may 2004 with a degree in construction management. he took a job with mccarthy (a commercial construction company) in tempe, az where he works as a senior estimator. so far we have lived in mesa, maricopa & gilbert. we are trying to set some sort of record, the most moves in the shortest period of time. we have moved 4 times in 5 years, good times! we have 3 wonderfully crazy children. reed is 3 1/2, maddux is 1 1/2, & savannah is 3 months old & the erickson family is officially complete (minus the dog that i am dying to have).

things i love: my huusband, my kids, diet coke with a fresh squeezed lime, see's candy, pedicures, getting my hair done, a cadillac escalade (not that i have one but i can still love it, right?), my cell phone (how did i ever live without this magnificent device?), television (the inventor of this must of had toddlers) & lots of other "material" items that i probably shouldn't love!!

things i do not love: my husband's motorcycle (oh the things i could do with the money if he sold it, hmmmmm), direct tv (dish network is sooooo much better but we HAD to have the byu football games), all 3 kids crying at the same time, my body after having a baby, poopy diapers that come from an 18 month old (seriously just sick & wrong)!!

okay, so there you have it the shortened and G rated version of my life thus far. i hope that you enjoyed the show! next week let's delve into the life & times of linette green!!

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Exhibition - Adventure of the Week

If you and your children liked the C.S. Lewis children's book series- The Chronicles of Narnia you will for sure like the Arizona Science Center premiere of the Chronicles of Narnia Exhibition.

"It is a state-of-the-art educational exhibition based on the film series and C.S. Lewis’ beloved fictional books. The excitement of the stories is brought to life in immersive scenes that feature authentic costumes, props and set dressings from the films portraying the wonderful world of Narnia. The exhibition explores the science and natural history behind the mythical world of Narnia and stewardship for our own environment.
The journey begins in a recreation of C.S. Lewis’ personal study, featuring real artifacts from Lewis himself. Visitors then step into the famous attic wardrobe that transports them to the wintry world of Narnia featured in the first film, “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” complete with falling snow, cold wind and the White Witch’s ice palace.
A sampling of interactive elements include:

Replica of the Witch’s Throne from “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” – sit on the iconic, icy throne and feel the chill.
King Miraz’s Castle from “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” – build an arch, learn about the strategy involved in castle design and use a working catapult.
The Telmarine camp from “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” – lift and feel the tremendous weight of a real chain mail suit of armor and swords from the film."

Admission: $18 adults $12 for seniors and students ages 3-17 (includes general admission).

It is the FINAL WEEKS - which means REDUCED PRICING
Discounted pricing not valid online
Add Walt Disney pictures and Walden media present The Chronicles of Narnia: The Exhibition General admission required

Hours: 10 am - 5 pm

Arizona Science Center, 600 E Washington St. 602-716-2028

Check out their website azscience.org for great resources and links such as;

• a teacher/educational guide
• Insiders Guide to the Exhibition
• C.S. Lewis website
• Official movie site and fan site and much more

Nello's postponed~

til THURSDAY THE 23RD~ We can carpool, too. It's in Chandler. We are meeting there at NOON. Reply if you can join us!

Spotlight

OK, let me start by saying that it is just so not fun to write about myself, but here I go:
I was born in New Jersey and have a lot of family who live in New York, but I have been in Arizona since I was 6. I guess I was kind of a tomboy when I was growing up.

Me & my brother & my 3rd grade school picture - can you tell I had P.E. right before the picture was taken?

Me and my brother were the best of friends and I would just as soon play with his toys than any of my dolls. I took tennis, judo (for a little while), and piano. I was also in brownie and girl scouts when I was younger. I actually thought girl scouts was pretty boring. I was totally hoping we would do cool stuff like my brother did in cub scouts, but that never really happened. However, I did love wearing my little brownie uniform to school with the awesome brown felt beanie hat. I thought I was so cool!

Here I am lifting the bar (with no weights on it) in Judo - look at my concentration! Too funny!

In Jr. High I was in the band and I dressed up as our school mascot to pass out candy in a parade. The mascot was supposed to be a roadrunner, but since it was made by the Home Ec. department it looked more like a sad rendition of Big Bird. It had this huge paper mache head that was too big and had to be stuffed with a towel. Even with the towel in there I could hardly tell where I was going because the eye holes moved around so much. Good times.




Me as the awesome Rhodes' roadrunner!

Anyway, I joined the church when I was 13. My mom was actually curious about it and asked me to call my friend who was LDS and see if I could go to church with her. The missionaries later came and taught us and I am so thankful that I found the gospel when I did.
I met Jeff when I was in High School. We met at a church dance (his cousins were in my ward and introduced us). He played football and was on yearbook and track. I was in the Latin Club, Honor Society, and the oh so cool Academic Decathalon. So we might not have even met if we went to the same school! I know it probably sounds like I was a huge nerd in High School, but really I wasn't (well, maybe just a little & OK, maybe I still am!) But, I did also love to play racquetball and church sports - my favorite was Young Women's basketball (why don't we have that anymore?). I also loved to go to concerts - U2, REM, Depeche Mode, and The Cure were some of my favorites.


My junior picture - check out my '80's hair. It took
a lot of hairspray to get it to stay that way!

Jeff went on his mission and I went to Nursing School. And, I started out working at a Nursing Home which was quite the experience. Since I was new I had a pretty bad schedule - sometimes days and then nights - I hated it. So, I kept praying that I would be able to have Sundays off so I could go to church each week. Then one day shortly thereafter, I was offered a new position at work to start up and manage an Assisted Living facility. I was able to work Mon. - Fri. which was definitely an answer to my prayers. The only downside was that when I wasn't at work I was on-call for any problems that came up. This was way back when we had pagers instead of cell phones (not so fun!). It was also pretty bad when one of our buildings caught on fire and we had to relocate our patients from Chandler to Sun City for a while. (That was quite the commute for me!)



our engagement picture
We got engaged about a month after Jeff got home from his mission and were married a little over 4 months later. After a few years and a few miscarriages Mason was finally born, and then 18 months and one day later Easton arrived, followed by Brenlee 6 years later. I love being a mom and being married to my best friend. We have been married 15 years and have lived here for the past 5 years - we love it!







Some things I love: Peanut m&ms, guitar hero, ice cream, reading a good book, happy endings, folding laundry, finding a good bargain, playing games, the funny things kids say, The Amazing Race, scrapbooking, orange tic tacs, cupholders, skiing, the DVR, & rollercoasters.

Some things I hate: Traffic, the squeaky noise styrofoam makes, potty training, school projects, pretty much the entire cartoon network, waiting in line, big crowds, junk mail, barking dogs in the middle of the night, runny noses, playground sand that comes home in kids' shoes, eggs, public speaking, and mosquito bites.

Let's hear from Amy Erickson for next week's spotlight!