Library fun, free In-N-Out Burgers, and Annie Get Your Gun

It's been a while since we've been to the library.  So long in fact that I couldn't even renew our current books online.  Between Spencer being in school all day and me working 6 days a week I haven't had time to go in.  Luckily Spencer didn't have school Friday.  I know I usually gripe at days off of school but I was really looking forward to having Spencer home for a day.  Then I remembered that I'm working Fridays during the day.  In the past I've only worked afternoon/evenings and Saturdays.  So I asked my friend who's watching the girls if she could also watch Spencer.

After picking them up from my friends' Friday afternoon we headed to the library.  The kids all chose some books and a movie and then we sat and Spencer read to himself, Tessa looked at pictures in books, and I read to Clara for a while.  Spencer chose 3 Pokemon books, a Garfield book, a Star Wars book, and a Transformers book.  I chose a few better reading chapter books for him.  Tessa chose a Hello Kitty, Barbie, Princess, and Charlie and Lola book.  Clara thinks every baby Max and Ruby board book is personally hers and she also wouldn't let go of a book called "How to Potty Train Your Monster" that is actually very cute.  Technically she's only one and I only allow the kids to choose as many books as their age, but I chose a couple more for Clara.  Then we came home and the kids turned on their movies while I made dinner.  Spencer chose an "Elmo's World" movie since I said Clara was too little to choose a movie and he's such a sweet big brother that he chose one to share with her.  Tessa chose a Curious George movie saying she would also share with Clara.  What sweet kids I have!

Oh, speaking of the library and reading.  Now through April 14th the Sandy library (I'm not sure if other libraries are also participating) is doing "Books & Burgers".  You have to sign your kid between the ages of 4-12 up at the library.  Then they give you a paper with 3 boxes.  Each box has 5 lines for books the kid reads.  Each group of five earns the kid one free In-N-Out burger.  So your kid can earn 3 free burgers in total.  Spencer always tells me he doesn't like In-N-Out burgers so I offered to buy each of his off of him for a quarter.  I love In-N-Out and have a bad habit of stopping there about once a month after Tessa's school (I used to stop by more like every other week after Tessa's gymnastics but then they made the intersection on 12300 too complicated and it wasn't worth exiting the freeway for).  So Tessa loves the place.  But as Tessa was saying how much she loves In-N-Out and Spencer hasn't been for quite a long time, Spencer decided he "thinks" he'll like it again and doesn't want to sell me his free hamburgers.  Maybe we'll make a Friday fun day out of it!

My two cute little neices have been rehearsing for a production of Annie Get Your Gun.  They had a performance Friday night so we decided to go.  Tickets were $6 but if you bought 4 or more they were only $5 a piece.  My sister bought a bunch for all sorts of people so we paid her back $15.  My mom also came with us.  The play was very well done and they had some good acting in the main roles.  My neices were very cute in their old fashioned dresses.  Then during the "parade" Bailee was an adorable cowgirl and did a cute little dance routine.  Afton was the cutest little gorilla riding on a train and waving with a huge grin on her face.  I left Clara at home with Brodie since it started at 7:30 and she's usually in bed by then.  Spencer and Tessa loved seeing their cousins on stage.  Spencer really seemed excited that his play will be coming up soon.  Of course they didn't understand the story line and at 9:30 when it was intermission we decided we'd better leave as the kids were complaining of being tired and asking when it would be over.

Build-a-Bear

Every time we pass the Build-a-Bear at Fashion Place Mall my kids ask when can they go there.  It really looks like so much fun!  But they've never been.  So when my Mother-in-Law asked what she could give us for Christmas this year, I asked if they could take the kids to Build-a-Bear and she agreed.  Costco sells 2 $25 gift cards for $40 so they gave them each a couple gift cards and an M&M sucker for Christmas.  And they gave Clara a really sweet book.  Then we met them at the mall on Friday for Friday fun day.  We were lucky enough to also visit with a couple of my nephews and a neice of mine who had spent the night with Grandma and Grandpa.  We were unlucky enough to choose to go to Build-a-Bear when we did.  It was soooo packed the line went out of the store.  So the bigger cousins held spots in line while my kids chose which bear they wanted.  The cheapest ones were $10 but Spencer chose a Clumsy Smurf that was $23 and Tessa chose a Cupcake Bear that was $20.  After they got them stuffed and fluffed and put a heart inside they chose an outfit for their friends.  Tessa chose a Rainbow fairy outfit and Spencer chose a Star Wars Jedi outfit.  They still had some money left so Spencer got his smurf a skateboard.  I found the exact same Twinkle Toe Sketchers that Tessa has (except these bear ones don't light up) and Tessa had to get those for her bear.  Because Clara doesn't think she is any smaller than her siblings I felt she needed to get a bear as well.  There was a 2011 Holiday Bear that the cashier told me was $14 by itself but only $5 with any purchase.  So I got it for her (although I was very upset when I got home and saw that I was charged the full $14) and the nice girl at the stuffing machine pretended to stuff and fluff it for her.  I let Clara choose a ballerina outfit and some ballet slippers for it so she could dress it like brother and sister.  But Clara was due for a nap and doesn't like a lot of noise or crowds so whe wasn't really into the experience.  The older kids were so excited to be there, I only wish it had been less crowded so it could have been a funner experience and so that Grandma and Pappa could have been more involved in the process.  However my kids sure love their new friends!  Thanks Grandma and Pappa!

 

Deal at Planet Play

Planet Play (formerly Incredible Pizza Company) has a deal with City Deals right now for 4 buffets and $50 of play cards for only $40.  It expires in February 2012.  The buffet is all you can eat with quite a few varieties of pizza, a little salad, some pasta, drinks, and desserts.  The activities they have include mini-golf, bumper cars, go-karts, and arcade games.  You can read my post about when my family went back in June if you want more details.  Anyway, I figure it cost about $40 just to feed my family when we go out so for the same price we also get to play.  If you're interested, here's the link:  http://www.citydeals.com/planet-play-86-family-package-including-four-buffets-and-five-10-game-cards-for-39-95-deal.html?location=5006&ref=EMB20110809-utslc

2 Buck Tuesdays at Thanksgiving Point

On Tuesdays during the month of August Thanksgiving Point activities are only $2 per person per venue (kids 2 and under are free)  This includes the Museum of Ancient Life (dinosaurs), Thanksgiving Point Gardens (including the Children's Discovery Garden with a water Noah's Ark), and Farm Country (see and pet farm animals, go on a wagon ride, and kids can go on a pony ride).  They are open from 10 am - 8 pm.  Just beware these activities are usually crowded during this special pricing time.

Living Planet Aquarium half price membership

Today Living Social has an adult and child annual membership for $18.  That's half the normal price.  You have to redeem the voucher by December, then your pass will be good for a year.  We LOVE the Living Planet Aquarium.  Here's a link to the deal:  https://livingsocial.com/deals/78782?ref=conf-jp&rpi=20991769

Hogle Zoo discount and Zoorassic Park

UPDATE AS OF JULY 7, 2011
I just had to re-stock my Dr. Pepper supply and they are finally done with the Thor cans.  And yes, these cans have the Hogle Zoo discount.  So if stopping by Les Schwab isn't very convenient for you, go buy some Dr. Pepper and bring your can to the Hogle Zoo ticket window to buy one adult ticket get one child's ticket FREE offer that expires 9/30/11.  If you don't want to buy any Dr. Pepper you can call me or come rummage through my recyle bin.

PREVIOUSLY:
My kids love going to the zoo and in the past we have bought a membership, but I find I only go a few times a year and can find discounts at times, so I'm no longer buying a membership.  The past two years I have found buy one adult get one child free on my Dr. Pepper cans during the summer.  Not yet, these Dr. Pepper cans have Thor on them but I'll let you know if I get any later this summer.

In the meantime Les Schwab is sponsoring a new exhibit at the Zoo called Zoorassic Park.  I know these are going to scare Tessa to death, but Spencer will be sooooooo excited when we go!  There are 13 life-like animated dinosaurs throughout the zoo.  The zoo says they "seem to come alive--moving, roaring, snarling--even spitting!"  They even have a free dig site.  The Zoorassic Park dinosaurs will be at Hogle Zoo through the middle of August only.  And because Les Schwab is sponsoring this, they are offering BUY ONE GET ONE FREE TICKETS at their locations.  I know there is one in Sandy on 700 E about 9200 South.

Free kids' meals at Chili's today

Here is a link to a coupon for Chili's that is good today, July 6th.  It is for a free kids meal.  You can actually get up to 2 free kids meals per paying adult.  If you have 2 adults purchasing a meal, you can get 4 kids meals free.

http://www.printablecouponfeed.com/chilis/28508

Summer discount at The Living Planet Aquarium

I love The Living Planet Aquarium.  It's pretty small, but educational and fun and worth the annual price if you go a few times.  But if you don't go often, you should take advantage of this deal!  It's $3 off per ticket during July & August.  Normally an adult ticket is $9 and a child is $7.  The discount brings it down to $6 and $4.  Here's the link for the discount: http://www.visitsaltlake.com/coupons/index.cfm?action=showCoupon&couponID=78

Deal for This Is The Place Heritage Park

I've never been to This Is The Place Heritage Park, but I always wonder about going every time I go to the zoo (which is right across the street).  Today's Groupon deal is $4.00 tickets, with a maximum of 4 to purchase.  Regular summer admission is $10 for an adult and $7 for a kid.  Kids 2 and under are free.

Based on their website it is a large park with an old village you can walk through as well as a Native American area and a petting zoo.  You can take a "train" tour (it's not really a train but carts pulled by a train replica looking tractor) to see everything before setting out on foot.  The admission price also includes some fun things for kids like a mini-train ride (on rails), a pony ride, and a take home craft.  I'll give it a try for a $12 Friday fun day!  If you want here is a link to the Groupon deal, but it's only good for another 8 hours:  http://gr.pn/kSqWvk

Deal at Red Butte Gardens

Today's Groupon is a deal for 2 tickets to Red Butte Gardens for $8.00.  It specifies adult tickets and I don't know if they can be used for children or not, but regular admission is $8.00 for an adult and $6.00 for children 3-12 (free for under 3).  It's also free for U students and only $6 for U faculty/staff.  I've never actually been here but recently a friend was telling me about it.  She said it is absolutely beautiful to walk through the gardens as an adult or child.  They also have hints and tips for gardening flowers as well as vegetables.  In addition there is a really fun children's garden with statues (including the tin man), a sandbox, a fountain (like a splashpad but just one big fountain and a few snakes spitting water), and all sorts of wildlife including birds, rabbits, and snakes.  They allow outside food and it's supposedly a great place for a picnic as well.  Here's a link to the deal http://gr.pn/mL4geI

Planet Play Deal

So the Incredible Pizza Company has changed their name to a more appropriate "Planet Play".  I've never eaten or played there, but I dropped Spencer off for a birthday party a few months ago and he had soooo much fun.  Today on City Deals you can purchase 4 buffets with $50 of play cards for only $32.00.  Go to their website and find Planet Play and enter the code SUNNY20 at the checkout.  I bought one so we can go as a family later.  I figure when we go out to eat as the 4 of us it costs about $32 and even if the pizza is as bad as Chuck E. Cheese at least there is a buffet with salad, pasta, dessert, and such.  And then we get $50 of play for free!  They have bumper cars that are like $3 a game, miniature golf and mini bowling that are about $3 a game, go-karts that are about $5 a game, laser tag that's about $5 a game, and arcade games.  Just thought I'd give a heads-up.

deal on Living Planet Aquarium

So if you read my post about the Living Planet Aquarium you'll know how much we love going there.  Today Citydeals has a great deal of 50% off annual membership for one adult and one child.  This makes it $21 for these annual memberships.  If you use the coupon code TXT15 you'll get an additional 15% off so that even with shipping/handling you can get the two memberships for under $19!  Of course you only get one adult and one child membership and there's a limit of one purchase per household, but it's a great deal!  Here's the link for the deal http://www.citydeals.com/?ref=CDUMTQzODIz