So I've always been jealous of other places, like Colorado Springs, that offers a ton of fun free things in their community, for kids and adults.  I assumed it was because people can actually go outside there more than 3 months out of the year.  Granted I've never really researched things to do in the community around Mesa, mostly because I haven't had kids to entertain, but I came across this website that will hopefully be my window to the fun community things that are really out there just waiting to be discovered!

I only just found this today so I haven't really looked into it to know how good it really is, but I have high hopes and wanted to share it with you other Mesa-onians?  Mesa-nites?  Mesans?  Oh, I don't know...  Anyway, apparently there are blogs like this for Utah communities and maybe other places as well... do your own research!

 

So I'm a bit delayed in this post...Dan's birthday was Saturday the 4th.  Various ideas ran through my mind of how I could make it a special birthday for him and here is what I came up with.

My plan was to surprise him at work on Friday and take him to lunch.  I figured it would be fun to surprise him, but also he could then show Madelyn off to his co-workers.  A few weeks ago I emailed Dan's boss and we got it all arranged.  She scheduled a "meeting" with him and the rest of the audit team and the plan was in motion.  Dan never suspected a thing.  I jumped, okay, crawled, out of bed just a few minutes after he left the house around 6am.  I baked brownies to take, got myself showered and ready, and Madelyn fed, clothed and happy, and hit the road!  Now his office is 45 min away, with no traffic, so I prepared for the worst with lots of diapers and bottles and toys.  Fortunately Madelyn slept almost the whole way there.  Dan happened to call me about 10min before his meeting began to say hi, and I played it off well saying I was driving home from my mall walking, etc, etc.  He still had no idea.  I was getting increasingly excited.  I showed up just as the meeting began, his boss came down to the reception area to walk me up, we got to the conference room and she introduced me as "a special guest" or something, and I came into the room, baby in stroller and ballons waving behind us, and a big old smile lit up Dan's face.  It was GRRREAT!!  So I dished out brownies, I revealed all the sneakiness to Dan that I had to cover up over the last couple of weeks, and Dan got to introduce Maddy to everyone. 

It was funny because apparently Dan had scheduled a meeting with the other auditors the day before to prepare for the fake meeting.  Haha!  But we had fun spending some time together and making Dan/Daddy feel special!  We love you sweetie!

 

So I know I'm severely slacking with the blogs... I don't think anyone is too sad over it though since I haven't received any nasty hate emails about it.  There just really isn't much going on, though stay tuned for updates on Maddy at Blog, Jr. next week!  She's nearly 6 months old!!  Wow...time is flyin'!

As for us...we haven't taken any trips since San Diego.  We're just looking forward to the fall weather that's supposed to hit anytime now!  Although the highs have been hovering below the triple digits, which may still sound hot to you outsiders, but really, it's quite a difference.  Nights are pretty great now and we've begun opening windows at night instead of running the A/C.  And Maddy is liking the extra time outside now that it's bearable and I can take her on more walks.

Speaking of walking...I have been taking her to the mall the last 3 weeks, about 4-5 days a week, to get in some exercise.  The old couples know me and the ones that can hear me coming know to move to the side and get out of my way and shoot me a friendly smile as I whiz by!  I usually go for 3 miles which is roughly 6-8 laps I think, so lots of people have started recognizing me, which I don't really like, but it's a free air conditioned place to take her on walks, so I do what I gotta do.  As of Monday I started a 30 day trial period at a nearby gym.  I've met with a trainer twice as part of the trial package and it's making me really excited to get fit!  Not sure what will happen after the 30 days expires, I really like having all the options at a gym, but their current price options just aren't worth it, so I hope to be able to do some bargaining when the time comes.  Otherwise I'm left with only walking the block and lifting my 3lb weights, or Maddy.  Those of you who have been my workout partners, if you're reading...Brooke T., Megan, Brooke W., Heather...know that I can be dedicated and consistent, but I still need your moral support and hold me accountable!

Anyway, this is a really boring post...sorry...but at least I'm checking in!  Oh!  So Saturday I had fun meeting my future sis-in-law's family at her bridal shower.  My younger bro Erik is gettin' hitched on Nov. 1 and I'm excited for him.  A new wife and a new house all in a span of like 4 days!  What a lot to swallow for them, but hopefully they can get out of the stress zone and start enjoying the experience more!  So they are getting married on Nov. 1 and their rehearsal dinner is being held the night before, yep, Oct. 31...so no Halloween costumes for Maddy.  Which is fine because really the only place she would have been seen in it was at our ward party which I assume is on Halloween.  And she wouldn't get anything out of it, so it's not a big deal to miss it.  So now I can keep my eye out for clearance costumes for her to wear next year! 

Alrighty...that's all I have...until next month!  Haha!  Just kidding...something blog worthy is bound to happen before then! :)