Everydays An Adventure

Works For Me Wednesday

    Yes, I admit it - I had been a mother for 8 years before I started using Johnson's No More Tangles shampoo and detangler.  My three girls have always hated having their hair brushed and they always scream.  My 21 month old son even stands on the stool in the bathroom holding the brush and says "ouch, ouch, ouch" and makes fake crying sounds!  That's what he thinks you do when you get your hair brushed!  This summer while we were in Cincinnati staying with my friend, Evie, I just picked up the shampoo bottle in her shower and used it on my girls.  I was just sure that they would scream when I brushed their hair after the shower and scare Evie's kids.  Much to my surprise the comb just glided through their hair!  The girls were even surprised!  I quickly grabbed the bottle to see what it was!  As soon as we got back to Kansas City we bought both the shampoo and detangler - even without a coupon!  I will never use anything else!

To check out other people's helpful hints visit  rocksinmydryer.net

Coupons!

The coupon page has been updated.  This week we added a $2.OO Kashi coupon and others. 

Our Coupon Page

The weekly update of our coupon page has been posted.  This week's additions include printable coupons for swiffer products and Goldfish crackers.

Free or Cheap Kids Meals

Sunday

• Pizza Maker  8725 Bourgade in Lenexa  913-888-1011  Large single topping pizza and four drinks for $13.99  4 pm - close  Same special runs on Monday night also.
• Sunset Grill  14577 Metcalf in Overland Park  913-681-1722  Children 10 and under eat for 1/2 price with each paying adult from 4 pm - close.
• Tomfooleries  612 W 47th in KCMO  816-753-0555 and 8680 NW Prairie View in North Kansas City  816-746-8668  Children 6 and under receive free brunch from 9:30 am - 2 pm.

Monday

• Atlanta Bread Company  1686 NW Chipman Rd in Lee's Summit 816-554-1100 and 8180 W 135th in Overland Park  913-685-1200  One free kid's meal with each adult meal purchased from 4 - 9 pm.  Same special runs on Tuesday evenings.
• Buffalo Wild Wings  All Kansas City locations  Children 12 and under eat for 99 cents all day.
• Cinzetti's  7201 W 91st in Overland Park  913642-0101  Two children 12 and under eat free with each paying adult.  Same special runs on Tuesday evenings also.
• Double Dino's Pizza  5436 Roberts in Shawnee  913-422-9010  Buy a large pizza and get up to 4 free mini pizzas for the kids.
• Garozzo's  1547 NE Rice Rd in Lee's Summit  816-554-2800 and 13505 Mur-Len in Olathe  913764-6969  Two children 10 and under eat free with each paying adult.
• Pizza Maker  See Sunday listing
• Red Robin  18810 E 40 Highway in Independence  816-795-5678  This location only!!  Two children eat free with each paying adult from 5 pm - close.  Balloon artist and Red the mascot entertain until 8 pm.
• Waid's Family Restaurant  6920 Mission Road in Prairie Village  913-362-2882 and 1130 W 103rd in KCMO  816-942-1354  Children 10 and under eat free from 4 - close.  Same special runs on Tuesday also.
• Westport Flea Market Bar and Grill  817 Westport Road in KCMO  816-931-1986  One free kid's meal with each adult meal purchased from 5 - close.

Tuesday

• Atlanta Bread Company  See Monday listing
• Backyard Burgers  19020 West 151st  Olathe  913-829-7111 1424 East North  Belton  816-322-0500  Kids 12 and under eat for 99 cents from 4 -10pm with each paid adult combo.
• Chick-Fil-A  12087 S Blackbob  Olathe  913-829-7600  with each adult combo meal get a kids 4 piece nugget meal from 5-8pm
• Cinzetti's  See Monday listing
• Denny's  9001 Shawnee Mission Pkwy  Merriam  913-831-3285 10480 Metcalf  Overland Park 913-341-7005  9471 Lenexa Drive 913-492-8733  Two children 10 and under eat free with each adult entree.
• Fazoli's  All Kansas City locations  Children 12 and under eat for 99 cents from 5 - 8 pm with each entree purchased.
• Godfather's Pizza  All Kansas City locations  Children 10 and under eat free from the buffet with each adult buffet purchased.
• Lone Star Steakhouse  6501 NW Barry Road  Parkville  816-505-1771  1501 Village West Parkway  Kansas City, Kansas  913-334-9995  Two children 12 and under eat free with each adult entree  Same special runs on Saturdays until 4 pm.
• McAlister's Deli  Ward Parkway Mall  Kansas City, Mo  816-926-9200  Buy one adult entree and get two free kids meals.
• Perkins  Nationwide  Children 12 and under eat free with each adult entree purchased from 4 -10 pm.
• Salty Iguana  17717 East 40 Highway  Independence 816-350-8006 8228 Mission Road  Prairie Village 913-381-3888  6th and Waukarusa  Lawrence 785-312-8100  Children 12 and under eat free with each adult numbered entree purchased all day.
• The Other Place  16590 West 135th  Olathe 913-791-9500  Kids 10 and under eat for $1.59 all day. Same special runs on Saturdays.
• Waid's  See Monday listing

Wednesday

• Zarda Bar-B-Q  11931 West 87th  Lenexa 913-492-2330  214 North 7 Highway  Blue Springs  816-229-9999  Children 12 and under eat free with each adult entree purchase of $7 or more.  Offer good on in-house dining only.

Thursday

• Piccadilly  11747 Metcalf  Overland Park  913-345-9849  Kids eat for 99 cents all day.  Same special runs on Saturdays until 4 pm.

Friday

• None known

Saturday

• Lone Star Steakhouse  See Tuesday listing
• The Other Place  See Tuesday listing
• Piccadilly  See Thursday listing

My Favorite Things...

My Favorite Thing to share this week is our Gymboree bubble blower.  We have had our first one for a few years and recently bought two more so that everyone can have one.  They blow lots of tiny bubbles that last for a long time if you use the Gymboree bubbles.  They really are better than regular bubbles!  You can purchase the bubbles and blower at Gymboree stores or at the Gymboree Play and Music locations.  It's definately a favorite outside toy at our house!  For more favorite things head over to fiddledeedeeblog.blogspot.com.

Our Coupon Page

We have just added a page of links to online, printable coupons here.  Please visit and let us know if you have some great coupons that should be added to the list.

Works for Me Wednesday - Meatloaf

Another favorite blog carnival that I enjoy reading is Works For Me Wednesday over at rocksinmydryer.  I have learned lots of great tips that others have shared so I decided to join in. 

With school starting this week our schedules get more structured and definately busier.  I love to be able to open the freezer at the beginning of the week and be able to pull out some prepared meals to thaw.  One of our favorites is meatloaf.  It is a little time consuming to make so I make three at a time.   We eat one for dinner that night and I freeze the other two.  I put the other two flat in freezer bags and burp out as much air as I can.  Then they stack nicely in the freezer.

3 pounds ground beef

2 Tablespoons chopped celery

2 Tablespoons chopped green pepper

1/2 cup tomato sauce

1/2 cup ketchup

1 Tablespoon Worcestshire sauce

1 Tablespoon dry mustard

1/2 Tablespoon garlic

1/2 Tablespoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper

3 eggs

3/4 cup bread crumbs

Crumble the ground beef in a large bowl.  Add next nine ingredients and mix well.  Add eggs and bread crumbs and mix well.  Divide into two or three equal portions.  (I divide into thirds as my children are still young.) Shape one portion into a loaf and put in loaf pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for an hour. Cool for 10 minutes before slicing.  Put remainder into freezer bags and freeze.

Perfectly Peachy Family Outing

A few weeks ago on a Sunday afternoon we took the kids out to pick peaches.  They have been to pick blueberries before but this was our first time to pick peaches.  My friend, Suzie and her husband Rick recently opened Wagon Wheel Orchard in Gardner. The kids were excited to pick the peaches but they were equally excited to see Suzie and Rick's kids as our kids are the same ages.  As soon as we got there Rick took us on a hay ride out to the peach trees.  The kids quickly filled two bags and then explored the gourd maze.  We then took a hay ride back to the barn for apple and peach flavored slushes.  It was a very hot day and the slushes were very yummy!  They then spent some time playing with  their friends and visiting the animals.  They have 3 goats, 4 ducks and lots of chickens.  It was a great family outing and there's nothing quite like a peach straight from the tree that you picked yourself!  Now we are anxious to go back when the apples are ready!  You can find out more about Wagon Wheel  Orchard here.   If you aren't in the Kansas City area and would love to enjoy a family outing like this visit here. to find an orchard near you.

My Favorite Things...

For a few weeks now I have been reading Sarah's weekly "My Favorite things" posts over at her blog.  I have enjoyed them so much that I decided to join in.  Stay tuned each Tuesday for My Favorite Things and then head over to her blog to check out more. 

This week's favorite is the Inchbug labels that I have on all of Connor's sippy cups.  I used to always write his name in permanent marker on the lid of his cups in the nursery at church.  Only then to notice that he had a big black smudge of ink on his nose that lasted all day!  My sister called one day to tell me about these labels that she had seen and wanted to know if I wanted to order some with her.  Of course, I did as I am always looking for things to make my life easier.  The labels really stay on the cups and go right through the dishwasher!  Connor even knows which sippy cup is his by the label.  No more sampling everyone else's sippy cup cocktails!

Exploring the Children's Museum in Indianapolis

  It's...Big!  Very big and very cool!  The Children's Museum in Indianapolis is the largest children's museum in the country.  From the enormous water clock in the entry lobby, to the dinosaurs, to the steam locomotive, to the polar bear rearing up on it's hind legs and the colorful four story glass sculpture rising through the central atrium, the Children's Museum impresses everyone who visits.

We had heard how enjoyable and educational this museum was for children, so we made a visit part of our Summer travel plans this year.  We weren't disappointed.  Our four children range in age from eight years old to a nineteen month old toddler and they all found many exhibits that fascinated and amazed them.  The Children's Museum has animation demonstrations, a classic carousal, a Curious George play area, some great hands-on water tables for kids to dip their fingers in and much more.  The dinosaur section included several full sized dinosaur skeletons.  At certain displays children are encouraged to touch the bones. 

The Children's Museum makes having a great day easy with convenient free parking in a covered garage and a large food court near the main entrance.  Wide ramps spiral around the central atrium giving easy access to all four levels to visitors in strollers. 

  Connor, our toddler, played and played until he just couldn't.  The Children's Museum has so much to offer that you will need at least an entire day to experience everything.  Fortunately, the gift shop stays open a half hour after the rest of the museum closes so you can still shop for a souvenir on the way to the parking garage.  Our kids had a wonderful time and we recommend the Children's Museum in Indianapolis to any family looking for an enjoyable adventure.