Friday, July 31, 2009

A cheap morning.....

So...in my never-ending quest to entertain my children this summer, I found a fun, cheap morning. We headed down to the Gateway Mall (I totally neglect downtown these days because of construction, but I need to get over it. I love downtown) and set out with a coupon. I got a 30% coupon off  Old Navy, Gap, etc. so I HAD to use it. We stocked up on some uniform stuff for school and the kids love talking to the Old Navy mannequins (don't ask). They were unusually quiet as I checked out, only to discover they were posing as mannequins in the window. That's a great game....they were silent and still!
After a run-through of the Gap, we headed over to the planetarium to check out "Newton's Dream" (the cool ball machine). Quinn was mesmerized for quite awhile. 

Then off to other exhibits at the planetarium....I didn't feel the need to do an IMAX or star show. The kids didn't care.
Of course, the best part are the Olympic fountains. Emi was a little nervous, but then became the bravest fountain girl of all, getting wetter than anyone. Quinn wanted nothing of it, but happily sat in the stroller with me in the shade. 

 So....we had fun and it was totally free. Except the $100  I dropped in Old Navy and Gap for school clothes (but...I saved about $40 with coupon, and I had to validate parking, right?) What are your favorite free activities in the summer?

7 comments:

Cindy said...

What a fun day! We love the fountain at the Gateway too....but we haven't made it there yet this summer. We also love Liberty Park...the Canyons and the other water area are a favorite...then we go over for a snow cone by the carnival rides.

brooke said...

Glad you put the coupon to good use! I can't believe we've never been to the planetarium. We have passes to Discovery Gateway and always go there--looks like we need to branch out. I am totally going to take my kids to the fountains next week--great idea.

We like to hit the Cottonwood Spa pool in the summer, Snowbird for a picnic and their little alpine slide, The farm at TPoint, and we recently discovered "the beach" at Daybreak--pretty fun for being man-made.

Bill said...

The sun stare: I got six at the sun stare!

Karen said...

The problem with the free fun stuff is that it seems to require so much more work. I really need to get over it.

pan x 8 said...

I love Gateway and so do my kids! I haven't been there at all this summer! But what a fun day! and hey, if the $$ you laid down was for back-to-school shopping then you are that much ahead!!

Kudos to you for being totally prego and taking that trip anyway!

Marrdy said...

Sounds like a fun day! Even as old as my kids are they still love the fountain! I took Alex to the Alpine Slide, we had a ball!

Rebekah said...

what a fun mom you are! your gateway trip looked like a lot of fun! hope you are feeling good!