3/13 - Buffalo Wings

Went to buy Buffalo wings from Buffalo Wild Wings @ Chandler Fashion Mall..
Wild x4, Hot BBQ x4, Sweet BBQ x6, Parmesan Garlic x4.. A set of 18 pieces for $17.50..
Will receive a $5 discount on my next visit within 7 days after I completed the survey..

3/10 - Birthday party, BBQ & Pot Luck Day

3/10 (Sun)

A relaxing Sunday. It’s Alexis Watson’s birthday party @ Peter Piper Pizza. Jaden was invited. Scrambled last minute to buy the present. Bought a $7.5 stuffed toy from Bashas’ but Jenny complained it’s too alcheapo as I was given $30 ! OK, went to buy a nice gift bag ($3.5) and a $20 gift card from Target J Sent Jaden to Peter Piper Pizza. Pretty much a party-themed restaurant with arcades at the back and long tables for pizzas.  Dropped him there with the other kids and proceeded to the Starbucks a few shops away for my lunch !  This is only the 3^rd time I step into Starbucks ever since I arrived here 2 months ago. Read my James peterson’s book and also had some cakes plus my favorite Green Tea hot Latte.. Picked up Jaden around 2.30pm and left for home..

The 2^nd part of the day was the BBQ + Pot Luck party @ San Cervantes with the SEED. Jenny cooked some bee hoon and I brought along some Doritos and Lay’s. The kids had a fun time playing baseball with the giant bat from Ostrich Festival. There were also kids from Tean Wee’s and Li Gin’s.

Note : 3/10 is also the day-light saving day, time changed at 2am.. but it does not affect Chandler, only those in west coast..

Bought this toy from Basha's for $7.50, added in a $20 Target gift card

Jaden with Alexis Watson

Champion, Jaden, Alexis

3/9 - Ostrich Festival !!

3/9 (Sat)

Ostrich Festival day ! This is one event that we are so looking fwd to. Diana was staying over-night with us, so we decided to go together and plan to come back in time for her to catch the 6pm flight to LAX. Arrived at Tumbleweed Park at around 10.30am. Using the W Chandler Blvd – Alma School Rd – German Rd is so much easier than using the 101.. Arrived there in 10+mins. Still early, so car park was easy. Entrance fees was $10 for adults, $7 for seniors and kids. Somehow, I didn’t realize that they counted 1 less adult ticket and we managed to enter without any fuss. So, jimat $10 J

The festival was more like a fun-fair with stalls selling crafts, souvenirs, and mainly a lot of food stalls.. of course the amusement park was the key attraction.. Friday heavy downpour took a toll on the place as there were some muddy patches but they managed to put saw dusk to minimize the impact. 12pm was the Ostrich Race, so we went jalan2 around. Caught a glimpse of the famous Las Vegas BIRDMAN Show which showcased some exotic birds – African condor, cockatoo, Cassowary bird, parrots, cranes etc. The Ostrich race is something all-together. The race site was a small race course surrounded by high stands for spectators. We managed to get some nice locations as we arrived just in time for the race. Throughout the 40mins race, there were 2 Ostrich race, an emu race for the kids, a mule race and lastly, an Ostrich chariot ! The bird can run up to 30miles an hr and can be quite wild especially one tries to sit on its back. One of the riders had his jeans torn at the hip area and a small cut too. We spent the next 2 hours going through a pony ride, petting zoo and ended with the kids playing at the amusement park. Parents tried the Ostrich burgers too.. Didn’t really like the Ostrich meat, a bit hard. Left home at 2pm, tired.

The crane

African eagle

Octrich chariot race

mule ride / race

Petting zoo feeding frenzy !

kids with emu, part of Ostrich race smaller events

Ostrich burgers - meat so so nia..

Enjoying the ride !



won big baseball bats as part of the games



3/3 - Playtopia @ Tumbleweed, what a nice recreational place !

3/3/2013 (Sun)

Had wanted to go to Tangers Outlets and then Tumbleweeds Recreation Park but decided to just go to Playtopia @ Tumbleweed since it was late. First time to Tumbleweed, impressed by the facilities.

Here’s a short intro of Playtopia (http://www.chandleraz.gov/default.aspx?pageid=666)

Playtopia is a free, 2.5-acre playground and picnic section of the City’s Tumbleweed Park. It features several play zones with themes based on Chandler’s heritage. Playtopia is an ideal place for endless imaginative play, and attracts families from all over town. Come out and play! 
The Playtopia parking lot is located south of Germann Rd. on Hamilton Street, one-quarter-mile west of McQueen Rd.

Playtopia is:

• Farm Land
  Numerous slides, bridges and climbing features designed to incorporate the farm life theme. Almost all of the Farm Land play equipment is under the protective shade provided by a large red barn canopy.
• City Land
  An urban-themed landscape with paved streets, street signs, lampposts and vehicles you would find in any big city. In addition to offering climbing, riding, and sliding structures for kids, City Land streets are great for riding tricycles and small bikes.
• Critter Land
  Children can hop on the back of a massive Gila Monster, walk through giant tortoise shells, and get down-and-dirty diggin’ in the dirt to discover dinosaur bones. It’s a great place for kids to explore and climb and expand their minds.
• And there's more!
  Playtopia amenities include swings, benches, restrooms, barbeque grills, sand volleyball, horseshoe pits, and 14 covered ramadas with picnic tables and seating that can be reserved for your family or corporate gathering. Of the ramadas, there are five that will accommodate 15-25 people, six that will handle 20-30 people, two pavilions for large gatherings of up to 80 people, and one giant corporate pavilion with a capacity of 320 people.

Developed fever at night. Must be the body over-heated from the long marathon run and walking under hot sun @ the Street Fair.. Popping in Panadol :(

3/2 - A super hot day, yet so many activities !

3/2 - Did my 3rd (and supposedly last) marathon here, part of my own trilogy of 3 in 6 weeks. It is the Phoenix Marathon, started the race at 6.30am. Race report in http://www.mycoolrunning.blogspot.com/

In the morning, Jenny and kids went to visit Chandler Fire Station Open Day @ Boston St, next to the Downtown Library @ Delaware St. Looks like fun for the kids.

After the run, took a quick lunch, we decided to go visit the Street Fair @ Phoenix (7^th Ave) in the afternoon. Super hot day, the hottest since my arrival @ Chandler !  Was there from 2pm-4pm+. The Street Fair looks like our normal pasar malam, selling art works, handicrafts and stalls doing promotions. Of course there's the antic cars exhibition, some as old as 1930s !

it was really hot and I was so worried about parents getting dizzy speels. So had to find some shade from time to time. 

Hilight of the Street Fair ? 1) Jaden got himself a bow + 2 arrows. Jadyn didn't find what she wanted. 2) Bungy jump !!  Quite an experience for them. US$8 for 3mins jump. not cheap loh :)