Photo: K Thomas

After all, I have more trips to the zoo, the park and maybe the Herr’s factory planned. Then there’s the aquarium, the…wait a second. I do believe I’ve overbooked summer. Looks like we’d better plan a few days of chillin, too.

Photo: K Thomas

(By the way, the Herr’s factory visit is really cool. You get to tour the factory and then buy chips for half price in the factory store. They’re seconds, but that usually means the cheese puffs are extra cheesy and the salt and vinegar chips are extra puckery.)

Photo: K Thomas

Post from: Blisstree

Wordy Wednesday – Reasons I Like Summertime

Image: mrsgooding

On the left is Hubby’s 1600cc Yamaha MT-01 and on your right is his Lotus car kit. We love both of his toys and yes, we get to ride (as passengers only!) from time to time.

Hubby has no vices so like I said previously, I’m really happy that he has toys he can occupy himself with. Our tween daughter is not too keen on getting driven to school in the Lotus but I’m sure she’ll get used to it

Post from: Blisstree

Summer Activities for your Husband

IMG: sxc.hu

For now, you have been designated the anti-boredom police and you better figure something out before they drive you insane. Sure, you can pull out that box of arts and crafts, paper and crayons but honestly how long will that last before you hear those phrases again? You need a plan and a list of other ideas. Lets work together and come up with some.

Young Kids
- water play: You can get a bunch of buckets or pots and pans out and fill a pool with water and let the young ones have at it. Don’t forget to toss in a few plastic spoons so they can pretend to cook and bang away on the pots. Kids love exploring and the way the water falls. Since you do have them near the water and possibly in it don’t forget to apply sunblock so they don’t burn.

- sand play: Fill a designated area up with sand and give them a few beach toys to have their own time with. Don’t forget to toss in a few hot wheels so they can play crash up derby.

- chalk: This seems to take on a fun all on its own, some kids will draw for hours, others will write message and yet some are more creative and draw entire towns. These days Crayola has a ton of chalk tools you can buy to add to the fun, these can normally be found at Walmart, Target, Toys R Us, etc.

- bubbles: What child doesn’t like to blow bubbles? Make your own or buy them, now days they even have these miracle bubbles that never pop…well they do eventually but it isn’t like normal bubbles. Plus there are all types of wands, big, small and huge or just use the bubble blower and have a little bubble party.

- swimming pool (the tiny wading ones)- Kids love swimming, mine did even when they didn’t like the bathtub and trust me I considered tossing in the bar of soap. Fill a pool up and let them play until they are all prunes or until they start to shiver. Have towels nearby so they can lay out to dry.

Middle-age Children
- bike riding: Every child seems to love the freedom of a bike, maybe its just knowing they are doing it on their own or the way the wind blows against your face even when there is none. I remember playing bike tag with my dad and some friends growing up. No matter what they decide to do, make sure they are wearing their helmets properly.

- fishing/skipping rope: I’ll never forget the look on my kids’ faces when I put that rod in their hand and showed them how to cast. Or the look on their face as they brought their first fish in….err I mean crab. Children love to learn new things and fishing is defnitely one of them, course you may discover you’ve got one child that won’t touch the worm. My papa taught me a way around that though, simply place a fake one on or a mini marshmallow. Shhh, we won’t tell no one. Skipping rope, hopscotch, soccer, etc are other games they may like to learn to play outside too.

- reading: It’s summertime and schools and libraries probably worked together to encourage your child to read so many books this summer. Why shouldn’t they right? Help them out by taking some time yourself to read a book in front of them, maybe have an afternoon of reading or a certain hour. I remember “Freshman Dorms” that was a book series I read one summer, the entire summer. You’d always catch me with those books nearby.

- playing with their friends: If their friends are nearby they’ll probably want to hang with them, in your house, their house or in the yard. This can be a lifesaver if they’ve been cooped up in the house too long and they are getting on your nerves. Plus they can finally chat about all those things they need to catch up on.

Teens
- go to the movies:  There are a ton of movies hitting the theater this summer that your teens are probably wanting to see.

- camping: This was always a favorite of ours and depending on the age may depend on the type of camping. Keep in mind there is always the front and backyard if you need a little peace of mind. Or you can take a group of teens up camping with you and give them their very own tent and lot, this way they feel they are on their own and you can still look after them if needed.

- hike:  These days teens like to take care of themselves, one great way to do that is go on a hike. Make sure they pack plenty of water depending on where they are going or how long they’ll be gone.  If they aren’t going with a buddy you may want to find out where they plan on going and what time they’ll be back or give them a cell to contact you if needed, that is if they don’t already have one.

- going to mall/beach/lake/river- you know anywhere they can escape mom and dad.

Got any other ideas to add to the list? Come on I don’t want to hear that phrase again, do you?

Post from: Blisstree

Fun Summer Activities for Kids

Image: sxc.hu

• June 21 – School’s Out – What can we do in our local area?
• June 28 – Fourth of July and patriotic activities
• July 5 – Beach and water fun
• July 12 – Space and astronomy
• July 19 – Travel
• July 26 – Family Reunion time and Camp Cousin
• August 2 – Picnics for day hikes and backyards
• August 9 – Exploring the mountains
• August 16 – Nature and the out-of-doors
• August 23 – Exploring history
• August 30 – Back to school, end of summer

Do you have special activities you do on specific days or weeks during the summer?

Post from: Blisstree

Summer Themes for Kids’ Activities

Image: sxc.hu

States,

 Encourage youngsters to go outdoors if there are safe areas around your home.  If not, see about taking them to a park , a nearby hiking area or national forest.

 Take walks around the neighborhood.  See how everything around you is changing with the seasons.  This also is an activity to engage in other seasons; compare and contrast what you find in each.

 Take weather observations from your home and keep a chart.  Research different types of weather, how clouds form, what causes the weather you’re experiencing, and even find some weather experiments to do.

 See if there is a nature center within easy distance from your home.  Plan a visit there and make it a half or full day’s outing, complete with picnic lunch.

 Do you have hiking trails near you?  Perhaps you live in the country and have places to hike right on your own property or the neighborhood.  We live on the edge of town, and the area around our home is wooded with trails over abandoned, overgrown  roads. These provide perfect places to hike and explore.

 Build a fort or shelter in your yard or on your property.  We live on 3 wooded acres.  The grandchildren have, for years, built forts or hiding places there, by themselves and with their friends.

 Children often enjoy camping out in the yard, or even on a porch, when the weather is welcoming.  My grandson pitched a tent on the deck last year.  He often used it as his get-away during the day, as well as sleeping there at night.

 What spring and summer activities do you engage in with the youngsters in your life?

Post from: Blisstree

Spring and Summer Parenting

All you have to do is go online to KidsBowlFree.com and select a bowling center near you – there are dozens listed by state and more are added daily. Just follow the instructions, and you will be e-mailed coupons for two free games per day all summer long. My location has restricted hours and shoe rental still costs ($1.25), but a great deal nonetheless!

Photo, Flickr, ginnerobot

Post from: Blisstree

Program Lets Kids Bowl Free All Summer

 Once the excitement of the first days of summer vacation from school are over, youngsters often bombard you with the comments, “I’m bored. I don’t know what to do.”  

Check out the post, Activities for Your Youngsters This Summer – Reading & Others, over at my new blog One Book Two Book. There you’ll also find links to Karen’s post at our blog and Char’s at Weary Parent, with many, many ideas.

These may be activities you can enter into with your youngsters as you take a break from quilting and fabric art work.  Also, you’ll find some you can set them playing while you get some time to do your work. 

I always found that my daughter, an only child, kept very occupied when she had activities to become involved in, sometimes alone, other times with her dad and me, and often with her cousins and friends.  When the young adults get together nowadays, they often reminisce about the fun activities at Aunt Mary’s home.

What are your plans for summer activities to keep the various generations in your home busy?

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

Summer Activities for Quilters’ Children