Summer Fun ~ aka Taming the Boredom

"Water sliding" with friends at the church campout. . . .

Free bowling with MOPS friends and an uncountable number of children. . . . .

A

weekend at the Beach. . . .



Boating and intertubbing. . . . .

Many play dates including a friend's amazing pool, jumpy place, McDonald's. . . .

Back in May, a really good, original thought came to me on how to tame the Summer Boredom.

You know, the sleep in until 9 a.m., lay around the house in pjs, where can we go today, what's for dinner, oops the summer's over Boredom.

Each of my children composed a list of 10 things they wanted to do over the Summer, edited as necessary by mommy, as Natalie quickly shouted out "Go to Palm Springs!" We composed the list together on the computer (teaching them computer skills and Publisher ~ good mommy), choosing their own graphics to design it, printed it out, and hung it.

We've done well doing the fun things off each person's list, but it wasn't all about that exactly. For them it was learning to make a to do list and planning outings. For me it was making sure these 3 months "off" were not wasted. My children's time goes by so quickly, I would so much rather it be filled with events and adventures to treasure for all time.

I'm looking forward to next year's lists....

HAYDEN:
1. Spend the night with Trenton
2. Spend the night with Conner

3. Race remote control cars

4. Go to the beach

5. Play date with Talon

6. Hunt for turtles

7. Sleepover with Kyle & Casey

8. Date with mommy

9. Go to the Pacific Science Center

10. Bowling

NATALIE:

1. Go to the beach

2. Ride horses with Ty

3. Spend the night with Ty

4. Play date with Whitney

5. Go to the zoo

6. Jumpy place

7. Putt putt golfing

8. Date with daddy

9. Children's museum

10. Picnic at the river

MARISSA:

1. Slip n slide with Josie

2. Play date with Josie

3. Play date with Max & Sam

4. Play date with daddy

5. Jumpy place

6. Go to the beach

7. Play outside

8. Camping with Ty & Josie

Garden Harvest!

So I lied and didn't take more photos of my garden. I just couldn't do it....the weeds are taller than my children. But we have been eating (and canning) so much yummy food! Yes I said canning....that's a little pat on the back for me. Sorry....spicy pickled green beans, pickles, pickled beets, and jams so far.

My mother-in-law said it perfectly when she came over one night. She said she did her time canning but she had to take a peek at my pantry, because she knows how proud you are when you open that door and see all those beautiful jars. Thankx, mom!

I've also spent many hours baking zucchini bread. Look at these giant zucchini! That was just 3 of the 5 giant ones we came home to from being gone camping over the weekend. The sight of my children carrying those humongous things was too funny.

Maybe we should enter them at the fair.....the zucchini not the children.

Howdy Pardner!

This is Natalie's friend, Ty.


This picture is worth a thousand scary thoughts of her teenage years.


LOVE YOU LIL' COWGIRL! *hugs* Mommy


Brooks And Dunn - Cowgirls Don't Cry lyrics LyricsMode.com