Things for the kids to do this summer – with a little sarcasm…

What are your kids doing this summer? Mine are just getting in the swing of things 🙂 I don’t ever sign them up for too much in the summer, I want them to have those long hot “dog days” of summer, I remember them as a kids and wish I had them now!

Spontaneously they tossed on swim suits and grabbed the poor unsuspecting dog to give him a much needed bath. Obviously he really enjoys it…. NOT.

The dog survived with a little soap in the eyes, and the kids were perfectly happy! Sometimes I forget that they are perfectly able to entertain themselves and don’t need me micromanaging every second of their day. They spent 3 hours outside in the mosquitos and heat and were HAPPY as can be. They soaked the yard, made the landscaping into puddles, and got bit up but I just left them alone.

This kid has played in the boxes that we are unpacking for 2 weeks now. He is also rediscovering toys that have been packed up for 3 months, it is like Christmas around here!

When I look at the pirate above and this big kid below, it seems like yesterday that my oldest looked just like the pirate!

My oldest son gets to spend some quality time this week with my husband and I. Don’t worry you will get the entire story and pictures next week…. can’t wait can you?!

We try and spend some time alone with each child either taking them out for the night or through sports, just whenever we can.

Here are some of my kids and my favorite things to do in the summer:

• Pick blueberries! Hands Down. Google a local “u-pick” fruit orchard in your area. Bring a camera!
• Give the kids a hose. Thats it, thats all they need….
• Introduce them to the library. My 2 oldest are obsessed with the library right now, it is kinda cool!
• Lemonade stand. We would have one everyday if I let them, but the neighbors would hate us and the kids would have to pay taxes 🙂
• Give them scissors and old magazines. Or new ones, up to you!
• Relax and let the kids make cookies, BY THEMSELVES. This is hard for me, I don’t like messes. But it makes them really happy and they are soooo proud of their work. Of course I help them with the oven and ignore any egg shell in my cookie!
• My older kids are big enough that I let them make the free photo books and t-shirts online now, they can design them and they love it!
• Go to the $1 movies for kids.
• Make a fort in the living room. This is another one that I have to make myself let them do, because I just know that I have to help them clean it all up! But it is really worth it, HOURS of entertainment!

What do your kids do in the summer, that you can just “turn them loose” and they can do on their own?