Well, we all just finished breakfast. The boys are playing with some blocks that I bought for the baby. They just kind of took over there. At least I have not heard the tv on all morning. Many times I wish we didn't have one! I believe the tv distracts people from real relationships with their family. Plus it is not conducive to getting any work done around the house.
My big dilemma this summer (for the past 4 days) has been what do to every day. I was going to take the kids to the free movies this week. They start at 9:30. Too early for me this morning. We might go to the dollar store that our friends from church own as an activity today. I don't know. Stu needs to take my truck in to get the brakes fixed. They're squeeking pretty badly. I just know that won't be cheap! Any ideas for keeping a 7, 5, and 21 mo. old busy would be appreciated. My brother has a pool, but none of these children know how to swim, so...I would need a helper there with all of them. Plus, I'm 25 weeks pregnant today and at 38 I think I'm feeling it. She has just been growth spurting lately, so I'm a bit sore. I still just LOVE it! I am very excited about this baby!
I was reading in 1 Peter 2 this morning. Great chapter!!! We are living stones and we need to glorify God in everything we do! I will endeavor to accomplish this today. It takes loads of self control when you've got 3 young boys. Blessings!
4 comments:
I'm going to assume that you've already hit both your library's website and your city's website for events and have picked/chosen from there what you can a) afford, b) have a tolerance for as a mom, and c) know that your kids will enjoy. I would suggest printing off a blank monthly calendar for the remainder of June, July and August.
Fill in any holidays and birthdays that you observe right off the bat. Then back track a day or two from each of those dates...whatever date/s you "land on" are dates that the kids will make cards, decorations, and help you bake goodies. And don't forget helping to clean. Given your children's ages allow the littlest two clean rags and just let them dust the baseboards or "pretend" to dust other furniture to keep them busy and involved while you tackle the harder jobs.
OK...now that that's done, remember all those free or nearly freebie items from the websites? Start filling those in. Be realistic about it...don't overschedule just for the sake of having something pluged on a square of the calendar.
Now...are there any relatives close by that would enjoy a day visit? Schedule a one or two "set" visits, if possible. If you live far away from family, do you have any friends w/ kids similiar ages that would enjoy a bi-weekly playdate? See if you can plan a picnic early or late in the day...pack some water guns, bubbles and soft balls. In fact...if you can pre-pack a bag in the car for picnicing then you can do parks at the spur of anymoment. Put in suntan lotion, an old sheet (for groundcover) empty ziplock bags, plastic silverwear, a small package of wetwipes and a couple of bottles of water. (don't forget lawn toys and a disposable camera!) All you have to do is add the food (even swinging by the deli if it is truly last minute).
Next, I want you to find out which art gallery museum has a weekly special for free entry. Most art galleries have at least one day a week at a certain time (mine is Tuesdays after 4p) when they wave the fee so students can go in ... and the rest of the public benefits. Often there are little kid things going on in a special section of the museum. If not, visit the gift shop first thing and buy each of the kids a postcard depicting art that's showcased at the museum. Use it as a treasure hunt...whoever finds their artwork gets a special prize (even if it's only their choice for bedtime stories).
Your kids are the perfect age for asking for behind the scene tours of your grocer's bakery department. Also, you can change any "light" grocery shopping day into an educational one in the produce section...teach them how to pick out veggies and fruits...and then pick one of their favorites, and one they've never tried/seen before...and experiment for dinner w/ Dad.
(So plug grocery shopping days on your calendar so you can remember to do that as well).
Another wonderful "field trip" and "take home" activity you can schedule is a trip to your local Home Depot's garden center. If you have a porch of any kind, then you have a wonderful spot for a garden pot of veggies. Take the kids shopping for their own pots (or one big community pot) and allow them to plant herbs, veggies or flowers. Buy soil, etc, and let them transplant and make decorations for their garden - like garden stakes made from those freebie paint stirrers at the same store (kids can color and/or paint them as a seperate activity on a second day).
Schedule a once a bi-weekly marathon story reading session. Schedule a weekly baking session...each child can pick from a predetermined list (cupcakes, cookies, bread). I'll see if I can dig up a recipe for paintbrush cookies and post it on my site soon. If you register to my site through bloglines you won't miss it. It's just what it sounds like, cookies that can be painted with edible homemade "paint" pre-baking. Kids love it.
Schedule a movie night. If you work in a weekly visit to the library, remember to check out kid movies and make a standing date, say, every Thursday or Friday.
Hope this helps.
Wow, now that's a list with some good ideas! I don't care for the local library too much. We are visiting a church library and part. in their summer reading program. My brother lives 15 minutes away and has a pool--it's just hard with 3 that don't swim. I like the baking ideas, too! I'm gest. diabetic, so it's hard to have it around, tho!
Nancy you can always come over to my house and play in my baby pool. When another day comes like this call me and your kids can come play with Hannah and we can enjoy each other. Love you sister.
There are sooo many parks in our area - grab a local map, sit down with the kids, and make a plan. Try visiting every park at least once this summer, Pack up a picnic and head out.
Generally I'd suggest the Devil's Millhopper but that's a lot of steps for you, with the lower back pain and a 2 year old.
Harn museum, Museum of Natural History, Butterfly museum of course.
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