Summer Fun

This summer is all about finding things to keep the kids entertained for as little as possible. Since our neighborhood pool has closed for many needed repairs, we have been on the look out for free stuff to keep them busy. Here are a few things we've come across.

The local library has a summer reading program. We've participated in this every year but never really took advantage of the story hour time. This week we went and had fun with music and books. Mattie even got to shake some maracas and bang with sticks. Caroline's reading goal is 150 points so she can get a free pass to the ice skating rink. She's been reading up a storm!

We also took advantage of a free movie. Our movie theater is offering free movies in the mornings three days a week. Yesterday, we went and saw Tale of Despereaux. Check out this link to see if you have a local movie theater participating. Click here.

Another inexpensive idea is bowling. Some bowling alleys are letting children bowl for free, but you do have to pay $3.oo for shoes. You can bowl for up to two games a day. We haven't done this yet, but will probably go before the summer is over. Click here to see if your local bowling alley is participating.

We also plan to take some day trips to the beach. The family went last Saturday and as I expected, it wasn't so much fun for mama! The two older girls went in the ocean with daddy. They swam and played....jumping the waves. Mama got the honor of sand patrol with Mattie. She was covered in sand from head to toe crawling all over me. At first, she was just curious about the sand...touching and feeling it between her chubby little fingers. Then she discovered that she could eat it. I think that child consumed a half a cup of sand.....o.k. maybe a quarter cup.....but Yuck! After about 3 hours it was time to lug all the stuff back to the car....umbrella, towels, small cooler, bodyboards, chair, and one really sandy kid. She did not like having to get rinsed off with the cold showers so we did the best we could. Then I remembered the bottled water in the van. Smart mommy! The water was nice and warm. I don't think Mattie is in any hurry to get back to the beach so I think we'll be calling a babysitter on those days.......hey......maybe I'll get a babysitter for all three! Then it will be me, my chair, and a good book. That's all I need!