O Summer, Where Art Thou?
March 9th, 2010 by Kelly
As with each spring, I start on a list of high hopes – plans to do this or that with the boys over the summer.
This year, I really do want to plan some fun things to do with them. But the keys to our (my) success are going to be:
- Pace ourselves. Don’t try to plan a special something for every day of the week. Plan a special outdoorsy or craft thing for one day a week. Then have a rotating list of things to fill the other days, along with free play. Story time. Errands. Play date. Lunch Out. Class at the community center.
- Break from the norm. I remember from last year, that things like painting on canvases on the deck, was what they so enjoyed and have asked to do again and again. And, on a perfectly mild summer day, it was therapeutic and relaxing for me too. Unimaginably so.
- Go old-school. Do things like they did them back in the old days. Hang a sheet and let them paint on it and then use it as a curtain for a stage. Make an obstacle course in the back yard. Make mud pies.
- And throw in some real school. Practice math and reading with boy boys some each week.
What not to do? Don’t let the summer pass by having shared nothing special with my all-day time with my kids. Don’t wish for it to hurry and be over, having them both in school full-time. Instead, enjoy the here and now. Savor it. Cherish every moment.
March 9th, 2010 at 7:12 am
Wow, I think that our minds are connected.
What community center? What classes?
I have a feeling that this summer we will spend a lot of time chilling at the swimming pool (provided the weather works). We are going to get a membership to a different pool where many friends are members…as well as having a diving board for Christian to be over-joyed with!
I can’t wait for the Gahanna book coming out (April 4th) for summer activities as well as the Library’s fun summer stuff. Sadly, I think that will be cut back even more than last year. Matt is a celebrity to my children.
I see us enjoying walks to Creekside and maybe the library. Riding bikes. Swimming pool. VBS. Girl Scout camp (Christian can go too since I’ll be a leader…and Audrey can too but I have to work out some details about it since she’ll have Safety Town that week). Safety Town for the youngest! Basketball and/or golf camp for Christian (just a few hours). Maybe another 1 day (4 hours) ice skating camp for the girls. I can’t teach basketball, golf or ice skating…and some times they are sick of me.
Crafty projects. Sidewalk art. Just enjoying the summer. Sadly our summer will likely have a couple of surgeries for the girls so there will be a couple of house bound weeks for healing…but the outcome will be good. I want to take the kids to a day at the fair this year.
Oh we’ll take trips to the metro parks for walks, riding bikes and swing set time.
I ramble too much, but I love love love having fun with my babies. With any luck, we’ll be lucky to find a sitter for mommy to have 3 hours a week (or 4) to run, rest, clean or slow down.
Thanks for the sloppy joe recipe. I’ll try it next week since I have my seasoning packet this week. Last night I ran too late for sloppy joes and hubby made dinner..chicken nuggets for the kids..veggie chicken patty for me (they are SO good)!