FUN AND EASY IDEAS TO BANISH SUMMER BOREDOM

School just finished up last week and we celebrated with our tradition of ice cream sundaes for supper  (supper then becomes the dessert) and a movie. This weekend was quite full, with Father's Day outings and such- we're blessed to have such wonderful Dads in our family, and my husband is one of the most caring, thoughtful and involved fathers ever.

I stumbled upon this photo from one of our sundae dinners from what feels like a lifetime ago and just have to include it. Where have the years gone? I'm really thankful that I began blogging all those years ago to have a record of our life, something to help me remember how we spent our days. They haven't all been sunshine and roses, but I have tried to be an intentional Mom and I hope that when my children are all grown, they'll look back on our time together with fondness and joy.

And now it's summertime! I love summer, I really do. There is a freedom and fun factor prevalent during the summer that just doesn't seem to exist during the other parts of the year. But I think it also tends to get romanticized a bit. Multiple late-night activities/bedtimes reek havoc on little personalities. As the heat wears on, moods shift and temperaments darken, and then we're in full-on cranky-pants mode. Boredom sets in and -well, I know you know. It wears a poor Mama out.

Here are some of the fun things that we've done together. I hope you find something you'll want to try with your own family. Enjoy...

Frozen T-shirt Contest

This is one of our absolute favorite things to do! So much fun!

Kid-Friendly Summertime Olympics

 Such a fun way to stay cool and get some exercise!

Ice Block Painting & Frozen Bundt Pan Treasure Hunt

You can also make individual frozen treasure cups for each child. 

Anything involving water or ice in the summer always feels so good. One other very low-key, fun activity we did when the kids were smaller was to "paint" water all around our house's foundation with big paintbrushes. We painted designs, wrote out our names...anything! It was lots of fun watching the water evaporate, and then we'd just do it all over again.

And never underestimate the power of a good old-fashioned squirt gun fight (or water balloons, but then you're left with itty bits of balloon plastic all over the yard)!

Outside Story Time

 I used to set the timer for 15 or 20 minutes to read, and then we'd all have a popsicle or some other summer treat. This is a lot of fun. Now there's no need for timers- they read for a long time!

Tracing Body Outlines with Sidewalk Chalk

Backyard Cornstarch Goo (& other random fun things)

You can Google recipes for Goo- it's water and cornstarch in varying amounts. This is a perfect messy activity for the backyard.

Create your own Word Searches or Crossword Puzzles

 Older kids can choose a theme for their puzzles and come up with a list of words based on that theme. You can either make photocopies for everyone or simply switch papers.

Painting Rocks

 Search around your yard for interesting rocks, or go for a walk in search of some. Washing them off in sudsy water first was almost as fun as painting them!

Make Tea-Stained Scripture Pictures

 Help your younger children copy a verse onto plain white paper and encourage your older ones to try writing theirs "fancy." Lay the papers in the tea solution for a half hour or so; remove and let dry in the sun. *Optional: carefully burn the edges of the dried paper with a lighter or match for an old-time scroll look.

Frame them and put them up on the walls in your home- my kids love seeing their work proudly displayed.

Pick Flowers to Press & Make a Card

 Lay another paper towel on top and cover with some heavy books for about a week. Use tweezers to pick up petals, dip in glue- or dot the card with glue- and carefully place petals.

Have a Picnic by the Sea

I love spending the day at the lake or beach, but sometimes you just need a break from all-day outings. A picnic is a great way to break up a loooong day, whether at the ocean or anywhere!

These are just a few of the fun things we enjoy doing during the summer- be sure to check back for more ideas, or follow along so you don't miss anything!

Here's a quick link to two of my favorite summertime snacks. Enjoy!

Summertime Snacks

sharing with:
Sugar Bee Crafts
Tip Junkie 
DIY by Design

Summer Fun with Kids: Easy Backyard Water Olympics Games

The Olympics are awesome! I'm sad to see them go. 

I remember watching as a kid and that desire to excel at some sport would burn inside me...however, music is more my thing, so, that was a relatively short-lived dream, ha!

Now that I've got my own children, it's really fun to see them get excited just like I used to. 

For days and days, Jonah and Caleb just wanted to go practice laps at the pool and would beg me to record their times. I loved it!

I'd had some adventures planned, but unfortunately, everything for the past two weeks got thwarted by this lingering pneumonia. I'm thankful to be over the coughing fits for the most part, but I am sooooo tired. Feels like I ran a marathon and am still recovering.

Anyhoo.

One day we just had to get outside and do something. I was still too sick to drive us anywhere, so my options were severely limited. It was scorching hot, too, so water and/or ice became a necessity. This is what we came up with-

The First Annual Backyard Water Olympics 

First up: Ice Cube Table Hockey

Caleb jets his lip out when he is concentrating. Love that!

Next: The H2O Jump

I filled each cup with the same amount of water, and whoever jumped over the rope 10 times with the most remaining water in their cup won! It was so funny!

Then Mr. Smarty Pants figured out a trick...

 He did a "jig" instead of jumping with both feet- it was hilarious to watch!

And he won!

Third: The Spritzer

Everyone had an empty cup placed near them, a full cup, and a healthy set of lips!

Fire away kids!

Thoroughly disgusting (for someone who hates spit anyway) but completely hysterical!
And cool! Literally!

The object was to fill your cup the quickest. I think Caleb won this one!

**You can also partner up and do this activity with a spray bottle or squirt gun - the one holding the cup certainly isn't complaining on a hazy, hot summer day like this!**

Round 4: Spy Kids, Water Edition

I turned on the sprayer and they had to jump over it and roll under the stream without getting "hit"

Jonah rolled his way under & Ethan somersaulted under the spray- how Alias-like!

So cool! The boys really liked this part!

Of course I'm not mentioning the storm-offs when someone got mad, the screaming when someone else's foot got whacked by someone's head, etc etc etc. That's life with kids, I guess. They don't even remember that stuff- they just talk about how much fun it was! I think it ranks right up there with the frozen t-shirt contest!

Now we've got to start thinking about getting ready for school. I'd better get sewing for my adorable kindergartner!  =)

Beat the Heat With a {FROZEN} T-Shirt Contest

While I was stuck at the orthodontist's office last week waiting for Jonah, I noticed an article in Family Fun magazine that looked like, well, fun. Oh, and don't feel too bad for me. The office is nice and cool, there is a Keurig with my name written all over it, and an old video game set up for the other kids. Not the worst place to pass an hour or so on a sticky hot summer day. Anyhoo. The article gave me the idea for...

a family frozen T-shirt competition!!!

No no no, not that kind of t-shirt competition!  ;)
It's just good ol' fun for the whole family!

It was about 93 degrees that particular day, with humidity so thick it punches you in the face the moment you step outside. I asked each child to get me a t-shirt (not from the hamper, eww!), and I drenched them in the kitchen sink.

Next, wring them out a bit, fold up a few times, then layer them individually on waxed paper. I put my t-shirt pile in a grocery bag and popped it in the freezer to set all afternoon. Of course Bill would want to participate, wink wink, so I prepped his shirt with a sly chuckle.

The more you fold before you freeze, the harder {and more hilarious} it will be to pull apart!

The object of the game sounded so simple to all my naive, adorable children: unfold your shirt, put it on, and strut your stuff..and the first one WINS! Funny how the element of competition always gets 'em raring to go!

But it wasn't quite that simple after all.

In fact, it was really rather difficult to pry those frozen layers apart!

But persevered they did!

Chills and all.  :)

This was a terrific way to cool off and enjoy a laugh or two!
So what are you waiting for? Go freeze some t-shirts!  =)

linking up here & here for more summer fun!


Oh, I almost forgot...
Summer is a great time for shopping Shabby Apple!
Click on one of the Shabby links on my sidebar and check out the deals!
20% Off Plus Free Shipping Site Wide?
Use code SUMMER20SHIP
  
You're welcome!  ;)