"What are you going to do ALL summer with ALL those kids?"
I get asked that question often.
Well ... I suppose we will do the same things we have enjoyed every year no matter how many kids we had. For fun, let us take a little walk down memory lane of summers of the past, as we explore our family's very favorite things to do during summer vacation!
We do not get out to the movies often during the year.
Let's face it: admission for 5 is not cheap, people!
So during the summer I love to look up all the theaters in our area who are participating in summer movie clubs.
These are usually around $1.00 a ticket for previously released kids movies.
We try to attend one a month.
I always try to get out our slip n' slide and blow-up pool atleast once a week. The kids enjoy hot dogs and popsicles in their little stadium chairs while they soak up the warmth.
Our surrounding towns have lots of little adorable snow cone stands.
This is usually an after dinner activity when the sun starts to go down.
The Icecream Truck would also fall into this category.
Every couple of years we go to Pensacola, Florida to visit Billy's aunts who live there.
They spoil the kids rotten and take us to outdoor concerts, 4th of July fireworks, and a cute little amusement park called Sam's Fun City.
We love the beaches, especially Navarre...and always look forward to eating seafood at a nice place near the water that serves the most amazing hush puppies with queso. YUMMO!
Our week wouldn't be complete without beach portraits of the kids and Pensacola t-shirts purchased at Alvin's Island. This trip is always the hightlight of our summer.
All I have to say about this is: Air Conditioner.
A MUST to survive summer in Texas!
We are blessed to have lots of water parks to drive to from big overpriced parks to small inexpensive ones and even free splash grounds. We visit several throughout the summer as my boys were born half fish. This year we will also be taking swimming lessons.
One of my personal summer favs is all of the glorious produce in season during the summer.
We use this time to visit farmer's markets and usually have some variety of fruit with every meal and for snacks. I make fruit smoothies for breakfasts and big salads with pita bread wedges and hummus for lunch.
Okay, this may not be one of Isaac's favorite activities...but it is mine for the time it takes up in the afternoons! Every summer, I buy the kids Brain Quest Workbooks in the grade level they are going into in the Fall. We work on them 4-5 times a week. This keeps them from getting summer brain drain and helps to give them an edge on knowing the concepts that will be taught to them in the school year. You can purchase them at Costco and Barnes and Noble.
The workbooks are colorful and fun and have incentive stickers.
Vivianna LOVES hers.
Every summer, Chick-fil-A has a cow appreciation day.
If you dress like a cow from head to toe, you will get to choose any meal off the menu! As embarrassing as this is for me...I mean come on it is ridiculous looking...I will take public humiliation any day to take my entire family out for dinner for FREE! This year, it is July 13th and Jasmine will also dress up because they now have grilled chicken nugget kids meals. Score! Maybe for the first year ever we can get Billy to dress up. Yeah, if pigs fly too.
And finally...the kids are always involved in week long summer camps. Last year it was Family Camp in Arkansas for all of us. This year it will be local day camps: Cheerleading for Vivi, VBS for all three, and for Isaac: Sports Camp one week and Drama Camp the next. This keeps them socializing and gives them an opportunity for exercise and time spent away from the TV,
plus Mom gets a little break.
Bonus for all of us!
So how will you be spending your summer?
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