Are you ready for another fun-filled week of summer fun?  Check out these activities sure to make your kids (and you) smile!

MONDAY: Our boys have been BEGGING us to take them camping, but the cost of gas keeps us close to home (as does the heat).  So today, we’re backyard camping!  Our tent is an easy one to set up, but even if you don’t have a tent, rig one up in the yard for the kids: either hang a sheet or quilt between a couple of chairs or use a clothesline to drape a large sheet for your tent.  We’re making “binoculars” today as well for our campout: take two toilet paper rolls (empty, please!) and tape them together with duct tape.  You can use paper towel rolls as well (cut in half or leave them long!).  For lunch, we’re cooking weenies and slicing some watermelon, too.  And, if it is simply too hot, too wet or just not a great outdoor camp day, move it indoors.  You’d be amazed how a simple tent can keep kids busy for hours!

TUESDAY: Time to get those kids in the kitchen for a bit of cooking!  Today, my kids are making chocolate no-bake cookies.  Our reasoning is two-fold today: 1) I adore anything with powdered sugar and 2) we have to take a dessert to a cub scout picnic this weekend, so guess who is preparing that for us?  These are so simple and easy to make.  Take a box of Nilla Wafers and crush them.  The easiest way is either with a blender or a food processor; you just want to make it a fine powder.  In a large bowl, combine the Nilla wafers, a small can of frozen orange juice concentrate (thawed) a box of powdered sugar and a stick of melted butter.  It will be a thick goopy mess when it is thoroughly stirred.  I let my bowl sit for about 30 minutes before doing the second part, just to give it some time to firm up.  When you are ready to make the orange balls, pour some powdered sugar into a small bowl.  Roll the orange ball dough into small, bite-size balls, then roll them in the powdered sugar.  Set them on waxed paper to “dry”.  My boys will sit forever and roll orange balls for me; I find it interesting, though, that my recipe doesn’t make NEARLY as many as I assumed it would!  And, be ready to clean up some powdered sugar. 

WEDNESDAY:  Book day!  Today, we’re heading to the library to exchange our books.  In addition to this, we’re going to start on our summer book-making project.  This is a project we do each summer.  This is great for trips, outings, special times with friends, or just a day when you’re looking for something interesting to do!  I get each of my boys a disposable camera.  Then they spend the day taking pictures of whatever they want: things around the house, each other, friends, sights around town, special places on a trip.  The pictures do not have to be taken in one day, but my boys rarely leave a picture left in the camera after a couple of hours!  This is all we’re doing on this project for this week (check back each week to see how we make our books).

THURSDAY: Its water day!  My boys have been on each other’s nerves these past few weeks, so it is time to break the monotony.  I’m issuing them each a mister/squirt bottle.  I keep a couple on hand for my plants anyway, so for today, the kids get them.  As we fill the bottles, I’m taking the water from a pitcher instead of directly from the sink and telling the boys that this is “special” water.  It is GIGGLE JUICE.  The only way that giggle juice will affect you is if it lands on you.  Then, off we go into the back yard.  This is great with my little guy because he absolutely melts in fear when he sees his big brother’s water guns come out, but put a mister in each boy’s hand and the kid is a maniac.  “Shooting” at point-blank range is harmless with a mister, and it sure feels good on a hot summer day!

FRIDAY: Time for an outing!  It is beyond hot here, so this will be an early-morning activity for us (which works well with children who believe they MUST get up before the sun does each morning).  Take a walk around the block, ride a bike, trek through a field - whatever is around you.  Find a new path to follow and a different way home.  Get your children up, out and moving today.  And on your way, you just might find something new to share with each other.

That’s it for this week!  Check back next Monday for Week 3!