SUMMER TIME BLUES? NOT IF YOU FOLLOW THESE CUES!

ENJOYING A DAY IN THE SAND!

At the beginning of summer...as sure as the sky is blue I am asked the same question over and over again...from familiar friends to complete strangers...SO WHAT ARE THE KIDS DOING THIS SUMMER? As much as I would love to send them to camp, to the local pool, or some kind of attention getting club...the fact is that we can't. Money is tight and I am not currently working. So they're spending their summer at home...in the backyard in a pool my husband is still trying to level, in the basement where their favorite Barbies live, and in the local library which doesn't cost $425 dollars to join. I often joke that they're spending their summer at DEYO CAMP....that's when I bring out the creativity and craft ideas I learned from working with Martha Stewart--such as dying beads and making necklaces, or baking homemade bread, or drawing on the dry erase board i found at a flea market for a dollar. The fact is there are lots of things to do that are cost free--or of little cost to keep the kids busy this summer. Here are some of our standbys.

LIBRARY--most towns have a local library along with a reading club. Kids sign up and after reading a certain amount of books win prizes. Every so often we declare BOOK NIGHT in our household--TV is off and we all read.

BAKING--if given the chance to make pizza from store bought bread or make it yourself dough--the answer is always the latter. They love getting their hands dirty and making dough. (I don't like the clean up part--but it keeps them occupied--and helps create dinner at the same time--so I can't complain). The ingredients are easy--flour, water, yeast--then your favorite topings. The kids love sitting around and waiting for the dough to rise.
Pizza is fun to make but any kind of baking can be fun. Try making something from scratch instead of box mixes...the kids will feel a sense of accomplishment...and math fractions come in handy too.

ZOO--we haven't hit the local zoo yet...and while its not free, its a whole day of entertainment and watching animals--and many local zoos have discount days or nights. Check the internet for coupons which help.

CRAFT STORES--many local craft stores have free programs for kids...its their ploy to drag you into the store...while the kids get to create some fun projects.

If you have other fun free ideas...email us at www.threepluskids@aol.com and we'll be sure to post them soon.

Thanks...

THE COW BELL

If you're someone who reads my blog you know that I have posted quite often the annoyance of parents at softball games who scream and yell to the point you want nothing more than to slug them. Yesterday was an all time low. Never in my wildest dreams would I imagine someone bringing a cow bell to a softball game and ringing it endlessly everytime their team did something good. Honestly when I first heard it I was about to race over with money and buy ice cream...I thought it was the Good Humor Truck. This is someone who clearly has too much time on their hands...and quite frankly with that much time on their hands...I'm jealous! I can barely make it out the door remembering my daughter's gatorade. Can I tell you how many times I've had to turn around because we forgot something essential? Like cleats, a mitt, a bat...but a cow bell? I wouldn't even know where to buy one. Who thinks...let me bring a cow bell to a game and cheer the team on? Does one ever think of the ridiculousness that comes with it? If I even had a cowbell...there is no way I would even bring it to the game. My husband wouldn't let me ring it. He would claim I am inciting the other team...and was in violation of the Parents Code of Ethics. (Yes Bob plays it by the book always!) Well not one to be a shrinking violet...I fought back! Thankfully my keys chain holds enough keys to rival any janitors...(I am not even sure where they all go to)....so everytime my daughter's team did something good I started ringing my keys. It was a battle of the clangers....and while it might have been a bit annoying....when I "rang" my keys....all the parents on our side couldn't help but smile. It didn't do much to shut up the cowbells...but it made me feel better. Maybe I should start a petition to outlaw cowbells...honestly what will be next, airhorns? believe me I wish I had one yesterday. I know I shouldn't get worked up--but I like to go to a game...and sit and enjoy it for what it is...good, clean fun the way I enjoyed it when I played. Times have definately changed....and unfortunately not for the better.

THE JOURNEY

Pauline showing off her new earrings....she's definately a girly girl!

Everyone jump in the pool!

Dont' be afraid of the waves!

Summer in Cape May...breathtaking!

It's been months since I've posted anything...and for that I'm sorry. It's been a crazy summer--and while that's not an excuse...what really happened is my camera broke and I got lazy. Now when I say my camera broke--what I really mean is that my youngest Rebecca poured Lemonade in my purse--and my camera just happened to be there (since I love taking photos at anytime). I turned the camera on when this happened and it worked which I was relieved about--but the next day it was shot...wouldn't turn on...wouldn't do anything. When I told my husband I would like to get a new camera--he insisted we buy the most indestructable on the market...he said with the way we go through cameras like water. I told him to give me another chance...let's invest in a nice camera and I promised to take personal responsibility (and I would file a restraining order between Rebecca and liquid of any kinds!) After a bit of cajooling he surprised me with a Nikon Coolpix Camera...wow I really like it. Best of all...I am back on the blog with more stories, more recipes, more ideas...more of everything--especially PHOTOS!!!!

Now I titled this post THE JOURNEY. That's because I just finished Danielle Steele's book the Journey...and I loved it. The underlying message...what happens in the beginning or the middle or the end isn't as important as the journey it took to get there....my journey is continuing and I'm glad my family, my friends, and all of you are here for the ride. Enjoy your journey...each day counts...each day enriches us in ways we should appreciate now before its too late.