Since having my 3rd little one last fall, I have been actively working on making each day count with my kids. I want them to know that they and their daddy are my #1 priority. Whether it be a 10 minute activity like face painting or one that requires a bit more planning like a lemonade stand to benefit the local children’s hospital, these activities have sure made summer fun! We have so many great memories and we now look forward to making a new summer bucket list each year. Check out the full list of 50 fun things to do with your kids HERE on sheknows.com.
Here are just a few of the fun things we have done this summer…
- Visit a farmers market
- Have a spa day
- Take “field trips” to local businesses in town including the flower shop, grocery store and post office
- Face painting
- Christmas in July
- Visit a museum
- Have a tea party
These field trips have definitely been the highlight of our summer. Our local grocery store, Harmon’s, provided samples in the different departments as well as a darling reusable tote with an apple, granola bar, fruit snack and coloring book. The florist had a bright yellow rose wrapped for each of the kids and even gave us 8 more to hand out to strangers at our local Target store as we went on to our next activity for that day, spreading the smile day (which was totally inspired by one of my favorite bloggers, Katherine Maries. Her ideas rock and her photos couldn’t be more beautiful!). At the post office, the kids got to climb in a mail truck as well as see the process of their own piece of mail go through the system. They loved “sending” a note to our friends who joined us and receiving the one from them as well. At our favorite city bakery, Sweet Tooth Fairy Bakeshop, we got a behind the scenes tour and tasting. The kids loved seeing all the different frostings and sprinkles that are used to make their favorite treats. They also loved choosing a goodie out of the bakery case at the end of the tour.
Another highlight of our summer was the lemonade stand and bake sale we organized for our favorite children’s hospital, (again, inspired by another fellow blogger and friend who’s kids do a fundraiser each year, InspiredRD) where my son went for a procedure a few years back. The kids absolutely loved baking the goodies (generously provided by our friends at Glutino) and then selling them to raise money for kids in need. Mommy cried when we got a $100 donation from a neighbor who’s grandbaby had spent a lot of time there. What a fulfilling thing it was to teach my little ones about service while doing something fun for the community.
How many of you like me, are obsessed with the holidays?! I honestly can’t wait an ENTIRE year for them to come around again so have always done a little Christmas in July celebration. Even as a teenager, come July I would spend a few days listening to my holiday music and drink some cocoa. I just love the feeling you get when the holidays are coming and like to have that feeling more than once a year. This year we decided to watch Home Alone 2: Lost in New York and have some holiday spiced fried apples and herbal gingerbread herbal tea. The kids loved it and so did mama since it all was in keeping with my Whole30 plan that I was on at the time. The apples are easy, just follow the recipe below.
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Holiday Spiced Fried Apples & Bananas
Ingredients
- 2 fuji apples sliced thin
- 2 bananas sliced
- 2 T coconut oil
- 1 tsp. allspice
Instructions
- Heat coconut oil in a frying pan and add the apples & bananas, keeping them separate.
- Sprinkle with allspice and cook until softened but not mushy making sure to toss and coat both sides with oil and spices.
- Apples may need to cook longer than the bananas.
Nutrition
I encourage you to create a summer bucket list that works well for you and your kiddos. Each family is different and doing things that your family will enjoy most will make the summer even more memorable.
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