School is out. Let's play!!!

[5ft Diva]

I'm so excited that school is out. Did any of you do anything fun today to celebrate the beginning of summer? Are you going to do anything fun for the summer?

We just had a normal day (I was sick) and I let the kids stay up until 10:30 tonight watching a movie w/ me. We have some camping trips scheduled along w/ an extended family vacation in July and then some reunions to top it all off. I am looking forward to spending time w/ my family. We will have some structure this summer (it won't be a free-for-all) but it'll be on our time table and not the school district's. So looking forward to that!!!

[missypoohsticks]

If you are looking for something fun to do with your kids this summer, check out [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]. There is one in North Salt Lake and also one in Pleasant Grove, it looks like it would be a lot of fun!

[Lovechop]

My sister's family just went to Kangaroo Zoo last week. They went to the one in North Salt Lake and LOVED it! Her kids wouldn't stop talking about it at our family party last weekend. I've heard it's a little pricey, although I've also heard there are coupons somewhere. It's also less expensive during the week than on the weekends. We're definitely trying it soon, so I'll let you know!

[bookworm]

We had big plans, until DH had his shoulder surgery this week. He will be in a brace for 6 weeks and then will begin physical therapy. Not pretty... the kids aren't happy that Lagoon has been postponed until late summer. Still, we will do some outings. I want to get structured with a schedule and some math every day for my kids. I've got a HUGE summer coming up with my YW camp and Webelos callings and doctor appointments and phone calls and piano lessons and cub scout day camp and boy scout camp... ugh. I want a week or two (or 10) off...

I do plan to enjoy it as much as I can. Every day's chores are a bit of a battle, everyone HAS to get in their video game or computer game time, and there are so many friends in the neighborhood to play with, it gets kind of frantic and disorganized around here, but I'm going to do my best to have a little fun with the kids, too.

I've always done at least one "family only" day per week in the summer, and we'll probably do that again. I would also like to do a tv/computer-free day, but one DS in particular is extremely resistant, so I've got to really be committed if I'm going to do it. I would love to do an outing every week, but $$ is going to be tight with DH being off work for 2 weeks, so that probably won't happen that often (gas is almost as much as groceries anymore!).

[Dia Minha]

I had a proceedure over at the hospital the morning of the last day of school. My mom came to watch the kids so DH could go with me. I really wanted to do something really fun that the kids would really enjoy. However, I was hung over from the anesthesia, and DH had to work late to make up for the time he spent at the hospital. So, Grandma ran to the store and got ice-cream and pizza. We had ice-cream sundaes for an afternoon treat and pizza for dinner. My 6 year old blew up all his balloons he purchased with his very own money, so that it would be more like a party.

My oldest went to Grandma's house for the weekend and the boys wanted to watch a movie. So they got to stay up late too.

We are staying close to home this summer. The kids are taking at least one session of swimming lessons and their babysitter is going to start the oldest three in piano lessons. They are having a blast with the garden and I'm sure that will keep them busy as well. DH almost has the play area prepped for building and if our stupid tax incentive ever comes we will have the money to build a playground, with a sand box, swings, fort, and slide. This is something we have been wanting to do for years and it is finally happening. The kids and I are so excited.

My sister is coming out in a couple of weeks, and is going to stay with us, because my mom's house is too full. One of her boys will be going to BYU football camp and her other boys are going to take swimming lessons with mine.

We will also get a little visitor for a couple of weeks in July. This one has four legs and two floppy ears. We are dogsitting for a friend, while they go on vacation. I'm hoping the kids will realize how much work a dog is and quit begging for one.

I'm really excited about this summer, because we have no big plans. It is going to be a perfect summer to work in the garden, play in the sandbox, check out the cloud formations and count the stars. We will be able to put some work and money into both our backyard and our basement. Woohoo!

[Stargazer]

On the last day of school we had a soccer game and then we went out to dinner. We continued the celebration by not doing any work the whole weekend and have been making up for it the last 3 days.

We do have one big camping trip with my family the end of June otherwise we'll be close to home. Yesterday we got ourselves signed up to be volunteers for the Stadium of Fire in Provo and will get free tickets to that. DD1 is bouncing off the walls at the chance to see Miley! It will be a fun adventure.

Our big effort for this month is a massive decluttering of our home. Our theme is Dare to Dump. today we took 4 garbage bags and 3 DI bags out of our playroom/laundry room in the basement. It is very freeing and the kids are being quite cooperative.

We're planning to do cooking classes with one, "little chef" classes with one, and piano lessons with one, and we haven't figure out the other one yet. If any of this is going to happen I certainly have to get it scheduled. I hope it will be fun for them.

I'm just thrilled not to be volunteering at the school!!! Although I do have to spend some time getting a program organized for next year.

Oh yes, and we are going to have a "cast off" party for DD2 on June 19 - hooray! She has dealt with it really well, but summer will be so much easier without having to keep a cast dry.