Summer is officially here - today, yep thats right, it's the first day of summer so break out the piggy bank, a map and start planning!
Ok, so not entirely, but it's a great idea, right? One of the things, in my household, we try to do each year is plan one major family vacation(coming up in a couple of weeks). We will always throw in a couple of smaller trips and family things, but we like to have something BIG for the kids to look forward to that is out of the ordinary.
This year we are taking the kids to the beach. "The beach? What's so special about the beach?" you ask...well no, it is not the first time they've been to the beach, but I have some water lovin' kids and where we live, there is no beach. This year we are planning on spending 5 days in a condo on the beach where the kids can stay and play ALL DAY LONG! (and hopefully wear themselves out too.) They are excited...sand and sun and surf - they want to fish and play on the boogie boards and build sand castles...it's really cool to see their faces and listen to their chatter.
Why do we do this each year? 20 years ago (which seems like forever) times were different. Yes, I know, ALL parents say this - but truth is, they were. My mom would kick me outside in the morning and I wouldn't return home until the sun set. I would run rampant thru my neighborhood with my friends and never once did my parents worry. Each summer, my dad would pack up the car and we would take one trip...usually to a mission or some other historical site where we would learn some history and then we would head home. I would get to explore some new town away from home and then it was back to typical summer life. I always enjoyed the getting away and seeing something new...this is what I try to do for my kids now.
In a world full of computers and electronic games (especially when it is super hot outside) it is hard to get the kids to want to go out and enjoy something different. I know that right now, my kids are young enough that their worlds don't revolve around their friends and I can still pack them up and leave town for a week. I doubt this will last forever, but maybe, if I start now, this will be something they too will look forward to when they are older.
On a side note (***update to yesterdays post***) - Jr came home after camp and I asked him how his day was...what did he do at camp?
"Oh I played with some lego's - it fell on it's bum and said "I think I broke my nuts." (laughter)
"What?! - "Did you say you played with some legos and it fell on its bum?"
"Yep, and it said "I think I broke my nuts." (more laughter)
(trying not to laugh out loud at the humor in this statement) "Oh, ok."
(Daughter from the background) "Ewe, mom - I know what bum is - he's talking about his butt again. What are nuts?"
Oh dear lord...the joy's of raising both boys and girls....
What is your fondest summer vacation memory?
8 comments:
Going to the beach was huge for us growing up...that's what our vacations basically were. Growing up in MGL we had never seen an ocean so the beach had a special meaning.
Memory? My dad and I, just both of us, stopped at every beach up the Atlantic coast while on the way back from NYC to DC...my mom didn't even know and was wondering if we had died because we didn't call her! LOL
Laughing my bum off ~ that was too cute. Kids are adorable with quotes and oh they are curious with questions!
I remember going to the beach when I was a little girl. It was along the Gulf Shores and they had tall sand dunes. My brother and I would go in the sand dunes and write large messages in the sand. Sometimes, a day or so later, someone would answer the messages! We thought that was the neatest thing. Flying kites was another summer beach thing we enjoyed doing. We used to have "kite wars." No, we couldn't just have fun flying kites, we had to turn it into something different. The "wars" part is trying to manuver the kites in a way that brought the other one down. Of course, it was all in fun and we would help the other bring the kite back up again to start it all over... oh the memories!
Sounds fun - the beach. I'm not a fan of the beach myself - the sand and wind - but the kids love it. We will be going to the beach soon too!
Have a good day - Kellan
I miss taking summer vacations!! My parents always tried to take us somewhere where they could mix something educational with something fun (like Williamsburg VA--lots of history, plus Busch Gardens!). Enjoy the beach!!
hee-hee.....you said nuts! :)
Junior Mayhem once declared to his daddy, "Daddy, I have 2 balls....just like you!"
We are headed for the beach in a couple of weeks too....wouldn't it be cool if we were on the same one? :) We are headed to Orange Beach in Alabama/Florida!
That could be trouble! :)
Oh....and broken nuts can be a VERY serious injury! (hee-hee)
Hi Kel - thanks for coming by today. Hope you have a good weekend. Kellan
I think that's great. I'm a believer in living life and not just sitting around watching TV and playing games. I think it's important for kids to experience different things. We LOVE the beach!
Post a Comment