WFMW

This week's WFMW has a theme! Very exciting. Let's talk about how to keep the kids busy and entertained during the summer. Well. Where to begin? We definitely do as many outdoor activities as possible to let the precious angels run off plenty of energy to keep that school year bedtime in place. Momma loves her quiet evenings. Here are some outdoor activity ideas:

1. Get colored sand from Wal-Mart. It is awesome and for some reason keeps the kids even more occupied than regular sand. 2. Let the kids plant flowers or plants in the garden. Give them a plant or two, small trowel, and have at it. Don't worry about it being perfect. The fact that they are busy and not whining is what's important. 3. Let them play with the hose in their clothes. (What is this? Dr. Seuss Wednesday?) They will think you are mother of the year and stay out of your hair for awhile while you catch up on your reading. 4. Kids are fascinated by everything (well, little kids anyway.) Let them try to find the most unusual rocks from the driveway or landscaping rock. Let them make a little collection. Then, if you are feeling brave, break out the fingerpaints and let them paint their rocks. 5. If the kids are young enough, you can make a game out of most anything. Who can pick the most weeds? Pick up the most sticks? Run the fastest? Jump the farthest? Make the best margarita? Wait...that's not right.

If you have to move things indoors (like for instance if you live in Indiana and it NEVER quits raining) you can still have fun without the TV. Here are some indoor activity ideas:

1. Play-Doh on baking dishes. Put all the Play-Doh and assorted tools on a deep baking dish and let them go to town. 2. For truck loving boys, try putting uncooked rice in a deep baking dish and let them use their little loaders and dump trucks in it. 3. Buy a piece of tile/shower board from your local home improvement store for about $10.00. Cut it to size and affix it somewhere in the house. We have a goofy little counter in our laundry area. We cut a piece to size, attached it to the wall, and let the kids use dry erase markers. It even covers up the actual marker on the wall. It's a win-win situation. 4. Turn the chairs, recliners, even the loveseat over, cover them with blankets and let the kids play in the "fort." This could free up hours for you to blog, read, blog, laundry, blog, clean, or even blog. 5. Have an indoor picnic. This is very popular at our house. Break out the blankets and lunch trays in the living room in front of your favorite Dora or John Deere movie. Follow lunch up with a popsicle and maybe an indoor game of Frisbee or Nerf football.

And Moms, if all else fails...try this.

I guarantee you won't care if the kids are crying, "I'm bored!"

If these tips didn't tickle your fancy, try this site for more ideas.