With the end of the school year fast approaching, I have decided that the kids need to continue to learn something new each and everyday.
For there challenge this summer, they each need to learn one new fact about the state in which we live. The internet and books are both filled with fun facts so it shouldn’t be that hard for them to find one each day. Since we also tend to travel around our state a lot in the summer I told them they will need to learn something new on those trips as well.
I feel it is important for the kids to continue to learn, even when school is not in session and I love to find fun ways for them to do so.
What do you do to encourage your children to continuously learn when school is out for the summer?
I love to learn new things. I find myself constantly searching things on the internet, exploring new things in books and magazines and even getting out and exploring new things in our town.
Since school is going to be out soon, I find myself once again planning for things for our family to do for the summer. This year, we decided to take a few day trips and at least one overnight trip. Of course, since we will be traveling through our state as well as a neighboring state, we will definitely me checking out the historic landmarks and maybe even take in a museum here and there.
Most towns and cities have a historical society (check with your local library) and they can point you in the right direction.
We love to hit up the local museums and love it when they change out some of the exhibits that feature local artists and other local history.
Do you like to get out and explore the history that surrounds you? What is your favorite place to visit?
I have a lot of goals in life and I just keep adding them to my ongoing list and check them off as I do them.
One thing I hope to do, and would love to do in the very near future it travel around the U.S. by car and stop and take in all of the sights. I’m not just talking about the sights that everyone travels to see like Mount Rushmore, the Grand Canyon, Niagra Falls….I’m also talking about those quirky and fun roadside attractions.
Fast road leading into a suset.
Seriously, who doesn’t want to have their picture taken outside of the mill where Kevin Bacon danced his butt off in Footloose?
Or what about the world’s biggest ball or twine?
Yep, I want to see it all!
Where do you want to go and what do you want to see?
Since Joey was born, I have a lot of people that ask me what it is like being a mom of 5. I can actually sum my mom of 5 life up in one word….EXHAUSTING.
Yes, I love each of my beautiful children with all my heart and soul, but I would be lying if I told you they don’t drive me nuts from time to time.
We finally have a family picture where everyone is looking at the camera, no one is crying or throwing a fit.
I am lucky though, having 2 teenagers in the mix is a great help and both of them are great in doing their part around the house and they help with the 3 little ones as needed.
Of all the things we do the one that is the most exhausting is leaving the house with all of them. Shoot, it’s exhausting just leaving with the 3 little ones.
There is a lot that goes into heading out of the house with a toddler, a preschooler and school-aged kid. I have to pack a diaper bag and make sure there is stuff for everyone including diapers, wipes, extra clothes, sippy cups, snacks, and a few things to keep them entertained depending on where we are going.
If we are going somewhere like the mall, we need something to keep toddler safe yet independent like the stroller and sometimes a baby harnesses reins for Joey since he likes his freedom and isn’t afraid of anything.
If we will be eating while out of the house I have to remember to pack bibs, crayons and other little oddities to keep them all happy.
Planning family activies can be difficult as well. First I have to find things that will interest all of the kids and of course, then I have to find budget friendly activities so we don’t go broke.
Since I work from home, I also need to make sure I have my phone with me at all times along with a charger because it never fails that a last minute deadline comes up or an email needs an immediate response. I also like to have it along to snap pictures of the kids throughout the day.
Home life with all 5 kids is just as exhausting. It never fails that someone is crying, tired, hungry, or a diaper needs to be changed. At meal time, there is always at least one kid who is either not hungry, not a fan of what we are having or refuses to eat.
Even though having 5 kids is exhausting, you can bet I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. I don’t get a lot of me time and I put myself on the back burner most of the time but I love everything about this life, exhausted or not and I still manage to get a few hours of peace and quiet every night after they are fast asleep!
Since we are large family, you can imagine how expensive it would be for us to take a large family trip every year. Until he have enough saved up to take our dream family vacation, we’ve been enjoying small staycations.
Staycations are a great way to save some money while still having fun as a family. There are so many things for our family to do in our town and the surrounding towns so we take advantage of them.
If you are looking for some family friendly fun, here are some great things to look for in your area.
Indoor waterparks
Amusement parks
Bowling
Explore new parks
Visit different zoos
Museums
You can also visit your local visitors bureau or those in surrounding cities to see what else is out there for your family to discover and explore.
