Fun Things All Families Should Do Together This Summer

What could be better than spending the summer months doing fun stuff with the people who mean the most to you? If you want a few ideas, this post can help you. Here are some fun things all families should do together this summer:

Go Swimming/To A Water Park

Swimming is a great activity for families, and parents get the chance to teach kids some valuable skills. Swimming well can literally save lives! Once you can all swim to a certain degree, going to a water park can be a great idea. Indoor water parks mean it doesn’t matter what the weather is like outside!

Gardening

Gardening is a great activity for kids of all ages. It teaches them valuable skills, and better yet, gets them outside away from the computer and other screens. They could have their own patch of garden and grow whatever they like. It’s good for their immune systems, and you never know, they could pick up a hobby for life!

Picnics

What is summer without a nice picnic or two? You could have a picnic in the park, your garden, the living room...picnics can be held just about anywhere! It’s up to you whether you want a ‘treat’ picnic or a healthy picnic. Just make sure you store the food hygienically!

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Outdoor Games

There are so many fun outdoor games your family can play together, from Swingball to hopscotch. Invest in some fun stuff in the garden so that you don’t even need to leave the house. Just giving your kids chalk and telling them to draw on the pavement can be so much fun!

Random Road Trips

Bored at home? Why not hop in the car and go on a random road trip? You never know where you could end up, and you could end up exploring somewhere really fun and interesting. Just make sure that you have enough petrol, as well as breakdown cover. You don’t want to take any chances!

Camping

Camping allows everybody to get back to nature together as a family. You can camp alone or on a campsite, whatever you prefer. You can even camp in a travel trailer or tent. Whatever you decide, you’ll have so much fun and new experiences. Just make sure you know what to expect and how to stay safe. Taking safety precautions when camping with young kids is important.

A Day Out Somewhere New

Pick somewhere you’ve never been before and just go there for the day. You never know what you might find when you go somewhere new. You could go to a museum, gallery, market...even just exploring the shops could be a lot of fun. Tick places off your list as you go until you’ve been everywhere you want to go!

Make sure you do these things with your family this summer and you’ll have the best time! There are so many more things you can do too. Do you have ideas of your own? Leave them below. Thanks for coming by!

The League and The Lantern Review and #Giveaway

Hey neighbors!

The League and the Lantern is the first in a new series of books written by a concerned father.  He was concerned over having quality entertainment for his children.  Knowing what is out there, I can understand his decision to write a series himself.  Author, Brian Wells is that father.

His book, titled The League and the Lantern takes place in Chicago.  My family found this sort of interesting, as we visit Chicago 4-5 times a year.  In the book, Jake Herndon and two friends, Lucy and TJ attempt to solve a mystery dating back to the Civil War.  The book is written to attract children to reading, while at the same time teach lessons regarding character.  My daughter read the new book on a recent trip we took.  She is 15 and enjoyed the story, although she did bring a couple of things to my attention.  We are extremely careful about what is in the books we read and one thing she brought up is a slang term for messed up.  She also said that to her it appeared to be a "clean" book with a little Christianity thrown in.  Please remember this is our opinion and may vary from your own.

For every copy of The League and The Lantern purchased a book will be donated to be given to a child who can not afford the book.

You can find the book at: www.leagueandlantern.com.  Take a moment to look at their website and follow their social media pages.

Facebook - HERE
Twitter - HERE
Instagram - HERE

Thanks for stopping in and be sure to enter the giveaway.  One neighbor will receive a copy of, The League and The Lantern.

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

A Trip to Southern Indiana

Hey neighbors!

I know we have been missing for a few days, but we took a trip to southern Indiana. We had a great time at a campground that was far enough out that there was no internet and no phone service.  You had to drive approximately half an hour to get pickup.  It was so peaceful.

We had a nice time taking photos around the camp and I am going to share a few here.  We did of course go into town a few times to eat and my sons of course ran to Louisville KY to shop.

For Mother's Day they took me to breakfast at Cracker Barrel.  I was given several very nice gifts!  We headed back home with a couple of stops in St. Louis, MO.  We went shopping at Kohl's, Half Price Books and of course we grabbed dinner before going home.

Extend Your Home Outdoors This Summer

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One of the many great things about summer is that you can spend more time outdoors. The warm weather allows us to sit, eat, work, and relax in the fresh air. Why not take this one step further and extend your home into the garden? Outdoor rooms are becoming more popular and there are many innovative ways you can make this happen.

1. Clear Some Space

The first step, of course, is to clear some space. This may involve sprucing up your garden and carrying out a bit of landscaping. Start by removing rubbish and other debris. Sweep and clean paved areas, removing any weeds. Jet washers are great for deep cleaning these areas.

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There’s no point in having an outdoor room if the garden is messy. Mow any lawned areas and prune plants and bushes. Weed all flower beds. If garden fences need mending or painting, then tend to this. Make sure they are adequately protected.

Clear some space for your outdoor room.

2. Light and Shade

No matter what the season, the weather can be temperamental. It can be too hot, too cold, too breezy, etc. All of this will impact on your outdoor living space. It is important to think about shelter, without compromising natural living space lighting. Awnings are the ideal solution to this problem. They can provide shade when it is needed. And in the winter months, they can fold back to allow in more sunlight.

If you intend to make the most of your outdoor space, you will need to consider lighting for darker days and evenings. There are various options. Outdoor electric lighting will be a simple option and will provide consistent illumination. Solar lights also work well and will switch on automatically, once it begins to get dark. Solar lights rely on sufficient sunlight during the day to charge them.

Decorative lighting also works well in outdoor spaces. Decorate your outdoor room and garden with strings of fairy lights and hang candles from branches.

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3. Furniture

All outdoor rooms need furniture for comfort and function. Start by figuring out how you’re going to use the space. Will it be used frequently for family meals? Or will it be an occasional room for special events? Make a list of the items you will need. As well as sofas, tables, and chairs, don’t forget food preparation areas and side tables.

The garden is a very different environment than your home, so opt for furniture that can be easily maintained. Try to get a balance between long-lasting items and comfort. If you intend to spend a lot of time out there, cheap plastic patio furniture won’t cut it. Don’t forget cushions and seat pads.

It is also important to consider where the furniture will be stored out of season. You will need to find a space for it when it’s not in use.

And don’t forget flooring. There are many rugs on the market that are created for outdoor use. They are easy to clean and are quick-drying.

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4. Outdoor Cooking

If you intend to eat outside, it’s likely you’ll want an outdoor grill. There are many options to choose from, including gas and electric grills, charcoal grills, and portable grills. There are advantages and disadvantages to each, depending on your requirements. Safety will be a priority and you will need to think carefully about placement and storage.

Do you have any outdoor living space? Let us know your tips and advice in the comments.