Summer Activity List

The weather may not think so, but I do, Summer is here! I have been working on invitations for my parents 50th wedding anniversary in August, and that is about all I have accomplished this week. I came across this fabulous list while pinning, and had to share it with you all. It is from Counting On Me. It is a great list I hope to do lots of these activities this summer. Enjoy and happy weekend!!

What I'm working on Wednesday... ready for summer reading?

I am a stickler for Summer Reading. I insist that my two kids that can read ("the Bigs")read for at least 30 minutes every morning...even in the Summer! I cuddle with the two that can't read ("the babies")and I read a couple of their favorites to them. My "bigs" are getting to the age that they put up a bit of a fight. I stick to my guns, and they are generally happy once they "get into" their books. In an effort to stay ahead of the game, I've been doing a little research about Summer Reading.


Hit the Library...


Our local library has a great Summer Reading program. The kids are always eager to get to the library, as soon as school is out, and get started on the program. It starts early for us, May 26th and continues through July 30th.


Check out bookstores...

Sometimes my kids can't find a book they want at the library. Let's face it, we aren't the only Arizonans using books as an excuse to stay out of the HEAT. When that happens, we head to Half Price Books. They have great deals on books and other media.


Online fun too...

There are lots of "reading reward" programs out there too. Barnes and Noble has a program that allows kids to log the number of books that they read to earn free books. Scholastic also offers a "Summer Challenge" for kids to log the minutes they read to win prizes.

Lastly, I think any crafts that we do that relate to reading help to encourage my kids to read more. Here are a few reading crafts that we will be doing this summer...

A story sack.

What is a story sack? It's simply a tote bag that contains a book, and crafts or games related to that specific book. You could use costumes, treats, puppets, and paints. The possibilities are endless.


An elephant parade garland, courtesy of the long thread.com

This garland is to celebrate Elmer by David McKee. This book is a favorite in our house, and will be read numerous times this summer.


Munch, munch, munch...


I LOVE these page corner bookmarks. What kid wouldn't be excited to open the pages of his book to find a monster munching on it? These cuties are courtesy of I Could Make That. Click on the link above for a full tutorial.

What are your ideas/plans for keeping the kiddos reading this summer?

Christmas Countdown Paper Chain

I had high hopes this year of making a super cute advent calendar like the ones I have seen onHomemade By Jill, but alas, here it was the weekend before December and I still hadn't made anything. Maybe next year? While browsing some favorite blogs, I saw a super cute and easy one at d. Sharp's Journal, and really like the idea of having your advent calendar be activity based, instead of treat based. We all get PLENTY of treats this time of year, and I love the countdown without the sugar. Growing up, I always made paper chains, I don't know why I had so much fun making them, but I loved it. So the "quick & easy" in me took over, and I decided to make a paper chain to count down with activities written for each day. I found some super cute double sided paper at Pebbles for my chain.I wrote a fun Christmas activity for each day, some are big, some are small.
I haven't the perfect place to hang my chain yet, above the pantry is where it currently is, but I don't love it there. It needs to be high enough so the baby can't rip it apart, but still in a fun spot.
Below is a list of my activities, they are Christmas traditions from years past, and some new ones we want to start as a family. My family has a "Christmas book" with Christmas stories that my Mother has collected over the years, so we have reading out of that book on a couple of different days. What are some of your traditions? I would love to hear them, please leave a comment below, I want to incorporate different things each year.

Countdown to Christmas activities:

01: Write a letter to Santa

02: Read a story from the "Christmas Book"

03: Watch one of the Christmas Classic movies, Rudolph, Frosty, etc.

04: Church Christmas Party

05: Drive through the neighborhood and look at lights

06: Go caroling at a nursing home

07: Make Jingle Bells

08: Buy a soft toy from IKEA and donate it to Toys 4 Tots. (IKEA donates $1 from every soft toy sold to UNICEF, 2 good deeds in one!)

09: Bake treats and give to the neighbors

10: Go to Temple Square and see the lights

11: Go to the family Christmas Party

12: Read a story from the "Christmas Book"

13: Make candy cane reindeer

14: Visit Ogden's Christmas Village

15: Read a story from the "Christmas Book"

16: Watch Elf

17: Listen to Christmas songs as we travel to Grandma's house down south

18: Christmas dinner with Grandpa & Grandma B

19: Watch home movies from Christmas' past

20: Read a story from the "Christmas Book"

21: Watch Charlie Brown's Christmas movie

22: Make snow globes

23: Bake gingerbread cookies

24: Read the Christmas story from the bible and talk about Christ's birth.