The Mega Rare NOT so Bummer Summer {w limited commercials}

Summer vacation has begun. I love when my Littles are home and we don't have to care about being anywhere unless we want to be there. My Little G, Gigi, watched "The Not so Bummer Summer" the first day that school was out and informed me that she was not going to have a bummer summer and then thought of all the things she wanted to do and put this chart together.

 

It says "The Mega Rare NOT bummer summer dare.

It looks like I need to buy a few supplies and make some plans to help make this happen.

I love a good  plan,

not so sure about a dare,

but these look managable. 

 

 

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Because I don't think I can keep the Littles away from the TV all summer and I don't think it's a  terrible if they do...{re-phrase, in moderation}, and because I'd be stretching myself too thin if there wasn't such resting moments....

 my Littles will watch TV this summer.

 

Initially I was going to cancel cable over the summer,  but when this was suggested a whole lot of tears happened, and let's face it, if there is nothing else planned for them to do, what will they do? And because it is hard to plan something for all the different ages, this is a fall back.

 {please no haters}

 Not everyone is going to agree with my yes to TV...

...hear me out...please

 

My Littles don't watch much TV during school year so they really look forward to the lounge of nothingness after a whole lot of somthingness!

I am trying out an experiment. Since the majority of my Littles are not ones to go places and don't like crowds and even going to birthday parties create anxiety...

{I know, right?}

And since I need to keep Gigi out of the heat, and I'm potty training a two year old, {and it's not easy to find a potty when you are out anyway}... I am being creative with the incentive of the TV...ha...

Since they perfer the comforts of home and just the idea of something different is not very appealing to them, {and I am quite the opposite...I love to get out of the house and so does Little Em} I have to be creative and throw parties here and make moments here, and create here... and so this is what I did and still need to do...

 

I made some "What? to do...." cards, they are written on simple index cards and totally remind me of my mother. {!!} I really didn't want to do anything to elaborate...I didn't want to use my computer, I didn't want to use the printer and ink, I just sat down and wrote...

Basically, they choose a card and the reward is TV time, but what they don't realize is that they are doing way more than watching TV. hehe They are serving, creating, learning a skill & building character first and then...sometimes, maybe, watching TV... THESE cards are in creating a frenzy of learning, helping and playing and the TV is not an issue. This is a WIN WIN, don't you think?

Can I tell you a little more about the cards.....

not sure if you even interested?? 

but, here I go....

Yesterday, Gigi was all curled up reading her newest favorite book.... The Lost Hero because she choose the card to read 20 minutes to earn an hour!! WOOT WOOT

Well, 20 minutes was all the card requested, but a little more than a half an hour later, she came to report to me, ALL-all about what she read and how nice it was to curl up with the blanket in the nest I made for her....why oh why no picture. It was wonderful.

 

 I loved listening to her explain to me about the cabins at the camp the characters were attending and the names of the characters. This is the biggest book she has ever read, she tells me. She finds it very exciting and has set a goal to finish it as fast as she can to see if she can finish by the summers end.

Did she watch TV after, uh...no she decided she wanted to paint a picture and said she would watch it later because there was a disney show she wanted to watch at 6:00.  She actually went on the "guide" and looked at what was playing so she could determine what she wanted to spend her hour watching.

She said, "mom, I need a new apron". {:)} Oh, my heart. 

You are my sunshine

{Have fun is from  a previous day.}

word collages...

"Life is a masterpiece, love it"

 

and

 

"picture perfect collage"

I must must must give credit to an Instagram friend and fellow blogger, at The Rosy LIfe for inspiring us to be more crafty with paint.

 

http://therosylife.blogspot.com/  you can click on the link to check out her blog.

 

After I showed Gigi her IG feed, Gigi's inner artist was awakened with such delight, especially when she realized that she could paint over her mistakes. {:)} ahhhhh

 

 

Soon I will need to buy more canvases, but at least the ones she didn't like, that I kept, can be re-purposed and I have been saving up cereal boxes, thanks to a tip by Sara. {wink wink}

 

 

And what I still need to do is...well, remember the dare chart? There are cakes to be made, and science experiments to be had, and parties to be planned, so I am going to need to sit down and come up with some dates and make some invitations for those specific wishes.

 

oh and so you don't think we are all a bunch of complete crazies, we do get out sometimes......

 

My Little man has Boy Scout camp(s), {one in which I am hosting a Trail to first class with a fellow committee member next week for 7 boys!!}.... 

 

and a summer of learning to swim...which WILL take us all out of our comfort zones three days a week,  but I am hoping and praying that this Little Man will give up his fears of the water and SWIM!!

 

AND that the water and the heat will not send my Gigi bird to the care of her doctors and my Little Em will bare it well, AND I will wear a swimsuit!!

 

So, Whatever YOU do this summer, I hope you have fun.

 

Enjoy your Littles,

have lots of Mommer Moments,

 and say your prayers,

 and watch a little TV!

{you have my permission...haha}

from me to you with love, M