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Sarah Forum All-Star
Joined: Aug 17 2005 Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline Posts: 1624
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Posted: June 19 2007 at 6:44pm | IP Logged
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Suggest some summer activities or things to do for boys (or girls). My boys are 11, 8, 6, 4(girl), 22mo., and 1 week old babe)
The older three are really the ones looking for things to do.
Any suggestions for a postpartum mom who is always at home with everyone and nursing a newborn/ holding a toddler.
__________________ Six boys ages 16, 14, 11, 7, 5, 2 and one girl age 9
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Maryan Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 02 2007
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Posted: June 19 2007 at 6:48pm | IP Logged
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Congratulations Sarah
Do you have room for a slip and slide outside? We just plug in our hose and have a lot of fun - including the older cousins next door. Or just a sprinkler...
__________________ Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
A Lee in the Woudes
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Mary Chris Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 27 2005 Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline Posts: 2175
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Posted: June 19 2007 at 6:55pm | IP Logged
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Our air hockey table is getting lots of use with our 90 degree temps .
Do you have the Dangerous Book for Boys?
__________________ Blessings, Mary Chris Beardsley
mom to MacKenzie3/95, Carter 12/97 Ronan 3/00 and wife to Jim since 1/92
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guitarnan Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005 Location: Maryland
Online Status: Offline Posts: 10883
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Posted: June 19 2007 at 9:04pm | IP Logged
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I second any outside/water-related activity.
For those really nasty days, could you invest in a few pounds of grey, air-drying clay, get out an old table and let them pummel away? (Garlic presses make cool hair-making tools!)
__________________ Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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Lisbet Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2006 Location: Michigan
Online Status: Offline Posts: 2706
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Posted: June 20 2007 at 4:40am | IP Logged
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There have been alot of afternoon card games going on here with the super high temps. They love to create their own and the two newest are "Market" and "Pit"
We spend some afternoons at the pool, but I know this is hard with a new babe. (I struggled with that last year!)
The boys have been constructing ramps and obstacle courses for remote control cars they bought. Hmmm, lots of water balloons (cheap at the dollar store) and super soakers.
__________________ Lisa, wife to Tony,
Mama to:
Nick, 17
Abby, 15
Gabe, 13
Isaac, 11
Mary, 10
Sam, 9
Henry, 7
Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
Cecilia born 10.29.10
Josephine born 6.11.12
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Becky Parker Forum All-Star
Joined: May 23 2005 Location: Michigan
Online Status: Offline Posts: 2582
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Posted: June 20 2007 at 6:53am | IP Logged
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Well, my ds has mastered the art of climbing the walls, literally! I wish I could figure out how to post this picture.
Meanwhile the other ds, thinking it would be fun to send the tent caterpillars down the bathroom drain, ("since mom hates them so much"), created a major clog. He finally confessed to it when dh started taking the plumbing apart last night to figure out why the sink wasn't draining. GROSE !
Thanks for asking this question Sarah. I could use some ideas too!
One little bit of peace I have is our afternoon reading time. Once the school books were put away for summer we signed up with the reading program at our library. I told them we would continue with "quiet time" just like we do the rest of the year and they are to use that for reading. I don't really like the idea of the kids reading for prizes, but they all enjoy the time of afternoon peace, even if they don't want to admit it, and - added bonus - they're reading some great books in the process. DS (13 yo) has discovered that he really likes the Louis Lamore books. They seem quite wholesome and there are plenty of them so he should be busy all summer!
__________________ Becky
Wife to Wes, Mom to 6 wonderful kids on Earth and 4 in Heaven!
Academy Of The Good Shepherd
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Sarah Forum All-Star
Joined: Aug 17 2005 Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline Posts: 1624
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Posted: June 20 2007 at 8:51am | IP Logged
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Thanks everyone!!! These ideas really did jog my brain.
Now if it would just warm up here enough for water play. For some reason we haven't felt summer yet. . .I guess there are pros and cons to that!
Thanks again. . .and if anyone has more ideas keep 'em coming
__________________ Six boys ages 16, 14, 11, 7, 5, 2 and one girl age 9
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MarilynW Forum All-Star
Joined: June 28 2006 Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline Posts: 4275
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Posted: June 20 2007 at 9:56am | IP Logged
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Sarah - I have been trying to find ideas too. My dd will keep herself busy with beads, art projects, sewing etc. The boys need a little more direction. (otherwise chaos descends often!)
My ideas
- playing outside - soccer, baseball, water balloons, sprinkler (dh does the pool when he can)
- I got the Incredible Clay book and they love this
- Reading - I give them a list - the older ones love to read and they do read to the little guy
- art projects - I give them something to do each day - not major but they need the guidance
- puzzles - something big like the Global Puzzle
- Books on cd - even the 3 year old likes to sit and listen. The older ones listen to longer books in the afternoon when the little guy is sleeping
- Playing in the basement - rescue heroes, air hockey, indoor basketball, dad's pool table. (Sometimes things degenerate - yesterday we were reading Cowboy Charlie, Davy Crockatt and Daniel Boone - they all dressed up as cowboys - ok at first - but chaos ensued after a while with all the fighting!!!)
- dvds - baseball stories, Sugar Creek Gang, musicals and some history documentaries
- next week I am starting a mini baseball unit study with them - they are excited with the books, movies - also statistics, making a scrapbook etc
__________________ Marilyn
Blessed with 6 gifts from God
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Lisbet Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2006 Location: Michigan
Online Status: Offline Posts: 2706
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Posted: June 20 2007 at 11:01am | IP Logged
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MarilynW wrote:
- next week I am starting a mini baseball unit study with them - they are excited with the books, movies - also statistics, making a scrapbook etc |
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Yowzaa! You are how many weeks (days maybe?) from having that baby! I am about 12 weeks from having mine, and I can't imgine starting a unit study! You go Mama!
__________________ Lisa, wife to Tony,
Mama to:
Nick, 17
Abby, 15
Gabe, 13
Isaac, 11
Mary, 10
Sam, 9
Henry, 7
Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
Cecilia born 10.29.10
Josephine born 6.11.12
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MarilynW Forum All-Star
Joined: June 28 2006 Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline Posts: 4275
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Posted: June 20 2007 at 11:15am | IP Logged
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Lisbet wrote:
[
Yowzaa! You are how many weeks (days maybe?) from having that baby! I am about 12 weeks from having mine, and I can't imgine starting a unit study! You go Mama! |
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Lisa - you crack me up! I am probably hours away from this baby - given the contractions, throwing up etc. But I am almost at 36 weeks - hooray!!
The baseball unit study is off the shelf - and very low key with minimal involvement from me. My 8 year old twin ds will not even see it as work. They do the copywork, choose what books and videos they want, and do some online stuff. Dh went to the library and got a ton of books and dvds on baseball. They are also baseball card collectors. Dh will take them to a few Washington National games. My 3 year old is totally hooked on baseball and will just follow his older brothers around and beg for someone to pitch to him!! He also loves baseball games on tv and any baseball dvds. Just makes me feel good to say they are doing a "unit study" !!! And helps me not to feel guilty about all the games they will watch on tv!!
Ok - so it may not happen - but I have to plan right!!
__________________ Marilyn
Blessed with 6 gifts from God
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Bella Forum All-Star
Joined: Nov 18 2006
Online Status: Offline Posts: 571
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Posted: June 20 2007 at 11:40am | IP Logged
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Congratulations!!!
I have a friend who just had her 8th baby-making it 6 boys and 2 girls! She has told me that just packing them all up and heading to a park for a few hours is a lifesaver. She brings food, typical park toys, seeks shade and rests while nursing her baby. Her oldest helps to keep an eye on the toddler.If your older ds feels he is too old to play at a park, he could bring a deck of cards,a good read,etc..
I know with my dc(ds almost 6,dd 10.5) they are thrilled if we go "park hopping"...meaning we load up and head to a park we haven't visited in awhile.
This may still be a little hard since your baby is so very brand-new....but in a couple of weeks you may feel more up to it.
My dc also just love it if I let them take *inside* toys/activities to the park-or even just out on the porch. Somehow, just the change of scenery makes a huge difference.
Warmly,
Christy
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KackyK Forum All-Star
Joined: May 22 2007 Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline Posts: 1811
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Posted: June 20 2007 at 12:44pm | IP Logged
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Homemade ice cream! Have you seen the ice cream ball? It looks like a huge hamster ball, but it's really just a fancy version of roll-a-can ice cream. The link below shows it at Hearthsong, I've seen it in the Chinaberry catalog too. It actually was a gift for my 12yrold dd, but she enlists all her brothers, ages 10, 8, 7 & 5 to sit on the floor with her and roll it back and forth. It takes a little more than 1/2 hour then they sit for their treat. The only goofy ingredient to buy was rock salt (huge bag from Home Depot, will last till next winter ] and light cream. We are so glad we bought it...lots of use this summer to come!!!
KackyK
ice cream ball
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