Summer's Not Over Yet!

Yes Girls! It seems this summer is flying by so quickly... don't lose a moment of these nice summer days with your children and families. As of today, August 3rd, there are 28 days left in August. For some of us, there are just 25 days left until school starts!

Here is some of the "news about town" that I've heard.... to give you some last ideas before the end of summer (and surviving the Rally!).

• Old McDonald's Farm says that they are REALLY slow during the rally, the usual "family traffic" slows down -- and they are NOT a big "biker hangout" either! So if you are looking for somewhere to get out with your kids, away from the Rally craziness, check out the "Farm" -- perhaps some of the other "kids only" places in town are less busy too, like Storybook Island, or the pools?





• Rally Week might be a great time to plan a back-yard playdate with some of your MOPS friends, friends from school, or neiborhood friends? Target has some fun back-yard items in the "dollar area" -- like water ballon kits (complete with garden hose attachment). My kids are into paper airplane races lately... simple stuff!



• Older kids and babies too?? Is your house like mine this summer, a little crazy trying to balance time with/for the older kids... and still getting babies feedings and naptimes taken care of? I just heard of a great website for kids old enough to sit and have a story read to them... its: storytimeonline.com... kid-friendly celebreties read a favorite book, in movie format... so once you start the book, it goes on it's own until it's done. If your child is old enough to maneuver a mouse, they can choose another book right away. There are usually 4-5 stories available at a time.






• Great Mom Tip (from More Organized Mom website): "When the ceral box, or chip bag, or crackers gets near the end, I take snack sized zip-lock bags, and fill them. When we have to pack a quick snack for the zoo, park, piano practice for my older kids... I just grab a baggie of cereal, or crackers... and I am out the door. We have a bowl on our counter that we keep these snacks in. I also love being able to toss the cereal box, before the cereal goes stale. I also pop microwave popcorn and add pretzels, cereal, goldfish crackers, raisins, etc. to make inexpensive snack packs for the kids or snacks for playdates. It definitely stretches the snack budget. "