Water, Water Everywhere

We had a great time at the new Zoombezi Bay Water Park up at the Columbus Zoo. 'Cole and Daisy both ended up with a sunburn across their cheeks and noses. (that is the only place I forgot to put the sunblock)

I've been busy trying to find activities to keep the kids from being bored all summer. Most of the summer camps are too expensive, so maybe we'll try a small weekend camping trip. The kids are looking forward to going to see the fireworks for the 4th of July and going to the Ohio State Fair. Pickles turns thirteen next month and I'm giving him a surprise party.

We had a huge water balloon battle on the last day of school. All the neighborhood kids were in it. There were kids with Super Soakers, cups and water guns. One girl even brought an empty vegetable oil bottle to fill with water. I ended up wet even though I was trying not to. It was crazy fun. Everyone must have had a good time because they're still talking about it.

Farmer's Market

Today we did #11 on my list of 101 fun things to do over the summer. First we went to an outdoor farmer's market, we met a woman who sold lavender soaps and satchels. She gave Pinky and Daisy a handful of lavender to put in their pockets, so they could smell the aroma all day.
Next we went to the North Market a huge indoor marketplace. We wandered around and looked at the different types of fruits and vegetables, we saw different types of breads and meats. We found a Italian bakery and drooled over the cannoli, but ended up buying some delightful cream horns. We taste tested salsas made from Peach, Mango and Raspberries. Pinky and Daisy tried a hot and spicy salsa that made them run for a water fountain. We bought the Raspberry Salsa and some red tortilla chips and got some huge strawberries on our way out to the outdoor eating area.

We sat outside and enjoyed our cream horns and then walked back downtown to catch a bus to go home.

A wonderful day. Very relaxing and peaceful. I love days like this.

101 Fun Summer Activities (Or how to keep Mommy from going insane)Part 1

1. Join the library summer reading club.
2. Have a Barbie Doll Bath Day (In the tub or pool and use the sample sized bottles of shampoo for shiny clean Barbie hair)
3. Pull out the family board games and play
4. Play a computer game and compete against each other. We like Nanny Mania and Zuma.
5. Paint t-shirts (or tie dye them)
6. Go swimming
7. Play in the park (try to go to a new park once a week)
8. Have a picnic in the park.
9. Plant a garden.
10. Plan a meal with foods you've never had before.
11. Visit a Farmer's Market.
12. Pick strawberries from a farm.
13. Visit an amusement park.
14. Go to a museum.
15. Visit a festival.
16. Make homemade ice cream.
17. Have a talent show.
18. Do a craft project.
19. Get a big piece of canvas and some acrylic paint and create a mural.
20. Go stargazing.
21. Take a walk around the neighborhood and try to discover new things.
22. Learn the history of your neighborhood. (The library has some great books on local history)
23. Pull out the water guns and water balloons and have a neighborhood water fight.
24. See a movie.
25. Go to the zoo.
26. Visit a pet shop. (you don't have to buy anything, just look at all the animals)
27. Have a car wash.
28. Visit a museum.
29. Make and Bake a loaf of bread.
30. Do a Factory Tour.
31. Go for a bike ride.
32. Decorate cookies just for fun. (or make a cookie pizza)
33. Learn a new language. (Grab a book/tape from the library)
34. Give the dogs a bath.
35. Clean out the garage.
36. Make a fleece pillow(or blanket)
37. Have an outdoor movie night.
38. Blow bubbles.
39. Play with play dough outside.
40 Finger paint with your feet.
41. Put on a Play together (don't forget to videotape it)
42. Make paper airplanes.
43. Make your own soap.
44. Have a spa day.
45. Go see a baseball game.
46. Go play a baseball game.
47. Make s'mores and tell ghost stories outside.
48. Make a pizza.
49. Learn one new thing without using a computer.
50. Make a teddy bear.

101 Fun Summer Activities (Or how to keep Mommy from going insane)Part 2

51. Have a Teddy Bear Picnic.
52. Take a vacation.
53. Go to a beach.
54. Run through a sprinkler.
55. Make your own slip-and slide. (Heavy tarp + sprinkler=fun)
56. Climb a tree.
57. Build a tree house.
58. Go camping.
59. Give everyone a can of whipped cream and put them outside for a whipped cream fight.
60. Learn Sign Language.
61. Learn how to draw.
62. Take swimming lessons.
63. Go to an Airshow.
64. Go see fireworks.
65. look at the living creatures in a creek.
66. Invite a cousin over to spend the week (or weekend)
67. Make doughnuts out of canned biscuits and decorate them.
68. Find out important things about your birthday. Birthday Calculator + Facts
69. Learn about a different culture.
70. Clean out from under all the beds.
71. Watch diet coke fizz when you add Mentos to it. Fizz Factor
72. Clear out a room and go carpet skating Carpet Skates
73. Teach the dog a trick.
74. Learn a magic trick.
75. Grab some joke books from the library and have a comedy day.
76. Read the newspaper together.
77. Do a crossword puzzle together.
78. Have a party for no reason.
79. Visit a neighbor.
80. Clean up the litter in your block.
81. Make coloring books to trade with each other.
82. Go to a free concert.
83. Make a CD of summer music and have a sing-a-long.
84. Go birdwatching.
85. Buy a disposable camera and a scrapbook so everyone can remember their favorite summer things.
86. Visit your state capitol building.
87. Go for a paddle boat ride.
88. Have a slumber party.
89. Play tennis.
90. Visit an Aquarium
91. Go miniature golfing
92. Go bowling.
93. Visit a fair.
94. Visit a family member you haven't seen in awhile.
95. Go horseback riding
96. Take a drive through the country.
97. Hop on a Greyhound Bus and take a short ride to a nearby town.
98. Spend the night at the Zoo. (May need to get a group together for this)
99. Paint each others faces
100. Make balloon animals.
101. Just enjoy each other.