Tiffany DID have an epiphany!

     I am an easily distracted person and it has happened with my blog too. I lost focus of what my original idea and goal was for my blog. My goal was to share ideas that have helped me survive being a mom to a bunch of kids and hopefully help or inspire someone along the way. My kids told me I need more pictures and to show more of our fun ideas. So, I will honor their requests as I share our summer fun and my path to "self re-discovery".  

                                              family picture taken November 2013

     I think there's always room for improvement in every area of our lives. In this "season of self RE discovery" I have recommitted to being a better full time mom to my sweet kiddos and a better wife. This was on my mind while I was grocery shopping this week and I  had an epiphany of sorts while in the freezer section at Kroger.  

      As I was making my grocery list this week I'd asked the kids what they wanted for lunches. They're suggestions included some frozen tv dinner type meals,  spaghettios and fruit salads. As I was loading my cart with these simple, cheap frozen entrees I looked at the ones I had chosen to buy and (here's my epiphany) I thought I can make ALL of this at home. It's healthier, still inexpensive, and it can be another opportunity for me to teach them how to cook. So, I tossed them back in the freezer.  I will be swapping quick frozen entrees with extra sugar and preservatives for  fettucini noodles with milk, butter, flour, spices and Parmesan cheese to make creamy garlic parmessan cheese sauce and will add broccoli or spinach for an added veggie punch. I will be making fresh vegetable snacks with the use of one of my favorite veggie websites VeggieVenture This site has some of my favorite dishes ever! The kids wanted to order pizza and...you got it! we are making fresh homemade pizza instead. It takes a bit of time to prep meals like this but it's still not more than 30 minutes. I can handle that!  

     I also started the T25 workout today with the kids. I need to be a better example of being active and taking good care of the body God gave me. After we did the workout this afternoon, I was famished and  realized I hadn't eaten anything yet today. With the T25 dvd set came a little nutrition booklet with healthy, appropriate sized recipes. As I was reading through this I found several that sounded quite yummy. I mentioned a few out loud, the kids even got excited about them. Natalie, my 13 yr old, said, "mom you go get in the shower and I'll make the Chicken Waldorf salad for you." She did and it was delicious!! I love the traditional Waldorf salad that has mayonnaise and whipped cream but this one is just as good and so much healthier!  Below is the recipe. It was so filling and satisfying I wasn't the least bit hungry for several hours.

Chicken Waldorf Salad 

(this makes one serving)

 5 oz cooked, cubed chicken breast

1/4 medium Granny Smith apple, thinly sliced (I prefer bite sized pieces)

1 TBS chopped raw walnuts

1/4 C red grapes, halved

1 TBS citrus vinaigrette

Citrus Vinaigrette

(this makes several servings and so very delicious!)

3 TBS fresh orange juice 

2 TBS fresh lemon juice 

1/2 tsp raw honey

2 tsp dijon mustard (or to taste, I prefer less mustard)

3 TBS Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)

In medium bowl combine juices, add honey, whisk together. Add mustard, mix well. Store remainder in fridge for a week. 

     Getting my blood pumping with my kids and providing healthy meals makes me happy. The fact that my 13 year old knows how to read and follow a recipe and that the other kids are developing good habits makes me even happier!  Find what makes you happy and enjoy every minute! 

     

What's your passion?

A few things have made me think about where I am with my life, my goals...my "passion." My brother and I talked recently and caught up with each others' lives from the past few months since we've seen each other. My brother is doing what he loves and always wanted to do. It's come after years or hard work, trial and error and finally having the time to do it. Our conversation was scattered, as it often is, we start chatting and then something reminds one of us something else and so it goes. The topic that has stayed with me is what are our passions and how we hope that our kids get how important it is to follow our hearts and do what we really want to do. And most importantly to be brave and put yourself out there.

One of the passages in the book I'm reading has stayed with me for a few days. "Whether cautionary or exemplary, there has not yet been a life lived that we cannot learn from. It is up to us to decide which ours will be." After being a stay at home mom for nearly 21 years, I'm now in a new season where I have a bit of time to find my "passion" and to decide again what kind of life I want to lead. This sounds funny coming from a mom of six kids who's in her early 40's but just as the year goes on with new seasons, so does life. My youngest child will be going in 2nd grade and teacher need/parent involvement diminishes a bit this year. I am enjoying summer with the kiddos but look forward to the fall and the new "season" I'll get to enter. I've named the season, Self RE-Discovery.

 The hobbies I had when my older kids were younger are still interests to me, but no longer my passion, so to speak. Kid crafts are fun but no longer something I need to do every day. I love cooking fun, interesting and healthy foods for my family. That passion has diminished some as I get in the "what's for dinner" rut. But I'm emerging from that rut, finally. And with the help of the internet and fun recipes. My favorite sites to go to are www.VeggieVenture.com    and www.allrecipes.com. Every recipe I've tried from these have been hits with the whole family,  even the brussel sprouts!

I think my biggest passion, outside of my family, is learning. I love to learn new things...about anything. I'd love be more artsy. I was always discouraged taking art classes in jr high school because my still life drawings looked like something a three year old could draw and probably better. It took me several years after jr high school to realize that being "artsy" doesn't mean just drawing. I am artsy in ways but these talents are as developed as I'd like for them to be. While at an art museum with my brother I'd said something wanting to be more right brained. Every test I've ever taken or looked at shows my results to be almost 50/50. My brother is a lot more right brained that I am &  I told him how I wished I was more right brained. He said he believed the right side can be more developed it worked at it. "I'll never balance my checkbook better than I do today, but you can learn to draw or whatever you want."  He's absolutely right! I just had never thought of it that way. We all know how brilliant Albert Einstein was. He spoke like eight different languages, solved math equations no one else has been able to, etc. I read once where he said, the average person only uses 10% of their brain. Can you imagine what we could do it we used even half of our brain? Yes, I can develop my right sided "talents" more. I just need to follow what I teach my kids and put myself out there and try new things.

 I've always wanted to learn to use a pottery wheel. So, this fall, part of my self Re-discovery will be trying new things, like pottery wheels and tap dancing. I love to dance and really do love to get my heart pumping but I hate going to a gym to get exercise. I like to ride bikes if I have a destination. I don't like riding just to go ride around the block with no place as a goal to get to. I love to dance and I've taught my kids to dance, just like my mom did.Now is the time to learn more.

I think this fall you will find me in some art studio learning how to use clay and a pottery wheel and maybe even in a dance studio.  I think this new season is going to be a fun journey of self REdiscovery. I'm sure it will make me happy...maybe not as happy as those around me though. They'll get to seeing my lopsided clay creations or at my comic relief as I try to tap dance for the first time in my life.

Music. The Language we all understand

As I turned the key over in my Suburban today I heard Stevie Wonder blasting from the speakers. It was then that I remembered my 14 year old son had informed me that he found his Stevie Wonder CD, then he exclaims, "I love him!" He and Jim had listened to it on the way home last night. Had my neighbors noticed that I was just sitting in my driveway smiling while I let the music take me down sweet memory lane, they'd have thought I was a bit crazy. Each memory came with the sweetest feeling. I finally put the car in gear and backed out the driveway while I sang along with Stevie Wonder.

When Stevie started singing his song Sir Duke, I was reminded of a question my brother asked on his facebook page."What Inspires you?"  My serious answer was this: music, art, bright colors, a good book, nature...and Stevie Wonder. Here's a man that hasn't been able to see since early childhood and doesn't let it hold him back. I know in much of his music he uses synthesizers and keyboards with extra sounds but the next time you hear a song of his, try to pick out just the piano he's playing. That is inspiring!! If he can play like that, write the music he does and put on concerts then what's holding us back from doing what we love and want to do? Here are the lyrics to Sir Duke that inspired today's post:

 Music is a world within itself

With a language we all understand

With an equal opportunity

For all to sing, dance and clap their hands

It's true. Music is the language we all understand. Kids are taught the alphabet with music. My teenagers have been taught math through music. They love this high school math teacher because he's not afraid to be silly and make up songs about Slope, Rise over Run or the Volume of a Cone. I'm the  children's chorister at church. I teach about prayer, Jesus, loving others, the 10 commandments...through music. If my kids are stumped with something they're trying to memorize, I'll make up some silly ditty and they laugh at me, but they remember it next time. My absolute favorite part of the Disney movie UP is when they show the character's lives together. It's all little moments of their life, with absolutely no words. Just music. As I watch that part of the movie, I feel happy, sad, excited, I laugh and think "aw" all as I listen to the music and watch as their lives scroll before our eyes. Tom and Jerry cartoons do the same thing. We don't even need to watch as we listen to the music; we can understand how the cat or mouse are feeling or what's going on as we listen to the music. Stevie's right, music is something we all understand! 

Earlier today that I was feeling a bit proud of the fact that music fills our home and lives so much. We have several kids that play the piano, sing and a couple poke around with the guitar. The radio, Ipod, CDs are always going. Then tonight my 11 year old daughter was reading a book that referenced Simon and Garfunkel and she asked me who they were. My pride bubble popped pretty quickly. I started to sing some of their songs and she looked at me like I was from another planet! All the kids do know Carole King, James Taylor, The Beatles...how did Simon and Garfunkel slip through the cracks!??  I know what we'll be doing this weekend! I'll be sharing my happiness as we listen to music Jim and I grew up hearing.  I'm sure there will be laughter but probably not with us but at us as we sing and dance when we hear a song we loved as a kid. I might start with Paul Simon's 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover. Slip out the back Jack. Make a new plan Stan.... good stuff!!! Nate can count all the rhyming words.  Education and music make me so very happy!

Have a wonderful weekend. Make time to listen to something that makes you happy and share it with those you love. 

Advice worth following.

In my "about me" part of this blog I wrote "many days I don't know how I do what I do. I just wing it with a smile on my face." This is about 70% true and as my kids grow up, graduate and leave home I learn how to do it a bit better. Or at least I hope I do it better.

New moms-to-be often get unsolicited advice from everyone they see and some they don't even know. New moms are given words of advice and sometimes bitter judgments. Today I was given advice from a sweet lady about what sunscreen will protect my kiddos best. Rather than stop her and tell her "I know" I let her share her advice and after, I thanked her for her help and we started to walk around to check out the other side of the display and she instantly apologized. "I'm so sorry. That was unsolicited advice that you probably didn't even want." I said, "Please don't apologize. I appreciate you helping me keep my kids safe." I get less advice these days. I noticed this a couple months ago when it hit me that I'm starting a new "season" in life. My kids are more independent, I go the park and can sit and read a book, go to the pool and don't have to get in to teach kids how to swim. It's a bittersweet season but more sweet than bitter.

When my kids were little I'd watch other moms around me and paid  attention to how they communicate with their children, how they'd teach their kids, how they played with--or didn't play with their kids. I remember once when my oldest was a baby, I'd taken her to the park to go swing.  I'd been watching and chatting with this mom of a couple toddlers. She was pushing her son on the swing and her daughter started to run in front of the swing. Seeing what was about to happen this mom grabbed the swinging child and jerked the swing to a stop. As soon as it was stopped, she went to the running child and started yelling at her, tears from the little girl started and the swinging boy started crying. They both thought they were in trouble. I decided then that I didn't want to be a yelling mom. I'd hoped I'd be able to more calmly react to many situations. I'm not saying I don't yell. I think we all do or have at one time or another. Yelling or slamming doors make my hair stand on end much like fingernails on the chalkboard do to many people. But I do make an effort to not raise my voice out of anger.

One of the benefits of being the younger sister is being able to watch and learn from my brother and his wife. My sister-in-law is one of the best moms I've ever known. She's always so patient, tender and makes time for her kids. We had gone down for a weekend visit for some kid/cousin time. While we watched all the kids play I asked how she keeps the communication lines open with the kids. She simply said, "listen when they talk. Even when it's hard." Just after she said that my 4 year old came in to tell me all about the funny thing my brother had done. We had just watched this happen and were laughing about it too. I was shaking my head yes but kept taking peeks over her shoulder to see what else was going on outside. As I was doing this, my sister-in-law pokes my arm, nods toward my daughter and mouths, "even when it's hard."  I realized that I'd only partially been listening to my sweet, giggling little girl. My sister-in-law's answer was short but some of the best advice I've ever heard and am so glad I have followed her advice.

I was reminded of this advice today when my oldest daughter called me. She's attending college 1800 miles away and we don't talk as often as we used to be able to.  I answer and without saying hello, she starts in with "Hey. I'm walking to the store so I thought I'd call you...like I always do when I go grocery shopping." She filled me in on her life. We laughed as she shared funny stories, we planned her part of father's day fun and I offered advice when she asked.  I love that she calls me when she's walking to the grocery store and that she didn't ask if I had time to talk because she knows I will always make the time to talk.

I think all of our kids know that, or I hope they do. When they come home from school I hear each one of them yell for me as they walk in the door. Sometimes it's letting me know they're home, other times it's, "GUESS what?" I'm glad I can be there for them and that they know they are my first priority.

Take time to listen to the advice we're given from those that are close to us. If I didn't listen to advice I'd been given as mom-to-be, a new mom or learning as I grow up mom, I think I'd know what I'm doing about 10% of the time.

Farewell Dr. Merry

Maybe I should change the name of my blog to midnight blogger, since that seems to be when I give up and clear my head. It's also the only time that my house is silent and I can write uninterrupted.

This morning my husband called and told me one of his favorite college professors and mentor was killed in a horrific auto accident. She was the only one injured and the news said she was pronounced dead at the scene. That phone call shook me more than I'd expect it to. This professor was a female engineer, engineering is still predominantly a man's circle. She was a pioneer of sorts. Not only was she an engineer before so very many women but she was also a college professor who later became a Chair  of the College of Engineering at The Ohio State University. Though, she wasn't ever one of my professors, she touched my life and I'm so grateful to say that I knew her. She was a gracious, kind hearted woman that knew her students and wanted to have a connection with each of them. I heard so many stories from my husband about Dr. Merry. "She taught this, did you know she did...? She drives THE coolest red Porsche! She likes to ski!..." If I didn't know better, I'd think she was Jim's only Engineering Professor.  

Jim said the conversations today in his office were  people sharing their "Dr. Merry stories" When Jim shared His story, someone yelled "THAT was YOU!?" She always told us that she shared his story with her classes every year. Jim didn't really believe her until today.

Honestly, Jim should be writing this post since she was his professor and he was closer to her. But I love that though she never taught me in class, she always gave me a little, quick, soft  hug and asked about our kids and how my life was going. I had the privilege of meeting her several times at several engineering events Jim and his "plus one" was invited to. So, I do feel a bit like I'm infringing on his story but I'll share my side of His Story so it is kind of our story. :)

I was 9 days from my due date with our first baby and it was finals week for Jim. He was beyond stressed and tired.  It was  also before cell phones were easily affordable, so Jim had a pager. He worked full time and went to school full time and was home for about 7 hours a day. His rule for me was, "call the pager  ONLY if you're in labor, not 'please pick up milk  at the store.' " Good, can do. My rule for him was, "You must leave your pager on at all times." Good, can do.  

I worked as a secretary about 25 minutes away from campus and I drove our only car. (He rode a bike and I'd pick him up at the end of the day, have dinner and he'd then take the car to work.) Being a first time mom I didn't quite know what to expect with labor pains and when I started to get crampy and back aches I didn't think much of it. My boss was talking to me and she noticed I kept rubbing my stomach every few minutes. She gets me to the back room, puts my feet up and tells me to call the dr. "No. I'm sure it's nothing.  This feels nothing like the books say." I call the dr. anyway and he suggests I come in he thinks I'm in the early stages of labor. My boss panics, "YOU have the car! You can't drive!"  "No not today. Jim had to do a presentation in class and it was his only final." She tells me to call Jim right away, I hesitate because I know he was so worried about Dr. Merry's presentation. "She's a super nice lady but she's a tough professor. I need to do well on this."  Pain was getting a bit worse and I decide to use my 911 call on the pager. I hear this message: "This pager cannot be reached." WHAT?!?! I call every number I can to find the correct engineering building, secretary and FINALLY some poor guy  who is walking by the phone decided to pick it  up. He hears hears this young mom-to-be explaining the situation. "My husband is giving his final presentation in Dr. Merry's class. I don't know what room, can't remember the name of the class. I don't even know what building. He's studying Structural engineering. You think you can find him for me?"  Unlucky phone answerer: "Give me your number and I will call you if I can NOT find him but I'm pretty sure I know where he is. I'll race over and have him call you." I didn't hear back from him and didn't hear from Jim for another 20 minutes or so. At this point my sweet boss is in a complete panic while I'm still saying, "I'm sure I'm fine. Jim will be here sometime...today." 

Now I will flip to what I've heard Jim share as His story...and some of Dr. Merry's version as she told me later.  Before class Jim had talked to Dr. Merry and reminded her of the situation about his pregnant wife but that I had 9 days and the Dr. assured us the baby wouldn't come early. She would ask Jim all the time how his wife was doing and ask for baby updates. He was one of the few married engineering students, let alone a new father to be and he had orange hair. He was hard to forget. :)  Jim's name is called to do the presentation. He is about 5 minutes into his 20 or so minute presentation and this frazzled young kid opens the door and yells, "Is Jim Eudaily in here?!"   Um, Yeah.  "you're wife's in labor!"  Jim was so worried about his presentation and grade  that he  had turned off his pager so he wouldn't be distracted. (THIS was Dr. Merry's favorite part) "He continued to give his presentation as he's gathering his things!"  Finally Dr. Merry told Jim to, "Stop! Go! You did a good job. Get out of here!"  We had our first baby 10 days later after labor had been induced. 10 days earlier I'd had false labor but I was dialating and things were progressing, just not enough to stay at the hospital. Our first baby took her old sweet time coming but she certainly gave Dr. Merry a great story to share with every class before final exams for the past 20 years. OH! Jim got an A on his presentation.

Every time she saw me she'd ask, "how's Jim's presentation interruption doing?" "she's doing great." and I'd give a quick update on Kara and any other children we had. She'd always say, "Good for you!" when Jim would tell her we'd had another baby. 

Today as stories were being shared someone  said, "Jim, what's your Dr. Merry story." After he told it was when a younger coworker yelled, "THAT was YOU?! She always told us that she only gave one A for a presentation that wasn't completed and would tell us your story. She'd laugh every time!"

Dr. Merry didn't have children but I would think it's safe to say she probably felt like she had quite a few children that were also fortunate enough to be her students.

This is what was written in OSU's announcement of her retirement just over a year ago:

  "Her relationship with alumni and donors is remarkable and sincere.  Her calm and gentle demeanor has fostered significant long-lasting relationships both personal and professional."

Rest In Peace, Dr. Merry. Thank you for being you. You will be missed.

Slow Down and Look Up

Tonight I watched the movie, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close. It was a slow movie and I nearly gave up on watching it but I'm so glad I stuck with it. It did have a slow moving pace and not a lighthearted funny movie but a movie that moved me and left me with thoughts about improving, doing better...just be more real. Taking more time to have real face to face encounters. The story unfolded at a pace we could enjoy each step along the path.

The movie was about this boy whose father died in one of the towers on 9/11. The boy found a key in his dad's closet that led him on a search to find what it would open. The boy meets 427 people and plans to spend only six minutes with each person on his search but he says each person wanted to talk and it took a lot longer for each stop on the search. As the credits rolled, I was left thinking that we all have stories. We may think our stories aren't interesting to others but they're our stories.  How different would we be, our days be, our small part of the world be if we took time to have real face to face time? If we took time to really listen to someone as they share, "their story"? 

Each job I've had has been a job where people are involved and around all the time. I've worked at an ice cream shack, as a cashier, a dressing room attendant, a bank teller, a daycare/preschool teacher.... my favorite job was being a waitress. (Being a mom is my favorite job, waiting tables was my favorite monetary/paying job)  This job was my second job to help earn money faster for college. I loved that I met different people every day, I loved that as I took parents' orders I could help distract the younger kids by making faces or drawing doodles on their place mats. In short my favorite job was being out there, having face to face time and making connections with people. On occasion I'd have one of my "regulars" come sit in my section and I'd get the chance to ask and really listen to their story.  I waited tables for only 6 months and it was 22 years ago but sometimes I still think of the blind man I served. As I put his plate down, I explained where things were on his plate and how grateful he was that I noticed he was blind without making an issue of it.  The hostess seats customers and on busy evenings the waitress may not notice anything other than a new customer is at one of their tables.  As I served him his meal I told him where his food was on his plate, "Your meatloaf is a 2 o'clock, mashed potatoes are at 9...", or the sweet, lonely widower that would come at 4:30 sharp every day and would ask for his favorite waitresses, in order, until one of us were there. His happy compliments and jokes always made us feel not so gross in our ugly, brown, polyester uniform and white nursing shoes. These people touched my life in a way they didn't even realize. They touched my life because I slowed down and looked up.

The movie I watched was a great reminder to look up from our phones,computers, Ipads, etc. and  take a minute to slow down and really connect with people. When we say, "Hi. How are you?" stop and listen to their response.  Chat with the cashier at the grocery store. Some of us spend a bit more time with the cashier each week but we all get a couple minutes with them. :)  Slow down and look up! Don't be in such a hurry that we don't see the interesting people around with great stories to share. We all have stories. We can learn so much by listening to others' stories. We can have a richer life by hearing others' stories.

So stop reading this (just for today) and go pay attention to the real people around you. Really try to SEE the people you see every day. It adds happiness to our lives and who doesn't want to be happy?

MOM! We're bored, continued...

After my kids and husband read my last post, they chastised me not giving more ideas. I don't have pictures of other things we've done...well I do, but I don't have time to go digging for them. . My dad instilled in me a love for learning and I so love that we've done the same thing with our children. I personally, think a 12 week summer vacation is a bit too long. Even as a kid I remember being so very ready to get back to school and a routine the last couple weeks of summer. I think kids forget much of what they're taught at the end of the year when teachers are trying to get them ready for the next grade. It's been proven that not reading for that long does increase the chance for a child to either drop back in their reading skills or not advance like they were doing while in school. I'm not saying I hate long breaks. I love having my kids home for that long but it's encouraged me to find educational value in some of our surprise trips. Sometimes I have to really work at it to make learning fun but here are a few other ideas the kids thought I should've shared in the first post about summer ideas.

CEMETERIES
I know this is weird and maybe even morbid but I like cemeteries. I think it's interesting to see the different types of headstones....sizes, materials they're made with, epitaphs, etc. At least once a summer we go to an old cemetery that I find someplace and we walk around  with papers of about 10 questions or scavenger hunt type things. Find the oldest person, the first person buried in the cemetery, the most damaged headstone, (and if we can we try to fix it...pull weeds, stand it back up), how many folks were in the military?  The kids like this and sometimes when we're driving someplace one of them will notice a cemetery and tell me about it, "This one looks pretty old. We should go to this one." 

MUSEUMS
There are unique museums we've gone to. There's a Popcorn Museum about an hour away from us. They have popcorn makers from the first kind ever made to microwave popcorn, they have old toys the kids can see and play with. That museum wasn't the most exciting and that's when I'm glad I was raised in the family I was...we don't often meet strangers.  By the time we left, the old man was our new friend and  as joking with the kids and walking us around the museum telling all kinds of fun tidbits. To tie it together,  I had brought caramel and cheese popcorn to add to our picnic lunch at a nearby park. The following week I took the kids to the Popcorn Factory. There we saw how large quantities of popcorn was made with all the different flavors. They make about 90 different popcorn flavors. We tasted many the ones I remember most was blueberry popcorn, jalapeno pepper popcorn and then everyone got a small bag to bring home to eat when we have movie night with Jim that night.

YOUR OWN BACKYARD
I like seeing all the beauty in our "backyard" and for free! We've gone to nature hikes at metro parks, we've gone to this beautiful area called Clifton Mill, it's a got a gorge with a rich history. Again..I research the area, what we're seeing and as we go and if it's quiet, I'll share a fun piece of what I learned and it starts new conversations with the kids.

FARMS
Slate Run Farm, a living history museum based on early 1900s is a great place to go. I've also taken the older kids to a similar one in Colorado. I'm sure there's one in everyone's area. This farm is fun especially in the spring when animals have new babies. We once saw a lamb just minutes after it was born. We had to go back several times that summer because my oldest daughter wanted to see "her lamb". The workers there do fun things for the kids to either try or they show them. We've seen lambs sheered, the old school way--without electric trimmers, we've died eggs using all natural things like red onions and beets.

CHEAP ENTERTAINMENT
My husband grew up in Canada and is a huge hockey nut. When our kids are about 18 months old and stable on their feet, we take them ice skating. They all love to ice skate and watch hockey too. Our local ice rink has a "lunch skate" that is only about 1 1/2 hours long and is much cheaper than a night skate. So, I'll take the kids to go skate for an hour. They have their own skates and that saves us money too. Love those buy/sell sports stores! We've never paid more than $10 for a pair skates.  Also we don't live too far away from OSU and tickets to  their hockey games are much cheaper the Blue Jackets. Though, much to my 18 year olds sadness, fighting isn't allowed in college hockey. She would much rather watch an NHL game.

MAKING CHORES FUN
Cleaning and chores have to get done and honestly, who wants to be stuck inside on a nice summer day?  I try to make chores a bit more exciting all the time but in the summer  and on rainy days I make it a bit more exciting.  I call the cleaning supplies "weapons" because they fight off germs. (This is actually a normal weekly thing we do but in the summer I'll have races or challenges.) The music gets turned up, (again normal thing!), and everyone draws a chore out of a cup and then they're given their 'weapon". Wipe off door knobs & lightswitches=Clorox wipes, dust all wood furniture=Swiffer,  take trash all over house=trash bags and Lysol spray, etc. Tho their favorite chore to do is mop the floor in their socks. I hate doing this because it's a huge mess I have to clean up but the floor gets cleaner than it usually does because they will do this for a good hour. I get a bucket of cleaning water, they got mismatched socks I'm about to throw away. They jump in the water bucket and mop the floor. Again, music is usually blasting, kids are sliding around, dancing, splashing all over the place. But they have fun, squabbles don't happen and I get all the tiled areas cleaned.

Again, these are just some more fun ideas that work for us. Go plan some fun things for your family to do before they get home from school and start telling you're "I'm bored."  Have fun making happy summer memories with your family.