Still hot here in Texas…102 degrees today!

Another fun indoor game my kids and I like to play together is called “The Memory Game.”

Things you will need to play this game:

Objective of the Game:
Remember and write down as many of the toys or personal items on the tray that you can within a certain amount of time. Winner is the one who remembers the most items correctly.

Without your kids seeing what you are doing, gather 10 to 20 of your kids’ favorite toys or personal items. Place the items on a tray and cover the tray with a dish towel or bath towel, so your kids can not see what is on the tray.

Next have your kids sit down at a table with a piece of paper and pencil. Explain the following rules to them:

- They will have 1 minute to see the items on the tray.

- They can not begin writing until the tray is covered again.

- After the tray is covered they will have 2 minutes to write down as many of the items on the tray as they can remember.

- They should not talk, or compare notes with one another – Remember the winner is the one who remembers the most items.

- Spelling the item incorrectly does not count against you.

- When the timer goes off, they must put down their pencil.

After the time has expired, bring the tray to the table and let your kids see which items they remembered and which items they might have forgotten to write down. Count up the number of items they remembered correctly. The child with the most correctly remembered items is the winner!

I have all boys. So, here is a list of the different toys or personal items I have used in the past to play this game:

• Trading cards – Baseball or Pokemon
• Hot Wheel car
• Drum stick
• Small stuff animal
• Lego
• Action figure – Batman, Power Ranger
• Toy gun
• Crayon
• Book
• Baseball
• Nerf Football
• Child’s trophy
• ipod
• Swim goggles
• Colored pencils
• Baseball batting glove
• Airplane
• Truck

Variations to the Game:

-  Let your kids take turns selecting the items to put on the tray and you play the game instead.

-  Place food items, such as breakfast bar, apple, box of raisins, etc. instead of toys or personal items.

-  Place all the same color items on the tray. For example – Color is Green. Place green colored pencil, green apple, green crayon, green t-shirt, and green silk plant on the tray.

The Memory Game is a fun activity my kids and I enjoy playing together for many hours. I hope you will enjoy it too!

If you get a chance to play it, please let me know what items you placed on the tray. Would love to hear back from you.

Today is the 15th straight day in Texas that the temperature is over 100 degrees! I don’t know about you, but any time the temperature is that high, I prefer the kids stay indoors.

So what fun things can you do with them inside that won’t cost you a fortune?

Well, what about board games! As a child we played many different board games together as a family. Now that I am a mom, I’ve continued that tradition with my kids. And you know what, they too love playing board games together.

Here are our favorites:

1.  Monopoly

 Buying Board Walk and Park Place is one of my kids’ goals when we start. Avoiding jail or getting a drawing the “Get out of Jail Free” Chance card is another skill they try to master. Counting money, buying and selling real estate is some of the many skills they learn as we play the game. Determining what each of their strategy is going to be is another key factor when we play. We don’t always make it to the end, but enjoy many hours together. 

Atlantic Avenue, Ventnor Avenue and Marvin Gardens are my favorite properties to buy! What are yours?

2.  Clue

 Clue is another childhood favorite of mine that I have introduced my kids. Did the professor do it with the candlestick in the library? Little do my kids realize how much they are learning, using problem solving skills, while they are playing. Some times they solve the mystery quickly. Other times it takes many turned to figure out who did it!

3. Yatzee

Yatzee is my favorite dice game! The other day Brandon, my youngest son, and I played. Would you believe he beat me by over 100 points on his mine!! Math – multipication and addition are two key skills he used and did not even realize he was learning.

4. Mexican Dominoes

  Mexican Dominoes is a new game we have started playing together. My sister-in-law introduced me to the game. Now my kids and I love to play it together. Determining your strategy of  how you are going to lay down your chips is key to utlimately winning. If you have not tried playing, you should pick it up.

5. Scrabble

Scrabble is my all-time favorite game! And lucky for me, my kids enjoy playing it as well. I’m learning there is more to Scrabble than just spelling. Strategy of where you place your words and how many points you can earn determine the winner. Luck in drawing good letters also help! Our house rules allow the kids to look up the correct spelling of a word, once you decide what word you are going to use. Learning how to spell correctly can be fun and exciting.

What are your favorite childhood board games? Which ones do you enjoy playing with your kids? I would love to hear from you.

Remember if it is too hot to play outside, grab a board game and enjoy some quality time with your kids indoors this Summer.

For other ideas of what you can do with your kids this summer, download my ebook Mommy Day Camp.

New York City is alot of fun with the family.

Here are a couple of ideas of what you can do:

1. Statue of Liberty Tour – Visiting Liberty Island and Ellis Island was an adventure my family will never forget. The Stature of Liberty is a beautiful momument. Her every detail represents something from the 7 rays on her crown to the broken chains laying at her feets. If you want to climb to her crown, you must make reservations at least 3 months in advance. Visit http://www.statuecruises.com to order tickets.

TIP: Early in the morning 8:30am – 9am is the best time to go – Before the crowds.

2. Broadway play – Taking your kids to a broadway play can be very expensive, but is a family memory they will have for the rest of their lives.  We went to Phantom of the Opera. What a wonderful time. My middle son, Austin, is an aspiring actor and he was motivated even more to pursue his dreams after seeing the show. Buy your tickets at a TKTS Discount Booth, where you can buy your tickets at a discount.

3. The Intrepid – Sea, Air, & Space Museum – The boys loved this museum! (And so did I!) They got to climb on an aircraft carrier and crawl through a submarine. What can be more fun than that for boys? Click here for discount coupons!  

4. Central Park - Enjoy an afternoon in this beautiful city park! We strolled through the park and was amazed at how peaceful it was even though we were in the center of the largest metropolitan area in the United States. Relax, take a break from the hustle and bustle of visiting New York City…at least for a couple of hours.

5. Time Square - No visit to New York City would be complete without visiting Time Square. There is always something happening there. The boys had their 15 seconds of fame on the American Eagle billboard. Check it out!

Visiting New York City with your family is a fun adventure your family will never forget!

We are taking the boys to New York City this week. It will be their first time to The Big Apple. My plans so far include Statue of Liberty tour, the Intrepid Sea, Air, Space Museum, and a broadway play.

What else would you recommend we do with the boys while we are in NYC? Would love to hear your thoughts?

If you and your family enjoy snorkeling, then I would strongly recommend visiting the Florida Keys.

 Snorkeling in the Florida Keys is a lot of fun for the entire family! The clear greenish-blue water off the coast of the Florida Keys makes this paradise an ideal place to explore using your mask and snorkel gear.

The most extensive living coral reef system in North America lies approximately 4-5 miles off the shores of the Florida Keys. It is the third largest reef system in the world, which makes it a great place to snorkel with your family. Most snorkeling takes place on the barrier reefs of the Keys.  These barrier reefs have claimed a graveyard of sailing vessels, many filled with gold, silver, and other precious cargo.

The shallower the reef is the brighter the colors of the coral. Strong sunlight is needed for reef growth. Schools of fish sway back and forth keeping time with the rhythm of the waves.

 For most part you can freely snorkel anywhere in the Keys. There are some Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary regulations that you should be aware of and follow. Be careful around bridges. The currents are swift and the tidal pull is strong.

The most popular and easiest way to snorkel in the Florida Keys is to go out with a snorkeling tour. Most reputable dive centers in the Keys are members of the Keys Association of Dive Operators, which sets standards of safety and professionalism. Crews are trained in CPR, first-aid, and handling dive emergencies. Many of them can help you identify the sea life you may find on your adventure.

 The in Upper Keys snorkeling tours I recommend are the following:

 Sundiver Snorkeling Tours

Sundiver III is a 46′ foot custom built snorkel special that was designed for maximum comfort and enjoyment to snorkelers. She is fast and stable for an enjoyable cruise out to the reef and has a fresh water rinse on board with comfortable seating on both decks. The water level platform has two large ladders that make it easy to get in and out of the water. They specialize in family fun and definitely deliver. They have three tours daily. The tour lasts two and a half tours and visits several different reefs within the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, which is the first undersea park in the United States. They are located at mile marker 103 in Key Largo at the Key West Inn. Reservations are recommended. Call 800-654-7369.

Coral Reef Park Company

Snorkel-only excursions located inside John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park leave the docks three times daily. The shallow-reef sites vary, depending upon the current, wave action and best visibility conditions. The snorkel trip lasts two and a half hours with an hour and a half of actual snorkeling time at Molasses Reef, White Bank Dry rocks, Grecian Rocks, Key Largo Dry Rocks, or Cannon Patch. Coral Reef Park Company is located inside John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park at U.S. 1 Mile Marker 102.5 Key Largo, Florida 33037. Reservations are recommended. Call (305) 451-1202.

If you want to snorkel on your own from shore, I would recommend either John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park or Bahia Honda State Park

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park contains tropical vegetation, shore birds, and marine life. Exploring the coral reef is what visitors enjoy the most about this park. The coral reefs are among the most beautiful and diverse of all living communities

Bahia Honda State Park is unique among other park on the Keys because it has a lot of white sandy beach area and deep waters close enough offshore to provide swimming and snorkeling. Snorkeling at Bahia Honda State Park is enjoyed by the young and old alike to experience the breathtaking beauty of this shoreline. Beware of the strong current by the old Bahia Honda Bridge

Insiders’ Guide to The Florida Keys and Key West is where I found a ton of useful information and tips for planning our family vacation

Snorkeling in the Florida Keys is something my family will remember for a long time

Laura Greenawalt is a working mom with 3 sons. Visit Mommy Day Camp for more ideas on what to do with your family that won’t cost you a lot of money.

Easter holds many traditions in our family.

Coloring Easter eggs is one of them. We hardboil 2 dozen eggs, prepare the coloring, and let the boys create their own unique design. It is a fun time to remember our family and friends by naming and coloring an egg for them. Aunt T, Derek, and Austin M. were all included in this year’s event.

Other important part of coloring Easter egss is remember my dad, who went to be with the Lord 10 years ago. When I was a kid, we always colored eggs and we would use all of the colors to decorate my dad’s egg. It ended up being the ugliest egg of them all, but of course, my dad loved it.

Another fun family tradition we do at Easter is an Easter egg hunt. I fill plastic Easter eggs with candy and money. Then I hide them throughout the house. The past couple of years I have color-coded them for each child. Ryan was orange and pink, Austin was yellow, and Brandon was blue and green. That way they could each take their own time and gather their eggs without worrying that they were missing out on getting enough eggs.

Easter in our family is a time to thank God for sending his only son Jesus to die for our sins and to enjoy being with one another.

How do you celebrate Easter?

Spring is here!

So, what does Spring mean to you?

Well, for me Spring is a sign of  warmer weather, longer daylight hours, school year’s end approaching and yes, of course, BASEBALL!

In a family of all boys thoughts of baseball are never far away. In the winter we even play baseball in the house. (See my Spring Break Idea # 1) 

But today was opening day for my youngest son’s baseball team. We have been looking forward to this day for several weeks now. We have been practicing baseball in preparation for this day for many weeks now. We practice in the backyard, at the park, in my family room, and even in the front hallway. It is amazing what you can do with a dry water ball and some creative imagination.

Needless to say, Opening Day lived up to expectation. Because of all the practicing we were doing, Brandon shined as first baseball; stretching to get the guy out at first, leaping over the bag to snag a wild throw.

Yes, heros were made today. My son’s love for baseball will continue as well as our practicing, I’m sure.

Hope you have a ball this Spring….and enjoy a little baseball too!

Spring Break is here!

“Finally,” is what my Freshman said and my 7th grader echoed. A whole week with sleeping in,  no homework, no mandatory reading, staying up late. 

But even with all their free time by Monday they will be looking for something to do. So, I will need to have a couple of ideas in my back pocket just in case I hear the “B” word… “I’m bored.”  

Camping – If the weather is nice, we will go camping overnight down by the lake. My boys love to camp. I guess it is the fresh air, fishing, camp fire, and not having to brush their teeth at night that really excites them.

Bike Riding -  My youngest son is learning how to ride his new mountain bike. We will practice around home until he is ready and then we will venture out to one of the many trails in our town, Flower Mound.

Baking – My mom taught me to love baking and how to create these delicious soft chocolate chp cookies. Now I’ve pasted the love of baking to my children. It is a fun family activity we are really enjoy…even my husband.

Playing Scrabble - I know what you are thinking. But “yes” my rowdie boys are very good Scrabble players. They love the challenge of trying to beat mom at a word game. Other games we might play include Texas Holdem and Quirkel.

What are your plans for Spring Break? Spend 15 – 20 minutes thinking up a couple of easy fun family activities just in case you hear the “b” word coming out of your child’s mouth.

For other family fun ideas, check out Mommy Day Camp ebook I create to help other moms like me!

Here is another idea your kids may enjoy this Spring Break.

Picture Perfect Card Game – Same as “Old Maid” but with a twist!

Supplies Needed:

• 2 sets of 5 – 10 pictures of your kids.

Objective: Be the one to match-up the most pictures.

Print off 5 – 10 duplicate pictures of your kids. Use the 3 x 5 size when printing. Cut each picture into card sizes. Make sure you have 2 of each picture. Shuttle the “deck” of pictures and then lay the cards picture side down on the table.

Take turns selecting 2 cards. If they match, then you get to keep the pair. If they do not match, you lay them back down again. Keep taking turns until all the pictures have been matched. Whoever ends up with the most pairs win!

I hope you enjoy these fun activities that you can do with your family over Spring Break .

For other fun family ideas that won’t cost you a fortune, please visit Mommy Day Camp.com (http://www.mommydaycamp.com).