Summer's half over! Don't worry, there's still time to make some fantastic family memories, even if you don't have the money or time to head off on vacation. But don't wait. The key is to get out a calendar and schedule the things you really want to do. Start at dinner tonight by asking everyone what they have loved most about this summer so far. Then ask each person to pick one thing for the whole family to do that will make their summer complete. Set parameters before you start. For instance, no hotel stays, and the total cost of each activity must be under $40 (or whatever your budget is.)
Here's a list of ideas to get you started:
Buy a badminton set and have a weekend tournament for all your friends and family, complete with a potluck barbecue.
Set up a water festival in your backyard that includes dunking, running through sprinklers, a water balloon toss game, a slip 'n slide, and a water balloon fight. Let your kids invite all their friends, and invite a few of yours, too. Celebrate the end of the day with watermelon.
Rent bikes and follow a local bike path you've never been on. Stop for ice cream cones.
Go camping. Go hiking, catch fireflies, roast marshmallows, sing songs, snuggle on a blanket and watch the fire together.
Go tubing. Or canoeing. Or rafting.
Have a dinner picnic and watch the sunset (bring the bug repellant).
Go to the beach and spend the day body surfing. When you get cold, collect shells and use them to decorate your sand castle.
Go to bed really early some night when you're tired, and get up for the sunrise. Bring donuts and coffee.
Make homemade ice cream. (You don't need an ice cream maker, just rock salt and plastic bags, there are recipes online.)
Buy a mess of crabs and cook them up with some corn on the cob. Invite a crowd and let the kids stay up late playing tag as it gets dark.
You get the idea. Be sure to toast the family member who chose the activity, and take lots of pictures. The last week of the summer, print out the photos and make a Summer 2008 album to look at over Labor Day weekend. If you do this every summer, you'll create family heirlooms, not to mention a family tradition that will have your kids bragging about how great summer was in their families...and begging to look at the Summer albums with you every Labor Day, even once they're teenagers.
