5 Strategies for Summer Survival

Friday is the last day of school for the boys and MAN am I ready!!!  I am so sick of packing lunch and unpacking piles of paper that the prospect of even one more week makes me want to go into a fetal position.  The person who starts a business packing school lunches is gonna be a bazillionaire. Spoiler alert: it won't be me.

I'm so looking forward to lazy days of playing in the pool and wondering aloud at like 2:30, "hey did I feed you lunch yet?  Or even breakfast?"  But of course there is a certain amount of dread when it comes to changing schedules and tons of togetherness, too.  All that time can be intimidating, so today I wanted to share my top strategies for summer survival.

1. Run Your Own Summer Camp

I mean, just for your kids.  Or even invite friends over, what the heck.  This was my top method for summer survival when the kids were small.  I'd choose a different theme each week and organize our activities around it.

The cover of my Summer Camp Binder

Working with a theme was super fun for the boys and really helped keep me motivated and organized. Some examples of themes: Our Country, Water Week, Camping, Pirates, Speed Week (race cars), Farming, you get the idea.

Here's a peek inside--it was very handy to get organized like this!

For tips to get you started, read more here and here.

2. Create (at least some) Structure

Going from a very structured routine to none at all is hard on everyone.  I like to have a general idea of how our days will go and share it with the children.  Especially if you have young children it is helpful to make the routine visible, even if you just list your daily activities on a chalkboard or whiteboard. If your kids are older, you could simply write out a weekly routine and create daily expectations for things they will do.  I made laminated Summer Checklist for my kids. They have to check off every category before they get screen time.

Want to print out your own Summer Checklist for free?  Click on the picture or right here.

3. Make a Summer Bucket List

This summer will be the first that I am using a "bucket list" to motivate and inspire us.  I am making my own filled with specific activities we have locally and things my kids have requested (having a pie fight in the driveway, for example).  But there are tons our there you can use to get you started, too.  I really like the free printables at Yellow Bliss Road and the kids' version at The Teacher Bag (requires signing up with your email).

4. Make Time for Yourself

Look, we all love our little darlings but we also all need time to scream into a pillow, um, hear ourselves think, see to our own needs.  The reason I didn't blog at all last week was because I took some preemptive time for myself in expectation of not having much this summer.  My plan for this summer is to make sure I hit the gym twice a week while my generous mother entertains the boys.  Another option is to hire a mother's helper, which is wonderful even if you don't leave the house.  But if you don't have the budget for that, don't fret!  There are still ways to carve out time for yourself!

An absolute must for me is Quiet Time. We've had Quiet Time in our house ever since Biggest stopped napping, and this summer will be no different.  Everyone retreating to their own space for an hour of reading or quiet play is a life saver.  I will start off our summer with Quiet Time built right in, it will just be part of our daily routine. If your babies are young and have trouble playing on their own, my advice is to gently and firmly enforce your expectation, escorting them right back to their rooms if they interrupt your time.  Having a few of their favorite activities available during that time helps, as does giving them a specified time limit (set a timer for little ones who can't read time yet).  A few tears and tantrums during the transition are worth the sanity-saving effect of Quiet Time and the lessons for them on how to entertain oneself.

Oh! Also, if you have an Ikea near you you can score an hour of free supervised child care for anybody who is potty trained while you shop!  If you don't have an Ikea near you, maybe it's worth the road trip?

5. Have Fun!

In summers past I have been known to start fretting about all the learning that's bein' wasted.  Brain cells deteriorating in the hot sun, handwriting reduced to a scrawl and number sense disappearing.  I've broken out workbooks and math games.  And the really thoughtful, responsible part of me thinks those are legitimate concerns and maybe we will do some math worksheets this summer.  But, if not, that's okay too because my fun-loving side has already declared 2016 as the ULTIMATE SUMMER OF FUN.  And obviously that's not something my kids will forget.  They've taken it as a formal contract and I am sure when we aren't having fun I will be reminded.

My Baby Who is Now Nine Years Old

My baby turned 9 years old in January and I guess I'm feeling like the years are slipping by.  I want to enjoy these little people while they still enjoy hanging out with me.  So we are going to be flinging water balloons and whipped cream at each other, slipping on plastic sheets in the backyard, staying up late to watch fireflies, and eating LOTS of popsicles.  We are going to have fun, darn it, even me.  And whenever I get cranky with the constant bickering I am going to try and remember that my summers with my boys are limited.  I plan on enjoying every minute.

So what about you?  What are your top strategies for summer survival?

Harry Potter Party: Games, Food, and Decor

This post may contain affiliate links, but all opinions are 100% mine.  For more information, please visit my Disclosures page.

Y'all must know by now I love a good themed birthday party.  See, for example, our Arctic Birthday Blast, Pirate Party and Star Wars Party.  It was no different when Biggest asked for a Harry Potter party this year. Holy goodness, it was so much fun.  Most of these ideas I got from Pinterest, for original sources please click through to my Party On Boys Pinterest Board.

When our guests first walked in, we first led them into Diagon Alley, where they shopped for their wand at Ollivander's.

To encourage them to hit Diagon Alley first, I had blocked off the other side of the foyer using a black plastic tablecloth and plastic chain:

I made the wands following the tutorial over at Give Peas a Chance.  I really shopped and shopped for good chopsticks to use and settled on these:

They turned out so cute!

To make them, I first used hot glue to add dimension.  Then I sprayed them with Oil Rubbed Bronze spray paint, and used brown and gold acrylic paints for the details.

The kids loved picking out their own wand and even the grown-ups were impressed!

In Diagon Alley the kids could also eye the sweets at Honeyduke's, but a sign informed them the store was closed "until all the snitches are found."  What could that mean?  We all wondered.

So, after picking up their new wand, they were ready to head to Hogwart's through Platform 9 and 3/4:

I got this brick-patterned plastic sheeting from Amazon and it worked great.  I had to tape a couple of sections together to make them tall enough, so bear that in mind when you are shopping.  But it was waaay easier than painting fabric myself.

Once at Hogwart's, I led the kids through a series of fun activities and games.  First, they had to be sorted.  I made our sorting hat with an old witch hat and some paper grocery bags.

I should have done underneath the brim, too!!!

I decided to give the kids some control over which house they would get, by creating a spinner and letting them have two spins.  That way, no one would have to get Slytherin;)  To make the spinner, I used a spinner from Twister, took the plastic spinny thing (it's technical name) off, and attached my own design with tape.  It worked great!  I loved it so much that I made you a free printable, just click here:

Once the child spun twice, our Sorting Hat announced the result (through a hidden baby monitor nearby).  The nine-year-olds immediately realized where the voice was coming from but my six-year-old was still wondering that evening...so I call it a success.

Next up, was Charms Class where the kids had to use their wands to keep balloons up in the air.  It was so. much. fun.  I think they could have just done that for two hours and been happy.

Sidenote: check out the cute Hogwart's decal!  I got it as a set with the Gryffindor decal pictured later in this post, and they are both affordable and gorgeous.  You can get them by clicking here.

Next we headed to the Great Hall for a snack.  The Great Hall was maybe my favorite part.  I loved how my floating candles turned out.

I saw these several places online but never saw a great tutorial, so I will bring that to you tomorrow. (Update: you can see how to make the candles by clicking here.)  I also used plastic tablecloths to make the House Banners.

For snacks we had Golden Snitch Cake Pops:

These were the first cake pops I ever made, so I read a lot online and ended up using this cake pop pan and I am so glad I did!  It wasn't easy, per se, but much easier.  I also really liked this tutorial from Homemaker Chic. Follow her advice on modifying your cake recipe and especially adding shortening to the candy melts.  I just used yellow candy melts and gold sprinkles, then stripped and cut cheap craft store feathers for the wings.

We also had Huffle Puffs, and Witches' Brooms and Hats (thanks Mom for helping make these!)

UPDATE: I now have a free printable of the food labels available here!

Our drink was Polyjuice Potion (lime sherbet and Sprite).

After snack it was on to Potions Class, where each child received a teeny cauldron for his or her potion. We mixed up Horklump Juice and Ground Unicorn Horns (Vinegar and Baking Soda). They never seem to get tired of watching stuff fizz up like that!

UPDATE: I now have a free printable of the potions labels available here!

Once they were done with Potions, I asked them to make sure they sent my son a Birthday Wish through the Owl Post:

I found the printable sign at Jonesing to Create.  I had the various cages on hand, but looked high and low for an owl.  I ended up with a stuffed Hedwig, which I bought here. She doubled as a birthday gift for my son, and he loves her.

Toward the end of the party, I announced that I'd received my own Owl Post saying that nine golden snitches had gone missing, and released the kids to find them scavenger-hunt style.

For these snitches, I spray-painted practice golf balls gold, then threaded through a length of tulle using a skewer.  So easy.

It was quiet for 30 seconds before they started running in to trade in their Snitches for a bag of treats from Honeyduke's.

They each got Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans.

 These are both wonderful and terrible.  With flavors like Dirt and Vomit, but also Cherry and Blueberry, there is something for everyone!  You can go on your own disgusting culinary quest right here.

I also made Chocolate Frogs.  They were super easy using this candy mold. And we had Wingless Snitches made from Ferraro Roche chocolates and plain gummy worms labeled "Blood Worms."

Finally, the kids spent some time in the Gryffindor Common Room (our playroom) before heading home.

It was really so much fun.  Well worth the effort for those smiles!

P.S. For all the FREE printables mentioned in this post, please click here, and then share my post so others can benefit and enjoy!

P.P.S. Lovin' the Linky's at:

The Melrose Family
Remodelaholic
Pretty Handy Girl
Chic on a Shoestring