Skyler & Spencer had a field trip today. After two hours of walking through the wetlands at the nature center, we headed over to a nearby park for lunch. This park has a jungle gym in the shape of a firetruck. [When I was a kid it was a real life old fashioned firetruck. I don't know what happened to that old firetruck. Maybe it rusted out or something. So now we are left with a jungle gym firetruck in it's place.]

So anyway…the kids were playing on the firetruck. One little boy was at the steering wheel racing to a fire. He kept hollering things out like “We gotta get to the fire” or “It’s gonna be a hot one.” Finally he yelled, “It’s gonna blow. But don’t worry. I’m not gonna quit you.” He bellowed that “I’m not gonna quit you” line a few times in his best Texas drawl. It was hilarious. Since he’s around seven years old, I’m going to guess he doesn’t quite understand why that lines so funny. He’s probably just heard it on TV since it’s been the butt of many jokes [no pun intended].

13 Family Fun Summer Activities You Can Do In Your Own Yard
[or neighborhood]

First, it’s been a while since I participated in Thursday Thirteen; like since February. My life was crazy [still is] and I kept forgetting it was Thursday until late Thursday evening. Plus I was running out of ideas. Cause I’m lame like that. But I’m getting back on the horse and giving it a go again.

So for my comeback tour I am not only giving you thirteen ideas for outdoor activities this summer, but I created my own banner. I even drew that little guy [who is supposed to look a tad bit like Spencer] with my own hand and colored it in my very first attempt at coloring in Photoshop. [This is where you are supposed to ooohh and awww].

1. Lay down a blanket in the backyard and go star gazing.

2. Get a campfire going [Smokey the Bear says, "Be Safe"] and make smores.

3. Take a camping trip….in the backyard. Pitch a tent, drag out your sleeping bags and tell ghost stories.

4. Make popsicles. And eat them outdoors.

5. Make bubbles and chase after them through the yard. Sure buying pre-made bubbles at the store isn’t that expensive, but what’s the fun in that?

6. Make your own sidewalk chalk. Skyler & Spencer made sidewalk chalk at their end-of-the-year party in Kindergarten. It was really easy and the kids had a blast coloring on the sidewalk with their very own chalk.

7. Help your kids become entrepreneurs with a lemonade stand. Find a good recipe for lemonade, set up a table and have the kids make signs.

8. Gather up some lilies, floating plants and some fish and create your own backyard water garden.

9. Use your homemade sidewalk chalk to create a hopscotch pattern and play a game of hopscotch. Kids love to watch their parents topple over as they try to pick up the rock [or coin or whatever you're using as your marker].

10. Buy some hula hoops [they're cheap] and have a hula hoop competition. Who can keep their hula hoop up the longest? Who can keep it swinging around their arm? Their leg? Their head?!?

11. Throw on your helmets and knee pads and go biking together.

12. Have a water balloon war. But we forewarned that filling up the balloons takes a heck of a lot longer than the actual battle.

13. Gather the family in the yard for a shaving cream fight. And when you’re done jump in the pool to clean off.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
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Planet Mom is having a contest called the “Totally Cool Franklin and the Turtle Lake Treasure DVD Giveaway/Really Kooky Planet Mom Contest!!” And she’s giving away a totally cool Franklin and the Turtle Lake Treasure DVD. [Ok, so maybe that part was obvious.] All you have to do is come up with your acronym for PARENT. I happen to work for a company who lives and breaths by acronyms so we spend our free time trying to figure out what some of those acronyms mean. For example, my personal favorite acronym at work is the REAR form which stands for Real Estate Action Request [which essentially means you're moving your rear from one desk to another and need the computer and phone people to come move your connections for you]. So I’m totally ready for Planet Mom’s contest.

Here’s my acronym:

P = Peed on. I think most of us parents have been peed on at least once in our parenting careers.

A = Action Figures. Maybe it’s because I have so many boys, but I feel like action figures are running my life. I step on them in the hallway. I shower with them in the bathroom. I purchase them at the store. I watch them on our TV. Ever since I became a parent they’ve taken over my life.

R = Rich. *laughing hysterically* Ok, so we’re not exactly rich with money, but we’re sure rich with love. Can I get an “awww?”

E = Embarrassing. You might not think you’re embarrassing, but that’s because you don’t have teenagers yet. Trust me, teenagers will remind you of this often, probably daily.

N = Needs a drink. I don’t know how sober parents to do it. My kids have driven me to find a babysitter and have a few margaritas with my girlfriends on several occasions.

T = Tired. Need I say more? In fact I need to go take a nap right now.

Now it’s your turn. Come up with your acronym and email it to Planet Mom for your chance to win. I can’t wait to see what everybody comes up with.

You know how I like things in a particular order? I’m a little “Sleeping With The Enemy” when it comes to things like the cans of soup and tuna in my pantry and the shampoo in my shower.

Earlier tonight Keaton grabbed something off the counter in the kitchen and me moved the toaster. I said, “You just moved the toaster.” So he repositioned it. I said, “It’s too far over to the left.” So he adjusted it again.

A couple days ago we told the kids we’d have to get the house spotless because an appraiser was coming over [we're not moving, just need an appraisal]. So Keaton, who has learned sarcasm at such an early age, said, “Geez mom, it’s not like the appraiser is going to dock us points for a crooked toaster. He’ll be all, ‘you people are such slobs you can’t even keep your toaster straight.’”

Kids are so much fun.