So yesterday was the official first full day with the kids home from school. I always do a scavenger hunt of some sort for the boys to start off the summer. It’s always alot of fun and something they look forward to every year. I write little poems with clues of where they can go to find the next treasure. It’s fun to see them work together as a team to find each clue.
They usually each get some small gifts like their favorite snack and a pack of gum. I also stock up on summer items that we always seem to lose like tennis balls (for playing baseball in the front yard) and raquet balls (for off the bricks). I am always amazed how each year I buy boxes of balls and by the end of the year they disappear. I have no idea where they go, but I think ‘The ball thief” must be hanging around with “The sock thief”. It wouldn’t be the start of summer without silly string. I usually go to the dollar store and buy each one a can. They have a blast spraying each other.
We also usually get type of big gift that they can all share for the summer, which will keep them active, occupied and out of trouble. This year we bought a basketball hoop for the front yard. With four boys, this should be a good investment.
Lastly, they each then get a special gift they have been wanting. For Chris (14) a gift certificate to his favorite custard shop, (when you get to be a teen, it’s hard to by them something that isn’t hundreds of dollars, but they love a GC) Matt (11) a special water bottle filled with gum, Andy (4) chalk, crayons, coloring books, and Danny (9) as a blackhawks fan I am somewhat ashamed to admit this, but my hockey fan got an LA Kings Dustin Brown T-shirt, #23. Yes my hockey player is a Kings fan. I can tell you it is very interesting in my house in this hockey series. Danny is my son that has decided even though he lives in Chicago, he is going to be different and pick a non- Chicago team. He does this for all sports, so its not a fad and it just so happens this year his favorite team is playing the blackhawks.
After day one, they haven’t killed one another and played really nicely together. And the hockey game last night was an interesting experience and creates for some fun in our household. I can only hope that the rest of the summer will be as good as Day 1.