After church today, we went to the park with our friends like we do almost every week. While the kids were lethargically playing on this sultry 108°F day, my friend turned to me and said that she was
The kids playing at the park with their friends.
just about done getting all the school supplies for her kids. I just gave her a blank stare. School supplies? What? It seemed like such a foreign thought on such a steamy day. But the fact of the matter is, the kids go back in 2 1/2 weeks. August 13th is the first day of school for kids in grades 1 – 12. Kindergartners go back on the 15th. That seemed so early to me, and I said so, but apparently this has been a longer summer than most. Since the kids got out of school this year a week before Memorial Day, they have had extra time off due to the lack of snow days last year.
While a part of me is excited for the days when I only have half my brood to contend with in the mornings, I am also a bit saddened that the summer is already drawing to a close. It just seems like so much is still left undone! We haven’t made it to the lake yet. Not even once. The weather has a lot to do with that. With the temperature being around 100°F all summer long, the water is too warm to be refreshing. Those people that have made the trip to the lake has said it was less than exciting because of the water temps. That is such a shame because it can be such a wonderful day when we go. There are canoes to rent, paddle boats, and then the beach. We considered fishing this year, but it has just been too darn hot. It seems to make more sense to turn on the hose and squirt each other down.
We have only gone to the drive-in a few times for the same reason. Even at 9:00 at night, the temperature is too high to justify sitting outside to watch a movie. This is one of our family’s favorite activities in the world, so this has been a great disappointment to all of us, but we have made up for it a little bit by having family drive-in night in the living room. We just bring in a bunch of pillows and blankets and make a huge “nest” and cuddle up together and watch a movie that way, while eating popcorn popped in the microwave and drinking soda. That is fun, but it is still not the drive-in.
As a mother, I am also thinking about the academic activities I have put off. It is past time for me to get Troy and Jason to sit down and go over some of the basic information they need to know for the following year. Jason needs to start back with his reading and adding and subtracting, and Troy needs to review his letters and numbers. I will throw in a few fun science experiments as well to keep them (and I) interested. Derek can even join in some of the activities. Hopefully we will get him into preschool next year. I was hoping to have started these activities a month before they started back, but I guess I lost track of time. This is not something anyone who knows me would be surprised about.
There have been some really great moments, though. We have done a lot of campaigning, which has been fun and educational. We have spent time at the park and we have gone to a friend’s community pool a couple of times and had a great time. The kids have developed friendships with some of the kids in the neighborhood, allowing them to venture out of our yard without mom. They are starting to learn to ride their bikes without training wheels, although we have not spent as much time on that as I had expected to just because of the heat. They have created some really creative ways to play with the hose, and we have raised a vegetable garden, even though much of that has met with early death due to eager toddlers, puppy trampling, and again, the heat and dryness.
I guess one of my activities for the week will include looking for sales on school supplies. I need to print out the list, look at what places have the best prices, and only go to that store. That is what my friend told me she had been doing, and I think that is wise. If I put it off too long, I will be fighting the crowds and settling on whatever prices are given to me at whatever store I go to in a rush. This is my frugal mom moment for you! :) The best thing to do is to get a Sunday paper, look through all the ads with the list of supplies in front of you, and see who has what on sale. Make sure you get the lowest prices, and if, for example, rulers are not on sale this week, wait until next week. It may be too late for some items, but I should still be able to find most things on sale and at a good price. If I find anything online or at a national store, I will try to remember to let you all know so you can benefit from my findings as well! It is not too late to do some of the activities on our list, nor is it too late to find deals on school supplies, but we have to get it all going now. School is coming!!
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