This is sponsored content by BlogHer and Kelloggs.
I love having my kids home for summer break. I enjoy the lazy days of sleeping in, no homework, no making school lunches, and no schedules to speak of. In the summer, I don't have to set my alarm; instead I just roll out of bed when
But, as summer winds down and my kids' boredom increases, I get anxious for the routine that school provides. That's a nice way of saying, "Ohmygosh, if I hear my kids fight one more time, I'm gonna lose it!"
The most fun thing my kids and I did this summer was take a trip to the Outer Banks, NC. The twenty-four hour drive there was less than fun, but once we arrived - ahhhh. We had the best time! We spent long hours in the ocean and hanging out together in our rented beach house. In the morning, we collected seashells on the beach. At night, we took walks together in the sand. We curled up in the lounge chairs on the deck and ate dinner in the evening while listening to the sound of the surf.
Despite our awesome vacation, I just know when the kids go back to school and their teachers ask, "What did you do over summer break?" my kids are going to say something like, "We played in the sprinkler in our backyard!" But that's okay because it's not so much where you go or what you do that matters. It's those little moments of fun and laughter with each other that they'll remember.
For a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card, leave me a comment here and let me know what you like to do with your kids as summer winds down.
No duplicate comments
Blog about it and include a link in the comments here for a second chance.
Tweet about it and include a link in the comments here for another chance.
This giveaway is open to U.S. residents age 18 or over.
Winners will be selected via random draw, and will notified by e-mail.
You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
For more official rules, go HERE.
And for TWENTY-THREE more chances to win, check out the other bloggers at the BlogHer.com Kellogg exclusive offers page!
Mom’s Breakfast Club was started to help educate moms and families about kids’ cereal and share the scoop on their nutritional benefits and ingredients. To learn more about the program, visit http://www.loveyourcereal.com/.
271 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 1 – 200 of 271 Newer› Newest»Fortunately, my son is still young enough that he won't be headed to school this fall, but we've been enjoying the cooler evenings by taking walks after dinner.
I wish we had some kind of "end of summer" tradition but we don't. I love back to school shopping but my son doesn't so that doesn't happen. I can't wait for school to start though, I am so ready for the fighting between the kids to STOP!
We live in AZ. So Summertime is hot, hot, hot! We like to go to California and spend lots of time at the beach!
As the kids are getting ready to go back to school, I just like to remember the beginning of summer when I was looking forward to them being out of school. It makes me stop and enjoy the kids even more to know that I was actually looking forward to spending the summer with them :)
We tried to cram as much in as possible from their summer to do list that didn't' get done and didn't cost a fortune! Like: going to the park, bike ride, games, and play in front yard. We've been back three weeks and I miss those lazy days with no homework!
the picture looks like it was worth the long drive :D i don't have kids yet >.< i'd like to go to the waterpark or the zoo with my bf, and go hiking with my parents.
songyueyu at gmail
i tweeted http://twitter.com/syytta/status/21620371356
We're trying to fit in as much swimming as possible before it gets too chilly!
I live in North Carolina so we love trips to the beach. My kids are 5, 3, 3 and 18 months so it can be pretty nuts trying to keep up with them all anywhere we go, but the beach is always fun as long as we don't lose sight of them!
We've yet to go to the splash pad. It's about an hour away and I always end up just going to my sister's house/pool instead. I really should take them to the splash pad before Fall arrives.
My kids are enrolled in a drama camp to end the summer. We tend towards being really busy with each other for the first part of the summer and then the last two weeks, I ship 'em out!
the girls favorite summer thing to do is to swim or play in the water hose.
I love to sit around in the evening and get some "Scattergories" or "Boggle" game time in.
We love playing Farkle (dice game) with our boys, it's easy enough that we can all play and help eachother out.
We are fitting in a trip to the zoo tomorrow. We will also fit in a few more trips to the city pool before it closes until next summer. We definitely will be spending time outside, since we are stuck inside for 4 long months of winter!
nbalogh522 at gmail dot com
tweet
http://twitter.com/maybaby522/status/21639862969
nbalogh522 at gmail dot com
This is the first end of summer with my lil man but I'd like to start a tradition of a day at the beach and a family camping trip!
We are going to Vegas this weekend to go shopping and I hope to spend a lot of time outside with them. We love evenings roasting marshmallows
Thanks
jotteson@frontiernet.net
tweeted
http://twitter.com/Ashlesmommy07/status/21640738556
jotteson@frontiernet.net
We like to go to the grandparents' swimming pool. Gets us out of our house (and out of our routine) and they get to interact with other people. But the one thing I like the most is the cuddling. My boys, 6 and 8, still like to cuddle in the evening. It is a great way for us to reconnect and love on each other without "gushing". :) Don't know what I am going to do when they get bigger.
We're in FL, so our summer includes a lot of indoor time in air conditioning. But on those rare and random low humidity days, we love to stroll around Epcot at WDW, grab a snack (or adult beverage), and people watch. We also love the pool!
A couple weeks before school starts back, our county fair takes place. The kids LOVE the fair and so do I, but it wears us all out! My oldest daughter showed horses, goats, sheep, and a dog this year. She did very well but it made for a long summer with all the animal practices every week!
We are going to squeeze in one more trip to the beach and a pseudo camping trip, camp fire, smores, ect but no staying the night. We have a newborn.
mommycreations(at)gmail.com
With summer winding down.. I'd probably spend more time soaking in the sun. I am hoping to whishk her to some fruit pickin gin the mornings and pool time in the evening.. and then sun soaking the next morning and then park in the evening... Yes, I will use Tonnes of Sunblock! :-D
Well, school starts Monday and we me the girls' teachers last night so I feel like summer is over! They have their last day of camp today and a pool party tonight and we'll just chill over the weekend. They're ready to go back to school!
My kids start school on Monday, so Summer is basically over..
Mike
security.mann.gmail.com
Once we are done with school shopping, the kids seem to fight more and more! We love to have a few campfires and spend lots of time in the pool!
We are headed to Seaside, OR next week sharing a beach house with our friends. Over Labor Day weekend, our son will go to "Camp Nana and Papa" for two days. We'll start school on the day after Labor Day. :-)
No kids here. Hubby and I like to invite friends over for a farmers market meal and board games like "Loaded Questions", "Apples to Apples" and "Smart (other name for donkey)".
Trying to get the most use possible out of the swimming pool. Love taking it easy at home.
We plan to have a state fair trip and more bike rides.
blogged.http://tcarolinep.blogspot.com/2010/08/giveaway-because-i-said-so.html
http://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/21687143136
We're lucky and live 10 minutes away from a very quiet beach so every free day we have is spent there
I would like to go fishing at the lake one last time before summer ends.
lynnx512 at gmail dot com
I tweeted:
http://twitter.com/livelovelynn/status/21688693256
lynnx512 at gmail dot com
We are winding down by camping in the backyard and roasting marshmellows.
avennett AT verizon DOT net
we had a very busy summer. As it comes to end we are laying low going the swim ad The YMCA and doing football practice. Im nervous and happy school is starting. My oldest is going to middle school little scary. '
christi_speights@yahoo.com
Trailer camping with the 3 and 1 year old. Just for a couple of overnights. My husband and I both work full time and have enjoyed getting away as often as we can. Utah has been HOT this summer.
Mel Smith.UT
Our tradition is actually on the first day of school. At the end of the day, I pick the kids up and we go for ice cream and talk about the day. I hear all about who is in their classes and their first impressions of their new teachers.
Something we love to do as the summer winds down is go camping and enjoy the outdoors!!! Would love to win!! Thanks ani_allen@hotmail.com
Since I teach, the end of summer is spent in my classroom with my boys "helping" set up my classroom (because fighting with each other and throwing koosh balls at the posters on the wall is awesomely helpful).
After all the stress of shopping, set up, scheduling, etc. I take the last day before I go back as a pj day. We just hang out, with no plans and no shoes and enjoy the last lazy day till next summer.
Anything that will help us stay cool. That is sometimes hard to do in Arizona. So I go with my grandchildren to the movie, the pool. And if they aren't too busy with their swim and dive teams, we like to take them to San Diego. they love the beach and Sea World.
I would love to just take the kids Oklahoma to go canoeing.
Angela
Northern IL here and we just got back from nags head! I do have to admit that the drive with a 3 and 1 yr old was less than stellar but we are planning on making it a yearly event. We rented a lovely tiny cottage right on the ocean so worth every cent, more coupon clipping here I come
We like to do day trips, the zoo, bowling, swimming at the Ymca.
Hide inside as it feels like 100 degrees here in August. I would like to do more but with a toddler and an infant, it's not going to happen.
When I was a stay-at-home mom I loved the end of summer because it meant the kids were going back to school and I'd get the house to myself for a few hours. Then I got divorced and had to go to work. I'm a teacher so the end of summer means I have to go back to work. It's kind of depressing but the kids and I like to go back to school shopping for all of us.
We go to the beach at the end of the summer. Just got back. Unfortunately next year we will have to go earlier because my son will start school.
during the summer we like to blow up the inflatable pool and let our daughter have the time of her life. going to the actual pool around here costs an arm and a leg, so this is our cost effective way of keeping her tired so she naps well... haha! looking forward to next summer when our son will get to enjoy it! :O)
I'm a teacher and LIVE for my summers with my kids. We have been on the go non-stop and have had a blast. I head back to work next week and we are cramming in so much these next few days...but sadly didn't do everything we hoped to this summer! Maybe early fall we can fit a few things in :-)
We are getting back in touch with all our school friends .. playdates at eachothers houses, bowling and the splash pad.
(tjaksv (at) yahoo (dot) com)
We spent the end of summer swimming and visiting some local parks. We also hit up a few movies this summer since our son is just learning the art of sitting still long enough for a movie. :)
Krystle2002@yahoo.com
I'm cramming in lots of pool time! scg00387 at yahoo dot com
http://twitter.com/DesMoinesDealin/status/21715074151 scg00387 at yahoo dot com
We are going to the park and splashpad this weekend for a last fun day before school starts next week!
winnieayala at yahoo dot com
As summer is winding down, we took in a Colts game last weekend and a Columbus Crew soccer game this weekend. Lots of fun memories!
Water, water, water. Weather its just a tub full in the driveway or an actual swiming pool my kids love it. ...and so do Mom and Dad! We also go to lots of parks and pack lunch or breakfast. They have a blast, and also get nice and worn out for nap time!
dana
We don't have traditional "summer" since my kids are preschool and infant ages, but we are wrapping up the season with a trip to California to visit a dear friend and her 4 kids. It should be fun for the kids and Mama will get to test out her parenting skills flying alone with a 3 year old and 11 month old.
Swimming before pool closes, sprinkler when mommy can't leave home, wave-boarding as much as possible, one last trip to the beach, barbequing dinners and having campfires! Oh, and maybe we'll go school supply shopping!
Our summer routines are hanging out at the pool or the park. Then when the kids leave for 3 weeks to go to there dads I enjoy my peace and quiet around the house.
Linda in Wilsonville Oregon
We plan to take one last weekend trip to the mountains!! thanks
bleatham*at*gmail.com
tweet
http://twitter.com/sleatham1/status/21732316960
bleatham*at*gmail.com
WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IT TO THE ZOO BEFORE SUMMERS OVER! kytah00@yahoo.com
ALSO TWEETED http://twitter.com/kytah00/status/21732758978 kytah00@yahoo.com
I don't have any kids, but I'd love to end the summer with a day of sea, sand and BBQ!
adrianecoros(at)gmail(dot)com
TWEET! http://twitter.com/LAMusing/status/21736136129
adrianecoros(at)gmail(dot)com
My daughter is grown, but I'd love to spend a day with her at the horseraces :)
bingomamanorma(at)gmail(dot)com
We want to have one last day at the beach or lake. Hopefully Labor Day weekend has great weather so we can get in our last shot at a day of fun in the sun.
tweet http://twitter.com/Ziggywag/status/21747069681
Have a cookout with lots of family.
kaspencer50@yahoo.com
Honestly, summer here in TX is so hot that towards the "end" (which most people consider as August, but here it's just starting to get super hot)of summer, we just stay inside mostly!
We're going to be going to our apartment's pool party! All the fun and none of the planning! Woohoo!
We are going to spend a long weekend with Nana in Boston.
We just finished a week of doing VBS together - four of my grown kids were able to help. Great times!
Our end of the summer plans are to take one more trip to Old Orchard beach in Maine
I tweeted http://twitter.com/eyzofblu63/status/21761922685
We like to play in the sprinkers and play on the slip and slide.
We get all of the extended family together for a day of swimming and cooking out at my kids' great grandparent's house. The kids burn of some energy, eat some good food, and get to just be kids for one last day before all the routines and structure start up again.
We like to go to the beach one last time.
We are hoping for another trip to the beach before summer ends.
Tweeted:
http://twitter.com/heatherzilla8/status/21766291126
Our family of four will be taking a road trip from Arizona to Northern California to visit family!
sazzyfrazz at gmail dot com
As summer winds down our family is going to go on one last camping trip.
LWons@HotMail.com
We are finally able to explore our new neighborhood now that the 17 month home remodel is almost completed. Lots of interesting trails to walk/ ride, as well as a nice beach to check out. And at least one picnic is planned.
another trip to the santa barbara zoo
tvollowitz at aol dot com
We wrapped up our summer with a family reunion/picnic last week.
Fun is having your grandchildren at the beach with you! Thanks for sharing!
Squeeze some more pool visits in!
kerin0874 (at) yahoo (dot) com
I love taking them on a picnic because it's an inexpensive way to have a whole lot of fun! gmissycat@yahoo.com
I tweeted! https://twitter.com/gmissycat/status/21776042556 gmissycat@yahoo.com
One last trip to Myrtle Beach!
froggypartyof2@aol.com
We like to go camping in the mountains near our home and have one more weekend of no cell phones, no tv, no video games, no homework!
Our end of summer routine consists of attempting to get the kiddos back on some kind of schedule. That way when school starts, it's not so rough on them.
School starts Monday! It is just so hot outside, we will probably go see a movie tomorrow afternoon.
jedoggett@embarqmail.com
tweeted http://twitter.com/annedoggett/status/21779334696
jedoggett@embarqmail.com
We're planning one last camping trip in the mountains this summer. honeypie411 at yahoo dot com
Great photo! We love the beach. We'll be doing a short camping trip to end the summer season. Yay s'mores! :)
shevilkenevil1 at aol dot com
Tweet:
http://twitter.com/lipstickncandy/status/21780934207
shevilkenevil1 at aol dot com
I plan trips to the park or maybe a trip to the zoo. We have a few more BBQ's and they enjoy shopping for school things.
lazybones344 at gmail dot com
hang out and chill and mentally prepapre for the new organized schedule- there is the ughh I have to get up but the excitement of getting back to school
We would love to go to Disney World/Sea World one more time before school starts!
Tweeted:
http://twitter.com/BreezyKim/status/21788415331
We make the bed time adjust to the school hours and review some math skills
tweeted @ rewcath
subscribed to blog
As summer winds down we like to stretch the days out as long as possible and enjoy the beauty around us. Thank you for the lovely giveaway.
sewmuchstuff at ymail dot com
I tweeted
https://twitter.com/SewMuchStuff/status/21796385021
sewmuchstuff at ymail dot com
The local drive-in is only open on weekends in the summer. So, we will try to go at twice more when they have family movies.
We would like to go to Canada
iamcernetic AT gmail DOT com
We try to go outside more because it isn't as hot. topgun34er(at)hotmail(dot)com
Tweeeted: https://twitter.com/mysterman1/status/21805739062
iamcernetic AT gmail DOT com
labor day bbq and cleaning the yard and house :)
dreamzz12{at]aol{dot}com
tweeted
http://twitter.com/DeeGee13/status/21806778671
dreamzz12{at]aol{dot]com
http://deegee13.xanga.com/731885047/because-i-said-so-giveaway/
blogged!
dreamzz12{at]aol{dot}com
On weekends, since it's still quite warm, we go to the lake for fishing and boating.
Tweeted
http://twitter.com/DchrisG3/status/21807562533
we always have 1 last huge family picnic.
pksanddancer(at)yahoo(dot)com
We like to go to water parks.
rhoneygtn at yahoo dot com
We like to camp and fish. Thanks for the great giveaway!
eswright18 at gmail.com
Tweet
http://twitter.com/eswright18/status/21814302892
eswright18 at gmail.com
We are going on our last summer getaway to Myrtle Beach, SC.
abfantom at yahoo dot com
We are taking the kids to Disneyland for our last week of summer
we took a late summer trip to visit relatives
follow you tweeted Latest: http://dawnmeehan.blogspot.com/2010/08/what-did-you-do-this-summer.html less than 5 seconds ago
We make one last trip to the pool and the zoo. Two things my three boys can't get enough of!!
go hiking, perfect time of the year for that :0)
HORTON111@AOL.COM
ONE LAST TRIP TO HERSHEY PARK
I would love to go visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter but it just isn't in the cards this year. Too expensive and too hot outside.
dwndrgn[at]hotmail[dotcom]
One more trip to the beach is planned
tweet
http://twitter.com/buzz8/status/21840971050
We are taking the kids camping just before school starts.
katfam95 at aim dot com
I have been meaning to hit one of the waterparks all summer--Aquatica is my favorite
http://twitter.com/fostertam/status/21848485013
We went to the midwest to see family and friends...and now we have been in school since July 19th. I love our 3 week fall break and our 2 week spring break...our 6-7 week summer break, is too short!
We boat on the river as ofter as we can before the Ohio temperatures start to drop
We are going to the State Fair and not feel guilty about eating corn dogs, funnel cakes, and cotton candy:)
That's my favorite thing to do in the summer and I look forward to it every year!
pauleyd68 (at) yahoo (dot) com
https://twitter.com/lpauld68/status/21849806093
pauleyd68 (at) yahoo (dot) com
It has just started to really heat up so I would love to get in a few summer movies before going back to my own classroom and starting the whole new school year rountine with my two elementary school aged children!
Samantha
Ideally, I would just like to relax, but that is not what we are doing. We planned a last minute trip to visit the grandparents.
We go to the beach
Quiet evenings spent stargazing and thunderstorm watching. Cheap, and fun to boot.
Not really fun plans, we'll try to get back to school shopping done and get everything lined up for when school starts so we aren't scrambling the first day
sksweeps (at) earthlink (dot) net
I wish that I had time to spend one full day with each of my children alone. That way for that day they could have my total undivided attention before the hectic school year begins.
jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
I love just hanging out in the backyard watching them jump and flip on the trampoline after dinner. Waiting on the lightning bugs to come out.
Lona728@ yahoo dot com
We like to get all the swimming in we can before the pool cover goes on the pool for the winter.
dawns_horizen@yahoo.com
We are trying to plan a trip to the zoo before school starts. My grandkids love to go camping too. Hopefully we can do both.
jheavenly56@yahoo.com
sign me up
We go to the park, hike, hit the beach.
the pool is by far our favorite summer thing to do:)
Oh, our favorite thing is hanging out in the pool and playing in the water. I hope we can still do this for a few more weeks before the water gets too cold...
Reading! We have to slip those last few books in that we didn't get to finish throughout Summer.
bigcrashbangboom (at) yahoo.com
My family is always having fun in the pool all summer long. It's still hot and so the water warms up pretty good right now. We really enjoy going swimming whenever we can fit it in.
We ended our Summer by visiting the animal sanctuary that's a few miles away. It was delightful to be able to see, pet, and feed all the animals! I hope we can go back sometime.
Play in our own backyard! Get out the balls, and the sprinkler.
inmybookcase at yahoo dot com
We're going to the beach at the end of the summer - we're both excited about it!
I tweeted http://twitter.com/simplydab/status/21861134143
I blogged http://simplydab.blogspot.com/2010/08/check-out-moms-breakfast-club-for-24.html
I'd like to go to the beach once before the end of summer, but there simply isn't enough time left. The remodeling of our teen daughter's room and back to school shopping will have to suffice for "fun"! ;)
Many thanks!!
rafting down the rough river. jozie1420@yahoo.com
We have a big cook out at the lake
for family and friends. We always
have so much fun spenting the weekend with everyone. We do this
every year at the end of summer
Cathy Truman
kbtruman@aol.com
We have been biking and visiting parks a lot. But we are hoping to visit the Denali National Park and go on a river boat cruise around town as last summer big activity
mandalarctic at gmail dot com
Will be going to the end of summer arts/crafts festivals, always a great time! Thank you!
I tweeted http://twitter.com/Tina12312/status/21864648680
As summer ends we want to spend some time at the beach.
We want to spend some time at the beach marybug2@yahoo.com
We are hoping to squeeze in one more trip to a upick farm. I am queenesperfect at yahoo.com
We are getting ready for one last long weekend of camping. Hard to believe summer is already coming to an end.
My tweet: http://twitter.com/njhhb/statuses/21865491723
Haha, I wish I could do some fun stuff in the final weeks of summer, but our Practicums have just started up, which kinda sucks for having fun :/ But it is what it is :D
I just tweeted this giveaway here :D
https://twitter.com/TimboSquad/status/21866867443
going scuba diving
Too late - my son went back to college today so our summer is officially over :-(
I tweeted http://twitter.com/bsw529/status/21870852896
We are slowly getting back to a normal sleep/wake schedule and I'm trying to schedule some "schoolwork" time each day to do some reading and math facts, getting some last minute back to school shopping done, and we hope to make one last trip to our local amusement park.
tweeted
http://twitter.com/fairydancer35/status/21871564081
We are taking a short trip to our local beach at the end of the week.
School is already back in session, so no more fun with the kids. But I do plan on having some myself. Maybe a day trip?
We finished GP (grandparent) Camp on Thurs., Friday was meet your teacher and school supplies giveaway and tomorrow the kids go back to school
tweet
http://twitter.com/Grandma3710/status/21874925063
My husband plans to take the kids to the zoo soon. I'm going to stay home with the newborn, assuming we can get him to come out!
We want one more camping trip
We are having a "Happy School Year" party.
hmb@fortaj.com
tweet -http://twitter.com/HMB99/status/21879253640
hmb@fortaj.com
go to the movies and slowly wind down with back to school shopping.
We grill out, play outside, and play in the water.I bought them some new outside toys on clearance the other day.
hafner611{AT}gmail{DOT}com
Cedar Point is about 1 1/2 hours from our house and we try to go every year..we missed last year because I had surgery but we're taking a day during the week next week to go. Hubby has 1 more vacation day saved just for the occasion.
shel704 at aol dot com
Tweeted;
http://twitter.com/auntiethesis/status/21883937231
shel704 at aol dot com
I'd like to try and go on a Whale Watch. I think my daughters would really enjoy it.
sahmofdq@gmail.com
Tweeted http://twitter.com/SAHMofDQ/status/21884543082
sahmofdq@gmail.com
I just got a National Parks Pass, and I want to visit Fort Pickens, so we can have a picnic at Gulf Islands National Seashore before it gets too cold.
If it cools down, we will hit the fair over the holiday weekend - if its still hot, then nothing! :-(
Thanks - Sarah Z
believedreamcourage (at) gmail.com
we love spending time at the beach with our family
We are spending more time at the pool. brandileigh2003@yahoo.com
http://twitter.com/brandileigh2003/status/21890218438
I like to cram in all the things that we hoped to do, but didn't get to do. This year it will be spending time riding our bikes on the Rail Trail.
we are lucky enough to live at the beach in so. cal..we have a new adventure everyday at our footsteps
Swimming, picnics, playing at the park, Staying up late, baking, school shopping, county fair, and just having FUN.
Going to Gilroy Gardens
cookiesandclogs[at]gmail[dot]com
Summer will be finished off with one more camping trip.
go to an amusment park intime@myself.com
Post a Comment