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In Minnesota, we’re always dreaming of summer. At least I am anyways. I live for summer; the warm air, the sunshine, wide open lakes, and ice cold drinks (alcoholic or non, you choose…) So to get you ready for the beautiful season we call summer, here are some fun ideas for you and your family to kick off summer the right way!
#1 – Have an outdoor family movie night. You could either find a movie playing in a park nearby, or host your own family movie night. We’ve watched movies indoors all winter and all spring long, it’s time to take the fun outdoors and enjoy the fresh air. You can rent a projector, or purchase one if you think you’ll use it often. It’s a fun way to switch things up and enjoy the great outdoors! To take it to the next level, bring out the snacks, popcorn, soda, and cozy outdoor blanket
#2 – Set up a fun scavenger hunt. You know the drill, you give them clues to the first hiding spot, and there they will find the next clue, and so on and so forth. Make them interesting, like hiding a clue inside a frozen chunk of ice, or buried in the sand at an exact measurement point. Get creative!
#3 – Decorate flower pots and plant flowers or herbs. Head to your nearest garden center (or super store) and have each family member pick out a flower pot, and something to put in it. If you want to skip the seeds, you can also go to a greenhouse or nursery and find plants/flowers that are already started. Don’t forget the black dirt! Then on your summer kickoff day, decorate the flower pots and plant your greens. Enjoy them all summer long as they grow!
#4 – Host a classic campfire night. Put together a campfire complete with lawn chairs and everyone’s favorite drinks. Fun activities include roasting hot dogs, toasting marshmallows, telling campfire stories, or playing campfire games (here are 10 fun campfire game ideas to check out). With the right preparation, you can make a whole night out of it!
#5 – Take a drive to somewhere scenic and watch the sunset (or sunrise). Do some research and find a great location to watch the sun set or rise. It could be a bluff somewhere, an open field, or a neat park somewhere. Choose somewhere at least 30-45 minutes away to make it a unique adventure, and don’t forget to bring snacks and blankets to sit on and cover up with!
#6 – Visit a farmer’s market and create a unique meal with your purchases. Want a challenge? Go to a local farmer’s market and have everyone choose one or two things that they enjoy. Then go home and get to work creating a meal using at least 3 or 4 of the items you purchased that day. Have everyone get involved in the cooking process, and then enjoy your fresh and farm-grown meal!
#7 – Build your own ice cream sundae bar. After you’ve finished dinner, you’ll probably want dessert. Create your own ice cream sundae bar with all the fixin’s! Pick up a few essentials like vanilla ice cream, chocolate and/or strawberry topping, crushed Oreo’s, sprinkles, crushed Reese’s cups, chopped strawberries, and of course whipped cream. Add in whatever else your family likes on their ice cream and have fun creating delicious desserts!
#8 – Make and then play giant yard games. There has been a boom of fun yard games
#9 – Plan a surprise picnic in a new location. You’ve probably been to your local parks over and over again, am I right? Choose a new park in a neighboring city that you haven’t been to before. An added bonus is if it has a body of water nearby, because that’s just beautiful. Pack your family a picnic, complete with their favorite sandwiches, salads, chips and drinks. Then load them up with destination unknown as you head to your chosen location. If your kids enjoy parks, let them run and play after your picnic and just enjoy nature.
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What fun ideas do you have to help your family kick off summer? Leave a comment below and share with your fellow moms!
Hearts,
Sarah
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