summer's back pocket

Oh, Martha Stewart Kids, I miss you!  Why did you have to go away?  I could wax on about how they must have completely overlooked the idea that they were creating a whole generation of readers with that magazine, that would have grown up reading Martha...  Oh well, I will continue to mourn privately for its return one day.  I recently looked through them all again (can't you tell?).  I have every issue, Martha Stewart Baby too.  My copies have been flipped through, poured over, and dogeared with complete love and I probably would try to save them in a fire.  In the time it took to have a coffee the other afternoon, our whole summer was practically planned.  Ice cream sundae party in the back yard... homemade wooden toy boats... making our own books... trips to the museum...  I'm probably getting carried away, but honestly, I needed to get carried away.  I have definitely in a bit of parenting rut as of late, completely lacking imagination.  Once again, those old issues did the trick.

Planning an unplanned summer takes some creative thinking. Yes, we'll take trips.  Yes, we'll play with friends.  I do believe part of the allure of summer is about finding something (or nothing) to do, to experience being a bit bored and lazy in the most relaxing way.  The planning is more about those days when we won't be able to find a single thing to do in the entire world.   So I'm working on my top secret box of fun stuff.  The things I put in it last year were great, got us playing together, and enjoying each other's company on those days when everyone's mood was affected by a little too much togetherness and high temperatures.  This year, I picked up a used copy of Summer Crafts, by Marjorie Galen, and its spilling over with fun stuff to inspire us too.

(ahhh, who can forget about making friendship bracelets?) 

Often what I put in here are thrift store finds and hand-me-down toys.  Leah has a wonderful idea for an inventing box, I might give some variation of that a try this year.  Cheap, innovative fun ideas, that's what I'm looking for.  Will you share some ideas? I'd love to hear them.  I'll compose a list and share here for us all to get some inspiration.