Summer fun

We enjoyed a fun visit from my sister and her daughter and baby. We were able to have a picnic in the park, tour Old Town, and quilt shops, eat sushi, hike the Petroglyphs, go to Explora, watch movies and Brian Reagan, and make jewelry. Of course we had a lot of fun with food too. We all missed them very much when they left. My children keep asking when we can see them again or do anything fun this summer. We are pretty much homebound with the cost of gas at $3.90 and the tank of a Suburban. Money is tight these days as usual. I want to be happy with what we have and not wait for life to begin when we have the financial means. I'm just tired right now of the excuse that we can't do this or that because of money. I decided to try to make staying home with Mom fo rhte summer a little more fun around here. The other day I initiated a cookie bake off. We all got to make our favorite cookies and then rate everyone's with stars. yesterday we had a "mommy lesson" time where each child could choose a skill I knew to learn about. Marcus and Betsy chose sewing lessons. (very basic and primitive on my part) Adam and Andy chose to make a wood birdhouse. Jared chose to share in some dance steps with me. I'ev come to realize that the only summer project I can do with the kids home is the kids.