We look forward to summer. But sometimes as we look forward we also begin to wonder how we are going to keep our kids engaged, learning and having fun. Here are some suggestions:

1. Go camping. Check out Brainard Lake or Rocky Mountain National Park. You do have to make reservations, but both are within an hour of Boulder.

2. Go on a hike. Check out my list of local hikes here.

3. Play on Pearl Street. Head down to Pearl and go the fountain where you kids can play in the water feature, climb on some rocks, get a hot dog, eat some yummy street food in front of the Court House, stop into the Boulder Bookstore to read a book or just get some great reading suggestions, and/or play on the rocks.

4. Head to the Farmer’s Market. Wednesday evenings and Saturdays until 2 buy some delicious fruits and veggies, eat some prepared foods, listen to music, do an art activity [Saturdays in front of BMOCA], and meet up with some friends.

5. Walk along the bike path. Take a stroll along the bike path, watch the kayakers, bikers, dip your toes in the water just East of the Boulder Public Library where there is a nice kids area, consider bringing some fishing gear to the Kids’ Pond area just East of the Court House off of 6th and Canyon.

6. 29th Street Mall. Head over to Summer Skate, play at The Loft [nice indoor activity for those really hot days], and/or find yourself at the kids’ play area near Starbucks.

7. Go swimming. Boulder Park and Recreation has Spruce and Scott Carpenter outdoor pools or head to the Boulder Reservoir. You can pay each time or get a Splash Pass that gets you in all summer long.

8. Go biking. Head to the Valmont Bike Park for a day of riding. They have terrain for all abilities and a small snack shack.

9. Take a tour. Try Celestial Seasonings, NCAR, & The Denver Mint.

10. Listen to music. Meadow Music happens every Monday from 5:30 to 6:15 at Chautauqua, listen to live music each week at the Farmer’s Market [see link above], or listen to live music at Band on the Bricks on Pearl Street from 7 to 9pm throughout the summer. All music listed is free.

Or just head to any pond or creek to watch for some wildlife. Be observers. Take notes. Draw what they see. Ask many questions. Whatever you do, enjoy the summer!

We are all on this parenting journey. Whether we live in Boulder, Crested Butte, Seattle, Martha’s Vineyard, or somewhere else, we all want to know what is most important to our kids. What really matters? We have so much going on in our lives: we juggle work, after school activities, how to cook a healthy meal at night (or for breakfast for those picky eaters–Kai), how to get in that yoga class, etc. So with all these things going on what really makes the biggest impact on our kids? What will they remember? What supports them the most?

I was inspired by a post on www.handsfreemama.com where she posted about her plans for a “Hands Free Summer” and included this list created by a long time teacher, Erin Kurt. Erin asked her students each year, for 16 years, what they really want their parents to do with them. What really matter? Get ready. Get set. Get psyched, because I bet you are already doing some of these things and you can easily add a few more. It makes a difference to our kids. It is what matters most…

The Top Ten Things Kids Really Want Their Parents To Do With Them

1. Come into my bedroom at night, tuck me in and sing me a song. Also tell me stories about when you were little.
2. Give me hugs and kisses and sit and talk with me privately.
3. Spend quality time just with me, not with my brothers and sisters around.
4. Give me nutritious food so I can grow up healthy.
5. At dinner talk about what we could do together on the weekend.
6. At night talk to me about about anything; love, school, family etc.
7. Let me play outside a lot.
8. Cuddle under a blanket and watch our favorite TV show together.
9. Discipline me. It makes me feel like you care.
10. Leave special messages in my desk or lunch

The original article by Erin Kurt can be found here. This recent article by handsfreemama.com inspires me, is where you can find the list I found originally, and can be found here.

Maybe the lesson is that life is really simple. The things we need to feel whole and loved are simple. We don’t have to beat ourselves up over the small things–instead just connect with your kids in as many ways as possible. So what is one thing you can do that is on this list to make a difference in your child’s life? I think I will work on #5 and start talking more about what we want to do together this summer. Though tonight #8 sure was fun! We watched Apollo 13 [my kids are 8 and 10] together and I spent time just snuggling with my 8 year old on the floor. I love movie nights!

Ahhh, the long, lazy days of summer. They are upon us, so I am starting a weekly post of some fun science, nature, and crafty activities to do with your kids. This post falls into the science category–making and exploding a volcano.

This activity can be simple, but kids love it! Even my 10 year old still loves to explode things and this fits in the category. How to make a volcano:

1. Find a mason jar. Have the kids put play dough or modeling clay around it to look like a volcano. You can let the clay dry and then paint it if you like. The jar should be on a tray to contain some of the explosion.

2. Put a few drops of dish liquid in the jar. Next put in water to about 1/4 full. Add food coloring for special effects.

3. Add 2+ tablespoons of baking soda (buy the cheap stuff)

4. Now you can add the vinegar and watch your volcano explode.

Extending the learning:

Talk with your kids about what happened. Why do they think that reaction took place? Let them really think about all they experienced.

Watch a few videos of volcanos so they can see what happens in real life. Talk about how land masses are formed.

Tell then about bases (baking soda) and acids (vinegar) and what happens when when they are combined (they create bubbles caused by the release of carbon dioxide).

Here are some family friendly deals some are local. Maybe you are in the market for a new photo album, shop at Phamaca, want to go to the Colorado History Museum or see a movie one of these nights [or days]. These may be just the deal you are looking for.

• Shutterfly 8×8 Hardcover Photo Album for $8 plus $7.99 shipping. Thanks to Dans Deals.
• $5 for 2 Years of Parenting Magazine. An Eversave deal.
• $10 off a $40 purchase at Pharmaca. Print coupon here.
• 2 for 1 tickets for the Dinasour Express Train at the Colorado Train Museum in Golden. Print coupon here.
• 2 for 1 Fandango tickets on Fridays. You need to use your Visa Signature Card [To see what those are click here.] To purchase tickets click here. Thanks to Mommy Points for this deal.
• 20% off Fandango Bucks. Purchase in $25 packs for $20 through this deal. For details click here.

If you know of other deals please let us all know!

When the Boulder Farmer’s Market opens I know it’s time turn my attention back to local food. I start to focus more on what is in season and how to get the freshest ingredients. Our family grows what we can in our backyard garden, we head to the Farmer’s Market when we are in town, and otherwise we make our way to the grocery store. We try to eat locally whenever possible. This year we got a chance to take a tour of where our fruit comes from at Ela Family Farm.

This weekend we were invited to a farm tour at Ela Family Farms, a farm that has been in the same family for 4 generations, in Hotchkiss, Colorado [5 hours or so from Boulder].  It is here that three of the four generations live together on the farm. You may recognize Ela Family Farms from the Farmer’s Market or a bunch of restaurants in town (The Kitchen for instance). The Ela family grows fruit and produces other products from the fruit. The farm is amazing. The family engaging, passionate about what they do, and surrounded by a large community of friends.

We camped in the Ela Family Farm orchard along with many other friends and people we had just met. This was where we started our journey of wine tasting, eat a delicious meal prepared by Boulder chef, Hosea Rosenberg, in a peach orchard, and best of all toured the farm. Steve Ela is the farmer who took us on a tour to see the farm operation from growing to production, to the myriad of decisions that a farmer makes along the way daily. It was humbling to see all the details of farm life. I left in awe of the resolve, the work, the dedication, the creativity, the botany and mechanical knowledge, and the love it take to work the land and bring us all delicious fruit.

This was a magical experience and I left happy to be a part of the Ela Family Farm story! For more information on the farm visit them at www.elafamilyfarms.com.

BoulderPage (@boulderpage) REI #Boulder is hosting a FREE lightpackers meeting tonight from 6:30-8pm! Anyone wanting to lighten their pack weight is invited to attend.

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