Frugal Summer Fun

I've been trying to keep the kids busy this summer-taking advantage of my mom being off for the summer and able to help me do some fun stuff.  Also, my sisters being off from school helps me tremendously.  I think sometimes I get wrapped up into wanting to do things with the kids that cost money.  Maybe not a lot of money, but a little here and there can really add up quickly.  I have found the best things to do with them cost nearly nothing.

•  They have had a lot of fun with some spray bottles of water outside-squirting each other and anyone else who dares to get in their path.  Dustin had a friend stop by after work one day, he actually got here before Dustin, so the kids were spraying him.  He sprayed them back and they thought it was great fun! 
• I made bubble solution-I'll have to post the recipe sometime.  It worked well and I made a whole gallon for about $1.  Bubbles are a huge hit here!  They provide hours of entertainment. 
• I has some paintbrushes the kids found and they wanted to paint, so I gave them each a cup of water and they went to town painting with water. 
• The library had a little kids' day on Saturday and we met Amanda, Mom, and Hunter there.  They loved it!  It was ocean-themed and they made little jars with sand and shells, made ocean monsters out of paper bags and other items, and also got free books...plus some other stuff I'm forgetting!  It was fun and free.  Oh, they got sand buckets too. 
• We rode with my grandma to the store today and had lunch out, then played at a playground one town over.  The kids had a ball playing-today was cool enough that the equipment wasn't hot at all.  Trust me- I may or may not have gone down the twisty slide, even though 10 was the age limit.  It just looked too fun and my kids thought that was the grandest thing for me to go down. 
• Our library has a regular weekly story time, and the library one town over has a story/craft time weekly.  I think this fall we'll join one of those. 
• We had an ice cream party with Hunter last night.  It was yummy!  
• A trip through Walmart is always something my children like.  Or any store.  We went to Walmart Monday and were in there over 1 hour, just to get juice.  I started out with the twins out of the cart.  It got a little chaotic in the bicycle section, so I bribed Emmy to get back in the cart.  She is the flight risk, Carson stayed very close.  We looked at all the toys, including the hot wheels John Deere Gator Carson is hoping Santa Claus brings to our house.  We looked at every bicycle in there.  I had no idea the kids were so interested in bikes.  Emmy and I decided she needs the princess one with the seat in front for her dollbaby-Chuckie Sue.  Yep, that's her name.  It's from Sesame Street.  In case you were wondering.  :-)   Carson also makes us look at the tire section as well.  He loves tires, trucks, tractors, dirt, bugs, etc.  He is a true boy.  He tried to get me to put two bugs in his pocket today.  I'm wondering if he's going to bring a frog in the house one day.  He also found a baby dinosaur (lizard) again-he has no fear of them.  His book from the library that he chose was all about lizards.  Go figure.
• We have regular playdates with my cousin Kristen's children.  The twins really look forward to this and ask for Morgan ALL the time.  We alternate houses, it is our turn to host next, once Morgan's off vacation.  Every time I tell the kids she's on vacation, they say, "I want to go on cation Momma".  It cracks me up!  They can't seem to remember Dylan's name yet, hopefully soon!  He's my little sweetheart-he loves me!  Ha!  I eat that up!
• This will sound strange-but I bought a $5 guitar at a yard sale.  It's a real guitar and it has provided the most entertainment for our entire family!  The kids love to play it, and Dustin makes up the most hilarious songs on it too!  Don't tell him I told you.  I laugh till my side hurts at his songs.  He's so shy but he really missed his calling as a comedian!    

As far as things that cost money, we are going to the zoo Monday.  A special zoo in fact.  I will have more on that later.  It will be a fun day with Nanny and Boo Boo.  It was their idea and I was so excited!  It won't be too expensive-just gas and one meal out, plus admission.  We are taking a picnic lunch with us as well. 
I also hope to take the kids to the Children's Museum, now that there's a location closer to us.  We will also try to hit up the bouncy place again-that was SO much fun last year and was very cheap!!!! 
We haven't done our bus ride yet-I was hoping to do it tomorrow but my grandma is going to a concert and wants to get ready for that.....yes-my grandma!  Haha!  I have cool grandparents all around!! 
Saturday I am going out for a day of relaxation myself-well......actually I am going to do a little yard saling, a little shopping, go to a museum, probably eat out.  Just do some fun things with my cousin.  We always grocery shop and have to rush, rush, rush, so we are taking a day to go to the stores and places we never have time to go to.  It should be fun and I'm looking forward to it.  Dustin is so great to always spoil me with fun days for myself.  I always feel renewed and refreshed after that.