Fun, on a Budget!

I really love summer time!  I love having no schedule (for a while is good), I love not having to set an alarm or HAVING to be somewhere at sometime.  I love that I don't have to force food down the kids throats at 6:30am.  I love warmer weather and longer nights!  I really love summer time.

As a mom of many and on a pretty tight budget, I really want my kids to have a memorable summer.  We can't afford fancy vacations or elaborate trips away, we can't afford to put them in every summer day camp our city has to offer (nor would we, that's a whole other post in itself) ;)  But it makes my heart leap with joy when my kids take such great pleasure in such simple things.  One thing I must be doing right is my children are SO SO SO thankful.  They are SO thankful.  It does not take much to make them happy.  That makes me happy. 

And because there are so many of them and they are all still quite young, it's difficult to find things to do that are 1) free, 2) won't make me go crazy, 3)things I can do on my own with them that don't overwhelm me, and 4) things that are safe!  And sometimes with friends, or cousins, or aunties, or grandparents or daddy :)

One event we try to do every night is go for a walk.  Sometimes a long walk and sometimes a short one followed by a trip to our park in our neighbourhood.  But it's always very fun and a great family bonding time.

We also like to check out "new" parks during the summer.  We go to a variety of parks and playgrounds and explore.  Today's park was a hit!  Grant Park.  The kids loved it and it's on the list to visit again.  :)

this park was made for us, 6 kids...6 swings

Recently, we spent a day in Stanley Park.  We took along some sandwiches and snacks and had a great time.  It cost us some gas to get there and a $40 parking ticket because we FORGOT TO PAY FOR PARKING!!!  How dumb.  Who forgets to pay for parking in Stanley Park?  Ah well, we're human... mostly.

And then next week our 3 oldest kids will attend a free VBS at a wonderful church where they are fed and fed and fed Spiritually and always come away yearning for more.  We are so blessed to have a little tiny church in walking distance where there is an army of amazing people who love and serve these kids every year.  The kids almost can't sleep in excitement!

Then there are nature walks and lakes to explore, beaches, an ice cream shop just across the US border where we ALL get ice cream for $7, visits to grandparents houses and aunts and uncles... sounds like quite the life to me!!!

I'll keep you posted on more of our adventures as we make new memories and enjoy just being together.  Jarno has a day off tomorrow so who knows where some warm weather, a day off, some sunshine and a 12 passenger van will take us!!! 

{Stephanie Beresh Photography}

We'll talk soon!