Carmine

Summer vacation is almost over. The stores are hurriedly putting up the Back to School signs and frantic kids are racing to complete their summer homework which has been collecting dust up until now. The mood in most homes is somber and there is a cloud of doom hanging about in the air. But hold on a minute! There are still a couple weeks left of summer. Stop rushing for it to be over and celebrate the end of the summer season with your kids!

There are a lot of super fun ways to end your summer with a BANG!

Here are a few:

Slammin Slumber Party-

Plan a themed slumber party, like Under the Stars Sleepover, for your children and a bunch of their friends. There is no better way to end the summer than with a party that lasts all night long!

Make invitations out of black paper cut into a large star shapes. Brush the stars with a thin layer of glue and sprinkle each star with glitter. Write the details of the party on the back in silver ink. Ask each child to bring a sleeping bag and a favorite stuffed animal.

Set up several tents (which can be bought on the cheap from local tag sales or discounts stores). String up several lanterns in the backyard and you are set for a night under the stars! Serve the kids hotdogs and hamburgers as the main course. And for dessert make some Smores in the microwave!

To make 1 dozen Smores:

24 Graham Crackers
6 plain chocolate bars
12 large marshmallows

Method:

On 2 large microwave safe plates arrange 6 graham crackers per plate. Break all 6 chocolate bars in half and place 1 half on each graham cracker. Place 1 marshmallow on top of each cracker and top all of them each with another graham cracker to complete the sandwich.

Place in the microwave, on high power, for 20 seconds until the marshmallow puffs.

Wrap up the evening by having all the kids lay side by side in the grass while taking turns sharing their best summer memory. Send everyone off to their tent so that you can enjoy the remains of the sparkling summer sky!

Summer Moments Box

An excellent way to keep the summer memories alive is to make a Summer Memories box. You can pick up a ready made wooden box at your local craft or hobby shop. Have your kids collect sand and seashells on your next trip to the beach.

To decorate the box, paint it with a sheer coat of clear lacquer and have your kids sprinkle sand and silver glitter all over it. Allow it to dry. Once dry, let your kids spell out their names on the box with the seashells. Use a glue gun to secure the shells but be careful that your kids fingers are out of the way first!

Fill the box with all the treasure collected over the summer like that perfect stone your daughter found or a movie stub from the show your son just had to see.

Take out the box whenever your kids feel stressed from school or are down in the dumps. Remembering the summer is sure to bring a smile to anyones face!

Summerall year long!

Just because summer lasts for only 3 short months does not mean you cant rejoice in the season all year long. Change the dcor in your home to reflect a summertime feel. Instead of dark and dreary colors, lighten things up with pastel and sheer fabrics to cover your windows and furniture.

Instead of investing in pricey pieces of art to sit on the mantel, turn to nature to decorate your home. Large pieces of coral or colorful seashells are inexpensive yet creative ways to maintain the summer theme in your home.

Be creative and think out of the box! Remember that old surfboard lying all banged up in the attic? Fish it out and refurbish it. Hang it in a prominent place in your home to really make a great conversation piece. If you dont have a surfboard perhaps you can add a few surfboard themes around your home. Perhaps a couple of pillows with a surfboard theme or some surfboard soaps in your bathroom. Keep the waves moving all year long!

Goodbye summer Bon Voyage Picnic

Alas, summer will leave without any remorse. Say goodbye to the season in style by having a summer picnic right on the beach. Nothing fancy, just a bag of some cold-cut sandwiches and some watermelon slices from home.

Make it special by surprising your kids with a couple of empty bottles complete with cork stoppers. Whip out some decorative paper and pens. Ask your kids to write a Message in a Bottle letter complete with their name and e-mail address. Roll up each letter and insert into the bottle. Secure the cork stoppers tightly to insure that the bottle will float and the water will stay out. Let your kids throw their bottles far into the ocean.

You never know, the bottles might sail the ocean all winter long and be found just in time for next summer. Hopefully, by another child looking for a summer fun pen pal in a distant land!

As you bid farewell to the last breathes of summer just remember it will be back again next year with all its sunny days and starry nights. Remember it in your heart and it will be back before you know it!

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