My family (the extendeds on my side of the family) have decided to have a stay-cation. Mom wants to pop tents in her yard (we aren't that thrilled to stay each night at her house- but whatever), spend Thursday June 25 to Sunday June 28th as a family. In order to make this happen we have all decided to take one day during this weekend. Mom has Thursday and we now have the countdown of who claims the following days. I haven't chosen one yet. On these days we plan the activities for the day and provide the food. My mom has split us all into teams and our family has one day, my brother and his wife have another, and all the younger siblings have the final day.
Here is the breakdown of people in our family:
7 adults
1 high-school
1 tween
5 kids from 6 to 1
My mom's day is planned partially, this is what she wrote to us:
" Thursday would start out by picking strawberries... maybe out in the fields by 8am and back for Mia's [that's the one year old] nap by 10am
Then we can process some of the strawberries and freeze them and maybe make jam and strawberry pies for dinner.
Then we will plan another event for the afternoon after naps and before dinner. SO we will take Thursday! "
From this, I deduce that we are going to try to keep Mia on her schedule (as I don't know how easily she adjusts to switching nap-times etc.), consequently that makes things a little different.
So, I have to work around a 10am nap time that I might be able to get Jack to take ifI can tire him out :) Other than that, it needs to be free because we can't pay for that many people to go to an event. Also, I need to plan a full menu from breakfast (which could be as simple as some muffins that I can pre-prepare) to dessert.
I need your help! What should we do?
I was thinking about going to the Rose Gardens and/or fishing at Lake Harriet, but wonder just how much fun this would be for everyone. I also remember taking a scavenger hunt in St. Paul when I was younger and that was fun. Again, not sure about the little kids in this one.
We have a bonfire pit at mom's house and ample room to cook if necessary, but I want it to be fairly easy because I know I'll go overboard with whatever it is (even if it's just hot dogs). I just love cooking and will always find ways to make it more special.
Give me your ideas!
I'm open to locations, menu ideas, games and or ways to make a simple activity more fun. The point of this stay-cation is to spend time as a family and enjoy a fabulous weekend. Therefore, it doesn't have to be spectacular, because the focus is not on the events as much as enjoying our time together.
Oh, Z, what a great idea! That will make for special memories for everyone. A bonfire pit and cooking ... how about "pocket stew"? Best with hot coals vs. big flames. Piece of foil for each person [get the heavy-duty foil], into which you place a hamburger patty, some chopped potatoes, carrots, celery, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes (really whatever you want). Securely wrap up this "pocket" and place it on the coals. Periodically check one of them to see how the cooking is progressing for the meat. Nummy! Kids can help prepare the veggies; everyone "builds" their own. Dessert could be pudding cones: ice cream cones filled with instant pudding (vary the flavors). If you want, you could have chocolate pudding with gummy worms sticking out ... ewww. 8-) ACTIVITIES: Why not teams with a mix of wee ones, teens/youth, and adult(s)? You could have relays of things like collecting the most stones or twigs from the yard; blowing bubbles (jars of bubbles are such a wonderful treat) - most bubbles on the wand at once, largest bubble, etc; most buttons on your clothes (collectively); fewest buttons on your clothes; guess the # of ____ [like buttons] in a jar; most freckles/fewest freckles; measure EVERYONE's hair length (on your team) and add the lengths together -- which teams has the most hair; golf ball putt-off (closest to the "cup"/furthest from). I made up certificates for a friend's family "Super Saturday" competitions last summer - they surprised the kids with an awards ceremony and gave out the certificates ... everyone got a huge kick out of it. I'll check my Girl Scout stuff (I had a troop for 6 years, cuz I have such great memories of MY Girl Scout years in grade school)and see what other recipes I can come up with. I fondly remember baking a cake in a box lined with foil (you put a pie tin with hot coals in the bottom of the box; box has to have a cover). The scavenger hunt sounds really fun. Beware ... I'll be sending along other ideas. Take care. Deb
debann5001:11 PM CST