A Night at the Fair

Corn dogs, cotton candy, turkey legs and deep-fried twinkies! Hawkers and clowns and the Peking acrobats! Does it get any better than that?

This was the first time in years that we went to the fair without the kids. That meant we missed certain parts of the fair, like the midway (sigh of relief), the wild rides (another sigh of relief) and the pig races (a really big sigh of relief.) Not that those things weren't fun, but this year I had all the time in the world to wander through the arts and crafts building and marvel at the talent displayed there. The paintings were stunning, the photos amazing, the table settings innovative and the collections lots of fun. It was a slower, more relaxed trip to the fair and I liked it. I guess there's plenty to embrace about this empty nest thing.

Keeping Teens Busy During the Summer

As the long summer days press on, time at home with the kids can wear on your nerves a bit. While there are plenty of activites to keep young kids busy, it can be a lot harder finding things for your teenager to do - especially if that teenager is too young to work and drive a car. This week, we'll explore some of the unique challenges we parents of young teens face during the summer months.

If anyone has any helpful ideas, don't hesitate to leave a comment.

Tomorrow: Updating Your Teen's Room

Don't Forget to Have Fun!

We're well into the summer and it seems that life is busier than ever. Many households have two parents working full time and kids enrolled in summer school, followed by after school care. Not that different from the rest of the year. But summer is supposed to be different.

Make some time this summer to go camping. If you don't have the gear or can't devote an entire weekend, pack a picnic lunch and get up to the mountains or over to that lake. Spend a day hiking or relaxing while you listen to that unique sound the wind makes when it blows through the trees.

Take in a ball game. Nothing is quite the same as listening to the crack of a wooden bat as the crowd cheers for the home team. Can't get to a big league park? Support your local minor league team. Even the single A games are pretty impressive to watch. And the antics of the mascots make the breaks between innings as entertaining as the game itself.

Get to the beach if you can. It's a wonderful way to spend a day. The sound of the waves rolling in is soothing and I never cease to be amazed by the sheer power of the ocean. Feel the warmth of the sand under your feet and the cool refreshing splash of the salt water as a big wave catches you by surprise.

Have a great summer!