Keep your kids entertained

The lazy days of summer are about at an end and I don't know about you, but the closer summer comes to an end the more antsy my kids become. Here are some suggestions to help keep your kids entertained without breaking the bank or their spirit.

1) Take your kids on nightly walks or morning walks. Just a time during the day when the weather has cooled enough to enjoy being outside. My kids love walking the different streets of our neighborhood. Their favorite thing is to admire gardens of houses we walk by.

2) The dollar theater...if you area has one, use it :) Our theater has everyday $1.50 per person or my favorite 75C Monday. Our whole family gets in for $3.00!!! Air Conditioned and entertainment and it keeps the kids entertained for a few hours.

3) The best free source in my opinion is the library. My kids and I can spend at least a couple of hours in the library browsing the selections. Also, most libraries have craft days or theme programs and shows at least once a week for kids. Check out books and now you have some quiet time each day while your little ones read and look through their treasures they got to pick out themselves.

4) Have them create a nature craft. The cost: glue and googly eyes, just use imagination. Have your kids go and find branches leaves, rocks, anything that catches their eyes. Then when all is collected they can build little people or animals with the glue, attach the eyes and you have one fun creation your kids are bound to love. We did this when went camping and talk about entertained kids! They loved it. See the picture of two my girls did.

5) Join a mommie's group or a parents group. This is such a great resource. Play dates are always being arranged in these groups. Not only do your kids get to socialize, but you do as well. What a great opportunity to meet other people in your area. Check facebook and meetup.com to look for groups in your area.

Who needs IHOP?

I have been on a pancake kick lately and have been coming up with some really fun pancake creations I thought I would share. These pancakes are easy and fun to make. I just use the very simple just add water pancake mixes, that's right, no from scratch recipe here. This is actually a great way to get your kids involved in making breakfast too. Here are some fun and fantastic pancake creations.

Regular pancakes with fruit toppings. (great summer time breakfast treat because all the fruits are in season or use frozen when they aren't).
Pick a fruit and cut it into bite size pieces (strawberries, peaches, apples, blueberries, raspberries to name a few) . Place in a sauce pan, add 3 table spoons of water and 3 table spoons of sugar to each cup of fruit you use. Turn heat on med/low and let simmer until fruit breaks apart and a syrup has begun to form. Add more water if needed as the mixture simmers. Serve over warm pancakes. Add whip cream if desired.
***Tip if your sauce is too thin, add 1 tablespoon of cornstarch to 3 tablespoons of water, mix and then simmer with your fruit mixture. Should thicken right up.

Pancake add ins:
Blueberries. Mix your pancakes per directions on box and add a couple handfuls of fresh or frozen blueberries. Cook as usual. Caution, frozen blueberries may turn your pancakes blue, but still tastes great!

Chocolate chips. Add the chocolate chips to the prepared batter and cook as usual.

Cinnamon apple chunks. Cut apple into very fine pieces add to prepared batter, sprinkle in some cinnamon and cook as usual.

Peanut Butter and Jelly. Add a few table of peanut butter to batter and then check consistency of the batter, add water to thin it out if needed. After batter is the correct consistency swirl in your favorite jam. drop a few teaspoons in and swirl in with a knife. So pretty when they are done.

Pumpkin. Use a can of plain pumpkin mix. Add about 1/2 a cup to 4 servings of powdered batter and then add water till consistency is correct. Sprinkle in tsp cinnamon, pinch of cloves, and 1/2 tsp of nutmeg. Cook as usual.

Claire's blueberry/chocolate chip pancakes. Add in blueberries and chocolate chips to your batter, its like desert!

Have any pancake ideas you would like to share? Feel free to comment!