Smarty Mom Amy Ingalls -Summer Survival Guide

So it is officially summer. And who couldn’t use tips and inspiration from some super smarty moms on surviving it. So for the next ten Saturdays we are going to call on some of our previous smarty moms and have them give our readers their plans for a fun-filled summer.

I would like to reintroduce you to Amy Ingalls.
Her stats:
Part-time working mom
Kids: Renny, 7 and Patrick, 5
Charlotte Native
Original Smarty Mom Posting, January 3, 2009

Summers get easier and more fun every year and this year, it couldn’t come soon enough. Each school day, I have to wake up Renny at 6:40 so she will be ready to walk out the door by 7:10. It will be nice to be on a later summer schedule. I have several ideas to make summer fun and fabulous!

First of all, we belong to an awesome pool. The kids are on the swim team and that is already in full swing with practices every day. All of the time and money spent on lessons the past several years has paid off as they are both strong swimmers. Dare I say this year I will sit poolside and read a magazine? They even have wireless at the pool now…you never know! It is also a nice treat to eat lunch or dinner at the pool. After dinner, the kids can take a shower and they are ready for bed when we get home.

Next up…Carowinds! Our family plan is to go once a month. We went on Sunday mornings in both April and May. We arrived early (season pass holders get free parking and can arrive to park 15 minutes early). The lines are short at this time and it is not too hot. Another option is to go on a weekday. This will be our second year in a row with passes and the taller Patrick gets, the better. He is so close to 48 inches! We were able to wrap up both trips to Carowinds by 1:00 pm, sans waterpark. After 2 trips, your passes are paid for.

The kids have 2 camps each this summer. We really enjoy Nature Museum Camps. This will be Patrick’s second year and Renny’s fourth year at a Nature Museum Camp. It is easy to drop off and pick up, instructors are knowledgeable and they are reasonably priced if you have a membership to Discovery Place. We are so thankful to have a week of camp as a gift from the kid’s grandmother, MaeMae, each year. They will also both take a tennis/swim camp at our pool the same week. This will be my time to get some things done at home-clean out closets, small projects, etc. I sign them up for one camp together and then on separate weeks so I have time with the kids one-on-one. They really enjoy the time alone with mommy.

Picnic Lunches/Dinner Swaps-It is tiresome to clean up after 3 meals each day so we will pack it up and eat at the pool, outside, the park, etc. I am also trying something new with my next door neighbor and good friend. Both of our husbands work late or go out of town some during the week and we are both at home cooking for our own kids. So I thought, why not take turns once a week and I will cook for the kids and she can go on a run, to the store, etc. and vice versa? We also swap dinners occasionally for the whole family and are going to add that to the mix again too.

More Summer Fun: Bring out a toy/game from closet or attic every week to keep it fresh, play boardgames, go to Michaels and buy some new art supplies, breakfast playdates-put on a pot of coffee and get some bagels or donuts and have your friends and their kids stop by, kid’s bookclub, wash cars, lemonade stands for charity, read book to kids and then rent movie (we just did this with first Harry Potter).

Thanks to Pam and Suzy for helping me brainstorm! I am looking forward to working through the list. Please share some of your smarty ideas for more summer fun and survival tips!