Spending Time Together
We know that you know how to have fun as a family. But in the craziness of busy work and social schedules, the summer weeks can quickly pass by. Before you know it, it will be time to pack up and send your student off to college.

Carve out some time now to spend quality time together. It doesn't have to be anything fancy — or expensive. A night spent on your back porch talking and watching fireflies will do. And so will a day trip to a local state park. Just pick a few things that you think you will all enjoy and have some family fun! Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Volunteer at a local shelter for a morning. A soup kitchen, an animal adoption center, whatever! You'll feel good about helping — and your family will learn something too.
  
• Make ice cream sodas, serve them up in cool glasses, and then take a walk together.
  
• Pick a book and read it together. Carve out time weekly to have "book chats" over coffee — or another fun treat — and learn from one another. The book doesn't have to be a classic. Read or re-read the Harry Potter series to get ready for the new movie opening in July!
  
• Attend a local Fourth of July parade together, followed by a lunch picnic or BBQ at a local park, and s'mores after dinner.
  
• Go to the beach for the day. Load up the car with Frisbees, buckets and shovels, and other sun fun. Don't forget the sunscreen!
  
• Attend a community festival or event. There is always so much happening. Take advantage of a local fun stop and support local businesses too.
  
• Visit a local historical site. You can even pick one your youngest has visited on a school trip — she's sure to appreciate being the "expert" for the day!
  
• Cook a meal together. Make it Sunday brunch or an evening dinner — or have breakfast food for dinner! It doesn't matter. The time together is what counts.
  
• Pick a craft project to work on throughout the summer. Maybe you want to make a quilt together for your student's bed or a scrapbook for an elder in a nursing home. Or make it something simple like decorating travel mugs to put away as holiday gifts.
  
• Head to a local park with your dogs. Spend some time throwing a ball or Frisbee, lounging all together, exploring and more.

Here's to simple, meaningful family fun!