Wind-Down Summertime Activities & A Giveaway

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This giveaway is now closed. Please head to the next post in this series for another chance to win a $100 Visa gift card.

Summertime is drawing to a close, which triggers a wave of emotions for me. As much as I appreciate the extra time I am afforded during the school year to get my work done and keep the house in order, I know how much I will miss my boys once they return to school. As the early, frantic mornings of the school year move closer, we are trying our best to capture every magical moment of summer.

Memories are created in the simplest moments - kicking the soccer ball around in the backyard, frolicking in the water at the local pool, or eating on a popsicle on the front stoop. Our boys are full of boundless energy and they enjoy being outside and testing their physical capabilities. This summer, we fit in a couple of camping trips and hope to squeeze in one more before the sunny weather fades.

While our boys like to spend a good deal of time exploring the campsite, walkie-talkies in hand to report back to us, this is the year of the fishing rods. From the time they emerge from their sleeping bags to the first flicker of the evening fire, they spend every minute possible at the lakeshore or in the canoe, perfecting their spin casting and watching for tell-tale flashes of silver in the water.

Two to three times a day, we pull out the canoe and take a paddle across the clear lake, just enjoying the peace and the opportunity to be together.


Of course, there is always time for a little bit of silliness, 8- and 6-year old boy-style.


Camping is a time for us just to be together, without any of the distractions of everyday life. We have a strict "no electronics" policy while out in the wilderness and, as a result, the boys have come to appreciate the sounds of the wind whistling, blowing from one end of the lake to the other, and have learned how to listen for the tell-tale sounds of a nearby woodland creature.

We will re-create this magical cocoon one more time before the summer closes. From there, we will cover the canoe for the winter, put the sleeping bags back into storage, and turn our minds to the school year ahead. We will create memories there, too, because life at home really is not too shabby.



This giveaway is now closed. Please head to the next post in this series for another chance to win a $100 Visa gift card.

For a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card, please answer the following question in the comments section:

"What activities do you want to do with your kids or grandkids before summer ends?"

Please, no duplicate comments.
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This giveaway is open to US Residents aged 18 and older
Winners will be selected via random draw, and will notified by e-mail, so please be sure that you leave an email address.
You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

Please head to the BlogHer.com Kellogg exclusive offers page for 24 additional chances to win a $100 Visa gift card.

This giveaway will run from 8/17 - 8/23/2010.

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Please see the official rules for this giveaway.

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