Campin’ Up Some FUN …

Moving into our new home has taken twists and turns.

Due to the timing of our settlement and POD delivery, we had a prior very important obligation coinciding.

We had a priority “ZeeZee & Papa” week scheduled.

Our 4 1/2 year old “Goldbug” came for a week visit while Mom and Dad had work commitments.

We planned early on, if our house hunting and moving in overlapped with her visit, we wold stay put at our daughter’s house till Goldie went back to Mom and Dad. Not only would consistency be better for her, but the joy of being with her cousin would be stellar. Also, at the point she came, boxes were barely in the house. It would have been hard for all of us to function.

My daughter and I made plans to keep our adventure-outdoor-loving girl busy with daily “field trips”!

Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t very cooperative. It was cold and rainy, unlike most late May weeks.

Negating prior plans, we figured out options for colder days. The pool was out. Splash pads, of which there are many around here, were not going to work.

We visited parks during non-rainy windows of time. This area is riddled with wonderful playgrounds/parks. We found ourselves enjoying four or five different ones. One rainy day we went indoors to a Play Museum; another took us to an indoor playground. The warmest sunniest day, we visited an amazing splash pad! Several bike rides, ending at playgrounds, between rainy periods, highlighted several days.

The last few days were cool but not wet. We planned backyard activities for non-rainy afternoons/evenings.

Keeping with our “Island Week” theme, we had a backyard treasure hunt (we found gems, like every good pirate), shell painted, water table, bubbles, chalk drawing, kick balls, balloons, a sprinkler (that wasn’t used), and a very special backyard installation …

A TENT …

Not just any tent …

A Play Tent with a special activity inside…

Not wanting sand carried into the house …

We had a Pebble Beach Construction Tent!!

We got the tent from Amazon…

We got round smooth pebbles from Lowe’s.

These construction tools from Amazon …

Plus various shovels, dishes, and funnels from Dollar Tree.

( Click on Photos for links to Amazon.)

Our girls, 4 & 2, had a blast in the manipulative play environment. We made some fundamental rules: pour, dump or scoop, only. We sat outside the tent just like a camp sight and monitored play. It was a successful kid-friendly-adventure addition to the backyard.

The tent completely closes with zippers and ties. It is a real camping tent, nothing can get in without an open zipper: not bugs, critters, or raindrops. We lined the tent with a tarp before putting pebbles in to make it easier to get them out, when needed. We also washed and let the rocks dry in the sun before placing them in the tent: they seemed a bit dirty/gritty.

Maybe some of you need a new outdoor activity at home or may have some little visitors coming and choose to try something new.

Any of you have fun summer suggestions, help your friends and mention in the comments!

I would highly recommend this fun, creative, open-ended play tent!

Hope your June has been fun so far!