Summer is almost here! 5 fun things to do when you hear "I'm bored!"

Ahhhh summer break.

It's the end of the school year.

It's pool time.

It's the beginning of summer vacations and trips to see extended family.

It's the awesome summer holidays, celebrated with fireworks.

It's the time of year that drives parents to wonder if they are really ready to deal with this time of year.

Wait... what?

The first couple of weeks are exciting.  If you and your partner work, then it's a routine of day camp and day care and everything in between.  Trips to the library and the pool are necessary for everyone's sanity.  If you get to stay home with your children, then you know very well the words:  "I'm bored!".

Here are my top 5 things to do in the summertime that are cheap, easy, and fun (in addition to the library and the pool).

1.  Go to the park!  Here in AA county, we have so many different parks to enjoy.  They have swimming and fishing and boating areas, trails, concerts,   Take a picnic lunch and have fun exploring.

2.  Watch baseball!  Bowie has their very own minor league team, the Bowie Baysox.  Their ticket prices are family friendly and on weekend games, they show fireworks at night.

3.  Ride bikes at dawn!  The air is cool and the smell is green and refreshing, because of the dew on the grass and plants.  It might be a little bit hard to get everyone moving, but how awesome will it be to start the morning watching the sun rise.  There are plenty of places to go visit on your bikes for breakfast.

4.  Stargaze and catch fireflies!  Here's a printable constellation map to help you locate all of the constellations.  Get some empty jelly jars, punch holes in the lid, and put some grass in the bottom of the jar.  Catch fireflies and watch their lighting patterns.  Please be sure to release them before you go back in the house. A bonus is to build a fire in the fire pit and toast marshmallows.  Remember the bug spray so the mosquitoes don't get at you.

5.  Camp out in the living room on a Friday night, pop some corn, and watch movies.  Build a fort with sheets and dining room chairs and use flashlights to tell scary stories (age appropriate, of course!).

There you have it!  I hope that your summer is full of adventure and fun.