A Week off from Work....

What I'm going to do with mine is take my little kiddos to my hometown and bum around with my family for the 1st half - free food, free lodging, hanging out with my brothers, sils, nieces and nephews, can't beat it. Plus, there's nothing like going home to remind you how far you've come! Then, I'm going to ditch my kids with my family :) and hopefully my husband and I can go to Colorado for a few days of couple time. We desperately need it. Money is sooooo tight. But, I'm hoping we can pull it off.

Go to the swimming pool. That is always fun. I would also take them bowling that would be fun for the older kids. If there is a museum in the area for kids go to it. Go to the zoo if it is close by or a petting zoo. All the kids would like that. I would also make some tye dye shirts or do some kind of crafts with them. You could do the shirts outside while the baby is sleeping. Have fun and enjoy your week off.

Well it depends how much money I have saved!!! Here are some things I'd love to do with a week off work!

Take a week long vacation with hubby and the kids to the beach - Hawaii or Florida in the summer. Or East Coast in the fall.

Do a staycation and do things locally: Monkey Joes one day, Movies one day, Zoo and Science Center another day, Six Flags and the water park one day and then Ragin' Rivers another day. Then the last two would be spent locally - the pool, daughter and I getting pedicures, going out to eat, renting movies, etc.

Hmmm I think I would take a day to clean (a good cleaning). Then I would use the rest of the days to be lazy and sleep in. Since you aren't going any place for vacation is there anything thing the older kids want to do? Park, water park, have friend over, go to grandparents? I would think they are old enough to say how about this or that. Is there a really cool place in or around town they have never been that you keep meaning to go? A "staycation" (or however it is spelled) can be just as fun without all the headaches of the long distance travels.

You're lucky to be in Cherryville.....so close to sooo many things! I live in St James.....& most of our vacations are based from home. I love being in the middle of everything!

Are you ready? !! Elephant Rocks would be great for your 6 & 7s. The baby can ride in a stroller around the perimeter. & then just down the road would be Johnson Shut-ins ....or go to Lesterville & play in the Black River. Well, & even Huzzah would be good for a day...even with the baby.

St James, Rolla, & Sullivan all have great water parks. The one here in St James is small, but fun for the kids.

Lake of the Ozarks: Big Surf water park, lots of go-kart/mini golf places, & lots of eye candy to boot! The public beaches are nice.....& you could also rent a boat for the day. Oh, & the shopping!

St Louis: 6 Flags.....or a day trip & hit the Zoo & Science Ctr in Forest Park. The City Museum downtown is fantastic....& we usually combine this with a trip to the Arch & Soulard Market. Cahokia Mounds is just across the river from downtown....& is well worth the trip. Wow....so many things in StL! That's where I grew up & I still hit it regularly....as in at least once a month, usually more!

Branson: lots of options! We regularly make day trips to Silver Dollar City. It's a looooong day, but with multiple drivers....it works. & as with StL, lots of choices!

Jeff City: the Capitol building is awesome, the museum is great. The MO State Hwy Patrol has a museum....& it's also great. We always stop at Central Dairy.....yummm! & then there's shopping to boot!

Like I said, you have lots of choices! Feel free to contact me if you need more detailed ideas!

I'd go to the local water park if you have one. You can sit with the 8 mo old in the shallow pools/river and dad and the older ones can go on all the slides. The kids love it and its exhausting! Good luck and have fun!