Summer Get-Togethers

Planning a Fun Summer Party for Your Kids

article by Cindy G Foust

I ’m starting this month’s column, as promised, with an update from Fannie Farmer and her daughter. You cannot believe how great tomato plants will look when you don’t plant 24 of them within 6 inches of each other. Our plants are looking so good right now, I may be asked to work as a consultant with tomato farmers across the globe. My herbs are looking really good, too, I mean, who doesn’t love fresh basil on just about anything? I even branched out and bought a lemon tree and a lime tree, both potted and looking smashing on my patio. Yes sir-ree…we are getting ready to live off the land around our farm estate.

So how are things going at your house this summer? Try as you might, I doubt anyone out there can top the excitement at mine surrounding the flourishing basil in my garden, but, hey, you can certainly try.

Before I forget, does anyone out there know that July 14 is International Nude Day? Wait…what? Are you telling me there might be people wandering around our BayouLife community without their clothes on? I sure hope it’s not anyone I know, cause that would be a little awkward the next time I see them at the bank or the grocery store. When I was researching for my column this month, I came across a July calendar that was just full of these rather unconventional holidays. One such day was National Grateful Day, and I can tell you right now, I’m observing that one, so I can be grateful I don’t observe International Nude Day. Good grief what will they think of next?

So, what WOULD you like to hear from me about this month, friends? I mean, is anyone out there really interested in what I have in my beach bag or helpful tips on how to pack meals to take to the beach? I sure hope not, because quite frankly, I’d rather watch my toenail polish dry or have a cigar put out on my, well, somewhere I can’t say in this column.

July is a month full of patriotism (or at least it should be), vacations, watermelon and the month we segue into the second half of the year. Historically, it’s been a month that also brings sweltering heat and miserable weather conditions, but as in months past, the weather of late has been somewhat unpredictable. Right now, I’m sitting outside on my patio, watching my birds, enjoying my lemon and lime trees and it’s 77 degrees. And breezy. In July. I’m shaking my head again, because it’s such whack-a-do weather, but hey, I’ll let the local weatherman figure out these conditions and I’ll stick to writing this column.

So what’s on tap for this month? It will come as no surprise to many of you who follow my column, that some months I get, well, just stumped. I keep a running list of topics so I don’t replicate, duplicate and alienate my readers. My rhyming prose just amazes me sometimes. But back to the topic…what does anyone really want to read about in July?

Since July is our great country’s birthday, it kind of makes your mood celebratory, right? Well, why not let your kids have a summer celebration, even if it’s not their birthday. Look, I’ve had young kids at home, in fact, I have a 13-year old now, and it gets tough sometimes keeping them entertained. July is the mid-way point for summer, and for younger kids especially, they don’t get to see and interact with their friends as much.

How about hosting a summer party and let your kids be in charge of the guest list? I am telling you, Pinterest is a party-givers Utopia and is full of summer party ideas, to the point that my eyes were crossing, when I was trying to narrow my search options. Let me be clear about one thing…when I was a kid, my parent’s idea of a “summer celebration” was when they told us to go outside and catch lightening bugs and put them in a Mason jar. Or the time my dad brought home a 30-foot piece of black tarp and told us to “slip and slide” to our hearts’ content.

But kids these days seem to get bored easier than we did, or maybe we just didn’t have the resources they do…i.e. no cell phones, video games or hundreds of television channels at our disposal. Yes, I grew up in Mayberry and I make no secret that I wish we could go back!

Wait. What is this column about? Nostalgia or party planning? Okay, I’m back…as I was saying, surprise your children with a summer celebration that they are in charge of. If you have a pool, then that’s an easy one, just host a pool party. I did that a few weeks ago and nearly had a nervous breakdown with all the flipping and diving and, good grief, that’s a terrible idea, so what next?

How about renting the big water slide for your yard? We’ve done that a few times, and I even went down it myself. Praise the Lamb that video was permanently deleted, because there is no way I could ever run for public office with that video floating around…no one wants to see a nearly 50-year old woman come down a water slide head first and certainly don’t want to see the outcome when her swimsuit shifts into unsightly places, which was the least of my problems, after I swallowed half the wading pool water at the end of the slide. No, that was even the least of my problems after the force of the landing left me unable to comfortably sit in a chair or walk for about two weeks.

If I have successfully talked you out of a water-themed party, how about an outside movie night? If you have a projector, or borrow one if you don’t, just put a big sheet on your garage and play a good movie, complete with popcorn. Or what about hosting a Luau? You know, fruit kabobs, drinking out of coconuts and water balloon piñatas. Now, that sounds like fun.
Wait…what about a scavenger hunt? Kids often feel the need for speed and love the thrill of trying to be the first one back for the big prize, which, for the ones I did as a kid, was a candy bar or something, so try and beef up your prizes to an Xbox or maybe a trip to Great Wolf Lodge.

Don’t want it at your house? How about a night of skating (Mrs. Kathy Porter is the roller skate Hostess with the Mostess) or a night of bowling. You know, I bought my own bowling ball at a garage sale some years back and let me tell you, I look official and ready for business when I enter the bowling alley. Sadly, my score of 99 never quite matches up with my bowling persona, but hey, I look like I bowl a 300 even if I don’t.

So what do you say, parents? Call those kids to the family room right now and surprise them with a summer celebration. Get that guest list going and get busy with those plans. Even let your kids decorate for the party themselves…and don’t forget good photo booth props. Summer should be a low key, relaxing time, it’s true, but it should also be a time for making memories and sharing life’s experiences with your favorite people. See you next month, readers, with another report from Fannie Farmer and her daughter, and I’m hoping what will be a bountiful crop of at least one tomato.