Mattel summer fun and giveaway

We have just passed the half way point of summer. 

Who else is starting to have trouble keeping the kids busy during the summer months?  I know it can't be just me. When school got out at the end of June, my guys could not get enough of playing outside in the backyard.  Fast forward a month and my pleas for them to just go play outside are met with actual tears.  They complain that they are now bored, that there is nothing to do.

Being one of those moms who keep the kids pretty scheduled during the school year, makes the extra free time in the summer hard for the boys sometimes.  While I could always get some extra time to write when they were in school for the morning, now I am trying to fit it in during the day while they are home with me.  And that doesn't always go over so well.

I definitely try to take a lot of day trips with the boys - even if that day trip is actually more like just a few hours out of the house.  With the exception of the last two weeks (not so wonderful weather), I make time for a trip to the beach with the boys at least once a week.  Sometimes twice.  That right there is my serenity.

When we aren't at the beach, I try to build something small into each day.  I find I can make a sort of trade off with the boys.  Mommy needs to write for an hour or so and then we can do this...  A play date with friends, an early afternoon trip to the local pool, going to the park or the zoo.  I also love to try and plan things in advance off of our summer list we came up with together.

I am a huge fan of scouring the local websites to see what is going on in the area at low - to no - cost.  Love free kid stuff!  And when all else fails on a hot summer day, I throw the boys in the truck.  We hit the drive thru at Dunkin Donuts so I can get myself an iced coffee and they can each have a donut - and we just drive.  My favorite drive down Scituate Ave in Cranston, past all the farms, my old dream house, and straight to the reservoir.  The boys love the bridge over all that sparkling water.

For the times we can't get out and I don't want the boys sitting like blobs in front of the TV (which trust me still goes on) ... certain games and toys at home keep everyone occupied.  And it is a wonderful thing.  My boys are obsessed with all things Hot Wheels. 

Mattel sent us both the Hot Wheels Wall Tracks they had so desperately been wanting, along with the Double Dare Snare for our review.  Seeing the UPS guy drop that box on the steps sent the boys into a frenzy. 

The Wall Tracks set we received was the Drift Rally Spinout.  The set up quicker than I anticipated and the cool thing is that there are several sets to choose from...you can play with each set separately or attach them.  You know the boys want more to attach.  They loved the flames on the track and the bumps (see towards the bottom of the photo) for the cars to go over. 

What I didn't like, is that the set comes apart easily.  No match for three small boys I'm afraid.  My husband had to put it back together more than a few times and the cars also get stuck going down the wall.  The boys didn't seem to mind the cars getting stuck, only the set coming apart.

The Double Dare Snare I would call the boys favorite, hands down.  Two cars race at one time and only one can win.  You know you have won when you go through the matrix loop and your car is saved by the rescue snare that snaps you up.  That was a huge hit.  Would you believe it even has an ejection ramp that tosses your car off if you start the race too soon?  Hysterical to the boys.  Since we have gotten it I can honestly say that they have spent hours on and off playing with that set.

We set both toys up in the living room initially, but I am thinking about moving the Wall Tracks to the basement playroom.  Cooler down there on hot summer days and I'm hoping it will get them playing with their other toys down there again.  Who doesn't need a change of scenery, right?

So those are my tips for trying to keep the kids busy during the summer.  And yes I am still a fan of tossing them in the backyard and making them play the good old fashioned way.  What are your tips for surviving the summer with your kids?


*** Now for the fun part! The giveaway!!!  Mattel is allowing us to give away prize packs to help your kids have some extra fun this summer.  Just enter on the Rafflecopter below to WIN either a Girls' Prize Pack or a Boys' Prize Pack! Make sure to visit the following sites from RI Digital Media Women (#RIDMW) as well to see their fantastic reviews of Mattel Products! And don't forget to check out Mattel on Facebook and Twitter as well.

Baby Gators Den

Savoring the Thyme

                                                                  Mama Luvs Books

Learning to Juggle
When The Kids Go To Bed
Blush Mamas
30 Something Mother Runner
Stephanie's Mommy Brain
Keekoin

Note:
Your choice of a Girl Prize Pack: (Barbie Dress & Design Studio ($21.99 APR), A Barbie Doll of the World ($29.95 APR) & Barbie I Can Be... Fashion Designer ($13.99 APR)
OR a Boys Prize Pack: (Matchbox Big Boots Fire Truck ($25.99 APR), Hot Wheels Wall Tracks ($24.99 APR) & Hot Wheels Ballistiks ($24.99 APR)
*substitutions may be made by Mattel if product is not available.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Organizing the clutter

Lets talk about kid clutter, shall we?

Once upon a time I had a really cute living room.  And an office.  Then we had one baby and it became a playroom/living room.  We promptly added two more babies and it was no longer a living room... but a 24/7 playroom filled with toys that happened to have a couch and a TV.  That office?  Now a babies room.

And most days?  It all looked like this.

That's right, a floor covered in toys and kids jumping in and out of the mostly empty toy bin.  I'm not going to lie, we still have those days sometimes.  BUT we have also made some changes at kid central.  I'd like to share my 10 strategies for de-cluttering and organizing the toys in the playroom (as well as the rest of the house since if you have small kids like I do, you know it ALL becomes one giant playroom?!

1. First things first we set up a bookcase against the living room wall (that yes, we bolted to the wall for safety).  On the bottom shelves we organized all of the board books for the kids.  On another shelf within their reach we placed all the coloring books and a bin of crayons.  Higher up but still in view are all the DVDs the boys can choose from with our help... and on top of that are special books the boys need our help with for one reason or another.

2. We organized the bins.  Big giant bins are your friend, until you can't find anything in them.  We got bins that vary in color and size, some of which hold just the Hot Wheels cars - just the Thomas trains - just the Little People (and so on).  I have said for the longest time I will also include a photo on the outside of the bin so the kids know what should be put away where - but I have not gotten that far yet,

3. We created a space for the boys in our semi finished basement.  Put down a rug and moved about half of the toys downstairs.  We even set up an old CD player so the boys can throw some tunes on when they play.  (The CD player is a big hit!)

4.We moved the giant kitchen play set that took up a great deal of space out to the house and into the backyard so they can play with it there.  It actually gets more use out in the yard.  So much easier for the boys to play at.

5. A large bin in each of the boys rooms.  When it's time to clean up at the end of the day, the random toys scattered around get placed in the bin for the night.

6. A laundry basket in each room.  You might not think so at first, but it makes such a difference when the kids have a spot to throw their dirty clothes.  I am no longer finding random socks and sweaters stuffed under the bed.

7. Table and chair set in each room.  We always had one for the Big Guy but only added one for the twins about a year ago.  Makes a nice space for them to sit and read or color when playing in their room.

8. We installed a set of hooks on wall behind the bedroom door for jackets and backpacks to hang.  The boys all know when they come home from school the backpacks get hung right up for the next day.  This way we are never on the hunt to figure out what happened to them.

9. Donate old clothes to Salvation Army.  I have tried consignment here and there but have not had much success.  I find the easiest thing to do at the end of the season is to clear out what no longer fits the twins and just take it straight to the Salvation Army.  (If it's only the Big Guy it no longer fits I put it in the twins room since they will be able to wear it soon.)

10. Give toys away.  I used to hold yard sales to try and make some money.  It's just so much easier (and less time consuming) right now to find someone you know with kids and pass it on - or take it to the Salvation Army.  So often by the time the boys grow out of a toy it is still in good condition, I like knowing someone else will get some use out of it too.

So those are my 10 tips on organizing the clutter.  I like to think it's always a giant work in progress though.  Some days we are nearly spotless... and other days... well you can't always see the floor.  Just knowing I have all these organizational things in place though, makes me feel like it won't take too long to see that floor again.  Give it a try yourself.  Do you have a great tip you use to de-clutter that I did not share here?  I would LOVE to hear it!  Always open to new suggestions!
 
I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Hot Wheels® blogging program, for a gift card worth $40. For more information on how you can participate, click here.