When I became a stay at home mum with Lucas I knew there were things we would have to sacrifice, we went down to one car and cut back on a lot of personal spends. When I found out we were having twins it meant trimming back even further, we buy a lot of things second-hand, holidays are absolutely out of the question and even days out can be scarce.
Still, we are lucky enough to have my husband at home over the summer holidays but last year I can’t really remember what we did. I was pregnant with the twins and wasn’t feeling my best so this year I definitely want to make the most of it. I really want us to spend some quality time as a family, when you don’t actually go away anywhere it’s easy to become lazy and stay in because it’s seems a simpler option. I don’t want to look back on our summer and have nothing to show for it so we will be having the most fun we can, in a thrifty way; I am declaring this summer a Staycation.
We will treat this summer like our own holiday with visits to local attractions, parks, beaches and forests, fun activities and treats in the house. We’ll take out packed lunches and make the most of free museums, have picnics in the garden and make ice cream sundaes. Go out and fly a kite, explore a castle and stay in have a movie night with homemade popcorn. I want us to find somewhere to play pooh sticks, find a new playground and come home and bake cookies. It would be great to all go swimming as a family and introduce the twins to the water. We can do some finger-painting, make paper aeroplanes and get ice cream from the ice cream van. I would love for us to go on a train ride and visit somewhere we have never been before. We have to send some postcards, make a den in the garden and have a screen-free day. Pay a visit the library, feed the ducks and go to the local farmers market, go fruit picking.
Every week I want us to do one thing we have never done before, go on adventures, be bold! Hopefully we’ll have some great summer memories to look back on, we’ll make the most of our local area and each night we’ll be sleeping in our own beds. I’ll be writing regular updates of our Staycation over the summer so check back to see if it is a success! I’ve kept it simple but lets face it wit three under three some things will be a challenge. What will you be doing to make the most of this summer, local family days or travels to exotic places?
19 Comments
Sounds like you’re planning a Summer of fun. Lots of adventures. Lucas will have a blast. We’re quite lucky to live close to lots of National Trust locations, Beaches and fun & exciting parks. I can’t wait to see what you get up too.
June 17, 2014 at 8:59 pmWe are lucky to live close to so much so I hope we can make the most of it and see a little more of our local area.
June 19, 2014 at 8:16 pmOh I love the sound of your staycation! I know that lack of money can make things samey, stagnant and a little bit boring. It sounds like you are going to be doing so much to keep the summer fun and excitement. I can’t wait to hear all about it x
June 17, 2014 at 9:02 pmI think that’s just it Donna, we’ve been stuck in so far this year and now the twins are getting older it is giving us that little bit more freedom x
June 19, 2014 at 8:17 pmLife is about family and the memories made to share for a lifetime. Money can’t buy that and money isn’t needed for it either. I love your outlook on life and your positiveness. You have done brilliant to get creative and plan some amazing fun filled activities for your beautiful family. I have always wanted twins, I am in babies envy of you! lol I am sure somedays you think I am crazy. lol Lovely post, and it’s such a honor to have you on Share With Me. Thanks for linking up. Love the photo of your tot. He is adorable. #sharewithme
June 18, 2014 at 12:46 pmAww thank you for the lovely comment Jenny. I just love how much you love twins, believe me not everyone thinks the same! Some people look at you in horror, I think they see all the hard work rather than all the joy. I hope we can make the most of this summer too, we need some quality family time as it has been a busy year so far!
June 19, 2014 at 8:19 pmGreat post!! Staycations really are a great way to save money and still have a good time with your family. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, and there are a TON of things to do, you just have to find them 🙂
XoXo Shea L. ☞☞☞ kissmychocolate.com
June 18, 2014 at 6:41 pmOh wow, a Staycation in San Francisco bay would be fantastic! I live right between Liverpool and Manchester in the UK so there is plenty to do and lots that new things for the kiddies to see x
June 19, 2014 at 8:20 pmThat’s a great idea. Often you bypass the great things you have on your doorstep because you travel elsewhere. You will have a wonderful summer.
June 18, 2014 at 9:48 pmThere is so much close to us I’m always saying, we must do that! Hopefully we will this year 🙂
June 19, 2014 at 8:21 pmI’m a single mom and I only work weekends so I can be at home with my daughter during the week, so I totally understand summer fun with minimal spending and close to no traveling! I found that my 3 year old loved the most how I changed our back yard into like a summer wonderland. Baby pools, water tables, sprinklers, all kinds of games, etc. It’s like even every day activities like coloring inside become this awesome and exciting thing when I say, “Lyla… do you want to color OUTSIDE?!?” and she gets so excited hahah
June 19, 2014 at 5:08 amIt always look like you have so much fun though, like you said you can make the simplest things fun with a little one. I love how excited they get if you just think to mix it up a little bit, the garden is definitely a great place to be in summer xx
June 19, 2014 at 8:23 pmLovely, lovely post. I remember the staycations I had as a child with just as much fondness as those where we went away, if not more so. There’s something magical about being allowed to enjoy your own environment at your own pace, without the rushing around that term-time brings. I’m sure you will all have a wonderful summer x
June 19, 2014 at 8:36 amThank you, I hope we will. I always want to do more but writing it down has given me more motivation, if that makes sense? I think we’ll get some good memories this summer x
June 19, 2014 at 8:24 pmThis sounds like a perfect summer to me Hayley!! I think you’re going to have so much fun and I think a summer like that will have better memories than a holiday away!! I’m excited to be doing similar things this summer too!! Xx
June 19, 2014 at 8:37 amAh yes but you get to do these lovely things in an AMAZING location, it is slightly more exciting and you must be guaranteed better weather 🙂 Either way it’s just fun to make the best of your local environment sometimes, hope you have a lovely summer with your Arthur xx
June 19, 2014 at 8:25 pmA summer staycation is a wonderful idea! Can’t wait to read all about it 🙂
June 19, 2014 at 8:11 pmx x
Thank you, I just want to try and make a bit more of our summer this year…if I write it on here it must happen 🙂 xx
June 19, 2014 at 8:26 pmLike you money is hard on our household. We can never ever go on a holiday. The grandest that we did was a camping using some borrowed tent. But we go out. We go to parks too and free shows and gardens. We run like crazy on the beach and we enjoy life. My dream is to go home to Manila, Philippines but the fare money is so … we cant afford it. But its a dream. Till then staycation is the new holiday for us too =) #sharewithme
June 19, 2014 at 8:23 pm