When I was younger we would go with my father every weekend we were over at his house. We went as a family and we all picked out books that we wanted. Not only was this a great activity for cold weather, but it also taught me to love to read.

When it is warmer outside, we have these awesome trails behind our house. We go for about a mile walk around noon on the weekends. We have also set aside Family Game Night. We try to play games with the kids at lease once a week. The day is random so it is always a surprise when we play.

Play frisbee, blow bubbles, ride bikes, kick a ball...

Be sure to sign up for your local toy stores birthday clubs - TRU sends out a $3 gift card and our local toy store (Johnny's Toys) gives away a birthday prize from their birthday castle, as well as a coupon for McD's hamburger happy meal. This can make for a cheap 'day out' for a birthday child.

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Stephanie (27) & Virgil (31)
Caden 3 y.o. 11/28/04 29w preemie
Wyatt 17 mos. 9/25/06
#3 due 8/24/08

Our local library has free passes to many different activities like museums, state parks and beaches etc. and all you have to do is sign up for the passes when you need them. Also a lot of museums will offer discounts on certain days. We got to go to the Boston Aquarium at a huge discount if we brought in an empty pepsi can (it was some kind of promotion) so I am sure other places in other states do the same thing. Sometimes buying a season pass to a place you go frequently can save lots of money and newspapers often have coupons to different activities and events.

Other things you can do free are things like in winter, build snowmen or snow forts or go snow shoeing or for walks or go to the local library for story time (most libraries do this).
In summer there are picnics, free fireworks displays, fishing, swimming (or sprinklers), walks, bike rides, hiking, playgrounds and many towns offer free concerts in the park (sometimes the music is not everybody's taste but it is fun to get out and people watch and you can bring some snacks and drinks and just expose the kids to different kinds of music etc.) Adult education often offers very cheap workshops in all kinds of things such as using a computer, needlepoint, fly tying, cooking, woodworking, sewing etc.

Great ideas! Our library has story times and craft days for the kids and a reading group for my oldest dd. Farmers markets are great places to take the kids, and in the summer we pick cherries and then try to find all the recipes we can to use them up! We do the same with apples and strawberries.

one thing we plan on doing when the weather gets nice is we are gonna get a resonably priced firepit so we can enjoy roasting hotdogs and smores this summer as a family and the kids can catch fire flys ect...

In the summer we go to the local park and watch my daughter play. When she is done we buy ice cream cones at the stand at the park for less than $5 total and enjoy our time together.

Jen

I have family get togethers at least once a month.....I love a good "around the world"party.And we all keep some of each others dishes.I am usually good food wise about 3 days after a party.

It is much cheaper to buy a season pass. We have passes to the local zoos and museums. It costs up front but after that you can go free all year long.

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Elizabeth, Isabela, Tomas