Spummer?

This beautiful spring weather has been lovely but confusing. For example, this morning when I barked a third get-out-of-bed warning, my daughter lifted an eyelid and said, “We have to go to school?” She is very bright – academically.

The cause for confusion is that our weekends have been filled with traditional summer activities. We’ve had so many BBQs that we’ll be craving a turkey dinner or any departure from potato salad by mid-June.

The kids have been in the swimming pool almost daily since the second week of May. My son even made a daring late-April attempt by jumping into the icy water. Before the father of my future grandchildren could ruin my chances for future grandchildren, he defied gravity and flew back out of the pool. Upon catching his breath, he announced the water was very cold - another academic wiz.

Those crafty confectioners at Van Otis are also anxious for summer. Check out their spring and summer line, including the artsy daisy pops and molded chocolates for motorcycle enthusiasts.

I'm Bored

Elongate the vowel sounds, add a little whine, and there you have it – my kids’ summer theme song. I typically respond with a dramatic eye roll, but who can blame them? If you live in New England, your child is longing for outdoor activity during what has been a very dreary, rainy start of summer.

In an effort to prove that boredom can spawn creativity and imagination, we’re making a list of “Fun Things To Do When It’s Raining” - and in this economy, “inexpensive” is inferred. Of course, some of the obvious activities made the list such as visit the library, read a good book, play a board game, and my addition, take a nap. (Insert child’s dramatic eye roll.)

I was pleasantly surprised when the kids added ideas such as try a new recipe, learn to type, and organize their bedrooms. We can all benefit from such an assignment. It’s a great way to circumvent monotony, and you might even discover something new in your area.


Manchester, New Hampshire residents can add “Tour Van Otis Chocolates” to their lists. Tours are offered at the Elm Street facility every Wednesday at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. during the summer season (June – August). Kids and accompanying adults will learn about the process of handmade confections and the best part – it’s FREE! For additional information, visit http://www.vanotischocolates.com and select “upcoming events”.