Creativity needed...

Okay, so I am in need of some creative ideas for my kids. I feel terrible. These last couple of weeks, I have been slacking big time on getting to do things with my kids. The heat is a major factor in that but I just feel like such a terrible mom. Usually they only watch tv in the morning and a show right before bed, but I am sorry to admit that they have watched a lot more tv because I am not sure what else to do to entertain them. Luckily we do have Cambree's dance class that does take up a very large portion of the day, but there are several hours before and after that leave me struggling to keep everyone busy and happy. Everything I think of, I just cringe at doing because the clean up is going to be terrible. So I need your ideas. All of you with active little ones, what do you do with them all day? Any little activities, or ideas would be great!!!

How does your garden grow?!

This year was my first attempt at having a garden. Truly I was very worried that I had a black thumb and that nothing would grow. Well to my great surprise, everything has grown beautifully. I have already gotten 8 tomatoes with approximately 15 to 20 more on the vine still, 3 bell peppers, and my pumpkin plant has grown amazingly. I have never seen a pumpkin plant before so I didn't know how big it could grow. It has completely taken over my garden. I am actually quite worried about it. It is starting to spread to places I can't have it spreading. There is about 10 pumpkins already growing and probably about another 10 if not more, buds starting to form. So I am excited but not sure how to maintain it. If there are any garden experts out there that could shed some light on the best way to handle this growing problem :) I would greatly appreciate it.

So pretty much all that green is the pumpkin plant. See how its arms are just growing out of control....

Two of the growing pumpkins