Spring Break on a Budget

Katina Kennedy, author

March 13, 2022

Spring Break is here for most families and 

I am here for it.  This year my little and I scheduled our week.  Most of our activities are designed especially for littles but I am making time for myself as well.  

Day 1🥞

Plan a morning breakfast. Have everyone who will be attending write down a question and something they want to share.  Put the questions in a bowl and set them near the center of the table.  This will be a guided exchange while eating up.

Make breakfast simple and fun.  Throw in a few toppings for pancakes and waffles, such as Reddi Whip cream and flavored syrups. This is the kick-off to a fun-filled week.

Following Breakfast go out for a picnic or walk at a park.

add 🍓 fresh fruit

not just any pancake! Fun pancakes

a walk at the park with my mini

a healthy lunch at the park idea

🤸‍♂️ Don't overlook that our littles can be unpredictable. Don't stress if they want to change activities or disagree.  Go with the flow and have a fun day.

Day 2 🚴‍♂️

Today on our Spring Break Itinerary my mini and I have borrowed the bikes of family members. Two years ago we visited Hot Springs, Arkansas, and bike riding was a disaster.  My daughter Grace cried the entire time that she rode on the back of Dad's bike.  It's going to be interesting to see how she does on her own and without a bike attachment.  

🚴‍♂️ Benefits are spending time together, pushing through fears, and exercise.

Moms, cozy up with one of our brand blankets. These smell so good and are amazingly soft.  This blanket is $51 and worth every penny. This will be my early morning time to self, aka TTS. I pray, meditate, have celery juice.  This little bit of time will relax you. 

Be quiet, FYI...our kids have Mommy radars.  

The photo was taken two years ago, on our bike trail ride.  Grace was not a happy rider. I am happy that I remembered how to ride a bike!

Bike riding path in Hot Springs, Arkansas 

Grace and Dad's ride

Pack happy tummy treats

These can be found at Walmart for $2.50, good with hummus and peanut butter 

Day 3 🏕

While the kids are sleeping set up a backyard or indoor campsite

Suggested Camp items:

1.  Tent

2.  Blankets

3.  Pillows

4.  Bucket and construction paper in red and black

4.  Cooler

5.  Drinks

6.  Lanterns

7.  Board games

8.  Marshmallows and Roasting Sticks

9.  Movie Projector and Screen

10. Disposable cameras for everyone camping

* did I leave anything out? LMK in the comments section

Campfire bucket idea

Gone Fishing 

Something you might want to add to your campsite.  I made this a few years back when planning a camp lesson plan for my Preschool.  Loved this so much 🗾

Roasting marshmallows at the campsite 

Day 4 🎨

Spring Break on a budget day four is an art and create the day. This is fun for the family and you could invite friends to participate.  Pack up for a mid-afternoon/ evening painting near the water experience.  Everyone has a canvas of their own and a variety of art brushes. Don't give specific or guided instructions but encourage the group to paint their surroundings; trees, water, ducks, and people.

Things to pack:

🎨 art canvases found at Michaels

🎨 sanitizing hands and brushes wipes, a variety of acrylic paints, or whatever paints you chose.

🎨 Paper towels and a Frisbee

🎨  disposable cameras for everyone

Here I am sharing our paint and creating a day

🖼 Paint what you Paint, it doesn't need to be perfect.

Table set up. Our Picnic basket is a gift from

Our Grandmother.

The canvas that I painted.  I want another try!

The timing was planned in hopes to see the sunset.  Isn't God's work amazing? 

P.s. we took along popsicles! Best decision ever

Have a fun Day 4. 

Day5 🌷

Take a visit to your town's arboretum.  Saving the best for last is exactly what this experience will be.  In our East Texas Town, Longview we were greeted at the arboretum with smiles. The cost was $5 per person and littles under 6years get to walk the breathtaking views at no fee.  The fun thing was participating in a scavenger hunt. Littles will love running around and checking off the scavenger hunt list and Mom's will love flowers, peace, and scenery.  Several benches and gazebos are in place at our local arboretum to take a break or have lunch. I am sharing photos from our Day at the arboretum.

Don't forget Sunscreen, Lunch Cooler, Sun hats, Sunglasses, you're 📷 

My daughter Grace ran to find a scavenger hunt item

Grace and I stopped for a snapshot with the waterfalls

beauty flowers in full bloom and some still waiting to bloom

Grace is all smiles

Our family is being silly and loving it.   You get to feel like a child again, carefree with no cares in the world

📘 Helpful hint: Pinhole is highly recommended for printing and binding your photo memories.  The books are 100% bound in the USA and come in four sizes with 10 elegant linen colors to pick from.  Go to pinhole.com for more information.

I hope that your Spring Break is full of memories that will last for a lifetime.  That is what God wants for us.

XoXo, Katina 

Let me know how you are spending Spring Break in the comments.