Turn on the Fun Without Turning on the TV
By Lisa Marie Metzler
Have the children use a tape recorder to record favorite storybooks to send to their friends or family members. Make sure to make some recordings for yourself to use on long car trips, too!
Stroll Down Memory Lane Dust off the box of family pictures and family slides and revisit the past. "B" is for Baby Show each child their baby book and the memorabilia you collected for them in their first few years. Mystery Road Trip Pack up the family with no destination in mind. Let everyone have a chance to decide which turn to take next. Give yourself a time frame. When the time is up, stop and explore your destination. Piece by Piece Take your favorite family picture to a photo processor and have it made into a puzzle. Complete the puzzle together. Commet allez-vous? Learn a new word or phrase in a foreign language. This one is a freebie. It is French for "How are you?" Visit your library or go online at www.travlang.com to learn more. Neighborhood Clean Up Clean up debris polluting your block, road or apartment complex. Better yet, partner up with your neighbors and make a day of it and order pizza for your reward! Volunteer Inquire about volunteering at your local hospital. Or call ahead to a nursing home or retirement village. Volunteer to visit patients who don't receive many visitors. Get Organized Open the closets and whatever doesn't fall on your head, take to your church or favorite charity. Encourage your children to give away some toys that they no longer play with. Dessert First? Schedule a backwards dinner. Serve a family favorite dessert first and end with salad. 
Family Time Capsule Include a newspaper, current family pictures and personal contributions like journal entries, kids artwork, etc. Store away in an airtight container and in a few years get it back out for reminiscing. Vacation Destination
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