It’s summer!  Join me in this mantra – we don’t want to think, we want to drink!  We agree and we’re here for you to avoid thinking this summer.  We want you to be able to drink and know things.  Like, know how to amuse your children in an instant this summer.  With that in mind check out our list of things to buy early and use all summer.

Top 5 Summer Shopping List (so you can drink and know things):

5. Sidewalk Chalk – This can be used by children of all ages for a variety of purposes.  But buy a lot, because in my house it gets broken, thrown and driven over.

4. Two squirt bottles per child –  You’ll probably buy them at the dollar store and the first one will break.  These can be used many ways, to squirt each other, to squirt themselves, to squirt bugs, to squirt dirt, to squirt chalk.

3. Big bag of balloons – For the older children, it can be a difficult chore to fill with water and hurl at each other.  For the medium aged child, it can be blown up, tied to a string, hung and painted.  For the young child it can be chased for hours.

2. Paint brushes – If you have paint, you can send the children out to find treasures outside, squirt paint on paper plates and let them have it.  If you don’t, you wouldn’t believe how much painting will be done with a cup of water and a paint brush.

1. Bubble machine – Turn it on and magic happens.  Make sure you stock up on bubble fluid.  Is two gallons enough for a summer?  Run out?  Here’s a recipe you can make at home.  That’s right, we’re here for you!

What would you add to this list?  Tell us at sothishappened@bleepingmotherhood.com