Try playing these with your own kids!

Would You Rather…

Go camping in your yard OR Visit a zoo?

Go bowling OR Have a beach day?

Have a water fight OR Have a Slip n’ Slide

Wear Flip Flops OR Go Bare Foot

Eat a Watermelon OR Eat a Pineapple

Have a Picnic OR Go fishing

Swim in a pool OR Swim in the Ocean

Drink Lemonade OR Drink Iced Tea

Make a Root Beer Float or Make S’mores

Go Camping OR Go for a hike

Go to a Baseball Game OR Go to the Movies

Play Mini Golf OR Play on a Slip n’ Slide

Get a printable copy of these questions HERE:

The post Summer Would You Rather Questions appeared first on Burnt Pancakes.

This sparked my idea to conduct an experiment on social media. I decided to take to Instagram to poll my followers about their favorite movies. Calling it “December Madness,” I created a movie bracket which would determine the ultimate Christmas movie.

To start, my husband and I came up with our list and added movies that we thought would be favorites for the general public. Picking the top 16, we then seeded the movies and paired the top ranking movies with the lower ranking movies.

Here’s the bracket we came up with…

If you’d like to print a copy for a holiday party or to try with your friends and family, you can download a copy here

My plan is to add this as a post on Instagram and then poll my followers each day in my stories. Check back soon to see the results.

Which movie do you think will win the championship? (Leave me a comment and let me know). Did we miss one of your favorites?

The post The Ultimate Christmas Movie Bracket appeared first on Burnt Pancakes.

What better way to get into the Halloween spirit than with these Halloween Joke Cards. These are easy to print, and cut and throw next to the orange and string cheese in your kid’s lunch. I print mine on an 8.5″ x11″ piece of card stock.

You can get your own copy here.

Get your own copy of these cards at my Etsy Shop! Click here

Our Favorite Halloween Jokes

What’s a ghost’s favorite street?

Answer: a dead end

What is it called when a ghost gets hurt?

Answer: a boo boo

What do you call a witch at the beach?

a sandWITCH

Why was the jack-o-lantern afraid to cross the road?

Answer: he had no guts

Why are ghosts bad liars?

Answer: you can see right through them

What is a witch’s favorite subject in school?

Answer: Spelling

What does a skeleton say before eating?

Answer: bone appetite

Why don’t skeleton’s like parties?

Answer: they have no body to dance with

What do witch’s put in their hair?

Answer: scare spray

What kind of music do mummies like?

Answer: wrap music

Get your own copy of these cards at my Etsy Shop! Click here

As a skeleton would say, “Bone Appetite!”

The post Halloween Joke Cards For Your Kid’s Lunchbox appeared first on Burnt Pancakes.

For my son, starting second grade, came with moans and complaints. He does not enjoy the hustle and bustle in the mornings and the end of our leisurely summertime days.

I decided I needed to make something to cheer him up and get excited about school. Since I won’t be able to accompany him to school to cheer him through the day, I wanted sneak something in his lunchbox to make him smile.

He loves jokes so I whipped up these printable cards to add some laughter to his afternoon. There are 10 jokes in total for two weeks worth of lunches.

I printed this sheet on a piece of 8.5″ x 11″ card stock paper, cut them into 10 individual cards and packed one per day in his lunch for two weeks. Get yours here

Our Favorite Back-to-School Jokes

What did A say to B?

Answer: C you later

What’s the king of all school materials?

Answer: the ruler

How do bees get to school?

Answer: on a school buzz

What does a librarian use for fishing bait?

Answer: a book worm

Where is the best place at school to plant a flowers?

Answer: kinderGARDEN

What’s a pirate’s favorite subject?

Answer: Arrrrt

What school building has the most stories?

Answer: the library

What’s a snake’s favorite subject?

Answer: Hisssstory

What did one math book say to the other?

Answer: you have problems

Why did the cookie go to the nurse?

Answer: it felt crumby

Get your cards at my Etsy shop! Click here

Send your little ones off to school with a laugh!

The post Back to School Lunchbox Joke Cards appeared first on Burnt Pancakes.

It also means that it is time to take that obligatory first day of school picture. I remember doing this as a child myself and you better believe I am making my boys do it too.

If you have been procrastinating or still in denial like me, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Download our First Day of School signs and capture this big day for your kids.

Our signs are all free to download and range from Preschool – 8th Grade.

I usually print my signs on card stock. We take our pictures outside in our front yard, the same place we take our end of the year pictures.

I love the colors of these because they are bright and cheery unlike my oldest son’s attitude about going back to school.

It’s always fun to get younger siblings in the pictures too! My youngest isn’t in school yet but loves to be like his older brothers.

Celebrate the first day of school by letting your kids express their silly sides. These are usually my favorite and almost always make it into our yearly scrapbook.

Download and Print Any Grade Level

The post First Day of School Signs appeared first on Burnt Pancakes.

After creating and printing my “Crack the Code” pages, I gave them to him and watched as he worked through each joke, chuckling as he revealed the answer.

Get one of these printable “Crack the Code” puzzles I made. There are three different pages each with three new summertime jokes. They will fill your summer days with a little brain exercise and laughs.

Get your free download here.

Summertime Jokes: answer key

What do you call a bird that flies over the bay? a baygull

What kind of tree can you hold in your hand? a palm tree

Why don’t oysters share their pearls? they are shellfish

What does the sun drink out of? sunglasses

What does a mermaid call her friends on? a shell phone

What did the pig say on the hot summer day? I am bacon

Who do frogs eat on in the summer? hopsicles

What do you call a snowman in the summer? a puddle

How does the ocean say hello? It waves.

The post Summer Jokes – Crack the Code Printable appeared first on Burnt Pancakes.

We are smack dab in the middle of the summer and boredom is in full swing. Some days my kids make it sounds like the boredom is eating them up alive.

Although I am a firm believer in the idea that being bored fosters creativity, I am also really tired of hearing those three little words, “I’m So Bored!”

I created an “I’m So Bored” chart to put an end to all the suggestions my kids keep vetoing. Now, when my kids come to me and say they are dying of boredom, I say, “Go get the dice.”

They know that once they utter the “B word,” they can’t take it back. The dice will determine their fate for the next 10-15 minutes.

My chart is divided into 6 categories, each with 6 tasks. The first roll determines which box they will be in and the second roll chooses the specific activity.

Some ideas might be exciting and enjoyable for them, others, like clean the windows, might cause some groans, but that is the risk they take when they let the boredom phrase slip.

I have provided you with our list but you can also download my blank list to write in your own ideas.

Get your copy at my Etsy shop: click here

Box 1: Make Something

This box gets your kids to use their hands and be creative. Have them make a card to send to a friend, build a pillow fort or Lego car. Make a comic book or a list of their top ten favorite foods or animals. Try making paper airplanes and race them.

Box 2: Clean Something

This might be my kids’ least favorite activity but that is the risk they take when the chart comes out. I tried to find things that are age appropriate and safe for them to clean.

Take a look at my post Chasing Rainbows to see how we organize our bookshelves using color order.

We use this vacuum because it’s super powerful, easy to store, and manageable for the kids to handle.

As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com.

Box 3: Learn Something

I don’t like to make learning a punishment so I tried to make this box something that my boys would actually be interested in learning. Heck, in the future, they might even be able to use sign language to communicate the phrase, “I’m so bored.”

Box 4: Draw Something

There’s no better activity for your kids to do when they’re bored than to draw something. You might even pick up a crayon of your own and join your kids! We are huge fans of the step-by-step tutorials that Art For Kids Hub has on Youtube.

Box 5: Read Something

Just like the box “Learn Something,” I don’t like to make reading a punishment, but sometimes when you are bored the best things to do is to pick up a book and reset. Maybe changing the location or allowing your child to make a video of themself reading will be the motivation they need to get their nose in a book.

Box 6: Play Something

This one might include your participation but who doesn’t like a game? All these games are classics for kids to learn and require very little supplies. Word of caution though, I always warn my oldest son that I don’t play with cheaters and the loser must be a good sport.

Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors by Drew DeWalt

If you haven’t read the book, The Legend of Rock, Paper Scissors with your kids, run out and get it. It is on our top ten list of all-time favorite books and is the best way to teach the game, “Rock, Paper, Scissors.”

Now go get your dice and put an end to the constant stream of children whining, “I’m so bored.” Use this chart as your secret weapon in the battle against of boredom. After a few rounds of laundry or reading to little brother, my boys have thought twice about admitting to the fact that they are bored.

Try our blank template and come up with ideas to fit your own family.

Get your copy at my Etsy shop: click here

The post My Secret Weapon in the Battle Against Boredom appeared first on Burnt Pancakes.

NOW, I want to make EVERY summer fun and memorable for my whole family. 

Get Your Bucket List HERE

My boys and I sat down and made a list of the places we want to go to and things we want to try together. It was fun to hear some of their ideas. My oldest came up with 80’s Day and I am excited to see what he has planned for us. 

If you want to do this with your own family, you can use our Bucket List Ideas or print our blank template to fill in your own.

Get your Bucket List HERE

Summer Bucket List Ideas

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Bowling

Camping in the yard

Water Fight – these instant self-sealing water balloons are a time saver and so much fun!

Make Dinner for the Family – Plan the meal, make a shopping list, hit the grocery store and prepare dinner. This should also include waiters/waitresses and dishwashers too!

Make Root Beer Floats

Make Ice Cream Sundaes

Picnic in the Park

Visit a Museum

80s Day (dress up, rock out and watch 80s movies)

Slip n’ Slide

Play Mini Golf

Make Rock Candy

Go to a Baseball Game

Visit a Zoo

Have a Beach Day

Watch an Outdoor Movie – We use an outdoor projector screen with a projector to show movies.

Stay up Past your Bedtime

Go Fishing

Have a PJ Day

Make a Mento Geyser (To see how to make a Mento Geyser check out THIS POST

Game Night – We love the classics like Candyland and Shoots and Ladders but have also become huge fans of Catan Jr. and Spot It!

Make S’mores

Take a Hike

Go to the Movies

Make Homemade Ice Cream in a bag

In a small resealable bag combine

• 1 cup half & half
•  2 tbsp sugar
• ½ tsp vanilla extract

Add small bag to large resealable bag with

• 3 cups ice
• ⅓ cup rock salt

Shake until ice cream hardens.

Go Somewhere New

Go Kayaking

Fly a Kite

Play Tennis

Whatever you put on your bucket list, make sure to check off…

X Have Fun!

Get your Bucket List HERE

The post Our Summer Bucket List appeared first on Burnt Pancakes.

Here’s how we celebrate the last day of school.

Donuts in the morning

We don’t get donuts that often so when we do, my boys know it’s a special day.

The obligatory “Last Day of School” Picture

Don’t leave the house without snapping a picture with your last day of school sign. You can use a letter board or our printable sign.

You can find a printable version of each grade level at the end of this post.

Some of our Favorite Letter Board Quotes for the Last Day of School

Good Bye 1st grade, Hello Summer

Last day of 1st grade 2021-2022

See ya, 1st Grade!

Adios 1st Grade, Hola Summer

No more pencils, no more books, no more teachers dirty looks

School’s out for summer!

School is Out, Scream and Shout

Summer Song Playlist

Find a summer playlist and rock out in the car while driving through the pickup line for the last time. Our favorite song is “School’s Out” by Alice Cooper and we will probably listen to it on repeat the rest of the week.

Special Lunch

The last day of school is usually a half day so I treat my boys to lunch. Remember that the rest of the city will be getting out too so be ready for crowds if you plan to eat in. Hitting up a drive-through and having a picnic at the park can be really special. 

Root Beer Floats

Nothing says summer more than root beer floats? After dinner, break out the vanilla ice cream and root beer and enjoy a summertime float.

Movie Night

We always kick off the last day of school with a special showing of our favorite summer movie, Sandlot. It is an unofficial rule in our house that this movie is reserved for the summer months only. My boys probably watch it at least 10 times between June and September but I don’t mind. It’s a classic and puts us in the perfect summer mood.

That’s a wrap on another school year!

Have a fabulous summer!

Download our “Last Day of School” signs

The post How To Make The Last Day of School Memorable For Your Family appeared first on Burnt Pancakes.

The next day my friend called and told me she had a really hectic day. She was driving home from school pick-up with six kids in her car, when she got a flat tire. Not the kind of flat that just needed a patch, but an “Am I going to make it to the mechanic before I am driving on the rim?” type of flat.

I instantly felt her pain. As moms, we are required to be in charge and keep our cool even when our brain is screaming S.O.S.

The repair on her tire was going to take at least a full day. She was borrowing a car from her parents and after offering to run to the grocery store for her, she said she was, “Managing ok.”

Well, I know that phrase. “I’m ok.” It means that things might be crazy but I am holding it together. It means that I’m exhausted and somewhat overwhelmed but I’m going to be able to feed my kids and get them to bed somehow. It means I am surviving, maybe on empty, but I’m going to make it home.

I wanted to do something to show my friend I was proud of her for holding things together and that she deserved a little pat on the back.

My kids and I whipped up a batch of cookies and swung by the drive-thru Starbucks to pick up her go-to beverage; a grande soy Chai Latte with no water (and a straw).” I printed out this card and left it on her doorstep.

This little gesture didn’t repair her tire, but sometimes in motherhood, there’s nothing like knowing that a friend feels your pain and has got your back or at least can swing by the drive-thru Starbucks, Target or the grocery store in a time of need.

The post When Life Gives Your Friend Lemons appeared first on Burnt Pancakes.