I find it laughable, really, to be writing this post.
See, the event we are ‘counting down’ towards,
is an event we have actually already been home from,
for the better part of two weeks.
countdown calendar
Seriously.
countdown calendar
Yes folks…
the ever inimitable ‘Queen of Procrastination’ strikes again.
To be completely honest, I wasn’t even going to write this post this late in the game.
But my ever encouraging mama told me it was a must, because it was such a killer idea.
Before we go any further,
I have to give you a brief background breakdown here, or none of this will make sense.
{Heck, it might not even with the explanation- so…good luck with that}
Most of you who know me,
know that I homeschool all three of my lovely, wonderful crumb crunchers-I mean carpet lizards!
{Shoot! Stupid computer!}
I mean KIDS! My three wonderful, lovely KIDS!
And because I’m trapped inside each day,
{oh God help me!}
with three rambunctious young ‘uns
{somebody PLEASE!}.
I am always on the lookout for unique and exciting trips/vacations. Where we can go somewhere or see something new, but still have it in the realm of ‘educational’
{you know, so it ‘counts’}.
We were lucky enough to have a friend (who also homeschools) recommend an annual convention- the Unschoolers’ Waterpark Gathering.
And we decided ‘what the hey- let’s do it’. And so, we did it!
{My next post will be on the actual convention itself, so more deets will follow}
Now, the coolest thing about this convention (other than spending a week with thousands of people who do exactly what you do every day),
is that it’s held at the Kalahari Resorts and Convention Center, which just so happens to have the worlds largest indoor waterpark!
YEAH!
How could a kid (and a parent!) NOT get excited?!
The kids were so psyched when Tim and I told them about it, that they immediately wanted to start counting down. They made a hand-drawn countdown calender, but Tara soon decimated that with her ‘pitchers’.
So I knew I needed to come up with something inventive and ‘Sissy-proof’.
That’s when this baby was born…
So, without further ado- I present to you the most awesomest of awesome event countdown calendars ever created {at least to my way of thinking}!
DRUMROLL PLEASE……
Countdown Calendar!
Pretty cool, huh?!
I wanted to have something that was interactive for the kids, but easy to re-create (as we’ll most likely be doing this trip again in the future). Each day, a kid took down a balloon and popped it- signifying another day gone and one more day closer to our trip. I also needed to make sure that it was easy and relatively inexpensive to pull together- since it is a ‘consumable’ product.
Countdown Calendar Steps
I downloaded a free African font (here).
Printed the title and numbers up on my computer.
If interested, here’s the handy PDF: Countdown to Kalahari
Laminated them with my trusty desktop laminator.
{as my kids are rough on EVERYTHING!}
Lowe’s was a quick stop for some black jute rope.
The clothespins were found on my craft shelf.
And the balloons were an easy purchase from Oriental Trading!
A Million Other Uses
I’ve already thought of tons of ways to use this countdown calendar idea!
Use natural jute or sisal, beachy colored balloons with sand dollars, and suddenly you have a Beach Trip countdown!
If you’re a mountain person, used darker balloons (browns, rusts, and greens). Draw tree branch silhouettes on them and hang them from sticks found in your yard. Perfect Cabin Getaway countdown!
Snowflake balloons, white twine…Ski Trip countdown!
Red and green balloons hanging from garland would make an ADORABLE Christmas advent countdown calendar.
{Oooh! I love that one! I may have to steal it from myself!}
The ideas are endless- let your imagination run wild!!
So tell me dear readers, how would you use this idea and make it your own?
Til next time…
@kalaharisandusky @kalahariwaterpark @kalahari #countdowncalendar #vacation #UWG @UWG #travelingwithkids #anticipation @Orientaltrading @OTC #animalballoons #africanfont #africa #homeschool #homeschooling #unschooling #buildingexcitement
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