Whew, what a weekend! Between regular softball games, DIBS, and our daughter’s tournament (which she won – “Go Cheetah Ponies”!), it felt like we spent the entire weekend at the ball field.
And while I won’t complain about the several Kona Ice cups I had and the quality family time we spent together, I will say that staring into the sun for hours upon hours did make me feel like crawling into a dark cave and hibernating for a day or two. With four kids and endless activities, that’s never going to happen for me, and I doubt it will happen for you either, dear reader, so instead, this week I’ll be highlighting some indoor activities that will help us all beat the heat.

Tuesday, July 15th

1. Mixed Nuts Kids’ Comedy Show at The Hudson Library
   Stay cool indoors and enjoy a family friendly comedy show at the Hudson Library put on by a local comedy troupe, A Touch of Magic Entertainment from 10:30 – 11:30 AM. Afterwards, there will be an opportunity to join in on a STEM activity led by Mr. Mick!
2. Treasure Beyond Measure at Valley Library (Lakeland, MN)
   If you didn’t get enough of A Touch of Magic earlier in the day in Hudson, head on over to the library in Lakeland to catch their pirate show! The show offers free laughs and will have you “hooked” in no time.

Wednesday, July 16th

1. Let’s Create at Bayport Library
   Get a little reprieve from the heat and head to crafting time at the library from 2:00 – 2:45 PM. Wednesday’s theme is “Forest Explorers” and kids can use supplies provided by the library to create something you can find in the forest, or anything else their imaginations come up with. Open to kids of all ages. Once they’re done, drive down the road to Afton and visit one of my favorite places, Selma’s, to treat yourself to some delicious ice cream.

Thursday, July 17th

1. Outdoor Survival Class with Minnesota DNR
   From 10:30 – 11:30 AM, a DNR employee will be leading a class all about how to survive in tough situations. Learn essential skills and get professional advice on how to navigate when lost, start a fire, and pack a go-bag. The event is free, but registration is required.
2. Let’s Play Game Day at Lake Elmo Library
   If your family is anything like mine, you love a good board game and puzzles. The Lake Elmo Library is offering a midday game session from 2:00 – 3:00 PM, hosted by a teen volunteer. This activity is appropriate for anyone age 2 and up. If you’re up for it, there will be an outdoor water table activity to participate in afterwards!
3. Free Movie at Bayport Library
   If games aren’t really your thing, you might want to head over to the Bayport Library for an afternoon matinee. They’ll be showing Paddington in Peru from 2:00 – 4:00 PM. Popcorn and fresh lemonade provided!

Friday, July 18th

1. The Bazillions in Lake Elmo
   Rock out to The Bazillions, a kid-friendly rock-n-roll musical group based out of the Twin Cities from 10:30 – 11:30 AM at the Lake Elmo Library. This concert is appropriate for all ages, and is free to attend. Once you’re done jamming, don’t forget to head over to the newly opened Lake Elmo Creamery just a short stroll down the block.
2. Llamas From Carlson Farm at the Stillwater Library
   This one is an outdoor activity, but it sounded so fun, I had to share it anyway. Books aren’t the only thing you’ll find at the Stillwater Library on Friday, you’ll be able to meet and pet a real life llama on the lawn from 10:00AM – 1:00PM, while getting all of your most nagging llamaesque questions answered by an expert. It’s going to be llamazing!

Saturday, July 19th

1. Family Movie Matinee at the Hudson Library
   From 1:00 – 3:00 PM, the Hudson Library will be putting on a free showing of “The Bad Guys”. This is the perfect opportunity to refresh your memory before going to see the new “The Bad Guys 2” movie coming out in August!

Sunday, July 20th

1. Micro Museum: The Shoebox Creator at Washington County Historic Courthouse
   This is such a cool opportunity! This is a drop-in event from 1:00 – 4:00 PM where kids and families can work on creating a shoe box sized museum about the topic or category of their choice. Follow the provided guidelines, and prepare your project to be displayed for the entire month of August!

As you can see, there’s no shortage of things to do indoors this week, in case you’re looking to break up your time in the sun a little bit. That said, don’t forget to enjoy the beautiful weather while we have it, and let me know if you partake in any of the activities listed!