This week I was invited to guest post a family fun activity over with the amazing people of Mom It Forward. It felt like that moment when you did something back in school that was worthy enough to get you the nod of approval from the “cool kids”.
I think we have well established my love of simplicity, and how Pinterest projects for me range from a severe challenge at best all the way to borderline science fiction at the far end. So I was left with a conundrum. What could I safely pull off that would not make me look like the most boring/untalented person alive?
Then my awesome husband, seriously he is the best, reminded me of something we used to do when we were little and Voila! an idea for a post was born. I hope you take a minute and check it out, my kids and I had a great time and all you really need to replicate this activity for your own family is one, count it, ONE ingredient!
When I was young, watermelons had seeds. The seeds were not a nuisance, but rather something that was synonymous with summer and even summer fun. I have told my children stories about the games my friends and family used to play with watermelon seeds, but they just did not understand. They seemed to think that living with seeds in your watermelon was akin to living with bread before it was sliced.
So, I decided it was time to host my very own backyard watermelon bust party to show my kids just what fun they had been missing!
Most watermelons these days are seedless so I made a visit to my local Farmers Market in order to find a seeded one. Something that many may have forgotten is that the seeded watermelons tend to taste better. They are also oblong, which makes for superior slices.
The beauty of a watermelon bust is that other than the watermelon (make sure it is chilled) there is not much else needed in order to create a memorable and fun activity with your children. For maximum fun, cut the watermelon into two inch wide slices cut in half for the classic semi-circle look. Leave the melon-baller and paring knife at home.
Here are some of the games you can play:
- Have a seed spitting contest- See who can spit their seeds the farthest. We used sidewalk chalk to mark which seed belonged to which child.
- Spit the seeds into a cup- The person with the most seeds in their cup wins. My oldest won with a whopping 16 in her cup!
- Don’t cross the line- Draw 2 lines with sidewalk chalk. Stand on one line and see if you can spit your seed as close as you can in front of, but not over, the other line.
Here are a few pictures of our fun, notice the dripping watermelon juice all over their faces? Who let’s their kids play and get messy with their food? Me!
BTW: You might notice one extra kiddunk in the photos, this is my nephew Nick. The picture of him is so cute we had to include him in the recap.
In addition to all of the heaping slices of watermelon I made watermelon lemonade. I wanted to make it as easy and fun for the kids as possible so no fancy stuff here.
To make it you need:
- Your favorite powdered or frozen lemonade. Make as directed.
- Cut up chunks of watermelon and put into your serving glass.
- Crushed ice cubes inside the glass.
- Slivers of watermelon and lemon and a couple fancy straws for garnish.
My children had so much fun doing the watermelon bust and even asked when we could do it again. That’s a win for this Mom!
Stay Happy! Stay Informed!
Love,
Jen
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Comments
This all sounds like so much fun! And watermelon lemonade sounds delicious!
Laura recently posted…Pink Houndstooth and Tee
It was really good. The only problem was my kids wanted it for a solid week. We ran out of watermelon and you should have heard the complaints when they didn’t get “melonade” for dinner!
Jen recently posted…Host Your Own Old Fashioned Summer Watermelon Bust
I love this! My family, as much as we love each other, we make everything a competition, for the Quaker Oat Championship– we totally enjoy seed spitting ;)
Annnd watermelon lemonade is a must.
XOXO
Mrs. AOK recently posted…School’s Out for Summer…. #WW
The competition was fierce, except for the baby, she just sat and gnawed on her rind enjoying all of the chaos surrounding her!
Jen recently posted…Host Your Own Old Fashioned Summer Watermelon Bust
Aw… I’m a pretty oblivious person and I only just realized that you’re right? Where have all the watermelon seeds gone? We eat watermelon all the time and I haven’t seen black little seeds in years (I think)! I like the spitting the seed to get closest to the line idea. Now I want to go play outside!
Rebecca recently posted…Mom Problems: What I DIDN’T See Coming
Yes, I want to see Dylan’s cute face all smooshed into a BIG old piece of watermelon! We are currently on our 3rd seeded watermelon and it really does taste better.
Jen recently posted…Host Your Own Old Fashioned Summer Watermelon Bust
Fun ideas! That watermelon lemonade looks delicious!
Leilani recently posted…Fun Chapter Book Read Alouds for the Primary Grades
Thanks Leilani!
Jen recently posted…Host Your Own Old Fashioned Summer Watermelon Bust
It is seriously an understatement to say I’m addicted to watermelon! I could eat watermelon at every meal, every day and be content. These are such cute ideas for kids. I don’t have kids but I’ll have to try them out with my niece and nephew.
I was fiercely involved in the seed spitting competition with my kids and they totally beat me!
Jen recently posted…What’s Really In Your Kitchen Sink? Mommy Reality Challenge #4
Jen, this is seriously awesome. I love it!
Classic fun and the lemonade… yum, yum!
Thanks for sharing (and for linking up to the SHINE Blog Hop).
Wishing you a wonderful weekend.
xoxo
Jennifer | The Deliberate Mom recently posted…{this moment: a little girl and her daddy}
Thanks Jennifer! You have a wonderful weekend too :)
Jen recently posted…My Mommy Reality: Time To Come Clean About My Kitchen Sink
The watermelon lemonade looks AMAZING. I didn’t realize how thirsty I was lol. But I want it all.
Breaking The Momma Mold recently posted…Embracing The Sand
Hah! It was delish. My kids drank it all up and then munched on the watermelon. They said it was like drinking your dessert!
Jen recently posted…My Mommy Reality: Time To Come Clean About My Kitchen Sink
This post personifies summer! Fun!
Camille recently posted…Friday Favorite June 13
Um yes, please pass the watermelon lemonade. Seriously Love it! Thanks for linking up!
Hi Jen, seedless watermelons are a recent thing over here, and it is nice not having pips. Saying that though I’d be more than happy with a seed spitting competition. We know it’s summer here when we see watermelon pips on the beach and some of them actually germinate in the sand,but don’t come to anything.
That watermelon lemonade sound refreshing, may give that ago when watermelons are in abundance.
xx
Debbie recently posted…Automated Twitter Messages: What’s That All About?
I have been told that watermelons can grow anywhere. I guess on the beach though with the constant moving of the water that might be the one place it wouldn’t grow.
Now however I am laughing and thinking about thousands of watermelons growing somewhere on the shallow banks of the ocean floor somewhere. I wonder if that is even possible? Google here I come!
Jen recently posted…Mighty And Little: A Plan For Growing