So...this is what they call Summer Vacation in Arizona?

Summer vacation in Michigan
Means
Bike riding
Playing outside
Playgrounds
Swinging
Running around
 - And all of these are free, free, free
-  And all of these can be outdoors and in space

Summer vacation in Arizona
Means
Swimming in a pool
 - unless you don't have one
Swimming in a public pool
 - unless that freaks you out
Taking the kids to a splash pad
 - but that means the adult still sweats to death
Going to the movies
 - costs money
Painting pottery
 - costs money
Jumping at the trampoline gyms
 - costs money
Riding bikes
 - if you start at 6 am and stop at 8 am
Going hiking
 - ha - just kidding

Okay.
My point.
It's been a just a week
Of Arizona Summer Vacation.
And my first with
No work
And Me and one kid.
Too much money spent.
And now another week looms before us.
I love spending time with her
But also want to keep her occupied
On her own for a bit of time as well.

To put it bluntly
I am not liking summer vacation
With kids
In Arizona.
It's expensive.
It's boring.
It's restrictive.

And I happen to be the foster mother
Of an 8 year old with an attention span of a gnat.
I love her.
Seriously.
LOVE
HER
But
Oy.
She's never entertained for more than
A 15 minute span of time.
Nothing captures her attention for long in the house
Not coloring
Not reading
Not playdough
Not Barbies
Not a craft
Not a TV show
Not Legos
Not Littlest Pet Shop
Not a game
Sigh.

I remember being young
And my aunt telling my mom
"Maryann will be a great mom someday,
But I don't see her being a stay-at-home mom."

Um.
Yeah.
Me either.
God bless you amazing mom's who are.
And those of you who home-school on top of it.
You are my heros.
And I'll take any tips for keeping
Miz N busy
Happy
Occupied
And that are FREE, please!

Praise Reports:
-I am SO grateful and thankful for my neighbors who have two foster daughters and two bio boys that love Miz N and are willing to come over and play and help her play for a bit.

Prayer Requests:
-I am the foster mother of a hurting little 8 year old girl who has a lot of fears about a lot of things.  It can be very overwhelming and very hard to know what to say to calm her spirit and calm her fears.  Please pray that she begins to feel safe, feel loved, and can rest without answers to the things in life that she desperately wants answers to, but no one can give them to her.