7/18/07

WIN! and Outdoor Movie Night

The time has come. Summer is here. And you could WIN!

This is what you could WIN by commenting back on this post: A fun family tradition, a fabulous new book on raising courageous kids, kettle corn and other fun snacks, along with a great family DVD.

In promoting one of our favorite family traditions, Outdoor Movie Night is a great way to have fun with your family, or even neighbors or friends, in an inexpensive way.

If you want to create family memories that will last, put the TV outside on the lawn, gather the kids around with lawn chairs, sleeping bags or blankets, and watch your favorite movie! Make sure everyone has snacks and pillows! (Sshhh, don’t tell anyone that I usually fall asleep! Great nap time for Mom!)

Our family learned this great tradition years ago from the Black Family, when they started it with their 5 kids! It’s a keeper of an idea … I hope you will try it and pass this post on.

The movie will be chosen with your particular family in mind, the book is titled No More Jellyfish Chickens or Wimps, by Paul Coughlin, and snacks and surprises will also be included in the box.
Don’t forget to post a comment, and tell me if you’ve ever tried Outdoor Movie Night, or what your favorite family summer tradition is?

Drawing will be held this Friday evening, and the winner will be posted on Saturday, July 21st!

And for all who read my last post, the most popular dessert for our dinner party was the Coughlin Coffee Freeze. Vanilla ice cream with hot decaf Espresso poured on top!

Photos: Outdoor Movie Night in 2000, at our old house on Havana Ave.

Note: left-hand corner of very top photo - does anyone remember how Abby carried these polka-dot silkies around?
They were my pajama bottoms that she slept with, along with her thumb in her mouth, as a baby! She still has them!!

62 comments:

Abbey said...

oh! I hope being first doesn't hurt my chances of winning! I love this idea. We curl up in the front yard each year to watch fireworks on the 4th. I love the idea of being able to create that same feeling whenever I want. Thanks for the tip, and all your encouraging posts.

Anonymous said...

I love contests - what a fabulous idea!

I love that last post about your kids and entertaining. That dessert menu was a great idea for the guests and the kids.

If you ever want a blog redesign, we could do something beautiful with your theme... :-)

Melanie @ This Ain't New York said...

Great blog! I will be back for more. :>)

Jenny said...

I have been reading your blog for a month or so now. I love to be with people but I don't feel like hospitality is a gift of mine. Reading your blog gives me some inspiration. Maybe I'll have company someday too!

We love to go to the lake for a sunset swim in the summer. Especially on a really hot and humid day!

Unknown said...

I wish my kids would be still long enough to watch a movie! Our favorite summer activity is just running around in the backyard. We love to make up silly new games, although I am afraid Ian and Hannah are WAY too competitive - LOL!

Laura said...

We have never tried a movie night. We can't go in our backyard after dark because we might end up watching movies with the bears!! We could do it from the deck I suppose. I totally want to come and live with you, is that okay??

What a fun giveaway!!
Laura

MorningSong said...

We have never tried a movie night but you HAVE inspired me. We are currently packing up to move across town next week and I plan to try this there!!

What a great idea!

GiBee said...

We do family movie night each fall with our neighbors ... one of our techie neighbors has one of those overhead projectors that you can hook a computer up to. He puts the DVD in his computer, and then it projects on a huge screen they have. It's tons of fun!!!

Hmmm ... I wonder if they borrow the projector from their church??

I'm so in for the drawing ... I've been dying to get my hands on Paul's book!

Becca said...

Oh Sandy--I love it! We are definitely going to try this one. We have a friend who sells tipis, he could bring one over and we could all get inside and watch. Oh, the possibilities!

EZ Tipi

Anonymous said...

We love both the local movies in the park and concerts in the park ... for the movies, we'll bring blankets and snacks and often one of my daughter's friend (7 yrs). For concerts, like the fabulous blues one last weekend, we have a blast enjoying the music and lovely summer nights.

Anonymous said...

This is great!!

I also loved your post on Hoppi-what an amazing lady!!

Thanks for all you do, Sandy!

Oh, and I'm loving Paul's new book and discussing some great things with my hubby. Today I suggest he prep them for a solo bike ride to the playground at their school 3 blocks away. One of the roads is kind of busy, so I've always said no...I'm a chicken!!! Anyway, with the right parameters we want to give them more freedom to grow bolder in who they are and to be fearless. It's just a fear-busting year for all of us I guess. I'm on my own quest and see how being afraid for all these years has affected my life. (or is it effected?) You know what I mean. :)

Bless your day, everyone!!! :)

Jami

Jen T. said...

I love your blog. I love having people over in our home and a I want to learn more about how to do it for God's glory, not my own. I'm also enjoying learning how to make our family time just as special as when we have guests. Great idea. Our favorite summer activity always involves ice cream. Out kids are 5, 3 and 1.

Anonymous said...

Hee hee, I already bought the book - wish I had more time to read it (!) Because I have already won a contest on your blog please feel free to leave me out of the draw :)

An Ordinary Mom said...

What a fun contest! We have never had an outdoor movie night ... our third story balcony isn't big enough. However, I am sure our friends would let us borrow their backyard :) !!

~liz said...

this is such a great idea! i can't wait to do this, now that i've heard of it!
~liz
www.smithical.com

anonlurkermom said...

Our elementary school has a Friday Night Dinner and a Movie yearly. Everyone brings blankets and dinner and they set up a projection TV and make popcorn. Great fun! Great community building!

Lisa Hellier said...

My three sons regularly ask for a movie night in the summer with a blanket spread out in the den, pizza on a paper plate and popcorn for afterwards. I'd honestly not ever thought about moving the event to the great outdoors. So sign me up as an entrant to this contest and fun idea.

Gena said...

We've been doing "Outdoor Movie Night" for a couple of years. We borrow an overhead projector unit and hook our DVD player up to it; we show the movie on a wall inour backyard. One year we did a Hawaiian theme and served snowcones and fresh pineapple spears while watching Lilo and Stitch. We also had a Hawaiian flower foam craft project set up on one of the tables for the kids to do if they got restless. This has been a great way to reach out to our neighborhood kids, and my teens love to have their friends over for movie nights with popcorn and rootbeer floats. It's been a great, low-key, summer tradition that we all love. Thanks for the post.
Blessings to you!

Jill said...

In the past, we had no useable outdoor space (except our driveway and a small patch of grass in the front yard). But, with the addition of our deck we hope to start some great outdoor traditions. Movie night is a great suggestion and would be a big hit. Thanks again for the ongoing inspiration and great ideas and please enter me in your contest!

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Sandy, you have the best ideas for families. I'm a step-parent, but they are away at school, so you're right....I'm out of this stage! But, I think it's a super idea for young familes.

Don't put me in the contest! I'd rather someone win who is in this stage of life.

xo,
Rhoda

Melissa Stover said...

we have never done that and i fear we would be carried off by the mosquitoes. but it sure looks like fun!

Justabeachkat said...

Hi

Great idea. I'd love to enter the contest. Our kids are grown, but this sounds like something fun to do when the grandchildren are here. We all like to snuggle up together on the couch, covered in blankets and eating popcorn. This sounds like an adventure my little ones would love.

Hugs!
Kat

Anonymous said...

Sounds like fun! I would love to win!!

sam

Anonymous said...

I'm afraid the mosquitos would carry me away if I sat in my back yard and watched a movie. I have a friend that did this for his daughter's b-day. They all were in the swimming pool and had a multimedia projector and his back drop was a white sheet againt the patio wall. It was a big success!

The Mom of 'em said...

What an awesome idea! But maybe one I implement when I'm not 7 1/2 months pregnant in the dead of summer? =-) Definitely want to get it going though - and invite the neighbors! Thanks for another great idea.

Anonymous said...

hello! i have been really enjoying your blog....would love to be entered into your drawing!

having traditions with my family is important to me, we are a young family, and i am always looking for fun ideas! the outdoor movie scene sounds great!!

take care,

vivian from idaho
farmgirl400@yahoo.com

Donnetta said...

Look at the comments skyrocket!! WOW!

We have never done an outdoor movie night... yet. A friend and I are working on coordinating one at our church this summer as an all church family acitivity.

We are hoping to bring the projector and sound system outside, hang some sheets on the side of the church and do it on a "big screen" of sorts.

We're in the planning stages so we'll see if we get this one pulled off or not.

A family night at our house also sounds like a GREAT time!

How fun it would be to win this offer and include it in my planning!! :-)

Linsey Knerl said...

We've never done movie night outside (too many mosquitos), but we do enjoy campfires and songs! Great contest!
I'm also having two giveaways at both of my blogs!

Pam said...

Great giveaway, Sandy! Count me in, too, please.

Pam said...

Oh, our favorite outdoor activity is going to a park, lying on a blanket and checking out cloud pictures until it gets dark enough for star pictures. Easy, inexpensive and fun!

linda t said...

Yeah! Waaay, waaay COOL! I would want it ALL! Such a FUN give-away Sandy!
When the kids were little, we would spend the day going all over the city on the city bus. A fun way to get out of the HEAT!
Hey, Sandy, I will email you about a fun summer craft!

Anonymous said...

We play frisbee together on the lawn - I hope it'll grow into frisbee on the beach or at a campsite as the kids grow older!

Cool giveaway!

Jessica said...

I have never tried Outdoor Movie Night. My little man is still a toddler, but I can't wait to do so when he gets older! A great family activity. Thanks for the chance to win! I'm excited!

Anonymous said...

Hi Sandy...
I love the outdoor movie night idea...our favorite is in the evenings, getting our girls ready for bed, then all of us sitting on our front steps with popscicles or ice cream watching the world go by, visiting with each other, in no hurry for bedtime.

Anonymous said...

Fun tradition!! We try to pitch a tent out in our backyard for some fun family time. When the weather is bad we also will put one up in the house somewhere! Great for storytelling, listening to God's night sounds, and quiet time with my kids away from it all (yet comforts of home). Can't wait to read Paul's next book!!

Angela Friesen
bkmomang@aol.com

Paula said...

We've never tried this as a family activity, but have talked of doing it with a group from church where the movie is projected on the side of a friend's barn and everyone joins in the fun.

Thanks for the great idea and the giveaways!

Carey said...

What a great idea, We have never done this. It looks like it would be a lot of fun. One of our favorite things to do is go to the beach(on lake erie) and watch the sunset. We bring a blanket, and sand toys, kids like to skim rocks on the water. Its just a nice down time at the end of a day.

La Tea Dah said...

Great idea, Sandy. This summer we have started a similar family tradition, with our own twist, of course. Our children are older than yours, and have outgrown their homeschool room (in a building attached to the shop). The schoolroom has turned into a mini-movie theatre for the summer. The boys have Netflix accounts and have been watching (very old) movie classics during their school break. But on Saturday nights we have family movie night, and so far it's been "mom's pick" each time. Some of the movies we've watched are Breakfast at Tiffany's, Mrs. Potter, and (this week-end) Pride and Prejudice. The kids have invested in a DVD projector and a full-size screen --- so we sit back in air conditioned comfort in our comfy chairs --- sipping on iced tea and sharing family time together. Maybe this week we'll try the popcorn! It's sure different from those days where we studied math, English, science, reading, and writing in that room! But the warm fuzzy memories being made are just as sweet.

:) LaTeaDah

Jane said...

I LOVE that it is just your TV out there! I have seen such high tec ($$$) home movie set ups for outdoor movies and who needs it? It's just fun to be out with the family! We haven't got a yard, but we have been some interesting places for outdoor movies. One of the best was the old Warner Brothers Ranch where westerns of the 50's were filmed.

Looking forward to reading that book winner or not!

Anonymous said...

Our summer traditions for four years have been driving from Seattle to California. We tend to go for ice cream every day, go to the beach, swim and enjoy the sunshine. I love summer so much. It is really my season. The books looks fantastic and if I don't win, I will definitely want to buy a copy.

Elizabeth said...

Hey, that looks like great fun! We've never tried it. You have me thinking about logistics, outlets, extension cords...

We do enjoy heading outside with sleeping bags, however, to watch shooting stars. In fact, our calendar is already marked for August 12 when there will be a Perseids Meteor Shower. We will definitely be heading out with sleeping bags that night, barring rain.

lace said...

We have never had an outdoor movie night. It sounds great! and with projectors becoming popular in home items you could project a movie onto your house or garage door.

We have a tradition of watching the meteor showers in the driveway. We take blankets out and lay on the cars.

tammi said...

Well, the contest is great incentive to leave a comment, that's for sure, but I just discovered your blog and I think I will spend serious time here. I am a VERY reluctant entertainer (much to my husband's great disappointment), and my desire is to get better at it. I LOVE the idea of having an outdoor movie night!! Thought of doing it as a church youth group fundraiser a couple of years ago, but the logistics overwhelmed me shortly after the idea popped into my head, so I abandoned it. A family night (maybe even with a few friends and their families!) sounds much more do-able.

Megan Cobb said...

Summer Friday nights are Bonfire nights in our driveway, complete with s'mores, hotdogs, popcorn and fireflies aplenty. The neighbors have standing invitations to join us when they're in town, and we generally have 20-30 people with us, including dozens of kids. We have thoroughly enjoyed these weekly gatherings as a way to catch up with our dear friends and to unwind after another week of frenzied activity. Just last week, my husband and I were thinking how neat it'd be to surprise everyone with a movie - maybe projected on the side of our house - one Friday night by the fireside. Now I'm thinking, why make it so complicated? Let's just drag our old TV out there!

Love your blog... I am an avid entertainer myself.

Carol said...

Our family summer tradition is the week that we spend at the lake with my brother and his family. We have been doing it for over 10 years and we always have a great time. We relax by reading and playing endless games of croquet and cards, dutch blitz and scrabble. We boat and bike and walk and run and laugh and giggle together. It's so fun. Every afternoon we have tuck shop and the kids get to pick from the treat bag that I bring with me each year. We have a campfire at night and enjoy smores and more laughter. The 5 kids play together and make up the most fun things to do.

Enjoy reading your site. I have much work to do to be a relaxed entertainer. But I'm working on it.

Nadine said...

Great idea. I love contests. I have never tried outdoor movie night when the kids were younger, but a cool idea. We did have movie night and they took turns choosing a movie.

Beth/Mom2TwoVikings said...

I've never found my way here to your bloggy home until today! But have heard wonderful things about ya! *wink* Beautiful bloggy home and a GREAT idea! Count me in!

Anonymous said...

We've never done an outdoor movie night, although we do "camp" in the back yard sometimes. It sounds fun though. We always make homemade ice cream in the summer. Yummy!!
Karen G.

mamashine said...

How fun! We've never tried outdoor movie night but I bet it would be a big hit with my four year old! :)

Tammy said...

Oh, this brought back a memory I had forgotten! We did do this once or twice when I was growing up!
Hmmm...the only current tradition we have in the summer that comes to mind right now is no-tv day, once a week. Those days, we are not allowed to turn on TV so the kids really get into creative play more, listen to a story on tape during rest time, and we read a bit more! :)
Please enter me...how fun!
(I'm doing a tiny contest right now, too...but nothing on the scale of yours!) :)

Sara at Miller Moments: said...

what a fun idea! And with today's technology, we could even take our laptops out with our wireless internet coverage and watch movies online...wow!

Only, here in the south - the nights never do cool down...90 degrees at 9pm is not fun, so it's more of mid-fall activity for us! Camping is the same way - the best times to camp are along about November! :)

Kristen Lawrence said...

My three kids are still too young to enjoy Family Movie Night, but in a few years I plan to make it a summertime tradition. Thank you for sharing and thanks for hosting this contest.

Dena said...

Oh, I want to win! I enjoy your site so much and I can't wait to read your husband's book. We have a couple favorite traditions: icecream parlor on the last day of school, 4th of July at the lake, family chapter books over the summer. You are an inspiration, thank you.
Dena (www.roomforgrace.blogspot.com)

Elle Jay Bee said...

Fun idea!! I love that you're always coming up with new, family-friendly ways to enjoy life. Thanks for sharing them so willingly. I love party planning. I threw a pool party (at the end of June) just for the heck of it for my little girl. We had lots of fun making shaved ice, wearing pretty bathing caps and grass skirts...all in her favourite colours!! You'd approve, I think!!

Linda

Anonymous said...

We have not yet done outdoor movie night, but I definitely want to try it out! Please count me in for the contest!

Christine said...

Put me in the drawing and I'll post it on my blog tonight! Love the idea of a movie night outdoors...

:)

Wendy said...

We do something similar, but inside. Doing it outside is a GREAT idea!

Count me in on the contest too. Looks like a great book!

BTW, I like your 10 commandments.

Mindy said...

I LOVE this idea.
My daugthers are really young right now and I am a bit afraid to try it.....but I think we just might and see who it goes. And I'd LOVE to do it and invite some friends over! That would be fun!

THANKS for this idea!

Elise @A Path Made Straight said...

How fun!

We have family movie nights once a month, but have never tried it outside since we've almost always lived with someone, or in a very snug neighborhood, or in a parsonage, as we do now. But it's definitely something we've heard of and loved the idea!

Thank you for the contest!

Kimberly said...

Looks like I'm the last one to the party. With 10 kids at home I don't get to read my blogging buddies as much as I would like but I finally caught up and was prompted to go here! What a great idea. We haven't tried that but our favorite summer activity is a girls night out. We(my 6 daughters and I) sleep in a tent out on the trampoline in the back yard. We have a blast eating junk (cookies, chips, chocolate milk), telling stories, shushing the babies until they fall asleep and then we pull out the really great junk food (popcorn, pretzels, chocolate candy, sour patch kids,worms and soda) and talk until I usually fall asleep) The next morning I arise and make muffins, muffins and more muffins for us to feast on under the cover of the tent far away from the boys!!!

Anonymous said...

Am I too late? What a great idea to have outdoor family movie night. I love it!!!
Chantel

Elizabeth said...

I was unable to figure out how to leave a comment for the contest as I have never done this before...honestly, I still have no idea how I ended up here either, but oh well, I am glad to be able to tell you how much I like your sight! Hospitality has been one of the main ways our family has learned to serve together, work as a team and have fun, all the while blessing others in the process. My children have such great people skills as a result of this as well. An added benefit that we have come to realize more recently. The heart or vision for hospitality in our family is to welcome, love and accept those that come to our home. Your blog has such great creative ideas for making it special! Thank you! I concur wholeheartedly with your blog about the table! Did you know that the table is the only furniture that is referenced in both the New and Old Testament? I believe what happens around the table in our homes has huge personal, relational and national significance. Elizabeth