“I'm gonna soak up the sun. I'm gonna tell everyone to lighten up.” – Sheryl Crow

Spring cleaning?  Please God, no!  I hate cleaning.  It’s the worst.  While we must all eventually get on board the cleaning train, or face our inevitable debut on a future episode of Hoarders, I’m refusing to acknowledge reality and sharing with you some ways to take your Spring to a whole new level!

1. Lay back and enjoy the perfect weather!  Find a patch of grass and do some cloud watching with the fam!  What objects can you see?
2. Get your fruit on!  Use a few spring-themed cookie cutters and punch them through quarter inch pieces of fruit.  Watermelon, cantaloupe, and pineapple are perfect for this project. 
3. Take in a peep show!  Make traditional Rice Krispy Treats, but replace the marshmallows with marshmallow candy peeps.  Play around with flavors and layer different colors in the pan for a rainbow affect.
4. Go for a family drive!  When was the last time you just drove around with no apparent destination?  Take in the scenery, some sweet tunes, and family conversation along the way.  No electronics allowed.
5. Prep for Mary Poppins’ Return! Disney still thinks that there is merit to flying a kite, and who am I to argue with Disney.  Wait for a windy day and watch your kite glide through the air.
6. Rock on!  This simple activity is close to free and fun for the whole family.  Grab some rocks, paint fun designs on them, and then hide them around town.  Join local rock groups on social media (ie: the Kindness Rocks Project) to see when people find your rocks and/or post when you find others.
7. Ride a cowboy horse!  Grab your best friend and set out on a ride.  Become one with nature and visit an unknown trail. 
8. Donate your junk!  While this may cross into Spring cleaning territory, it can be liberating to minimize and downsize.  Get rid of unwanted or unused goods in your house, donate to a local nonprofit, and destress in the process. 
9. Be a true American!  There’s nothing more American than baseball.  Lucky for you we live in baseball central where several pro teams practice.  Take in a game or two. 
10. Get a little handsy!  Sometimes modern technology fails to compare to a little elbow grease.  Make your car shine while simultaneously making a memory with your family during the scrubbing and splashing.
11. You’re it!  Go back to your grade school glory days through a basic game of tag.  It’s great exercise and brings out your competitive nature.
12. Flower power!  Education meets décor in this simple experiment.   Take a couple of small vases and fill each with water.  Place drops of food coloring in one, so that each vase has its own color of water.  Buy a couple of white daisies and place one or two in each vase.  Watch as your flower petals absorb the color of the water over time. 
13. Feed the birds!  What are the odds that I’d write a column that required two Mary Poppins references?  Choose a simple kid version that utilizes a toilet paper insert covered in peanut butter and seeds, or opt for the fancy teacup glued to a saucer.  When you’re finished, hang them in a neighboring tree… or cactus… and do some bird watching.
14. Soak up the Son!  Easter is the celebration of the hope Jesus gave when He died on the cross and rose again.  Connect with God and visit your local church. 
15. Murder, she wrote!  Did you ever do chalk outlines of your body as a kid?  Wasn’t it fun?  Do it again or introduce the next generation to this oddly entertaining activity.  While you’re at it, do a game of hopscotch or draw some designs on the sidewalk.
16. Go back to your roots and make homemade ice cream.  Pair it with some fresh brownies or fruit for an even better time.  Go around the room and share memories from your childhood that involved ice cream.
17. Battle it out in a duel!  Nothing says fun like an old fashioned water gun fight.  Pick up a cheap pack at the dollar store, or opt for a giant soaker.  Smiles are sure to follow.