Life can become so busy that we forget to take the time to spend time with our family. Spending time as a family does not mean you have to spend a lot of money.

1. Gardening as a family can be a very bonding activity. You can even get inexpensive children's gardening tools at Wal-mart or the Dollar Store. Children love digging with their own tools and playing in the dirt.

2. Going out for ice cream can be a sweet treat for everyone.

3. Making a picnic lunch and heading for the park can create some great family time and wonderful memories. Do not forget the camera.

4. Having a cookout with hamburgers and homemade ice cream along with playing outside games like bubbles, basketball, croquet or hide and seek can be a great way to spend an afternoon as a family.

5. Playing outside during the summer in the water, whether it is a pool, sprinkler, water guns, or the old fashioned water hose can be a lot of fun for the entire family.

6. Pop some popcorn, get the board games out and have a family game night.

7. Take your family to a local festival and bring a cooler in your car full of snacks and drinks.

8. Bake some cookies or a favorite dessert and then enjoy the treat together.

9. Church activities can also be a great way to spend time together as a family.

10. My favorite: spending time together doing chores and helping Mom out with things around the house. Granted this will not be everyone else’s favorite family bonding activity.

It does not really matter what you do as a family as long as everyone enjoys it. We live in the country, so my family loves to be outside even if it is just cleaning things up or playing with our animals.

Share your family’s favorite way to spend time together.