Summer Break - Those Pesky Kids

Summer break is 5 weeks away for the children at Momma's house. Usually, my 3 bio daughters spend the summer with their father in a different state. They generally leave here the day after school lets out for the summer and don't return until a week or so prior to the beginning of school in August.

This year, their father has gotten caught in the economic downturn. He hasn't got a job and his living situation is precarious. Therefore, the young ladies will be staying home with us this summer. They're incredibly excited. This is the first time in 8 years that they've spent a summer with me. Of course, that doesn't change the fact that I have to work.

They're all old enough that they don't need a babysitter, but I think it's a miserable summer if they have to spend every day hanging out and waiting for us to come home from work. In the past summers, we've gotten them Six Flags season passes. It's a great investment for us because we always go more than twice a season (the break even point for season passes) and the Passholders Only day at the end of the season means that we get lots of Christmas gifts for next to nothing, as everything in the park is at least 50% off.

This year is different though. Wes' work situation isn't as secure as it has been in years past. I'm torn between being frugal and making better decisions with our money, and making sure our kids don't have a summer of boredom and exile. The 15 year old (in 10 days!) wants to get a job at Six Flags, so maybe it's not such a bad idea! But everyone knows that those amusement park passes are paid for with the extras... not the passes.

While I ponder this, I'll just share my snowflakes for today:
$11.30 (water bill was less than budgeted)
$4.49 (sold a book on half.com, this is the sales price after shipping and commission)
Yay for baby steps.

So, what do you think about the season passes? Good idea or no?