My wife and I have 2 kids and we found that we never really spent much time together. We both lead busy lives so when we wanted to do something together we usually went to the movies or to a ball game. By the time you add up the cost of 4 tickets and popcorn, sodas, etc it really adds up. Now we devote 1 night a week for a family game night. It costs a lot less and we actually spend time laughing and talking together, not just watching a giant screen.
My brother and I used to get our families together on a regular basis after church and have lunch. It was a fun time where we could get together and talk. When his wife lost her job we decided to get together at a local park instead and have a picnic. Here are just a few of the benefits from that decision;
We had a lot more time to spend together - no one was waiting for our table
We actually could interact better - playing games, laughing, joking, etc. without bothering others nearby.
It was a lot more relaxing and peaceful - we could kick back in a chaise lounge or lawn chair
Best of all it...not only was it a lot more fun, it was also a whole lot cheaper! At a restaraunt all we could do was eat and talk, at the park we could also relax, fly a kite, throw a frisbee, play card games, etc. and save a bunch of money at the same time.
Ever try frisbee golf? Many parks have set up courses and if you can't find one you can make one up as you go along. It is a ton of fun and if you are like me and want to bend or break a golf club at some point during a round you will be please to find frisbees don't break. It saved us a ton of money in greens fees too!
If I remember right just like golf you have 18 holes. The holes are chosen by you and can be a sign, tree, garbage can, etc. Each hole you pick a par and you throw the frisbee from your tee box which can be any spot you want it too. Then keep score just like golf.
That's the way I've always played it. You can also set up different tee boxes which allow younger players to shorten the hole, and you can define out of bounds and other hazards to make it more challenging. If you haven't tried you are missing some fun. Get the family and friends together and have some real fun without breaking the bank.
