Do you have a competitive family? A family that loves hitting the put-put range, paintball courses, and any other place that offers family competition? Then why not think of ways to have tournaments at home? Not only will it save you money, but your family will also have more fun. This week, let's discuss having a bit of friendly competition on family night.

There are a number of different ways for families to have a tournament night at home. It all depends on what your family loves to do most. Your family may love to cook, play video games, or sports. Here are a few tips for turning a bit of family competition into cheap entertainment.

First of all, make the tournament worth winning. It may be a prize that you purchase, such as a small gift card. Or, the prize could be something you don't have to spend a dime on. For example, the winner of the weekly tournament could get out of chores for the following week. This not only encourages your children to want to play tournaments at home, but saves you a ton of money.

What would a tournament be without great food? When having a family tournament night, make it fun. For example, serve appetizers as a meal. You could also make homemade pizza or any other type of food you would normally enjoy while doing similar activities outside the home.

Last, but not least, keep it interesting. The same tournament every week will eventually get boring. Shake things up by having one family member pick the tournament for that week. The only rules are that it has to be something that can be done at home, doesn't require purchasing expensive equipment, and is something everyone can participate in.

Here are a few ideas for family tournaments:

• Cook Offs
• Video Game Challenges
• Team Sports
• Board Game Challenges

Remember playing video games when you were younger? Chances are your children enjoy video games just as much as you did. But, did you ever consider getting the entire family involved in playing video games together? Why not? Thanks to the Nintendo Wii, everyone can enjoy video games. Even the Xbox 360 allows up to four players. This week, let's discuss how you turn those expensive gaming consoles you purchased at the holidays into family fun.

There are a variety of different video games for families to enjoy. If your family enjoys board games, there's always Monopoly. If you'd like to get the family into an exercise program, EA Sports for the Nintendo Wii is a wonderful option. You can even enjoy classic games that you played as a child. If you're worried about investing in a game your family won't like, don't be. There are ways to try the games before you buy them and score really good deals.

First of all, never purchase a video game without trying it out first. Many department stores have the latest games setup so that you can try before you buy. This is especially true for gaming bundles, such as EA Sports and Wii Fit. You can also rent games from companies like GameFly. Both of these options allow the family to try out the game and determine if it's a good choice for them.

If you're still worried about price, which can reach over $100 for some bundles, don't be. You must think about how much money you'll save over the long run. Think of how many nights you and your family can spend at home playing the new game. Of course, you may also consider pawn shops and yard sales, which are a wonderful place to score great deals on gaming systems and games.

Thanks to the new video games that are available, everyone can enjoy this activity. Whether it's board games, sports, or even taking the lead in a rock band, you're bound to find a game you and your family will love.

Most kids love to build things. They also like to participate in contests. This summer outdoor activity combines both and is simple and fun. Building their own sailboat and then watching their creation in action can make a child feel good about him or herself. It also is fun, provides fitness, and exercises creativity and thinking skills.

Toy sailboats can be designed by the child and parent. Another choice is to search the internet for free toy boat building instructions. Many hobby and toy stores also sell ready-made kits that simply need to be assembled. Judging by the child's age and experience, parents can decide which is best.

For more fun, the project can be made into an event with family and friends. Set up a building area in the local park or your own backyard. Each child should have the necessary supplies to complete his or her boat building project. Parents can decide whether all the kids will do the same project or whether they will each choose their own way to build their boats. Be sure to have snacks and refreshments, as the kids will be working hard.

Once the boats are built, they can be taken to a local pond, creek, or stream where the kids are allowed to race the boats. Determine a starting and finishing point. Be sure to watch which way the water current is flowing. That is the direction the boats will need to go. Determine a signal to start. When the kids see or hear that signal, they must drop their boats into the water at the starting point.

The kids will enjoy running alongside the water bank to keep up with their boats. Don't forget that kids should have appropriate footwear when running. You may see them cheering on their on boat, hoping it will beat the rest to the finish line. This provides great exercise and healthy competition. One or more kids may get disappointed if they don't win. It's all part of learning and growing. Prizes or award ribbons can be given to the winners for first, second, and third place.

Do you love to take your family out for steaks on Friday night, but feel your budget getting tighter and tighter? Then why not fix steaks at home? With the wonderful warm weather, right now is the perfect time to enjoy family night at home. You can break out the grill and create a delicious steak dinner that costs a fraction of what you would pay at the steakhouse. This week, we'll discuss how you and your family can enjoy a delicious steak dinner in the comfort of your own home.

The typical trip to a steakhouse for a family of four can really add up. In fact, even eating at a steakhouse chain can be quite expensive.

4 sirloin steak dinner $48
4 drinks $8
4 desserts $12

Total $$68

That's quite a large total when you're trying to live on a budget and even a buffet restaurant costs around $48 for a family of four. Thankfully, you can prepare a delicious, high quality meal for a much smaller price.

4 (8 ounce) sirloin steaks $10
4 baking potatoes $4
Sour Cream and Butter $4
Salad Mix $4
Salad Dressing $3
Rolls $4
Bakery dessert $6

Total: $31

The truth is you could even afford to serve rib eye steaks if you wanted. You'll always save money when you prepare your own meals. If you want to save even more money, consider stocking up when steaks go on sale and stashing them in the freezer.

You can make this a special meal by cooking and eating outside or even incorporating other family night activities into the evening. You could play music, have a movie marathon, or even break out some fun games. The fun part apart about having family night at home is being able to be with your family. You can be as loud as you want and do what you want. Best of all, you don't have to a leave a tip.

Remember sitting down with the family for a night of board games? Whatever happened to this simple form of entertainment? There was once a time when you could spend $20 on a board game and enjoy years of entertainment. While classic board games may bore many of today's families, it's important to remember that board games aren't what they used to be. In this week's blog, we'll discuss how families can bring back family night with exciting board games.

Classic Monopoly and Life used to be quite entertaining, and still entertain younger children. Unfortunately, these games have lost their luster for older children. That doesn't mean that family game night has to be a big bust. The market is loaded with classic board games that have been given a makeover. Not to mention all the new games that are truly interactive, such as Scene It.

That's not all though. For families who have gaming consoles, board games can even be enjoyed on the TV. Games, such as Monopoly and Battleship, are available at affordable prices. Most of today's current consoles allow for at least 4 players, giving families the chance to enjoy video games together.

If you're worried about price, don't be. Not only do these games offer hours of entertainment, you can often find them used at yard sales. A great way to enjoy video games is to subscribe to a game rental site. For around $25 a month, your family can have two games out at a time. This is a wonderful way to try games before investing in them.

To round out the night, why not bake up a few pizzas and prepare ice cream sundaes? When you enjoy family night at home, you can afford to do more. This week, why not have a little fun with the family and purchase a new board game? You'll experience hours of enjoyment for an affordable price.

There's something nostalgic about going out for ice cream. This simple treat seems to bring families closer after the end of a long week. Unfortunately, it also seems to suck money from your wallet. The cost of a family of four having simple ice cream cones is around $16 and more expensive treats like brownie sundaes cost around $20. This week, we'll discuss making ice cream cones and sundaes at home. Not only will you save money, but everyone can get exactly what they want.

Four ice cream cones can cost $16. That price doesn't seem too expensive until you consider what you could buy at the grocery store for around the same price.

2 boxes of waffle cones $7
2 half gallon containers of high quality ice cream $11
Total $18

That's enough for at least a week's worth of ice cream cones! The savings get even bigger if you purchase store brand ice cream and cones. That's not all though. Even brownie hot fudge sundaes are more affordable when served at home.

1 gallon of store brand vanilla ice cream $6
2 containers of hot fudge topping $6
1 box of brownie mix $3
Whipped topping $3
Nuts $3
Cherries $3
Total $24

Not only would you have enough ingredients to serve hot fudge sundaes to your entire family twice, but you would have vanilla ice cream leftover for milkshakes as well. What about the king of all ice cream treats though? Can you also save money on banana splits?

1 gallon of Neapolitan ice cream $6
8 large bananas $3
Strawberry sauce $3
Hot fudge topping $3
Pineapple topping $3
Whipped topping $3
Nuts $3
Cherries $3
Total $27

That's enough ingredients to have banana splits two nights in row.

Without a doubt, ice cream night is much more affordable at home. Best of all, if you like having ice cream at home, you'll save even more by investing in an ice cream maker and waffle cone maker. Not to mention that ice cream seems to taste even better when you're kicked back in front of the TV.

In years past, families have gone out for dinner or even to the movies on family night. Due to the economy, nights like these happen less and less often. That doesn't mean families have to give up family night. In fact, there are many different ways to spend time together that cost very little money. That's exactly what this blog is all about. Each week, we'll discuss different ways to bring back family night. This week, we begin with pizza night.

Have you ever really considered the cost of going out for pizza? Many hadn't until the economy began to slump. For a family of four to enjoy appetizers, salad, pizza, drinks and dessert the cost is over $60. When times are tough, this night out is simply not doable. That doesn't mean your family has to go their separate ways. You can still enjoy family pizza night. Best of all, the cost is much more affordable.

Here's a quick list of what you'll need:

1 large bag of salad mix $4
1 bottle of salad dressing $3
1 large box of frozen appetizers $6
2 pack of pre-made pizza crusts $4
1 jar of pizza sauce $2
1 large bag of mozzarella cheese $4
1 stick of pepperoni $3
2 liters of soda $4
1 cake from the bakery $5

Total $35

You can cut the cost even more by preparing your own pizza crust and serving tea or another drink that can be prepared at home.

Gathering the family at home for family night not only saves money, but it allows the family more time to bond. Instead of being packed into a crowded restaurant, you can enjoy each other's company in the comfort of your own home.

Once you discover how big of a hit pizza night can be, you may want to invest in a pizza stone and peel. This way, you get the best crust possible. One last secret is to ask your favorite pizzeria if you can buy dough from their shop. Most pizzerias will sell their dough at a small price, allowing you to enjoy your favorite pizza at home without emptying your wallet.

The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and the chaos inside the house has just begun. Lunches need to be made, breakfast scarfed down, clothes found and thrown on, and everyone ushered out the door on time. Finding a morning routine that can help everyone in your family stay on track and make mornings run more smoothly is one of the top items on most moms' wish lists.

Don't Curl up for Bed Before Things are Sorted for the Morning
Kids should have their backpacks packed, clothes/uniforms washed and sorted and know where their shoes and additional gear is before they go to bed at night. Even kindergartners should be responsible for getting organized before bedtime. Lunch money or lunchboxes can often be organized the night before a school day, too. Mom and dad can find their car keys, look at the calendar and schedule to sort carpools and after school activities and get themselves organized before bed.

Keep the Television and Computer Turned Off
Waiting for a television show to finish or to check just one more e-mail means less time together as a family, and you'll try to compress a 30-minute morning routine into a 10-minute time span. Keep technology off in the morning, you can save a radio to listen to the weather or morning news, but that's it. Your family's morning routine will go off without a hitch if the technology is turned off.

Insist on Eating Breakfast Together
Allowing everyone to grab and go on their own might seem like the best choice on a hectic morning, but in fact, it may slow you down. Rather than everyone getting in each other's way, and no one getting a healthy breakfast, put mom, dad or an older sibling in charge of breakfast on any given morning. Scrambled eggs and toast for the whole family don't take a lot of time and allow everyone the opportunity to sit down and eat together.

Get up when the Alarm Clock goes off, or When you First Wake up
One of the hardest things about getting out of bed in the morning is fighting the alarm clock. But the longer you fight it, the less time you have in the morning and the more pressure you'll be under. Instead, consider waking up a little bit earlier and don't fight the alarm clock when it rings, either. A smooth morning routine is more likely if you simply realize that you have to get up. Don't fight it by trying to sneak in five more minutes.

A successful morning routine for families helps everyone's day get off without a hitch. Get ready ahead of time, keep the TV off, eat together and get up when the alarm clock goes off. Mornings that start off right turn into great days!

The change in the weather provides a plethora of opportunities for parents and children to get outside and get active. Turn off the television, leave the cell phones and laptops behind and relish the opportunity to get to work in your garden. With possibilities for the entire family to get involved, gardening with the kids is the perfect way to welcome the spring.

Start at Your Local Gardening Supply or Nursery
A trip to Home Depot or a local nursery won't be wasted. Take stock of what gardening materials you already have and take the opportunity to fill your shed with the necessities. Remember gardening gloves, tools, seeds and plants. Purchase smaller, plastic gardening tools for young children. A bubble mower also works nicely. Let children help pick out the things you'll need, including what they want to plant and watch grow this season.

Plant Seasonal Fruit and Vegetables
Don't just plant flowers, which may not appeal to all of the children in your family. Consider creating a small vegetable garden by growing tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, potatoes, or even corn, depending on your location. Not only is the idea an environmentally and financially sound one, but it may capture the attention of otherwise uninterested gardening participants.

Don't Worry About Getting Dirty or Wet
Make a day or a weekend out in the garden a fun time. Run the sprinkler for the kids to run through, if the weather is nice. Let disinterested toddlers play on the swing set or bring some extra dirt or sand outside for them to play in. If teenagers aren't interested in mowing the lawn or trimming the hedges, suggest water balloon fights when the chores are all done as a way of cleaning up. Don't worry about getting dirty while you are gardening with the kids – and make clean up fun while you're at it.

The decision to get out in the yard and to garden with the kids might mean a mess, but the fun and learning that can accompany the day or the weekend is well worth it.

If you have a basketball hoop (or a nearby court) and a ball, you're pretty much all set for a fun family recreational event. It's important to keep the whole family in shape and basketball gives the whole body a workout. So, gather family and friends (yes, the little ones, too) and host an amateur basketball tournament. Prior skills and knowledge are not necessary. This is all about fitness and fun.

Once you've figured out where and when you're going to play, be sure you've got everyone covered. If there are smaller kids who won't be able to reach the net with the ball, be sure to get a basketball goal they can reach. Children's size basketball hoops are fairly inexpensive. There are various sizes ranging from toddlers up to teens. Don't leave the babies out of the fun. Babies who are capable of playing with toys can be handed a soft basketball toy to play with. Depending on the baby's developmental stage, active play, such as reaching for the toy or crawling toward it can be encouraged.

Now, on to the actual game day. The weather should be nice enough for outdoor play. Be sure you let everyone know to wear the appropriate clothing for game play. Clothing should be loose-fitting, lightweight and moisture-wicking. Basketball shoes should be durable and have optimal shock absorption. Breathability and cushioning also should be factored in. Also, make sure that shoes worn during a basketball game are lightweight. Otherwise, the legs and feet will get tired before game play is done. I'm not saying everyone needs to have the same shoes as the pros, but foot protection is a must.

Once everyone has arrived and is geared up for game play, teams can be created. Be sure to also account for different age groups. Some families may decide to play these basketball games for prizes, while others may wish it to be non-competitive. Either way you will still get the same exercise, so that part is up to your family. The important part is that everyone gets the chance to play. There should be no players left on the sidelines in this one.

Every family has a picky eater. They have certain foods they'll eat and that's pretty much it. Not to mention that they also have weird eating habits. For instance, certain colored foods are completely off limits. How do you please these picky eaters? Again, it pays to have kid friendly recipes on hand. This week we'll discuss a couple more kid friendly recipes.

Cheesy Chicken Mac and Broccoli
Serves 4

8 ounces of dry whole wheat macaroni noodles
8 ounces of 2% Velveeta, cut into cubes
½ cup milk
Fresh cracked black pepper, to taste
8 ounces of chicken boneless, skinless chicken breast, baked and cubed
4 cups of frozen broccoli, boiled, but not cooked to mush

1. Cook the macaroni according to the package directions.
2. Stir in the cheese, milk, and pepper until the cheese is melted.
3. Stir in the chicken and broccoli.
4. Serve with whole wheat rolls and a side salad.

Cheeseburger Pizza Done Light
Serves 4

1 whole wheat pizza crust
1 cup of pizza sauce
8 slices of 2% American cheese
8 ounces of 93% lean ground beef
1 large green pepper, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
Fresh ground pepper, to taste,
Sea salt, to taste
2 large tomatoes, chopped
Sliced pickles

1. Spread the crust with the pizza sauce and add slices of cheese.
2. Cook the ground beef, green pepper, and onion in a large skillet and season with pepper and salt.
3. Add the chopped tomatoes to the beef and spread onto the pizza crust.
4. Bake according to package directions.
5. Top with sliced pickles and serve.

Kids will always be picky from time to time. When you have recipes like these though, you know that not only will they eat supper, but they'll also be eating something that's healthy. Remember, you can always sneak vegetables into fun meals without kids ever knowing. The next time they ask for kid friendly food, get creative and hide those veggies.

Sometimes spending time with family can be as simple as putting a twist on a popular sport or activity. Remaining active is important to the family's health and also is a great way to have some fun together. The relay race is a classic sport that families and athletes have enjoyed for years. Skateboarding also is a family-friendly sport. Mixing the two can add to the fun.

Materials
Open Safe Paved Area
Skateboard
Sidewalk Chalk
Whistle

Preparation
Before the race begins, be sure the family is wearing appropriate footwear. No one should be running (or skateboarding) in sandals or dress shoes. Appropriate active footwear should be lightweight and supportive. Be sure that the traction on the shoes is appropriate for asphalt, as well as skateboard riding.

Other preparations for the race includes gathering the materials. Prepare the race by drawing a start and finish line on the ground with chalk. The start and finish line should be enough distance apart for a good racing area. The actual length may vary depending on your family's endurance levels.

How to Play Skateboard Relay Race
Place a racer at the start line, as well as the finish line. If you have more than two family members, those members should split up evenly and line up behind the other players. The player at the start line should have the skateboard. Blow the whistle to signal the start of the race. The player at the start line skateboards to the player at the finish line. The skateboard, rather than a baton is the hand-off item.

The player at the finish line then rides the skateboard to the start line and the next player in line is handed the skateboard. The race continues until all family members have had a chance to skateboard. This is a non-competitive version. For a competitive version, teams can be created. Game play would be the same, except there would be two or more start and finish lines, depending on the number of players. Whichever team finishes first is the winner.

Those who are too young to skateboard the traditional way, such as younger children, may sit on the skateboard instead of standing.

Warmer weather brings to mind the visions of picnics. Who wouldn't want to escape to a lakeside getaway for the afternoon? Unfortunately, even on the weekend, this isn't always possible for busy families. After all, you have to get the food ready, make the trip, plan activities, etc. But, if you have a simple menu everything else seems to fall into place. This week we'll discuss a picnic menu that takes minutes to prepare.

Tuna and White Bean Salad
Serves 4

2 cans of solid white albacore tuna, drained
1 can of white beans, drained and rinsed
1 small red onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
½ cup of green olives, chopped
¼ pound fresh mozzarella, cubed
½ cup fat-free Italian dressing

1. Toss all the ingredients together in a large bowl and chill until ready to pack your picnic basket.
2. Serve with crusty French bread.

Stone Fruit with Honey Mint Dressing
Serves 4

4 peaches, sliced
4 red plums, sliced
4 black plums, sliced
4 apricots, sliced
½ cup honey
¼ cup lemon juice
½ tablespoon of mint, chopped fine

1. Place the fruit in a sealable bowl and mix the last three ingredients to form a dressing.
2. Top the fruit with the dressing and chili until ready to pack.

Both of these recipes can be made the night before the picnic. All you have to do is freeze a few water bottles and store them in the picnic basket so that they keep your food cold. Don't forget to also pack some juice boxes for the kids and maybe a bottle of sparkling wine for you and your spouse. To make things even easier, pack the salad and fruit in single serve containers. Also, you can hold off on adding the dressing to the fruit to see if your children like it or not.

A picnic doesn't have to be a long, drawn out affair. You can quickly prepare delicious recipes that are healthy and make for wonderful picnic fare.

Family story time often creates special memories. To add a unique twist that is sure to create plenty of memorable moments, try doing something unique with story time. Here's a fun way to add a good dose of drama to your family's routine.

Materials Needed
Your Family
A Good Book or Two
Imagination

How to Play
Once you've picked out a good book for active family story time, examine the book for characters. Each family member can choose characters from the story to act out. If there aren't enough characters in the book, members can take turns with characters or choose scenery from the book as their "character." Family members also must take turns being the narrator.

After each parent or child reads aloud each page, the family acts out that scene. There is no need to practice acting out the story beforehand. The improvisational method of doing this adds to the fun. The point of active family story time is not to get the scenes right, but to have fun while enjoying a good book together. Even if there are enough characters for family members, adding scenery and props for the family adds to the fun. For instance, a story could read "Jimmy proudly finished all of his chicken soup while mom and dad looked at him with a smile." If that portion is the contents of one page, the narrator would read that aloud. Two family members could acts as parents smiling at another who is acting like they're eating up a bowl of soup with a big smile on his face.

Another page of the story could read, "Jimmy then went outside to play fetch with his dog, Rover. Rover likes to jump over logs while he chases his ball." One family member could be Jimmy and another could be Rover. For a variation with family members as props, one or more family member could be the log that Rover jumps over to fetch the ball.

It is recommended to try this outdoors or in an open room for the most flexibility in active movement and theatrical stunts.

Spring is tentatively showing itself in many parts of the country. (Not where I live; we just got almost 12 inches of snow.) For many families, this means the end of indoor recreation activities and a chance to get back outside and enjoy nature. You can help your kids learn to enjoy the outdoors -- and make great family memories -- by keeping a nature journal.

Nature Journal as a Family
One of the fun things you can do together is head outside and keep a nature journal. The National Wildlife Federation offers some helpful hints for making a nature journal. Possible subjects are included, and this can help you get a good start on what to do for a successful nature journal. You can look for such items as plants, animals and rocks, as well as listen to the different sounds being made. The wind in the leaves or the sound of a stream can make great subjects for the nature journal. Older children can learn how to identify different plants, animals and rocks that are common to your local area.

A nature journal should include observations about the things heard, seen and even smelled. Have your children describe their experiences. Older children can write for themselves, and you can help the younger children. Encourage your children to draw pictures of what they have seen, using crayons or markers. You can even take pictures and add them to the nature journal. Have your children see how close they can get to drawing what is seen in the picture. You can add pages as needed, using a three-ring binder or keep the nature journal in a series of notebooks.

Remember, though, that spring can still be a little chilly. Make sure that you have jackets and hats, and are dressed appropriately for the weather. Good walking shoes are a good idea. Once you start your nature journal, you can make a new journal for every season.