Drummer Hoff

"Major Scott brought the shot."

Fire in the hole!  Make your own version of a cannon!  I found a blog post that showed how to make some nifty launchers out of PVC pipe and balloons, and I modified the plan a bit to use supplies I had on hand.  I tied a knot in the end of the balloon, then cut the balloon in half, stuck it on the end of an extra pump shield I had laying around, and secured it with electrical tape rather than a rubber band.  My son and I found various things around the house to use as ammunition, including mini marshmallows, pony beads, dried beans, pom poms, and little plastic boulders from his construction truck toys.  These blasters can definitely pack a punch, so I wouldn't recommend using the hard ammo indoors, unless you aren't going to pull the balloon back too far.  Since my son is only two, and not that coordinated, he couldn't launch things very well, so I let him shoot out whatever he wanted that would fit down the barrel!  We built some block towers, then loaded up our cannons, pulled back on the balloons, and FIRED!

"Kahbahbloom!"

Play with fireworks!  I usually have some "poppers" on hand leftover from the Fourth of July, so we got those out and had a "blast" snapping them on the sidewalk.