We kicked summer off right with an epic water fight in the backyard. Matt and Chelsea had the whole thing adorably planned out with a sign warning all those who enter to wear their swimsuits, water guns were strategically positioned, and a full bucket of water balloons was at the ready. It was so perfect. Even after the balloons were all smashed and everyone was drenched I think we could have spent all day at it. Bring on SUMMER!!
This spring felt unusually hectic and I totally see where I went wrong. You see, when I was little my parents didn't sign me up for any kid sports or activities - no Girl Scouts, clubs, sports, or even after school activities. So of course, I'm over compensating now by saying yes to all my kids requests (and ALL the friends birthday parties). Anyone else??? I should have listened to my gut and said NO more, but that mom guilt got me. The hardest part isn't keeping track of who needs to go where, it's finding time to fit THE REST in - like running errands, keeping the house clean, and making an actual home cooked meal for dinner. I mean who has time for 3 hours of softball AND making dinner on a Wednesday night?? Not this mama.
By May I knew I wanted to take a break for summer so I said buh-bye to gymnastics and dance and cheer - see you in the fall. Surprisingly (or not?) the kids did not mind at all! I think they were just as burned out as I was and welcomed the thought of a free summer.
Always up for a challenge, I decided to make this summer the one where we actually do all the things we REALLY want to. Not just a week of summer camp and a trip to the beach, like actually take time to do the little things too. So, we all came together and made a list of our picks for the best summer ever.
Kid's Top 10 Summer Bucket List Picks
- Go swimming with friends
- Take a road trip (ahem, Disneyland!)
- Make s'mores
- Host a backyard movie night. Matt's pick for projection screen.
- Go on a family bike ride
- Have a sleepover
- Throw a water balloon fight. The best water balloons!
- Watch fireworks
- Make sand castles
- Explore a new park
And more favorites...
- Go to the movies
- Host a backyard barbecue
- Run through the sprinklers. Have and love this one.
- Go hiking
- Make a blanket fort
- Attend a concert
- Go camping (even if it's just in the backyard)
- Day at the lake
- Game night party
- Read a new book. Check this post for my top reads.
- Go to the aquarium (Or museum, or zoo, or whatever is nearby)
- Make ice cream sundaes
- Take in a baseball game
- Star gaze
- Get on the water! Rafting, boating, canoeing, or paddle boarding
- For even more ideas, check out my Summer Fun board on Pinterest
Continuing the summer fun, after our water fight we headed off to the Jelly Belly Factory.
I've lived in California for over 20 years and had never been so it was an easy addition to our growing summer bucket list. The kids had a blast going on the self-guided tour. There are tons of videos, guess-the-smell games, and activities to keep even the little one entertained. After the tour and an exhaustive walk through the gift shop we wrapped up our visit in under 2 hours and were off to dinner.
On the way home that night with the kids all crashed in the car I felt so happy and relaxed. I hope summer never ends.
What's on your summer bucket list? Share your plans in the comments. Happy Summer!!
No comments:
Post a Comment