Today is the first day of summer vacation. I am excited to have the girls home, even as I dread the constant bickering. We have big ideas, a schedule of activities and plans. I have a lot of exciting things coming for me and my series of projects too. As as spin off of my own 40×40 project and inspired by The MacLeods I am starting a new to-do/dream list.

I have enlisted the help of my girls to create a list of things to do this summer.  By the end of July, I’ll have a standard list of things to do before school begins—eye doctor, new backpacks, buy clothes & shoes, stock-up on lunch supplies—but this one is about experiences, not tasks. Some are simple (and already planned);  some will require a bit more effort (not to mention a larger budget than ours).

I’m hoping it will keep us entertained over the next few months, add a new dimension to our relationship, create lasting memories and teach the girls some valuable lessons.  They’ll learn about realistic goals, how budget is a factor and that it’s okay to fall short sometimes.  They were quite ambitious (they didn’t get the memo on the no travel thing) so we obviously won’t get to everything, but I think we’ll have a lot of fun along the way.

1. Creek stomp. (AKA Play in the mud.)
2. Go to the fair (double bonus—it’s also on my 40×40).
3. Play outside in the rain.
4. Water balloon fight.
5. Color with Blendy Pens.
6. Have a big sleepover.
7. Get a kitten.
8. Design & create shirts.
9. Hula hoop.
10. Fly a kite.
11. Have a restaurant.
12. Go to Indiana Beach.
13. Visit the in-laws lake cottage more. (Hubby’s goal: 5 trips)
14. Start Sunday Suppers, hosting various friends & family for dinner each week.
15. Teach the girls to ride a bike with no training wheels.
16. Go to Holiday World.
17. Have a picnic.
18. Go to Florida.
19. Go to North Carolina.
20. Visit all Indiana’s surrounding states.
21. Swim in the dark.
22. Go to Maddy’s house.
23. Go to Georgia.
24. Go to Six Flags and Medieval Times again.
25. Go to the library.
26. Go to the movies.
27. Have a yard sale.
28. Have a lemonade stand.
29. Walk to the playground at least once each week.
30. Shop at yard sales.
31. Make crafts.
32. Jump rope marathon.
33. Feed the ducks.
34. Build a sandcastle.
35. Grill pizzas again.
36. Have a movie marathon.
37. Visit the Farmer’s Market.
38. Make homemade ice cream.
39. Play board games.
40. Teach the girls how to play Four Square.
41. Run through the sprinkler.
42. Celebrate a random holiday (Go Skateboarding Day doesn’t count; he does that already).
43. Go to camp.
44. Pick apples & drink apple cider slushies at Stuckey Farm.
45. Take friends to the Children’s Museum.
46. Plant a butterfly garden.
47. Build a living room tent.
48. Have a PJ day.
49. Eat lunch outside.
50. Scrapbook our summer of fun.

7 Responses to “More Summer Fun”

1. 

   Joanna on June 01, 2009 @9:48AM

   Great list! It’s definitely easier to have a go-to list that is full of ideas, to combat the monotony of summer. Sounds like you’ll have a great time!
2. 

   Paula Werne, Holiday World on June 01, 2009 @4:07PM

   #16 sounds like a great idea!

   Wanted to pass along if you visit in June, you’ll still have time to participate in our Feeding Families Food Drive. http://holidayworld.com/give

   Enjoy your visit!
3. 

   Angie on June 02, 2009 @9:01AM

   What a fabulous list! It definitely helps to have some sort of plan going into summer, both for your sanity, and so that you actually do some of those fun things you always talk about. As much as I whine about summer vacation, it certainly does fly by.
4. 

   Liz@thisfullhouse on June 04, 2009 @10:46AM

   What a great idea, Heather. Just may have to steal…um…I mean, borrow your brain on this one 🙂