Summer Bucket List
Today Katy and I are “Spieling the Beans” on our Summer Bucket List and we hope you will join the fun by linking the plans you have for making this summer one for the memory book!
Last year I ditched our traditional list making and tried a new approach. My kids biggest complaint is that we make a list and then don’t do any of it. I created some “buckets” and cute pages to hang on our door and every time we did something fun we filled it out. Well, my not so bummer summer idea showed us by the end of the summer that we really did do so much!
I decided this year it was time for a true bucket list again but we are keeping it pretty simple. I asked the littles and Keith for some ideas and it looks like having a simple summer with a little fun mixed in is what they are looking for!
- Visit 3 Waterparks (per Carly’s request) – Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels for sure but we would really like to try something new and I’ll be on the lookout.
- Plan a doggy birthday party to celebrate Dutch turning 2
- Go to a drive in movie
- Fishing (this was the ONLY thing on Dillon’s list…simple enough)
- Trip to Springfield, MO – we will knock another state off our list once again for a baseball tourney but we are super hopeful to do some sightseeing too
- Visit a state park – after seeing the fun Katy had on her Mother’s Day outing I added this to our list! I think we could really have fun exploring. Tanya also posted about their recent trip to Pedernales falls and using air B&B for the first time and it sure looks like fun.
- Have a water balloon fight – we bought water balloons last year and never got around to using them but we have a plan!
- Go to the beach – we try to at least make it to Matagorda beach once each summer!
- Summer camp! – Truly this is the highlight of my kids summer. If they do nothing else they will be fine as long as they go to T Bar M for summer camp!
- Fun Food – Someone posted 45 places to eat in College Station before you die recently and there were so many places I had not heard of. I’m thinking weekly date nights with the only requirement be we try something new! Late night trips for shakes and hot afternoons grabbing shaved ice will also work.
- Volunteer together – So many opportunities to give back during the summer and when I ran across Courtney Defeo’s post, What Every Kid Needs this Summer, I knew I had to order for Carly!
One thing we use to do so much more often was host casual cookouts on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. At some point I got caught up in worrying that my house was not “entertaining enough” to host my friends but I really miss the time we shared. So “Simple Suppers” is on my bucket list and I am really thinking I want to just plan one Saturday or Sunday a month to invite anyone who is up for some fellowship to join us to catch up, love on each other and let our kids run wild.
Keith and I will celebrate our 15th anniversary on August 3rd so a long weekend away is definitely on my bucket list. I want this to be somewhere we can both enjoy and somewhere we have not been before! Any suggestions for a fun place to go in August….I’d love to hear! Here were some I was thinking about.
- Nashville
- Chicago
- Cape Cod
- Boston
A girls weekend is also on my bucket list! All I need is a lazy river, maybe some Mexican food, a few drinks and some girl talk. Maybe the JW Marriott in San Antonio? Definitely somewhere that doesn’t take too long to get there as I do not want to waste any extra time on the road.
Lastly, I do have a couple of home projects that are maybe more like goals than bucket list items but since we have lived here 12 years it feels like we are reaching the bottom of the bucket! Converting both Dillon and Carly’s rooms to be more functional for their current ages with new paint and updated decor is definitely on my list to finally get around to! You can see all the ideas I’ve run through here.
Now it’s your turn! We want this link-up to be FUN but we get it… sometimes it’s hard to keep track of it all! So feel free to post old posts – new posts… it’s up to you! Please link to your specific post URL and not to your blog home page.
Please place a link back to this link-up in either your post or on your party page so that others can link up too.
Use the hashtag #spielthebeans on other social media
It’s a party, try to visit at least 2 other posts and show them some love! This is the fun part! Be inspired, inspire someone else – don’t just link and run!
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As always find all the friends I’m linking with all week long here.
First I'm just glad I FINALLY remembered this link up!! Nashville is definitely on my bucket list !!! Happy Tuesday !!!
I think my favorite part is the backyard barbecues with nothing to do but enjoy a cold beer, laugh with family and eat. Thanks for hosting this week.
I love you list!! I totally agree with the casual cookouts! I did not add that to my list but I hope to have at least one family over ever other weekend to swim and grill out. I miss College Station so much but after reading your list of restaurants I realize it has changed a lot in the past 15 years!
Oh I meant to join in the fun for this link up!!! such fun items on your list– love the casual cookout idea!!
Thank you for hosting! I love your list. I LOVED when we went to Charleston but all of those places sound like a great time. Also I am with you on a drive in movie. Y'all have a great list!
When you come to Springfield, you're just minutes away from my hood! 😉 Our TX nieces and nephew also go to T Barn M for camp! Love your list!
Ummm Springfield is only an hour away from me… just sayin. You'll actually probably pass me by on your way I'd assume.
I better getting cracking on our spring bucket list, summer is coming FAST!
Get that bucket list ready and come link with us Beth! We will have this up for a week. 🙂 We are excited about Springfield….hoping it will not be all baseball and we can get in some lake time too.
Do you have any good suggestions for me Jackie?? I would love to hear. I'm hoping we will have time for some exploring and I'd also love to know some good non chain restaurants. My kids LOVE T Bar M!
You've got some fun stuff lined up for your summer!!! We have always wanted to visit a drive in movie – the closest one around here is almost two hours away. Thanks for hosting this fun linkup!!
Whitney @ Come Home For Comfort
Ahhh….I didn't think about Charleston!
Count me in to bring cucumber and tomato salad to a simple supper! Community is my love language!
LOVED your list! Looking forward to a fun summer!!! Now just to survive these last two weeks! First Simple Summer is next Friday night, right?! 🙂
Great list! Love Courtney de feo! I'm def looking into that book!
Whoop whoop, fun stuff!! I hope to hit the beach as much as possible! I linked up my couples bucket list from last year but we plan on doing many of these again this Summer. 😉 If you come to Chicago, we are 2 hours East and are going to be there the end of July. 😉
I grew up about 15 minutes from Schlitterbahn, I loved it as a kid. I can't wait to take my littles there one day. It looks like your crew has come up with a fun list! You're sure to make some fabulous memories!
Tony and I will celebrate 15 years in November and are headed to Napa for 3 nights! I can not wait! I know that is a tad far for you but who doesn't love some amazing food and wine?? Sounds like you have a fabulous summer planned!
Napa has been on my list forever Kim…..but we have been on trips to Cali more than any where else and Keith is over it. I'm thinking of saving this for a girls trip!!
I totally get that! Such a fun Girls Trip! We have never been to Napa so this will be a fun one. We booked the Napa Wine Train for our actual anniversary. So excited!
What a fun list! Especially the water park and state park visit. I need to come up with a list of things to do, and I like that your bucket list is an actual list that goes into a bucket, cute 🙂
Love this list! After seeing that drive in movie, it gave me an idea to have a movie/pool party combo! We can bring our tv outside and let the kids float in the pool while watching the lego movie or something 🙂
Love you ideas for your anniversary trip! Mic and I celebrate 10 years of marriage this October. I would love to getaway with him if possible, but we might need to plan it for early in 2017 instead. Who knows!
I hear Seattle is beautiful this time of year…..;) hint hint..
A drive in movie sounds so fun! And you and Keith deserve an anniversary trip away!
Sounds like a great lists – Nashville is great – I have a couple of posts on my blog. Chicago is also fabulous in the summer
What a fantastic Summer you have planned! I just wish the rain would move out and give me a bit of sunshine this Spring.
Cathy I totally pinned one of your Nashville posts last month!!
Haha…I actually have a friend visiting there this week and they had so many fun things planned!
Heck yes….movie by the pool would be perfect! I really hope we can find the perfect little getaway that will offer some down time but not break the bank.
Thanks Sarah….my kids have really surprised me because they are really seeming like keeping it super simple is what they want this year.
I really do love a great day at the waterpark but I want it to be the least crowded day! Haha….I have not taken the in two years so I guess I'm due.
So many fun options…we have some other friends who live in Hawthorne Woods (I think that is right) which I don't think is too far outside of Chicago. I threw out a few ideas tonight and my man….he just doesn't ever show a huge amount of excitement so I just never know! 🙂
It is a really sweet little pamphlet Lisa and my 10 year old was super excited!
I really do think the last day of school would be the perfect time to have the first simple summer supper don't you?!! Adult vs. Kids flashlight tag? I think so
I'm really serious about this….now to plan!
We have one about 45 minutes away and I would love to go! Not sure my boys are really going to go for it.
Sweet lady….get that post written and link up! It will be open until next week. I'm super excited about creating a simple supper night with our friends!
I really want to stop worrying so much about how it happens and just do it! Who cares if everything is not just right…my real friends shouldn't be bothered right?!! I'll keep y'all posted on how it goes.
I'm most excited about this Michelle! I hope I can pull it off…just a few more days and summer will be here!
Woohoo….so glad you made it! I have been to Nashville but Keith has not….I really think we would have a blast together. there.
Oh sweet summer…..it's so close I can taste it. I'm only sad we didn't have any super cold weather this year as the mosquitos are killers right now!!
Great summer plans! I especially love you included the doggy birthday party as I have been know to make a meatloaf cake every September 28th for my very spoiled boxer's birthday 🙂
Liz @ familyoffoley.wordpress.com
what a fun bucket list! I would love to go to Boston, so I vote there! 🙂 thanks for linking up!
I love your summer bucket list! I really need to make one for us. I love all your anniversary places – it would be hard to pick out of those. As for a new waterpark.. have you seen anything on the new one that was said to open in Katy – that wouldn't be far for y'all at all!
Will you mainly stay in the Springfield area or are y'all venturing out to Branson?
We're in the Boston area and it's a wonderful place for a visit along with a day trip out to Cape Cod. Chicago is on our list for this summer as well and Nashville can be great too. Hope you make it to one of these spots, 15 years is worth celebrating
makingrestorations.blogspot.com
Cape Cod is amazing in the summer; we live in New England and it was our family trip each and every summer growing up. Boston makes a nice easy day trip from there too!
I am so considering Cape Cod with a day trip to Boston now! Also looking into Seattle. So many places I have never been so this should be easy!
Love that you shared the day trip idea. I'm totally considering Boston or Seattle at the moment!
Thank you for reminding me about the water park in Katy!! I read about that recently (mainly because Aggies designed it) but I totally forgot about it.
I have always wanted to visit Boston…lots of history and of course baseball!
Girl….our dog is the most spoiled! I made him a meatloaf shaped cake last year and I'm thinking I need to stick to cupcake size this year. haha
We do Blake! 15 years is a big deal right?!!
Baseball is so hard to plan around but we are really hoping to venture out to Branson while we are there for sure!
Ok! So if in Branson, the Landing is always a place people want to go. Cantina (it is a chain, but my TX family had never eaten there and loved it) PLUS, if you sit outside you'll be front row on the river and for the water and light show. CAkes-n-Cream is a 50's style diner and desert bar that my kids LOVE. Black Oak Grill is also at the Landing. Top of the Rock is a MUST, even if you don't make reservations at one of their restaurants you need to visit. Absolutely stunning. Mr. Gilberti's is a pretty famous pizza place in town on you might even see a lot of Branson famous people. ha!
In Springfield, we like the Aviary, Houlihan's, Flame, Springfield Brewing Co. has a neat atmosphere, Bruno's has incredible Italian, Nearly Famous Deli & Pasta House is a great lunch….I could go on and on! I'm kind of partial to food! 😉 Hope this helps! Enjoy your trip!
oh my goodness…..thank you so much Jackie!!
Great list! We don't have many water parks here so this year I hope to hit up all the area YMCA splash centers. Nashville is so much fun however it can be seriously muggy in the summer. I'm so glad you said go to a drive in – I miss those! xo Amanda
Your "bucket on the door" idea is brilliant. Love it. And I can totally identify with needing to redo your kids' rooms to fit their current ages. Having done that with both my girls' rooms, I now think I should advise expectant parents to do nothing with their children's rooms until those children are at least 10. When they will have an opinion about what they want their rooms to look like…and it won't be whatever the parents have already done! 😉 Glad to find you today at Party At My Place!