The Not So Bummer Summer

·
Summer
So the past few years I have sat down with my kids and made a list of things they wanted to do over the summer.  I even typed up the list complete with check boxes and posted on the most used door in our kitchen so it was visible for all of us to see.  I have quickly found that my family is just not a list making kind of family.  I end up feeling like a sucky mom and at the end of the summer my kids are always like “we barely did anything on our list”.    
Last week I ran across this amazingly insightful blog post by Melissa Blair and was able to relate completely.  She is a genius and may have just saved me from myself this summer!  I decided to choose a few categories and made some fun signs in Pic Monkey that I added to a larger poster board.  This will be posted on the door and instead of starting with a list we will add to the board as we go.  The kids agreed this was much more our style….we will see by summers end if it truly is because..hey..there is still the part where we have to remember to write the stuff down!    
This is pretty self explanatory!  Memories can be big or small and can happen every single day at home or on some fun adventure.  Some of our very favorite memories happen at home and are just some silly or absent minded thing one of us may do.  
We love our friends and are lucky to have close ones who enjoy some of the same activities.  We will be hoping for lots of swimming, baking, sewing, summer camps, arts & crafts, sports to enjoy with our friends this summer! 
We definitely want to go places!  It is so hard to plan for anything until baseball is officially over.  We will more than likely have one big, out of state trip and/or several shorter weekend trips somewhere in Texas.  This state is so big and there are so many things to do and see nearby.  We also like to explore and find some adventure right here in our own backyard of Bryan/College Station by visiting parks, downtown, museums and other places we don’t typically frequent.  
We love making cookies and cupcakes but my hips are not so forgiving these days.  By baking some blessings for others we can enjoy time in the kitchen baking together and sample a few but then bless someone else.  We ditch the calories and fill our hearts instead of our tummies!  Along with blessing others we will look for opportunities to volunteer in the community.  
We eat out during the year but it seems like over the summer the treats become a little bigger deal.  Late night runs for ice cream or snow cones after the pool are special summer treats.  We will also try some new restaurants while the students are gone and it’s easier to dine without the crowds.  
Lastly, on those days when “I’m bored” seems to be on repeat, I will take a finger and point to this one!  Get out and find some JOY in every day….it’s there for the taking you just have to be willing to open your eyes and find it.  Maybe we will have a hula hoop challenge, maybe we will shoot some hoops or maybe we will find some music and have a dance party.   Maybe…just maybe we will just learn to be JOYFUL about having nothing to do!  
I’m hoping by the end of the summer we will have our board completely full of things we did and we can look back and realize our summer wasn’t a bummer after all. 
  While I’m not making a set list, every mom can use some creative ideas!  You can visit my friend Holly’s post here for some great summer printables and bucket list ideas.  
Or you can see my Summer Fun Pinterest board here where I’ve been pinning ideas for things to do every day as well as some bucket list ideas for Austin, Dallas and Fort Worth.   
For a fun little staycation idea your kids can get excited about, visit my Spring Break post with a little ABC adventure that can be done just about anywhere anytime.  
Hop over to my contact page to see where I’m linking up today!  

17 Comments

  1. You and Holly must rub off on each other with all the good deeds you do. Baking cookies and giving to others – love it! What a great list.

    Reply

    1. We always laugh because we have so much alike yet so different….we balance each other out pretty well! She's the little sister I always wanted for sure!

      Reply

    1. Thanks Sarita…now let's see how well I can execute! There may be a lot of finding joy in doing nothing! Ha! Have a super day

      Reply

  4. I love this! With all the "pinnable" bucket lists out there, your approach is so refreshing. If my kids weren't such list-makers, I would totally copy your idea. (Jack has already started typing out a summer bucket list. He even hijacked my Pinterest and pinned a bunch of his favorite ideas.)

    Reply

    1. Jack sounds like so much fun….and my kind of guy! I am a list maker born into a family of fly by the seat of your pants people….it's a tough transition.

      Reply

    1. Girl…you know that was Holly's idea after I shared cookies with her a few weeks back…haha. It's the perfect way for me and the kids to have some fun in the kitchen while blessing some friends though so we will see what I can do with it.

      Reply

    1. At the end of the day….the very best memories are ones made together! My older two rarely talk about the vacations we took…all their fun memories were silly things that happened right in our living room.

      Reply

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.