I read on someone's blog the other day (sorry I can't remember whose), that she sometimes reminds herself when things are different than she anticipated that this is the life she wished for. I identified with that so much. This is indeed the life I wished for and I am very lucky to be living it. I'll try not to say that through clenched teeth too often this summer. (kidding) (mostly)
It's going to be a different summer, that's for sure. Rebekah's last summer before she goes to school. I know from experience, and from friend's experience, we have a bit of a ying/yang of a summer ahead of us. Pulling away, pushing away, holding on; lots of conflicting emotions, sometimes mere moments apart. I want to treasure every moment of it.
It's also the very last summer I'll get to have a 9 then 10 and 7 year old.
Hopefully it will be the summer Jason finds a job here, they sell their house, and we get to see a lot more of them.
In honor of summer, and it's wondrous glory, I've come up with a list of 76 things I want to do this summer:
- go to the library and participate in the summer reading program--Unbeknownst to me, they've discontinued the program for adults, the kids are doing it though.
- visit the main branch of our library system--truly wonderful and just far enough away to be special.
- say yes more than no
- read bedtime stories outside
- go to the farmer's market almost every week
- relax about what constitutes dinner (cereal anyone?)
- have capri suns and or juice boxes in the downstairs fridge--there for the taking
- ditto freeze pops
- make a chalk mural on our sidewalk
- fingerpaint
- teach Julianna how to ride a bike
- paint my bedroom, bathroom, the hall, the kitchen or the kid's bath.
- have a lemonade stand
- bake cookies often
- workout regularly
- sell bikes we've outgrown
- go to fireworks
- take kids to COSI (science museum)
- take kids to zoo mostly to ride the rides and play on the playground
- take kids to the park
- take kids to Innis Woods Metropark
- tour the statehouse
- go to 3 movies
- go to Wicked!!!!
- Jacob's birthday party
- go to Kelley's Island
- play miniature golf
- go bowling
- read a lot
- take a photography class
- don't sweat the small stuff
- know that most things really are small stuff
- celebrate Father's Day with two of my favorite fathers.
- play board games--Qwirkle or Blokus or Parcheesi or Chinese Checkers
- spend a Sunday afternoon, preferably a rainy afternoon, playing UNO
- go to the pool
- go to my parents
- go to the Columbus Zoo
- go to Cincinnati Zoo
- go to Newport Aquarium
- go to Slate Run historical farm
- go to orientation with Rebekah
- go away for a night with my friends
- catch fireflies
- play more Wii
- make snow cones
- make popsicles
- make ice cream sandwiches with my adorable molds that have yet to be used
- make homemade ice cream...at least twice
- make an ecosystem
- go on family bike rides
- go for walks by the river
- go canoeing
- take lots of pictures
- have dessert for dinner...at least once
- make bulletin boards for the kid's rooms
- make Julianna dresses
- stay up late
- sleep in sometimes
- go to a baseball game
- go on a picnic...or two
- have Dairy Queen late at night when we really ought to be in bed
- go to Handels (awesome ice cream with a park to play)
- go to Young's Dairy farm (ice cream)
- go to Knights (more ice cream)
- try Jeni's ice cream
- Have a special day with J&J where we buy backpacks, lunch boxes and school supplies
- grow tomatoes
- grow basil, parsley, cilantro...
- spend a day at Easton Town Center...ride the trolley, go out to lunch or dinner, maybe let the kids play in the foundtain
- go on 6 dates with my hubby
- spend an evening with Rebekah--dinner & a movie
- go somewhere I've never gone before
- not work--at least not most of the time. I think the baby I watch is still going to come one morning a week. We'll be poor, but it will be nice to have a break. :)
- spend time in our backyard swing--relaxing
- say yes to the ice cream man--at least a few times
Edited: When I accomplish them, I'll highlight them in green.
7 comments:
I LOVE this! It is a wonderful list! I hope you get the chance to do them all!!
This list is tremendously fabulous. I hope you post an update at the end of summer, and that most of them are checked off! :)
I love this idea; what a great list!
I think this summer, what I most want to do is have picnic dinners with my family. We have the blankets, we have the food, we have each other, and we love to do it, but we never do. So that's my goal - to make it happen!
Ok, I have to fess. I instantly copied your terrific list and started revising it to fit my family. You always inspire me :-) I've been feeling so... ugh... about my life and role in the grand scheme and then you broke it down- how to enjoy life-into small steps.
I can mark off Wicked, I just saw it last night in London for my birthday!
Thanks for the awesome post :)
I LOVE this post. I feel like I need to make a list too. Kind of remind myself in those tough moments exactly what summer should be like. What a fabulous idea!
I love your list. I think I would have much of the same on mine. :)
Good luck with your wishlist. I hope you summer is wonderful. :)
I totally know how this feels. Summer for us is not as long since we have year round school. My kids will be back in school July 13th but even these few weeks seem like an eternity at times. I also would love to say yes more than no. Also we have some painting on the horizon. I read a book in which a artist helped her niece (and soon to be) step daughter paint a picture usuing tempura paint and their whole bodies. She just let them go wild and make a mess. I felt like it would be a good way for me to exercise letting my kids be kids without my controling ways.
Can I come and be your 5th child this summer, because your list sounds like so much fun! Adopt me, please. I will be very quiet, eat cereal every night for dinner, and babysit when you need a night out.
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