Our Summer Bucket List

Since the girls are spending 6 weeks of their 12-week summer vacation in Florida with Disney Dad, I'm going to do my very best to make the most of it when they get back. Which, really gives me 5 weeks left to work with. The first week of summer I had them. We had a blast celebrating Louisa's 3rd birthday. I took the girls to the pool and we just hung out all day. Lily and I made a really cool birthday cake while the birthday girl napped that afternoon, and we spoiled our little Lulu with cake and gifts. But other than Louisa's birthday, and Vacation Bible School for Lily, we didn't do much because we were busy packing for Florida and getting ready for Lily's dance recital which took place on the Saturday before they left. Here are a few photos from the first week of summer.

Lulu turned 3!!!

Wild and Three!

I didn't get a photo of the inside, but it was layers of different shades of pink!

Three year check-up! Healthy girl!!!

Lily's 4th dance recital!!!

She did great!

If I'm being completely honest, planning activities for my kids every day is not something I'm very good at. I'm pretty bad at it, actually. I have ideas swirling in my head of things I'd like to do someday, but then when it comes down to it, I procrastinate because I don't have all the supplies needed, or I realize we don't have enough time to do it all, or the weather is too hot or too rainy, or Louisa will need a nap halfway through, or my kitchen really needs cleaned first, or...etc. So, a lot of summers I look back and feel like we wasted a lot of time doing things like playing on the iPad or watching TV when we could've been much more productive.

Nothing like having your summer cut in half and 6 weeks of no kids (aka way more time on my hands) to give you a wake up call and actually plan to spend that precious time wisely.

So, here goes our 5 week summer bucket list:

1. Vacation with all 4 kids at Lake Tahoe/Reno:

Colton is in a play through the community theatre at the end of July, and they are performing Into the Woods. I can't wait to hear him sing! He's got a really great voice and is a natural performer. We decided to make this a family trip to all go watch the play and then rent a cabin at Lake Tahoe and do some fun outdoor stuff with all 4 kids. They've only all been together one other time so I'm looking forward to helping them bond a little more.

2. Iowa State Fair

This is always on our list every single year. I just love the fair! Growing up, it was always one of my mom's favorite things every year, and I can remember going almost every day after she got off work. It was half price admission after 5, so she'd hurry home and the two of us would go walk around, eat some dinner, and just enjoy the time together. Man, I wish she could join us again. But, I'm determined to try to take my kids every year. So far, I think Lily has only missed one year, and Louisa has been every year--this will be her 4th Fair!

Photo taken at the Fair 2 years ago (Louisa 1, Lily 5)

3. Awesome Mermaid Birthday Party

Since my girls both have summer birthdays exactly one month apart, and since Lily is going to be in Florida for her birthday and we only had time for a small little celebration for Louisa, I'm planning a fun friend party for both girls together for when they return. I'll share details of the party later!

4. Make slime

This has been something Lily has been asking me to do for months. I found a really simple recipe online here (the recipes are all over the place) but every time she asks, I don't have the ingredients on hand, and then we both forget about it, and then she asks again and I say, "some other time, I need to get the ingredients," and this happens over and over. Well, it's on my list, I'm getting the ingredients, and we're going to make slime, dammit.

The rest are just ideas so we're not wasting our summer on the iPad watching the Hashtag sisters videos (Gossip Girl!)

• Go to the beach

• Play on a new playground

• Go fishing

• Swim in the pool

• Have a lemonade stand

• Go to the zoo

• Visit a splash pad

• Go on a boat ride

• Watch a movie

• Go bowling

• Visit a trampoline park

• Play in the rain

• Make root beer floats

• Bake!

I'd love to hear any other ideas for beating the summer boredom with the kids!