Hello summer lovers! Check out this pin I came across last week on Pinterest…
Ain’t that the truth! I was having this same epiphany as the school year came to an end, listening to friends and neighbors stressing about pricey summer camps and hectic schedules. Hold up everybody, there is no stress in Summer! I thought to myself, my goal for June and July is lazy days and field trips! No alarm to set, no place to be, just wake up and see where the day takes us. Be spontaneous! Always ends up the best time and why is that?
In addition, is it just me, or is that cloud of question, “how long are my kids going to want to hang out with me and love on me like they do” hanging over your head to? When was the last time you met a parent with grown children that didn’t say…IT GOES BY SO FAST. ENJOY EVERY MINUTE. So here we are, let’s get to soaking it up.
I challenged myself, Jack and Sophia to come up with our “Summer hit list” that didn’t involve a lot of dinero and fancy planning. Here’s what we came up with…
1. Library (all kinds of fun things going on and FREE). Mom can read magazines she doesn’t already pay for. Double bonus.
2. Take lots of bike rides! In early evening when the sun is going down and the sky is all pretty and pink. If you don’t own a bike but still want to get involved, visit peddling pelican cruiser (if you live in the South Carolina area) and rent a bike instead! You’ll have such a great time and burn a few calories whilst doing so!
3. Roast hotdogs over the fire pit in the backyard, before snuggling up on a swinging bed like those from the Charming Bench website.
4. Find a drive-in movie nearby and pack a picnic.
5. Hit Turtle Creek Splash Park and maybe brave The Wave Pool for the first time, Mom’s old lifeguard stomping grounds. Love Michigan’s Metro Parks.
6. Cross the Ambassador Bridge and take the kids to another country, oh Canada!
7. TORCH LAKE and all the fireworks, fun and adventure that comes with.
Jadie bug and the Jack Attack
8. Sparklers! Write your name in the air…
9. Go fishing with Daddy at pond. Biting is good! Soph needs to learn too (good luck with that Daddy).
10. A field trip to the High Museum with friends. Find out what summer savings they offer and just roam the halls. Maybe hit the Varsity for lunch? An Atlanta institution although I’m not so sure what all the fuss is about (blasphemy! I know). Maybe the food trucks downtown are a better idea. Love me some Korean street tacos.
11. Catch fireflies!
12. Go on a nature scavenger hunt…
image via Pinterest
13. Cherry picking in Northern Michigan and blueberry picking in Georgia.
14. Make Playdoh (always wanted to be that Mom, here’s my chance).
15. Craft days! Make collages too.
16. Horseback riding? A lot of stables near us, maybe I should investigate…
17. Make cards and write letters to family, esp those we don’t see or talk to often.
18. Tiger’s game!
19. Cedar Point: The Amazement Park. I think my chickens are finally tall enough to ride the majority of rides and really enjoy it. I haven’t been back since High School and made so many memories and laughs there! I want that for my kids. Start a new tradition with their cousin Jadie bug.
20. Detroit Zoo with Eng and her four beautiful boys. Another new tradition. xo
I think I’ll stop there since Summer is full of surprises. All this and so much more from Atlanta to Detroit to fill your days and nights with satisfaction and sweet memories. And if you’d like to check out some more, click HERE to my kiddos Pinterest board and let me know if water balloon pinatas are realistic or pouring glow sticks inside bubbles really makes them glow in the dark??? ;-)))
HAPPY SUMMER!!!!
xx
Jen
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I had 3 little neighbor girls come to my door yesterday with homemade strawberry jam in a cute little jar with a red check fabric square on top and they had picked the strawberries and made the jam!! So darling and appreciated and it looked like a few other lucky neighbors were also getting the treat and I thought what a great Mother they have!!!! Love all your posts… they keep me close to you and your family and my dear friend Jan. Love Susie
My friend Shannon gave me some of her blueberry and meyer lemon preserves and I just love gifts like that. So when I came across this cookie recipe from Gwyneth Paltrow…
http://www.doitdelicious.com/blog/detail/lalos_famous_cookies
I thought I’m going to make those, put her jam in the center and surprise her right back with them. They are amazing and good for you too! xoxo
Swan drive-in theatre in blue ridge, ga ! We were there saturday night! You’re chickens would love it…you and hubby too!
Awesome! We will check it out. Thank you!!!
Good for you! Many of my friends are wondering how all this structure is going to affect imagination and ability to adapt/improvise. We were just turned out the back door for much of the summer. I was looking at my cubicle just the other day and thought it could be made into a nifty fort 😉
I can’t wait to go to the Zoo again. Looking forward to seeing you soon.
Love,
Eng
Jumping into Torch Lake photo is amazing, will be sharing it with our Twitter followers later this week!