Sum-sum-summa Time!

I can already see the syrupy popsicle, dripping down my middle child’s chin.  I can see my little girl’s goggled-face smile as she comes up from under the water and my oldest’s feet coming before him on the slide at the pool.  His BIG feet.

My kids are stoked for summer, as am I.

Last year I wrote a tongue-in-cheekish post about my kids being out of school for the summer.  This year everyone is a year older, including me.

I’ve learned a few things and of course, each summer is different depending on camp schedules, vacations and even what is expected of my children when they arrive back in the classroom in about 10 weeks.

This year however, I have vowed (to myself) to unplug more.  So, this will be my last post until August since I plan to be doing a lot of this.

 

 

Oh my gosh, you guys didn’t believe that, did you? Yeah, me neither.

Anyway, in an effort to ACTUALLY get out more, and keep the screen time on the DL* this summer, I have comprised a list of things to do, plus I’m taking tips from this post from Hand Free Mama.

 

 

 

Here is the list of things I hope to do, some I know we will do…

Go to the “paint your own pottery” place and have everyone paint something, without breaking it.

Swim at the pool A LOT.  Which includes actual laps for me, when possible.

Spend time reading, every day for 30 minutes (at least), except while on family vacation.  Unless we want to.

Have kiddos help me cook and/or bake.  Even have them come up with some of the ideas of what to cook or bake.

Have the small people do more chores that don’t really feel like chores.  Not sure how I am going to work this one out yet.

Go to the kid summer movies.  We have yet to do this and I really want to make it at least once.

Hit up our favorite nature trail, equipped with copious amounts of bug spray and water to drink.

Field trip to the Alexandria, LA zoo.

Enjoy the heck out of our family vacation without worrying about taking too many photos or capturing EVERY moment.

 

 

Other things that may happen and are fun (and mostly include water):

Water balloon fights.

Running in sprinklers.

Car-washing

Uno tournament.

Slurping down every last drop of a snow cone (or two)

Picnic lunches.

 

 

 

The things I remember about my summers as a child were not the big things.  Yes, I have fond memories of our vacations as a family, typically traversing the western part of our great United States in my Dad’s Chevy truck, equipped with a camper, and spending many nights at KOA campgrounds.

But most of my memories center around things like chasing fireflies at dusk and climbing on top of the cab of my Dad’s truck to watch the July 4th fireworks across the street and letting watermelon juice drip down my chin. Or waiting for my Daddy to come home from work so he would take me to the pool and swim with me.  Or riding my bike to my friend’s house and staying all day.

 

My kids are BUSY this month with camps (even overnight camp for my oldest) but besides a family vacation, July is open. This summer we are mixing it up with things to do and nothing to do.  I hope it proves to be the perfect balance for a family that is in what I am calling “the sweet spot”.

 

 

What are you most looking forward to doing this summer with your kids?

 

Join me and my friends who are also Happy Mamas as we find the joy in this summer.  Whatever your plans may be, I hope you find it and make memories that last a lifetime!

 

*stands for “down low”.