It’s hard to believe that tomorrow is Smith’s last day of school and officially the start to our summer. Woohoo!
Poor Kensington still has two weeks left, but now that Smith is out…we’re already into summer mode over at our place.
Last year, the kiddos and I sat down and came up with a list of things we wanted to do over the summer break. Some things cost money, some things are completely free. Some things are a little complicated, and some things are super simple. We really enjoyed having a list last year for days when we didn’t have any plans but wanted something to do. Not only did this fill up our summer with fun ways to spend a day, but it gave us a million memories too.
This summer is going to be extra special because it’s our first season to spend with Ashby London and Smith’s last summer before kindergarten…both really good reasons to enjoy each and every day.
So, we sat down on Saturday morning in our play room and came up with our
Summer of Fun {2015 Edition}…
Summer of Fun {2015 Edition}…
These two love any reason to get out the markers and construction paper :).
This one has become quite the little crafter herself! She now asks to color all.the.time. Markers, stickers, kid scissors and such are all her friends.
The kids started telling me things they wanted to do this summer. I wrote as they came up with ideas. This year, their ideas were really pretty simple!
They each worked on some personal goals after we wrote out our family ones.
After we made our complete list, the four of us went around and signed it.
Even Ashby made her own little list of personal goals :).
Signing our list with bubble letters (which is a lot of work when your name has 10 letters!).
My favorite little people all hard at work.
Our completed list! Really…everything is pretty reasonable on here! Outside activities, seasonal treats and some fun with friends. We are keeping this list and will refer back to it this summer when we need a few activities to fill our days.
I would love any suggestions you have for summer activities too! We are always looking for little ways to make our summer days a little more fun. Feel free to comment and let me know!
And…speaking of summer…
…it’s Meal Planning Monday today. Click here to see my recipes for the week.
Enjoy your Monday!
Erika Slaughter says
It's going to be a great summer!! And…the Slaughters had those burgers last week. Yum! Just yum!
Jack and Kate's Mommy says
We love going to our local library through out the summer. Not only to check out good reads, but they also hosts weekly shows (magician, puppet, bubble lady…) every week. I hope yours does too as it's soo much fun!
Anonymous says
Yes! We have great story times at our library with craft making after the stories. Free fun!
Johannah says
Great Summer list! I need to sit down and do one with my oldest very soon =)
When you do your homemade ice-cream, I think you should totally share the recipe!
Lori says
Those all are great ideas! Our favorites include outdoor concerts. Levitt Pavilion in Arlington offers free children concerts on Wednesdays (two shows in morning and evening). We also love the Safari Nights concert series offered on Saturday evenings at the Dallas Zoo (free with zoo admission). We head to zoo on Saturday afternoon and stay for the concert that begins at 7pm. We have zoo membership so we go to several each summer. For both venues you can bring in your own food and drink or you can purchase food and drink from food truck vendors at each location. You and your family should check these out. They will love them!
Raashi Agarwal says
I've been reading your blog for such a long time now – really really admire your family and think your kiddos are just the cutest ever!!! I'm currently doing journalism in college and you really inspired me to try my hand at blogging – as well as being a role model for what I hope my future will be like! Thank you for all of that! 🙂
Narci says
This summer is going to be so great!! What a great list!
kimm atwood says
Hands down those are our favorite burgers to eat!!!
Anonymous says
Really no need for lists. Sit back, see what each day holds and enjoy
Jen says
I respectfully disagree. It's nice to have a go-to list for those days when kids get bored. It's not a list of things they have to do, but rather that they want to do. Plus I get excited at the start of a new season and start thinking about all the fun things that my family and I can do in the upcoming months.
Ann says
I love logging on once in a while to check in on your beautiful family, your children are so sweet and gorgeous. Blessings for your sweet family! I do admire how you manage to keep them engaged, the cute activities you plan and how your blog is "REAL" . God bless!
Megan Steele says
So fun! My mom loved taking us on nature walks she would do "scavenger hunts" while we walked.."who can find me a leaf that still has red on it" haha I remember them fondly!
Sheaffer {Pinterest Told Me To} says
Here's my list: Lots of Cobb Salads by the pool with friends, Lots of Brisky Business tacos at the mall with friends. DONE. Oh, I guess I should add working out to the list.
Kent Harms says
Ha! Love your enthusiasm for eating your way through the summer…it's just about the best part, after all! =)
-Sara
Lindsay says
Have you ever been geocaching? That's my favorite summer activity.
Sarah E Henning says
This is exactly what I was going to suggest. Hidden gems everywhere and fun for the whole family! Download the app and get going! (And after the app, it's free!)
Elaine Welte says
I am dying to hit the Guthrie Green in Tulsa and enjoy the food trucks! Cannot wait for summer!!!
Chelsey says
Well hello fellows Tulsan!
jess says
love the idea of the list to refer to on the days when everyone wants to do *something* but no one knows what!
a couple of our favorites ..
lemonade stand for charity (my kids also love doing a lemonade stand on father's day and giving dads a freebie 🙂
dinner at a local park
a day at the water park
a scavenger hunt at the art museum (we live in boston and the mfa has a great kids' program that does scavenger hunts. we're not big museum people, but this makes it fun)
running through the sprinkler – good, old-fashioned giggles
a day driven by each kid – so on ashby day, she gets to choose all the activities for the day and everyone goes along, knowing their day is coming soon (or they already had it). it's a lot of fun to let one kid lead and let everyone get into the things they choose, no matter how far outside their usual wheelhouse it may be.
happy summer!
Anonymous says
Biking with the family on a tree lined bike path is always a lot of fun!
Leigh says
I love their list! I make a list for everything so naturally I have one for summer too. Some that aren't on your list (many are the same): go to the zoo, go to the children's discovery center, the splash pad, kids choice day (where one kid decides everything that day).
Haley Southey says
So sweet! Absolutely love this idea and the fun things planned 🙂 What cuties!!
de9bc330-fd67-11e4-86ad-0f7e1d98f111 says
A friend told me a fun idea that I am eager to do this year. It is called ABC summer. You start with A and do everything that day that is A. Eat foods that start with A and do activities (art,etc) that start with A. It is 26 days of fun and being creative. My friend told me they would be in the grocery store looking for inspiration and might pick up Klondike bars, something they don't have often, then go fly kites. Even as teenagers they asked about doing ABC summer because it was such a fun family tradition. I plan on starting June 21 on the first official day of summer.
Anonymous says
We love to go to orchards and pick berries. Strawberries are in season now and in June we will pick blueberries. It is fun to do together and makes for great pictures. Then we will use what we picked to cook together, making muffins, syrups for pancakes (or your homemade ice cream) and jam.
Lindsay (LindsayWeighsIn) says
Oh my gosh, that picture of the kids where Ashby is snuggling Smith…. I cannot handle the cuteness! <3 I hope you all have the best summer! Sounds like a great list!
Daily Momtivity says
How fun! We always make a summer to-do list too. We still have a few weeks left but I can't wait to do this 🙂
Aubrey says
Kiddie list + summer + family + America = AWESOME!! Enjoy it, friend!!
Angela Ellingson says
Love it! I think we will do this too! Kensington has such pretty handwriting! 🙂
Hillary Kinzel says
We do the summer reading program at our library. It officially starts at age 4 so the year my youngest wasn't yet 4 I just made her her own reading log. The great thing is each log is 7 days of reading and then you turn it in for a prize and get a new log. Keeps the kids reading and us visiting the library to get new books. Great to keep up reading skills in between school years too.
Kent Harms says
So is sweet Ashby left handed?? Or is that compensation for her right hand? Oh, she is just so precious – it's been such fun following her little life on your blog!
-Sara
SarahJarnagin says
I agree with the library! We always love the summer reading programs and special programs. Their reading program last summer is what encouraged my son to love reading! Now, he reads all day long.
One of our favorite summers was a year that we made a big fun list and had fun trying to check everything off. We didn't quite get it all checked off but had fun trying. We had homemade ice cream, snow cones, picnic, visiting a few nearby state parks, family walk, movie night, fishing, baseball game, playing in the sprinkler and such. It made for a fun summer!
Kelsey Mann Peacock says
Sounds like a fun summer that's going to be filled with lots of special memories 🙂 I think it's so nice that you let the kids sit down and talk about what they want to do with their summer! Such a thoughtful idea!
Kelsey
http://www.thepeacockroost.com
Natalie Zambreski says
This is such a sweet list! And oh man – those burgers look AMAZING!
LISA says
You have a great list started! For some fun ideas that also incorporate family volunteering, check out http://www.doinggoodtogether.org. They have several resources available to families, including a 30 days of giving program with fun activities you can choose from.
Romi says
This blogger has young children and is very organized like you. I think you may enjoy her ideas for summer lists. She is just as adorable as you, Shay! I have no affiliation with her blog (or her) other than enjoying her posts. Here is a link to her blog.
http://www.thesunnysideupblog.com/2014/07/six-tips-for-smoother-summer/
My children are adults and don't live at home but we still make lists of fun things to do in the summer when we can all be together. We plan museum visits, concerts, and restaurants to try, as well as hiking and beach days and have a blast. You're never too old to have fun with your family!
Romi says
I made the beer burgers today. Delicious! Thank you for sharing such great recipes.
Michelle N. says
Here's something to make you cry, sorry. This is the last summer before my youngest starts MIDDLE SCHOOL!!! Come fall I will have 2 in MIDDLE SCHOOL AT THE SAME TIME!!!
Anonymous says
I really enjoy your day in the life posts. you have such a beautiful family and life!
Anonymous says
We made our list last week!
Boys camp in the back yard
Go for a hike
VBS
Day road trip
Drive-In movie
Game night
Catch lightning bugs
Library reading program
"Unplug" for a day (no electronics of any kind)
Date with mom/dad
Geocaching
Full moon walk
Glow stick swimming
Random acts of kindness day
Eeeek! Can't wait for summer! ~S
Anonymous says
I second the idea for geocaching! It's like a scavenger hunt, and super fun for kids and adults too. You can download the app and search for geocaches closest to you.
Jenna Grace says
I make a list of things do to like this every summer. Such a great way to make the most of each day!
http://www.jenna-grace.com/
Chelsey says
Is that the Carolina table from pottery barn kids? We have a white one also.. how do you clean it? Ours is filthy and it won't come clean!
Mix and Match Mama says
It's the craft table one (it might be called the Carolina???). Typically, a damp paper towel gets it all clean…but if not, a Magic Eraser is what I use.
Chelsey says
Ah, I've tried both but it's still dirty 🙁 white was a terrible choice for this house! HA
Chelsey says
Ah I've tried both and it's still dirty. White was a bad choice for this house ha!
Jaren says
School is out for us on Thursday, and we are working on our summer bucket list too! Besides the usual summer stuff and outings, my kiddos want to have a lemonade stand and paint some rocks:)
cristina villalba says
I have a 12 year old, 8 year old and 4 year old. We just did this ist last night. We ended it with volunteering. It made me so happy to do it. Our own little contract of fun!! Thanks for the great idea!!