Summer 2014 Bucket List

Early in May I sat down with the kids and we wrote out a Summer Bucket List together.  It's so exciting that they are old enough to really help me with this and have their own opinions about what they hope to fit into a summer!  I keep reminding myself that summer is not over until September 21, but time is going fast.  I'm happy with what we did get to do together and am ready to write a fall bucket list.  I feel very blessed to get to spend a lot of my summer with my own two kiddos and hope that one day Matthew gets to feel this too.

1.  Go camping at least 1 time 
Did not do this and probably won't... in fact we sold the camper.  There was just no way we were going to use it with our schedules.  We DID find our old tent though and it fits 4! That might be more up our alley and abilities, and I'm hoping to try next summer:)

2.  Go to Ames Pool
Didn't get to this one this year either:(  Lots of cool summer weather.

3.  Campfire, Smores

 We even got to roast hotdogs!

4.  Picnic at the park
We picnicked about a dozen times but never took pictures. Lots of parks, on our deck, at baseball games, at campgrounds, and even in our yard.  The kids continue to LOVE to eat outside on a blanket.

5.  Farmer's Market
Bought more things than we've ever bought before at the Farmer's Market.  Peaches, cupcakes in a cup, fudge, and a couple veggie dips to make at home.  Great music for Lanie to dance to and lots of beautiful flowers for me to smell.

6.  Play tennis
Lanie played longer than she has before and when she gave up, Carter and Daddy played a really long time.  In Virginia, Daddy taught Carter how to play racquetball and he enjoyed that too.

7.  Nightfall on the River
This was a big disappointment.  Had a whole friends' date night planned to go see Ingrid Michaelsen and it got cancelled last minute.  We ARE going to see her in October though at a different place.  Might be the first Nightfall on the River in 5 years we haven't went to at least once in the summer.

8.  Gigi's Playhouse
Again, life got busy and we never made it down.  Hopefully on list for Fall.  Thank goodness for facebook and internet so I can stay caught up on what's going on down there though:)

9.  Garage Sales
Did this a couple weekends, once all 4 of us.  Got a few new shirts for me, Carter got a lamp, suitcase, baseball player bobblehead.  Daddy and Lanie were just there for the ride.

10.  Donut Date 

If you're ever in Williamsburg, Virginia, you've got to try Duck Donuts.  Matthew thought they were about the closest thing to heaven he's had:)  We tried bacon and maple, peanut butter, vanilla, and chocolate.  I also coaxed the family into garage sales on Saturday morning by telling them I'd buy Donut Land for breakfast if they came with me.

11.  Pump it Up

Made it here one of the last couple of days before school started.  The kids each got to take a friend.

12.  Drive-in Movies
Didn't get to this one either.  I'm just not sure I could stay up that late (LOL)!

13.  Minor League Baseball Game

Wonderful way to spend our Sunday afternoon together.  We had a picnic outside the gates before the game and then had ice cream for dessert while watching the game.  Our sunhats that we bought in Virginia came in REAL handy that day.

14.  Swimming lessons

Yes, that's Carter up on the lifeguard chair!  He has taken all the lessons possible until he's old enough and ready to be a lifeguard.  This year he learned how to rescue someone that was drowning in the middle of the pool and how to get them onto a body board.  I think he really enjoyed his lessons.  Lanie took private lessons and we were very happy with the success she had with those.  I wrote about this in a separate post.  

15.  Nature Camp
Yes, the annual Story County Nature Camp.  Carter's camp is now two full days 9 - 4pm and he goes out on a canoe, builds a fire, cooks his own food, builds a bird nest, and so much more.  Unfortunately I didn't get to drop off or pick up so I don't have any pictures. Lanie went with her SCL therapist to camp and I got to come on the last day for the celebration.  One of her best friends was in the class and that made Lanie SO happy.

16.  Weekly Public Library Visits
Absolutely we did this!  We didn't make it to any of the library special events or story times, but every week we went to get new books and movies.  It's amazing having time to make it weekly to the library.

17.  Family Game Night
This happened in Virginia on vacation.  One night after being out all day long, after supper, Matthew pulled out a book he had on his kindle about card games to play with families.  The kids' favorites were old maid and slap jack, although slap jack scared Lanie because we got so out of hand and she began to cry:(  I love how it kept us together at the table, laughing and talking for a couple hours.

18.  Camping with Grandma and Grandpa
We didn't stay the night, but we did make it out to the Erickson's to visit for the Memorial Day.  Had an amazing breakfast cooked over the fire and enjoyed eachother's company while the kids played with the goats, dogs, and chickens.

19.  Friends sleepover
The kids had various friends come over to play, but none spent the night.

20.  Cousins sleepover
Of course, we did this a couple times.  The first time we went down to the park by our house and a bunch of kids came together for a baseball game.  Notice that Lanie and her cousin Kaelan were not too interested in the game:)