Our Summer Bucket List 2013

Summer really is a magical time of year.  It is simply the best. Even better than Christmas, in my opinion.  Especially when you consider there won't be any of that white fluffy stuff flying the whole season. Well... in this northern town, one can surely hope not, that is.

Last year was the first summer in our new town.  We no longer had the lake right down the road to spend our days at.  We had no friends to hang out with all day.  We'd had a rough, lonely school year with lots of emotions surging through our home.  I was very afraid we would have a miserable summer.  So I determined not to. We made a list of all the things we'd love to do and began planning them out, putting events on our calendar and setting the wheels in motion. It ended up being a truly wonderful, satisfying summer for all of us.

So this year we are doing the same thing.  As a family, we made a list of what we'd love to do in these few short months of sunshine, warmth, and no school.  Here's a sampling:

1. Lunch at the Japanese Steakhouse
2. Camp out at our friends' house on the coast
3. Mini golf
4. Make homemade ice cream
5. Camping trips with smores, hot dogs, and a fire
6. Picnic at the park
7. Picnics on the boat
8. Stay at Nanny's and swim at our "old" beach
9. Campfires at home
10. Yard sales
11. Go to Bar Harbor
12. Ice cream social
13. BBQs with friends
14. Go to the movies to see Monsters University and Despicable Me 2
15. Trips to the beach
16. Camping trips
17. Hike Blueberry Ledges
18. Read aloud several good books
19. Go to camp
20. Go out for ice cream

As I write, the kiddos are enjoying their first afternoon running through the sprinkler and filling up squirt guns.  A warm, gentle breeze is blowing the scent of lilacs toward the back deck, where I sit soaking it up.  Summer is no longer a far away dream.  It's here.  And we plan to savor every little bit.

I hope you create your own bucket list for this summer!  For help and ideas, visit The Happy Family Movement blog.

Enjoy the life you've been given and the place where you're livin'!