Our Summer List

We sat down as a family and made a list of some fun family things to do this summer. It seems like if we write it down and put it some where that we can see it often, we are more apt to get out and do things. I've talked to other people that do this as well, and it gives your kids something to look forward to. We have a few trips planned that will obviously cost a substantial amount of money, but other than that we tried to keep things easy and free or almost free.

Here's our list:

-Go to the Oregon Coast
-Watch Fireworks (lucky for us we live right by the baseball stadium and get free fireworks shows quite often)
-Go swimming
-Go out for ice cream
-Go to our secret river spot
-Walk to the park
-Go to the mall (Kendle just likes to visit the candy store there)
-Go see a family movie
-Go fishing
-Have a BBQ
-Go to the 4th of July Parade
-Explore a new town
-Take a hike
-Make home made ice cream
-Slip n' Slide
-Go to the library
-Have a picnic
-Draw with sidewalk chalk in the driveway
-Go camping
-Have a backyard camp out
-Play soccer
-Go miniature golfing
-Have a game night
-Go to a Dust Devils game
-Have a yard sale
-Go see the fish at the Dam
-Go bowling
-Make homemade jam
-Go to the water park
-Take Kendle to Silverwood (she received a free pass for reading this year)
-Lay outside and look at the stars
-Do a service project

As I was typing this I was reminded of the Primary song, "Oh what do you do in the summer time?" and it made my mind start spinning back to my childhood days. We lived fairly close to the river and would spend hours there swimming and playing. On the Oregon side of the Columbia there are lots of nice places to go swimming, and when I was younger we had a specific beach that was really nice and sandy and easy to get to. My dad would get these huge inner tubes from the farm, and we'd float and splash the day away. Back then we could all just pile in the back of the truck with our hair blowing in the breeze and "dry off" on the way home. I also liked to lay out on our trampoline at night and watch for falling stars. It was so peaceful and I could listen to the soft sounds of summer. Our family used to have a lot of picnics and family get- togethers as well. One thing my family does well is eat, and there would be tables and tables of cookies, pies, cakes, and all other goodies and yummies. It was a kids dream.

I know with gas being so expensive, most people will be sticking pretty close to home. I guess the new word is to have a "staycation" right in your own town. Maybe together as bloggers we can pool our ideas together for fun things to do.