Our Summer Bucket List

Today was officially the last day of the 2013-2014 school year!  I am now a mom to a Kindergartner and a Middle School kid.  Can someone please pinch me?  I have no idea how that happened; I mean my baby is still in cloth diapers right?  Nope, she turned 5 earlier this year and is entering Kindergarten in the Fall.

I’m determined to make this summer fun.  Since I work full-time from home, they get to stay home with me most days.   However, that usually turns into very long hours in front of the TV while I work.  We do have a few vacations planned and a few summer camps scheduled but there are several weeks when they will be just laying around the house being kids.  I decided I was going to ask both of my kids to help me list a few things they want to do this summer.  Here is what they said….

11 yr old son:

• Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks – maybe I’ll take them on a boat ride to see them dive for sponges.
• Read, Read, and Read some more!  Did I mention that he received a certificate from his teacher for the student “most likely to be found with his head in a book!”  Yeah, we’ll be visiting the library a LOT!
• Busch Gardens – It would be fun to make it to one of the Sidewalk Safari Nights June 13-14th & 20-21st.  I’m dying to see Falcon’s Fury but I’m not sure I’m brave enough to ride it.
• Host a Pool Party with friends from school.  We don’t have many kids in our neighborhood and I’m sure he’d love to see his friends over the summer.
• Old McMicky’s Farm – We visited the farm earlier this year and both kids had a great time.  It’s in Odessa, Florida and only about 10-15 minutes from here.
• Florida Aquarium – He had a field trip their earlier this year; I guess he had a great time and wants to go back.
• Universal Studios Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Man my kid has big dreams for his summer doesn’t he?!  He’s a huge Harry Potter fan and has read the series several times.  I have to say I’m in love with the movies myself.  We haven’t ever taken the kids to Universal so maybe we’ll have to start a summer bucket list savings account!
• Golf camp and robotics camp!  He’s already signed up for both of these!! You can see some of our favorite summer camps in Pinellas County (<—click there) over on Tampa Bay Moms Blog.

5 yr old daughter:

• Swimming – Check!
• Go to Chick-fil-A – She’s so easy!  I love this kid.
• Host a Park Playdate – Now to decide which local park to visit!
• Go for a boat ride – This would coordinate with her brothers visit to Tarpon Springs or our vacation coming up soon.
• Clearwater Marine Aquarium to see Winter & Hope – I love CMA and will gladly take her to see Winter!!  Will we really visit both aquariums this summer?  Who knows.
• Ice skating at Countryside Mall – Every time we visit the mall she stands at the edge of the rink watching the kids skate.
• See the mermaids at Weeki Wachee Springs – What little girl doesn’t want to see a real live mermaid?  It’s just about 30-45 minutes from the house and would be a fun afternoon to get us out of the house.  I’ve never been myself!  Although the 11 yr old wasn’t too excited about this one!
• Go golfing – Check! She’s also signed up for golf camp with her brother.
• Family bowling night – I’m sure I can convince my husband to take us bowling one night.
• Movies – She’s dying to see Maleficent and I only hear good things about it.  She doesn’t scare easily so I hope it’s not too much for her.

For the most part their plans are a little more extravagant than what I had hoped for, but they sound fun.  We probably won’t be able to check off all the items on our summer bucket list though.  With 10 weeks ahead of us, I am going to try to commit to one a week!  When planning your summer, don’t forget to schedule a few things “just for mom!”

Mommy’s Summer Bucket List:

• Enjoy my kids and try to be more patient with them.
• Catch up on my cross stitch project. I’m still on my April square in the Once Upon a Time Sampler from the Frosted Pumpkin.
• Schedule a Mom’s Night Out with friends!
• Go for walks with my kids each evening.
• Go to the beach at least once each week; even if it’s just for a short visit.
• Visit my Grandma in Ohio.  Guess I need to pick a date for this one and make it happen before my schedule gets too full.
• Date night with my husband each month!  We have a few concerts scheduled and even a long weekend away while the kids are out of town.
• Make a fire pit in the backyard!
• Redeem my massage gift certificate from Mother’s Day!
• Schedule some family (and personal) appointments.  We’re a little overdue on dentist, eye doctor, and a few other important self-care visits.

What are you doing this summer?  Have you created a bucket list for summer?  I’d love to hear what you have planned!