Our Summer Fun List

I started the summer fun list last year in an effort to make sure we had a memorable summer. I also had failed to do a bunch of things I had wanted the summer before. A few friends made summer fun lists for 2011! Go you! (You know who you are!)

I think our list was a little longer this year, and maybe a bit unrealistic. Although, looking back at our list from 2010, we didn’t get everything crossed off that year either. I guess it’s all about perspective. We had a very fun and memorable summer, so we’ll call it a success!

Here was our list, the person who suggested each idea, and how we fared on that item:

1. Color a flower. (Paige)

Hmmm … I know we color a lot around here, but I can’t say for sure that we colored a flower during the summer. I would bet we did, but I have no proof. I do have a couple pictures of Paige after she colored on herself while wearing a flower dress …

2. Play on the swing set while the sprinkler is on. (Morgan)

This was a winner, although there is no picture. We put the sprinkler near the swing set and everyone had fun! I think it was most popular to get sprinkled while on the slide.

3. Go to Russell Wildlife. (Andrew)

Unless you count the school field trips, (which you shouldn’t) we failed at this one.

4. Swim in the pool. (Morgan)

I know there was quite a bit of swimming in our little kiddie pool in our yard. I, once again, don’t seem to have any photos. I guess I’m slacking off in the photo department. I do have a picture of Penny (the Panda) and Lenny (the Leopard) lounging by the pool. There is a very long story behind this photo, all in good fun with some friends who like to  dump their junk play pranks on us.

5. Go on a nature hike. (Andrew)

Fail. Probably partly because of failing #3.

6. Have a big ice cream sundae for the whole family. (Andrew)

Cha-ching. Hello, sugar!

7. Swim at the public swimming pool. (Morgan)

We went swimming at the public pool in Muscatine and Pella, but strangely never made it to our local pool. And I have no photos because it’s hard to take a camera to the pool.

8. Go to Muscatine. (Mom)

We tagged along with Dad when he had to work in Muscatine for a couple days. We had fun swimming in the local pool (see above) and our hotel pool, visiting parks and having a picnic supper by the Mississippi River.

9. Go to Florida. (Everyone)

What a fun trip we had!! More to come on this in the future.

10. Go to Disney World! (Mom — and I must say, it was fun to put that one on the list!)

More incredible, amazing, fun days! We got to go to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios!

11. Camp outside in our yard. (Morgan)

Thanks to borrowing a tent from Grandma & Grandpa Baumer, this was a success! Dad didn’t join us, because he had to get up for work the next morning. Morgan said, “That’s so unfair for Dad!” Yep, poor Dad! He missed out! It actually wasn’t too bad, I must say. Paige must not have gotten enough beauty sleep, because she wasn’t up for a photo in the morning.

12. Camp inside in our living room. (Andrew)

This one was fun! It’s always a little risky. And Mom has a tendency to get grumpy when it’s time to settle down. I think everyone did pretty good this time.

13. Do an obstacle course. (Andrew)

Nope. We never did this. 

14. Make something out of marshmallows. (Andrew)

I’m not really sure what this one was supposed to be. We did make s’mores (see #19), but I don’t think that is what Andrew had in mind.

15. Dance the ballet. (Paige)

I’m pretty sure not a day goes by without the girls dancing. It’s just a staple in our house.

16. Go to the library at least once a week. (Mom, Andrew)

We did very good with going to the library at the beginning of the summer because of the Summer Reading Program. For six weeks, there were various activities to participate in. This was the first year we were really gung-ho about the programs. It’s a little hard because there are programs for school age and non-school age kids. So, only Andrew can go to the really fun ones. There were programs most days, so we usually picked one for Andrew and then the girls went for story time for age 3-6. We got lots of books, of course, too. The kids act like they are at a toy store, which is too fun! Andrew delved into a Star Wars chapter book that was quite above his reading level. Our library visits dropped off later in the summer. We usually made it every-other week, when our books were due.

17. Have a science day. (Mom)

Nice idea, Mom. Maybe next year.

18. Read! Read! Read! (Andrew)

See #16. We did plenty of reading. I’m sure the Summer Reading Program “bucks” were an incentive for Andrew to put this on the list, but he really does love to read. We’ve been enjoying the Box Car Children books and then a variety of other books the kids pick out at the library and from our bookshelves.

19. Make s’mores. (Morgan)

We did this as part of our camp out. We used our gas grill to toast the marshmallows. 

20. Plant Evergreen trees. (Andrew)

This on almost had me stumped, because I couldn’t remember why Andrew wanted to plant Evergreen trees. Then, I remembered that I had a conversation with him one time about how I’d like to remove two ugly bushes we have and replace them with slender Evergreens. Apparently, Andrew thought that would be a fun idea. Bless his heart! Truth be told, I’m not sure I want to invest in trees in a house we don’t plan to live in forever. So, we’ll just keep dealing with our ugly bushes.

21. Go to Edmundson Park. (Morgan)

Edmundson is the largest park in town. We go there often, it seems, for various reasons. Here’s a picture from a Van Utrecht family picnic of the kids doing the limbo at Edmundson. That picnic was the only time I took photos at Edmundson, so I’ll throw in some other park photos, too. 

22. Try the disc golf course in Pella. (Dad)

We put this on the list for Dad. And we haven’t gotten it done, yet. Maybe before it gets cold.

23. Go to Adventureland. (Mom)

We went to Adventureland … twice! I’m sure we’ll have another post about that coming soon.

24. Go to the zoo. (Andrew)

We went to the zoo three times! Thank you Groupon season pass! Watch for more zoo photos in the future, too.

25. Learn math! (Andrew)

Andrew is a math wiz. I think we must have made our list before school was out for summer, so math was still on his brain! ha ha! He really is always learning math, so we did this one! 

26. Build a rocket. (Mom)

Um, I’m not sure this one was even age appropriate?! We didn’t get to this. I think I should do a little research before adding it to next year’s list.

So, that was our Summer Fun List 2011! And thanks to an insanely long World Series game, I was able to finish the post all in one sitting! (Go Cardinals!)