Summer Bucket List 2012

Last summer we planned a "best summer ever", with the help of an online forum/message board for moms. We had a weekly theme, and did activities and went places having to do with the theme. You can see a quick run-down of what we did HERE. We had lots of fun, and the kids didn't complain much that they were bored (see the I'm Bored Jar).

This summer I have made a 'bucket list' for our summer. Things won't be as planned out, but I think they will still be fun. Here is what's on our list

To Craft

Make things out of cardboard (house, car, toys, games) 

Make homemade play dough

Make Pinecone Bird Feeder

Make an obstacle course (or hold an Olympics)
Make finger puppets and have a play
Make something origami
Make Milk Carton Boats
Handprint Sunflower (and other handprint art)
Backyard Mural
Friendship Bracelets
Bug Jars
Build a Fairy House
Balloon Animals

To Eat

Make S’Mores
Make homemade marshmallows
Make homemade ice cream
Make homemade pizza together
Lovo (a Fijian version of a luau roasted pig)
Make cookies
Make and decorate cupcakes
BBQ

To Go

Beach
Park
Picnic
Camping
San Juan Islands
Hike by the school
Geocaching
Arboretum
Waterfall
Bird Watching/ Aviary
Fishing
Library (storytime?)
Road Trip - Visit friends
Nature Walk
Parade and Fair
Orienteering
Swimming
Zoo
Mt Shuksan
Mt Rainier – Paradise and Sunrise
Olympic Mountains
Visit a ghost town

To Do

Bubbles (including giant ones)

Scavenger Hunt

Summer Solstice Celebration (June 20, 2012)
Skip Rocks (teach the kids)
Ride Bikes
Backyard movie theater
Fly a kite
Board Games
Go to Garage Sales
Play in the water
Play Frisbee
Play/make Mad Libs and share your stories

Play kickball

Play hide and go seek
Build a clubhouse or a fort
Start reading a classic as a family read 20-30 minutes of it out loud a day
Play dress up
Star Gazing
Marshmallow Shooting
Cloud watching/identifying
Shadow puppets
Celebrate a silly holiday
Lava floor. Don’t touch the floor to survive
Indoor Picnic
Have a Tea Party
Water Fight
Host a cooking party - invite some friends
Knit (teach the kids)
Costume Party
Play charades
Color
Make a Movie
Play in the Rain
Learn a joke

Here is how I printed it to post in our house, with a box to put a checkmark once we've completed the item.

What are you doing this summer?

Mom, I'm Bored!

I hate hearing that phrase in my house. My kids have lots of toys and books and plenty of imagination. They should never be bored. So, for this summer I made an "I'm Bored" jar.

I just took a 1 quart wide mouthed mason jar, put a cute sunshine label on it (image is clickable if you want to print it yourself), and filled it with papers telling them things to do (lots of fun stuff, some chores). When they tell me they are bored, they must choose a paper out of the jar and do whatever it says.
If you want my list of things to do, CLICK HERE

K at 1 year

My youngest child just turned one. Here is a digital scrapbook page I did. I wanted to show all her cute little bits and really highlight what she looked like. The kit I used is Cool Summer Porch by Elizabeth Weaver (at Digital Scrapbook Place)

Scrap and Travel

Here are some other of my digital scrapbooking pages.

Also, I will be in the beautiful FIJI ISLANDS (yeah!) for the next few weeks. I'll probably post some pictures later. Have a great weekend!

Air Force

So, my husband serves in the Air Force reserves. He participated this weekend in the transportation Rodeo 2007 at McChord AFB. He got to work with teams from all over the world. I took our kids down to see the closing ceremonies on Friday, what a fun time. We had dinner with some airmen from Pakistan and South Korea. A few men from Saudi Arabia gave our kids hats from their team. The observers from India also stopped and talked with us. My husband is Indian, so they spoke in Hindi and Urdu, and I had no idea what was being said. I have been struggling to get my husband to teach me Hindi for 5-6 years now; I can still barely understand when he talks on the phone to his mom, and with her he uses English every 5th word! Oh well, maybe as our kids grow older and he spends more time teaching them Hindi I'll pick up more.

Knitting

I thought I'd post some of the things I've knit. I enjoy crafts and things, so here are some of my projects - mostly given as gifts.

-White sweater, my first attempt at sweaters, for my DD
-Blue capelet with matching hat and scarf
-Purple capelet with matching hat and scarf
-Fun Fur scarf
-Orange Shawl for Mother-in-law
-A Poncho win ColorWaves

Free Stuff

So here is some free stuff on the Internet I thought was interesting:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/ -Free Language lessons
http://freecycle.org/ -Trade your stuff for free-locally, or get stuff for free, no shipping-just pick it up yourself.
http://www.paperbackswap.com/ -Give away your used paperback books (you pay shipping), and earn credit to get ones sent to you (free).

I also thought I'd add a few pictures to this blog. Here is one of my daughter as Princess Jasmine for Halloween a few years back. I made the costume myself.










And here is a picture of my son playing a while ago. He loves to eat Mr. Potato Head.