Do you have a summer fun list? Over the past few years, I’ve been leaning into seasonal changes more. I shift my menu plans, my wardrobe, and even the puzzles I choose based on the seasons. And as my kids get older, I want to embrace seasonal fun with them! Author and time management expert Laura Vanderkam has a long practice of making seasonal fun lists. (You can find her summer list here.) Laura has five kids, and I’m always impressed by how much fun she manages to have!
One advantage Laura may have over me is not treating her summer fun list like a test. As an Enneagram One, it’s very easy for me to turn something like a summer fun list into a pass/fail situation. If I do everything on the list, I pass! If even one item remains unchecked, I fail. Yeah, that inner critic is intense. As I learn to have more fun, I’m recognizing that just doing what I can is enough! There is no fun police that’s going to track me down if I fail to complete the list.
So, in the spirit of learning to have fun, I asked my girls to make summer fun lists and made my own as well! Here’s what we’re hoping to do:
Oldest Kid’s Summer Fun List
Go to the pool: We actually did this already, so gold star to me! Going to the pool can be a hassle with a toddler, but I’m learning to push through. We’re fortunate enough to have a neighborhood pool as well as grandparents with a pool, so hopefully we’ll get multiple check marks by this one this summer! The girls have especially been having fun chasing down these starfish diving toys that our neighbors brought to the pool.
Playdate: We’ve had some playdates already with the aforementioned neighbors, so I think this gets another check! I’m sure she’d also like to see her bestie from school a few times, so we’ll try to make that happen too.
Sky Zone: This is a trampoline park, and I haven’t made this happen yet. I’m not sure how the little guy would do, so I’ll need to do some research and see if they have a toddler area. If not, I might send the big girls with Dad on a Saturday.
Color with Mama: I promise I didn’t tell her to put this! We can definitely make it happen. This will be more fun because I finally ditched our old pencil sharpener that ate batteries for breakfast and replaced it with this electric one. It works like a charm, and our colored pencils have never been sharper. We’re probably due for a coloring book refresh as well. My oldest has almost finished this Disney Thomas Kinkade coloring book, and I’ve got my eye on this one: Art of Coloring: Disney 100 Years of Wonder.
Watch Disenchanted: I think she’s watched this one at least three times already. I’m not sure why this sequel to Enchanted has such a hold on her. Maybe she likes Idina Menzel thanks to Frozen? Regardless, this was an easy one to check off!
Middle Kid’s Summer Fun List
Go to the pool: Ok, they might have collaborated on their lists. As previously noted, we’ve done this!
Have a playdate with “Sally”/“Jane”: I’m using fake names to protect privacy, and apparently her fake friends are from the 1950s? “Sally” is a friend from school and “Jane” is our neighbor. I need to clarify whether she’s wanting two separate playdates or whether she wants to have them both come over together. (Last time “Sally” was here, “Jane” came to play with big sister, so she might have a repeat in mind.) We’ve played with “Jane” a lot this summer already, but “Sally” has been out of the country on her own adventure! We’ll try to make this happen later in the month.
Have a game day: I asked what she had in mind for this, and she said a day where we play games all day long. I’m not sure how far her attention span with stretch for this, but it sounds like a fun rainy-day option!
Have a pool party with “Jane”: We’ve been to the pool with “Jane,” and apparently it was a party, so this is done!
Have a grandma day: She’s done this with one grandma and should get a turn with the other next week! We’re very thankful to have both grandmas nearby!
Youngest Kid’s Summer Fun List
He’s not old enough to understand the concept! But he does want to see Olaf, Chewbacca, and Darth Vader at Disney “in summah.”
My Summer Fun List
Go on vacation. It took us a while to decide what we wanted to do for vacation this year. Ok, ok, it took us a while to admit we just wanted to go back to Disney. I’m excited to check this one off! While I wait, I might treat myself to this adorable Minnie Mouse rubber tote to help me get through all the aforementioned pool days!
Do a summery puzzle. I like to match the puzzles I’m working on to the seasons. This bright, cheerful Capeside Victorian seemed like an excellent fit. I’m excited to give it a try—if I can wrap up my spring puzzle: the aptly named Spring Street. It’s been fun, but that tree at the top is giving me trouble!
Read summer magazines. My cousin and I are both magazine junkies and like to swap when we’re finished. I’ve gotten a bit behind on my Real Simples, and I have a whole stack from her to catch up on. Now that my big kids are stronger swimmers, I might slip a magazine or two into that pool bag if I get a chance to take them without their brother!
Work on LEGO projects. I received this French Cafe for my birthday and haven’t started it yet! Our basement houses our LEGO and is generally the coolest place to be on a hot summer day. This would be a fun thing to do while hanging out with my girls.
Get ice cream. We have a couple local ice cream places that I love, and a new milkshake shop just opened nearby. Ice cream is probably my favorite sweet treat, so I’ll take any excuse to eat more! I’m also a huge fan of Alec’s if I’m going to keep it in the house. If you have a Fresh Market or Whole Foods near you, check it out! It’s admittedly pricey but cheaper than taking the whole family out. The Coffee and Toffee flavor is my favorite so far, but I’m hoping to get my hands on the new Pistachio Crunch flavor by the end of summer. Maybe I’ll get a bonus star for that!
What’s on your summer fun list? Let me know in the comments!
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