50 things to do in summer with (or without) kids
“Summer’s lease hath far too short a date.”
Preach it, Brother. I mean, it’s Shakespeare, after all. The man deserves a few “Amens” from the choir, since I guess he knew a thing or two about matching words with reality.
“Hey Mom. This good day today.”
Preach it, Sister. It’s Little Friend, after all. The girl deserves the soft spot I harbor in my heart for her observations on life.
But both the Bard and my delectable offspring have the right idea. This is a Good Day. And it’s far too short. Just as my soul shakes off the final winter hibernation shroud and gives a hearty, spine-cracking stretch toward the sun, July pops up on the calendar. And just like that, the Back to School ads begin.
I want to hide.
Hide somewhere in the neighborhood of June 20th and not budge for six months or six years, whichever comes second.
Summer’s lease is well underway, so I’ve got to be intentional with the time I’ve got left. As long as the school bus remains parked in a garage for a few more months, I’ve got 50 things to make each and every remaining summer day a Good Day.
Home
- Create a DIY acid mirror (during naptime, of course, to keep little hands away from caustic chemicals!).
- Design and execute a “big girl room” for a Little Friend who informs me daily she is now to be considered a “big girl.” Just ordered these eye-candy pom-poms for her ceiling.
- Commission a custom portrait of our beloved Thumkin (again, “big girl room” time).
- Make some of these ridiculously simple yet stunning starfish and jute mason jars to line my deck for dinner-at-dusk.
- Finally, finally, finally get on a consistent cleaning schedule.
- Construct a reading tent.
Play
- Collect items for some finger-wiggling sensory play.
- Make Toddler Stilts.
- Set up a “Mud Pie Kitchen” in the back yard.
- Bubble wrap hopscotch.
- Make (and of course wear) homemade super hero capes.
- Three words: Tin Can Telephones.
- Write and illustrate our own board books.
- Ride the carousel.
- Ride the carousel (once is never enough).
- Take a nap together (much needed after the dizzying carousel rides).
- Learn how to ride a toddler bike.
- Memorize 50 Nursery Rhymes.
- Set aside daily read-and-snuggle time. Just because.
Outdoors
- Splash in a stream and see where the fun leads.
- Swim in the deep, cool creeks of World’s End State Park.
- Add Garden Art (like these wish flags) to our brand new green patch. Little Friend personally kisses each worm we find. Here’s hoping the love and wishes translate to bushels of tomatoes.
- Build a sandbox. Hammer. Dump. Enjoy.
- Pick raspberries at Reilly’s Summer Seat Farm. One for the bucket, two for the mouth.
- Visit the splash fountain at PPG place.
- Take a Breakfast Hike and munch on “Breakfast Cookies.“
- Catch fire flies for a night light and read Eric Carle’s The Very Lonely Firefly for a bedtime story.
- Have a sunrise campfire coffee date with Big Friend.
- Go on a color scavenger hunt.
- Kayak the tidal marshes of the Edisto ACE Basin.
Journeys
- Williamsport, PA for Cousin Camp 2011 (stay tuned for posts on the Second Annual event).
- Edisto Island for some Low Country Barbeque and lazy beach days.
- Lansing, Michigan to pay a long overdue visit to a family friend.
- New Milford, PA to pick God’s sweetest blueberries.
- New York City to visit dear friends and check out a Last Royals show.
Read (for me)
- What to Read When by Pam Allyn
- Big Machine by Victor LaValle
- The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
- The Reluctant Entertainer by Sandy Coughlin
- A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller
Read (for Little Friend)
- Press Here by Herve Tullet
- Fancy Nancy: Stellar Stargazer! by Jane O’Connor
- Knuffle Bunny Free by Mo Willems
- A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead
- My Mama Had a Dancing Heart by Libba Gray
Kitchen
- Grilled Caesar Salad (Uh huh–lettuce on a grill. Love.)
- Chocolate Raspberry ice cream, compliments of David Lebovitz and our new, heavenly ice cream maker
- Coconut Flour Rhubarb Muffins
- Homemade Olive Oil Mayonnaise
- Gallons and gallons of freezable tomato sauce
- Green Spinach Pancakes (or kale or swiss chard) and read If You Give a Pig a Pancake by Laura Numeroff
- Homemade Ricotta Cheese (easy, peasy)
- Baked Strawberry Cream and Rhubarb Oatmeal (I know. My heart pitter-pattered, too.)
- Chocolate Raspberry ice cream (Not repeating–just moving onto gallon number two–it’s really that good.)
- Somewhat Simple’s simple (go figure) weekly summer plan
- Sorta Crunchy’s summer daily routine
- MomAdvice’s visual treasure trove of 100 Days of Summer on Pinterest.
I love this. Thanks and the links are great too. Sweet photo of dad and daughter.
I loved the mirror link.
Your daughter is adorable. Love your list and the links too!
Love the “intentionality” of your list. Definitely something I need to wrap my head around.
I did a bucket list, too, but I think I need to add “visit bellesqueaks” onto mine, because you’re going to have a fabulous summer! I’ll be copying some of yours 🙂
Great list; no doubt you’ll accomplish them all. Lovely photos, too.
I’m so excited to keep you list handy this summer — I think we’ll be living parallel lives!
Green spinach pancakes, huh? Love spinach. Love pancakes. Can’t be bad, right?
🙂
Spinach pancakes… I haven’t eaten spinach in a long time. Not too sure about that. 🙂
Sounds like you guys are going to have a great summer!
Way to go, Freshly Pressed!
Wow! That’s quite the bucket list! Now you’ve inspired me to make my own!
A Summer Bucket List–what a terrific idea! All too often, summer slips through our fingers like grains of sand and we’re plunked on the shores of autumn long before we are ready.
Incidentally, I live in Williamsport…what’s this Cousin Camp of which you speak? Could I perhaps masquerade as a long lost relative? ;-D
Nice post and congrats on being Freshly Pressed.
Your daughter is so precious. I love this post. As a teacher I am off for the summer and somewhat bored. You have inspired me to make a summer bucket list. Thank you!
Aye, the Summer is too short. I am already running out of weekends as they fill up with festivals, family events, sports and the end of summer (already!) NY State Fair. I promise I will find time to kick back and enjoy summer…for, at least, 20 minutes. 😉
Good luck with your list!
congrats on freshly pressed! i love the blog; and so look forward to summer with my family doing things we’ve never done before; or things we’ve done a million times that never get old!
First, congratulations on Freshly Pressed! Secondly…I’ve always wanted to try Bubble Wrap Hop! Be sure to post how it goes.
-GD
Visit my writing blog at http://shelleddreams.wordpress.com/
Thanks for the ideas!
[…] 50 things to do in summer with (or without) kids “Summer’s lease hath far too short a date.” Preach it, Brother. I mean, it’s Shakespeare, after all. The man deserves a few “Amens” from the choir, since I guess he knew a thing or two about matching words with reality. “Hey Mom. This good day today.” Preach it, Sister. It’s Little Friend, after all. The girl deserves the soft spot I harbor in my heart for her observations on life. But both th … Read More […]
Wonderful list.
Way to go! Especially in the direction of blueberries 🙂
love this! you’ve inspired me to make my own list.
Given your love of Shakespeare I propose you find time to take in a summer theatre production of Shakespeare in the Park if you can find such an endeavor near you, or plan a trip to NH where we are blessed to have an opportunity to enjoy the theatrical works of the blessed bard.
what a great summer list! 🙂 enjoy!
Hi, what a great looking wordpress page you have made! I was wondering how do you get those “Share this” line? I can’t find it and really would like to put it on our WordPress page too. Hope you can help me. Thanks in advance.
love
Your little one is adorable. 🙂
Cute post. 🙂
you got freshly pressed! well deserved 🙂
These sound like great plans. May I suggest The Moon Jumpers for little friend; it is a perfect summer book.
Enjoying your blog. Congratulations on freshly pressed!
i love it! and i love those mason jars! so simple and beautiful. i think i will make a few for a friends baby shower coming up!
i’ve got a list of my own going – it’s tough but feels so good to cross things out. good luck and enjoy the summer :]
Great list! I try to create something like that each summer as well. Congrats on being freshly pressed too.
Great idea. I need to make a similar list. It all goes too fast, hope you have a great rest of the summer.
Really like your list. I did one recently too, in anticipation of my 50th birthday, which is, thankfully, a couple of years off. I am getting started though and post my weekly progress.
thanks for the inspiration 🙂
newest post “polish citiZEN”:
http://wp.me/p19cNF-hN
What a wonderful summer 2011 bucket list! I have one of my own that I’m working on. I hope you have a fantastic summer 🙂
whats a summer bucket list and you should check out this really cool blog called yellowcittey.blogspot.com oh and cittey is pronounced kittey
Congrats on being Freshly Pressed! Love your bucket list. 🙂
-FringeGirl
Hi, great post, reminds me of my daughters blog. You two are a lot alike. If you get a minute you might want to check out her blog.
🙂
http://www.thedilleydaily.blogspot.com/
I love bucket lists! So cute that you have some for you and the little one. 🙂 What a cutie! Don’t forget to ride the carousel.
Love all the ideas of things to do in the summer!
Yay! I love that your blog made the Freshly Pressed! I will have to tell Sean! I love how intentional you are being. Hope you guys have a great summer!
Loved this. LOVE the summers with my kids too!
Love the lists and the links. She is so cute and I love the picture of he walking in the water. I’m going to try some of these, the first will be Homemade Ricotta Cheese.
Love the lists and the links. She is so cute and I love the picture of her walking in the water. I’m going to try some of these, the first will be Homemade Ricotta Cheese.
Toddler stilts? Hm, those sound like fun. The adults will be entertained by watching those being used.
This word bucket list seems to be becoming popular. What exactly is a bucket list? What is the meaning of the word bucket in it? It makes me think of a bucket seat in a sports car. Couldn’t is just be “my list for summer” or does the word bucket make it mean something different?
The firefly idea is probably the cutest, most adorable, and most memorable things I’ve ever heard. You’re going to have a great summer (I hope keep us posted on checking each of these off!). And thanks for all the great links!
A Bucket list for the Summer??? Is some one passing on before the Fall??
spread the humor: charlywalker.wordpress.com
Love the idea of a summer bucket list. I just might have to make one too. Happy Summer! 🙂
You have a cute baby girl. Have a nice Summer. Nice Photos…
That’s a great to keep everyone busy this Summer. It’s helps to be creative and innovative. With the high price of everything, these are awesome tips for a fun family activities without hurting the pocket. congrats!
I love this, Though i can’t make it fully understand (my english learning still has long way to go.). Your picture got me a feeling of happiness. And i know this is good for it appears on FP, good for you~ 🙂
🙂 I definitely have a summer bucket list as well! but mostly just living day by day trying to make the most out of the short time left! horray summer solstice
hey this made my day better. I should make a summer bucket list too. That would help a lot.
Wow, what a fabulous list. Have fun!
What a great post, I’m sure many of your readers were as inspired as me after reading this. Me and my boyfriend set straight to work on trying to make a reading den in our little city apartment!
Wow, sounds like you’ll have a busy and FUN summer. 🙂
Bubblewrap Hopscotch totally made my day. This is the greatest thing ever.
What a fine writer you are! I miss planning things to do in the summer with my kids. I miss being a mom to young children. Aw, heck! I just miss my kids, no matter what age they are, so you are right to treasure your summers with your little one. Frame that picture of Dad and Daughter!
I have a young child, my son Ezra who is at home with me for the summer. He will be 6 years old July 2nd. We have a lot of fun stuff planned. He has a big birthday party at the beach coming up at our local resevoire. The Sunday after that our neighbor’s invited him over for a tea party to celebrate his birthday. We have a beach pass and a public pool pass and a young family who likes to go swimming with us every year. We have bicycles and his dad likes to swim with him. He just won the fishing derby this year (3rd place) and he got a trophy and a new fishing pole.
Quite a to-do list- and it all sounds great! You’ll have to post again and let us know how much of it you got done. 🙂
I guess that it does not really seem like a “bucket list” to me though, because I am doing it as a form of moving forward, not as an end to all.
That’s a great list!! I especially like that you’ve made some time to read and cook and do lots of fun little things 🙂 I’ve got a ton of things on my goals list too, but I’ve given myself way longer to do it than you. I hope you can get it all done! That would be such an awesomely productive summer 🙂
Aw! This is so cute! I love how it includes EVERYTHING! This got me thinking…I should make my own list! Summers always seem to pass by way too fast…and it is my last high school summer! Sad though how Vancouver’s summer seems to be a bit late =S
Very well written post. I don’t have any children just yet, but I have a entire batch of nieces and nephews, (seven total) whom I will be entertaining this summer. Funny thing, I also created a summer bucket list of my very own. I will be reading more of your blog.
Incredible list with something for everyone….congrats on your Pressing!
Great list. Love the writing. I look forward to reading more.
I enjoyed your post so much! My friend is a young mother and a stay at home mom and I am going to show her your blog you have lots of great tips and ideas.
From Shakespeare to Knuffle Bunny, you have enough to keep you busy!
so creative! I think I’ll make a list of my own… Thanks for sharing 🙂
beautiful and inspiring ::)
Great idea! I have an Experience list on my blog and love the idea of the short term! Have fun with it.
I came to your blog via google serach.I like your blog.I look forward to read more..Thanx..
Enjoyed your posts a lot. Made me remember my mum. I haeve to make one, too.
And, you have such a wonderful family 😀 I’m sure little Miss “Thumkin” Hendrickson will grow up beautifully.
Enjoyed your posts a lot. Made me remember my mum. I have to make one, too.
And, you have such a wonderful family 😀 I’m sure little Miss “Thumkin” Hendrickson will grow up beautifully.
I love the pictures. Especially the one of father and daughter.
http://sensofalens.blogspot.com
Great stuff by the way… Do you have twitter?
Greetings . . .
I love It!!!
http://kumpulanfilegratis.wordpress.com/
Great idea this list!
Love bucket lists, I gots one, well, actually many.
Lansing…huh? Wave at MSU for me if you drive down Grand River. 50 rings sweet right now. My list includes posting my 50th soon.
Great list! I love making lists… I don’t have a summer list, though. I just laze around during Summer. Go to the lake. Swim. Read. Write.
But I’m always writing, of course…
Summer bucket list, I love it!!! Great Idea.
This is really awesome! Thanks for all the links and ideas. This gives me a lot of things to do with and for my sister during the summer.
I love the pictures.And, you have such a wonderful family.Incredible list with something for everyone
Bravo, Congrats on FP, you did great detail 🙂
great list! lots of these are quintessential summer and bring back childhood memories
What a great way to share links and inspiration. Sounds like a fun, and incredibly busy summer. If you get even half of these things done, I’ll be impressed.
Thanks for all the links and ideas.
———-
very nice
thanks for such innovative ideas
Wow some of that cooking sounded just great!
Wow!!! so cool. Great post! Thank you for sharing!
Ok, so a bucket list is really just like a to-do-list. I have had a never ending to-do-list for a couple of years now and it has really kept me going.
Love this so much! Will have to try a few of these!!
http://beatbloodpressure.wordpress.com
Dear Beth,
Congratulations for being freshly pressed! Thanks for this unique blend of activities for the mind, soul and heart. It is probably a good idea to make a list. Otherwise the weeks will be over sooner than expected.
For me the summer is the ocean, strawberries, the smell of fresh grass and running around barefeet,
Smiles
Ginger
Great bucket list! I hope you don’t mind if I’ll just steal some of your ideas. Thanks for sharing 🙂
[…] read a motivating blog post recently that I thought was inspiring. The post was a ll about making a summer bucket list. I […]
[…] Check out the inspiring list here: http://bellesqueaks.wordpress.com/2011/06/23/a-summer-bucket-list/ […]
[…] those of you following along and keeping me honest on checking off items on my summer bucket list, consider the reading tent a done deal. For a few bucks of scrap lumber and less than an hour of […]
[…] dies, I’ll need to hasten my step. It’s people like Beth Hendrickson, creator (and curator) of “A Summer Bucket List,” who inspire me to do so. That said, I’ve compiled a fairly impossible (yet impressive) list of […]
[…] paintings can be commissioned in a variety of sizes. (And if you’re keeping tabs on my summer bucket list progress, consider this one item happily checked off!) Share this:Like this:LikeBe the first to […]
nice pictures!!
http://rodposse.com/
What a treasure trove of goodies are found here! Wow, wow, wow! You have found a new follower!
[…] my summer bucket lists, I try to cover things to play, things to make, things to eat, and places to go. Some items are […]