I was really inspired by Whatever’s summer list and vowed that we were going to do that this summer for our family. We headed over to the Dollar Tree and picked up a piece of poster board for $.50 and a fresh new Sharpie marker for $1. On the way home, we talked about all of the things that we wanted to do this summer and we both got really excited about all of our fun plans.
Ethan made the list with us and this is what we came up with:
Go to the beach (St Joe and/or New Buffalo)
Go to the dinosaur museum (the Field Museum)
Play Mario Kart with mommy
Make homemade slushies
Run through the sprinklers
Go to the zoo (Ft Wayne and/or Potowatomi Zoo)
Go to playgroup(s)
Go to VBS
Go to the dollar movie
Sleepover with our cousin
Have an Earth Hour family night
Make homemade pizza
Eat at the food court at the mall
Make homemade play dough
Go to St Louis
Go to Granny’s house to play
Make Magic Milkshakes
Go to Grandma’s house to play
Go to the park
Get our first library card
Go to the water park
Make banana pops
Wash the cars with daddy
Get out the rainy day suitcase
Watch the Car’s movie and eat Jimmy John’s
Have an ice cream sundae night
Buy presents for the homeless shelter and deliver them
Go to Krispy Kreme and watch them make donuts
Have a picnic in the backyard
Go to the AirZoo Museum
Ethan drew a picture of his family in the summertime to go along with our list and we hung it in our kitchen for the summer.
I love that the majority of the activities he picked didn’t cost money and that the ones that he did pick that cost something could be special things that we could look forward to together. Since we have no big vacation plans, this looks like a really great round-up of activities to keep us busy this summer.
It is kind of funny though… I think my husband & I are just as excited as he is!
Very cute list!!! What a great idea. It gives the kiddos something to do tomorrow, the first day of summer vacation. As for Sam’s, I used to feel that way too. I have found, though, that after shopping there for four years, I know where everything is and don’t get sidetracked. Also, if you go during company hours (7-10), it is not crowded. I also know which cashiers are faster, and get in their lines. Having four year old twins helps too. Allot of times they will open a new line for me so the kids don’t have to wait.
When I need contacts, I go later in the day, and just get those and leave.
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You are so organized! You are setting a great example for new parents like me – who desperately need a little organization!
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I was also inspired by the “Whatever” link you shared yesterday. We haven’t made a list yet, but I clipped the article to save. I’m glad you guys made your list – I’m sure you’ll have tons of fun with it!
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I love the “Buy presents for the homeless” activity. What a great summer idea!
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mmmm, Jimmy John’s
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Today is our first day of summer and I stumbled upon your site! We are going to create our list today – my 8 year old is so pumped!
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This is such a great idea. I’m going to make a list too. It’s great seeing what ideas Ethan came up with! I’m really curious to see what my kids will think of.
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I love this list. I will have to come up with something similar with my 3 year old, maybe a picture chart. She loves looking at her picture chore chart that I was inspired to do by your “Ticketmaster” post. This might also be a good idea to try to get her to play independently for a few minutes during the day. If she wants something to do while I am busy I can point her towards the list. Thanks!
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What a great idea! You must really be looking forward to the summer now.
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I love this idea, not only does it give them something to look forward to, but gives them a list at the end of the summer of all the things they had the opportunity to do. Thanks for the inspiration!
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These all look really awesome! Love that you made the big poster, with checkboxes, and have all of this to look forward to. I think sometimes the simplest things are the best – like running through the sprinklers! I loved things like that as a kid
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This is an excellent idea. No, REALLY. Sometimes having it on paper makes it more ‘do-able’. Especially since it will fly by so quickly. I really love this!
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Amy, I loved the idea when I saw it in your Notebook entry last week – and we are doing it, too.
Love your list!
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What a GREAT idea!
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this looks so fun! i don’t even have kids and i wanna make one
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This list is GREAT! You have absolutely inspired me to do a list like this with the boys. I love te added drawing, it makes the list so much more “kid friendly!” AWESOME idea!!
- Audrey
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i wish we could go to the beach in St. Joe too!
that’s our favorite vacation spot and this year we aren’t going.
i am bummed about it.
but i can look forward to next year.
i am glad you got your list done!
it does feel organized doesn’t it?
-meg
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Yay Ethan! That’s a great list. I know your mom helped a little, but you really did a good job!
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Sounds like a lot of fun this summer! We do the same thing but in the month of December. We create an advent tree with a list of fun things to do that leads us up until Christmas. We include community services activities, zoo lights, caroling, etc.
I think we’ll have to do a summer one to make sure we get to do all of the fun things summer offers!
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I totally took this idea of yours and ran with it! Though, not quite as fancy as your set-up (I just printed mine off the word document I made up). We’ve been able to cross a couple things off already….I just hope we don’t run out of ideas! We’ve definitely got to hit the Field Museum, too. Sam just asked about going to the museum with the dinosaurs (though he’s never been there). So I think we’re going to try to go in July ’cause James actually has that day off (the free one, I mean!). Thanks for such a great idea!!
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AnneMarie- AWESOME- I am so glad you guys made a list.
We have our calendar marked for the free day at the Field Museum too! If you didn’t have so many passengers, we could ride together
So proud of you guys!!
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Hi Amy!
What a great idea this was. I saved it on my “be inspired” list so I will remember to do one myself! Thanks for sharing.
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update: we did the list on the day I said (which is amazing for me, in itself!) We have about a third of the list done! My daughter is loving it! Thanks again.. love your family friendly blog!
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