Summer Bucket List

 

The endless days of summer lay out before us.  Or loom before us, depending on your perspective.  Actually this mom holds both.  While I'm craving the freedom from formal book work and the possibility of lounging by the pool, I know that thebliss of those days will quickly wear off if we don't plan accordingly.  So this past week, I sat down with the kids and we worked out a schedule and list that we could all live with.  Here's what we decided on:

8am--Off to the gym
  Noah has swim lessons 3x/week and the baby has visits 2x/week so we're out of the house early.
  Mama will workout on swim days and the kids can play.

9am (or 10, depending on the day)-- Pool time
  I factored lots of pool time in since we're be there already.

12 pm--Lunch time
  I'll pack one on the days we plan on staying late at the pool or we can stop to eat at the park.

1 pm--Project time
  I want to build in project time over the summer.  Lydia wants to sew; Noah wants to catch up on Lego class.  And since this is baby's nap time, it gives me a good chance to work on those projects with each kid.

2pm-- Quiet time
  You don't have to sleep, but you do have to work quietly.

4pm--off to the gym (maybe)
  On the mornings I don't get my workout, we'll go in the afternoons
  Lydia has gymnastics in the afternoon once a week
  Noah's thinking of taking cooking class once a week

Here's what's on Our Summer List:
1. Make popsicles
2. Sew some hair accessories
3. Study Bible books
4. Do 5 Lego clubs
5. Go to the Aquatic Center
6. Swim Lessons
7. Make an indoor fort
8. Go to the beach
9. Make popsicle bracelets
10. Sew a new purse
11. Create some yard art
12. Make sand castles
13. Make marshmallow shooters
14. Go to Azalea Park
15. Use the science kit
16. Fly kites
17. Garden
18. Make sidewalk paint
19. Create giant bubbles
20. Bake blackberry cobbler
21. Make sponge bombs
22. Create fairy/gnome houses
23. Go to a dollar movie (or two)
24. Make a beachcomber's box
25. Bake Jolly Rancher pops
26. Create collage art
27. Go to the Rodeo
28. Go to the Farmer's Market
29. Eat snow cones
30. Make stick puppets
31. Go to a baseball game
32. Make a music video
33. Have a camping theme day
34. Learn to draw animals
35. Do fingerprint art
36. Have a bike parade
37. Cook campfire cones
38. Write in summer journals
39. Pick blackberries
40. Go to VBS
41. Play Jr. Giants
42. Star Gaze
43. Have root beer floats
44. Learn to ride a bike (Lydia)
45. Have a waterballoon fight
46. Make homemade ice cream
47. Create a new pizza recipe
48. Go on family bike rides
49. Wash the cars
50. Write a poem
51. Make frozen banana pops
52. Create windsocks
53. Play croquet
54. Go to Grandma's
55. Visit Parrot Playhouse
56. Check out Butterfly House
57. Go to Math Exhibit
58. Slip N Slide
59. Run in sprinklers
60. Play in wading pool
61. Pick and press flowers
62. Go to Lego Exhibit
63. Watch a bean grow
64. Discover root power
65. Design a butterfly garden
66. Make a bird feeder
67. Learn about Blue Jays
68. Make s'more bars
69. Make homemade lemonade
70. SWIM!!!
71. Roast marshmallows
72. Make s'mores
73. Paint pet rocks
74. Go on an ABC scavenger hunt
75. Memorize Psalm 100
76. Pick cherries
77. Play with couch cushions
78. Make sock puppers
79. Make suncatchers
80. Take a walk on the beach
81. Eat crab
82. Feed the ducks
83. Go on a picnic
84. Learn hopscotch
85. Learn to jump rope
86. Make a heart map
87. Make a sculpture with marshmallows and spaghetti
88. Scrapbook summer photos
89. Go out to breakfast
90. Visit family out of town
91. Learn to type (Noah)

26 Intentional Acts of Kindness #9: Love in the Family

  

We had so much fun with our last Intentional Act of Kindness.  The kids really got into this one.  We picked up some three packs of bubbles from Dollar Tree.  Then while we were at home, the kids tied notes to them with a sticker.

We waited till there was quite a few kids at the park then Noah and Lydia ran around and hid them all over the playground.  We continued to play after that, keeping on an eye on the spots where we knew they were hidden.  

Funny thing is, the joke was on us.  We kept watching the kids look at them, but no one picked them up.  Finally, Noah couldn't stand it any long and he had to tell the boys they were for them.  So in the end, they figured out the bubbles were from us, but it was still a lot of fun nonetheless.

Are you ready for another challenge?

This challenge can keep you close to home or far away, depending on how you adapt it for your family.  We're going to write notes to someone we love, telling them why we love them.  For our family in particular, I'm going to have the kids write to each other.  And I'll probably write one for each of them.  But this is a pretty open challenge.  Kids can write to their grandparent, a teacher, a neighbor, etc.  It takes so little to brighten someone's day and especially hearing that they are loved.

Are you ready for the challenge?

How to Follow Blogs (Without Blogger Reader)

If you haven't heard, Blogger will be eliminating its blog reader in July 2013.  Yep.  That's next month. And I hate to admit it, but I've been a procrastinator about finding alternative readers.  Sure, I've seen the posts from other bloggers describing their favorite new ways to follow.  But I'm so computer iliterate.  I was afraid with three kids and everything else on my plate, I'd never figure it out.  So I waited.

Till I finally sat down and just gave it a try.

And really, it's so much easier than I ever imagined.  Really.  It's really easy.

So whether you've never subscribed to a blog, or have a full Blogger Reader, here's your chance to check out some new ways to follow along.

As I've researched, I've found three different options out there for following blogs in the future:

1. You can subscribe via email.  This is a great option if you don't want to manage a second inbox.  All blog posts will conveniently delivered directly to your email.  If you want to read further, simply click on the post and you'll be sent to the site.  You can follow Creative2xmom by entering your email in the box on the top right of the front page.

2. I've heard good things about BlogLovin's reader.  There are some bloggers who rave about it.  I can't speak much to it 'cause I found something I already love.  (*I've since learned there is a "Connect to Google Reader" option on this site as well)

3. You can also subscribe via Feedly, a second blog reader.  If you're already using Google Reader, this is a great option.  Simply click on "Connect to Google Reader" and your feeds will be seamlessly migrated to your new Feedly reader.  This was the big selling point for me.  I didn't have to search through all my blogs and re-follow from a new reader.

If you are just starting to follow blogs through Feedly, click on the magnifying glass on the upper right corner and enter the blog address.  Click on the plus sign for your new subscription to be added.  As you spend more time on Feedly, you can customize folders to sort your subscription based on interest, or other categories.

There's also a mobile app to keep you reading on the go.

So there you go, a crash course in subscribing to blogs after Blogger Reader disappears.  If you like keeping up with blogs, subscribe!  Blog writers love to write for you and we love it when you follow along.

Subscribing via email is very easy, but if it's not for you, here are two other options, BlogLovin and Feedly.

And subscribe to Creative2xmom if you're interested.  No pressure!  Creative2xmom publishes new posts 3-4x/week with lots of recipes, homemaking ideas, and motherhood thoughts.  I try to keep them useful and fun.  And of course, subscription is free!  Who doesn't like free?

How do you read your favorite blogs?

10 Things This Week

Here's how I did on my goals this week:

Marriage and Parenting:

*Read 5 chapters in Little Women

*Look up scripture to memorize

*Prep Summer Journals

Blogging:

*Finish review book

*Stay one week ahead on posts

*Research Light box ideas

Homemaking Goals:

*Make and hide an extra key for the house

*Prepare final grades

Personal Goals:

*Exercise 4-5 days/ including 5 days of core challenge (last week was so busy; do bike rides with the kids count?)

*Get 8 hrs of sleep each night (about three nights)

These are my 10 Goals for the week:

Marriage and Parenting:

*Finish Little Women

*Start scripture project

Blogging:

*Finish review book

*Research Light Box optinos

Homemaking Goals:

*Make and hide an extra key for the house

*Look into picking cherries

*Go scrapbooking

*Plant some more grass seed

Personal Goals:

*Exercise 3-4 days/ 5 days of core challenge

*Get 8 hours of sleep each night

What are your goals this week?

Weekend Links

Duck Dynasty Themed Birthday Party

Mexican Themed Birthday Party

Airline Birthday Party

May the Fourth Be With You Party

Thing One and Thing Two's Twin Birthday Party