Summer Lovin'

   The summers around here tend to fly by. O.k., well, some moments they drag by (like when the children are whining!), but somehow nine weeks fly by, and I feel some guilt (some Mommy guilt) that maybe we didn't do enough? I'm not sure why I feel this way.     
   Summer was fun when I was young because I liked the freedom to play outside all day, or read as many Nancy Drew mysteries in one day as I wanted. My family would go to a family camp, and I always loved that too. 
   So, I could just let my kids be, and let them make their own fun for the summer, but the truth is, I feel like they need something to do. To make the summer fun, maybe a pinch educational, definitely memorable, and something we can look back on as a family and say, "remember our awesome summers...". Ya know? 
   Anyway, all that to say, I need a plan! I always have good intentions, but suddenly summer is gone! I'm not talking about a  written in stone, no-one can change the schedule type of plan. Just an outline, a list of ideas, pulling out the calendar to marking a few days for special events/activities. Here are some things I liked from the world of Pinterest, and will use this summer. 

   This summer schedule from ReMarkable Home is something I really like! It's fairly flexible as far as different things to do, but gives at least an idea of where to start. 

   Digital Reflections has a list of 100 things you can do with your kids, and most are free! Yipee! The list includes ideas like visiting a fire department, building a fort, activities that involve using a camera, and taking pictures of things, then printing the photos off, and making a book about your photos (like "things we saw on our nature walk", or "the alphabet through our town"). There are a lot of ideas on here!

   We are planning a road trip to Mount Rushmore this summer (fingers crossed it actually works out!). Caleb has been talking and talking and talking about Mount Rushmore, and neither my husband or I have been, so we thought, "why the heck not"?! Our kids are actually great travellers (living in the sticks and having to drive a good distance to get anywhere taught them this!), so I really hope this works out, and we can go on this adventure and make some family summer memories! 
   Check out my Pinterest board for more ideas of things to do with the kids!