Summer Time and Bucket Lists

It's that time where we are all getting excited about all the fun things to do around town!

I know I have so many things I want to do that sometimes I don't know where to start.  I think if you are having a hard time starting your bucket list, then instead of thinking of things you want to do.  Start thinking of a theme you want for your summer.

 Do you want a book nerd theme where you go to the library and all you do is check out book, after book, and read 20 books to your kids?

Do you want this summer to be one of adventure and exploring different parks, playgrounds, lakes and  hiking all over nature parks?  Maybe you want to check out the zoo and ride the skyline over Africa? 

What about a Foodie Summer.  You coould hit up all the food trucks known to man.  Or you try out as many different doughnut shops as you can think of; and try to find the perfect doughtnut.  (Who are we kidding this will not be a hard challenge).  I have rarely had a bad doughnut.

Do you want to teach you kids to serve, cook, make beautiful art, sew, swim?

The possibilities are endless.

But what if you want a slooooow summer?  What if you are wanting to relax at home and kick up your feet and eat popsicles?  This is a good option too.  I am hoping to find a good balance of both worlds.

I am going to come up with a list for our family; one list that is a laid back list and one that is a little more involved.

Laid back Summer ideas
1.  Finger Paint
2. Play dough Party.  Invite some friends over to enjoy some homemade play dough and see who can come up with the best creation.
3.  Eat popsicles on a blanket at the park and look up to see what shapes you can see in the clouds.
4.  Go on a nature hike around your house and spot as many birds, leaves, flowers, bugs.  (Bring them home and tape them to a paper and identify them.)  (not the birds and bugs of course!)
5. Sprinkler-buy a cheap sprinkler and let the kids run wild.
6.Water balloon fight.
7. Sidewalk chalk
8. Make the best home-made chocolate chip cookies (then deliver them to friends or family)
9. Draw family portraits and them buy some cheap frames from the dollar store and frame them.
10. Go play in the sand at a nearby park and pretend you are actually at the beach.
11.  Play dress up and pretend.  Yes, moms you have to get dressed up too!  Even if it's just a silly hat or scarf!
12.  Roll down the hill at a nearby park.
13.  Catch lady bugs and butterflies
14.  Go ice blocking
15.  Pick up trash at a local park/walking trail
16.  Play Frisbee
17. Play catch and or wiffle ball
18.  make cards and take them to a nearby nursing home
19.  Have friends over for lemonade and popcorn
20.  Play in the rain on a rain day of course!  But watch out for that lighting!
21.  Let you kids be florists for the day; buy some flowers and cheap vases from the thrift store and use any outside greenery and flowers you might have and let the kids get to work.  Deliver flowers (anonymous if possible:)
22. Fly kites on a windy day
23. Play tag (my kids love when I play tag with them at the park)  it is the simplest yet most entertaining game!
24.  Movie marathon day (what kid is going to say no to this)
25.  Go on a bunny hunt.  Count how many bunnies you can find in your neighborhood.


More involved Summer ideas:
1.Art museums
2.Art classes
3.Splash Pad
4.Sno-cones, custard, ice cream
5. Kansas City Zoo
6.Deanna Rose Farmstead
7.State Captial
8.Topeka Zoo
9.Strawberry Hill Museum
10.Aquarium
11.Explore Brookside
12.Mall carousel
13.Camping
14.Road trip
15.  Lemonade Stand
16. Spa day, face mask, manicures, pedicures.  Don't forget to buy cucumbers this is the best part of any spa day!!
17.  Have tea time at a local tea room
18.  Go explore the downtown of one of the suburbs you have been wanting to get to  know better.
19.  Do face painting art on your kids.
20.  Dye Easter eggs if you didn't get around to doing it at Easter Time! (Like me)
21.  Tye die shirts
22.  Paint rocks and hide them at the park for others to find.  You can put inspirational quotes on them as well!
23.  Go blueberry picking and get their blueberry Lemonade!


Good luck this Summer.  Hope you found some summer ideas that are right for you!  Pretty sure we won't get to all of these but hopefully we will be able to check  off some!

Also comment and let me hear some of your great ideas!!