Our 2016 Summer Break Bucket List

One week.  That's how long we've been on Summer Break as a family.  It feels strange considering most of my family and close friends have been on break since the middle and/or end of May.  Don't love schools that get out late?  Not I.  Anyways, we spent our first week just relaxing, sleeping in and really not having any rhyme or rhythm as to what we wanted to do, but I've decided that we need to experience a few adventures.

You know, have some actual planned activities.   Sure it's nice to sleep in and we're enjoying the flexible to come and go as we please immensely.  However, I don't sleeping in, watching tv and doing nothing to be ALL that we do this summer.  So with a little input from the kids below is our 2016 Summer Break bucket list.

Our Summer Break Bucket List

• Go to the beach:  We haven't been to the beach in ages, which is pretty awful considering my brother lives at the beach.  The kids have been asking when they will get to see Uncle Lenny since they haven't seen him this year.  Talk about crazy!  Plus, JJ hasn't been on an actual beach like sand, seashells and the wide open ocean since he was in my womb.  I'm sucking it up and taking the four drive to hang out with my brother and catch some rays (with sunblock of course, I sun burn).

• Visit a friend: Now that we are officially a two car household, there's no excuse to not visit one of my best friends.  She lives a little under 3 hours from me and we've been trying to connect in person for a year.  However, the timing was never right, she was either sick when I could use the Mr's car and then there was that time she came all the way to the Queen City, but the kids and I had the stomach virus.  The stars have finally aligned and I can't wait to hang out with her and her little cutie!

• Have a cookout:  Three years.  I haven't grilled outdoors in three years y'all!  This is nuts because I'm the griller in my family.  I've gone from grilling out year round to not grilling since our grill got stolen three years ago.  Whelp, it times to blow that dust off my grilling skills and there's no better time than this Summer to start testing out new burger recipes.

• Join a book club:  Y'all already know that my love of books knows no limits.  I'm the woman who has so many books, I broke two bookshelves because they just couldn't hold the weight of my books.  I've passed my passion for books and words on to Moo and she's been asking to join a kiddie book club.  Likewise I'm wanting to join an adult book club so that I can get my fangirl on with other book nerds.

• See a waterfall:  We were watching a movie a few weeks ago and Moo asked me if I've ever seen a waterfall.  Of course I have because we have a small one in my hometown.  It dawned on me that aside from TV and pictures my kids have never seen a waterfall.  So we're rectifying this situation before school starts back.

• Hike/walk a nature trail:  I think we'll be doing more walking than hiking.  My kids can be a bit unsturdy on their feet.  So we're going to walk at least three of the numerous trails we have here in the Queen City.  I feel blessed to have all the advancements of city living, but the comforts of country life as well.  Not many cities offer both.  I would like hike a more advanced trail sans the kids before September tho.

• Build a sandcastle:  We've always been so unprepared on our trips to the sandbox.  Two weeks ago I finally invested in some pails and shovels for the kids and this week we're going to complete our sandcastle building toolboxes by adding a few sandcastle molds to our collection.  Then we're going to schedule a day to get up early, head to our favorite park with the good moldable sand and build until our hearts are content!

• Visit the Farmer's Market:  When I was a kid, my mom would take us to the farmer's market almost every Saturday and sometimes on Sunday.  I want to start up this tradition with my kids.  We've only been to one of our farmer's markets and that was a few year ago when JJ was still able to ride comfortable in a stroller and was still breastfeeding.

• Have a bubble party:  Who doesn't love bubbles?  JJ's former speech therapist used bubbles as part of his therapy to help him open up and get comfortable.  So bubbles will always have special meaning for our family and be a part of his story.  Why not get a few gallons of bubble mixer, a bubble machine and just go crazy?!

• Decorate t-shirts: Moo's class was supposed to tie dye t-shirts the last week of school, but they never got around to it.  So we're adding it to our list and JJ can join in on the fun.  This will be another first for them because they've never tie dyed anything before.

• Watch the sun set:  A few nights ago we drove around to get a good view of the Strawberry Moon.  The kids loved it.  So I think hanging out at one of our local parks and enjoying the sun set will be equally enjoyable.  I love that my kids love nature and the beauty of God's creations.

• Attend an outdoor movie:  This is something I've personally wanted to do since I was a kid.  Now that I have kids, I get to mark this first off my list and theirs.  Two birds, one stone. Kinda of.

• Host a family game night:  Not just any family game night either.  I'm talking about the ultimate family game night with Grandma, Auntie Cat, and Cousin O!  Scrabble, Connect 4 and UNO are just a few of the games we'll play.  We'll have everyone's favorite snacks and maybe even end the night with a movie- Zootopia.

• Keep a Summer journal:  What better way to keep track of our Summer adventures than through a journal.  Mine will more than likely be a combination of pictures, video and writing.  Also, I'll be sharing our adventures here on the blog as well.  This will also be a good way to help Moo keep up her writing skills and help JJ get better with his handwriting and started on learning how to spell.

• Read 100 books:  Last Summer we read over 100 books and I'm hoping this year we'll do the same.  We've been reading more chapter books than picture books so I'm not sure.

• Explore the Queen City:  I've been in Charlotte for over a decade and still I go to my same old stomping grounds and favorite neighborhoods.  This Summer our goal is to venture out and explore new places and parts of our beloved city that we haven't.

Now that you've read what's on our Summer Bucket List, why don't create your own.  Right-click and save the FREE printable below to get started.

What will you put on your Summer Bucket List?