Sometimes I'd like to ask God why He allows poverty, famine and injustice when He could do something about it. But I'm afraid God might ask me the same question.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

SUMMER BUCKET LIST

 the littles are now out of preschool and the bigs are counting down their last few days of school.  i am trying not to go into mommy panic over how i am going to entertain all these kiddos during the long hot summer days.   i love my kids, i really do, love every stinkin' one of them,  sure sometimes they have an off day.  and with as many kids as I have at least one is having an off day everyday...not me though.  i am always on my game, always chipper, patient, friendly, calm and in control of my emotions ( bwah-haaa-haaaa-haaa).

so instead of panicking,  i'm obsessing and making lists of fun, easy, not too messy and budget friendly ideas to keep us going.  no doubt most of our days will be spent poolside or on the sidelines somewhere, but this list makes me feel a little more in control of the situation.     we just might not get to everyone of these, but it makes me feel better to have a plan.  gotta keep them thinking i have things under control or my gig is up :)
so here is our summer bucket list:

GO TO POOL
GIVE EACH KID $5 @ THE FARMERS MARKET...MAKE A STIR-FRY FOR DINNER
FINISH READING ROOM
GO TO INDOOR PLAYGROUND
GO TO POOL
SHARK WATERMELON
GO TO POOL 
GO CAMPING
PICK STRAWBERRIES
GO TO POOL 
MAKE ICE CREAM
SONIC HAPPY HOUR
WATER BALLOON FIGHT
SLIP AND SLIDE
GO TO POOL
SUMMER FLAT STANLEY
TIE DYE
GO GET DONUTS IN OUR JAMMIES
MAKE UP A SECRET HAND SHAKE
PAINT A ROCK/ BUG GARDEN
SCAVENGER HUNT
WASH CARS IN BATHING SUITS 
CHOCOLATE COVERED MARSHMALLOWS ON A STICK WITH COLORFUL SPRINKLES
DECORATE BIKES FOR 4TH OF JULY
ORDER PIZZA AT THE POOL
LEARN NEW HAND-CLAP/SONG GAMES ON YOUTUBE 
FREE (OR DOLLAR) MOVIES
FREE BOWLING
GRILL PIZZA'S USING TORTILLAS FOR CRUST
RAINBOW PUDDING POPS  see link
(POOL)NOODLE AND BALLOON BASEBALL
LIVING ROOM CAMPOUT
ROAST HOT DOGS AND SMORES OVER CAMPFIRE
SIDEWALK CHALK PAINT  see link
LET ALL THE KIDS PICK OUT 1 FUNKY SNACK TO SHARE AT TR@DER JOES
CHUCK E CHEE@E
BIG BUBBLES  see link
BUTTERFLY ART  see link
PAINT
BEACH
SAND CASTLE CONTEST
MAKE AN ONLINE SCRAPBOOK AS WE GO, AND ORDER  IT OUT RIGHT BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS


now if i were a really nice mommy, i would post this up somewhere so that all of the kids could see it and get excited.  then we could cross things off the list as we went....but i'm not that good, i rather keep a few tricks up my sleeve.  and truth be told, if i let them know that i was planning on taking them for donuts in their p.j.'s,  i wouldn't hear the end of it and it would completely suck the fun out of it...for me at least.  My every moment would be consumed with " mama, mama, can  we go get donuts now?  how about now?  what if we put our jammies back on?  what about later?  are we going to go tomorrow?  but you said we were gonna do it?  you wrote it there?  when mama, when?  how about now mama? "   so  i'm keeping this list guarded and completely to myself.   but i thought i would share it with y'all.  and please oh please if you have any other ideas  by all means  share 'em!!!

11 comments:

Sarabeth Hudson said...

What are 'Sonic Happy Hour' and 'Shark Watermelon'?

Amy said...

ahhh girl, sonic is a drive up fast food restaurant that has yummy slushies. they are half price during "happy hour" . and the shark watermelon,,, you are just gonna have to wait that one out cause i didn't have a link for the pic that inspired the idea... :)

Kristi said...

I am SHAMELESSLY going to print out this list and claim it for my own. :) When my brain isn't so tired I'll see if I can add anything to it and I'll email you any additions. :)
Pure genius!

Anonymous said...

Hi Amy! Just saw this link yesterday and you might like it to go with your superfun list (which I'll be pulling from as well! :) ha!)http://thecraftingchicks.com/2011/05/summer-activity-jars-and-grab-bags.html
Happy Summer to you!! Sarah H.

Katie said...

Love your list. Did you know today is national donut day? : )

Joy said...

Sprayground!! Free and fun! Just google it:) Call me and I want to go too!

Kathleen said...

CLASSIC list!! Great timing, as we started our list in the car the other day and needed inspiration...I know that the Belmont Drive-in is on our list (watch for ant hills, I'm warned)as is lightrail downtown for ImaginOn (and/or Pike's Soda Shoppe) - the spraygrounds as Joy mentioned was our FAVORITE thing we did all summer - mapped them all out and made a day of it! Have a couple new games, so game day/night, use Mich@el's coupons to get art projects (stepping stone, etc.) Dollar stores have great, sturdy glasses (wine, regular) - kids can paint you a set or a glass of their own to drink out (paints are cheap at WM@rt or Mich@el's - I have baking instructions if you need them.) Love the farmer's mkt idea - what about L@zy 5? My other challenge this summer is to find ways to get my kiddos volunteering (R is helping at VBS while A attends) - write letters/draw pix for the military, bake something for our priests, lemonade stand for charity...?

Amy said...

Kathleen, you are the bomb!!! Love your ideas. A bunch of us will all have to hit the spray grounds! Getting excited!

Amy D. said...

Love this Amy!!! I also am starting to panic about summer with six kids!

I stole your water slide idea from your last post...I'll be blogging it...it was such FUN!!! I just got the latest issue of Family Fun magazine and they have tons of ideas for summer fun....one of my favorites was a making your own t-shirts..so cute!
We also love to tie dye..and did t-shirts,shorts, and even white undies(!) last year in red white and blue for the fourth! We also love water balloon tosses in the back yard, and flashlight tag, followed by smores, of course!

We also got hop sacks from party city, and the kids love racing across the back yard....and I admit, my hubby and I join in sometimes!:-)

If I think of more, I'll share...but thanks for all your great ideas!!
Xoxoxo
Amy D.
www.lotoskidz.blogspot.com

Admin said...

Sounds like a super fun summer!

Amanda Wright said...

If you like that taste in your beer you can use green or clear glass. The QR-Brix is a digital suction-type refractometer. Osteoglossids are carnivorous, often being specialized surface feeders.