Summer To Do List, 2015

June is here.  School’s almost over.  Summer’s coming.  I’m not the biggest fan of summer, I admit.  I thinking having a list of things to do this summer might make me enjoy it more.  A lot of these are also on my 35 Until 35 list, so that’s good.

1. Pick a summer theme song. Right now I’m thinking of something by Jenny Lewis or Rilo Kiley.  We just saw Jenny last week, so I’m on a Jenny/Rilo kick.  Or I might throw back to some of my favorite summers, and go with a Dave Matthews song.  DMB songs always make me think of summer.
   I decided on Budapest because it’s fun, it’s on the radio a lot, and Peter just did a cool version.
2. Take, and post to Instagram, a photo every day, starting June 21st and ending September 22nd – the first and last days of summer.  Recently I’ve gotten into sharing my day to day stuff on Snapchat, and haven’t been posting as much on Instagram.  I think I’ll look back and wish I’d taken more permanent documentation of these days.  This summer, I will post (at least) one photo a day and I’ll use the hashtag #93summerdays if you want to play along!
3. Run through the sprinklers.  I tend to be an observer in this activity.  I vow to participate this summer.
4. Play outside everyday.  This is a long-term goal to get my kids to play outside everyday, rain or shine or snow or fog or whatever.  I think they’re getting to be old enough, and creative enough that I can start this.  Best to start in the summer, I figure!
5. Have a dinner of corn on the cob.  When corn is in season, there’s nothing better.
6. Go to a concert.
7. Stargaze with Alma. Ideally, I want to take her out into the country or wilderness where stars are brighter.  I think it would be fun to let her stay up late (or get her up) and take her out, just the two of us.
8. KonMari Method everything. This will likely be an entire blog post, but I have read The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up and am in the process of getting rid of things that don’t spark joy.  It’s already been incredible, I can’t wait to continue.
9. Go on a day date with Jesse.
10. Hike.
11. Camp.
12. Ride bikes.
13. Make lemonade from scratch.
14. Watch fireworks.  Big ones this year, I think.
15. Build a sandcastle.
16. Make ice cream from scratch.
    We made a cherry dark chocolate ice cream.  I liked it, Alma didn’t, Jesse was indifferent, Harriet likes anything.
17. Redecorate the living room – specifically the mantel. It still is covered in Easter decorations.  Come on.  Jesus has already ascended into Heaven and we’re fully in a new church season.  Seriously, Carolyn.
18. Go to the beach.  This should be easy.  We have another vacation to Coronado planned.
19. Go to the mountains.
20. Bake a crisp, or other summery dessert.   Blueberry cobbler ftw.
21. Swim in nature – ocean, river, lake, stream.
22. Eat wild berries.
23. Make s’mores.
24. Take each Harriet and Alma on an adventure, just us. 
25. Plan our tenth anniversary celebration.  Ten years!  What?
26. Learn how to shop at thrift stores.  They totally overwhelm me and I never buy anything.  I love to idea of not wearing new clothes – better for earth, better for the workers who make clothes, cheaper – I just don’t know how to do it.
27. Go to the Country Fair. Photos here!
28. Go to new parks.  Maybe try for all the parks in Eugene?  Is that crazy?  Anyone want to attempt this with us?
29. Shop at the farmer’s market as often as possible.  Maybe make it a weekly activity.
30. Have a water balloon fight.
31. Buy some treats from the ice cream truck.
32. Go to the library.  Another weekly activity?
33. Swim in a pool.
34. Tie dye something.
35. Go berry picking. Anyone want to play along?  What’s on your list this summer?