Oh, hey, summer! How are you? Again, I’m pretty happy to see you. We have lots of good plans for you and I’m so excited to get started.
bucket list
Country Fair – Check that off the Summer to do list!
I put this on my summer bucket list because I know – from past summers – that if we don’t plan for this, it passes us by. When Fair weekend comes, it’s easy to just say it’s too hot or too expensive or too dirty or too something. I knew that if it was on our to do list, we’d make it to the Country Fair. This was also on my 35 Things To Do Before I Turn 35 list. 
We went with our friends the Henrys and it was a lot of fun! The kids were a great age for just wandering, exploring, and eating our way through the Fair. 
This rainbow thing was a favorite for the kids. While we were playing here, it started raining. I should take a moment to mention how lucky we got with the weather. It was mild, cloudy, warm, and a little rainy. Perfect.
Alma’s not looking, but I had to post this to prove that I was there, too.
I love how all the kids were accidentally color coordinated. It made it easy to locate them as they wandered down the paths. 
This fairy world was another favorite for all the kids. I so totally want to make something like this! It was amazing. 
Our kids did a super job walking most of the time, but they also enjoyed a wide variety of methods of being carried. 
There was a quick moment when we lost Finley and Cedar. Obviously, they were dancing with giant wolves. Duh. 
The aftermath. Cute, hot, tired, dirty babies. So glad we went to the Country Fair this year. It’s an experience that I am happy to share with family friends. 
I’ve been updating our summer to do list. You can check out the updates here!
Summer 2014 Bucket List
Being a parent these days is hard. It is because everyone is so good at being parents. In the world of Pinterest, blogs, Facebook, Instagram, we are able to see all the amazing things that everyone else is doing. And we are all obviously doing it all so well. Or at least that’s the vision of ourselves that we are trying to project.
I have been thinking about making a summer to do list. After a quick Pinterest search, I saw what I’m supposed to do. I’m supposed to create an ‘invitation to play’ everyday for my kids – some activity that I set up that encourages creativity and independence. I’m supposed to make beautiful and creative meals that encourage my kids to eat only organic vegetables. I’m supposed to make sure Alma learns how to write her name before pre-school in the fall – and can do that with organized home school activities everyday at home. I’m supposed to take my girls on educational outings that they will enjoy without tantrums or naps.
Umm. I’m not going to do that.
I mean, I might do some of that, but if I do, it will mostly be an accident. I don’t have time, nor do I see the value in doing such perfectly planned things. I’m not perfect, and I don’t plan on setting perfect expectations. That seems like a perfect way to fail.
I’d rather set some goals that I know will be fun and easy.
I know that I can do these things. No pressure.
I think I can get to the end of my days happy that I did these things. I think I can get to the end of the summer happy that I gave these things to myself and my girls. And if Alma learns to write her name along the way, that’s cool too.
What are you doing this summer?