Summer Fun Challenge 2014

For the last couple of summers, we have consciously tried to get the most out of our summer. My kids are getting older, and they do not have many more summers of  their "childhood" left. This year is the last one for my oldest.  In exactly one year she will be graduating from high school, and will start preparing for the real world.  I want to make sure we make happy memories for her, instead of allowing time to just slip away.  

School is ending for us in just a couple of days, so we are putting together this year's list. It also helps to look at pictures from past challenges to remind us of the fun things we did.   

We have made it a tradition to celebrate the end of the school year by going to Dairy Queen on the last day of school.  Last year it was a chilly day in June, which is why this photo is in the car. You can see several other flashback last day photos, by checking out my Our End of the School Year Tradition Post. 

I ask each child what they would like to do this year, so we make sure we add it to the list.  Here is our list so far.  

pick strawberries 

free bowling 

go to the beach 

swimming 

make ice cream 

make a water blob

go to the water slide 

go to a baseball game 

ride a paddle boat 

make summer T-shirts 

go to outdoor movies 

have fun at the lake

have a bonfire

see a parade 

see some fireworks 

go to the zoo 

go to Cedar Point 

walk on boardwalk with ice cream 

make a butterfly garden 

go to Colonial Days 

go to the fair 

visit Lake Michigan 

go to a reunion 

go to the farmer's market 

visit Frankenmuth 

have sleepovers 

have a special Birthday party 

go to festivals

road trip to Ikea

go to the Metropark 

have a picnic

make smores 

go blueberry picking

see lots of movies 

go on a boat ride 

learn how to drive (two are in driver's ed) 

and hopefully many more! 

You may notice that Kara is the only one in the pictures.  There were days when only she would participate, and days when we were all there but the older two did not allow me to take pictures. Hopefully that will change this summer. 

Summer is not going to be all play though..  we are going to be doing some work too.  I will be sharing more in another post that will hopefully go up this week.  

What fun things to you try to do in the summer?