Saturday, May 19, 2012

Summer activities:

It is mid-May and my kids will be out of school next week and I have been working on a list of things to keep us busy this summer.  I'm not sure what our vacation plans are, but there is a good chance we won't be straying far from home this year.  I have purchased a notebook/scrapbook from Michael's called a Smash Book and we are going to document our activities.  We have all been working on a list of 100 activities to do this summer and I have decided to share them on here as well.  Our list actually has more than 100 things on it, but our goal is to do at least 100 by labor day.  There a mix of things to do at home, free activities around our town, and some other things that you have to pay for, but I've tried to keep the costs down as much as possible.  I am going to include our list here in case any of you are looking for ideas for your family this summer.  I am becoming more aware of how quickly my kids are growing and want to make the most of the time I have left before they are all grown up.  Here is what we have so far...

1.                  catch fire flies
2.                  Bay’s Mountain(park, planetarium, maybe zip lining)
3.                  camp out
4.                  make a pin wheel
5.                  decorate a picture frame
6.                  perform a play
7.                  try a new yogurt shop
8.                  dance in the rain
9.                  fly kites
10.              water balloon fight
11.              plant and grow something
12.              go to Steele’s Creek
13.              ride bikes
14.              drive-in movie
15.              family game night
16.              tie dye shirts
17.              have dessert first
18.              go fishing
19.              see a movie
20.              go swimming
21.              go on a picnic
22.              try new foods
23.              pick blackberries
24.              have an opposite day
25.              family cook-out
26.              go on a nature walk
27.              exercise together
28.              go see fireworks
29.              go to Willow springs park
30.              Go to Warrior’s Path playground
31.              go to Sugar Hollow Park
32.              go to Doe River Gorge
33.              go to Natural Tunnel State Park
34.              go to South Holston Dam
35.              go the library
36.              play Frisbee golf at Steele’s Creek
37.              play putt-putt
38.              go to a zoo
39.              go to Dollywood
40.              go to Splash Pad in Kingsport
41.              go bowling
42.              go to Roan Mountain (Rhododendron Festival)
43.              see a waterfall
44.              hike on the Appalachian Trail
45.              ride bikes on the Creeper Trail
46.              hike to the fire tower at Bay’s Mountain
47.              watch the sunset at Beauty Spot
48.              go to the Carter Fold
49.              Music on the Square in Jonesborough
50.              Bluegrass on Broad in Kingsport
51.              go to a Minor League baseball game
52.              go to the farmer’s market
53.              Funfest to see the hot air balloons
54.              go Geocaching
55.              go letterboxing
56.             Perform random acts of kindness
57.              go tubing, rafting, paddle boating, or canoeing
58.              go Contra dancing
59.              see the Trail of the Lonesome Pine
60.              interview our grandparents
61.              play with sidewalk chalk
62.              jump rope
63.              blow bubbles
64.              do a science experiment
65.              make smores
66.              build a fort
67.              watch for shooting stars
68.              recycle something
69.              bake and decorate a cake
70.              run through the sprinkler
71.              make friendship bracelets
72.              make a piƱata
73.              tour the Bristol race track
74.              go to the Exchange Place
75.              have a garage sale
76.              look at the clouds for animals and shapes
77.              have a treasure/scavenger hunt
78.              read a book aloud together
79.              play basketball in the driveway
80.              memorize a Bible verse
81.              make a prayer board
82.              cook dinner together
83.              make necklaces from rocks
84.              plan a special surprise for Owen
85.              plan a special surprise for Emily
86.              plan a special surprise for AJ
87.              have a puppet show
88.              play hopscotch
89.              write and mail letters to out of town friends and family
90.              make flubber
91.              make sidewalk paint
92.              balloon tennis
93.              ding dong ditch
94.              make hand shadows
95.              pick and animal and learn as much as you can about it
96.              melted crayon hot rocks
97.              indoor picnic
98.              balloon characters
99.              Popsicle puzzles
100.          hand print art
101.          homemade lava lamps
102.          mini marshmallows and toothpick construction
103.          diet Coke with Mentos bomb
104.          go to garage sales
105.          bouncing bubbles
106.          home depot or Lowe’s for free make and takes
107.          play I spy
108.          pajama day- tv, movies, popcorn, etc.

There are a couple of other things about this summer that my kids don’t know yet.  There is going to be NO tv until after 8pm each day with rare exceptions.  I am determined that we are going to spend our time together even if it kills us.  This means that I am going to be limiting my internet time as well.  I’m still figuring out the details, but I will be online in the mornings, probably around lunch time (since I do work from home and it is necessary to check some things throughout the day) and at night after the kids are in bed.  We are making lots of changes in our family.  Some of the big ones include next year will be our first year home schooling and we are slowing transitioning towards a whole foods diet.  I wanted to expand my blog to include these areas as well as my craftiness, which I hope to be able to continue!  My plan is to have the kids spending more time together and all of us having less screen time.  Hopefully you guys can keep me accountable.  I will be adding links to many of the ideas listed above.