Our Family’s Summer Bucket List

One night when I was little, we were vacationing in the mountains when a horrible thunderstorm broke out. I’m petrified of thunder and lightning anyway (yes, present tense. big mama wimp) but at the time, we were OUTSIDE on the porch, eating dinner. I was just positive our whole family was three seconds away from being vacuum-sucked to the heavens in a funnel cloud.

We were all freaking out. My uncle said, “Girls. Chill out. This is going to make a memory and you will remember this the rest of your lives.”

Yup. We do.

Normally, I’m a big fan of the simple things for our kids. Popsicles on the porch. Chalk on the driveway. But recently I realized how many of my childhood memories are the Special Things. The trips, the holidays, the outings. I think the “everydays” give kids roots, safety, and character, but the “specials” give us memories.

My husband agrees, and in this vein we are doing something we’ve never done : a family summer bucket list. Here it is.

• Go to the rodeo.
• Climb a mountain.
• Play putt-putt.
• Visit the zoo.
• Watch a movie on the grass.
• Go fishing. (Actually, my husband and sons want me to clarify: CATCH SOME FISH. Difference.)
• Attend a baseball game.
• See race cars.
• Go bowling.
• Have ice cream with cherries and chocolate in it.
• Go real camping. AND, camp in the backyard and make S’mores.

What about you? What does your family plan to do this summer?

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