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Summer Bucket List

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Summer usually comes crashing into my family like a wave. The days first seem lazy and long, but just as soon as we wet our toes in summer’s freedom, before we wade into its deep bliss of glorious abandon, the undertow of busy-tide steals back its gifts. The memories that remain to gather always seem too few, like scattered bits of shell. Our buckets don’t fill.

I won’t have it. Not this year. I lay my claim on this summer with our family’s first ever Summer Bucket List, a collection of fun-in-the-sun things to do to lasso these long days and live them to the full. Yes, we will capture this summer and bask in its treasures. Will you join us? Grab your bucket, and let’s dig in.

How to Create Your Bucket List

Consider grouping activities by theme. www.LifeAsMom.com blogger Jessica Fisher divides her list into five categories: Things to Do, Places to Go, Books to Read, Movies to Watch, People to See. Shauna Thompson, blogger from www.MyMixofSix.Blogspot.com, takes inspiration from Dr. Seuss: Oh, the PLACES we will GO; Oh, the FOOD we will EAT; Oh, the ACTIVITIES we can DO; Oh, the CRAFTS that can be MADE, Oh, the SERVICE that can be DONE.

To simplify further, get into a routine with weekly theme days. Some ideas: Make It Monday, Try It Tuesday, Get Wet Wednesday, Thoughtful Thursday, Field Trip Friday. Or, have a family meeting on Sunday nights to fill in the calendar for the week ahead.

How to Display Your Bucket List

Crafty bucket lists are all the rage on blogs and Pinterest as school’s end approaches, and most come in two varieties. First, there’s the checklist. Whether displayed on a dry erase/chalkboard in a lovely frame, a poster in multi-colored inks and doodles or a scribbled paper taped onto your kitchen fridge, the checklist requires little explanation.

The other is the 3D variety, which lends itself to endless creativity:

The “Laundry List”

Our family’s idea of choice, a “Summer Laundry List” to hang from the mantel, was inspired by blogger, Shirley, of www.TheseMomentsofMine.com. We gathered miniature clothespins, a spool of wide ribbon, double-sided scrapbook paper and scissors to make laminated (reusable!) swimsuit cut-outs, then wrote our activities on them using dry erase markers. We hang our laundry with the written sides facing out until each is completed and turned around.

The kids have just more than 80 days of summer freedom, with vacations, VBS and summer camps dotted in between. We want our bucket list to bring joy and inspiration, not overwhelm, so we’ve landed on a list of 25 as our magic number. Some activities take only the smallest effort, others require more planning, but all will be accomplished in the same way: together. Nothing could fill my bucket more than that.

MAKE IT MONDAY

TRY IT TUESDAY

GET WET WEDNESDAY

THOUGHTFUL THURSDAY

FIELD TRIP FRIDAY

Bonus Tips:

Follow KC Parent's blog 100 Days of Summer in KC for inspiration and read our 100+ Ideas for Free Summer Fun in Kansas City!

Wendy Connelly, Overland Park, is a happy-at-home mom of two who’s airing a lot of summer laundry.

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