Our 2013 Summer Bucket List for a Happy Family

Yes, Daddy has a funny smile but since the blog writer and the babies look great, this photo wins.

I love being creative, Pinterest sucks away hours of my life, I’ve been hoarding Family Fun, Crochet Today and other crafty magazines for as long as I can remember, and I’ve got about 5 million bookmarks on my laptop. But, I’m also the type of person that needs sticky notes in every room just to remember to take my vitamins. Too often I read an article and say, “We should totally do that!” and then completely forget about it. Or, after the kids are asleep, I think to myself, “Oh man, we should have done X fun thing today!” but, of course, it’s too late. So, when I found out about The Summer Bucket List Challenge last year and again this year, I joined excitedly – an easy way to ensure we’re not missing out on those special little things that create memories and make childhood magical? Yes, please! Plus, there are honestly no cons; it’s all-inclusive, pure fun.

But I still have a few other reasons why I like the Bucket List Challenge anyway:

1. Literally writing out and displaying our Bucket List in the living room, where we’ll walk past the list multiple times a day, makes it impossible not think about which activity you could make time for (and for visually oriented people like me it’s even better).
2. Since the Summer Bucket List Challenge is public, that makes everyone online my new accountability partners.
3. I’m addicted to photo books and The Bucket List will make a great one!
4. Did I mention I’m also an obsessive list maker?

This year’s Summer Bucket List Challenge, sponsored by The Happy Family Movement, begins on May 20 and lasts until Labor Day, Sept 2. (It’s free and fun so if you haven’t signed up yet, click here now – you won’t regret it). That time frame gives us exactly 3 months and 13 days to create some serious summer memories. Now, 13 has always held a special place in our family – it’s the day Nick and I decided to get married and we always try to do something small and special whenever a 13th falls on a Friday. So… I’m pretty sure this is some sort of cosmic sign that we’re destined to have The Best Summer Ever thanks to our Bucket List!

If you’re a long-time follower of my blog, I admit we did not publicly participate much last year because Number 2 arrived and the season turned out to be an overwhelming blur of preparing, caring and adjusting – more so than I ever imagined it would be. But, now that we’ve had time to get used to our new family dynamic and Number 2 is a little older and less demanding, we are SO READY!

What to do with 15 weeks, 105 days or 2,520 hours of potential fun? In order to make sure our list wasn’t overwhelming, my husband and I voted on 2 activities per week (or 30 total), with the option to add more (which we quickly did). We also decided we should add in some Adult Only dates too because we’re terrible at making them happen and because happy parents = a happy family. So, (drum roll, please) here is our 2013 Summer Bucket List:

1. Make Gak
2. Go on a scavenger hunt
3. Get ice cream from an ice cream truck (must be playing music)
4. Ride bikes
5. Go berry picking
6. Go grocery shopping with O’s own cart and list
7. Visit a farmer’s market
8. Attend a baseball game
9. Go swimming (first time!)
10. Take advantage of BOA’s Free Museum Day
11. Watch fireworks
12. Play with water balloons
13. Visit Sandy Hook beach (if re-opened)
14. Go bowling (first time!)
15. Visit the local zoo
16. Trip to Boston
17. Use sidewalk chalk
18. Visit the Camden Aquarium
19. Have a picnic
20. Visit the Central Park Zoo
21. Airbrushing
22. Trip to California (first airplane!)
23. Make stained glass with tissue paper
24. ADULTS: Zip-line date
25. ADULTS: Miniature Golf
26. Bike on Governor’s Island
27. Find a new fun park
28. Play with bubbles
29. Make popcicles (first time!)
30. Ride a carnival coaster
31. Have a one color meal
32. ADULTS: Go to the movies
33. Go on a firefly walk
34. Visit Sesame Street Place

This year we’re going to document the things we cross off our List with lots of pictures. Stay tuned! Have you signed up yet? Do it NOW!!