Summer Planning

I thought I would share a short series

 on how we plan for our summer.

As most of you know I am big on planning

and with three kids,

I guess I kind of have to be.

Let me start by explaining my summer motto.

"Summer is a journey, not a race"

Last summer it was a race for me...

you see, we had spent all winter and spring

locked up with a newborn who wouldn't sleep..

I had some mommy guilt and felt the pressure

to cram as many fun things into the summer as I could,

 because #3 was more mobile and

 her schedule was more flexible.

But this year, I want to slow time down...

I want the kind of summer I remember growing up...

long, fun, and full of memories.

a Mommy Friendly

Memory Making

kind of summer.

The first step I do is get my calendar going...

I start with a free printable calendar and a pencil.

Nothing is in the planner or in pen until the dust settles!

I start this at the end of April.

First I mark off our big events,

 like swim lessons,

Vacation Bible School, and our vacation.

Also, here is where the camps come in...

Mikey loves going to Lego camp

 and I try to get Adelyn into a dance or art camp. 

Next I plug in road trips or events that

 I need to coordinate with other people.

My parents live on the coast, and we like to

do two or three long weekends with them.

They also, have "cousin camp" and

those dates I have to coordinate with my sister.

Next up, is our family bucket list.

What are the small things we want to do?

This year we listed everything by category...

stuff to do, places to go, things to make, what to eat, etc.

The kids love to look at my summer Pinterest board HERE

and pick out their favorite things to try.

The bucket list then gets plugged into our weekly plan...

I like to stick with the above plan.

It is cheesey but it keeps me accountable

and the kids look forward to it.

It has really helped my stick to my motto,

as I plan one small thing a day and

do not feel the pressure to plan something

 big and entertaining!

On Mondays we "Make Something"

So far we have made slime,

this yummy S'more snack,

and a craft.

On Too Wet Tuesday we

 pull out the water slide,

fill up the water guns,

head to the river, or the splash pad.

Wednesday is "Wild about Reading"

or "What Cha Reading?"

We head to the library for new books.

I will not lie, this is hard...

I'm usually the crazy mom with three kids

running around yelling my name

as they are all enjoying different sections

of the kids area these days,

but we are there...

making memories and

reading some good stuff!

Thinking Thursdays is one of my favorite days so far.

Our neighborhood pool is cleaned on Wednesday,

so the cleanest it will ever be is Thursday mornings...

clearly my favorite time to go.

We try to hit the pool from 9:30 to 11ish.

And even though we try to do

 some kind of learning everyday for 30 minutes,

(I will post more on this soon) 

 Thursday afternoons Molly takes a good long nap...

you know the kind you love after a morning in the sun.

This allows me to spend extra time with the kids

working in their workbooks, writing, and reading.

On Friday we head somewhere fun...

the list is long this summer, but includes things like...

museums, the zoo, the park, going for ice cream,

playdates, berry picking, visiting cousins,

the jump house, or a movie.

This is where I plan each week...

this little planner was from WalMart,

but any weekly printable will work.

I usually split the days into am and pm.

I keep it very simple, as you can see.

 

Does you family enjoy fun filled summers

 or long lazy summers?

What are your summer planning tips?

I would love to hear your ideas!

 

Come back soon to see how we learn all summer

and how we are doing summer chores!

 

Welcome Summer Fun!

For the past three years I have put together

 these Summer Fun Buckets for my kids.

I set them out on our breakfast table

for the first "true" day of summer vacation!

You know, the Monday it really starts,

not the Saturday!

What a big hit these are!

Not only are kids thrilled,

but mama is pretty strategic about

 what goes in them because

 it is my summer, too!

And I love the LAZY days of summer!

So What do I put them in them...

 

*guilty pleasure breakfasts like PopTarts

or the sugary cereal they always beg me for!

Something the can fix themselves while I sleep in!

 

*Water balloons for our big neighborhood war

 

*New Crayons and markers

 

*Simple water toys from the dollar store

 

*Flip flops and sunglasses also from the dollar store

 

*Goggles and swim shoes.

Things I would buy even if we did not to the buckets.

 

*A note book or coloring book

 

*A guilty pleasure snack (or two)

 

*A new board game (not in the bucket, but one to share)

and a book or two!

 

 

New for this summer is going to be a chore chart!!

Bahaha!  I can't wait!

Like I said, it's my summer, too!

Now that these kiddos are a year older

 we will be adding a few chores to earn screen time!

Brilliant, right?

The first ones are from Bekah at Pinch A Little Save A Lot

This edit-able one is from Southern Melle!

I really like the idea of adding

scripture and manners to the chart!

I will be posting an update on our Summer Chore System

as soon as we nail one down!

 

I know I sound like the kids...

but I CAN'T WAIT FOR SUMMER!!

Mainly the LAZY part,

but the sun and fun too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

What We Have Been Up To...

I can't believe it has been a month since I last posted...

Where did our Spring go?
It started off with a family wedding
that lasted for two fun filled weekends!

 And it is baseball season!
Sometimes we are playing ball
three nights a week!
(but its so fun!)

 I started The 21 Day Fix...
and adding in workouts and food prep
to my day has been tricky, but worth it!

 This little dancer has a big recital coming up...
this means pictures, rehearsals, and costume fun!
She also has an art show this month AND
is all registered for Kindergarten (sigh/ tear)

 Molly?  Well, she is 18 months today and busy as ever!
Oh and no she is still not sleeping through the night-
but boy is she ever fun!

I have also been party planning for this handsome guy!
8 already? I love this Lego obsessed kid!

 And mostly, I have been working on all the orders for
 the many end of the year teacher bags!
Okay, and I am binge watching Mad Men while I stitch!
Have you seen it?

Have no fear we have lots of fun plans

 and activities coming up...

I will soon post how I plan

and prep for our summer!

 

So how has your spring been?

What are you summer plans?

 

Our Morning Routine

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I am starting my very first blog series.

I get asked quite often...

"How do you do it?"

(this makes me laugh because I don't!)

Or sometimes...

"What do you do all day?"

(Now this one I understand and often ask myself!)

 

So here we go....

Before I even start,

you MUST understand that this "routine"

is on an ideal day. 

This is what we strive for.

This is how I like it.

BUT... I live in a child centered home.

So trust me when I say,

nothing around here is perfect!

 

My day starts between 5 and 5:30 am.

I know, I know... it is sooo early!

But it is the only time I can get in any exercise!

If the baby slept well, then I 've slept well...

So I get up at 5 and do a 4 mile walk with Leslie Sansone.

If it was a rough night...

I sleep in to 5:30 and just walk two miles.

I reward myself with coffee and my bible time at 6:00.

Let me tell you, it really is my favorite part of the morning.

My favorite bible studies are from GoodMorningGirls.Com.

 

At 6:30 I bring my husband his coffee

 and wake him up.

I spared him from a picture for the blog,

as he is not much of a morning person!

We will chat, check the weather,

and maybe watch some news until around 6:45.

This is when I start my one load of laundry.

I finally figured out a system that works for me,

unfortunately is does include laundry

 every. single. day.

 

On this particular morning,

Molly added these to the basket of clothes...

she must really love me and knew I needed a laugh!

 Then it is time to make breakfast...

I have a go to menu to take

the thought right out of  it.

Muffin Monday

Taco Tuesday

Waffle Wednesday

 Piggy Thursday

(I wanted Thirsty Thursday, but my kids do not care for smoothies)

Favorite Friday

While the two big kids have breakfast,

I read out of our devotional book.

What I love about this book is that

there is not an order... you just go by date.

Each devotional stands alone, so if you miss a day,

it is not big deal.

They are also short and sweet.

Each day has a memory verse and a prayer.

My kids just love it!

 

So now it is about 7:30am.

Mike gets dressed for school and

if we have plans Addy will get dressed now too.

While they do I pack Mike's lunch.

As Daddy and Mike head off to school and work,

I will switch the laundry into the dryer.

 

Around 7:50 I am making my bed.

I make my bed every day...

it is my thing!

Some girls have a shiny sink or vacuum to get going...

but for me it is making my bed!

Around 8am Miss Molly Ann wakes up.

 

and she has her breakfast while I clean up the kitchen.

 

I do not run my dish washer at night like most girls.

I clean the kitchen and load the dishes after dinner,

but I run it after breakfast.

This way the kids get to unload it for me

 as their after school chore.

Smart, huh?

If the girls and I have plans...

currently dance, art, or bible study

we get ALL dressed around 8:30.

If we do not have morning plans then the girls will watch

a show or two and cuddle on the couch.

Molly finds Dora's friend, Boots wildly funny!

and I will go over my plan for the day

with another cup of coffee!

So by 9:00am we are either

 headed out the door or I start a few chores.

I start with a quick tidy of the bathroom and

 fold that one load of laundry!

I make myself fold and put away those clothes. 

 

Molly usually starts "un-choring"

I made that word up,

but if you have ever had a toddler

you know exactly what that means.

 

Do you have a morning routine?

Is it a general plan or pretty specific?