the summer list

here is our 2010 list.

you can see 2009 and 2008 also.
 
it helps for our summer to be a little more intentional.  
gives us new things to try...
activities to look forward to....
it's fun!

*36 hours of reading is through the public library 
(which means i will have to settle our bill to show my face in there again....ugh)

*Cooking Kids is a night where the kids are in charge of the entire meal for the family...individually.
we put each childs day on the calendar already.  
it should be interesting...i will only supervise or help when asked.

*Craft Thursdays is my promise to be organized enough to have a different craft ready every thursday.
i have a pretty big list of what i want to do.
i will share them all...but you knew that didn't you?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
and i was right about monday.
it wasn't good.
highs are so often followed by lows.
i hate that.

who is going to come over here and tell these kids how to behave...because i am tired of doing it.
and they don't listen to me anyway.

i am trying my best to use my quiet inside calm voice.
i am sure i have one...it is just hard to find it. 

Comments

[Kari]

I love your lists and the fact that you guys actually follow them! That's a recipe for a great summer! So sorry to hear about your Monday; I feel like lows are always followed by highs :)

[Jessica - One Shiny Star]

Looks like a summer full of fun!

[angela]

Love your lists! Look so forward to seeing them every year. And I love how colorful they are. Plus, I am a check list kind of girl!

[jody]

Megan - thanks for being honest & not coming off as the Mom who always keeps so cool & enjoys every s.i.n.g.l.e. minute with her kids and admits there are rough times...your blog is one of the few I've found that is REAL about being a Mama - the good, the divine, & the bad (& ugly!!)

I'm making our summer list tonight with my boys - thanks for the nudge!

[sarah]

We had a really good weekend followed by rough monday also.
Crazy big tantrums. But I only have one. so I can't imagine your house on a rough monday.

I LOVE the list.
I hope to start some of our own in the summers to come. :)

[Lillian]

LOVE:) I copied you last summer and this summer and it's been so great to have a fun list. Checking things off of a list in by far one of the greatest satisfactions in life:)

[Cori]

I love your list. I am going to try one for us this year. I want to do the library thing but I have the same issue as you. I am a wanted woman. Plus when we go there they just wants DVD's to rent and you know they cost the big bucks when they get lost! We have bookcases (with books in them) all through our house so I do try and get them reading. Happy summer. In New York, where I live , the kids don't get out till June 25th. It is so hard to get them in to do homework on these beautiful days!

[Vera]

Can I come be one of your kids this summer?

[sara's art house]

Thank you, thank you, thank you for this list- this is inspiration for me. We are getting to that place of needing to make some summer plans. I have to be careful when I come visit you because I end up wanting to copy every single thing you do :)

[Marcie]

Can I just say how much I LOVE your blog?! You are inspiring me to be a better mom! There is a summer list and rainbow cake in this family's future:)

[Sara @ It's Good to be Queen]

oh peppernuts...that's such a kansas thing! my mother in law gave me a peppernut maker for christmas one year. i've never used it....it seems like a lot of work for one little tiny cookie. but i bet my kids would love to use that doo-hicky. we've done our summer list too...so fun!

[Bec]

I'm a substitute teacher. While I don't have any kids of my own (yet) I know the frustration of having kids not listen to a word you say. Granted I get paid to be sassed and have kids treat me like dirt, but not fun all the same! I have a really easy homeade french fry recipe- you cut a potato (russet or baking) into 8 equal wedges, brush with a little bit of oil and season how you like (we use steak seasoning from penzeys) and cook in the oven at 450 for 45 minutes. Flip about halfway through and you're done!

[Cindy]

Love your list...we did one last year...but it was no where near as cute and colorful!! Loving your rainbow cake too...but I think we'll stick with our "ice-cream for dinner on the first/last day of summer" tradition...MUCH less work for me...boy did that sound lazy!!:)
Enjoy the day

By the way...new here and LOVE your blog!

[Amy]

I'm 31 and when I grow up I want to be like you! You are super cool! I love your blog and I agree with a previous comment your blog is one of the only ones that I find to be real ,and don't put on a front. I love that about you and your blog! I have a 4 year old and last night I lost my inside voice and after he went to bed "a little bit mad at me" I felt so guilty, but after reading your blog, I knew I wasn't alone and that we all have our rough moments with our kids. In your own words "Thank you for that!" I'm hoping my low last night is followed by a high tonight. I love your blog and you are a inspiration to me!

[Jenny]

I love your list! I stole your idea last summer, it was fun to check things off all summer! We are planning on making our new list this week. Thanks for the idea!!

[aimee]

oh my gosh, did you take a field trip to my brain? haha... this reflects so many of my days, right down to settling the library bill. FABULOUS list!! the sunflower field is on ours, too - we go to one just north of lawrence to pick sunflowers and take pictures in september!

[kristine]

great list as always! it will be a fun summer. sorry about yesterday. was it a full moon? i was ready to get back in bed not long after i got up when i could already tell what kind of day it was going to be :) thank God He gave us a new one today!

[Jessie Miller Sterling]

I have to know what your Chase Co. Waterfall is. It sounds super fun, and I see it's been on there for 3 years, it must be FUN! Oh, and I LOVE your Happy Things list. It's my favorite.

[Trish]

Love your summer to do list! YOU are my inspiration to be a more intentional mommy! Yes and we all have to find our inside voices every now and again! :)

[Jill]

Thank you for sharing ALWAYS. You share the good, you share the bad. It makes the rest of us feel better to know there are other moms in the world that go through the same ups and downs. I am excited to see what you and your family get up to this summer! :)

[nora]

Maybe change the meaning of "cooking kids?" Would that help them get in line a bit? :-)

I have a list for the summer but it's got things like "clear out garage" and "re-caulk bathtub" booooring! You've inspired me to make a fun list for activities to enjoy with my baby this summer. Thanks!

[patti]

i'm totally doing the list this year. i feel like my kids are old enough to help make the list and it will help me stay true to my promises with them.

oh, and i've been doing this lately "what would michelle duggar do" - when my kids start acting like total banshees and don't listen to a word i say, i just start talking like her and they totally laugh. it lightens the air.

[Tara]

this is on my list to do THIS week...I'll give you a shout out for it!

[Kelley]

I LOVE your list for summer and am going to start on our own tonight once the kids are home from school (this is their last week!).

Have you heard of Love & Logic? There are lots of CD's and books found on Amazon, but Jim Fay's CD about the Energy Drain has truly been a life saver for me in restoring my voice and sanity with non-listening kids. Truly the best seven bucks I ever spent on a CD.

[Colleen/And Baby Makes Five]

I love your eye-catching (and fun!) summer list. We always make a summertime wish list too. It helps to keep us focused and ready for adventure. It also helps us to not waste valuable time wondering "What are we going to do today?" Can't wait to sit down and plan/dream...

And I too appreciate that you share the good, the bad, and the ugly. It's refreshing and heartening to know that we're all muddling through the rough patches while delighting in the joyful moments and memories too. As a wife/mom, some days are awesome while others are just about surviving. Thanks for keeping it real.

Happy Summertime!

[christine]

What a great idea! I agree with the above posters- thanks for keeping it REAL! and just the fact that you made a list like this tells me you MUST be an awesome mom!

[Heather K.]

Oh I love the summer list. I may just have to create one of my own with the family this weekend.

[Candy]

LOVE this and have been wanting to copy you since I first saw it summer 08. I already have my poster board ready and am determined to make my kids a fun summer list soon! Hope you do share your craft ideas! :) Thanks!!! :)

[Sally]

Love it! My littlest one just turned 2 which means we can do A LOT more this summer than last. Thanks for always sharing your fun creative ideas! Maybe another posting you could have everyone share one of their favorite summer things they did. I love to get new ideas. Thanks.

p.s. i looked at 2008 & 2009 and i love how 2010 is so COLORFUL!!!!!

[kari]

I LOVE reading your blog and love your list. My kids aren't out until June 2 so I have a few more days with just one child at home.

You should come to the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo sometime - it's one of the top in the nation I think! I need help with my kids behaving too - it's seems like lately all they do is argue and not listen and all I do is yell :(

[Laura Phelps]

my Monday ended so badly...that I didn't even have it in me to blog about it.
poor Nick came home to me cooking dinner crying...
these kids can really break you down...

here is to more of those beautiful Sundays...

[shelly]

I absolutley adore you! (Is that too stalker-ish?!?...sorry ;)). When I was a young mom of 3 tiny boys, I felt like a total failure...nothing was how I thought it should be. Thank you for being real---you have a beautiful life with amazing kids (its not always sunshine and rainbows and you're brave enough to show it!--way to go momma!)

I love your summer lists! I've got a brand new chalkboard drying just for this purpose! I'm hoping it will give our summer more memories and less fighting :)

Our library shoots you an email 2 days before the books are due...LIFESAVER! And we have a book basket---no library books upstairs and when you're done reading, you put it back in the basket (I hated the infamous "lost" book run 5 min before I planned on leaving for the library!)

[AshleyAnn]

We made our Meg inspired summer list yesterday on the chalkboard wall...the boys didn't quite get that it isn't stuff we do nearly everyday, but oh well. We marked off half the way in one day - too add more or not? I'm impressed by the weekly craft, I'll just copy yours the following week then I don't have to think of any!

[Kelly]

I love this idea!!!
www.kellyloves.wordpress.com

[Leigh]

Hi Meg! Love your list. I need to do that just for focus. Summer goes so quick. I did not think I was going to survive Monday in my house. 4 teenagers at home. I need to get a plan! Thanks for your inspiration. Leigh

[Betsy]

I love that you encourage your children to cook and learn how to do so. I wish my mother had done that for me. There is a lot of "Shake and Bake" in my house. I cant wait till my children and I can learn to cook together!

[Lane]

What a great idea! When my son grows up, I'm definitely stealing this idea!

[Queen Bee]

You are my "Favorite Mom In The World (Other Than My Own)". You are so real. I love your honesty. It's refreshing. I love your goals and ideals you teach your kids.

I'm gonna work on a Summer 2010 list with my own little one (same as Annie.... going to kindergarten in the fall).

[Charlene]

I ALWAYS owe the library money too....So glad I'm not the only one. Last time I had to pay $15 (hanging head in shame), I'm not even sure how it got to be so high.

My summer to do list includes stuff that I need to take care of, maybe I should try doing one your way. It looks way more fun than mine does!

[stodd]

Oh, thank goodness, there are others who have heavy fines at the library. I cringe to think what would happen if I used my card... major fines on that. So, I used my hubby's and racked it up too. Hopefully one of my three girls have a card we can use! ;)

[stodd]

Oh, and things are the same in the this house. We are going to try to start the Family Meeting thing similar to what they do on http://71toes.blogspot.com/. I decided that everything... watching TV, going to Sonic, playing with friends is a privilege and if they want that, they need to meet Dad and I'd expectations... which are our family rules that I copied from Lindsey Cheney. We'll see if I actually stick with this!

[Amber]

My family made a list last year after I saw yours online. We loved it and are gearing up to make our summer list this weekend. Thanks for a great idea!

[Laura]

Love it! I've been waiting to see your list. Now, I need to get myself to DG to buy some posterboard and make one for my family. Thanks for keeping it real. We love you for it!

[j]

I love your list - it has inspired me to do one too.

Mondays are always bad so I decided years ago that Mondays would be cleaning day. Like, the day couldn't get any worse, might as well clean.

[Nancy from the Chicago 'burbs]

Love your list. My favorite is the Sears Tower. Thank you for not calling it the Willis Tower, ick. Love your blog, thanks for being real!

[Katie]

I love the idea of having a list to keep you on track! My little one is only 2, so no need for a list just yet, but I'm definitely bookmarking this idea for the future.

[Jeannette]

I love the list, we started one about a week ago and we are still adding to it so by the official first day of summer we will have an official list. This will be my first year staying home with the kids over the summer and I am so excited. I know there are going to be challenges everyday because mine are 4 and 13 and love to get on each others nerves (and mine too) on a daily basis. If you find someone that can work some magic on the behaving and listening could you send them my way too. I am curious, what is a making peppernuts?? Love your blog, thanks for the inspiration............Have a great summer!!!

[jamie]

hahahaha. gafaw. sudden burst of outloud laughter. you so are my best friend. i knew this when you said you had to settle your money owed at the library to show your face. i always say it's for a good cause. so embarassing, seriously. please please please post how much your grand total is. i will confess, the highest has been $20 for me. i am much better now. $6 is the high now only on occassion.

[Lindsay Bay]

wow, I love this summer list idea. this will be my first summer break and I think aside from the traveling we will do, this will really help fill the time. now, time for me to get planning!

[jen smith]

love your list. there are some great ideas that i may have to borrow. i'm with you on the library. it's been years(yes with an S) since we've been back cause i forgot to return a video and we now have a huge fine. what kind of mother am i?

[Kimberlee J.]

We're making a list of our own!

[Chris]

Your comment about the library made me laugh. I just settled my bill - a whopping $55 fine - and I only have one child at home!! I'm sure the librarians just love me!

[Lisa]

Hope you get that free throw line painted this summer! :)

[Sarah]

So, when you find your quiet inside voice, can you point a sister in the right direction? Thanks. :)

[Gemma]

Love your summmer list!!

Gemma X

[Nicole Q.]

Our lists are looking similar!! I can't decide if I should display mine yet . . . . i'm worried my youngest ones will think we are going to do 10 things in a day! Exhaustion. Love the Cooking Kids Night and the Craft Thursdays!!!!

[Sarah]

Wow! Love your list, I am determined to make one for this summer! And I have to admit that I am currently on the Most Wanted Library list also! TOO funny!

[Secret Mom Thoughts]

I made a summer list last year too. My daughter has been asking to make another one. Love Crafty Thursdays. I may try that too.

[Melissa]

I love your summer list! I do some of those same things, or did as a child. Maybe I need an adult summer list!

[Julie Cox]

How fun to make peppernuts during the summer and not just at Christmas time!!!

[Molly Pearce]

Can you adopt me for the summer so I can hang with y'all? Just kidding! This list looks like a blast!!! Have a fun and happy summer!!
~Molly P

[Dana@Bungalow'56]

Megan,
I'm not sure if you are able to read all of your comments any more. But I just wanted to tell you that after an extended long weekend away from blog writing and reading, I had a chance today to catch up. I am always touched by who you are and how your words resonate with me, and obviously hundreds if not thousands of others. (the bathing suit comment for instance) There is something about your voice when sharing your days that is special. I have not found it in another blog yet. And I just wanted to thank you for taking the time.
Dana

[Lora]

... think i'll make a summer list too :O)

Can't wait to see your summer pics and read your summer thoughts.

[Amber]

I LOVE your summer lists. This summer I have a 3 year old & love taking time to be intentional with her...so we're making a list tomorrow. She'll love it! Can't wait to try it out:). You're so cool....hehe

[amy jupin]

we're doing our list on friday. i just might try adding a cooking kids night or two. that would make for some good blog material! :)

[Sandy]

You're so good with your lists. I'm still working on MAKING my 45 things to do before I'm 45 list. I started the list when I was still 44 and I'm already 3 months into being 44. Thanks for the reminder that I need to get back to that and get serious. You're an inspiration.

The kids will calm down...all excitement for summer right now. :)

[Sandy]

oops, of course I meant when I was still 43.... It's hard to keep track of how old I am... or was... or will be... whatever!

[stacie jameson]

I know my library bill right now is $100.00. 14 books 1 month late.

[Georgia]

Sounds fun... few questions though. (im from the UK, so dont understand some of them)

what is a block party?
what is a froggie pool?
What is worlds of fun?

Thanks :)

[laura]

i started "craft thursdays" as a new year resolution and it has been SO. MUCH. FUN. can't wait to see your projects. thanks for your blog.....

[Chauncey]

Meg,

Your summer list is amazing! It has totally inspired me to make one for our family this summer too. The summer goes by so fast and I'm always left with a sinking feeling that we didn't get to do everything I wanted to do. But, making a list will really help us to have some ideas and actually do them! I am so excited to display our big list of ideas and show them to my hubby. Thanks for the great ideas and for being real about motherhood. I am always inspired after reading your blog each day.

[christine]

Oh, the peppernuts on the list cracks me up - that must be a Kansas thing. (although in our family, peppernuts are strickly a Christmas activity.) I LOVE your summer list idea! As we are about 4 weeks away from summer break here in oregon, i am starting to get anxious about keeping my 4 and 6yo occupied. I think I'm going to do this too! thank you!

[Courtney Walsh]

My friend does this too! I've never seen it before, but I'm going to have to try it this year. :) Looks fun!!

[Becky @ Farmgirl Paints]

Great idea. So going to copy this with my girlies. I like the idea of intentional living. Goals are sooo good. Thank you Meg! Hope your day gets higher:)

[michelle from 6 in the city]

I love, love, love you summer list. What a great thing to create and display!

[Sarah@Clover Lane]

Settled my library debt today! :) Not as bad as I thought.

[Totally Shrewd]

Okay, I so love this. Living intentionally is so important. Your list is awesome; I'm going to make one for our family. My little girl is only 7 months old but there are so many things I want so introduce her to in her First Summer! :)

[Lori]

Your summer list is wonderful as always. It makes me long for summer. My daughter's high school graduation isn't for 3 more weeks! And her brother has to go for three days after that! At least we can start summer living vicariously through you. And as usual, thanks for the comments that keep it real. We all go through the rough patches where the ideal summer we had in mind doesn't resemble what is really happening. Overall though, a bad summer day is better than a bad winter day, right? :)

[Lori]

Oh, I forgot to ask...what are peppernuts?

[Erin]

Glad to see I am not the only one who has to settle a bill at the public library. LOL

[Flower Patch Farmgirl]

Bring on the crafts, Crafty Mama! I always get fantastic ideas from you...like this list, for example.

[Charity]

Hang in there - those frustrating, discouraging days don't last! I find it helpful to do something nice for myself - read, take a bath, lock myself away for a bit...

I love your list this year! I "found" you last year, and we made our own list for 2009. The kids have already started planning what we're going to put on this year's list!

[candace]

Just like the reader above, I "found" you through your list post on Melissa's Inspired Room. It was instant blog love!

Can't wait to see your wonderful summer!

[Laura Van Buren]

Love this idea! I think I will plan to do something like this for our family next week, when my kiddos are out of school!

[Jesse @ Good Girl Gone Glad]

This is such a great idea! Might just have to borrow it.

[chasity]

great list....
i think i'll just make it easy on myself and use yours. ha.
i'll have to google the chase county waterfall though.

actually~
i was hoping badly to get to go to chicago for our birthdays~
which are all in june. they have wanted to go to the sears tower since they were 3 and 5. isn't that funny?!

[DreamGirlLisa]

Megan, you are such an inspiration, I wish I lived close to you and could join you for some of your summer fun!

[Jenny]

exactly the same reason i keep putting off taking my girls to the library...the inevitable fine lingering for 2 years :-)
i think i am just going to have them get their own cards and start over?

[Ann Marie]

I currently live in Denver but most of my family and grandparents live in Chase Co. I was so hapy to see the waterfall on your summer list. My family and I will be there the 4th of June. . . Who knows, maybe we will see you there!

[Dianne Avery]

Sigh....I could have written those last two sentences too. It's so tough right now. Sorry, but it makes me feel better that you feel it too. :-)

I love the idea of the summer list. We might have to make one of our own here.

[tami reed]

Sounds fun and not that costly

[Kate @ Songs Kate Sang]

Great ideas! I'll come over. Or you should come to Scottsdale. And drop the kids off. And you and C could go out. Seriously. Anytime!

[jess]

i look forward to seeing your summer list every year!!!! its here!!! my kids are in school till june17th but we will be starting this tradition!!! great list!!!

[linda@LimeintheCoconut]

I wanna be in YOUR family.....{whiiiiiine}

[Trina McNeilly]

I love this idea.. i think i might try a {mini} version since mine are still pretty mini. But we need some intentional planned fun {since i'm not feeling my funnest lately}. And I'm glad I'm not the only one trying to find my inside quiet voice most days. Hope your Wednesday is just right!
xoxo trina

[Robyn]

im so inspired! going to get my list started! thanks for sharing.

and im relieved to hear im not the only one trying REALLY hard to use my calm voice. really really hard. is it the pre-summer excitement that has the kids acting wild?!?! i hope this passes sooner than later!

[Tam]

I did a summer list last year (thanks for the fantabulous idea!) We plan to do another one this weekend. Our kids still have one more month of school :(

[CK]

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your summer list! We did it last summer, too. Our kiddos loved it. What a great memory and motivator! We are already brainstorming for this summer:) Have a great summer!

[Rachel]

Oh my gosh we just did this a couple of weeks ago! Ours are still rough drafts stuck to the fridge, but I told my kids it was their "beach pail list" (instead of bucket list, and since we live near the beach....ok, maybe not so clever, but "whatever")Anyhoo, yours is so cute! I'm definitely hoping it keeps me on task, embracing these fleeting moments with my kids...my kids put on theirs "a penny a page"...which was my summer reading plan one year. Now they read too fast and two kids in particular would have me broke by the end of summer!

[tasha roe]

you always have the best ideas!! i cant wait to do this for my kiddos.