Although summer doesn’t “officially” start until later this month, I mean come on, it’s SUMMER!!! The temperatures are soaring, the sun is shining, and I even saw my first firefly last weekend – aww! (Northwesterners, are we still sure fireflies don’t exist where you live?!)
This is the first summer Lincoln’s been truly excited and anxious to get out and about everyday (the first thing he asks after waking up is, “what are we doing today?“) That said, I want to make each day count because when we’re tucking him into bed at night he asks, “what was your favorite part of the day?” and when we turn the question back on him, there’s nothing more satisfying than hearing him say whatever fun thing we did that day was (vs, I don’t know, watching Mickey’s Three Musketeers, for instance. ?)
Thanks to some insanely amazing May weather, we’ve already had a chance to fill our days and weekends with summery activities like making popsicles, going to the pool, attending a baseball game, grilling any chance we get, taking long walks, attempting to fish, running through the sprinkler, and visiting the Farmer’s Market.
Oh, and teaching Lincoln the virtues of cleanliness (aka adding a couple squirts of soap into his water table as it filled it up then watching him play independently with the suds for an hour. YES!)
Although we’ve already got a running start there’s still so much to do, so I thought I’d write a Summer Bucket List so we don’t find ourselves turning to each other every morning or Friday night and asking, “what should we do today/this weekend?” Some of the activities are specific to the Central Iowa area, but I know you’ll get some good ideas for where you live, too.
Oh, and don’t miss the last bucket list item! ?
Additionally I created a FREE Summer Bucket List printable so you and your friends and family can write out your own bucket list to tackle this summer!
Click here to view/print the Summer Bucket List printable OR right click this link then choose “Save Link As…” to download the printable to your device.
2016 Summer Bucket List
- Attend a summer concert
- Play mini golf
- Visit Reimen Gardens
- Find a Sunday night tradition
- Catch fireflies with Lincoln
- Take a “babymoon” weekend with Ben
- Visit a trail outside our neighborhood
- Go to the pool 1x week
- Ride the Union Park Carousel
- Read 3 books (at least!)
- Go to a baseball game
- CATCH. A. FISH.
- Visit the Omaha Zoo
- Visit Living History Farms
- Have a picnic
- See a movie at the theater
- Shop the Valley Junction Farmers Market
- Go camping
- Walk around the Iowa State University campus
- Go boating/kayaking/paddle boating
- Go to Deuling Pianos
- Get a slushie at the Dairy Stripe
- Go berry picking
- Attend the Art Festival
- Go on at least 3Â date nights with Ben
- Make a 4th of July Craft
- Walk the High Trestle Bridge Trail in the evening
- Visit Effigy Mounds
- Teach Lincoln to ride a trike (Lord, help me!)
- Attend the Indianola National Balloon Classic
- Go to Sunday Tunes at Summerset Winery
- Visit the Jester Park Natural Playscape
- Go bowling
- Take a family vacation
- Visit the zoo
- Attend the (one and only) Iowa State Fair
- Creek walk at The Ledges
- Go to a 4th of July Parade
- Roast hot dogs over a bonfire
- Choose a name for our little…BOY! Yes, yes, yes – baby #2 is another boy and we are so excited that Lincoln is going to have a little brother!! With so many gents in both Ben’s and my family, we figured it was more likely than a girl, and we’re just so excited. Growing up with two brothers, and raising Lincoln so far, I just feel like I know boys. Although three against one? I’ve definitely got my work cut out for me! ;)
Tell me, what summer bucket list items and events did I miss? How do YOU celebrate summer?Â
great ideas!
so the best
[…] a summer bucket list. -via Iowa Girl […]
Effigy Mounds are awesome. I fortunate to have relatives in northeast Iowa!!!
Thank you! that’s exactly what I’ve needed. Shared with my office colleagues. We are all into creating it now! (at home, with our Families) :)
Super cute!!! Congratulations on having another boy! So happy for you!
Is the download link still working? I’m getting a strange error when I try to download the printable. Super cute — thanks for your help!
Sorry to hear you are having troubles, Julia! It’s working for me – I’ll email you a copy though! :)
congrats on the baby boy #2…i am a mother of 2 boys who are grown up now and i know how wonderful it can be..love your recipes and ty for sharing…had breast cancer last year so i can really relate to the bucket list…been working on mine for quite some time…have a lovely day
Congrats on having another little boy!!! :-D I’m sure Lincoln will be an adorable big brother :-)
Thanks for the bucket list, I’ll print it out and spend tonight with my OH discussing what we could put on our own summer’s list :-)
EEE so excited for your growing family. Congrats, Kristin and co!
Make homemade ice cream
Water balloon pinatas
Shower Curtain/Hula Hoop Fort
Nature Scavenger Hunt
Congratulations on another baby boy! They grow up too fast. :( Best of luck to you, your husband, and Lincoln. <3
This is a wonderful collection. Love the printable! Thank you for including our 4th of July craft!
What a great list! We’ve lived in West Des Moines for a few years, and I’ve never heard of the Dairy Stripe. Can you give a location for that in Adel? I would love to take my kids there this summer! Enjoy the heat!!
I love your bucket list. I lived in Boone, IA from Kindergarten thru 5th grade until we moved to West Des Moines. Live in Katy, TX now. Anyway, love the number 37 on your list. We used to ride our bikes to The Ledges. Family and church picnics there…..loved that place.
Congrats on the new baby boy on his way. Love your Blog…..
This is great! My list is currently stored in my head but this is just too cute not to print!
xo, Skylar
http://www.styledbyskylar.com
Congrats on the boy! I’m having a boy in September. I have a daughter who was born June 2013. I always love reading your posts because Lincoln was born the same year and my daughter is named Lanie. L’s! :)
Oh my gosh, how fun!! I hope you are feeling great so far!
So far so good! Just feeling bigger this time around, but maybe it’s the heat. :) Hope you are feeling well too and survive the summer warmth!
Totally feel you – I don’t remember my double chin reaching it’s current size until I was 30+ weeks last time. Ahhh….