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 3 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?
Love this idea! Definitely will be filling one out for myself. It’s so great to be intentional about enjoying the season to its fullest :)
http://www.sprinklesandsaturdays.com
Congrats on the baby boy news! I’m a mom of 3 girls and 1 boy; boys are amazing and special! Mine is 15 now and I wish I had more! :) Not more kids, more boys ha! Printing the bucket lists now for my 9 and 10 year olds, they will be so happy when they wake up today and see it!
This is such a wonderful post, I’m going to steal so many summer activity ideas! Thanks for sharing. Congratulations on finding out you’re having another boy! It is so exciting that Lincoln will have a younger brother to grow up with. I always thought I wanted a boy and a girl but now that I have a girl, I hope to have another because I feel like I won’t know how to parent a boy, so I understand what you mean when you said you know how to parent boys!
Isn’t that funny?! We’d both of course be happy with whatever the outcome, but with the same sex you just have a little better idea of what’s coming your way!
I’m soooo excited you are having another boy! And I’m almost in tears seeing these precious pics of Lincoln! Miss you all so much! Feel like it has been longer than 2 weeks since I’ve seen him! He even looks older!! So happy you are having an amazing summer! Stay cool the next few weeks!! Give Lincoln big hugs from me!!
We miss you so much too!! And I swear he HAS grown so much over the past two weeks! ? We hope you are doing well and are having a wonderful summer!
What exciting news about your little baby boy! Congratulations!!
I went to the Omaha Zoo for the first time a few weeks ago (moved to Lincoln for grad school last fall) and it was AMAZING. They have a looot of construction going on, however, and I may suggest keeping an eye on that or turning it into a fall trip instead so you can get the full scope of the zoo! Even if you don’t, it’s the best and I loved every minute. ?
I think, after reading the same thing from other readers, we will postpone our trip to the fall – thanks so much for the tip!
Congratulations on another boy!! I feel the same way about boys, as I probably wouldn’t even know what to do with a girl since I have only brothers and mostly boy cousins (with Ben included). I’m truly thrilled for you, Ben, and Lincoln. Love and prayers to you all! ~Amanda
Thank you so much!! Hope you and all YOUR boys are having a great summer so far!
Congrats on another boy!! It’s true, we don’t have fireflies in the Northwest (Oregon) but I finally saw them in Costa Rica and they’re just magic!
Ahh, that is so cool you got to see them! Love it!
Congrats on baby boy #2! I am a mama to 2 boys and LOVE it. I am also due with #3 around the same time as you and #1 wants another brother so badly…we shall see! :D
Oh my goodness, I’m sure it’s a totally different experience when the kids are old enough to hope for one or the other (though I’m sure they’ll be pumped no matter the outcome!) ;)
Make homemade ice cream using rock salt and a hand crank. Plant some seeds and water daily and watch them grow. Bring home a puppy.
LOVE the seed idea – Lincoln and I were going to get flowers for our planters today but I think I’ll do a small pot with just seeds for him so he can see how they grow.
What do you with little boys if one or both have a boy, I don’t think I’ll be playing with dolls and let them put makeup on me, did you know there is a big sister or brother class for the first child.
Congratulations
Congratulations! I have 2 daughters and they both have daughters 5 and 3 and now both due 6/24 and 9/7 , both girls don’t want to know the sex of the babes ,
Aww, how fun for sisters to be due around the same time! I’m sure you are very excited, G-pa!
Congrats on your baby-boy-to-be, Kristin! Like many of your readers, I have been checking back often waiting for the big reveal. So excited for you, Ben, and big-bro Lincoln :)
Thank you so much, Jen! :)
Congratulations on your baby #2 reveal! Hoping the rest of your pregnancy and getting ready with your family goes well!
Thanks Nancy, we are excited!
Congratulations!! 2 boys will be so much fun.
Thanks for the printable. I was just saying last night that he need to make a summer bucket list. With a 7 and almost 3 year old, the summer kind of flies by. And there’s so much in Ohio to do.
Maybe a trip to Cedar Point will make your list?! ;) 99% of my extended family lives in Ohio so we’d go every summer and hit up all the fun places – Cedar Point included!
OMG OMG OMG! SOOO happy for you guys!!! CONGRATS!!!! I have two boys, too, and they are the best buds ever! WOO!!!
Thank you, Joanna!! We hope they will be close!
If you make it to the Omaha zoo this summer, my advice is to get there early! It’s been VERY busy already this season with the new grassland exhibit open and traffic gets really crazy by mid-day. And bring a swim suit for Lincoln to play in the splash pad!
Ooo good call on the swimsuit – I didn’t know they had a water area. I haven’t been since I was a little kid!
Congrats on another little boy! I am a mommy to three boys (6, 3.5, & 17m) and I felt that way after finding out our 2nd was a boy too! We also have 5 nephews and 1 niece so get that whole “thought it was a girl” which was how I felt with my 3rd.
I love love LOVE your blog and have been a reader for years! It’s so sweet watching your family grow. Lincoln is a doll. Thanks for the bucket list printable too, as I am a teacher and love to be organized with my crew. Of I’m not, chaos ensues.
HA – same!! I need lists for everything in my life or like you said, complete chaos.
Congrats on baby boy #2! If you’re looking for another easy (and FREE) bucket list item, try out the Jester Park natural play scape. I thought it would be boring, but Carter really loved it when he was about Lincoln’s age and just a little older.
Ooo, that sounds really fun, Erin – thanks for the tip! I also forgot to include Brenton Arboretum in the list which I hear is a great place to take easy nature hikes. http://www.thebrentonarboretum.org/ Definitely will check out Jester though. Hope you guys are having a great summer so far! :)
How did I not know about Brenton Arboretum? It looks great! We’ll definitely check it out!
Such a great idea! It seems like summers go by way too quickly and before you know it you didn’t do as much fun summery things as you wanted to! What a great way to keep on track!
Congrats on having another little boy. The pictures of Lincoln are adorable, I’m sure his little brother will be just as cute! :)
They seriously do – I cannot believe we’re already 1/3 of the way through June!
I’m a boy mama and I love it so much. You are one lucky lady. There is nothing like raising brothers! :)
Aww, so great to hear, Lonna! There will be a lot going on, that’s for sure! ;)