Summer bucket list!

Summer has officially started in my book...even though isn't it spring for a few more weeks?

Every year I make a bucket list as to what I want to do with the kids and what I want to do with our family as a whole.  I checked off 2 items today!  Woot!

With kids:

1.  Swim.  Swim.   Swim.  My kids love to swim and it is soooo refreshing.  I could hardly wait until the outdoor pool at the Y reopened for the season.  We went today....and have many more afternoons by the pool ahead of us!

2.  Swimming lessons.  The girls wanted to take gymnastics and PE class during the school year, so we were unable to fit in swimming lessons.  The 3 older kids started today and will be taking lessons for the next 2 weeks.  We barely made it there on time today...because my lovely 7 year old neglected to put her swimsuit on (like I had told her). Luckily a friend who lives near the Y had a spare suit we could borrow!  Major mom panic moment. 

3.  Beach.  We have these wonderful beaches with palm trees here in Nebraska.  You haven't seen them?  Huh?  Not sure.  We have a beach 5 minutes from our house.  The kids LOVE sand...so I can't wait to take them so they can play around.  During the day...hardly anyone is there, so we usually have the place to ourselves!

4.  Pick strawberries.  Silly, I know.  But I have taken the kids to pick strawberries for the last 4 years.  It is one of those must do events for us!  Hopefully the crop will be ready in a few weeks!

5.  Run.  For me and the kids!  The girls ran with me over the weekend.  They have a lot of work to do...but we made it a mile.  The girls are signed up to take track this summer.  I hope they have fun! 

6.  Visit the zoo as many times as we can!  We have access to 2 great zoos...one being the ranked as the best zoo in the world.  I would have to agree on that one!  Our local children's zoo has quiet a few fun activities scheduled throughout the summer!  We went to a few last year, but I am hoping to attend a few more this year.  The nice part about the Omaha zoo is that even though there is quiet a bit of walking because it is so big, a lot of their buildings are air conditioned!  Woo hoo!

7.  Waterparks!  That might have to go up with #1, but we have 3 waterparks within an hours drive that I am hoping to go to.  We have been before, but now that the kids are older and it is easier to take them to these places alone, my goal is to hit all 3!

8.  Geocaching!   I have a date on my calendar and by golly we are going to go geocaching...rain or shine!  Never been before?  Try it.  You will have fun!

9.  Spend time with friends and family!  Enough said.  We really wish that people would come our direction...but that doesn't happen very often...so we drive. A lot.  Part of life I guess.  But we are game for get togethers and play dates!

10.  Rest!  I am actually hoping to not over do it over the summer!  We can find something to do every day if we want to, but hopefully we can have many, many rest days as well!

With family:

1.  Bike rides!  It is getting pretty hot...however we are hoping to sneak a few in before the fall.  We have some great trails in Lincoln.

2.  Music at the mall!  Sit an enjoy local bads at our outdoor mall!

3.  Spend time at the lake!  We have a boat...but only took it out once last year.  Boo!  Hopefully we can take it out a bit more this summer.  We have a mini-vacation booked on a lake...so hopefully the weather will be good for that little getaway.

I am sure I am forgetting many, many things...especially on the family list.  Sean is planning on cycling around a million miles over the summer, so I don't want to overwhelm him by piling up things on my wish list.

Sans kids...river rafting.  I really want to go river rafting with the hubs.  Not sure we will get a chance...but that would be nice.

What kind of things are on your bucket list? Want to get together and help me check anything off?  Give me a jingle (or e-mail).  Have anything we should add?  Let me know:)