5/18/11

Summer Plans
Our summer calendar

I am a big believer in kids being kids, free-play, and never being over scheduled. However, the summer looms before us--its vast days with NOTHING on the agenda, repeat, repeat, repeat--and I go a little goofy making sure each kid has enough to do so they don't all wind up in Juvenile Detention (thank you, God, for making fireworks illegal in our county). They have their favorite day camps, and Carver is going back to sleep away camp this summer (I will need only 2 boxes of tissues this time around), plus a sport here and there--and the summer feels a little more well-rounded. I am trying (read: pulling my hair out with insanity) to find times that we can do several overnight trips to various places like museums, cultural centers, and parks. It's not as easy as I thought it would be, but I'm trying. I want my kids to be able to do everything, but sadly we lack the crucial resources like 10 day weeks and a million dollars. I'm still combing the summer guides for ideas. I have to remember that my kids don't know the difference between the symphony series in Vail or the jazz band performance at the local park. While I, personally, would rather go to Vail, my kids will be just as satisfied with outdoor music in a parking lot. Basically, I need to back off of trying to make our summer perfect. It won't be. Check back in with me the second day they're out of school and we will have already failed in multiple ways. We're so good at failing in multiple ways. Yay us!

And here's a quick update on my French lessons. I'm terrible. I can't seem to retain ANY of the words. I listen on my iPhone and practice the vocabulary, but the next day--poof! They're gone. I'm not giving up, though. Maybe in 10 years I'll have mastered the art of, "Where is the bathroom?" and "How are you?" Setting the bar high, aren't I?

5 comments:

Courtney O. said...

Remind me, you guys usually go to the Sand Dunes at one point right? When is the best time to go in the summer so that the water is still there? And if I remember you make a long day trip of it right?

Anonymous said...

Best time to go is usually mid-June. The air feels like summer but there's still plenty of runoff from the mountains that comes through the dunes. We try to watch the weather there and go on the best day possible. From Denver it will be 3.5 hours. Leave early because it can thunderstorm in the afternoons. There are lots of places to camp and stay down there if you decide to overnight it. Also, you can call the park and ask about the water levels. You just don't want to go once all the run off is gone.

hotflawedmama said...

Good for you for jotting it all down though! I don't do that. And I should. Because it'd be so much easier on everyone.

Old Men Reflect said...

See if you have a little theatre in town that has a children's performance and enroll all three to be in the perfromance. Usually takes three weeks of rehersals. Come spend a day or two with us: see museum, zoo, swimming pool, dining at the aquarium, a tour of Elitch Gardens. We are old, but we are fun.

Melodie Monberg said...

First of all, I have camera envy. I've attempted a few photos of various things around my house and they don't look nearly as cool as yours do! smile

Second, how I wish I had the start of what you have there...a plan...your post inspired me to start working on a summer plan....

Have fun!