Fun Summer Plans

Okay, here it goes...my first blog post. I figure if I start with a list of fun things I want to do through the summer, it would be good to follow up with reports on those that I actually did. Kind of help me have a focus on what to write about. We'll see...

So, every year, or at least ever since the kids came along, I try to come up with fun things to do in the summer. I guess I always have in the back of my mind lots of things I want to do with them. Now it's even more important than ever since they are both getting to the age where they'll actually be creating memories of their childhood. Here's our list this year...some things are on the calendar already, some are just things we'll try to fit in when we have time.

• Long Beach vacation - Christian and Ramona's wedding in August - 5 nights in a beach house with 17 people - sounds crazy, but it will be tons of fun with all the cousins there!
• Whistler vacation - Our first time going to Whistler in the summer - 3 nights
• Camping at the Lynden KOA - never gone camping with the kids before...enough said
• The Fair - the kids ask about the fair all year long, and we'll be seeing Foreigner...
• Birch Bay Waterslides - we'll have to plan to go before August...hopefully Homestead can hold onto it until then
• Tennis Camp for both Laine and JJ - in Fairhaven, so I'll get to enjoy 2 hours browsing in one of my favorite areas
• Swim lessons for Laine, Soccer Camp for JJ
• Plover Ferry - the Ferry that goes from Blaine to Semihamoo - it's free and I have a great source that says it's the best thing ever!
• Free movies at Bellis Fair - I haven't looked into this yet, but in the past they've had some good movies - and who can pass up free? The kids love it since we rarely go to the movie theatre since it's so expensive and there's no guarantee that they will sit through the whole thing
• Kids Bowl Free at Mt Baker Lanes - there's bound to be a few rainy days this summer, right?
• Tending the garden - first year for the garden and hopefully the kids will enjoy the veggies
• JJ's Birthday - you have to have a party for a 4th of July baby!
• Stanley Park/Vancouver Aquarium - we haven't taken the kids there, but that is a place my parents took me when I was little, so it's kind of a nostalgic place for me...although, I'm sure it's changed a bit in the last 25 years!
• Vancouver Zoo - it's so close and when you buy the year pass from The Woodland Park Zoo you can't go wrong
• Mariner Game
• All the great parks in Whatcom County - Berthusen, Hovander, Lake Padden, Whatcom Falls, Big Rock Garden, Larrabee, Bloedel, Lynden City Park, Fairhaven Park, Semihamoo Spit....the list goes on and on - we are so lucky to have all these wonderful places!
• Make homemade ice cream - yummy!
• Hang out with friends and family - always a good time!
• Lynden Pioneer Museum - this was Laine's choice when I asked her what she wanted to do this summer - we've been there once about a year ago, and it is worth the visit - lots of old time stuff to browse through

As usual, it's quite a list and I have to make sure we do have some down time as well. We'll be busy, but I'd rather have it that way than doing nothing. Of course, we have to leave time to take care of our house and yard. I'm so looking forward to a wonderful summer! I think the recent beautiful weather we've had has helped with that - I just heard it's been 22 days with no rain here. If only it could stay like this for the next three months. Well, a little rain here and there is not a bad thing, just not the whole summer, please!