Well before the start of summer vacation, I have been experiencing a ton of mama guilt. With a new baby arriving right smack in the middle of summer, I worry that I won’t be able to truly enjoy summer vacation with my girls. The size of my bump and my waddle restricts my activity level, but once the baby arrives, he’ll be constantly tethered to my boobs which will also limit my level of activity.
Therefore, I’ve vow to make the most of our summer before school starts up again and I’ve got a list to help make it all happen.
- Soak up every ounce of our beautiful white Gulf beaches before the oil arrives.
- Set up a chore system for the girls. I’m not sure how to go about this just yet, but I know it needs to be done before the baby arrives.
- Read a classic. For myself, I’ve dog-eared A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and I’ll read The Phantom Tollbooth and Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH to the girls.
- Set aside time to read each day.
- Prepare small home school lessons each day so my children’s brains don’t turn to mush.
- Limit our TV watching.
- Plan a Friday night bedtime movie so I can cuddle with my girls in bed.
- Get good use out of our Busch Gardens passes.
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Splash around at any and all of our spray grounds. - Plan a trip to the Loggerhead Marine Life Center.
- Participate in a beach cleanup. We’ve been watching and waiting for the oil to arrive. When it does, we are ready to do our part to help protect our beaches.
- Enjoy plenty of play dates with our friends.
- See at least one free summer movie each week.
- Visit Nanny’s Educational Zoo.
- Spend plenty of time swimming, because selfishly it does wonders for my sciatica.
- Brooker Creek Preserve or Weedon Island to play in the hands-on center and enjoy story time.
- Catch a Rays or Threshers baseball game for family fun day and fireworks.
- Build a rain gauge.
- Participate in the various summer reading programs through our local library, Barnes & Nobles and Borders.
- Tours, tours and more tours because we love them and they are a great way to avoid the heat while catching a behind-the-scenes look at some of our favorite places to eat and play.
- Visit an art museum or two.
- Visit Museum of Science and Industry and/or Great Explorations
- Make a Father’s Day gift for Daddy.
- Do lots of crafts and attempt some art projects.
- Garden with the girls.
- Release ladybugs in our garden.
- Try our hand at some science experiments.
- Take advantage of the Sea World Cares program to visit Sea World and only pay $5 per child.
- Go canoeing with Dad’s help, of course.
- Cherish every moment with my girls and tell them I love them every day.
*Proudly submitted at*
It makes me so sad that your first item is to enjoy the beaches before the oil arrives. I hope you have a wonderful summer 🙂
Girlfriend, it sounds like you will be busy!! I can’t imagine getting half of that done and I am not pregnant! Sounds fun for sure!!
Thanks for all of the summer ideas…I’m moving to FL in a couple of weeks and this totally gives me a head start to keep my girls entertained in a new environment while having fun and hopefully not missing home too much!! Thanks.
This is a great list. I’m going to have to make one more myself very soon. Thanks for sharing this and giving me some good ideas. Be Happy, Be Healthy this summer!
It’s really a great list. Hope you enjoy your vacation. I’m planning to send kids to a swimming lesson.
Great list! I too plan on taking advantage of the B&N, and Borders programs! 🙂
Wow thats a lot… you sure will be quite busy… good luck with your summer vacation.
oh and thanks, it give me ideas too…
You are definitey going to be busy this summer if you do all that! Enjoy it!
Stopping by for SITS Saturday Sharefest…though I think I saw you on Lady Bloggers, too- the title of your blog caught my eye.
Stopping by from SITS…I just posted my summer bucket list earlier this week. It sounds like you’re going to keep busy! Happy Saturday!
Stopping from Saturday Sharefest at SITS! You are going to have a wonderful summer!
Stopping by from SITS. That sounds like a great list! You just inspired me to create my own – it’s something I’ll have to think about for sure! Enjoy the time with your girls!
Now that is quite a list. I hope you can do many or all of them.
These were great Denise! A rain gauge would be such a fun and green activity for the family. I love that you’re also on the ready to help with clean up efforts when the oil arrives. It’s such a shame. As for your sciatica, sorry to hear about that. I know how painful it can be. I had sciatica during my last pregnancy in addition to diastasis symphysis pubis which basically means that my pelvic joint loosened and gaped open. I had to start using a walker when I was six months pregnant. It was extremely painful to do simple things like turning to my side in bed or even taking a step forward. Eventually I ended up in a wheelchair. It was a nightmare, but thankfully I fully recovered within a month after having the baby. The things we go through for our children! lol Sorry for rambling. 🙂
Thanks so much for stopping by. Have a fabulous summer with your family.
Kristi, Live and Love…Out Loud
@TweetingMama
Ummm can you please take me with you to my most favorite place on earth, Sea World? Pretty please!
Love the list! And #19 reminds me to ask you if you heard about the Rays Summer Reading Program? Conveniently, you can take care of #17 free when your girls earn Rays tickets through reading. There was an insert in Friday’s *tbt but I’m sure there must be info online somewhere.
But of course! 😉 I pulled it out of the St. Pete Times yesterday! 🙂 I meant to post it on the MOTG message board this a.m. Thanks for the reminder!
excellent list! i’m loving reading other people’s lists b/c it gives me great ideas!!!
thanks for stopping by!! visit again! or check out the new blog that I just became editor for…. http://www.ourmommyhood.com
I love taking my sons to Dell Holmes Park, Weedon Island and Brooker Creek Preserve. We’ve been to all three at least once since May. Where do you plan on touring?
Great list. I’ve been here 8 years and haven’t been to most of those places. lol I need to get out more. I’d like to visit more parks this year so we can spend more time outside.
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