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the summer list

June 2, 2011 Filed in summer list

                        
                   we did it!!
 

IMG_4431-1
 
there is one more line for a couple things we may think of along the way.

(here is a bit of answers…..)

treat tuesdays = baking a dessert together that is yummy and fun and fancy

write letters = once a week everyone writes letters to the same relative or friend
                            but choosing a different one each week

make sprinkler course = like ms. kristins pvc amazingness from last year

build robots = a craft from family fun

get donuts at night = our donut shop opens @ 11:30 pm and is open all night until the next morning
                                       so staying up late and going for hot fresh donuts at night would be a treat.

movie party = outside with a projector and 25 of our friends…like last year but even better.

fancy ice cream = try other flavors in our homemade ice cream machine other than vanilla

here are the links to the summer list 2008.…..2009.….2010.…..we started a fun tradition for so many of you!

and my summer list idea is being featured in Parenting Magazine!
how cool is that?!! 

now go make one at your house.
it makes your summer days much more intentional and you get the fun stuff done you always mean to do! 

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i had a conference call with the people at Gatorade and Stephanie Hamm 
and i blogged about it on my other blog.
come on over and read what i learned
and enter to win a $100 gift card to Dick's Sporting Goods!!

…………………………………………

 


jrs law dui - Lawyers working in local government earned a mean annual wage.

HEI - These recipes rely on everyday ingredients that can be found at any grocery store and are super-easy to prepare.

Eddy - Any of the Harry Potter books i think they are great. Try the third one the prisoner of azbakan its one of my favourites, a very good read or any of the others. But you should probably read the second one as its best to go in order reallyConstant reader.

Jay - If you can stand the small size of the type, read Across Five Aprils, and if not pick the second Harry Potter.Why I pciekd these . Across Five Aprils tell the story of the Civil War as seen by one Southern Illinois family, the Creighton’s. And the second harry Potter book is opne of the better sequeals to the original Harry Potter IF you do not like the gathering darkness in the other books after the first two.Constant reader.

Annefleur - Are you a boy or a girl b/c that answer will make all the dicfnreefe.Any of the Harry Potter books are good (I figured that was self-explanitory).Island of the Blue Dolphins is a little bit of a harder read, but it was really good to me (it’s about this native girl who is the only survivor of a tribal fight, and she has to survive off the land).Little Women is great! I think every kid should be required to read that one.Treasure Island is good too (it’s a little more boy-oriented though).Constant reader.

Arun - Jessica I cant believe how much stuff one litlte guy can have!! When we go to sac to visit my parents, the entire Tahoe is full, its insane!!!Tiffany Where are you flying? I can not imagine flying with twins, one is crazy enough, I am unsure if this vacation will really be a vacation!!

Kan - ooohhh fun!!! Buy a bunch of cloths. My ginrerifld spoiled us at our shower. She bought a bunch of cloths and clipped them to a rope with cloths pins. She stacked them on top of each other inside a cloths hamper. At the end of the rope was a note that said pull slowly I kept pulling and pulling and pulling. There were so many cute things. Pants, shirts, socks, tights, body suits. Her cloths line was 3 banquet tables long. It was amazing. Everyone clapped at her gift. I know she felt just as good giving it as we did receiving it. It was also a great way to give a good assortment of sizes.If you want to do the diaper bag you could fill it with newborn size diapers. That could be a little personal though. Someone did that for me but I hated the diapers she gave me and I never used them. They weren’t as soft as the diapers we had gotten use to in the hospital. I prefer pampers.

Heather Shealy - I happened upon your blog through pinterest and LOVE this idea. My kids just got out for summer yesterday and making a list was how we started the fun. I am an avid scrapbooker so the picture idea also has me excited. I shared a link to your blog after posting our summer list on Facebook and all my friends kept saying they wanted to steal the idea. Haha! I couldn’t claim something so awesome as my own. So I am sure many of them will be visiting. I am not this creative but I AM a list person. So this was so me!! We can’t wait to complete it. Thanks so much.

Eleanor - http://www.thekitchn.com/15-homemade-ice-cream-recipes-recipe-roundup-171503
15 fabulous ice cream recipes. 🙂
Can’t wait to make one of these lists for myself!

Katie - such a fun idea! i’m also in love with the 16 image squares you have printed out…are those instagram pics? i’d love to know how you printed them!!! <3

plastic card - Hanging photo cards is looking good. Do you have some designs of Christmas cards?

Soledad - Actually, there is a WAITING LIST to shop on this site. You can not just register and begin ponpsihg. They must not be experiencing the economic hardships that other retail companies are. Guess I’ll just keep spending my money elsewhere and ponpsihg til I drop.

Yoshiyuki - simhamdurapu kondalu uusupnadunu thokkanela kaallu kadaganelasommokadidhi sokokadidhiattasommu alludu danamvinte bharatham vinalithinte garelu thinaliaalu ledu chulu ledu koduku peru somalingamkalisocche kaalaaniki nadichocche koduku puduthadu

heather @ life, gluten free - I love the chalk board in a frame, how did you make it? is it chalkboard paint?

Ahmed - Hey Ho LeuteWar ne fette Aktion gseetrn Abend auf dem Emergenza!Wir freuen uns schon auf die nächste Runde mit euch!In diesem Sinne-Rock on und immer schön STRANGE bleiben!K.O.(voc/Git)

Walter Tully - How nice! That’s a very pretty summer bucket list you guys made. It’s great that it has family activities listed down – as there’s so much potential for enjoyable memories to be made there.
Good luck with that!

Affordable Insurance - Can’t wait to see all the pictures you take throughout the summer! My oldest would love to have a fun list like this so I’m off to do that right now. Thanks for the great ideas.

ClassiclyAmber - Our fam is so behind on this, but not again! We are doing a bucket list for this summer – and I am totally inspired by your blog post here! Love it!! 😀

Orderinthekitch - this is SO cute! I love this…I want to do something like this when I have a family 🙂

courtney - oh I love your list, its display, everything. so fun. My son and I made our’s! Definitely next year I will be displaying creatively (inspired by you!). Oh and we are breezing through our’s! Cannot believe its almost July!

Molly - This list is so great! I featured it on my blog http://yourforever.wordpress.com/2011/06/28/summer-list-from-whatever/

Laine Chambers - Love this! We made ours thanks to your inspiration! =)

DNese - This is super awesome. Totally inspires me for sure. Can you pretty please share how you got your photos in those little squares like that?!
Thank you & enjoy your Summer..

Daily Craft - Great project! I just wanted to let you know that we featured this project on our Facebook page with almost 12,000 fans. We’d love it if you’d use our Featured Blogger button, available at: http://www.dailycraft.com/thank-you-for-crafting/. Our audience loved the project and we look forward to sharing more from you. Please let us know if you have any questions or projects you’d love us to feature! Thanks!

Kelly - Love this idea…my cousin did this last year. Going to make one and turn it into a photobook at the end of the summer to remember it all. FUN! Thanks for getting me started!

Adele Williams - Love your summer list! I am making one of my own for our family. I just posted it on my family blog. Thank you so much! Love the intentional part as well.

Melissa Bailey - Number one, great idea for the summer list! I’m always looking for things to keep us busy, but it never occurred to me to make a real list. Great idea! Number two, I love your giant chalkboard!!!

Loni - Meg you are my hero! I made a list and mentioned you on my blog. I just want to hug you, you are such an inspiration!
http://meyerskids.blogspot.com/

Shannon - What a fun idea! Even though I’ve had years of kids on summer breaks, I’m still trying to come up with the best way to make the most of our time. This should help!

Christy - I can’t wait to make our list!

Erica - Fabulous! This is almost enough to change my mind about summer!

Philip Hampton - Dear Meg, please update this board as you tick things off!
Thanks from across the pond in sunny England.

Nellie - I am in love with this list.

jules - LOVE THIS! Thanks for inspiring me to have a more intention-fun summer with my kiddos!
Jules – bedheadandbrainfarts.blogspot.com

Randi - Love, love, love the look of your list. Makes our summer list look too plain. Definitely using your idea next year! 🙂

Jeanie - So, ok. We make a summer-sand-bucket list with the granbebes…but yours is soooooo colorful and cute. Please come and replicate in my house??

flor - oh this is awesome! thanks for the great idea 🙂

Trysha - I just created my list on Wordle.com Looking forward to the summer!

Heather - Love this. Love it!! You are so inspiring. Two need to knows: 1) did you make the chalkboard or buy it? 2) Make chalk paint? Awesome!! Would you share the recipe, purdy please?

alicia @ la famille - aha! you did share it…i’m just catching up…i’ve been gone for a week and i’m reading backwards 🙂 thanks! i’m totally doing this tomorrow!

Kristen - Totally and completely in love with this idea!

Jen - I absolutely love your summer lists!! We’re going to start doing one this year too!

hannah - excellent list and presentation! wow!
our kiddo is only two, i have ideas for this year, but no real list. next summer? we are so gonna be legit summer listers!!
xo

Courtney Hohimer - Thanks for the reminder! I got our list made last night! http://wp.me/pPtu7-kw

Jessica Flores - We just made our summer list this week too, but yours is super duper cuter than ruled paper glued to construction paper and stuck to the fridge. Ah well, I guess it’s all about the fun (and the “ominous green bug” my little one drew in the margins). THanks for the inspiration!

sara's art house - Super cute on the chalkboard. The little chairs are precious. Have a fun summer 🙂 I know you will.

Dawn - I love lists! The list turned out awesome on the chalkboard.

amy jupin - i was going to write ours on our big chalk board too!
now i have to steal yet another one of your ideas!
xo.
🙂
😉
:0
😮
:~)
;-}
:\
:/
;>
;< i'm bored. 🙂

Jenny B. - Not only is your list full of super cool fun stuff, it looks BEAUTIFUL!!! Did you just use regular chalk? Love it!

Lisa - We did a summer list last year and my kids loved it. Doing it again this summer! btw I was checking out your past summer lists and am wondering if this is the year your free throw line will get painted? 😉 Haha just noticed it was on the 2008 and 2010 summer list too. I kinda like you don’t accomplish everything or then you’d be too perfect! 🙂

amy - Did you paint the blue chair in the middle? If so what is the name of that fantastic color? 🙂 As always thanks for getting me off my butt and putting forth an effort to get my kids on track for a great summer. A summer list really helps as a family to know we aren’t forgetting to do all the fun stuff.

Courtney Walsh - So fun. I have a friend who does this on those HUGE post-it notes (they seriously are SO expensive.) We’ve been writing stuff down on little scratch pieces of paper but seriously need to get it all in one place! Love the chalkboard, my friend!! 🙂

lauren - great list. great ideas. awesome blog. i was just reading last year’s movie night post and your thoughts about annie starting kindergarten…’mom of children’ rather than ‘mom of babies.’ i was just telling my mom that with my youngest finishing junior high, greeting me yesterday with, ‘mom! i’m a freshman!’ i can no longer call myself a mom of young children. killin’ me.

Midwest Magnolia - Melissa Lewis - I LOVE this idea! I have got to find somewhere to make a big ole chalkboard for family post’s like this one!!!! So glad you shared this.

Christy - We just finished ours yesterday! My girls were peeking over my shoulder while I checked your blog one afternoon and they spied your list idea. My second grader immediately wanted to do the same….we actually have a lot of the same activities planned for the summer, lol.

Camille - Wow! Your family is so lucky. I’m working on my list right now. It will help to have something written out.

Meg @ Everyday Nostalgia - We don’t have kids yet, but I think we need to do this!!!!
Love the list on the chalkboard!

Kathy T - Love the list. This year we’re doing it! Please please please can you give us the info on the projector? That’s the one thing my family would love the most!

kristin - megan: i think i might downright copy your list.
seriously.
it looks just like our family.
: )

deborah@applesinwonderland - we’ve made a list every year on the last day of school–since 2000. holy moly. we always leave room for the unexpected…..it’s summer for goodness sake, right? aw….i love summer. (p.s. target has stripe-y rainbow-y colored picnic supplies right now, and i thought of you:)

allyson - I love the photo collages. I know i saw a post on them, but cant find them. anyone know?

wendy, NJ - I love checking in just to see what new ideas you have on your chalkboard! LOVE the summer ‘to do’s’!!

Verna - Love your list. I’d also love to know where and how you make those fun photo collages. You’re an inspiration.

deedrap - You need to add “get Scott a Frappacino” to your list 🙂 had a good time listening to the boys tonight OMG-LOL!!!!

Shannon - We made our first one this summer. It was fun to see what my 5 and 2 year old wanted to do. Ours includes going to see the last shuttle launch in July, eating at Chick-fil-A, and going camping.

Terrie - Love your list! We made ours last week…sno cones (already gone 3 times!) rules…different flavor each time. Drive-in – can you believe that my husband has NEVER been to one?! Sprinkler course sounds like fun!! Driving to get doughnuts at night is on our list…I’ve never been there! You will have a great summer with your list! Parenting Magazine? …How cool!! Happy Summer Break!

Meredith - Don’t forget demolition derby! Yeeha!

Shari - I missed the info last year about your outdoor movie night. Did you rent the screen and projector? I am sooooo wanting to do this so would LOVE the info! 🙂

kris - Love the list! And the pillows on the last post? So wonderful and colorful and full of love and truth!:)

Kelly - I always love your summer list posts! I have not seen a single snow cone stand in our new city of Colorado Springs. Sure hoping they have them here! Kelly

Emily - We did this too! Ours is on poster board in our kitchen so we can see it everyday. A few on ours is…. play in the mud, farmer’s market, and smores. I’m definitely adding ice cream truck to ours! We hear it come by each night!

karen - won’t the kids walk by and run their fingers across the board??
I’m rolling my eye’s reading my comment…i must be in a bad mood today 🙁
i love your list!!

Margo - Looks like a great list and I agree Drubers donuts at night – the best!!!

Rachael - Just wanted to let you know that this is blowing up on Pinterest, with very good reason! What a great idea.

Debbie - Thank you for this wondeful idea. I made our first one last summer and accomplished every item except one. My goal is to finish this summer’s list this weekend. And I’m totally stealing the living room sleepover. My two year old will LOVE sleeping in her tent.

Amanda - how did you make your picture collage seen in the picture on this post. LOVE it and saw something similar on a show on HGTV. i’d love a new a fun way to display pics like this 🙂

Johanna-Simply Create Kids - this is so great!!! how fun that it will be in the magazine 🙂
You probably saw this already, but here is Ashley C.’s PVC pipe post from last year (i think)–another great one:
http://ashleyannphotography.com/blog/2009/08/13/diy-pvc-water-park/

lisa - What fun! You are such an awesome mom.

Kristy - shut up. that is the coolest thing ever. we have done it every summer since the first time i seen it on your blog!! but this is to die for. love it!!!!! wonderful. just wonderful.

jill - So glad I’m not the only one that thought it said “make farts”! Guess I’ve been hanging out with my boys too much. 🙂 Love your list and love how you have inspired so many to do their own (us included).

Leslie @topofthepage - the kids and i just brainstormed for ours today! can’t wait. love your ideas too. love the letter writing!! i want to find a great read aloud for us to go through together too. maybe narnia. we have movies in the driveway once a month in summer – they are the BEST. and i also have the best homemade playdoh recipe ever too, if ya need one. but i’m guessing you don’t!

Heather R. - :)! Love the drive-in movies. And we got our Worlds of Fun passes, zoo passes, pool is open…let summer begin.

Cyndi Hamilton - I made my list…thanks for sharing yours. I love your chalk board too! I can never sign into your blog for some reason…always have to use facebook.
Cyndi
http://acharmedlife08.blogspot.com/

stefanie - omg, I love this idea! We have some friends who use a chalkboard in their kitchen. Anyone who walks by {even visitors} can write an idea for something fun for their family to do that month. The only request is that its within driving distance and age appropriate for their kids. Between your idea and their idea, I’m getting some pretty fun ideas for myself!

stephany - Thanks for the inspiration!
We made our summer list yesterday…
http://homeiswhatyoumakeit.wordpress.com/2011/06/02/summer-list/

RLG - You are so badass, Meg. This list makes me want to give you a hug. I’m not as creative or patient as you, so my kids are going to full-day summer camp! I know, I’m a loser! Can’t take the heat, yadda yadda yadda. This picture makes me happy nonetheless. Cheers, girlie. xoxo

Valerie @ Chateau A La Mode - I love lists…I’m one of those list makers. This has got to be the best list ever! Have fun checking off the things on the list.

shauna reed - your best ever!

jennibell - I love this: “it makes your summer days much more intentional”
Thank you for reminding me not to waste the summer away 🙂
And so cool that it was featured…now even MORE people can be intentional this summer!!!

Tiffany - My husband and I don’t even have kids, but we started doing this too. Actually I made a list and when he saw it he said we should really do it together. I thought he would think it was cheesy so I didn’t even ask him at first. The summer is a busy time for our jobs and even as adults it is fun to have things to look forward to. Our list includes picking fresh fruit and making homemade sorbet with it, trying a new restaurant, watching the sunset at the lake, have a picnic, make sangria, try a new vegetable from the farmer’s market. It is a change of pace and romantic.

Casey - I just did our first one ever after seeing yours for the last several years. Thanks for the great idea!

Leslie - That is the coolest. We did something like that for the month of october ( since I love Halloween). I think that our weekend project will be a summer list. Thanks for sharing and inspiring.
Have a great weekend

Kat - Love your summer list. So much so that I do a mini one with our family for each holiday. (even the shorter two week break, which we are on for winter here in Tasmania, Australia atm.)
I also add jobs I need/want to get done, as well as the fun stuff.
Some very creative and inspiring ideas on your list.
If you get all that done, you will be in the running for Mum of the year! Lol
Have fun 🙂

amy d - i must have been reading too fast…at first i thought it said draft thursdays instead of craft thursdays! HA! although too many craft thursdays may lead to draft thursdays! 🙂

se7en - Totally awesomely wonderfully cool!!! I think we might go into winter denial and declare it summer over here too…seriously wishing that winter would be gone…

Jenna - This is great and I’m saving it! I just can’t wait until my little bean is old enough to do stuff like this. I guess the list is up to me and hubby this year!
Jenna
momofmanyhats.blogspot.com

Angella Eisman Design - Literally stumbled upon your blog. Really great idea…I’m inspired to make our own summer list!

Nicole - Meg, I hope that I am as involved with my kids as your are with yours, when I have them. I just graduated from high school, but I’ve been reading your blog for such a long time, and I can just say that you’re a pretty inspiring parent.

AshleyAnn - So pretty. I’ll just send my kids to Kansas for the summer. I’d miss them, but I think they’d have more fun at your place. We need to get our summer list made!
Congrats on the much deserved Parents mag feature…smart people those Parenting guys are.

Beth - P.S. Can I please paint the mural with you? And also, I’m doing a summer “create every day” thing. Check out my blog. I’d love you (and the kids) to do it with me!!

Beth - We took the idea list last year too, and are doing it again this year. I love it, and the family time to make the list is good too. We had gotten away from our weekly family time and while making our summer list, realized we really still need it! Thanks for the great idea, and many others that you share daily!! And how cool being featured in Parents mag!! You’re a rock star 🙂

Georgia - Can i do a summer list being a month away from turning 24 and having no children… hmmmmm
I want to, but something tells me the Fiance wont do it.. 🙁 *sniff*

Emily - This made my day! I’m making the photo my desktop image on my work computer. PLAY TIME!
Great idea.

Tonya - This will be the first summer in 3 years that we won’t be making summer list. 🙁 I’m taking a huge class this summer and my kids are w/a sitter. BUT…I just bought a pool pass, so they’ll still have a blast!

Jennifer Rubeck - So Awesome! Can’t wait to do this with my kids. Thanks for sharing!

Shannon - Oops…I don’t think the link I posted worked. Try http://www.weneedafrica.net.

Shannon - We’re working on ours…for the 3rd year in a row. I love, love, love this tradition. Thank you! On a side note, I know how much you love Africa and thought you might find this interesting, http://web.me.com/weneedafrica/WeNeedAfrica/MISSION.html. A college student from our church is on a bike across America to spread the love and faith that he discovered in Africa. It should be an interesting ride to follow!

Angela B. - Love it! We’ve done a summer list for the past few years and it sure helps us beat the boredom and keep our summer super fun. This year we added craft Thursdays inspired by you and your kids. I hope you all have a lovely summer!

Maria Bryan - LOVE IT! We will take your advice and compile a list this weekend….my kids are still in school…summer break starts on June 17th for us! Thanks!

Joanie - No one works like most normal people

Necole - I just put a huge bulletin board up in the kitchen, and am so making a summer to do list with my girls. Smaller scale of course. I have plans for that bulletin board.

Crissie - Love your post, as usual! Such great ideas! But more importantly…how did you make those beautiful photo collages?????? 😉

Lisa - LOVE this! We did one last summer (after seeing it here) and had so much fun with it. We have “Cookie Tuesdays” at our house year-round but I’ve been thinking lately that I need to change it to “Fresh fruit Tuesdays” to help Mommy out! If there are cookies here…I eat them. Fun stuff. We’ll probably steal some of these ideas!

Sandy - Why is the enter to win a $100 Dick’s gift card marked out? I was hoping to win. 🙁

Holly - great list! we made chalk paint last year. it was fun. My dad was staying with us after his house flooded and let the kids use it on his car……it washes right off!

Kim - i think your summer list is my favorite post you do all year. 🙂 i have so been looking forward to it. 🙂
even though i am usually in a boring office building all day, it really cheers me up to see you and your cute fam doing all of these creative and fun adventures all summer long! looking forward to the posts that will accompany your list. 🙂

Leah - This looks awesome! Here is my somewhat-summer list: http://leahsthoughts.com/2011/05/30/summer-time/

CK - LOVE it! We copied your idea a few years ago and have done it ever since. It is so fun to list EVERYTHING that comes to mind and then see them get checked off as the summer goes. We have kept our past 2 summer lists. This year, ours will include… MOVE TO AFRICA! I am thinking this may be a pretty unforgettable summer;)

happygirl - Congrats on the Parenting issue. You will be in dentist and doctor’s offices EVERYWHERE.

Anna - I misread your list. Near the end it said make forts…I thought it said make FARTS! Lol

amy - wow, such a great list, thanks for sharing! If I wrote this for “all” to see, I would be hearing, “can we go get donuts tonight, what about tonight, how about tonight… now, now, now….. but you said…” I have a list but I keep it super secret and then just bust out with the ideas….. I will surely be stealing some of yours too 🙂 Thanks!

Sarah @ Handbags*N*Pigtails - What a fun list. My favorite is the “get donuts at night.” My hubby would love that!:)
I was thinking about you as I posted pics of my globe collection this morning. You’ve made me think (& decorate) with more color in my home. And I love it!
Hope you’re having a great week:)
xo

jen @ eighteen25 - i’m so in love with your list on that awesome chalkboard!! loving the pictures across the top… and loving your ideas… gonna have to steal a couple! big thanks for starting this tradition!! our family fell in LOVE with it last year… i know it will be around for many more summers!!
jen 🙂

Jen Brandt - We make a summer fun list, too! Although, this year, I will make it much prettier and more fun to look at. Thank you for the inspiration!

shelly - You’re amazing!!! Love it!!!

melanie - where the heck did you score that sweet ginormous chalkboard? I’m in need of one (or two) for a 1. chores list 2. and now a summer fun list! yay for summer.

Debi - I was looking forward to your list! Love it on the chalkboard!

Jody - We made our list and posted it. I’m so glad you introduced us to this idea.

Kathryn - Drubers!! Yummy too. (We usually have to take a little evening nap if we expect to stay awake for that)

Kathryn - when you have waffles – try making the “pudding” or “white sauce” from “Mennonite Women Can Cook” (or I can send a recipe). More work than syrup or fruit and whip cream but . . . yummy!!

G. - Love your list! I may borrow a few ideas. I also really love your chalkboard. so fun!

Christy - We made ours this weekend & it is also on our chalkboard. I totally stole/borrowed the idea from you. My son is so excited & he keeps adding stuff to the list, last night it was homemade ice cream.

Shannon - YAY! I love this list on the chalkboard and everything sounds so fun. Can’t wait to see all the pictures you take throughout the summer! My oldest would love to have a fun list like this so I’m off to do that right now. Thanks for the great ideas, Always 🙂

Courtney - I am totally intrigued by the chase county waterfalls, going to have to look into that!!
let me know what night movie night is, i have cute kids, your kids would love them 🙂
looks like a great list!

Gina - we just made our list too-I love your letter idea. we’d probably have treat tuesdays too, if our house was equipped with ac!

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