Dine and Dish

Food blog with family recipes

Summer of Fun Bucket List for Kids 2012

I alluded to my Summer Bucket List in my last post. My Summer Bucket List is the list of things I hope to accomplish with the kids by the time school resumes in August. 99.9% of the time, I don’t accomplish most that’s on the list and then I feel really bad about it when they go back to school. (Well we do try to cram as much as possible into that week before school starts to ease a bit of my guilt :).)

This year, I decided to take things a bit more seriously and follow the lead of amazing blogger and mama, Amy Clark. Amy created a “100 Days of Summer” Pinterest board last year and I watched, enviously, as she checked the items off, one by one. She’s doing it again this year and I can’t wait to see all the fun she has with her kids.

I decided to make my own Summer of 2012 Pinterest board, thinking something more concrete might be exactly what we need to make the most of our time this year. My list is fairly large, and I can guarantee we won’t get everything done on the list, but I’m hoping we can cross a lot of the things off! So, without further ado, here is our Summer of Fun Bucket List for 2012.

Homemade Doughnuts Donuts

and one final thing…

  • Make an Instagram Photo Album at the end of the summer that captures all the fun we had, no matter what we end up doing!

Alright – that’s about it! There are some fun new ideas I’m excited to try and some tried and true fun summer favorites that we do each year. I hope you’ll stop by Pinterest and create a summer fun board of your own! Let me know what your plans are for the summer. Whatever you do, I hope it is a safe, happy and fun one!

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Comments

  1. Christine @ Oatmeal Bowl says

    I love your list and the Pinterest board idea for summer! I definitely have plans in my head – about how to keep the kids busy during summer. guess I should write them down. I was thinking about painting a chalk board wall. they carry that paint at home depot. Love your ideas! And I am definitely making those pretzel bites.

    • Kristen says

      Thanks so much! This is the first year I’ve ever actually written it out, so I hope it helps us to get some of this stuff planned into our summer! I have some kids who can read now too, so I’m sure once they read it they’ll certainly make sure things are on the calendar 🙂 Have a great summer!

      Chalk board paint is big this year. Have you seen the colored chalkboard paint yet?

  3. Julie says

    Wow that’s quite a list. How long is their summer vacation? 🙂

    I live in Omaha (originally from KC) and our zoo rocks! You should catch a game at Werner Park (Omaha Royals, now the Storm Chasers). It’s a beautiful park and lots of fun!

    I remember many a summer going to Theater in the Park, always hoping it wasn’t too hot!

    Have a great summer and I look forward to following your adventures.

    • Kristen says

      I know – the list is kind of massive, isn’t it? But there are some things we can cross off on one day – I’m thinking 🙂

      Omaha zoo is fantastic and we haven’t been since my oldest was little! I know they’d love it!

      I’ve lived here forever and every single year I want to go to Theater in the Park and have never gone. THIS will be the year! Our kids are finally old enough and I think it’d be fun. Hot, yes, but fun 🙂

      • Katie | Healthnut Foodie says

        You’ve never been to Theater in the Park?!? We must go together. This year, we are most excited about the Sleepin Beauty/ Jungle Book double feature and Legally Blonde! Just a warning, after seeing their first show, I can almost guarantee you at least one of your kids will want to audition. So fun!

    • Kristen says

      You totally should! Even just a few little things you know you’d love to do this summer. There are so many great ideas out there (especially on Pinterest).
      I hope you have a great summer!

  5. Michelle @ Taste As You Go says

    I’m exhausted just reading your summer bucket list! You have a lot of great ideas on there… I’m passing it onto my sister, who has three little ones. She might need some ideas to keep that crew occupied!

    • Kristen says

      ROFL – I was exhausted writing it out 🙂 Some of the stuff is pretty simple though and there is nothing worse than kids hanging on your feet because they are “so bored”. Of course, I should add for me, play more Draw Something with you 🙂

        • Kristen says

          Um – girl… you do awesome! When I have to do it on my iPhone it is so pathetic. If it weren’t for the iPad, you would be thinking my 3 year old was doing all of my drawings!

          • Denise @ Creative Kitchen says

            Which app is it Kristen? I downloaded the free draw something app and it just doesn’t check and see which of my friends are on it. Do I need a paid app?

  6. Bev Weidner says

    WHOA. That’s a huge list! Maybe if you crave an adult moment you could add, “have a glass of wine with bev” to the list. 😉

    • Kristen says

      Well of course this list doesn’t include my adult aspirations. A glass of wine in your beautiful new kitchen sounds perfect 🙂

  7. Lisa :) says

    Ooh, what a fun list! I love so many of these ideas! I’m about to hit the hay now, so I’ll have to come back to this and click some of those links! (And Estes Park — there’s a conference there in August I’d like to go to [but can’t], cue that Twilight Zone music! I’d never heard of it before until I saw the conference info a few months ago and now seeing it on your blog … do do do do, do do do do [crap, how does one write out that TwiZone music anyway?]!) Ooh, and I want to do the outdoor movie thing, and man, I need to stop looking at this now or else I’ll never get to sleep. 🙂
    Love this post!
    xo

  9. Natalie @ Cooking for My Kids says

    I love this, Kristen! Making our list is on my to-do list for Saturday. I love all of the ideas that you have on your Pinterest board. While we have written and crossed off lists in the past, I like this so much better because it includes big and little things. I cannot wait to sit down and come up with ideas as a family together on Saturday. The littles will love looking at my Pinterest board because they are as visual as I am about things. 🙂 Have a super summer break!!

    • Kristen says

      I know you love summer as much as I do! Excited to have the kids home with me. Enjoy yours, Natalie! Next year is a big year!

  11. Elizabeth says

    I hope this doesn’t sound rude, but I think you meant to say “alluded”, not “eluded”.
    Great post =)

  15. Angie says

    Will you adopt me, please! That is one heck of a list – I’m particularly partial to the making and EATING chocolate ice cream for BREAKFAST! Hands down, you get Mom of the year for even thinking that one up 🙂

    • Kristen says

      So fun to switch things up every once in awhile! My mom once told me about eating with no hands… so we had cake for lunch one day but they couldn’t use their hands. It was the most simple of things, but boy… they STILL talk about that and it was years ago!

  16. Pat Wogan says

    May I suggest for your small town festival Neewollah in Independence..maybe kill two birds with one stone. If you go to the zoo, remind them that Grandma and Grandpa Sugar gave them the peacocks!

    • Kristen says

      That would be fun but Neewollah is in October. I’m sure we’ll be able to find something in Kansas to go to!

      And yes – I’ll be sure to show them the peacocks that haunted my childhood 😉

  17. Jennifer says

    Wow, that is one heck of a list. I hope we get to participate in some of those activities with you!! This made me remember that party we had SEVERAL years ago where the kids played a game with a giant sponge, and you wrung it out over their heads….remember that? Yeah, add that game to your list too 🙂

    • Kristen says

      Yes! Drip drip splash! We used to have that annual Sundae Spalsh party. I need to start doing that again. It’s a fun one!

      And we’d love for you to join us with whatever is on our list! The more the merrier!

  18. Lenore says

    I love this! You are the coolest mom ever…so many awesome ideas for the summer. I can’t wait until my guy is old enough to try some of these fun activities 🙂

    • Kristen says

      We are finally at a point (no diapers, no naps) where we are freer to be this summer. I’m really excited about it! Of course, like all things with kids, we’ll see if my fantasy summer and reality summer coincide at all 🙂

  23. Phil says

    It is a cool list. I like the staycation idea. My kids love just going out to eat and swimming in a hotel pool in our home town. I think they have almost as much fun as when we go out of town, and costs a lot less!

    • Kristen says

      We did that at Easter a couple years ago and had such a blast. It was nice to have a “vacation” without the drive and stress of traveling with kids!

    • Kristen says

      Thank you so much for the book recommendation! I was just looking at some today. That sounds like one my kids would love!

  26. Jessie says

    Randomly found your list on Pinterest and it’s making me miss KC. We just moved from there to TX in Jan. There was so much I hadn’t done yet. Oh well, just a reason to visit…and explore my new city more. Happy Summer fun!

    • Kristen says

      Ahhhh 🙁 What part of TX are you in now? Seems like we’ve been losing a lot of friends and family to Texas lately! It’s a great state and I’m sure you’ll find lots of fun things to fill your summer with there too 🙂

  27. Jenny says

    Love love love the list! So much fun – and it doesn’t matter if one or all get done – everything on there is going to be great time spent with the kids! I think that half the effort is having the ideas so you aren’t just trying to come up with an idea like pulling a rabbit out of your hat! The nice thing is also that you have plenty of both home and out ideas so that you can do whatever works best for the day/week…I am feeling SO inspired! (And I am going right from your site to Fly Lady to check out the kid challenge!!) 🙂

    • Kristen says

      That was my goal – to have a good mix of activities and to have some we can do on congruently. Look forward to sharing some of this fun with you this summer!

  31. Kasey Pierce says

    I love this list! Even though my kids are turning 12 and 10, they loved everything on this list and even added a couple of things. we have season passes to a water park in Gulfport, MS and they added some things for us to do there in case of rain! They named our list Camp Pierce. :). Thanks for the great ideas!

  32. Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen says

    Siiiigh I always feel like the worst mom ever at the end of summer. It’s just so hard to get motivated some days. But this is my oldest’s last summer before school starts. I’m hoping we can make it super special.

  33. Ellen says

    Thank you so much for your time and creativity you have put in all these wonderful ideas! I was getting a little worried about our summer days..and you have made me excited..and my 3 girls!!!

    • Kristen says

      Oh I am so glad to hear that this will help you and your girls have a great summer! Thanks for the comment 🙂

  34. Audrey's Mamma says

    That is quiet a list! I may steal one or two of your ideas. Homemade pretzels have been on my list for a while now. We have never attended our state fair but I love our county fair. A Pinterest board is a great idea!

    • Kristen says

      I love the visual of having my list on Pinterest. Nick actually printed it off too (the entire board) so I have a visual right in front of me as well 🙂 Have a great summer.

  35. Kristy Harris says

    You really have an awesome summer of fan bucket list kids 2012. Your kids definitely enjoying all the fan bucket list you made. It is absolutely fit for summer fan for kids.

  36. Amy says

    How did I miss this earlier? What a great list of ideas and thank you so much for the shout out on our 100 days of summer list. I am loving your ideas and adding a few of these to my own bucket list!! Love you, sweet friend! xo

  37. Gretchen says

    Love this bucket list and am so inspired now. I also live in the Kansas City area and am so excited about your ideas. Have you been to Ernie Miller Nature Center? It is a fabulous place to go on a nature walk. Thank you!

  38. Cate O'Malley says

    Whoa, i thought our list was long! Love it! And I’m with you, we make a summer album to capture all the memories — it’s so easy these days with digital pictures to forget to actually print/scrapbook/album the fun.

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