It’s been a long time. I don’t know why I haven’t written – I probably just haven’t made time for it. Since we hit the 1 year anniversary of Lizy passing away things have been good – still hard – Mother’s Day was, well… yeah. But things have been more good than not and for that I am grateful. I figure as long as the good days largely out number the bad days then we are in pretty good shape.
School let out last Thursday – which is really early – and won’t be back in session until after Labor Day – which is really late. For the first time ever I was dreading the summer. I was SO worried about how I was going to keep everyone happy & occupied for an extra month – the kids are always excited to get back to school at the end of the summer and with an extra month I was pretty worried.
I think a large part of what was bothering me was that this is going to be my first “un-numb” summer. Last year I barely remember the summer other than our trip to Nauvoo and what we did for 4th of July. We were all in a daze of trying to cope without Lizy. Now we’ve been coping for a little over a year – but a summer without her and all the numbness gone was a little scary, honestly. So, after much prayer, and a blessing from my husband, we decided that this is going to be the BEST summer we have ever had!!
Yesterday I sat down with the kids and made a list of all the things we wanted to do this summer – the trick was they had to be low on cost (free if possible) and most of them not too far away because of gas prices.
Here’s our list:
Make a Pinata
Play in the kiddy pool & slip ‘n’ slide (LOTS)
Have a lemonade stand
build something out of wood (preferably with dad)
Do a cookie ring ‘n’ run
Memorize scriptures
have a cookie day
have some culture days
have a Lizy and Grandpa remembrance day
go canoeing
go to the splash park
Walk the purple people bridge
got to the art museum
go to Krohn’s Conservatory
attend a concert in a park
go to Parky’s Farm
attend at least 1 library activity
go to the outdoor gardens at the creation museum
Swimming at the lake
Dance in the rain
fishing
have a puppet show
set up the teepee and play cowboys & indians
go to the zoo (we have a pass)
have a movie night
Kids plan and make dinner night
hiking
pirate day
Build a pillow and blanket fort
craft day
go to Farbach Werner nature preserve
car wash
go to a park – especially new parks or ones we haven’t been to often
go to Jungle Jims
Games – board games, outdoor games – badmitten, croquet, etc.
Water Balloon Fight
Art Day
go to Air Force Museum in Dayton
Write Letters
Finger Paint
Feed Ducks
Backyard camp out
Take Crazy Photos
Paper Mache puppet heads
picnic lunch with Dad
Wagner Family Summer Olympics
Make Water Noodle Lightsabers
And the list continues to grow! So, we are gearing up for loads of fun!
Some of our bigger things that we’d like to do if we have the opportunity/funds –
Go to Hocking Hills
Go to Red River Gorge
Got to Pennsylvania
So, be prepared for lots of stories and pictures (I hope anyway) of all the fun we are having!!!
Fun and Flawed 