The kids counted from the day they got out of school until the day they go back. We have 80 days of summer, weekends and holidays included, to take advantage of the season. We’ve boycotted day care summer camps and summer school and planned daily good summer fun.
Each week is themed, each day has a rough plan to keep everyone busy. Each day includes brain work (anything from puzzles, workbooks, reading, and such), chores (of course the kids think WHAT? It’s summer! and I see it as free child slave labor), and an adventure or activity that gets us out of the house while still managing a full time work schedule. Creative planning required to pull off my 9 hour+ work days. All work and no play is dull. Our weeks are sweetened with a different homemade ice cream on Sundays!
We began our adventure by tent camping 3 nights on the Kern River with a group of friends. The river was cold and low and slow but provided plenty of entertainment with rafting and fishing and soaking. We also took a beautiful drive and fun hike at the Trail of 100 Giants in the Sequoias. Camping week ended with a lot of laundry and Fresh Strawberry Ice Cream!!
Weekly themes include Camping (check!); California Style; History; Science; Crafts; Culture; Fun & Fitness; Myths & Legends; Animal Planet; Oceanography; and All Ball. Each week includes Movie/Museum; Beach; Soak City/Knotts; Picnic at the Park; and a Bike Ride/Hike. We have couple of trips planned to Palm Springs and San Diego too. Mom is another name for Camp Director right?
What was Rory Vaden’s quote from my prior post? The moment you tell yourself you’re too busy is the moment you stop thinking creatively about how to get other potentially important items into your schedule and your routine.”
He also states that “Balance shouldn’t mean equal time spent on equal activities. Balance should mean appropriate time spent on critical priorities.”
Whether I’m practicing the art of balancing by either definition or juggling my multi-hyphenated life, my main goal for the summer is to learn how to hula hoop. Somehow I missed out on this lesson as a kid.
Hurray for summer!