Summer Bucket List 2013

     With May right around the corner and school almost out it can only be one thing......It's almost time to start our Summer Bucket List!  Last summer I came across this fun idea of a Summer Bucket List from this great blog Little Wonders' Days.  Liam and I had a lot of fun coming up with ideas for our own Summer Bucket List last year, so I wanted to do it again this summer.   If you haven't done this before here's how it works.....

** I pretty much got the basic outline from Kelly's blog and adapted the master list to what our family wanted to do for the summer, special events around our area, and fun local places to visit **

• First, make a master list of all the things your family will enjoy doing this summer.
• Then break it down into how much time each activity will take and color code them by that.
• Write each activity on the corresponding colored coded paper.
• Take a simple sand bucket and decorate it with sticker letters, then place the papers inside.
• Each day or evening, depending on your already scheduled activities, someone pulls out one piece of paper. (So, if you have  busy day, then you would pick out a color coded paper for an activity for an hour or less, if you have a full day open, then you would pick out a color coded paper for an all day activity).

I've broke down our activities into 4 time categories with corresponding colors:

• All Day Activities
• Half Day Activities
• 2 Hour Activities
• 1 Hour or Less Activities

 Here's what I came up with for our 2013 Summer Bucket List (I'm starting it June 17th, since we will be in Texas the last part of May into early June).

All Day Activities:

• Go to the El Paso Zoo
• Go on the Wyler Ariel Tramway
• Go to Bob-O's Family Fun Center
• Visit White Sands National Monument 
• Visit Jungle Jacks
• Go to Wet 'n Wild
• Go to Western Playland Amusement Park
• Go to Carlsbad Caverns

Half Day Activities:

• Go to the Farmer's Market
• Visit the Train Museum
• Visit the Art Museum
• Have a play date
• Go to the Aquatic Center
• Go to Alameda Zoo
• Pony Rides at New Mexico Farm & Ranch Museum
• Go see the Electric Light Parade
• Go to the Museum of Space History
• Visit the Sunland Park Race Track
• Go to FunTrackers
• Piñata 

2 Hour Activities:

• Go to Story Time
• Visit a Bookstore
• Go to Chuck E. Cheese
• Go to the Bounce House
• Visit the Nature & Science Museum
• Have a picnic 
• Feed the ducks
• Play at the playground
• Go Bowling
• Make a volcano
• Go to Peter Piper Pizza
• Visit the flea market
• Visit the Space Museum 
• See a BMX Race
• Go to the park

1 Hour or Less Activities:

• Make Gak
• Go for a cupcake
• Water balloon toss
• Go on a Shape Hunt
• Ride bikes
• Blow bubbles
• Make ice cream
• Draw with sidewalk chalk
• Make a craft
• Fly kites
• Water gun fight
• Go for donuts
• Go to the library
• Go for a hike
• Play board games
• Make balloon rockets
• Make a fort
• Paint a self portrait 

     We have so many fun things planned this summer, can't wait to get started!!  If you have never done a Summer Bucket List, I suggest you do!  It's a great way to spend some fun family time together over the summer.  

Shutterfly Photobooks

     So,  recently I have been getting all creative putting together some Shutterfly photo books.  I love photo books, they are so easy to make and are a great way to display all those wonderful memories.  I usually do a yearly one for Liam, it's a great way to capture all those great moments. And WAY cheaper then making a real scrapbook.  Sometimes it's hard to decide what photos to put in it since I take soooo many.  This past summer, we participated in the Little Wonders' Days Bucket List.  I took pictures of all the activities we did over the summer and thought what better way to remember the fun we had then to put them together in a photo book.  So that's what I did!!  I also, put together a photo book of my baby shower and my maternity pictures (taken by Samantha Lovett Photography).  I posted the links to the books below.  Take a look!  I had so much fun! There are so many options from backgrounds to layouts to different pictures frames and if you sign up with them via email then they will send you their special deals.  I recently received a code for a FREE 8x8 photo book worth $29.99!  That's awesome!  I've also taken advantage of a FREE 100 4x6 photos special they sent me (just have to pay tax & shipping).  So if you have tons of pictures, like I do, and want to put them together in some sort of photo book/scrapbook, Shutterfly is perfect for you!!

Liam's Bucket List Photobook

Click here to view this photo book larger

Shutterfly photo books offer a variety of layouts and cover options to choose from.

Our Summer Bucket List

     Today, was another windy day out here in Vandenberg, perfect for flying kites from Our Summer Bucket List.

"Let's go fly a kite, up to the highest height."

"Let's go fly a kite, and send it soaring..."

"Up to the atmosphere, up where the air is clear."

"Ohhhhhhhh, let's gooooo...."

"Fly a kite!"

Our Summer Bucket List

     Yesterday, we headed outside to enjoy the sunny weather and throw around the Frisbee.  Liam was excited about this activity from Our Summer Bucket List.

Daddy teaching Liam how to throw the frisbee.

Nice form Liam!

I think he got it! Nice throw!

A little windy, but definitely a fun day!

Our Summer Bucket List

     Another one of our full day activities from Our Summer Bucket List is visiting San Luis Obispo.

We went to the Creekside Brewery for lunch.  My Metropolitan Salad was simply amazing, 

Liam loved his chicken tenders & fries, and the hubby enjoyed his tacos.

Liam was being a silly head.  Love his goofy faces.

After lunch we walked down to the creek below the brewery.  

Liam and daddy crossed some big rocks across the creek....

And back again.

The we walked down to this place called the Rocket Fizz a Soda Pop & Candy store.

There were so many sodas and all sorts of candy!!  The hubby picked out a 

ginger soda and a Mr. Cola.  Liam picked out a blue raspberry & watermelon swirl ring pop

and I filled a bag up of salt water taffy.

Liam shared his ring pop with daddy.

And who couldn't resist taking a picture with Stay Puft the Marshmallow Man? 

Lots and lots of fun in SLO today!  Another Summer Bucket List activity to mark off.

Our Summer Bucket List

     Today, we marked off visiting the Madonna Inn from Our Summer Bucket List.  We headed out early this morning to San Luis Obispo for breakfast at the inn's famous Copper Cafe.

Liam tried out their pancakes, they were delicious.  I opted for the ham and cheese omelet 

with bacon, hash browns, and toast. The hubby chose the traditional bacon, eggs, and toast.  Everything was amazing!

The Madonna Inn is known for their specialty cakes, 

amazing pastries, and yummy chocolates.  

After breakfast we all picked out a little sweet treat from 

the chocolate display to enjoy.

And of course we just had to make a "squish penny" to add to Liam's collection.

After breakfast we walked around the hotel.  

There was pink EVERYWHERE!!

Then we headed outside and enjoyed our sweet chocolate treats by some water fountains.

We walked around some of the grounds and came across these beautiful and friendly horses.

They even let us pet them and feed them some grass.

Today was a lot of fun! I'm so happy we finally got to visit the historic Madonna Inn.  Just wish we could've stayed in one of the hotel rooms, they are suppose to be amazing.

Our Summer Bucket List

     Yesterday, the hubby came home early from work, so we decided to head to the Pool, definitely one of our activities from Our Summer Bucket List.

Liam had so much fun splashing, blowing bubbles, and kicking in the water with daddy.  

Our Summer Bucket List

     Today, Liam and I had fun outside having a Water Balloon Fight, one of the activities from Our Summer Bucket List.  I filled up some balloons and then it was on!

He had so much fun chasing me with balloons and throwing them at me.