I’d never survive up north. Really. Kudos to all of you that are enduring a real winter. Down here we are on day two of really cold temperatures and I’m dreaming of sunscreen, lightning bugs and watermelon wedges. Weak, I tell you.
Instead of fighting it, I’m indulging my warm weather fantasies by listing out all the things I want to do so I can remind myself of them when I’m whining about bug bites, sticky car seats and humidity-soaked frizzy hair…. because you know it’s going to happen.
1. Go to the beach. In the words of Chandler Bing, could I BE any more cliche? Luckily we already have one beach getaway on the books and I’m giddy. Something in me yearns to see the ocean stretched out endlessly in front of me. And if her adoration for snow activities is any indication of what is to come, I think Hailey is at a great age to enjoy the heck out of the beach!
2. Grow something. Fingers crossed that 2015 is the year I finally turn my black thumb green. I have my expectations set really (really) low because the last time I tried to garden, I believe I yielded a single green pepper, a couple strawberries and some cherry tomatoes all summer long. I killed my squash plant. People told me that wasn’t even possible (insert evil chuckle).
Right now I am considering cucumbers, cherry tomatoes and some herbs. David is strongly suggesting we add in a spicy pepper of sorts, too, but hey, let’s not get too carried away. My friend Alise suggested our playgroup (there are 6 of us) all switch up what we grow so we can have our own sort of crop share. I think it sounds like a fantastic idea! (If you are currently enjoying your glory days of youth and reading this, I’m sorry, but this is the excitement your future holds… giddy conversations about basil and summer squash. In the words of Mr. Mellencamp, hold onto 16 as long as you cannnn….).
Just kidding, I love it.
3. Go camping. If you are thinking that this sounds a bit adventurous considering we have a three-year-old and a 9 month old, you’re right. Still, as soon as we got Koda’s diagnosis this jumped to the top of our to-do list. Fortunately in North Carolina there are a plethora of gorgeous camp grounds within our reach. I’m hoping we can find a weekend in spring and go for a day/overnight trip. It’s sure to be chaotic and I think it sounds fantastic.
4. Can pickles and one other thing. I canned pickles two years ago using my Nannie’s recipe and they turned out great. We gave them away as Christmas presents and ate them ourselves, leading them to disappear quickly. We skipped last year because our hands were a bit full, but plan to return with a vengeance and make a couple different types of pickles.
Ideally I’d love to can ALL the things, tomatoes, peaches, jams, etc, but since I am at least hoping to make these realistic goals, I’m going to choose one other thing to start. I’m leaning towards jam, but only time will tell (I see you sitting there on the edge of your seat with excitement…)
5. Host a big cookout. We are fortunate to live in a pretty great summer time house and we just completed our screened in porch at the end of last year. We talk all the time about having people over, but rarely make it happen because… laziness? Exhaustion? This summer I want to plan a big ‘ol cookout, complete with jumping off the dock, kids and dogs chasing lightning bugs and David’s ‘lake mix’ playlist rocking in the background.
6. Make ice cream. We have an ice creamer maker that David’s parents gave us way back when. For some reason it intimidates the heck out of me, which is hilarious because I hear they are incredibly easy to use. So this summer, I want to conquer my fear and make some delicious ice cream! My mind is going wild with possible flavor combinations, but let’s be real. David is a vanilla guy (in the ice cream context, not a jab at his personality … which is sparkling in case you were wondering), so I foresee a lot of tries in creating the perfect vanilla, then tossing in some strawberries for H.
7. Go on a picnic. Honestly, it doesn’t even matter where. It can be in our front yard for all I care. In fact, it’s probably best to have it there so I can hose everyone off afterwards. One thing (among many) that is really cool about having kids is rediscovering the simple joys. We’ve taken endless ‘nature walks’ down the same paths around our house and each time Hailey is filled with wonder as she searches for clues and giddily points out colorful flowers or berries. Kids are so cool y’all. It’s totally worth me slapping together a few sandwiches and grabbing an over-sized blanket.
Feeling wild today and ending it at 7! Also, Kaitlyn is crying for me to get her so that helped convince me to stop here.
What am I missing?
What is on your warm weather bucket list this year?
Karen says
Camping is possible……yes hectic for parents but just think of the new things both your kids will get to experience and explore. Hailey would probably love geocaching (we call it treasure hunting) and its free. Give it a try.
I hope you post about this adventure if it happens, I would love to hear how it goes:)
Jennifer says
This post read my mind and makes me want spring and summer even more! Just reading the words watermelon rinds makes me want summer 1000 times more than I already do. I live right outside Washington DC and the weather this morning is about -10 with wind chill… burrr!
I am very excited about spring and summer and our family bucket list is starting to form. We found out we are expecting our second baby in September and I am so excited for an active summer. Plus, I have been reading along your journey of going from 1 to 2 kids and I am excited to start my own journey.
I hope spring comes fast!
Kim says
Our daughter went on her first camping trip when she was 18 months, and our son’s first was when he was 6 months! It is definitly not relaxing like it used to be before kids but my kids LOVE it. My daughter is almost four now and she has been asking constantly when we get to go camping again…despite the fact that it is February and we live in Ohio ;).
John J. says
Beach and biking! Three beach-like trips planned, plus a lot of warm weather biking on the horizon. Our “camping” will be at Marriott Sawgrass and Hotel Suizo in Tamarindo, Costa Rica! C’mon along!
Katie Harding says
Loved this post! Can you get over how cold it is today? My summer bucket list is to just BE OUTSIDE, after being stuck inside with three little one’s for the past week I am definitely ready for some warm weather, lemonade, sunsets, cookouts, you name it! We may attempt to go camping as well and I’m also making a beach trip a MUST!
Sherry says
So enjoyed reading your bucket list for summer. I would like to go on a hike to somewhere I’ve never been before—bet I’ll be able to do that in Costa Rica!
Katie says
We moved to Arkansas last year and it has some beautiful state parks. So my goal this year was to get to three of them. I think we will camp at at least two. So with a 3.5 yr old and an 18 month old this summer we will be right there with you. I’m excited and nervous!
Christina says
My bucket list sounds very similar to yours! In March, my daughter and I are joining a friend in Hilton Head for a week, and in June, my husband, daughter and I are joining some friends for a 5 day camping trip in the Great Smoky Mountains! I’m a little nervous about that (I’m a two-night-max kind of camper!) but I know my daughter will have the time of her life.
Paulina says
Schools are closed here today because of sub zero temps. SO yes, I love everything about today’s bucket list post! We have picnic’s in our backyard all the time in the summer, which my 3 year old loves. It’s different than eating on the deck because we sit on the ground on a big blanket and everyone gets messy 😉
Heather says
Those all sound wonderful! I received a picnic basket for Christmas (I asked for it) b/c I wanted to go on picnics too! I haven’t been on one since I was little and I always loved them. We also have a beach trip planned which I always look forward too. I’m not so sure how easy it will be since we will have a 2 year old and 4 month old, but we will need the time to just get away from it all! I hope you are able to enjoy the warm weather and accomplish all of your bucket list!
Heather says
We LOVE our ice cream maker – super easy to use and so fun to experiment with flavors. Your bucket list sounds much like ours, although we’re nowhere near the beach and canning anything intimidates the heck out of me! 😉 One of our bucket list items is to get the kids ready for swimming lessons. They’re both a little afraid of swimming pools, so we’re going try and help them conquer their fears and hopefully enroll them by the end of summertime.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Can you believe, last summer I never went to the beach and I only live about 50 to 60 minutes away!? Insane….I have to remedy that this year. And I am so with you on canning! I so want to give that a go!
Erin @ Her Heartland Soul says
I love picnics and cookouts and the beach!! I’m so excited for summer!
Jen says
Your house really does look amazing for a summertime cookout!
Hmmm, I don’t know if you missed anything, really. We usually save our beach trips for the very late summer (like September) since it’s hot and crowded to go earlier. I hope we make that happen this year! Maybe Folly Beach?
Good luck with camping! We threw out our tent a few years ago after a few too many bad weather events, but maybe when our daughter is older we’ll buy a newer, waterproof tent and give it a try again.
Tanya says
Number 1 is on the top of our list too…I am going to try to combine it with Number 3…I dream of a week long camping trip on the Outerbanks. I am as crazy as you and fully plan to do this with my toddler and infant! We camped with Eleanor her first summer at least half a dozen times and it was wonderful. Last year we tried just once and failed miserably…kept the entire campsite awake with a crying toddler! Yikes. So a week long trip may be ambitious but I think we can do it! I’d love to do a quick overnight with you guys at Lake Norman or somewhere else close by too!
Bree Sprual says
I just came back home to Texas after being away for 12 years and spending the last 4 years in Ohio. All I can keep thinking is, “Wow, I don’t need a coat?!” The past couple of days I felt so guilty for complaining about how cold it was here when it was in the negatives in Ohio haha. So sorry to hear about Koda, sending love and prayers her way!
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says
I really want to try growing something this year, too! I live in an apartment, so I am trying to figure out what would grow best on my patio. Maybe tomatoes, peppers, or herbs? Gosh, I should just try all three 😉
Andrea says
Make a Philly style vanilla. No egg. Just heavy cream, sugar and vanilla/vanilla beans. The egg/custard based ones can be intimidating at first (don’t scramble the egg!!!) making the eggless ones great for beginners. Making your own is awesome because the possibilities are endless. Last I checked Perry’s doesn’t make a Cinnamon ice cream but it’s my favorite to serve on Thanksgiving to go with the apple and pumpkin pies.
And Herbed Garden Marmalade from the Ball Blue Book…on an English muffin it tastes like a sweet pizza (minus the cheese!).
What a great list! I think we’re going to have to sit down and make a list to prevent last summer from repeating itself (we did NOTHING while waiting for the barn to build itself – it didn’t).
Danica @ It's Progression says
This is such a hard time of year when you live in a true winter-y state. This is my very first winter ever not being in that kind of a place and my mood has been SO different – sunshine does wonders! Either way, it never feels too early to start getting excited about Summer 🙂
Julie says
When my daughter was little we used to have picnics in the backyard all the time. They were awesome!
My boyfriend & I bought a house together last year & completely renovated it. It has a huge open kitchen/dining/living room area that is perfect for entertaining. We have people over all the time. I used to be so intimidated about hosting dinner parties, but it’s nbd & so much fun! Do it! If you ask everyone to bring a dish to share, it’s even easier.
Leah says
Ahhh, summer! I’m looking forward to it! From pics, it looks like you have an amazing home for summer entertaining. I would just plant myself on a lounge chair there and enjoy!
I need my kids to help me make a bucket list. I want to do blueberry/raspberry picking, lots of visits to local lakes, join a pool so kids can do swim lessons, various summer camps for them. Possibly go to oregon coast. Summers are beautiful in Pacific Northwest so we usually stay close to home.
Parita @ myinnershakti says
You guys should make it a tradition to make a trip to Miami every winter! In fact, everyone should. 🙂 I’m dreading our upcoming move because I know it’s going to be somewhere super cold!! I’ll keep this list in mind to get me through the winter!
Julia @ LordStillLovesMe says
I have a heavy load this semester, so I am counting down the days til spring break with you! My best friend is going to take me camping for the first time EVER, and I could not be more excited about it!
You should go to the beach… in San Diego! And then I could take you out to lunch and then babysit so you and David can go to town! I was at the beach a few days ago, and there was a young family there who took their baby for the first time. It was the coolest thing to watch her experience sand for the first time! You have to blog about it when K goes through this!
I second David’s idea for spicy peppers. I am all about the spices and I tend to favor your recipes with a kick to them. So out of my own selfish desires… grow something spicy 😉
sam says
This post made me laugh – you are always looking forward to the next season!
Lauren @ Oh Hey I Like That! says
Hopefully I will run my first 5k once it’s warm!