What we did on our summer vacation

I can't believe my baby is starting kindergarten tomorrow! How is it possible that she is old enough to start "real" school already? I know she's going to do great because she's an amazing kid. I just hope I do ok.

We've had an awesome summer and even though school is starting, I'm not calling it quits on summer fun just yet. So long as we still have nice weather we're going to keep on plowing through our Summer Passport to Fun. What is a Summer Passport to Fun you might ask? Well, let me show you!

I got this idea from one of the local park districts when we went to one of their programs and they handed out these passports to all of the different parks in their district. There were short descriptions and addresses to each place and a small square at the bottom where you can get a stamp from each location once visited. K thought the stamping part was super cool and she proceeded to use her own little self-inking stamper to place a stamp in every single square in that little passport. Well, seeing how much she enjoyed that and knowing we wouldn't be able to make it to all of the places listed in that other passport book, I decided to make my own filled with fun summer activities that I knew we would be able to do so she would be able to stamp a great majority of the book, and maybe even the whole thing. After I spent an evening making her Passport to Summer Fun, we went out the next day and bought a rainbow stamp pad, a four pack of little rubber stamps and one big capital K stamp. Now all we had to do was get out there and start having fun!

Some of the activities are specific to a certain date, like seeing the fireworks for Independence Day or a movie at the Wednesday Morning Movie series...

...but most of them are free from dates so we can accomplish them at our own pace.

I geared several pages in her passport around our vacation to Washington, Oregon and California since I knew I had some special activities planned with her and E in mind.

If you are interested in making one of these for your little Adventurer, I just used Microsoft Word and the clipart that comes with it (except for the picture of the train above which was from their actual website). Then I hole-punched the pages and bound them with silk cord. If you're looking for ideas on what to put in your own Passport to Summer Fun, check your local park district website. I listed all of the playgrounds in our area as well as all of the splash pads near us. You can also check your local library for special events, the Kids Bowl Free program or movie theatres that host a kids summer program. Here are a few of the non-location-specific activities we have:

Ride your bike
Take a walk with Great Grammie & Grampie
See a fireworks display
Get ice cream with Nana and Papa
Give Delmar (our van) a bath
Visit a farmer's market
Build a sandcastle (this was while we were at the beach on vacation but it doesn't have to be location specific if you have sand near you)
Fly a kite (again, this was while we were at the beach but any location with some wind will work)
Ride on a carousel (if you have one near you)
Play miniature golf
Visit an aquarium
Play in a sprinkler
Blow bubbles
Visit a petting zoo
Go camping (even if it's just in your own backyard, like we did)
Draw with sidewalk chalk
Go on a train ride
Have a picnic
Ride in a paddleboat
Go bowling with Mommy and Daddy
Make a terrarium
Go to a Renaissance Faire
Go swimming
Go to a children's museum
Go on a nature scavenger hike
Have a water balloon fight
Go to a local carnival / festival
Visit a car show
Make a sun print

Here's how I ended her Passport to Summer Fun:

I can't wait to hear what she picks!

A Summer of Firsts

As we begin drawing to an end of the summer (I don't count the summer as being over until the official first day of Fall on Sept. 21 - probably because I don't have school age kids yet) it gives me time to pause and reflect on all of the many "firsts" The Bear has done this summer.


The Pool: While her being in a big pool isn't a first, this summer she actually stood on the ground of the shallow end (it's 3 feet deep), she voluntarily got her hair wet (which is big deal for her), and jumped into the deep end into Daddy's arms. But of course, I never thought to bring the camera so I have no pictures to share with you. I'm hoping we may get at least one more warm day this year so I can get some pictures of her instead of this rain we've been having every day.


Bowling: Oh my gosh, does this girl LOVE to bowl! Unfortunately, the place where we tried bowling only had the ramp available 2 times and we tried bowling once without it but the ball was just too heavy for her to roll it down the lane. She still loves it and talks about it almost on a daily basis. Daddy says he's going to make her one (maybe out of PVC pipe) so we can try and go more often.

Movie Theatre: KBear, Daddy, Nana, Papa and I went with on her first experience at a movie theatre. We saw Cars 2 and she did really great. She got up three times (twice for potty breaks and once just to run up and down the long hallway) but for being at the theatre for 2 hours, I'd say she did awesome!

Haircut: Bear got her first haircut the night before her third birthday party. If you missed those pictures, here's a link back to them.


Mini Golf: It just so happens that mini golf is an activity that both the Hubs and I really enjoy so I was very excited to take The Bear to play mini golf and check out their kids play area. She did ok with the mini golf. It was hard for her to understand how to stand sideways to the ball and how to hold the club. She also got a bit too impatient to hit the ball from the start of each hole so we ended up just walking up to the cup of every hole and hitting the ball in. She HAD to hit the ball in herself and sometimes that took several tries so that got her a bit frustrated but we probably did 15 out of the 18 holes. I think next time we'll only do 9 holes - that might help. The other two things she did that really made me proud is go down the HUGE, fast slide with my friend's niece AND she rode on the train ALL BY HERSELF! I can't begin to tell you how proud I was!

The Carnival: While visiting Nana and Papa during Labor Day weekend there happened to be a neighborhood carnival going on. They had three kiddie rides available but only two of them allowed an adult to ride with her and of the two, she really only liked one (which she rode twice - once with Nana and once with me.)

Raspberry Picking: Also during the Labor Day weekend, the family all drove up north to our favorite apple orchard to indulge in apple cider doughnuts, pumpkin fudge, Jonamac apples, and fresh picked raspberries. I had hoped to go apple picking but it was just a bit too early for that so we had to get a pre-picked half peck from the barn (they're still delicious, just not picked by us). Thankfully we were able to pick raspberries though and that was a HUGE hit with the Bear. She probably ate an entire pint herself while the rest of us tried to fill our buckets faster than she could eat them. Needless to say, there was a seriously upset tummy later (which was also a first for her) but she's eaten raspberries since then and there were no residual side effects so thankfully I think it was just a fluke.

Sidewalk Chalk: The Bear loves to draw on the chalkboard side of the easel she got from Great Grammie and Grampie for Christmas last year but I don't love the dust the chalk makes. (I know, I know, I need to get some dustless chalk). So I figured, let's take that chalk outside where it make all the dust it wants and I don't have to clean it up. Turns out, she LOVED it! (In fact, we went out and did it again today when the clouds finally parted and we saw that elusive sun.) We drew pictures, I made outlines of her laying on the sidewalk and one of her favorite things to do was draw a line on the sidewalk, jump as far as she could, draw another line, jump, throw her chalk, run to go get it, and say "Hopscotch!" Lol! Today I drew a legitimate hopscotch for her and while she didn't jump on one foot, she did really great jumping on the actual hopscotch. However, I have to admit, I definitely enjoyed watching her play her version better.

All things said, I have to say this has been a truly wonderful summer. There have been some major stresses but we've come out on the other side just as positive as ever.We're thankful as always for our precious little girl and all the joy she brings to our lives. We love you, Bear!

Fun in the sun

Two days ago I had the idea to set up a pool outside with K's slide so she could have some fun in the sun. There were only two things stopping me: one, we didn't have a pool, and two, there are no outdoor water spouts for a hose. However, having had a portable dishwasher, I knew there were sink attachments that I could screw a hose to so I just had find one. Two trips to Lowes later and we were set. A quick trip to Target and we had a pool. Woot! And since we were filling it from the sink, the water was a perfect bath temperature.

My life

I love my life! I'm sitting in bed watching our beautiful daughter sleep next to me and it's killing me not to squeeze her and hold her. She is so beautiful and I am so incredibly proud of her. My grandma used to sign every single card to each of her 7 children, all of their spouses, and her 3 grandchildren with, "I'm so proud of you." I totally get it now. Our Bear is the sweetest, most loving, smartest, funniest, kindest little girl I could have ever hoped to have for a daughter. She is getting so tall (big shocker) and brave. Just the other night she was in the big pool at our complex and was "even getting her hair wet" as she said. I can't imagine my life without her and A in it. She brings us countless hours of entertainment and hilarious stories to remember for a lifetime. This past week while we were on vacation she yells out to me, "J, I have our bag." and "J, can you do me a favor?" I was laughing so hard. When we were at the pool the other night, after dipping her toes in the water she says to us, "It seems I'm wet." It's amazing to think how far she has come from saying, "Ning!" when she really didn't like something to now saying, "Absee oopey" to mean "absolutely". And my newest favorite is her telling us what her new cuckoo clock says and always ending the description with, "It's so funny!" Everyday I'm amazed at what new thing she has learned, what new words she is saying, what new activity she can do now that she couldn't before. I also love that in some ways though, she doesn't change all that fast. She's still a huge Toy Story fan and Lily is still her favorite stuffed pal. Just today while we were at the play gym she told me, "I love being here with you." and on numerous occasions she has told me, "You're my best friend, Mommy." Life doesn't get any better than this, folks!

Beach Bums

We recently got back from our yearly trip to The Beach. The Bear did AWESOME! The past few trips have not gone so well for her; she has been afraid of the sand and wind ever since we were all heavily sand-blasted and it was basically right at her face level. However this trip, she did so great! We even had some wind and blowing sand and The Hubs and I were very nervous that this would bring back the fear but she just turned her head and waited for it to pass and then went right back to playing. We were incredibly proud, to say the least.

There was lots of stomping in the ocean.

And digging fingers and piggies in the wet sand.

Bear tracks!

She loves to have Daddy take her out in the waves.

The Aquarium was a fun part of our trip. She really loved
putting her hands in the fountain out front.

It happened to be World Ocean Day on June 8th when we were at the Aquarium
and it was sponsored by Dr. Seuss. The Bear decorated her crown all by herself
and was very proud of it. She wore it the entire time.

The Manta Ray tank was a HUGE highlight of the trip. Bear loves Finding Nemo
and one of her favorite characters is Mr. Ray, the science teacher. She was full
out sprinting around this tank, following the rays and screaming, "DADDY,
LOOK!!! MR. RAY, THE SCIENCE TEACHER!!!"

This activity table was definitely another big hit. It was in a nice quiet room
right near the huge shark tank. So while we "ooh'ed and aah'ed" over the
sharks, she happily played with this activity table until I finally had to set the
alarm on my phone for "five more minutes" so we could go to the next exhibit.

This cool guy sits outside the aquarium near a turtle maze.

Bear decided he looked hungry and needed something to eat before moving on.

We stopped at a fort on the way back to our rental home
where The Bear got some nice snuggles with Nana.

Back at the house, there was a lot of time spent
playing with the hose.

And bubbles being blown.

But mostly lots of smiles :)

To cap it all off, there was lots of jumping on the
bed (only allowed because we were on vacation).

And serious "flopping" as she likes to call it.

All in all, it was a really great trip. The Hubs and I even got the chance to go on a romantic date at sunset over the Sound. It was one of the highlights of the trip for me (along with watching the two loves of my life playing together on the beach). I think next year we might vacation somewhere else but I know we'll be back to make more fond memories on the beach.