summertime to-do's {2012}

summer print courtesy of The Rubber Punkin

If there's a list to be made, I'm gonna* make it. 

I tried to resist, but it's impossible to ignore: it's time, once again, for another edition of summertime to-do's.

School's out this week and here's what's on the docket, both for me and for the little me's:

• {Office Hours} Once upon a time I decided on something called "office hours" (I'm a work-at-home-mama), which are basically certain hours of the day I was on-line: early morning, mid-afternoon (during nap time/quiet time), and evenings after the kids were tucked into bed. The rest of the day I steered clear of the c-o-m-p-u-t-e-r. Somewhere along the line, I fell off the wagon. Time to climb back on board!


• {HelloMornings} I'm fully committed to this idea of waking up before the fam does. We are three weeks into the HelloMornings Challenge, and I'm finding I actually enjoy this quiet (i.e. ridiculously early) start to my day. Continuing this practice throughout the summer will help me find the sanity I need as my school-aged kids are home full-time again.


• {Cleaning Reboot} Last spring, I completed the 31 Days to Clean Challenge, and I loved, loved, loved it. Now Sarah Mae is offering a 31 Days to Clean Reboot as she prepares to have her book published (it was originally an e-book). The reboot starts today, Monday, June 4!


• {Finding Balance} We have a few activities on the calendar for the big kids including VBS, a safety camp (held at a local fire station...cool, huh?), swim lessons, and a family vacation. These activities are thoughtfully spaced out throughout the summer and most are only an hour or two a day. I'm looking forward to the diversion they will provide for D & E, but I'm also looking forward to all of the blank calendar spaces too.


• {Eating Well} On the subject of eating well, my basic summer goal is to frequent the farmer's market with the kids, at least once a week. I'm a believer in baby steps, and I think this qualifies. We tried a CSA last summer and it was a little overwhelming for us (eat kale, much?)


• {Teaching Responsibility} One of my big goals for the kids while I have them at home this summer is to transfer more responsibility over to them, especially on the topic of helping out around the house. I tend to be the mom who picks up the shoes, puts away the clean underwear, and wipes down the toothpaste-filled sink because it just seems easier that way. Watch out kids, the free rides over!


• {The B-I-B-L-E} In further proof that I really am becoming my mother, I'm going to put together a little memory verse program for the kids. I'm picking 12 of my favorite verses (centered around the themes of praise, promises & character) and I'll post them for a week at a time and we'll practice them together. Fun fact: back in the day, when I was eight, the prize was a giant Hershey bar. Even funner* fact: next week I'll be sharing the verses I'm using with {FREE} printables for you!

So that's the structured stuff, but no need to worry, we will spend plenty of time running through the sprinklers, eating freezy pops, and meeting up with friends at the park. I'm a big believer in the kids-should-play-outside movement (otherwise known as our own childhoods). On the rainy days, we'll read books, lounge around in our PJ's, and work through my summer vay-cay pinboard. 

And I'm not gonna* lie, we'll watch PBS too.

*Yes, I'm aware, these aren't real words. Sue me for exercising my creative license.

P.S. If you haven't linked up your favorite May {living the width} post yet, you can still do that here. Also, I'm excited to post my very first GIVEAWAY this week on The Terpblog! Look for it later this week!

Watcha* up to this summer?