The Summer List*

If you asked me when summer was as a kid, I would've told you it spanned the distance between the last day of school one year and the first day of school the next year. As an adult, I lack that marker in my life, so summer is a bit looser. Also, where I grew up, school is out for the year. But here in Virginia? Kids will be slogging through the year for a couple more weeks. And although I love not starting school until Labor Day, ending in June breaks my heart every year.

On Monday, Helen insisted we go to the pool. I cautioned that I would not get in the deep pool, I would only put my feet in. I had hoped the little pool would be as warm as it was a week ago when we visited, but too many cold nights between then and Monday meant that even it was cold. I *might* have gotten feeling back in my feet around bedtime...on Tuesday. But it's summer now, and in summer - we swim!

Over the years, the list of activities we pack into summer has grown - and to get through the list we dreamed up at dinner on Monday is going to take a lot of effort. But we're ready to make a go of it. In no certain order, here is what we plan to do this summer.

• Go to a waterpark
• Find an ice cream truck
• Rent a paddleboat or canoe
• Eat raw oysters - preferably plucked right from the ocean by Captain Barry!
• Go to the swimming pool (accomplished by Helen already - not sure my toe dipping counts!)
• Go fishing
• Attend an outdoor concert
• Ride on a slip and slide (I don't think the kids knew I tossed our torn one in the trash at the end of last year - anyone have one we can borrow?) 
• Run Amuck!
• Go camping
• Listen to jazz at the Sculpture Garden 
• Splash in the fountains at Buzz Bakery (kids) while having a drink at Rustico (adults)
• Have a lemonade stand
• Light fireworks
• Make strawberry, chocolate, cookie dough, vanilla, and cookies and cream ice cream (I'm really looking forward to this, as up to this point, vanilla is the only flavor a certain 7 year old boy in our house will eat!)
• Pick peaches and blueberries
• Light a fire
• Go to a baseball game
• Bike to get ice cream
• Visit the frozen yogurt store 

So...let's hit it, team!

 *Idea stolen from Therese.