The first day of Fall began this week with a few days of colder temperatures, which led me to reminisce about my first full summer home with both girls. Despite having a tough adjustment period from 3-day-a-week preschool to zero-day-a-week preschool, things smoothed out and we had an awesome summer! I find myself longing for more pool, beach and picnic days and having more of that carefree, energetic spirit! We completed a lot of things on our original bucket list, but did so many more unexpected things too – spent time at the Rappahannock river, welcomed my niece Ava, watched Claire take her first steps, watched Ashley head off to her first summer camps, had cookouts with friends, celebrated Ashley’s swimming successes, spent time with family, and visited old college and high school buddies and all their kiddos. For all these reasons and more, summer makes for endless fun and is our favorite season. But, Fall is here now and that means preschool fun, Hokies football and pumpkin beer, so #bringonfall2014!
Enjoy the slideshow below with pics from our #bringonsummer2014 adventures!
Visit the library(completed June 6)Play with water balloons(completed June 1)- Visit the Eno River State Park
- Camp in the backyard
Attend an outdoor concert(completed June 19, Pickin’ in the Plaza in downtown Raleigh)- Visit Fearrington
Paddle board at Lake Wheeler(completed Aug 24, Lake Wheeler via Triangle Guides)Take Ashley fishing(completed Sept 3 in OBX)Play with the slip n slide(completed July 4 in VA)Let the kiddos enjoy the water fountains at NC Museum of Art after a Stroller Strides class(completed June 24)Go blueberry picking(completed July 9, Creekside Farm)Discover three new parks and be current on blog posts(We were busy – Simms Branch Trail, Neuse River Trail MP 13.25-15, Top of the Hill Trail, Halifax Park, Hobbit House @ NCMA, Caroline County Park in VA, Optimist Pool, Neuse River Trail MP 11.5-13.25)- Catch lightning bugs
Explore the Prairie Ridge Ecostation again(completed Sept 16)Survive solo trips to the pool with both kids(completed at least 12 times beginning June 5)Take Ashley to the movies(completed June 14)Attend a Durham Bulls game(completed Aug 17)Discover a new (to us) brewery(strangely enough we didn’t make it to any new Raleigh breweries, but we visited two popular RVA breweries Ardent Craft Ales (July 5) & Strangeways Brewing (Aug 9))Make s’mores(completed July 5 in RVA)Fly a kite(completed June 3 @ NCMA)Watch the Sandlot movie(completed June 11)Visit Waverly Place splash area in Cary(completed July 3)Walk for ice cream at the new Quail Corners Creamery in our ‘hood(completed numerous times this summer)Grill homemade pizza(completed June 4)Visit the farmers’ market(completed Aug 13 at downtown Farmer’s Market and Sept 19 at State Farmer’s Market)Go to the beach(completed Aug 16 and week of Labor Day in OBX)- Visit the Asheboro zoo
Play putt putt(completed June 28 with Gaga & Papa at Frankie’s Fun Park)Enjoy a bushel of crabs(completed July 4 in VA)Take a boat ride(completed June 7 in VA)Stomp in rain puddles(completed in June)- Watch the clouds overhead
You all had a wonderful summer!!! I looove all the pictures. 😀
what a wonderful busy full summer!! I was thrilled to be able to be part of it!! Thanks so much!!
For next summer: Go to an airport and watch the planes (small airport with small planes might be more fun); Take grandparents to Frankie’s again; babysit grandparents while Mom & Dad do somewhere fun for a night (Fearrington?); Visit National Aquarium in Baltimore; ride on a historic or miniature train; picnic at a Civil War battlefield; visit the spacecraft museum at Goddard Space Flight Center; visit the U.S. Naval Academy; visit the shops at Savage Mill or old Ellicott City; take a long nap to recover.
Thanks for sharing your very purposeful and fun-filled summer. The bit of wistfulness about its ending made me recall how I regretted getting back into a fall schedule after the ease of summer activity. Loved seeing Claire walking and the picture of Ashley and Claire plowing through the sand.