Fun Summer Checklist

The first family home evening of summer I gave everyone a piece of paper and told them to write down a whole page of fun things they wanted to do in the summer… small things, big things, every day things, weekly things and one-time things.  Then we went one by one and read our lists out loud.  Chris compiled the list onto one piece of paper and then we typed it up and put it on the bulleting board where we could see it all summer.  (And just so you know… the kids had to earn major summer points to do a lot of these.)   Now that we’re down to just a week and a half of summer I thought check out how we did and what things we need to squeeze in before the summer’s over.  (School starts August 29th!)

• Bowling Alley – Not yet.
• Bubbles – Not yet.
• River Neckar Park – Yes. MANY times with our friends.
• Ryan’s Friend Birthday Party – Yes. He decided he wanted to invite one of his best friends,  Mark,  and his sister, Katie, for a full day of Europa Park fun.
• Luisenpark – Yes. Just did it last week with our friends.
• Mom and Daughters Sleepover – Yes. Did it while Chris and Ryan were off at scout camp.  We watched Pride and Prejudice, did ‘journal tests’, had spa-like baths with lots of pampering, did our nails and ate treats.  I was supposed to sleep in the girls room with them but since it was midnight when we were going to bed I let Katie sleep in my bed, and then Emily the next night and then Megan the next night.  They loved it.
• Meet Dad for Lunch – Yes. Emily, Megan, Luke, Matthew and I did this one day after Emily an Megan’s annual physicals.  Chris LOVES the medical clinic lunchroom and now I know why.  They have the best fresh salad bar.    I think Matthew and Luke and I will be visiting Daddy for lunch more often as soon as school starts.
• Heidelberg Zoo – Yes. This was one of our Thursday Field Trips.  We walked around with our friends checking out the zebra, elephants, camels, raccoons, lion, gorillas and watching the seal show.  We ended the outing at the zoo’s park.
• Jumpin – Yes.  We did this early in the summer with our friends.  A big German trampoline play place.  The kids love it.
• Girls Play dates – Yes.  We don’t have near as many play dates as some people… partially because we live 12 minutes from our friends and partially because I want the kids to play with each other as much as they can – but I did want them to play with their friends a lot this summer.  Katie loved play dates with Amanda and Lindsey.  Emily loved play dates with MaKenzie (before she moved), Ally, Lindsey.  Megan enjoyed play dates with Naomi and Brooklyn.  But really, the girls saw their friends multiple times a week for outings to the park and weekly field trips.
• Cooking days – Um… Yes.  Oh, I had such high hopes for this one.  I wanted a planned weekly cooking class with me and Katie (and perhaps Emily) where we tried something new every week.  We did it a few times but not nearly as many times as I’d wanted.   Katie’s high hopes for ‘learning how to make bread’ didn’t get accomplished but she certainly LOVES to help out in the kitchen and wants to be a part of making whatever I’m making.  She and Emily have been my go-to gals for lunches this summer becoming pros at the basics… Mac and Cheese, Noodle soup, and sandwiches.
• Friday Pizza/Family Movie Nights – Yes.  We’ve got this one down.  We’ve had pizza on Friday nights almost every Friday of the summer.  Some of our fun Family movies were… Rio,  multiple Harry Potter movies, Hunt for Red October, Princess Bride, Tango, Cars 2…
• Playmobil Land – Yes. We did this one with the Chuggs soon after they arrived.  It’s such a fun place.  After our trip there, my girls got re-interested in their Christmas playmobil toys.  We moved them from the bonus room to the girls bedroom and they got played with all summer.  I love that!
• Play Wii – Yes, much Wii was played… So fun to peak in the bonus room and see Ryan and Luke sitting on the couch which has been pulled up close to the TV with Ry teaching Luke the basics of Super Smash Brothers.  Cute little Wii buddies.   They never played so much that I had to tell them to turn it off. 
• Play outside – Yes.  All the time… lots of riding bikes and riding scooters and running to the park.
• Family bike rides – Yes, but not enough.
• Katie’s friend Birthday Party – Yes.  So much fun!
• Painting – Yes.  The girls enjoyed water color painting quite a bit, especially right after Katie’s art party.
• Family walks – Yes, but not enough.
• Try new Gelato Place – Not yet.
• 4 Castle Walk – Not yet.  We watched the Castle lighting here but haven’t walked up to and explored the castles yet.  Maybe when Grandma and Grandpa are here.
• Jump on the Tramp – Yes. Multiple times a day!!  Ryan has mastered a back flip and Emily is working on her front flip.  Matthew is getting to be quite a good jumper now.  He and Luke are always out there jumping.  So nice to not have to worry about them climbing up to the tramp and bouncing by themselves anymore.   Our little backyard is like one more room to our house.  On the really hot days they’ve been out there with their bathing suits and a hose having a great time.  Just wish the kids could be a little quieter so the neighbors don’t have to hear all the happy (and sometimes not so happy) screams.
• Europa Park – Yes.  Chris, Ryan and Katie went to this big amusement park for Ryan’s birthday.
• Go Camping – Not yet and looks like it’s not going to happen.  We had it up on the calendar for one weekend but it fell through because of some other activities.  Dang.  It was so fun last year!!
• Holiday Park – Not yet.
• Go to the Movie Theater – Yes. We saw Kung Fu Panda 2, Cars 2, Captain America, Harry Potter 7, Thor and maybe a few more.  Can’t remember.
• Mom and Dad Date Nights – Yes.  Out to dinner.  Out to movies.  Game nights with friends.  Out to Globus for some shopping.  Boy is it nice to have Ryan and Katie old enough to babysit.
• Golfing every week – Yes.  Ryan and Katie took Thursday Golf Lessons from 3:30 to 4:30.  Then Dad would meet them there and they’d golf a few more holes together.  The kids liked it and Chris loved having a specific night he had to be out on the course.
• Family swim days – Yes.  We checked out the Waldorf Pool with some friends and it was great… especially for the little boys.  Ryan and Katie went to the Aquadrome in Hochenheim several times and loved it  but we never made it there as a family.
• Ryan scouting – Yes.  At scout camp he earned the Swimming Merit Badge, the Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge and almost all of the Camping Merit Badge.  Since then he’s completed the Citizenship in the World Merit Badge, the Citizenship in the Community Merit Badge, the Golf Merit Badge, the Dentistry Merit Badge and the Genealogy Merit Badge.   A couple of days this summer Chris took Ryan and his friends golfing and helped them fulfill all of the requirements.  A different day, Tate’s Dad took the same three boys to work to help them fulfill the requirements for most of the Dental merit badge.  On all of these he’s had to do some kind of research, make posters, write essays, or make power point presentations.  It’s been a lot of hard work.  We’re very proud of him.  And thanks to Chris for being on top of everything and getting him going.   He’ll be awarded all of these at the next Court of Honor the first Tuesday in September. 
• Soccer Game in Mannheim – Not yet.   Chris and I were able to go to the Women’s soccer game up in Frankfurt though.  That was fun.  Hopefully we’ll get to another game this fall sometime.