Events
Starting to Plan the Kids Summer Break
Even though we have only just hit the Spring Season and entered into the month of April we are already making plans for this summer. I was looking back through our schedule last year. It was packed full of fun, adventures, and a lot of great memories.
As I get ready to plan for this summer I am remembering all the good stuff we were able to do last year. Although, I cannot know for sure what this summer may bring I am moving forward with the planning. The picture above shows the girls brief version of our calendar for July 2012. The calendar was simple but it helped them keep track of the big events and activities that were coming up. We kept it on the fridge so they could see it whenever they wanted, typically they would cross out the days as they ended.
What we would like to do:
- Travel – last summer we visited Charleston, Florida, Kansas, and Colorado. We are not entirely sure what it will look like this summer but we are hoping to go to at least Charleston and Kansas again. Thankful that the girls travel well! 🙂
- VBS – the girls love VBS and have a great time. It also provides great opportunities for learning too. We would like to attend at least one VBS program this summer.
- Camp – last summer the girls attended Swim Camp as well as Horse Camp. We would like for them to go to at least one camp this summer. They are currently signed up for WeDo Robotics Lego Camp at Roper Mountain Science Center and Swim Camp.
- Participate in the Library Summer Reading Program – the past 3 years the girls have participated in the Summer Reading program and have enjoyed it (as a bonus they usually earn rewards & free tickets to special events which help motivate them even more). We plan to participate in the program again this summer!
- Learn & Explore – we went to several educational places over the summer like Roper Mountain Science Center, Battery Park, took a Historical Carriage ride in Charleston and more. We plan to do more educational adventures this summer, some may be the same or similar, but we are hoping to branch out and try some new activities too!
- Relax – all the activities above are important but it is also valuable to have some time built in to rest, free time, play, and relax whether that means swinging, playing in the yard, drawing with chalk, hanging out with family, friends (and pets), riding bikes, roller skating, riding scooters, etc…
It doesn’t seem like a lot of activities but if you figure in the traveling and the fact that we only had two months of summer vacation we really did pack a lot into it. We hope to make the most of our summer break this year by planning some of our adventures in advance. It will be nice to catch up with some family, spend time learning, and make some great memories. What are your summer plans?
Intentional Living: Weekly Goals
We had a great Easter weekend with the family. I am super excited about spending some extra time with the kids since they will be out for Spring Break this week. A lot of my goals for the upcoming week center around time spent with the family.
Last week’s goals
Family Goals
- Read These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls (Book 8) – still reading through with the girls
- Read Imagination Station: Attack at the Arena by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker (Book 2) – haven’t started it yet
Lunch Boxes & Book Bags packed the night beforeDaily School Activities & Homework CompletedAttend After School ActivitiesPlan one special Activity with the FamilyVolunteer One Day at Girls SchoolEaster activity & celebrationGet together with Family and/or Friends
Personal Goals
Exercise at least 5 days this weekDrink 8 glasses of water each dayContinue my YouVersion plan(s)- Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp – hoping to get back into it soon
- Finish reading Overcoming Dyslexia by M.D. Sally Shaywitz (someone gave me this to read) – reading through it
Home Management Goals
All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one dayWeekly Dinner Menu planned out for the weekPay all upcoming bills
Business Goals
Work on ideas for upcoming blog postsKeep up with the day to day items that need my attentionWork completed for clients
Ministry Goals
Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or LunchWrite and Send Out Community Group Email
Financial Goals
- Groceries $40 for 4 – went a little over with the Easter items
- Payoff the Van – made another payment
- Pay medical bills in full – making payments
My goals for the upcoming week
Family Goals
- Read These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls (Book 8)
- Read Imagination Station: Attack at the Arena by Marianne Hering and Paul McCusker (Book 2)
- Ride bikes / scooters / skates / roller blades with the family
- Go on a picnic with the kids
- Play in the park together
- Visit a Museum
- Plan one special Activity with the Family
- Go on a family walk
- Get together with Family and/or Friends
- Play a board game
- Go on a special road trip
- Slumber party
- Go out to dinner one evening
- Watch a movie or TV show together one evening
Personal Goals
- Exercise at least 5 days this week
- Drink 8 glasses of water each day
- Continue my YouVersion plan(s)
- Finish reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
- Finish reading Overcoming Dyslexia by M.D. Sally Shaywitz (someone gave me this to read)
Home Management Goals
- All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
- Weekly Dinner Menu planned out for the week
- Pay all upcoming bills
- Start Spring Cleaning
Business Goals
- Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
- Keep up with the day to day items that need my attention
- Work completed for clients
Ministry Goals
- Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
- Write and Send Out Community Group Email
Financial Goals
- Groceries $40 for 4
- Payoff the Van
- Pay medical bills in full
I think it is important to share and encourage each other as we seek to improve our lives and the lives of those around us. I want to live intentionally not just hope all my dreams and goals come true. When I focus on small steps of improvement I am able to see results as I get closer to my goals. Some weeks I get closer to the goals I have in my life and other weeks a take a few steps back (life happens, emergencies occur, people get sick). Once the goals are written down and shared it provides a guideline for what I aim to accomplish this week.
Why Share My Goals?
- To keep me accountable
- To share a piece of my life with you as I strive to be a better Child of God, Wife, Mom, Friend, Homemaker, Entrepreneur and the many other roles I have each week
- To have my goals consistently written down so I can gauge progress more accurately
- Create healthy habits in my life
- To encourage you to share your goals with me as you continue to grown and learn
How did you do this week on your goals? Feel free to share or link to your list of weekly goals.
The picture above is one that I created for my own purposes, however, The “SMART” acronym was originally coined 30 years ago by Peter Drucker in his classic work, Management by Results.
Fresh Vegetable & Pasta Soup
Recently I put together a soup with some items I had already in the refrigerator. We were going out of town and I needed to use up some of the fresh vegetables already in the fridge. This was super easy and everyone enjoyed it.
Fresh Vegetable & Pasta Soup
- 1 carton Tomato Juice
- 1 small Zucchini
- 1 small Summer Squash
- 2 medium Carrots
- 1 cup sliced Mushrooms
- 2 cups Elbow Noodles
Add all the items to the crockpot. Stir until it is mixed together and put the crockpot on low for 6 hours.
Travel & Vacation: Dolphin Show at SeaWorld (Orlando, FL)
So beautiful and graceful
One of the other highlights at SeaWorld was the Dolphin Show. It was really neat watching the dolphins gliding through the water, jumping, and interacting with the people. Amazing creatures and fascinating to watch!
Another show at SeaWorld
This show is with Dolphins!
Part of the Dolphin Show, pretty neat!
The Dolphin came up for his treat
Standing up on two dolphins, that’s neat!
These dolphins are well trained
This Dolphin looks like it is having fun
Awesome!
Beautiful animals
Travel & Vacation: SeaWorld (Orlando, FL – Part 2)
Yes, those are sharks swimming above our heads!
We had a blast at SeaWorld! 🙂 There were so many amazing things to see and explore. The kids had a grand time and are still talking about all the neat stuff they got to do at SeaWorld. Thankful for friends and an opportunity to hang out with them for a few days.
WWatching Stingrays swimming above our heads
Giant starfish
There are four strange fish in that fish tank!
Ice cream break!
Sweet girl
A cold and delicious treat!
Going for another ride
Everyone had fun on that one!
Travel & Vacation: Seals at SeaWorld (Orlando, FL)
A seal sitting up on the tank. The seals were very entertaining!
The seals were loud and amusing to watch. We watched people feeding the seals. The birds kept trying to steal the fish treats before the seals to could it or would quickly grab a treat if it was dropped. They were very entertaining to watch!
This bird was hanging out near the seals area and would try to grab a snack whenever people tried to feed the seals
Looking for a treat
Catching some sun
Hanging out on the edge to catch a few sun rays (and maybe a snack or two)
A couple seals barking and begging for some treats!
Both the bird and seal are waiting for a snack
The “Travel and Vacation” series is an insight into our trips together as a family and ways we relax. Life is short and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to build memories with family and explore of of the most amazing places during our time away. Explore with a good attitude, look for fun, and it will be an awesome trip jammed packed with positive memories. It is refreshing having some time away from the regular routine. Make it a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet new people and learn. You just might see or try something new that takes your breath away!
Travel & Vacation: Shamu Killer Whale Show at SeaWorld (Orlando, FL)
Kids on the move at Sea World
The kids were super excited to go to the Shamu Killer Whale Show at SeaWorld. Of course, they all wanted to sit in the “splash zone” so that they could get sprayed by the whales. I think the adults got the most spray, but we all have a blast. It was amazing watching them glide through the water. They are so big and beautiful!
Beautiful creatures!
Amazing killer whale show at Sea World!
The girls were absolutely fascinated by the Shamu show
Shamu orca killer whale show at Sea World
Shamu the killer whale show
These killer whales were mesmerizing to watch
Travel & Vacation: SeaWorld (Orlando, FL)
We made it to SeaWorld! 🙂
A few months ago our family was able to go to Florida and visit some great friends that lived there. One of the days we were in Florida we spent at SeaWorld. The girls LOVED it! It was so much fun exploring SeaWorld with friends.
Got their maps out and a mission to have fun!
Our troop at Sea World, we had a great time!
Girlies trying to see who can lean up against the ice cap the longest!
The polar bear was swimming
Fun at Sea World with friends
Birthday Celebration (part 2)
Happy Birthday Brina & Karlie
We were actually traveling on the girls actual birthday (they had a great time visiting their grandparents in Vermont). After we got back from our trip we scheduled a birthday party for the friends and family in our area. It was held at the Upstate Children’s Museum. The girls had a blast playing at the Children’s Museum with their family and friends. It was a great place to have a birthday celebration!
Karlie having fun at the Children’s Museum
Brina shopping at the Children’s Museum
Karlie having fun at the Children’s Museum
Daddy and Brina building a structure
Karlie having a blast
Daddy and Brina playing the Turn the Lights Off game
Karlie made a giant “K” out of the light brights
Birthday Celebration
Our Sweet Brina
The weekend after we got back in town we took the girls to Outback for their birthday lunch. It was nice to have a quiet lunch with them, talk, and celebrate their birthday. I still cannot believe my girls are growing up so quickly. There is so much to be thankful for in our lives.
Our Karlie girl
Brina giggling…always love hearing my girls laugh!
Sweet Karlie with a big smile
Sirloin tips and fries, can’t ask for a better birthday dinner at Outback! 🙂 The girls both wanted steak for their birthday lunch.
Brina’s little gift to Karlie. Love that she wrote a cute message to Karlie – “I love you!” I took each of them out at different times to pick out a gift for their sister. Brina used her money to go to Goodwill and pick out a bunch of used “chapter” books for Karlie to read. It was so cute helping her look through the books and pick out ones Karlie would like. Karlie was very surprised Brina found so many books and been enjoying reading them.
Karlie’s “secret” birthday message to Brina. It says “K(arlie) L(oves) Y(ou) Brina!” Karlie picked up some really cute crafts for Brina. Brina has been found painting and doing a variety of crafts over the past few weeks!
Aw…Karlie got a gift from Brina
My Handsome Man! Enjoying some time with his girls!
