• 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?

  • A Vacation to Remember

    We watched this beautiful sunset as we left South Carolina!

    Everyone needs a little time away.  Seriously, life gets busy and schedules quickly become overloaded.  It is important to take some time to relax, enjoy life and create memories.  Every vacation is different some are restful while others are jammed packed with activities.  Chose the vacation that suites your family.  Try to plan a vacation with your family at some point this year even if it is only a long weekend away with your spouse, family, or extended family.  You will cherish the memories you make for a lifetime.

    My husband and I recently went on a cruise with my parents, my siblings and their spouses.  It was wonderful to escape for a week and have fun together.  The kids had a blast staying with friends while we were away and had a little vacation of their own away from Mom and Dad.  The neat part about a cruise is once you arrive on the boat all your meals are provided, the hospitality is amazing and your room is cleaned multiple times a day.  You truly are spoiled!!!  My husband and I had a blast spending time with family, meeting new people, exploring the ship and islands.  We always had plenty of activities, food, and entertainment.  We were rocked to sleep every night as the ship went from island to island and every morning we woke up to a beautiful sunrise over the ocean. We could have continued cruising through the awesome islands, however, we were starting to miss the kids and figured we should get back to the regular routine.

    Over the next few days I will be sharing pieces of our recent adventure with you.  Some posts will be just for fun while others include helpful tips when traveling and cruising.  It was an enjoyable trip and we hope everyone gets an opportunity to go on a cruise at some point.  Go ahead start planning out your next family adventure!

    A Vacation To Remember series is a reflection on our recent trip and ways we relaxed.  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.  Go with a good attitude and looking 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!