Summer Fun Passport List 2012

Two year's ago our summer bucket list ended up in this paper boat. Last year I just kept track of some ideas on Google docs. But this year, we are going all out; this summer's bucket list is going to be a Summer Fun Passport.

I will post on how it's going to work. Soon. But first, we have come up with our dream list. Including links and notes (which I will add as we find them). It's super long. I can't imagine we will get through it all but we will have a good time trying. And keep the leftovers for next summer!

1. READ + WRITE + DO

• Make A Bucket List Passport!
• Write a Book Review
• Write Letters to Family (with our letter writing kit)
• Join the Library/School Summer Reading Clubs
• DIY Mini Mail Boxes and Write notes to Each Other
• Find Math Games (like Make the Biggest Number)
• Choose a Science Experiment to do with Daddy (from this book)
• Make a Ziplock Bag Explode
• Make a Naked Egg
• Work on Stamp Collection
• Use (one of the many) Activity Books We Already Own
• Learn 3 Camping Knots (get knot tying books from the library + go here)

2. GO OUTSIDE

• Take in a Round of Mini-Golf
• See An Outdoor Movie
• Go Kayaking
• Go Berry Picking
• Spend A Hot Afternoon at an Outdoor Pool
• Visit the Chinese Summer Night Market (Richmond has 2 now!)
• Try Archery
• Play Date: Sidewalk Chalk
• Play Date: Bike Ride on the Seawall
• Play Date: Water Park
• Go Camping with Friends
• Host a Beach Potluck with Friends
• Go Birding
• Grow Beans
  
• Make Art, En Plein Air (with portable easel kit and sketchbox)
  
• Go on a new hike
• Go to Family Overnight Summer Camp

3. MAKE STUFF

• Draw a Castle (use our How to Draw A Castle book)
• Make Paper Beads in Different Shapes (must find sparkly paper)
• Make a Heart Map (want to hang it next to last year's heart map)
• Make Paper Dragons and Monsters (from paper craft books)
• Make a Lego Maze (originally seen here)
• Make a Family Tree (research ideas for making a simplified version)
• Create Cityscape with Block Printing
• Q-tip Art (get Pointillism / Seurat books from the library). (also see here).
• DIY Shrinkie Dinks (use #6 plastic)
• Make a Klimt-inspired Art Piece (inspired by our trip to Vienna. See here + here.)
• Make a Paper Weaving
• Craft Foam Bath Murals (will this make bathtime more fun?)
• Make Music with Glasses
• Rebuild LEGO Hogwarts to its Original Glory (good luck with this one Daddy)

4. EAT AND DRINK

• Make a Root Beer Float
• Make Popsicles
• Take a Kiddie Cooking Class (here)
• Lemonade Stand
• Make a Solar Powered Lunch (pizza and tea)
• Make Rock Candy
• Make Sprinkle Milkshakes. See our watermelon sprinkle shakes here.

5. BE HELPFUL

• Wash the Car
• Wash the Windows
• Harvest Our Tomatoes and Lettuce
• Make a Blessing Bag and Find Someone Who Needs It To Give To
• Make Your Parents Dinner
• Do Some Weeding on the Deck

SPONTANEOUS ADDITIONS:

Glow-in-the-Dark Tub Time

Make a 3-string guitar out of a cigar box!
Swim in the Ocean
Spend a day sailing a MacGregor
Have an Olympic-inspired day!

We've signed up for the summer bucket list challenge here: The Happy Family Movement. So are you doing a bucket list year? What's on it that you are most looking forward to?

Give-Away: Hand In Hand, Crafting with Kids

It's so exciting to finally talk about this! A long time ago Jenny Doh asked if Spenser and I would participate in this book she was putting together, a book full of truly kid-friendly projects done by crafty bloggers and their kids. See below for details on how to win a copy of Hand in Hand for your own personal library.

But first check out the line up! We are in some big-hitter company here ...

Jenny Doh  |  Crescendoh
Samantha Cotterill  |  mummysam
Maya Donenfeld  |  Maya*Made
Ali Edwards  |  AE blog
Rachel Faucett  |  handmade charlotte
Pam Garrison  |  pamela garrison
Abby Glassenberg  |  While She Naps
Cindy Hopper  |  Skip to My Lou
Beki Lambert  |  artsy-craftsy babe
Merrilee Liddiard  |  mer mag
Jhoanna Monte Aranez  |  One Red Robin
Jessica Okui  |  zakka life
Ella Pedersen  |  Little Red Caboose
Carly Schwerdt  |  moopy & me
Amanda Soule  |  SouleMama
Nicole Spring  |  Frontier Dreams
Dana Willard  |  made
Kristin Zecchinelli  |  maine momma
Jean Van't Hul  |  Artful Parent

So what did Spud and I make? Well, a cityscape. Of course. He loves building cities. And we did it using stuff from the recycle bin. We also learned how to make paste paper to add texture to the front of our buildings.

And we turned it into a nightlight.

But there are 19 other projects that are perfect for little hands that run the gamut from mask making to felting to embroidery. You name it!

Here are a just a few that are going on our crafty to do list right now ...

So, want a copy of your own? Leave a comment here and I'll put your name in a "hat" for a random draw. If you want an extra entry then tweet this post tagging @jackieatweelife.

Contest will close Friday, June 8, 2012 at midnight. Good luck!


UPDATE: Contest is Closed! Thanks to everyone who participated. I will be drawing and announcing the winner soon!


AND THE WINNER IS ...

KarenK, I need your address ... email me at jackie at weelife dot com. Congratulations!


Photography of Spud, me and our process was done by Kiley Redhead (BFF) and Adrian Mandy (Hubs).

My 365 Grateful Project — Week #3

PLAYING WITH THE POWER OF GRATITUDE
Find Something For Which to Be Grateful. Every Day. Take a Picture of It. Repeat 365 times


DAY 15: May 21, 2012

Some peaceful moments in our parked car
when all I hear is soft breathing,
pages turning, and different sized rain drops dropping.

DAY 16: May 22, 2012

A bit of respite from a sudden rain.

DAY 17: May 23, 2012

Thank you, Popcorn. For being there.

DAY 18: May 24, 2012

 Wish I was grateful for the adult version but I'm desperate!

DAY 19: May 25, 2012

Grateful for a wee vitamin D break from the screen.

DAY 20: May 26, 2012

Hubs making Spud a dessert face (lemon sorbet and bliss balls).

DAY 21: May 27, 2012

Amazing brunch in a truly heart calming location
with a very very special person to me.

See Week one here.
Check out my original inspiration here and here.

Photo Friday #53

LONDON   |   TRAVELS WITH KID

Hubs caught us on the front steps of the British Museum. Ooops. Not my proudest parenting moment.


Thanks to Delicious Baby for hosting Photo Friday.

My 365 Grateful Project — Week #2

PLAYING WITH THE POWER OF GRATITUDE
Find Something For Which to Be Grateful. Every Day. Take a Picture of It. Repeat 365 times


DAY 8: May 14, 2012

Grateful for finding long lost treasures in the couch!

DAY 9: May 15, 2012

How awesome is this? #birthdaypresent.

DAY 10: May 16, 2012

Grateful for today's stash from the library.

DAY 11: May 17, 2012

Grateful for lunch notes.

DAY 12: May 18, 2012

Road Trip!

DAY 13: May 19, 2012

Grateful for finding exceptional playgrounds while on the road.

DAY 14: May 20, 2012

Grateful for his love of books.

See Week #1 here.
Check out my original inspiration here and here.

Getting to Know London's South Bank

LONDON   |   TRAVELS WITH KID

We found ourselves on the South Bank again and again. We barely scratched the surface but here are a few of our highlights:

Taking a walking tour on our first full day there! Wish we did more of these.

Walking the same streets of Charlie Chaplin and Charles Dickens (having read Oliver Twist came in handy here).

The riverside promenade on a perfect sunny Spring day.

The Buskers. Not that different from anywhere else in the world but Spud got a kick out of the experience.

And of course the London Eye.

That's right. Soft serve with a Flake bar.

Oh, and love the Millennium pedestrian bridge which links up St. Pauls on one side and the Tate Modern on the other.

Harry Potter Studio Tour: London

LONDON   |   TRAVELS WITH KID

We felt very lucky to get in to see the Harry Potter studios; they were sold out before we left for our trip to Europe. But they must have released some tickets because when we checked again upon arrival we were able to book a spot. The following photos barely scratch the surface of our 4 and half hour visit and hardly capture the awe and excitement we all felt seeing it all ... but here goes. 

We took a train to a nearby station where a vinyl wrapped double decker bus with an awesome driver who seemed genuinely excited to play the part, picked us up to take us to the studios.

A highlight for Hubs: to walk around the actual Great Hall.

Wait is that Ron Weasley? Nope. Spud.

A highlight for me was witnessing the incredible detail that went into everything they did.

Graphic designers got to show off there wares too...

The butter beer went down so creamy and smooth.

No Dursleys at Privet Drive today. Trust me. We checked!

I ADORE the Knightbus, with its beds, chandelier and above all, its 3 levels!

Diagon Alley was a highlight for all of us.

And Spud has been designing castles on paper ever since he saw this model. Add a little movie magic and this IS Hogwarts.

Mmmm. Chocolate Frogs.