Comments on: Mid-summer update on the Summer Fun List https://lauravanderkam.com/2023/07/mid-summer-update-on-the-summer-fun-list/ Writer, Author, Speaker Thu, 03 Aug 2023 17:21:03 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 By: Laura Vanderkam https://lauravanderkam.com/2023/07/mid-summer-update-on-the-summer-fun-list/#comment-469702 Thu, 03 Aug 2023 17:21:03 +0000 https://lauravanderkam.com/?p=19221#comment-469702 In reply to LK.

@LK – this is a great list! And the canned cocktail tasting sounds fascinating. We have not been camping this summer. I didn’t put it on the list (I have to really commit if I’m going to do it…) and I don’t think it will happen this summer but maybe next. The child who likes camping spent a week at boy scout camp so that kind of solves the immediate need…

]]> By: LK https://lauravanderkam.com/2023/07/mid-summer-update-on-the-summer-fun-list/#comment-469698 Thu, 03 Aug 2023 17:08:00 +0000 https://lauravanderkam.com/?p=19221#comment-469698 I can never put my finger on my list when check in time comes for fun stuff. It feels like the summer is flying by, so taking stock of what we did do would probably help me realize that it’s been a rich, long summer.
1. We had my nieces over and they swam in the Y pool and we went to the grafiti quarry and went to the arcade.
2. My sister’s family and my family went camping on Cape Cod. We swam in the ocean and had ice cream and smores.
3. My family when to Heritage Gardens and rode on a carousel.
4. I went to Martha’s Vineyard on my birthday.
5. I ran a 10K with beers and music after.
6. We saw 2 sets of fireworks and went to the water fight 4th of July parade
7. I went on a historical mansion tour
8. I toured an art museum
9. We went into Boston and splashed in the fountains on the Greenway.
10. My husband and I went to a canned cocktail tasting.

]]> By: Laura Vanderkam https://lauravanderkam.com/2023/07/mid-summer-update-on-the-summer-fun-list/#comment-467779 Wed, 26 Jul 2023 21:36:26 +0000 https://lauravanderkam.com/?p=19221#comment-467779 In reply to Lori C.

@Lori C – an evening at the beach sounds nice – a little cooler and quieter than the day. I’m hoping we’ll make a few evening trips when we’re there – it’s a quick enough walk so we should…

]]> By: Laura Vanderkam https://lauravanderkam.com/2023/07/mid-summer-update-on-the-summer-fun-list/#comment-467778 Wed, 26 Jul 2023 21:35:45 +0000 https://lauravanderkam.com/?p=19221#comment-467778 In reply to Jessica.

@Jessica – maybe next year! And yep, we’ve had a lot of screen time too. I let the 8-year-old back on his iPad for the summer and the old habits are pretty much back…

]]> By: Laura Vanderkam https://lauravanderkam.com/2023/07/mid-summer-update-on-the-summer-fun-list/#comment-467777 Wed, 26 Jul 2023 21:35:13 +0000 https://lauravanderkam.com/?p=19221#comment-467777 In reply to Cindy O.

@Cindy O – maybe I will add more! So glad you enjoyed the meet-up. It was fun!

]]> By: Laura Vanderkam https://lauravanderkam.com/2023/07/mid-summer-update-on-the-summer-fun-list/#comment-467775 Wed, 26 Jul 2023 21:34:25 +0000 https://lauravanderkam.com/?p=19221#comment-467775 In reply to BethC..

@Beth C – I love it! Portugal sounds amazing (on my bucket list). I am laughing about the bust of art time. At least story time was good! Here’s to spending a whole afternoon on the deck with your lemonade.

]]> By: BethC. https://lauravanderkam.com/2023/07/mid-summer-update-on-the-summer-fun-list/#comment-467764 Wed, 26 Jul 2023 20:17:50 +0000 https://lauravanderkam.com/?p=19221#comment-467764 I’m in awe of how much you checked off from your list, Laura. LoriC-now I don’t feel so guilty about not yet launching the Costco inflatable kayak that I bought last summer…….
Here’s my list update:
I’ve started summer early-in beautiful Portugal right now. My list:
1. Complete our 6 week European trip-Portugal-Spain/Med. cruise-Italy. What you get to do when your kids are grown and you save up points, miles and a bit of cash for adventures. Result: the trip was epic! We came back exhausted, but did so many great things that I would do it all over in a heartbeat.
2. See Dead & Company in concert on what is supposedly their last tour. Result: Yes we did, 36 hours after returning from our 6 week trip. My husband is nowhere near the fan that I am, but he gets a gold star for going. Laura, there is a fair amount of overlap in the Dead and Phish fan base..
3. Take my toddler grandson to story time at the library. In all my years as a working mom, I never got to do this with my kids. I’m not missing this opportunity. Result: Signed him up for toddler Move and Groove, Story time and Art. Move and Groove and Story time have been a success-my heart melted when my grandson flapped his butterfly wings without prompting after listening to “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.” Art was a bust-at the first meeting, the instructor kept 15 toddlers and their parents waiting while she chatted with a colleague in the art room, and then decided to share the details about her recent Cape Cod vacation with very squirmy toddlers. Multiple meltdowns ensued, including my grandson’s. The moral of the story-know your audience.
4. Spend July 4th week at the beach in North Carolina with my husband, sister and brother in law. Results: We went and had a really nice time. It was so hot that we bagged the beach most days and instead floated around in their pool with adult libations in hand.
5. Meet up with a close friend from college and her husband and visit Burlington, Vermont for a few days in August. Result: Planned and booked.
6. Get into a mad veggie planting rush when we get back from our 6 week trip and hope that there is enough time left of the summer to realize the fruits of my planting labors. Our beloved CSA died on the vine this year, so I’m hoping our own crops will make up for this loss. Results: Max planting occurred, and I think we will have a bumper winter squash, summer squash, cucumber, beet and Italian red onion harvest.
7. Spend a whole afternoon reading on the deck with homemade lemonade in hand. Results: Not yet.
8. Hang out with my adult daughter who moved back home for a bit-we were away for Mothers Day, but she put together a wonderful brunch for my daughter in law and then they FaceTimed with us. I’m glad I raised thoughtful and kind humans. Results: We found a random distillery in Columbus, NJ that has outdone seating, live music, and surprisingly good cocktails and spent a couple of pleasant hours there last Saturday night. Also have had some Home Goods shopping expeditions with my daughter and some other fun day to day interactions.
9. Keep on keeping on with post ankle surgery recovery-I have had a long road, but managed over 10,000 steps at 2 different hilly palace locations in Sintra, Portugal. This may not seem like much, but it was a huge victory for me. Results: Back in PT to move things along, but I am doing much better. Happy that I improved from walking a lot in Europe.
10. Plan a dinner at our house with friends. This will be a do-over of a planned late December dinner which I had to cancel because I broke my ankle while preparing said dinner.. Results: On the calendar for early September.
Even though I am in an older demographic than most Patreon members, I was sad to miss the Philadelphia area meet-up. I am local, but we were away.

]]> By: Cindy O https://lauravanderkam.com/2023/07/mid-summer-update-on-the-summer-fun-list/#comment-467739 Wed, 26 Jul 2023 18:57:05 +0000 https://lauravanderkam.com/?p=19221#comment-467739 In reply to Jessica.

The BOBW meet-up was a highlight of my summer!!

I love that you are pausing to reflect and also recognizing just how much more summer adventure time is left! This time of the year the end of summer dread feeling could start to creep in, but it’s up to us if we let it! I will follow your approach -recheck my summer fun list, and heck, maybe I will add on more things. Keep rockin’!

]]> By: Jessica https://lauravanderkam.com/2023/07/mid-summer-update-on-the-summer-fun-list/#comment-467718 Wed, 26 Jul 2023 17:56:54 +0000 https://lauravanderkam.com/?p=19221#comment-467718 I also really enjoy your seasonal fun lists! I feel like this summer has been mixed. We have done some fun things, but the kids have had more screen time than ever, so I have had some mom guilt from that. It seems like for the first time screens are becoming their default activity. They have convinced me that they are just so stressed from school, that they need lots of chill time this summer.

I also wanted to update my summer wardrobe, but did not and have now lost my motivation for it. Maybe next year!

]]> By: Lori C https://lauravanderkam.com/2023/07/mid-summer-update-on-the-summer-fun-list/#comment-467707 Wed, 26 Jul 2023 17:26:30 +0000 https://lauravanderkam.com/?p=19221#comment-467707 Your seasonal fun lists, and their subsequent updates, are my favorite! Every time I read them it gives me a little boost of motivation to either write out my list or make progress on it.

For whatever reason I feel like this summer has been a bit dull. We have done a few evenings at the beach, which I prefer over a day trip. The kids play in the sand or the water and my husband and I can pretty much relax because the beach is empty and we can keep a close eye on them. We normally stop for dinner at a restaurant on the way home and it is a generally fun night. It might be one of the only things that every single member of the family enjoys 🙂 We did a day trip down to a cute farm / ice cream stand in Connecticut earlier this summer. Both of my boys have asked to go blueberry picking, so that is on the list. Our annual 1-2 week beach trip comes in August, as well as all three kid birthdays (!!!) So there is more coming…. But perhaps I need to add a couple solo things! I bought a kayak a couple years ago and haven’t used it yet. Maybe a day off from work to attempt a small adventure in it..!

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