So, have we accomplished *anything* on the Summer Bucket List? Well, so far, we've had the cousins over... and Maddie got lost. I think we'll have to find some sort of GPS tracker for her, as that's the 2nd or 3rd time in as many days. That's a lot of lost for that girlfriend! (And a lot of stress for her mama).
    We've done a LOT of swimming! The kids are LOVING the swimming lessons! See the Instagr.am photos on Facebook for how much fun that has been! Darth Maximus swore he was NOT going to dive into the "deep deep" and then after he was successful once, he was volunteering to dive 1st. He's mostly a pest in the swimming pool. He's always got his hand up, either to splash his ever-patient teacher, or to volunteer to drive her absolutely crazy. He's cuter than a bug's ear, but he'll also pester people until he gets whatever he wants. I do hope he improves his swimming. He's mastered floating, but he's not mastered the significant strokes yet. He'll definitely be repeating Level 3.
     Asa and Seth are doing well in Level 4, but their teacher is not super strong, or else Asa has regressed a LOT since the end of the year. Asa will definitely be repeating Level 4. Asa is really patient in the pool, and he really enjoys being in the water. His best experience in swimming was last summer when he was in a class by himself, by accident. Not sure how it happened, but he learned more in those 2 weeks than he did the entire rest of the summer. Great teacher, great experience.
     Jax and Xanni are both diving this time. Jax is getting the diving (still having a hard time not doing the flip with the dive), but Xan is having a harder time. Xan doesn't like going head first into the pool. They each have 3 more days until the first test.

     Back to the bucket list.
#5 I did make home-made popsicles. The kids LOVED them. :)
#11 The kids started cooking classes.
#22 The dad took them on a hike to a lake in the Uintahs. Again, LOVE.

Next on the list (This week)
Track & field
Strawberry Days

Busy being busy!

    The Dork Dots have already been busy this summer. They've been swimming every day, and Jax, Xan, and Ace are running track.
     If you're following us on Facebook, you already know that Ace likes the 50 yard dash (he kinda lopes :), loves throwing the javelin, and does the standing long jump. Xan runs the 100 and 200 (if forced). She also long jumps. Jax runs the relay (he likes to run the last leg), the 100m, and the running long jump.
     The kids are taking swimming again. Although Jax & Xan tried out for swim team, there were a limited amount of kids allowed on the team. We didn't get them on the list soon enough (we didn't realize how important early sign up was on the day sign-ups opened). They both swam well, but there just wasn't enough spots in the pool! Of course, because they are all fish, they adore being in the pool.
      Ace and Max are both playing baseball. Ace is playing coach pitch and Max is playing t-ball. We're at the field every day watching some sort of a game. Both boys get to wear yellow t-shirts, which is fun to have the same uniform.
     Other exciting things that have happened were that Jax turned 12! He's been excited to be a Deacon and pass the sacrament. He had nightmares about passing (in one his tray had both bread AND ham, YUM!) His first Sunday went very well. He's even been out collecting fast offerings. It's great to be a 'tween!

      Jax and Xandri have also had fun with friends having late-nights. Everyone (but mom) is in love with Daisy the Dog. We're still trying to train the beast. :) I guess we still have most of the summer, right?

The Summer Bucket List

Every summer since the kids were tiny, I've kept the kids busy. The summer I taught school, I hired Miss Rachel from the day care to come run them through the paces and the lessons I created. I'd leave her activities in a box, and she'd take care of them for the hours I was gone.

Last summer, Jen and I had trouble finding enough fun activities for the kids now that they span ages 4-12. They're starting to be interested in many, many things and need things that will work for all ages. This year, we also have a 2 year old to add to the mix.

This year, I've joined the "Summer Bucket List Challenge" at The Happy Family Movement. I've also pinned over 100 things to do with the kids... Summer and just regular things on Pinterest. I think I've come up with a partial bucket list, in no particular order:

1. Animals
1. Feed ducks
2. Visit horses
2. Bill Nye the Science guy! Science projects
   • make slime
   • make playdoh
   • blow up a bar of soap
   • diet Coke & Mentos experiment
   • create "fireflies"
   • make our own crayons
   • Liquid sidewalk chalk--have chalk festival at the park
3. Canada T-shirts for the Canada trip
4. Dog training
5. Eat something new (you've never tried before)
6. Fireworks
7. Games
• Blowing bubbles
• Buckets & Beanbags
• Kickball
8. Homemade Rootbeer
9. Ice cream somewhere fun
10. Jogging/Track & Field 
11. Kitchen/cooking classes
12. Lego day--have Lego contest & make Lego soap containers
13. Movie Day!  BRAVE --see it when it comes out
14. National Park free admission day June 9th!
15. Olympics
16. Parades
• Raymond
• Strawberry Days
17. Quiet study time
• reading 
• mazes 
• handwriting 
• spelling practice
18. Read at the Library
19. Star Wars! 
20. Time Capsule of summer
21. Unwind at 7-Peaks
22. Visit a completely new place
23. World culture (Ratatouille anyone?)
24. X eXplore at least 3 new parks
25. Y go to the Museum of Modern Art at the "Y"--Free Admission! Festival there June 15-16.
26. Zoo!

Any ideas? What else should I put on my list?