Summer Bucket List Recap

I just went back and reread our Summer Bucket List recap from 2019. Good grief I miss 2019 and everything that came before this pandemic. 

Despite things getting somewhat better than last summer, we weren't able to hit the season quite like we did in 2019. Who knows when adventuring that hard will be possible again? But, we didn't have a bad summer and we did manage to check off almost everything from our list with several other fun things mixed in as well!

Make Homemade Shaved Ice

Terri Mom got me a shaved ice machine last year for my birthday and we finally got to use it. It was SOO yum and the perfect snowy texture, none of this ice pellets pretending to be "shaved."

Storybook Land

We managed to get to Storybook Land twice before the July heat, and one of the times with Auntie Jess! We are hoping to get back there some time this fall now that Ivy can walk, but, we'll see.

Beach Day

We did a couple mini beach visits to our local (dirt) beach and one early morning trip to a "real" soft sand beach. I think next year we will try to go to Long Branch Beach again once the kids are older.

The sand at our local beach is like a red dirt (the area used to produce terracotta tile). The water in the bay is also not clean so we consider this beach more like a sandbox than a true Jersey shore beach.

Pool

We LOVED having access to a swimming pool this summer. Mandy and I took the kids most Friday afternoons when I would get off work early. Dan made it to the pool a few times as well. Can't wait for next summer.

Ivy loved the pool for the snacks and Kip liked the water toys. He also met his only little neighborhood friend at the pool which was fun.

Make Homemade Ice Cream

Terri Mom got me an ice cream machine years ago and I was never able to use it much in our Brooklyn apartment. Kip and I made ice cream in late August and it was such a treat for him. He enjoyed several after school scoops his first week. We will definitely be making more.

Discover New Playgrounds

Park hopping was one of our favorites things to do in Brooklyn. Besides the park that is next to our house, all the other playgrounds we had to drive to. But, they are awesome. Kip loved every one of them.

Picnics

We managed a few little picnics here and there. 

Train Adventures

Kip's highlight of the summer included the Northlandz train layout (we went twice) and the ride on the Steam Engine. Ahh, to be three.

We weren't able to check everything off our list this year. Dan and I missed our anniversary trip and we never got around to taking Kip to mini golf. But, we had a fun-filled summer with lots of new adventures and many more that weren't even on the list.

Until next time, summer. We adore you!