we're on vacation! summer bucket list update

Um okay so when did July happen??  I'm sort of feeling like I blinked and August has shown up.  But that being said the month of July was action packed with fun.  Awhile back I decided that I was going to make the most of my remaining months off with Liam, the result was our summer bucket list (original post).  Seeing as summer is half way done and I'm back to work in a matter of weeks (eek!!) I thought it was time to do a quick bucket list update.  (crossed off things we've done...not going to add anything just in case we run out of time)

Our list:

~ have a bbq in Bowness park

~ meet Rob downtown for a picnic lunch (on a work day) in the park

~ take more photos

~ make rhubarb popsicles

~ eat strawberries from our garden

~ play in the paddling pool in the backyard

~ make frozen fruity drinks

~ go to pick your own fruit farms

~ visit family in the okanagan

~ go to the zoo

~ eat breakfast outside in the garden

~ throw a summer ADULT ONLY dinner party (sorry Liam)

~ go to the neighbour hood kiddie pool with friends

~ eat ice cream...introduce Liam to his first ice cream cone

~ run through the sprinkler

~ go on our first family vacation

~ spend a week at the beach

~ celebrate my birthday and Liam's first birthday

~ celebrate 4 years of marriage

~ go rafting down the elbow river

~ go to greatest outdoor show on earth, The Stampede

~ get a glimpse of Will & Kate when they visit our city in July

~ bake a fresh fruit pie

~ camp, camp, and camp some more

~ go on many'a bike ride (still more to be done)

~ eat s'mores

~ play in the park

~ drink ice lattes on the patio

~ read both newly purchased books (something borrowed & the help)

~ one year family photos with Liam

~ go to Shakespeare in the park

~ go to an outdoor concert

~ go to family movie night in the park

~ take Liam for his first hike

~ get a pedicure

~ frequently visit the farmer's market

~ go mini golfing on vacation

~ build sand castles

~ picnic in the mountains

~ watch the Canada Day fireworks

(missed these due to a bbq we had)

Not bad for July...now bring on the rest of summer!!  

hope you're havin' a happy sunny day

we're on vacation! guest post by: Gillian

Happy day all.  I'm excited about today's guest post-er.  We have the lovely Gillian from Building Bumps.  So kick back and enjoy her super summery post.  ;)

Hey Guys!  I'm Gillian from over at Building Bumps!  

I'm totally stoked to be hanging out here on MJ's blog while the lucky girl is on vacation : )

Summer vacations are the absolute best.

There's something about summertime that always makes me nostalgic,

being completely free to fly for two whole months is a feeling that's just so hard to put into words!

Even now, though perhaps not free as i was when a child, these two months have a 

particular magic about them.

I love the sparkling bright days and the fun they bring,

and all the beautiful things the warm sun grows.

One of my favorite things about summer is the food. 

Mind you, that's sorta my favorite thing about every season, but whatevs.

Let's be honest, summer has a bit of an edge on the other seasons.  Everything's fresh, bright and vibrant.

When was the last time you wanted to eat something brown?

(okay okay, i'll give you gravy. and chocolate. hmm. you know what i meant though)

But the best thing about summer?

Being outside. At the beach. Searching for treasures in the sun.

And summer has the best sunsets. Hands down. 

Then there's ice cream and popsicles, flip flops, floppy hats and hot dogs.

Campfires, smores and satellite searching.  And that coconut smell that lingers on sun-kissed skin.

Mmmmmm.... Summer magic.

Me?  I'm a full time stay at home mom, a part time photog, and a lover of all things artsy.  

I'm diet coke and chocolate, gypsy skirts and flip flops, glue sticks and paint brushes;  

rainy days, slobbery dogs and anything with caramel.  

My little family is the air i breathe, and i dream all of my dreams for them : }

Hope to see you around!

Thanks so much for having me MJ!

we're on vacation! guest post by: melissa

Happy Summer Vacation to us!   I'm so happy to have the lovely Melissa from knit purl baby guest post for you today. So while we are most likely sitting on the beach right now, soaking in the sun and building sand castles, kick back and enjoy.  

__

Hey everyone! I’m so happy to be filling the void while MJ is out with her lovely family enjoying some summer fun. Normally I blog over at knit purl baby but I’m super stoked to be here today!

Speaking of summer fun, I thought I’d use my time here today to express how much better this summer is than last summer.

My son, JC, was born last summer. Technically, that fact alone should make last summer, the best summer ever. And it does. But, it really wasn’t that much fun.

When he was born six and a half weeks early, it really changed the ballgame. While I think it is somewhat normal to become a borderline shut-in after you have a baby, I may have taken it to another level last summer.

JC spent the first seventeen days of his life at the hospital. Which meant we spent the first seventeen days of his life at the hospital. It was the worst. I was stuck at home recovering from a c-section, waiting anxiously for my fiancé to get home so we could go visit our little baby for as long as we could. 

When he finally did come home, I was too afraid to take him anywhere. Our little guy pretty much just slept all day long. He'd wake up, eat and go back to sleep. I knew sleeping meant that his body was working hard to catch up so I didn't dare disturb him. I literally kept the blinds closed all day to try to recreate the darkness of the womb. I'm weird like that. Throw in that I was exclusively breastfeeding and not-so-fond of nursing in public; I was a nervous wreck anytime we actually did venture out of the house. I don't even want to talk about the first time I had to unfold the stroller by myself. Eeesh.

It really took a long while for me to feel comfortable taking him out in the world. Especially by myself. And by the time I did feel comfortable, it was way too icky outside to do anything fun.

Needless to say, I couldn’t wait for the warm summer days to come again. I am normally not a fan of the heat but I knew I would have so much fun taking JC everywhere. And that is what we have spent this summer doing.

We have crossed so many items off our unofficial summer bucket list. Going on a mini-road trip. Introducing JC to the ocean. Swimming. Ice cream safari (all-you-can-eat ice cream… AT THE ZOO). Lunch time picnic dates with dad. Playing at the park. Going on bike rides. Trip to San Francisco. Aquarium. The fiance and I even found time to enjoy some grown up festivities at the state fair. It was kind of a date. Crazyness!

And we still have at least two more fairs to attend, tons more picnic dates and swimming to do before the summer is over. I’m so happy to have such a different experience with JC this year. Last year, I was so scared to bring my little teeny baby anywhere and now we are any and every where. I only look forward to all the fun my baby man will bring. Here’s to an awesome summer and rest of the year!