Summer Bucket List, Week 6

We have a Summer Bucket List, thanks to Kelly over at Little Wonders' Days.  This is simply a list of fun things we want to do or accomplish this summer.  We just completed our sixth full week of summer.  To review our previous weeks go here, here, here, here, and here.  This week we were busy celebrating the Fourth of July and then had several activities planned for the end of the week as well.  


1.  Visit 10 parks to play and picnic:  Thursday we had two activities planned with three hours and 35 miles in between.  So we planned a picnic in a park in between.  Our afternoon activity was in Chariton a neighboring town.  We found a city park there and planned a picnic.  Mother Nature tried to throw a wrench into our plans by sending us a rain shower, but by the time we arrived at the park it was down to just sprinkles.  We are not afraid of a little rain and enjoyed our picnic and play at Yokom City Park in Chariton.


9.  Slip and Slide:  Grandma Lewis provided a Slip and Slide for afternoon entertainment on the fourth of July.  All three of my boys enjoyed it, though Brody needed a little help getting across.  He did get the hang of it by the end of the day.


12.  Library activities:  Again, already accomplished, but worth mentioning again.  Story hour this week was 'Mad Science of Iowa'.  This must be something that the science department at ISU is in charge of, since last year's presenter was a young man and this year it was a young woman.  Both were good in their own ways.  The kids did enjoy it immensely.  Next week is the last summer story hour and we will miss it.


13.  Hunt down Dan Wardell:  We had three opportunities to see Dan this week within 40 miles from home.  His trip to Chariton fit into our schedule the best and we made the trip to see him Thursday afternoon.  For those of you not local to Iowa, or without young kids, Dan Wardell is the host of the children's programming on Iowa Public Television.  He is a bit hyperactive for many adults' taste, but now that I have a son diagnosed with ADD, I believe Dan is an excellent role model for him.  Dan has spent the last several summer traveling the state, bringing his story (it varies from summer to summer, but usually involves aliens and fictional monsters, but also includes healthy eating and exercise) to libraries ranging from one to three a day.  We caught him when he was in town four years ago and have traveled to neighboring communities for the last three years.  I tried to talk the boys into wearing capes (Dan's attire) this year, but they did not accept this suggestion.  Oh well, we had fun anyway!


35.  Fourth of July parade/carnival/fireworks:  This really deserves a post of its own, but I couldn't do it justice without pictures, and I have not figured out a good way to make pictures work here.  Suffice it to say our small town's big celebration is the Fourth of July.  We have a rinky-dink carnival around the town square for 3 days.  Grandma Feehan always provides plenty of carnival tickets for the boys and they enjoy the rides.  This year all three got to climb the rock wall.  Along with the carnival, local food vendors on the courthouse lawn and other activities planned around the square.  This year's events included fire fighter water fights, a pedal pull, oldly-wed vs newlywed game, and minute to win it.  My little niece got to taste corn on the cob for the first time and loved it!  We have a big parade which includes two marching bands, numerous floats, tractors, horses, and most importantly (for the kids) candy.  Colby got to march with the scouts.  He also got to present the flags at the city-wide church service with the scouts.  Braedon will participate in both activities next year too.  We had a twenty minute fireworks show.  And spent Monday afternoon with family enjoying lots of good food.  This is one of my favorite holidays.  Many friends return to our small town for the fourth and others wish that they could.  


Other things we did that were not on the original list:
*Our Friday Fun Tour this week was the ambulance.  My nine year old was very ho-hum about it until we were inside the ambulance.  I was so impressed with the quantity and quality of his questions for the EMTs.  I don't always get to see that side of him--it was nice to get to see it today.
*Colby and Ron are currently at Cub Scout Camp for three days.  I have had several texts about their activities and got to talk to them both tonight.  Colby, of course, didn't want to talk long, but Ron said they are having a blast.  The plans for Saturday include hiking, swimming, and shooting BB guns.  
*Had cupcakes for breakfast this morning in honor of Colby's birthday.  He had to leave for camp at ten, so cupcakes for breakfast it was!


I know this coming week we have a few doctors' appointments and some other planned activities.  I'm sure we'll be able to work in some fun though.  After the fourth it seems like the summer is nearly over.  And as I was entering plans into my calendar, sure enough, the end of summer is in sight.  I will be back to work full time by August 16, just over a month away.  Yikes!  We still have so many more plans to squeeze in.  We can do it!