summer manifesto

every summer i think through the fun things that i want to do as june starts to roll around. i also pretty much love seeing lists from others and the fun things that they are doing, like this one and this one.

let's be honest, did you think that i was going to think about the summer and not have some type of list? i think that we both know the answer to that. right? right.

highlights on my list included...

+++ take malena to deception pass (briel -- thanks for the inspiration by helping me to look at the map and realize it is not that far;))
+++ picnics on tuesdays
+++ go to a water park for wave pool and slide fun
+++ watch a movie outside at the park
+++ do some watercoloring on our deck
+++ turn on the strings of deck lights every night that it is nice outside (can i just say that a couple of strings of little white lights shining at night can really make your day end on a better note)
+++ eat dinner outside whenever possible
+++ go to a book signing
+++ work on photos
+++ keep running
+++ hang out in my favorite coffee shop every once in a while and just read (and drink green tea obviously)
+++ take malena on a ferry ride adventure
+++ play with malena in her kiddie pool
+++ make some new smoothie recipes
+++ take a beginning yoga class
+++ go on a rock climbing with my other half (i will let you decide who is the better half;))
+++ enjoy wine tasting in walla walla
+++ be a tourist in portland
+++ having our family pictures taken by tara whitney (there are pretty much no words to explain how excited i am about this. no words.)

...and then i read ali's summer manifesto and i added one more --- the most important one -- to the very tippy top of the manifesto list. in fact, if i only accomplish one thing (well, this one in addition to our family pics by tara because that is already locked in -- did i mention i am pretty happy about that?) this will be it.

i will play.

it is as simple as that.

when asked "mommy, do you want to play with me" i am going to focus on my answer being "yes" (i know i won't do it 100% percent of the time, but like everything in life, i can always do better). i will try really hard to not say "yes, but i need to...." or "yes, give me just one second to..." or "yes, i will be right there after i..." or "yes, but i can't right now because..." or "yes, but i am just trying to finish..." whatever it is, if it isn't just a simple yes, i am going to focus this summer on the answer being that simple. don't get me wrong, everytime i am asked to play, my answer is not one of the above examples. but those phrases come out of my mouth more than i want them to.

so there it is. a manifesto of saying yes to play, and a long list of other things that might get added into the mix as well.

sounds like a pretty good summer to me.

hope whatever the summer is going to bring your way sounds just as good.