The Peterson Party Summer Bucket List

“BECAUSE A LITTLE BIT OF SUMMER IS WHAT THE WHOLE YEAR’S ALL ABOUT”

John Mayer

Road Trip We’ve Never Been On Before

Booking a plane ticket isn’t in the cards for us this summer, but traveling together to a destination we have never been is definitely do-able! In fact, we will be heading to Bend,OR to celebrate the 4th of July and a family wedding. We have never been to Bend and the three of us haven’t been in the car for a trip longer than a 3 hour drive. I have already started planning the playlist, little stops to stretch and a bag of tricks to hopefully help keep a 2-year-old entertained. (This “Nifty” video was super helpful with some car ride activities) So excited for our first Peterson Party road trip! What are your tips and/or suggestions for a successful family road trip?

A Day At The Ballpark

Justin and I have spent HOURS at the ballpark, him hitting it out of the ballpark, while I was cheering him on. Gracee made her first trip to Cheney Stadium when she was just 7 weeks old and has made it to a couple other games since. Although, I feel like as she continues to grow-up each experience is new again. This summer I want to make it back to the ballpark where she can break out her dance moves during the between inning music, enjoy a chicken strip basket, and sing “Take Me Out to The Ballgame” as loud as possible. Maybe we even take her to the big leagues and make our way to T-Mobile Park (still so weird to not call it Safeco).

Experimental S’more Night

The Great Hambino explains it best! “First you take the graham, then you stick the chocolate on the graham…” And that’s where we pause and ask what is your favorite switch up from the classic Hershey’s bar? This year we want to challenge the classic s’more with new additions – I have heard the Hershey’s Cookies and Cream bar is a must try! I also, am hooked on the Gummy Bears On A Chocolate Pool Day bars from Trader Joes and believe they would be excellent between a two grahams and toasted mallow.

Wearing our “Cool Jackets” on Uncle Brian’s Boat

The last day of swim lesson sessions is normally the class where the kiddos get time in their life jackets. Well, I have convinced Gracee that these are called “Cool Jackets” and they are the most awesome thing to wear in the water. 😉 Of course, it’s even cooler because her cousin-friend Blakely wears hers on Uncle Brian’s boat. This was just one of those stories parents tell to get their kiddo to participate in swim lessons, so I thought. The other day it must have hit Gracee that it was boat season, because we were driving over the Narrows Bridge and she saw a boat in the water and turned to me to say “I go on Uncle Brian’s boat?! With Blakely…in our cool jackets.” YES! She remembered and was excited about the life jacket, which is a huge plus. I guess we will really test it out when we make it to Uncle Brian’s boat.

Host a Pool Party

This won’t be just any ol’ pool party, but a create your own pool party! 2019 is not the year we will be installing the pool in the backyard so instead the first hot day we find ourselves looking for something to do, we are going to break out all the sprinklers, fill up the kiddie pool, and get the bubble machines blowing for a Peterson Pool Party! Gracee LOVES running through the sprinklers, as soon as they come on she turns into this fearless toddler who can’t be held back from the cool mist that is calling her name. I think we will have a blast if we can get it all set up for an afternoon of the ultimate pool party fun!

Cannon Ball Off the Dock in Lake Chelan

“First one in the lake!!”- is the race when we arrive to our campsite at our favorite summertime destination – Lake Chelan State Park. Last year, Gracee wasn’t quite old enough to like her “cool jacket”, so that meant she didn’t spend much time on the dock. This year, I am hoping we can get her in her jacket and in the water off the dock! It would be a big check off the bucket list and a proud parent moment if she jumps in the lake off the dock all by herself!

Create a Batch of Peterson Popsicles

Who doesn’t crave a fruity popsicle on a hot summer day? It’s a summer staple and this summer the Petersons are going to make their own batch! We have had popsicle molds taking up space in the kitchen cabinet and it’s finally time to put them to use. Gracee will love filling them with our favorites like fresh fruit, POG juice, yogurt, and more. Mama may have to stick one of those fruity ones in a glass of Prosecco and make it a real treat!

Take Our Slide Expertise to the Water Park

If you follow us on Instagram you know that if the sun is shining we are normally on the hunt for a nearby slide, because Gracee loves slides! It is time to take this love to the water park! Slide Waters in Chelan will be the destination for Gracee’s first trip to the water park. I don’t want to count my chickens before they hatch but I think she will love the mix of slides and water activities. I remember the days at the water park with my parents and my mom used to wear shorts over her suit that would make us go twice as fast down the slides! We would then all fight for who would be next to get to go with mom. I’m hoping Gracee loves going down the slides with her mommy as much as I did. Although, I think there will be a fight to see who gets to go down slides with her – between Daddy, Papa, Auntie and Grammy. 🙂

TechNO Weekend

What better time to get serious about putting the phone/Ipad down than during the summer? I know that “tech detox” should be a topic of conversation throughout the year and we should always be keeping tabs on our consumption of media (social, television, games, etc.), but being intentional about it is where I tend to miss the mark. With that being said, The Peterson Party will commit to spending at least one full weekend with no phones, no Ipad, and no TV (shhhh..I haven’t told Justin that this includes TV yet). Instagram, YouTube Kids, and watching sports seem to feel like necessities in our home, but they can wait! It’s time to mute notifications and turn off the television to be more present and live in the moment, those are the moments that we will treasure and post on Instagram later.

Bust a Move At An Outdoor Concert

Seems like a classic summer activity that I have yet to check off the list! Do you know of any local concerts that are a summer staple? If so, send them our way and we will pack up a picnic, our best dance moves, and meet you there!

Be sure to follow us at #ThePetersonParty as we check off the summer bucket list and find other adventures along the way!