Happy summer!! The kids are out of school (or almost there), and we’re ready for slower days, fun travel, and lots of family time. As you know, I LOVE summer, and I look forward to it all year.

Just like in 2024 and 2023, I am strongly encouraging (read: forcing) my kids to think about what they want to do over the summer. What kinds of things would be fun? Even simple things, like going to the local ice cream shop at night, can fall by the wayside if we don’t prioritize them. We’re following Gretchen Rubin’s example and making lists of local adventures we want to have, foods we want to eat, projects we want to tackle, and people we want to see.

Once again, I’ve added “soft serve,” “Palomas,” and “tubing” to my list — those are summertime musts in my book! And thinking about the friends and family I want to prioritize this season is always helpful for me. Instead of just falling into plans (usually this means driving my kids around all day), I’m being more intentional about seeing some dear friends.

What experiences do you want to have this summer? Do you want to try some new foods or enjoy some old favorites? See some long-lost friends? Visit a drive-in movie theater, camp in a beautiful spot, or watch fireflies in your front yard? If you want to join us in writing down these ideas, download the printable here:

If you try this, I’d love to hear about it and see your list!