How fast the seasons change around here, and we are now smack dab in the middle of yet another extra New England season – Sprimmer!! Or is it Sprummer? Either way, it’s when May hits with all of its blooming flowers and buzzing bees. It’s when we go quite suddenly from winter to spring to summer-like weather. It’s running in sprinklers and eating ice cream (with sprinkles) for dinner. It’s sundresses and sandals and staying outside until it gets dark. It’s swings and earthworms and dirt.
One of the symptoms of “Sprimmer” here, even with a month of school left, is to start dreaming about our summer plans. It’s not too early, especially when the temperatures are topping out at 85 degrees, and you find yourself eating ice cream for dinner. Twice in one week. Chocolate stain-inducing ice cream! In talking about our summer plans, we made up a family bucket list that ranges from adorable to hilarious to messy. Very messy. Luckily we are now using All Free Clear! Ever since I made the switch several weeks ago, our clothes have been soft, sweet-smelling and stain-free. This time around, I bought the Oxi version of All Free Clear. Des decided to pose with it, and I didn’t even remove the rainbow sprinkle from his mouth.
When we woke up today with a powerful sun shining in by early morning, we talked about summer bucket lists. I have been planning a beach trip or two, and Cassidy is picking up Six Flags season passes. I loved hearing what my family wants to do:
Scarlet: Go to the playground AT NIGHT! Go to Six Flags. Attend summer camp at my old preschool. Go out for breakfast, lunch and dinner ALL IN ONE DAY! Go to Nana’s house for a few days and feed her mule and horse, and ride her new pony!
Des: (I’m paraphrasing some of this because he’s two) I want to collect acorns in a bowl, bounce bouncy balls, play with Scarlet and go swinging! I want to eat doughnuts every morning, wear superhero clothes, and smear dirt all over my superhero clothes. I want to use a stick in the dirt. For two hours straight. I want to get REALLY dirty every day. Twice a day.
Me: Oh, where to begin? I want to go to Cape Cod at least twice, and at least once long enough to have that beach vacation feel. I want to go to upper New England once or twice to find moose and maybe discover some new mountains and parks. I want to eat ice cream a lot, and maybe cookies too. I want to visit my family, do a lot of photography jobs, and maybe go to a blogging conference. Maybe! Importantly, I want to spend quality time with my family and friends.
Cassidy: Go to Six Flags and the beach. Go see the Grateful Dead. Get a tan. Take road trips. Put my hands in the dirt. Play hooky. See lots of summer blockbusters.
No matter what summer throws at us, and I know it will be a lot of dirt and sticky ice cream, I’m glad I started using All Free Clear products on our clothing regularly. That will no doubt help us go summer adventuring in style and softness.
My list consists of going to Cape Cod with YOU, getting out of here with my hubs so I don’t lose my mind, seeing the kids, making good money, baby making, and dreaming big about getting out of my apt and having my own house!!!! I’ll use the apt pool while I dream:)
All good things!! May you do them all and then some!!!
I am loving Des’ list although everyone’s list is great. This summer we’re doing Disney World and Universal and the kids are super excited. Because of my skin sensitivity All Free Clear is one detergent that I use consistently and now that Madison is older I use it on her clothing too. Haven’t tried the Oxi one though so it’s definitely now on my list to try.
That’s so awesome. We love Disney and Universal SO MUCH. I can’t wait to go back in January.
I hear you about the skin sensitivity! It’s always something in the air around here.
I am so excited that summer is just about here and on my list is number #1 with Disney in August for us, then 2 different concerts with Foo Fighters in July and Zac Brown Band in August. A Blogging Conference even if I go for a bit, but not on Emma’s birthday (but seriously only if you do go). Plus, my 9th wedding anniversary, my birthday next month, Kevin’s next week and so much more, too 😉
Ooh! Two concerts. Summer concerts are the best – they always make me feel young again.
As for BlogHer, we’ll talk! I know we will meet any which way.
I love the lists!! And yes, I predict a fun and sticky yummy summer. 🙂 All Free Clear is a lifesaver for sensitive skin.
Happy Almost Summer!!
XOXO
A fun and sticky summer! That sounds like our day today and it’s only early May. I have to admit I love it.
I love this! You guys all have great bucket lists and as far as I am concerned, all great summer bucket lists should include getting dirty!
I think it’s a must! Eventually you just have to let go and let nature take its course.
My kids would love ice cream for dinner. I would love it too. I hope you guys get to spend lots of time at the beach this summer. Along with lots of ice cream and sprinkles 🙂
Ice cream for dinner happens every now and then! Not as often as my kids would like, though!
Cape Cod and lots of day trips to the Hudson Valley and the Berkshires and Western Mass!
Oooh, yes to all three of those! I have a blogger friend in the Hudson Valley and I’d love to meet up with her. The Berkshires and Cape Cod = goes without saying!
Come up here too!
Happy Sprimmer! I love this weather. It could be like this year round and I’d be happy enough.
Happy Sprummer too! I could deal with May year-round. So many blooms. Not too many bugs yet, although there are some. Not too much humidity or heat. Just.. dreamy.
You know how much I love All! I also love your son’s idea of doughnuts for breakfast every day and then ice cream for dinner, sounds like a win!! My Liese calls it ice and is so addicted she demands it several times a day and will even grab the ice cream scooper and try to hit you with it if her previous requests for the stuff were ignored!
ha! I want some “ice” right now, in fact.
Des talks about doughnuts so much that sometimes I just Google image photos of doughnuts and have him look at them.
Upper New England is waiting for you! And tell Des we’ve got lots of dirt too. 😉
Oh, we are so there! I think we’re starting with a White Mountains trip. It’s one of my dreams to ride the steam train up Mt. Washington.
I love your bucket list! Especially Cape Cod, so jealous! Here’s where we differ though: summer is my least favorite season. I know, shame! I don’t like the heat lol.
The heat can be very hard for me too. I think ultimately I just like it more than winter, because winters are endless here! If I lived back in California, I’d probably say something totally different.
Oh how I would love to go to Cape Cod (or just a beach in general)! I’m so happy to see 80+ degree days and thinking of moments like running through the sprinkles with ice cream (with sprinkles!). The winter was so long that it now makes summer that much sweeter. Can’t wait to hear how fun your days at the beach are when you go and come back from Cape Cod. Cheers to you going a minimum of 2 times! 🙂
My in-laws are there right now and I’m dreaming about it! It’s only about 65 degrees there and it’s about 90 here. They live at nearly the top of the Cape and it’s rarely very hot. In the ten years I’ve been there, it’s only been uncomfortably hot ONCE!
It’s sprimmer! I will forever use that word by the way. I love it! Great bucket list. I have a lot of Central Park time on my sprimmer list!
Ooh, that sounds divine! That’s on Scarlet and Cassidy’s sprimmer list too so maybe you’ll see them!
So many things! Go to the beach. Take Eve to some museums (including the outdoor sculpture park nearby). Go to Alaska for real! Read books. Give myself permission to take days off. Garden. Make gazpacho.
I told my kids today that Legoland Boston is on my list! So we shall see you, I hope!
Okay, your summer is getting me excited– Ice Cream and Six Flags!!! I want to be a kid again!
Melanie @ meandmr.com
Me too! And other times, it’s so much fun being an adult and having ice cream for dinner because no one can tell us not to!
Gosh, your kids are so beautiful 🙂 I love Sprimmer–how did that happen? NOT COMPLAINING though it is strange that we totally skipped spring. Oh well. It’s nice to wear long skirts and short sleeves again. I feel like my legs haven’t seen sunshine in years.
I love that you are eating ice cream for dinner multiple times in a week and enjoying all the beautiful things that summer offers. Even if it is Spring. LOL. Lots of concerts and road trips this summer on the horizon for me. Can’t. Wait. XOXO
Thanks! I’m very partial to my kids!
Ooh, concerts and road trips. I hope that happens. It’s so easy for me to get psyched out by heat and humidity, or parenting exhaustion. The “old me” would be up for anything all summer long, so I’m hoping to channel her.
It is hitting me HARD that summer is literally around the corner!! Ahhh….. I cannot WAIT for long days at the pool, late nights outside and really? Just the relaxed fit of summer is soothing to my soul. My kids get out May 21st… and the pool opens that weekend. That is where we will BE!!!
Oh how gorgeous your pictures are… <3
We had a pool when I was growing up and we’d always want it open in March, but it was always Memorial Day. And it would be freezing even then, but we loved it!
Summer is SOON. Up here, kids are in school until late June but I remember from my blogging friends that some of their kids are out in May. So strange!
I wish I could have doughnuts everyday too! We are preparing our summer bucket lists right now and have some great ideas, like horseback riding and watching sea turtles hatch.
ha! Me too. Des doesn’t really have doughnuts every day but he sure tries for it. I have like.. one doughnut a year on Christmas.
Watching sea turtles hatch! How amazing!
Road trip momma! And beach time and lots of fun books to read:)!
Awesome.
I certainly want beach time. It’s never been very hot for us at Cape Cod. I really love that. It’s often comfortable and sometimes even cold! I can’t wait to sit on the beach again soon.
Summer bucket lists! I want to eat doughnuts and ice cream every day too. And the beach and I long for that summer vacation feel. And I think that I am going to a blogging conference!
It’s funny because all winter long, our ice cream cartons collected freezer burn in the freezer. Now that it’s warm out, I’m surprised if they last a week. Sometimes less! I kinda want it.. every day.
These pictures are gorgeous! So dreamy and full of life! After your last All Free Clear post, I made the switch, and I am loving it 🙂
That makes me happy! I totally made the switch, despite having lots of our old detergent left, and I haven’t looked back.
Aww, Scarlet is such an adventurous kid and Des is so cute! I know Reiko says bouncy ball all the time. LOL. Without a doubt, your new season will be a hit! And a blockbuster. Enjoy!
ha! That’s so cute about Reiko.
We are very excited about summer. Well, Des is the only one who LOVES school. Scarlet is ready. I’m ready. If Cassidy could be ready, he’d be ready.
I love that Scarlet wants to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner out in the same day. She’s my kind of girl. Isn’t summer wonderful?
ha! That was my favorite item on her list. We’re totally going to do it. We had this great spring break bucket list for when Cassidy was away and we really did everything on it. We had to cheer ourselves up after a terrible winter and Cassidy being gone.
I am so happy that I can walk outside now and NOT shiver or wear a coat or run to my car to turn on the heat or any HEAT source period. It’s gorgeous, moods are better and bucket lists are definitely accruing. This summer we are going to visit my sister’s new home in Jersey, beach for sure, a resort getaway for our anniversary and wherever else the wind blows. 🙂 How is your Mother’s Day?? Ha sent a text I remembered your number is stored in my Contacts lol. 🙂 Tehehe take care Tam Tam! -Iva
Wow, Jersey = my old stomping grounds! I was just thinking about how BlogU is almost a year ago. Crazy that we last talked in person a year ago! I wish we had talked more but I was so confused and overwhelmed and someone I didn’t like was there, and a lot of people I DID like were there. It got crazy!!
I love that you texted me.
Yes your old stomping grounds indeed!! 🙂 It was almost a year ago that’s cray cray!! I get overwhelmed too – esp with all the bodies everywhere, activities constantly happening. Twas fun though, this year I’ll have to skip the conferences since I got ish to pay. 🙂 Woop maybe next year! Haha yes so many numbers in my contact list it’s difficult to remember who lurks within. 🙂
It was fun. And this year I’m skipping it but may do BlogHer. Maybe.
You all are so gorgeous!!! You have a beautiful family Tamara 🙂
Aw, thank you!! That means so much coming from YOU!
We tend to play it by ear. I love getting them outside, but I don’t like to make too many plans.
Same here! I do have some fun New England road trips planned, but I’m not entirely sure I’ll be able to pull them all off. Here’s hoping!
Spending a day at the beach & enjoying a flavorful sushi dinner is on the summer list. Finding a local carnival would be fun too.
Hey now, that sounds awesome! My husband actually makes his own sushi and apparently it’s quite good! I have yet to try it which is nuts.
I love local carnivals. We have one this weekend, I believe.
I love your photos! So beautiful… my bucket list has “taking a photography course” on it.
I plan on spending a ton of time workout out and enjoying the sunshine with my friends and family.
That’s awesome! Even 15 years into my career, I still think about taking a photography course. It’s important!
And sunshine has been wonderful lately – too long without.
Awe what sweet photo’s. You have such sweet children. We normally stay local or close by travels.
Thank you!
And we usually do too – Cape Cod is this wild beach vacation for us but it’s actually in the same state we live in!
Boating, boating, boating…. and a trip to Italy!
Oooh! That sounds fantastic on all counts.
One thing I love about bloggging is that as long as the internet is around our children will be able to come back and see the moments we’ve captured of them. Your children are so adorable.
That’s one of my favorite parts about blogging. I love remembering things this way, or being able to look back on things I wouldn’t otherwise remember very well.
Each summer I have the kids make fill out little pieces of paper of things they want to accomplish all summer, Then I add it to our summer board.
I love that! We just started that with a spring break bucket list because my husband went away in April during spring break and we needed fun things to get us through that long week.
It worked!
Just prepping for my sisters wedding and enjoying time with my kids
Oh fun! I was a matron of honor in my sister’s wedding in October so it was certainly on the brain all summer long.
Sounds like you have got a very exciting summer ahead! I especially love Des’ ideas – eating doughnuts every morning and wearing superhero clothes!
I totally agree! I love superhero clothes and doughnuts although I don’t partake in either of those things nearly enough.
“Sprummer” is an interesting way to phrase the in-between season. making great memories with the Kids ..#priceless
Priceless for sure. And it was nearly 90 degrees today. It’s been very confusing in New England!
We are doing NY this summer and maybe a few trips to Disney.
Awesome!! I think we’re doing NYC. I’d love to do Disney but we generally only do it in January. It gives us something to look forward to during our long New England winters.
Your kids are absolutely adorable! Your photography is beautiful as well!
Thank you so much! They are the most photographed kids ever, I swear. And they get annoyed with me but I can’t stop!
We haven’t made our summer bucket list yet, but I know there will be a LOT of awesome things on there 🙂
No doubt! I’m such a summer girl, although I do have to get used to this heat. We went from winter to summer and now we’re expecting spring weather this week. Ah, New England.
What a gorgeous photography you are! I’m inspired to make a bucket list this summer. Thanks!
Thanks so much! Photography is my love!
I keep adding to the bucket list. I can’t stop!
I wouldn’t mind going to a theme park for a day this summer either. Road trips are definitely in my future too.
We usually get season passes to Six Flags – it can be very hot and crowded, but the water park cools us down!
i hope that when/if Andy and I become parents we capture their childhoods as beautifully as you have with your kids 🙂 These past two weeks have been so shocking to the system! First sprinter, and then full-on summer. I may have complained a bit, only because this is my favorite time of year and I don’t want summer to come too soon! I want to be able to savor it without thinking ‘ugh, 85 degrees again? We had that four months ago!’ Ha.
Everyone’s summer bucket lists are awesome. Six Flags sounds like so much fun! I went to the one near you for my birthday four years ago and loved it. Looking forward to my birthday in a month, and Maine a few weeks after that, and waterfalls and hikes (hopefully tick-free ones) and lots of wonderful fresh veggies. And Vermont! And Montreal! I’m determined to go back there soon!
I think it will go with the territory! You’re both into photography and you write, so your kids will have this wonderful record of their lives. Of course!
Maybe I’ll see you this summer in our many overlapping travels.
I love summer bucket lists! They give you something to look forward to!
Yes! And they hold us accountable because my five-year-old can read now so she’ll make sure we check off every item!
We have a few things we would like to do this summer! I think bucket lists helps you to fit in so many fun things!
It definitely helps us organize it! And according to my five-year-old, it holds us accountable!
Wow! What beautiful pictures!!! We are headed to the beach for most of the summer! Can’t wait!
Thank you about the pictures!
And for most of the summer? Lucky family!
As an “Upper New England” resident, I completely hear you with Sprimmer or Sprummer?! lol It has definitely hit with 80 degree days twice in one week! I think I’ll ask my kids to sit down and come up with a Summer Bucket List too! I can’t wait to see what they come up with!
I remember when I was 30 weeks pregnant, we went on an anniversary trip to Bethel, Maine and it was 90 degrees and humid and we were all bewildered! I would have thought Maine in May would have cool nights or something! You just never know around here. We did see some moose, luckily.
The weather up here can be absolutel perfection..or downright awful. lol You usually do get to see some wildlife though especially up Bethel way! 🙂
I went on something called a “Magical Moostery Tour” – I kid you not! I saw moose, though!
Wow! Your photos are amazing. Thank you for sharing. This summer we have a couple weekend trips to the mountains planned .
ooh, that sounds fabulous. I love to go to the mountains.
And thanks about the photos!
I just love the kids’ bucket lists but I think Des’s is my fave. He sounds so sweet 🙂
Your pics are gorgeous btw!
ha, thanks! He’s such a sweetie. He does tend to stick his entire head into dirt piles, though..
These pictures are exquisite, Tamara. Bucket list items this summer – lazy days, a vaca in New York and possibly squeezing in a road trip.
Lazy day = YES. Yay for NY! Northeast can be pretty awesome in the summer, if I do say so myself.
I make a bucket list for my family as well and it includes the dog – we have plans indeed. Great list here.
That’s awesome. I should have included our dog more because she gets beach trips and day trips with us too!
I am actually getting reallly excited about the summer! On my list? Lots of day trips, relaxing, UNPLUGGING, and soaking up all the time with my kids.
I love unplugging! I tend to do it on weekends lately and it’s a nice feeling. It feels free.
Day trips are my favorite.
These photos are truly beautiful! I have used All before because it’s free of dyes. My son has sensitive skin.
I love it. I made the switch a few months ago and my clothes have been coming out really well.
Thanks about the photos!
My youngest came home covered in dirt last night. I told him he needed a bath and he thought I was mad at him for getting messy! When I explained that getting messy was his job and that he looked like he’d done a pretty good job of it, he cheered up. He still doesn’t like the bath, though!
heh, did you see my photo on Facebook of Des? He looked like he had taken a bath in dirt. It was horrible. He had a raccoon face! Of dirt!
What a great summer bucket list. I would put on my list go to the beach.
Definitely! That’s one of my #1 items. I can’t wait!
Beautiful photos! Swimming is on our summer bucket list for sure! We didn’t get to do a lot of that last summer so I’m looking forward to it this year!
I didn’t do a lot of swimming either! I rarely do but I love it. I’ll be changing that this year!
Now that are some fun lists. Sounds like a great smmer.
Thank you! I really hope so. It’s shaping up to have a lot of fun.
Amazing photographs! I love the idea of summer bucket lists! I think I’m gonna get one started for my family. We are so ready for summer! 🙂
Us too! And this spring-summer weather is making me happy. I’m wearing flip flops today.
Oh, the summer bucket list! We haven’t started ours yet, but T has been asking me to do a ‘cooking camp’ at home with her this summer. Should be fun as long as I can let go of my inner control freak. I think dirt is necessary in spring and summer. We even had a “mud day” in our backyard last year. The kids loved it!
Cooking Camp!? That sounds awesome. There’s a Lego camp around here. Suffice it to say, we’re researching that one.
I’m glad dirt is necessary because Des dips his face in it daily.
My bucket list includes getting to the beach as much as possible. PS Your photos are breathtaking!
I think that bucket is perfect! And thanks about the photos! It can be challenging with the sun sometimes.
Gorgeous pics! I love the idea of a summer bucket list. I’m going to try to make one tonight 🙂
Cool! I got a lot of good ideas to add to mine from all of these comments. It’s fun to dream about summer!
Sprimmer – I love it! I have an especially big bucket list this year, mainly because my son starts kindergarten in the fall and I feel like life is going to change so much!
I cannot get over how gorgeous these pics are. So excited about summer!
Down here, the season is called Pollen is Satan’s Table Salt. The closest i’ll get to Cape Cod is eating cod filets with a cape on, but I’m down. I love the idea of hooky, all seasons of the year.
Our summer bucket list includes cooking outside, taking at least one trip, doing a summer reading program/challenge and overall just having fun enjoying each other’s company before school starts back!
Your bucket lists ROCK! I just got a season pass for six flags and I want to go right this second and devour a funnel cake! Des really likes his outdoor play, and I don’t blame him, you live in paradise! You’re definitely putting in overtime in the laundry department with that one! lol I hope you get your two (at least) cape cod trips!!!!!!!