I’ve been fretting all summer about how quickly it’s racing by and worrying that I haven’t taken advantage of it to the fullest. So this weekend, I looked through the paper for some fun ideas and found one I knew my husband would love: a tour of World War II airplanes at a local airport!
It was a lot of fun and totally different from our typical weekend activities. We got to go up in the planes, which was quite an experience for this claustrophobe.
It was 90 degrees, the planes are made of metal, and there were long lines of people ahead of us who took FOREVER to go through because they kept taking pictures. Kristen trapped in a hot, cramped plane with no clear exit route=on the verge of panic attack. Fortunately, I composed myself and had fun anyway.
Afterward, we decided to go out for a late lunch and wanted to go somewhere new. We ended up at the Yardhouse at the Glen, and I had a grilled cheese sandwich with tomato bisque and sweet potato fries. Yum! (Can you tell this whole healthy eating thing is still a work in progress?)
When we got back, I decided to make a list of a few more activities I want to make sure we do before the summer slips away and becomes a memory:
1. Take a trip to my parents’ cabin in northern Wisconsin (scheduled for early August–can’t wait!)
2. Go to the Farmer’s Market and buy some fresh tomatoes and a great cheese.
3. Take the dogs for a walk in the forest preserve.
4. Ride a Ferris wheel at a local festival or downtown at Navy Pier.
5. Have a fire in the backyard.
6. Play softball with my family at the local park.
7. Go to the botanic gardens.
8. Go to our favorite local restaurant that overlooks a lake on a night when they have a live band (possible activity for our fifth anniversary next weekend!).
9. Go to a drive-in movie.
10. Go on a picnic.
The best part about making this list was that it made me remember all the great times we have had this summer and helped me realize we haven’t wasted it at all. In fact, right after I wrote number 10, I remembered that we HAD a picnic just two weeks ago! We went to an outdoor concert with my mom and my best friend and her dad and kids, and we had a great little picnic while listening to tropical music.
We’ve also gone to a Cubs game, Disney World, Universal Studios, swimming (at Jon’s parents’ gorgeous pool), a beachside wedding, tons of barbecues and more. I went to a great bachelorette party on a boat and went shopping at an outdoor outlet mall, and Jon went on a fishing trip with my dad. And the best part: we installed a new fence, making our own backyard a fun getaway for us and our dogs.
In other words, it’s been a pretty great summer.
If yours is flying by, like mine, take a few minutes to savor the fun times you’ve had, and then write down a few can’t-miss activities to do in the next 30 days. Don’t let another day pass you by! Make the most of summer 2011–starting this minute.
I love the pic of your doggie hanging out in the pool!
That totally says summer to me!
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Let me know if you want to do a farmers’ market together – I am the queen of that shit.
Also, if you’re interested in learning how to can or preserve this summer, we can do that, too!