Our Summer Bucket List
The sun is shining, I’ve purged ALL the closets and if I’m being honest, getting rid of excess stuff is SUCH a good feeling! Summer starts TOMORROW and I’m getting really excited :)
My kids are at such a fun age and getting more independent and their personalities are coming out in full force and it’s just a BLAST! I dumped a bunch of fun ideas into this and also asked my boys what things they want to do this summer, so here’s our list! We do have a few summer camps as well, but we also have a LOT of free time and I get really annoyed when they just tell me their bored all the time, haha!
from last summer at Maroon Bells while visiting my parents, how do they look so little?
Summer Bucket List 2026
Make Ice Cream (again): We made homemade ice cream earlier this year and not only was it delicious, but we had fun making it together and picking flavor combinations and mix-ins.
Host Mahjong Outdoors: I just got my very own set of tiles (still waiting on the pushers and mat I ordered to arrive) and I’m looking forward to hosting friends and maybe even teaching Rob so I can force him to learn ;) Setting up outside for a little al fresco afternoon sounds pretty perfect!
Dinner Parties: I actually love hosting and I haven’t done it in so long. Between a busy second semester and a kitchen renovation, it just hasn’t happened. Whether it’s an easy get together with just another couple or family, or a more elaborate night with a group of girl friends, I’m making it happen.
Go to the Pool…a LOT: My youngest is finally feeling confident in the pool and so any day that we can, we’ll be going to the pool!
Kayaking: A friend was just telling me about a spot out in Evergreen where you can rent kayaks and after camp last year, my boys fell in love with kayaking, so I love this idea for a daytime adventure!
Make Homemade Pasta: I absolutely love to cook and when we’re home more and have more time, I love a more intricate meal and making homemade pasta. The boys love using the pasta machine and it’s always SO good, so this is on the list!
Visit Grandparents in the Mountains: My parents spend their summers in Snowmass, where I grew up going as a kid, and coming back with my own kids is literally one of the most special things to me. We’re going up in a few weeks and I can’t wait! We’ll go again in August too :)
Go Hiking: We’ll definitely being doing some hikes in the mountains and just outside of Denver. It’s so good to get outside and be in nature. Sometimes my kids whine about it before, but always have a great time when we’re out there!
Go to the Farmers’ Market: I’m actually embarrassed that there is a farmer’s market at the park near us and I’ve never been.
Reading Hours: I have no idea how this will go, but I want to implement 20-30 minutes of reading time. My oldest loves to read and my youngest is learning to read and I love the idea of a set little break in the day to chill out. I’ll report back on how this one goes, haha!
Teach Jack to Ride a Bike: This has been on the list for a while and admittedly, he’s been really scared and not excited about this, but I also know that once he gets it, he’s going to love it! So, we’re just going to keep practicing! Wish us luck!
Board Game Nights: I think it can be so easy to get into a routine, but I’d love to switch it up some nights and play board games as a family. We have a few that we can all play together and I just taught my oldest to play Rummikub which is SO fun!
Jazz in the Park: We live not far from City in the Park which has a free jazz concert series throughout the summer and somehow we’ve never been. I blame early bedtimes for little ones, but I’d love to go once this summer. Bike over with a picnic (now you see my motivation for getting Jack to learn!) and some friends—sounds perfect!
What do you have on your list for the summer?