Spring and Summer Plans

As the saying goes, "opposites attract," and one of the ways in which Paul and I are opposites would be that I love to plan, make lists, etc. I have never known Paul to own a calendar, and I feel lost without one. I discovered last year that Dollar Tree (a store where everything is truly $1) sells the size calendar I prefer to carry in my purse. If we ever own smart phones, I am sure I'll switch to using a digital calendar, but until that point I will keep writing in my weekly planner. At this point the last two years it was hard to make plans because we didn't know if we were moving or not, but since Paul has already signed a contract to teach at Bucknell through May 2016, I can make plans for the coming months. What made the plans trickier to make this time around is the budget. I had to be more selective to keep the expenditures under control. For example, I decided this year we will NOT go to the Barnum & Bailey circus, Disney on Ice, Luray Caverns, Crayola Museum, Thomas the Train, etc. I also am leaning towards not joining the swimming pool. We have joined every summer the past four years (although we were given a refund in 2012 due to my bed rest during Oliver's pregnancy), but to save some money I am thinking we'll just buy passes for individual days rather than buying a summer membership this year. Making plans and anticipating special events is a lot of fun! Here are some things that are penciled into our calendar for this spring and summer:

1. One camp - I had originally planned on sending Nadia to theatre camp (half-day for 5 days), horse camp (full day for 5 days with Ian), and to an overnight camp for 4 days/3 nights, but I've decided to skip the horse camp this summer (maybe in 2016?), and instead of a theatre camp I signed her up to be in Annie which will involve two 2 hour rehearsals a week (9-11am) for five weeks. I have registered her to attend the Adventure Camp at Camp Susque from June 17-20. Nadia did her first camp when she was three years old (ballet camp), and she did a week of theatre camp when she was both five and six years old, but I don't think Ian (age 5) is ready for such an experience unless he was doing it with Nadia (as I had planned with horse camp). 

2. One boat ride - Last year we went on two train rides (Thomas the Train and the Polar Express) and one paddle wheel boat ride. This year instead of those three things we are planning to go on a pirate ship adventure in Annapolis. It normally costs $20 per person, but on July 20 it's only $5 a person! It includes face painting, wearing costumes, and acting out an assigned role during the cruise.

3. One sport - Nadia and Ian will have soccer until June 6, and then we'll have a break from that for a couple of months. I again toyed with the idea of signing them both up for Little League, but the fact they would have more than one game a week turns me away every year. Paul is coaching Ian's U6 team this spring.

4. Two zoos - Last year I took them to the Baltimore Aquarium, zoo in DC, and Lake Tobias. We have tickets to go to SeaWorld in May so we won't go to any other aquariums this year, but I do want to make sure we go to one zoo this summer (either the Virginia Zoo when we're in Williamsburg or the Baltimore Zoo when we're in Maryland).

5. Two vacations - two weeks in Florida in May with Paul's parents and six nights in Williamsburg, Virginia the end of May into early June with my parents. Last year we took an overnight trip to the beach (in NJ) in September, but I don't think we'll do that this year since we're spending a week at the beach in Florida and might spend a day at Virginia Beach in June if it's warm enough.

6. Two movies - Last summer we took the kids to the movie theater for the very first time by taking advantage of the $1 summer movies. I was really wanting to take them to see Paddington this summer, but Nadia's Annie rehearsals conflict with the time the movies are shown the first five weeks, and the kids' swimming lessons conflict with the last two weeks. So this summer I'll have Paul take them to the movies twice - once to see Dolphin Tale 2 (we'll have to borrow the first DVD from the library so they can see that before they see the sequel at the theater) and the other week to see Penguins of Madagascar. Usually we watch movies on DVD. We'll be sure to watch Paddington and the new Cinderella movie when they come out!

7. Two weeks of VBS - I don't know yet exactly when the kids will be going to VBS, but since we are going on vacation in May they should be able to do at least two weeks of VBS this summer. I think they'll do one week of VBS at the Alliance church in June and at least one week of VBS in July.

8. Three classes - I have signed Nadia up for a ten week Spanish class that will meet on Monday nights from 6:30-8:00, and I am planning to sign Ian up for a two week (30 minute) Level 1 swimming class that will start on July 27. I am planning to sign Nadia up for the Level 3 swimming class that same session. I am going to wait until 2016 to sign Oliver up for a preschool swimming class. The homeschool gym class ends on May 1, and Nadia's current session of Level 2 gymnastics ends on April 20. We are taking a break from both of these this summer.

9. Six community events - We really enjoyed the National Night Out event in Lewisburg the past two years. Nadia loves to do the zip line! The kids also enjoy the parades in our town (the fireman's parade in June and the fourth of July parade). In addition to the celebrations in our town on July 4th (parade, pony rides, petting zoo, fireworks, etc.), I am thinking of also attending Lewisburg's Independence festivities for the first time, which always take place the week before the 4th of July (concert, fireworks, and parade). Last year we were in Florida on July 4th. I am glad we plan to be at home on that day this year. We'll also be doing a couple of Easter egg hunts. Last year I took the boys to the Rural Heritage Day in Lewisburg in July, but Nadia was still en route back from Florida. I would like to take all three kids this summer.

10. Six workshops - I think from April to August Paul can take the kids to three workshops at Lowe's and three workshops at Home Depot on Saturday mornings.

11. Six amusement parks - in Florida we plan to go to Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. I've penciled in two trips to DelGrosso's in July and August (weather permitting) on days when the handstamp is only $10, and a day at HersheyPark in May. The only time I've been to HersheyPark over the last 20 years has been in November or December. They have a nice rate for homeschoolers in May, and I'd like to experience the park when it's not cold out. We will be receiving three free tickets to Six Flags (in MD), and Oliver is still free. I am planning on taking them there on June 25 (day after her birthday) if the weather is good that day. Last but not least, we will go to Knoebels at least twice this year with the first trip planned for the last weekend in April.

12. Nine+ museums - I am planning to take the kids to the Children's Museum in Bloomsburg three times between April - July, and then I am probably going to buy an annual membership in August. We already have tickets to go to the Kennedy Space Center in May, and we're hoping to meet my parents at the Whitaker Center (science museum) this spring in Harrisburg. I also am planning to take the kids to Port Discovery (children's museum in Baltimore) in July on an evening it only costs $2. Other plans include Colonial Williamsburg  and a Children's Museum of Virginia in early June with my parents, the Maryland Science Center in Baltimore in September, and Steamtown National Park (all about railroads). I might schedule a field trip to that site to take advantage of a program the rangers put on for kids in grades K-2. As an FYI, if you have a National Park near you that you've been wanting to visit, they are all free on April 18-19. We will also probably do some sight seeing of some sort in NYC on September 5 on our way home from a quick visit at my Aunt's house (she lives on Long Island).

13. Eight shows - We have tickets to see three shows next month - Peking Acrobats, A Bagful of Fables, and Mary Poppins. I'm planning to take them to see Alice in Wonderland on August 9, The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs on July 25, Jungle Book on August 14, and Winnie the Pooh on August 21. Nadia has already asked to see Joseph at Sight & Sound for her birthday in June, but I am planning on telling her we're going to wait until the tickets are cheaper. I've noticed that at other times in the year they have REALLY good specials for homeschoolers. The last three years we went around her birthday (Jonah, Noah, and Moses), but I'm going to tell her that Six Flags will be her special birthday event this summer and that I do plan on taking her to see Joseph later when the tickets are a lot cheaper.  Of course we can't wait to see Nadia be a part of Annie in July! I haven't decided yet whether or not I'll have the kids participate in the summer musical at the Alliance church that they have been a part of the past three summers.

14. Umpteen trips to the playground - I cannot wait until the weather warms up. I really, really need more exercise and fresh air! Praying that the spring weather comes SOON. Also we will be visiting a variety of yard sales. A few of the annual ones are already in our calendar. Ian was asking me recently when we would be going to a yard sale. My kids are well trained, ha ha!