You only get 18 summers...

18 summers.  That's it.  Eighteen.  How does that make you feel?  For some things 18 feels like a lot right?  Like 18 years maybe, or an 18 mile run.  But summers?  Wow.  I'm already 5 deep with my oldest.  That means we only have 13 left.  It makes me stop and say holy shit.  

I'm trying to make it count this year, especially since it's the last unscheduled time my 5 year old will know for quite a while, as he makes his way to full day kindergarten come September (complete with a bus ride).  I'm actually freaking the ef out about the the bus ride part, but I'll focus on the now... and enjoy this summer.  Of course I need to remind myself of that when he asks to play legos for the 9,937 time.  Or when he mutters the word "bored" (he just said it for the first time the other day and I was all like, well, there goes the innocence of childhood- GO DO SOME CHORES IF YOUR BORED).  I know I'll miss this soon when the days become dark at 5pm, and it's too cold for a bike ride to get ice-cream.  

I made a little list of things that we love to do in the summer, and, small or not, have become traditions.  I'd love to add some new things to our list and would love to know your favorites!  

Our Summer Bucket List of 2018:

• Strawberry (or any fruit) picking.  We usually do strawberries in June and Blackberries & peaches in August (and of course apples in October)
• Pool days.  Enough said.
• Weekly library trips
• Dutch Wonderland (we went for the first time last year, and it was a hit)
• Beach!  Duh.  This year: Isle of Palms in Charleston (June) and Cape May (July)
• Bike rides 
• Ice cream trips after dinner (or breakfast, we don't discriminate).
• Hikes (send me your favorites around the Baltimore area!  We do Patapsco, Loch Raven, and Gunpowder)
• Hammock time
• Camp fire/s'mores

In between enjoying all the life and fun summer has to offer, I'm filling my work days with documenting families living their best lives!  I'd love to tag along with your family to document your sweet, long, dog days of summer.  After all, there are only 18 - make this one count!  In fact, because I feel so strongly about preserving these summer days, I'm discounting my 1/2 Day in the Life session fee by 30% for sessions booked in July & August.  

Don't wait, because there are only a few available!  

So do me a solid- comment below and let me know what I'm missing on this list, I want to know what YOU love to do in the summer, and how I can grow my list!  Better yet, let's document YOU doing it!    xx  -- Jess