Summer Kick-off List

Today, Jude's school year ends at 10:00. 10:00 am. I mean, why the hell even have school at all, right? But that's their tradition. The last day of school is only 2 hours long. Our little family tradition is that we then drop by Jude's old preschool to say hello to his former teachers who always fuss about how BIG he is. We then go to lunch - this year we're thinking the new Hamburger Hamlet which is opening on Larchmont this very day. Pretty exciting. But after that? Nada.

So I sat the kid down and we made a list of stuff we want to do this month. Some things were suggested by Jude, others by me. I'm guessing that you will be able to figure out which ones were which. No doubt some of this will work it's way into a Camp Mama adventure soon.

1. Nothing

We decided that we should have some days when we do absolutely nothing. I am totally down with that. I'm thinking that "nothing" will include watching tv and playing video games. That kind of nothing.

2. Clean Jude's Room

I mean REALLY clean it. He has toys on his shelves that he hasn't played with in YEARS. And his drawers are overflowing with stuff he's outgrown. It's time for a serious purge.

3. Visit the Tallest Building in Los Angeles

For YEARS we've been saying that we were going to go to the top of the US Bank Tower in downtown LA. While not as horrifyingly lofty as the Empire State Bldg., it's still pretty tall (1018 ft.). High enough to satisfy Jude and to make me wish I had a Xanax. I'm thinking we can work in a ride on Angels Flight...

...and maybe lunch at Grand Central Market. And a trip to the downtown library. Could be good.

4. Computer for Jude + Roller Coaster Tycoon 3

While this sounds like a generous gift for the kid, it is in truth extremely selfish. Jude has suddenly discovered the computer. Yes, it's time, I guess. He is terribly, terribly interested in YouTube and such, and wants nothing in the world more than Roller Coaster Tycoon 3, which is a downloadable computer game. And since I am totally unprepared to hand my laptop over to him...we have decided to buy him a desktop of his own. The El Salvadorian computer geek dudes around the corner say they can hook me up with a cleaned up used desktop for super cheap. It will probably last about as long as you would think a super cheap used computer would last, but that's okay. Jude doesn't know this is coming, so DON'T TELL HIM. He will discover it when he gets home today after the hamburger. Shhhhh.

5. Outdoor Family Activities

The other day, Jude and I played tennis. I am a poor tennis player, and he is...9, so we're about equal. It was sort of amazingly fun. In the middle of our match (I'm using that word loosely, as we didn't really keep score), Jude said "This is what they call an Outdoor Family Activity." And he was correct. After the tennis, we decided that we should try to do some type of Outdoor Family Activity every day. This could include tennis, hiking, running or swimming. I want to get Jude ready for cross-country in the fall, and maybe we could start running together. I'm hoping this gets me in better shape. Wish me luck.

6. Fun with Fancy

I used to take our little dog Fancy on outings all the time. But I'm afraid that other than her daily drive to school, we don't take her around much anymore. So we're thinking we should start taking her on walks and hikes around LA. Runyon Canyon is a cool place that's super dog friendly. Maybe she'll get in shape too.

7. Clean up our white trash backyard

I need to do my annual start of summer cleanup - trimming the scraggly trees, potting some new flowers, hosing down the house. I realize that to most of you, the idea of hosing down the house is odd, but it so seldom rains here, that the house actually gets dirty and needs a bath. And then, of course, we need to clean out the "pool", which is full of leaves and crap. Maybe I'll stick the kid with this.

8. Get to the beach

June in Los Angeles means a peculiar weather phenomenon called "June Gloom". June 1 arrives and the entire city falls under cloud cover. It's very strange. The rest of America is hot and sunny, and here in sunny California, it's cold and dreary. This week has actually been unseasonably lovely, but in the past, it's a tough month to get the the beach. We are determined to give it a try anyway. Even if it means the usual - Jude boogie boards until he's shivering and his lips turn blue, and I sit in my beach chair huddled under a blanket. It's still fun, damnit.

9. Finally Building That Damned K-Nex Roller Coaster

We gave Jude this cool K-Nex Super Cyclone Coaster for Christmas...

...and it's still in the damned box. It proved to be a little bit more complicated than we thought. But now that Jude's the terribly mature 9 year old that he has suddenly become, I'm thinking we can bang this together in a couple of days.

10. Sleep late every day

Oh yes. Every day. Just thinking about it is making me slightly weak with joy.

So that's the June plan. We'll see how well we stick to it. I'm thinking we'll at least accomplish #1 and #10.  Do you have a plan to kickoff summer?

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This post was inspired by...

Prompt #1 - Ten To-Dos in June.

Comments

[Elizabeth]

Everything sounds realistic and GOOD. Well, maybe except for the exercising every single day.

[Michele]

Your summer sounds like fun and relaxing.

Mine sounds like a lot of driving. We just made plans to take a long weekend in NOLA. Nothing says summer like sweltering heat, humidity, beignets, hurricanes and jazz. Then the long drive up to Oregon for "dump the kid at med school". Capped by a lovely drive down the Cali coast and wine.

[dumb mom]

I lived in LA (sorta, Torrance) for like 16 years and I never went downtown other than to a basketball game more than the one time when my parents took me shopping in the garment district (which was lame by the way). Looks like an interesting place!

[Ginny Marie]

Sounds good to me! Lily's last day was yesterday, and she got out at 10:30. You should have heard the kids whooping and hollering when that bell rang! It was fun. :D

I have my friend post up! http://www.lemondroppie.com/2012/06/introducing-my-friend-tricia/

[Stacy Uncorked]

I love the idea of making a list of ideas of things you want to do over the summer - I'm going to have to borrow that. And I love that you have a last day of school tradition, too - I really should have started that sort of tradition with Princess Nagger, she has the unfortunate mode of having to go for only 2 hours on the last day, too. Ah well, maybe next year... ;)

I've been giving Princess Nagger my hand-me-down laptops when I've upgraded (so far twice - which means I'm hanging onto the oldest one to get ready for Little Dude when he's 'old enough' to have it. Sure, it'll be majorly obsolete by then, but he won't care, I'm sure). Very cool you're getting Jude a computer - one of Princess Nagger's all-time favorite things to do is watch funny videos on YouTube. :)

[Stacy Uncorked]

Oh, and I forgot to mention - check out roblox.com - it's a cool online gaming place for kids, they build their own towns and cities and it's like virtual legos. Princess Nagger will be happy to 'friend' Jude and show him the ropes. ;)

[Kimberly at Rubber Chicken Madness]

We're having a garage sale this weekend to clear a bunch of clutter, then next week, we're going car shopping. Oy vey! I will have a 16 year old child in 11 days. I. Can't. Handle. This.

[Alaina]

I love that you two came up with this plan together. Sounds like a good summer to me!

[Jan's Sushi Bar]

As an old parent (my oldest is 29 today), I'd like to suggest you keep the computer out in a common area where you can sneak up behind him and see what he's doing from time to time - those parental controls don't always work as well as they should. (The Young One is 17 and his computer is still out in a common area - my rule is "you can have a computer in your room when you're paying for your own place.")

[VandyJ]

We just gave Turbo our old laptop--an upgrade from the previous old lap top he had. He has been having a blast playing math games on it. He has yet to figure out how to get to You Tube. Once he does we may never see him again. But since the computer sits right inside the door to his room I'm sure we will be able to find him again.
My spin is up, such that it is.
http://tttandme.blogspot.com/2012/06/spin-cycle-you-gotta-have-friends.html

[suzicate]

What a great list of fun...however, cleaning the kids' bedrooms and building k'nex projects alone took all summer! Here's my spin http://suzicate.wordpress.com/2012/06/07/when-friends-move-on/

[Arnebya]

You know I'm loving Jan's Sushi Bar's comment above. Our computer will forever and ever amen remain in the common area. I just don't see the need to be squirreled away in one's room with it (but I am NOT judging anyone who is ok with it; just doesn't work for us). Oh, YouTube. Damn you. Kid can put in Spongebob dancing and by page 3 there are nekked women certainly getting their skanky scurvy groove on. There are filters but they suck.

We don't have much of a plan. The girls are out next Thursday. I'll switch my schedule to 7-3 so that I'm home earlier and I'll be off every other Monday. That Monday will be special where we'll get to spend the day together but outside of that? I got nothin'. They are enrolled in three two-week camps: Making a Musical (this was great last year), swimming, and fashion design for one, cheerleading for the other. They'll spend a week with a friend of mine in NC. I wish with everything within me that I didn't have to work, that I could enjoy the summer with them. Here's to hoping 2013 works that out.

[Sprite's Keeper]

We're knee deep into summer already and Sprite is enjoying her dance camp, but I still wish I could take a week off here or there just to experience some summer with her. :-)

[MJ]

Great list, and thanks for some ideas! We've been in LA for two years, and I'd never even heard of Angels Flight. I think my kids would love it.

As for June Gloom, we also get May Gray mornings over here in the Glendale/Burbank area. I love when it clears away for the day!

[kate]

I am definitely down with #1, Nothing!!!!!