Snapshot Saturday: Summer Plans
It’s officially summer around here since we celebrated the last day of school this week. I’m sending subliminal messages to all my children to please sleep past 6:30 a.m. starting NOW. Somehow their internal clocks still think they need to be up at the break of dawn even during summer.
I know, my life is so hard.
We have some big plans this summer. In no particular order:
1) Swim lessons. Not for me, for the kids. Although I could use them truth be told. I’m the worst swimmer ever but I can do a pretty mean doggie paddle and a totally awesome knee-dive.
2) Close on our new house mid-June and begin remodeling the kitchen and master bed/bath to hopefully move in by mid-July. Words cannot even describe our excitement to be gaining a few more square feet (we’ve been living in a blessed but very tiny house for the last 8-ish months).
3) Drive cross-country to Island Park, Idaho for a family reunion. If you live along my path – Northern Minnesota through North Dakota through Montana to Idaho – let me know and I’ll wave as we drive past! That’s probably, like, 3 of you since it isn’t exactly population central through those areas. But I’ll still wave.
Yep, that’s about it! Scattered in there are daily chore/schedule charts, piano lessons, bike rides, trips to the library, and a whole lot of playing catch outside. Not to mention some seriously fabulous eats. Summer food speaks to my soul.
What are you most looking forward to this summer?
If you’d like to check out past Snapshot Saturdays, click HERE.
Greetings from Rexburg Idaho…….we love to go to Island Park. And by the way, I have family in Minnesota!!
Hehe. Here’s wishing you luck on your road trip…we’re going to attempt almost 4000 miles from WA, to southern CA, AZ, UT, ID and home with 5 kids ages 8,5,4,4 and 14 months. Heaven help us. It’s mostly to visit great grandparents that may not be around much longer, and see sights along the way. Camping, surprising the kiddos with Disneyland and crashing relative’s homes. It will be both an amazing and arduous trip, and we’ll be broke when we’re done, but I figure why wait to make memories? Hope you guys have fun too 🙂
I love the lazy days of summer! I’m planning to spend some much needed quality time with my husband and children on vacation!
Mel,
I grew up in Northern Minnesota so I understand the sentiment of being joyful of sunshine and the snow being gone for the season.
Have a wonderful summer and enjoy the short summer season of Northern Minnesota.
Island park is great! When do you go there? If you go as far as Rexburg, you need to go in the Great Harvest. Cuz we own it. We’ll be up that way a few times this summer too!
Yea! Congrats on the house and the soon remodeled kitchen. Make sure to take before and after pics! We live no where near there, we are in Oklahoma. But have a great trip!
Congrats on the new digs! Can’t wait to see pics!!
Yay for a new kitchen!!!! I know you must be sooooo excited! We are moving mid July also and I couldn’t be happier! The only thing is its 110 here and very very hot.. It looks gorgeous where you live. 🙂 Drive carful to your family reunion, but have a blast. I love family events!!! Can’t wait to see pics of the new home! Have a wonderful summer with your lil ones. Hope you get some rest some time over the summer too.. 🙂
Oh my goodness! You might have more than one crazy fan running up to you! Like Britney mentioned above, please pretend that you know me as well and that we are long lost friends! Ha ha….I live in Ashton and Island Park is right up the road! It’s beautiful up there and I hope you guys enjoy your stay!!!
I drove from Cache Valley to Winnipeg, Manitoba last summer with my 5 kids without my husband, who had to work. We had a fabulous time on our trip. Good luck with your house!
Hi Mel, I’ve been reading your blog for several years now. For what it is worth, as a career YMCA person I find that parents forget that we are often the lifeguards for our children. We faithfully swim up our kids at age 3 and every summer or chance after that, but so many parents are lacking those skills as well. Too many tragedies occur each summer simply because parents can’t swim. Why not take lessons too?
That sounds like an awesome summer. What I wouldn’t give for a few extra square feet! And a wheelchair accessible house for my oldest. And, well, the list could go on & on! Hopefully we’ll get some awesome new recipes from your newly remodeled kitchen!
I’ve been in the hospital being treated for cancer since February. Yesterday I was released to a cottage on the hospital campus as I have ongoing treatment for a couple more months, but I wanted to let you know that reading your blog all week was one of my main entertainments in the hospital. I’ve been following you for several years now and am never disappointed! Last night we had the Garlic Shrimp in Coconut Lime sauce for dinner. Even though my taste buds are still off, it was SOOO good and such a relief from hospital food. This summer my plan is to try all your recipes that I couldn’t cook in the hospital, get my taste buds back, and kick this cancer for good–which also means that my husband and I can return to our home. Thank you for your great site with such a positive attitude. I love the recipes, and I love your integrity to food and your blog. Thanks!
I could use few visits to a swimming pool as well. And I’m excited for your kitchen. Remodeling may be time consuming but it’s worth the effort 🙂
Hey! I live in S.E. Idaho and we have a cabin in Island Park where we spend a lot of time year round. You can wave at me as you go by and I might run into you in Island Park! It is beautiful up there! Make sure and take your kids to feed the fish at Big Springs. I LOVE your blog! I don’t know what I’d do without it. Thanks!
We are going to Canada mid June, and since I’ve never been there I’m pretty excited!
I hope you have a wonderful summer visiting family, closing on a new home, playing catch, etc. God bless you and your family.
Good luck Mel, with your new home. Hope that you and your family have a great summer Thank you for all your great recipes. It is like having a girlfriend on the other end helping you out. They are all so good, and never fail me. Enjoy and thank you again! 🙂
I never comment and rarely read the comments, but when somebody said they were from St Anthony, ID I just had to chime in. My husband is from there and his mother, the best mother in law ever, still lives there and all of his siblings. So wave at them when you go by.
Mel, your food blog is my favorite. We just talk like you are one of the family at our house. When I try something new, or one of the family raves about a recipe of yours, I just say I got it from Mel. Thanks for all the great recipes.
So happy for you! A new home and getting to connect and spend time with family. Looking forward to seeing pictures of your new kitchen and hope your mid July date holds firm with all being accomplished. We just finished devouring your sweet ham with the French Bread Rolls. I can’t remember ever , ever eating 2 sandwiches!! I read the comment above about the Coconut Tres Leches Cake. That is on the menu for tomorrow after church. It took me forever to find cream of coconut around here. One of our favorite family activities is bike riding. With so many of your recipes on my menus these days, my lack of control concerning portion sizes with these delicious recipes, and your mentioning in the above post of forthcoming seriously fabulous eats that I know you will graciously pass along to your eager followers, I had better greatly increase this bike riding activity in our lives this summer! 🙂
We travel that road often from Billings to Ashton, Idaho. My husband’s family is from Ashton and we love Island Park. Have a great time!
We’re excited for summer too! Have fun in IP, we go there all the time. (We’re in St. Anthony so be sure to wave to me!)
Wave at us in Rexburg on your way by! We’re big fans of you and your cookin’ 🙂
Hey, we’re going to Island Park to meet up with family too! Thanks for all the work you put into this website. I try recipes of yours on a weekly (and sometimes daily) basis, and the food is always delicious.
We are planning on going to island park in July! If a crazy fan comes up to you (I.e. me) please pretend like we are the best friends I think we are.
It looks like Spring hasn’t even come to your neck of the woods yet?! I love Island Park; have a wonderful summer and congrats on the new house!
Stacey – you know what’s funny is that this is totally what spring looks like here in the Northern reaches of Minnesota (basically Southern Canada!). I guess it’s all about perspective because we are thrilled the snow is gone and there is at least sunshine. 🙂 Bring on summer!
Is that a recent photo? If so, you guys have about as many leaves on your trees as we do in Wyoming. It’s taking us FOREVER to welcome spring, let alone summer!
Island Park is a family favorite. We went last year for a reunion and it was gorgeous. Enjoy!
Sounds fun, we love Island Park! We make several trips from northern Utah up there each summer. And good luck getting the kids to sleep in. I’m hoping for the same thing here.
You’re summer sounds fun and busy. Good luck with everything. It’s great to see that you keep the boys in piano lessons over the summer. My husband and I own a piano store in Green Bay and we see so many kids that totally quit over the summer and then it takes them a bit of time to get back at it in the fall. Have a fun summer!
First, I’m sorry for always making your fabulous recipes and never coming back to tell you how awesome they are. Your coconut tres leches cake is legendary in my circle of friends! But I had to comment on this post because WE are going to Island Park, Idaho for a family reunion this summer too! How crazy is that? 🙂
I live in Billings, MT. You will most likely drive through my town 🙂 Love your site. You have some of the best recipes.
I currently live in Washington (state) but I grew up in the middle of nowhere, Idaho… I love it there. Wave to my parents’ farm on your way by 😉
What a lovely plan for the summer! I wish you the very best as you adventure together with your family. Re: waving on your way to the reunion, I actually live in Vermont, but if you let us know when you leave, I will step to my front porch and wave each morning and send you loving wishes for agreeable travels (having five children and now ten grandchildren, I have some conception of what you are attempting!!).
Best wishes, and thanks again for sharing your wonderful blog,
Pattie in Vermont