We are just over a week into summer break, and we’ve tackled quite a few items from Thomas’ Summer List.
The biggest item is actually several smaller, more complex items: visiting all the branches of the Sonoma County Library. I typed up and printed out a list of all the branches and we’re having someone sign or initial at each library as a way of keeping track.
I mentioned this ambitious goal to one of our librarians and she was impressed. She even suggested that if we wanted to go further afield, the Sonoma County Library system partners with the library systems in Mendocino and Lake Counties … to which I replied, “Yeah, no, Petaluma and Cloverdale are as far as I’m willing to go!”
We signed up for the reading program at our branch (Windsor) and visited the newly-remodeled Northwest branch (Coddingtown), so that’s two down and 12 to go.
If you aren’t familiar with the library’s summer reading program, it’s divided into three age categories – elementary, teen and adult – and each age is given a bingo sheet of activities to complete for prizes. For example, a square might be visiting a library event, or reading in a new genre, or telling a librarian a joke – easy and fun.
They have partnered with museums and the parks system, and they introduce several other features of the library, like audio books. We love the summer reading program, and highly recommend it.
The cousins visiting gave us an opportunity to knock a few other items off the list. Jack just turned 6, which is my sweet spot, joke-wise. I found a treasure trove of new jokes to get giggles, which – bonus – gave Thomas material for filling in the “tell a librarian a joke” square.
Train Town was a blast – fun was had by all ten of us, aged 1 to 80. And of course, no Train Town visit is complete without a visit to Sonoma’s Black Bear Diner, which is another list item. When the cousins left town, we had a chance to cook breakfast for Nona to cheer her up – so Thomas’s favorite recipe came into play: buttermilk pancakes with blueberries. (Double bonus: It came from a book – Tyler Makes Pancakes, by Tyler Florence – which counts as a square on his library chart)
My own summer list is coming along nicely, too. In the week between school ending and summer school beginning, I have been feverishly working on sewing projects – one is a quilt for Megan’s birthday at the end of the month, so there’s definitely a deadline.
’ve also taken care of several tasks I’d put off, including taking Posey in for a mani-pedi (getting her nails clipped at the vet, which is the best $19.80 I can possibly spend) and other random things like organizing the pantry, donating books to the Friends of the Library and deep-cleaning our bedroom.
I also finally got a chance to order our Regional Parks Pass (one of Matt’s annual Father’s Day presents) – which Thomas and I can use to fill in squares on our library bingo cards, win/win – and got my summer batch of sourdough starter going.
What else? Oh, yeah – I got a planner that starts now and goes through next summer, and penciled in all the school calendar dates. (Mom’s summer list may not be as fun as Thomas’, but it’s still satisfying to knock things off it.)
Whew, not bad for one week in, I’d say!
With summer school four days a week we’ll have to plan a little more creatively to tackle the other 534 items. We turn Monday into “Fun Day” and set up outings, often including Nona. (She loves our library idea, and wants to come along)
Weekends can be family outings to parks and museums – Matt is already claiming the Pacific Air Museum for a weekend I’ll be away celebrating a friend’s birthday – and since Thomas can only have chicken strips or pizza once a week (his food intolerances have gotten better as he’s aged, but we pace him), we can space eating out in a reasonable manner. We can do it.
How are you enjoying your summer?
Juliana LeRoy wears many hats, including wife, mother, paraeducator and writer. She can be spotted around Windsor gathering material, or reached at [email protected].
