Gimme an S! Gimme a U! Gimme an M, M, E, R!

So, today marks the first official day of SUMMER! And yes, I know that's not what it says on the calendar. I don't care (I don't have a calendar, remember?). Memorial Day is, and forever will be (in the US, anyway), the first day of summer. Whoo hoo!!

I've got plans, too, baby! It will not be a lazy, hazy summer for us, no siree.

Ryan has begged me not to put her in a summer program this year. Pigsknuckle offers what are effectively summer daycare programs, disguised as 'day-camps'. She went for a few years but she hated them. The kids are scheduled pretty aggressively and they have no say in what activities they do. And while Ryan doesn't mind schedules in general, she tends to be more productive (and happier) when she feels she has some control over what she does. Like most kids, if she's not interested, she doesn't want to participate. I told her she doesn't have to go this year (as I hate to hear her whine every day when I pick her up and I don't mind saving the money I'd be shelling out only to hear her whine every day when I pick her up) but my willingness to allow her to stay home is conditional. Staying home does not mean she can sit on the computer or in front of the television all day, every day. So... she has a list of things she'll be doing (and a few incentives to keep her interested and whine-free)...

First, we've got swim team, which runs from the first of June to the end of July... that's 5 practices a week and 6 meets. It keeps us busy.

Second, she's got tennis lessons this year, as she wanted (and got) a tennis racquet for Christmas and now needs to learn how to use it.

Third, I've told her she has to 'train' with me for the Breast Cancer walk in October. I've set a goal for us to walk 350 miles together during the time she's out of school (about 70 days). It's attainable but it'll take some work (which is what goals should do), and if we reach it, I've promised her a trip to the water park (which is expensive and not something I'd normally splurge on). She picked the prize (it's one of her favorite places ever), so I know she'll be willing to work to achieve it. 5 miles a day isn't that much, really, and I'll continue walk more on my own to get ready, but I know Ryan and I know it's not something she'd do willingly otherwise (because walking is boring you know). I've clocked the mileage for various trips around town, as one of my summer goals is to use the car as little as possible, so I'm sure the miles will add up quickly.

Fourth, she's got a reading list. She's picked a load of books from her shelves and she's piling them up to plow through this summer. Though reading is not something I generally have to bribe her to do, as it's one of her favorite things, I figured I'd sweeten the pot a little to keep the momentum going (and the TV off). I've assigned each book a monetary value, from 50 cents to $1.50, so she'll make a little money for each one she finishes and for which she turns in a one-page written report. The idea of a little extra pocket money really floats her boat. I'm just hoping I don't live to regret this one...

Last, she's got a summer-long project to work on. This school year, her Challenge group did an architecture project, where they designed, built, and wired for light, a house. She totally got into every aspect of the project and even built little pieces of furniture on her own to fill the house. Last year, I got her a 3-D architecture kit for Christmas (it makes a house about 2x2 feet), so her summer project (which she picked herself), is to design, build, decorate, and landscape a house. She's really excited about it, as am I, truth be told, and I expect we'll be spending a lot of time at Lowe's during the sweltering days to come.

Of course we've got other, fun stuff to do, too, like several camping trips, day-trips to DC and local sights, and a few lazy days by my brother's pool. But overall, I expect Ryan's summer to be full and interesting.

I've got a few plans for myself, too...

I'm turning off the TV completely this summer and delving into my unread book pile. I've picked 20 books to get through between now and September 1st (anyone want to pay me for reading? I'll happily turn in written reports!). I've also got a couple of big work projects to get done, the BC walk to get ready for, and some decorating projects to see to (I'm hoping to re-do both my bedroom and Ryan's, as that's what she's asked for for her 10th birthday). I've also just finished sorting our our week-long camping trip to Assateague/Chincoteague Islands. And finally, I've got some writing projects I want to accomplish.

As I say, no lazy, hazy summer for us!

What about you? What's on your summer agenda? And for those of you in the southern hemisphere, what will winter bring your way? Do tell...