Fun summer activities list

Since the weekend, we've crossed three items off the summer list: triathlons, the water park, and now Andrew Haydon Park. Here's what it looks like now:

1. Finger painting outside

2. Sidewalk chalk drawing on the driveway

3. Berry picking

4. Going to a splash pad

5. Visiting a farmer’s market

6. Cheering on Hannah at her triathlons (Britannia, Carleton)

7. Day trip to Constance Bay

8. Picnic at Andrew Haydon park

9. Camp in the backyard

10. Watch a movie outdoors

11. Mont Cascades water park

Today we went for a picnic at Andrew Haydon park with my mom; my young charge E is on vacation with her parents, so we're having a staycation where we do special things each day. (Yesterday, for instance, it was rainy, so we went to the Museum of Civilization; D loved how hands-on the children's exhibits were, even though she was too young to understand much of what was there.) Anyway, it was hot and muggy today, but by virtue of its proximity to the water, the park was lovely and cool. Mom stayed for lunch, but had to leave to run errands. D and I went to the closest playground in the park, which has three boat-like play structures for kids of various ages. D happily pottered around until we had been there for two hours, and it looked enough like rain to head home.

One of the reasons I'm keen to get through this list early on is that if a particular activity, especially a free one, is a big hit, I want to be able to do it often. The splash pad has certainly turned out that way (and there's one within walking distance, I found out!), and Andrew Haydon park is looking to be the same! We didn't even begin to explore everything there is: a water playground, ponds, walking paths, and lots of ducks and geese (admittedly more popular with D than me). Next time, I might bring snacks rather than a full picnic lunch, or maybe we'll go with Hubby for dinner one evening. The best part about going there mid-week is that it isn't nearly as crowded as on the weekends, so parking is easy, too. You should see it on a Sunday around dinner time- packed with families!
Another fun, free, but unexpected activity? Picking raspberries at the side of our house. Our next-door neighbours planted raspberry bushes along the side of their house, and the bushes kindly migrated the few feet to our side. They didn't yield a crop last year, but they're making up for it this summer! Apparently they alternate years like this for everyone, not just us. Whenever we pull into the driveway, D remembers the berries and asks "pick raspberries?" We've been finding whole handfuls of ripe ones on a daily basis since the weekend, and D gobbles them up like candy. Like the rhubarb, this is my kind of plant!