Summer Goals

The temperatures are rising, the flowers are blooming, and finally, the kids are out of school. It’s official everyone, summer is here! Living in the Midwest, this time of year is something to celebrate. I think we all deserve it considering those long and grey winters that we put up with {sorry to remind you}.
While I know it will go fast, this year I’m going to make the most of it. From family outings, to local eats here is what’s on my summer goal list this year …

Slow Down
The thing I love most about summer is the slower pace. After months of bouncing between sports, balancing everyone’s social agendas, and trying to stay on top of homework assignments, summer is like a big breath of fresh air. It’s also the time of year that I step away from work a bit to reconnect with my family, my friends, and myself. Ahh.
Victory
While our kids don’t participate in as many sports during the summer months I do still coach my son, Andrew’s, basketball team on Sundays. I can’t imagine it’s easy to take coaching advice from your mother, but Andrew is such a good sport and I love being part of his team. This summer I’m hoping for a winning record and if we don’t get there, well … we’ll have fun anyways!
Old Fashion Fun
In the era of online gaming and digital everything, I’m so happy to see that one of my kids has an appreciation for good-old-fashion board games. That would be Avery, my middle daughter. On those rainy summer days I am looking forward to going head-to-head with her in Sorry, Trouble, and Skip-Bo. I am fiercely competitive by nature, but when it comes to family game nights I try to keep it light and fun {keyword, try}.
Eat Burgers
My daughter Taylor and I have recently taken on a large project … to find the best burger in Cincinnati. So far we’ve already been to Five Guys, The Red Feather, and Wild Flower Cafe, which means we only have a couple hundred burger joints to go. For all of the restaurant owners out there, be on the lookout, our ideal burger is well cooked, well dressed, and comes with delicious sides. And no, we’re not talking about coleslaw.
Disconnect
One of the highlights of our summer is spending time on Lake Cumberland. With no internet and limited cell phone coverage it’s almost like we get to travel back in time. You know, to the days when families actually had to entertain each other?! I love how much our kids look forward to stepping away from their devices play in the water, catch up, and just be. This year my brother, his wife, and his three kids will be joining us as well, so there should be no shortage of good times.
Stay On Track
One of the only drawbacks about summer is the temptation to overindulge. I mean who doesn’t love a sizzling brat and an ice-cold beer on a hot August afternoon? I sure do. While I am not one to restrict myself, during the summer months I do have to make a conscious effort to stay balanced. Generally this means paying attention to my eating habits and keeping my body moving. The goal is to maintain!
What’s on your goal list this summer? Whatever you get into I hope it’s the perfect mix of relaxing, rejuvenating, and fun!