Eeeek!  Summer is careening to a quick end, and there are still so many things I want to do with Real OC Daughter.  It seems like there is just never enough time!

So, in our final days (14, to be exact), here are the must-do’s:

1.  Make homemade ice cream.  We have an ice cream maker that does not get very much use.  But it’s time.  Real OC Daughter needs to know why homemade ice cream is just so much better than store bought.  We will start with a good traditional vanilla.  I’m thinking this recipe from Alton Brown will be the one we use.

2.  Go to the beach.  I’m embarrassed to say that we haven’t yet visited the beach.  We live fairly close, but it still seems like such a major outing to me, so I don’t make it a priority.  We’ve been to the pool and the park a bunch of times, but not the beach.  We’re going to suit up, grab some buckets and shovels, and hit the sand.

3.  See an old friend.  I have a dear friend from college I haven’t seen in years.  She lives in Woodland Hills, works part-time as a veterinarian, and has two young kids, so it’s tough to find a time to get together.  But get together we will!  I’m determined to see her, catch up, and smile as our kids play together.

4.  Play outside in the sprinklers.  We have a hopscotch fountain that I bought on clearance at Target that Real OC Daughter just loves playing in.  I hook it up to the hose, and we jump to our heart’s content together in the water.  Water balloons, bubbles and popsicles will also be part of the fun.

5.  Make homemade sparkly play-dough.  This recipe looks pretty easy, and it’s definitely something we can do together in the kitchen.  Then we’ll take the play dough outside and whip up some lovely creations together.

Now, there’s my to-do list for the rest of the summer.  But that’s not to say we haven’t done a lot of fun things this summer, either!  Real OC Daughter and I have had a great time together, and I feel really, really lucky that I’ve been able to spend so much time with her this summer.  She’s still young enough to think I’m fun to hang out with, which may only last a few more years.  I’m going to savor every single moment of that for sure!