I have distinct memories of visiting my grandparents in the summer as a kid–the smell of their home, fig newtons in the cookie jar in the kitchen with the gold linoleum floor, shag carpet in the family room, swinging saloon doors, taking baths in my grandma’s tub with the pink bottle of Avon bubble bath, sitting in lawn chairs outside their Airstream trailer at the campground where we’d visit them, and riding Big Wheels with my cousins…they always had Big Wheels for the grandkids.

Poppa made sure to get a Big Wheel to keep at his cabin, and I can’t help but smile watching Dash relive this summer memory of my own–one of the many associations he’ll make with summer with his grandpa someday.

I’m bad at checking e-mails these days, have thought very little of things I need to do, haven’t felt one bit of stress and–here’s the biggie–HAVEN’T BEEN TO TARGET IN A MONTH.

End cap Target specials can’t compete with this:

We made cinnamon rolls the other morning and took them outside to share with the chipmunks.

It rained a few days last week, and while at home I might get a little stir crazy being stuck indoors that many days in a row, we loved the invitation here to watch movies, work on puzzles and nap in the cabin.

The cooler temps also give us the opportunity to bust out our flannels and buffalo checks.

By the way, I said no to him climbing to the top of the teetering log pile, and he’s thrilled about it.

My brother and sister and families came up last weekend for our siblings bash. Sacrificing more frequent family get togethers was definitely one of the biggest drawbacks of moving to Florida, but it sure does make coming home more special. All family get togethers should involve the circle huddle. Around a table, a campfire, a piano, a game board…just put them in a circle and magic will follow.

Also, sword fighting to balance out all that love.

Evening kayaking with coffee…

Followed by family hot tub time…

Matchy matchy cousins.

And my sister who has a very special place in Dash’s heart.

I can’t wait to hear what my kids remember of these summers someday…

In the meantime, I’m storing so many joys and reminders of how I want to live my life. Summer will do that to you.

Hello from Northern Michigan! Where the wifi is spotty but the summer bucket list potential is GOLD. We are on our way home from Traverse City where we spent the day exploring downtown while three children slowly crumbled into reminders of why traveling with kids is haaaaarrrrrd. But they are all sleeping in the back seat right now while I edit pictures of them being cute and making memories, so we are right back to that place where summer endorphins control the brain and packing everyone up in the car to drive two hours to a state landmark is not a ridiculous idea.

So, summer review so far:

We caught our toad (check).

…held a baby chick (my dad has an incubator this year and six little baby chicks hatched right before we arrived).

…caught butterflies in the butterfly house.

…watched falling stars lying on our backs on the dock at night, blew through two bottles of bubbles, braided wildflowers into crowns and napped in the hammock on more than one occasion.

…roasted so many marshmallows, we are all experts in achieving perfectly browned crisp-on-the-outside, melty-on-the-inside goodness.

Dash loved the opportunity to climb inside a fire truck last weekend when the fire station here had a family day celebration.

And our annual summer hit from the bucket list: pizza on the dock.

We found out when we arrived in Michigan that my grandma was vacationing with my cousin in a nearby northern Michigan city, so we had the extra treat this year of another visit with her, this time in our favorite place. She loved the butterfly house…

…and Dash loved giving her a lesson in Snapchat filters.

Our Michigan adventures were perfectly timed this year with Gaylord’s Alpenfest, a festival celebrating the city’s Bavarian roots. Since we’re minimalists, we, of course, celebrated with very simple details and subtle enthusiasm.

In other words, DASH GET YOUR TUBA! LAINEY, FETCH MY STEIN!

Not shown in photo: Gary’s socks-with-crocs.

My cousin’s daughter Peyton is a year younger than Lainey, and we are so grateful that her family lets us enjoy so much of her while we are up here.

Dash wore that hat the entire night. Even when it flew off on the fun slide, he grabbed it, put it right back on and asked, “Is it on the right way?” A kind gentleman who had a similar hat showed him how you pinch the indentation on the top of the hat to put it on so you always know it’s on the right way.

I thought I missed this moment but was so glad when I went through my photos later to see that I had captured it. When Nella and Dash got off the rides, she’d put her arm on his back and lead him to the exit, saying, “Good job, Dash! You did it!” Dash usually fights to be the leader and his adventurous spirit often has him being the one to lead and protect, so it’s not often Nella has the opportunity to do this. You could tell she loved having that chance, and his rare moment of timidness allowed it.

Lainey informed me at the end of the evening that the true Bavarian hairstyle is pinned up braids and that our go-big-or-go-home approach missed the mark.

And for some reason, I thought putting real darts in Dash’s hands and saying “Go for it” was a good idea. Surprisingly, he did just fine.

We are past “peak” on our summer now, winding in to the last month before we return to school. The free life-loving spirit of summer is still very much alive, but something shifts in the last weeks with the awareness that a month from now, our schedules and responsibilities will be driving the ship again. We’re storing the goodness and so very grateful for another season of memories.

This post is sponsored in partnership with Breyers® in celebration of simple family moments this summer.

So here’s the deal: It’s no secret I love a good holiday. I take Christmas to the moon, start hanging spider webs early October and googled “ruffled romantic blouse” in search of the perfect Valentine’s Day outfit this year. But it doesn’t exactly have to be a big to-do to get me excited. Those simple little celebrations buried in everyday life are just as special–if not more–and summer seems to be the perfect time to throw a little confetti for occasions that would otherwise go under the radar. And because Breyers® uses the best simple ingredients—cream, milk, sugar and vanilla–to make their vanilla ice cream, they know a little something about the goodness that comes from simplicity and they’re teaming up with us to celebrate.

Our Summer Bucket List is one way that we celebrate the simple things of summer, and we purposely compose it not with big things that we’re doing over the season but with little actions that celebrate the simple things of the season like catching lightening bugs, making cucumber salad, wearing sundresses and picking wildflowers. Another fun way to celebrate the simple things of summer is to dig up the old obscure holiday calendar and make it a point to celebrate things you didn’t know had a holiday assigned to it. Like International Hammock Day, for instance (it’s a real thing!) or, say, National Coloring Book Day (also real–go buy some crayons! Color and drink coffee all day!).

One little holiday that fits perfectly with the way we do summer is National Vanilla Ice Cream Day, coming next week, nestled in a month dedicated to celebrating ice cream every day. That’s right–July’s National Ice Cream Month. And the best part? You don’t need much to join in the celebration because summer’s about keeping it simple.

Want in on this simple summer bucket list celebration? Here’s all you need–a bowl, a spoon and some Breyers® Natural Vanilla ice cream made with simple, high-quality ingredients–fresh cream, sugar, milk and vanilla.

We paired our ice cream with fresh picked strawberries last week…

…but it’s perfect enough to stand on its own.

To keep it even simpler, Breyers® guarantees their natural vanilla has no artificial growth hormones* . They can’t guarantee you won’t get a milk mustache though.

These simple little pleasures and the way they shine is my very favorite thing about summer. Everything seems sweeter when we’ve slowed down enough to notice and enjoy it all–from a scoop of sweet vanilla ice cream enjoyed outside after dinner to those summer-scented clothes drying on the line.

Nella’s definitely flying her ice cream flag the highest this month. Ice cream is her love language.

From the simple joys of ice cream to more simple joys of summer…

Afternoon croquet, anyone?

*Suppliers of other ingredients such as cookies, candies & sauces may not be able to make this pledge. The FDA states that no significant difference has been shown between dairy derived from rBST-treated and non-rBST treated cows.