It’s never good when someone’s already been in two time outs by 10 am (cough, cough, George), but we got back on course by the afternoon. Today, we: • wrote apology notes to Oma and Opa for being turds (Sample content: “Sorry we were bad to you.”). • had a picnic on our front lawn (PB&Js for the kids, Wegman’s sushi for me, and shockingly, no wine was consumed). • took Beatz to the dog park, where she promptly lay down in the shade. • went to the Franklin Park Zoo where we saw gorillas, a mandrill, tigers, butterflies, and a bunny (see if you can spot it in the flower photo). We spent the bulk of our zoo time at our favorite exhibit, the playground. • built a Magnatile hotel and fought over the trains Pending the status of Double Secret Probation, we will do some more fun stuff tomorrow.

Okay, I haven’t actually started my leave yet, but I’d like to share this hopefully-not-prophetic imagined entry by my buddy/Words with Friends frenemy, Brian Heidebrecht:

entry, day #1:
i am the luckiest mom ever! this summer is going to be incredible. i have so many things planned and the children will be thrilled to have me home and available to fill their days with love & activities!!!!!!!

entry, day #2:
oh. my. god. what on EARTH was i thinking????? how can it not be time for school to start up again? it feels like it’s been 3 months already! it’s SO HOT and they are SO NEEDY. how many popsicles do i need to give them just to get TWO SECONDS of quiet time? and where the hell is matty? he said he’d be home by now. where’s the margarita mix? this is going to be a long ass summer…

Note to self: Stock up on popsicles and tequila.

The Official Summer Off hasn’t started yet (it’ll start June 30th), but here’s what’s on the agenda so far:

1. Harborfest (first week July)
2. One World program, Tuesdays 10-12, starting July 7^th (http://www.marybakereddylibrary.org/programs-events/one-world-event-information-registration/)
3. Puppet Showplace Theatre – Pinnochio (July 8-11); The Pirate, The Princess & The Pea (Aug 29-30)
4. July 9-12 giant inflatables on lawn on D (http://bostinno.streetwise.co/2015/06/08/lawn-on-d-events-boston-intrude-art-installation-thursday-july-9/)
5. Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are In a Play”, Brewster, July
6. Revere Beach Sand Sculptures July 24^th weekend
7. Hokusai at the MFA
8. Harbor Islands cruise
9. Whale Watch
10. Castle Island
11. Canobie Lake Park
12. Blue Hills Reservation – hiking?
13. Crane Beach
14. Discovery Pack Arnold Arboretum (http://www.arboretum.harvard.edu/visit/family-activities/discovery-packs/)
15. Letterboxing http://www.atlasquest.com/about/wiki/browse.html?gCatId=28
16. Park Pool
17. Kimball’s
18. Swim lessons!
19. Swan Boats/Make Way for Ducklings/Public Garden
20. Duck Boats

Thank you for all the suggestions so far. Keep ’em coming!

People ask me this question all the time: when I’m going back for seconds, when I’m grabbing the karaoke microphone, when I’m picking a fight with a large angry woman in line for the bus at Atlantic City at 1 am, and now, when I’m taking the summer off of work.

The short answer is, I’m taking two months off from being a working mom to be a stay-at-home mom. It’s like a maternity leave, but without a newborn.

The long answer is, I’m giving my kids an old-fashioned summer. I’m taking them to the beach, teaching them to swim, letting them splash around in the pool with their cousins, giving them a weekly date with their grandparents, taking them to puppet shows and museums, going letterboxing with them, taking them to the Acton Town Fair and getting them (me) fried dough, and doing whatever else I can think of.

Here’s where I’ll keep track of all the fun. If you can think of anything that should be on our must-do list, please leave me a comment.

Natasha