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Can you still remember the feeling of waking up the first day of summer break and realizing, “I don’t have to do homework tonight!” I can! There was nothing like those summer breaks. Grilling hot dogs in the back yard and the excitement of loading up the cooler with Cokes and getting the boat packed for a day at the lake are memories that are vividly clear to me all of these years later. I too can still hear the sound of my go-cart firing as my brothers and I would head to the creek near our house where we spent many hot summer days fishing and swimming.

I remember so much about summer breaks as a kid. At the top of my memory list are vacation days in the swimming pool when my dad would jump in, playing basketball in the driveway until late into the night, and mom bringing dad and us freshly squeezed lemonade while working in the yard.

What summer memories do you have of growing up? If you are like me, it probably doesn’t take much effort on your part to recall the “good ole’ days!”

Times have changed but one constant - kids still love making memories with their family in the summer! Brynnan, our youngest, told me the other day that some of her best memories growing up have been all the fun we've had together as a family each summer. 

It’s important to remember - these are the memory-making years for your kids.

Now that summer is in full swing, what's your plan to spend some quality time together as a famliy? I know a family who has made it their goal to spend their summer weekends visiting every major league baseball field in the country - that’s a lot of hot dogs, Cracker Jacks, and miles on the road! Of course, that’s an expensive family tradition. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to make great memories.

Another family I know is planning to spend one afternoon each week this summer giving back to the community. They plan to visit places such as a local fire hall, an animal shelter, and police precincts to hand out bottles of water, take a few selfies, and thank the officers, workers, and firefighters for their service and sacrifice to their community. What a great family outing that is sure to teach their kids the importance of community and gratitude.

Great memories begin with a plan. Get at it.

Right now, your family is writing the story of memories that will stay with your kids for the rest of their lives. Don't miss the opportunity to help them make memories worth remembering!