Confession: I’m starting to get spring fever – or maybe it’s even summer fever, even though we’re certainly not getting those hot, high summer temps yet.

Still, I’m wanting to get outside and pull my preschooler from school and just soak it all up. Or maybe I’m wanting to enjoy the weather now, before the temperatures really rise.

This is a time of year when many focus on rebirth. For me, I’m feeling a reawakening of sorts and am eager to jump into life with added enthusiasm and joy.

I’m not really a fan of bucket lists, as I prefer to go with the flow and not pressure myself to have fun. However, for some reason this spring, I’ve got the itch and decided to go ahead and make a list, put pen to paper and jot down all of the ways I hope to slow down and savor the moment this spring and all of the simple things I want to do to enjoy time with my family and friends.

Hopefully, this list inspires you, too. The roses are blooming right now, so stop and smell ‘em.

Our Spring Bucket List

• Eat dinner outside on the patio.

• Go to the park and playground more often and play with the boys.

• Respond to the lure of Placerita Canyon and Towsley Canyon and go for a hike.

• Give in to an impromptu playdate at the duck pond.

• Get out and play in the rain (if we get anymore April showers).

• Day dream about more date nights – and then make them a reality.

• Plant some flowers or veggies this year – and don’t let them die. (This is a really tough one for me.)

• Eat dinner cooked on the grill – during the week, not just on the weekend.

• Head to the beach.

• Eat ice cream while at said beach.

• Go to a baseball game.

• Go to the Farmer’s Market.

• Sit outside with a good book under a gorgeous tree.

• Let the boys stay up late to stargaze.

• Go camping.

• Play baseball.

• Make a wildflower bouquet.

• Spread hope.

• Smile.

My 4 year-old would add: Go to Australia to see the koalas, play with Legos (almost all day, every day), play Star Wars Lego on the Wii (all day the rest of the day, every day), and take a spaceship to the Moon.

How about you? Ready for summer already? Savoring spring? Taking in every beautiful wonderful moment? If not, please do. I’m working on making this shift right now – on being present to my life, on appreciating all that I have, and loving it.

The lavender blooming in my backyard and the beautiful, warm (but not too hot) sunny days are definitely helping. Carpe diem.

Jennifer Fischer is co-founder of the SCV Film Festival, a mom of two, an independent filmmaker and owner of Think Ten Media Group, whose Generation Arts division offers programs for SCV youth. She writes about her parenting journey on her blog, The Good Long Road. Her commentary is published Saturdays on SCVNews.com.