Every summer I like to make a list of things I want to do before summer “kicks the bucket” so to speak.
(This is not a real bucket list, which is a list of things you want to do before YOU kick the bucket.)
Since summer is halfway over (sob!), I thought it might be good to see how I’m doing on my list.
1. Declutter my house from top to bottom.
This is going fairly well. I just worked some more on my kitchen yesterday and I managed to clear both some countertop and cupboard space.
I’ve also done my room, the hall closet, the kids’ bathroom, and the living room (though the living room never really gets all that cluttery, so that barely counts!).
Lisey and Joshua keep their rooms fairly uncluttered all on their own, so what’s left is Sonia and Zoe’s room (cue fainting), the laundry room, and our under-the-stairs closet/storage area (also faint-worthy).
2. Paint Joshua’s room and new loft bed.
Nope. But my schedule is gonna slow down a lot starting next week, so I have high hopes about this for the next bucket list report.
3. Play in the water twice a week.
Yes! I am definitely doing awesome at this.
4. Say yes to sleepovers.
Yep. Doing great here, plus we’ve done lots of playing with friends during the day.
5. Go biking at least once a week.
Kind of a fail here, at least in July. I was doing better at this in June, but July has been a little hectic.
6. Visit the library every other week.
Yep! Doing great with this.
7. Redo chore lists.
Not yet.
8. Plan school for next year and buy curriculum.
Not yet.
9. Write to my grandpa once a month.
I have a letter waiting to go out in today’s mail, actually!
10. Eat outside once a week.
Nope.
11. Go fruit picking.
Yep! This happened.
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I’m bummed that summer is halfway over already, but I’m trying hard to look at it like, “Oh! We still have half of summer left!”
So, you know…I still have lots of time left to do all of this stuff. 
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How’s your summer going? Are you doing the things you hoped you would?
Rebecca says
I turn 40 next month and decided to give myself 40 things to do this summer. I’m quickly realizing that it might turn into my “Year of 40” instead of “Summer of 40!”
Kristen says
That’s a good idea-just give yourself a bit more time!
Deb @ Saving the Crumbs says
Sounds like when you have children, summers become a whole different beast! Congrats on 50% success rate so far! :-)For my husband and I, we’re happy that our first garden in our new house is growing successfully and providing enough produce to stock for the winter. Still needing to learn how to can all those cucumbers (that’s my goal this weekend). Got solar panels installed and earning money for us (hooray!). Still need to scrub the mold off the house siding.
Kristen says
Yep! I’m sure my summers would look much different without my kiddos. They’d probably involve a whole lot less in the way of pool trips.
WilliamB says
Remember what I said about there likely being a weather-related inverse relationship between going to the pool and eating out? It’s still true.
Question for you: how much input/complaining/help do you get from your family about decluttering? I hear so many different experiences from gratitude for doing the work to total rejection of getting of of anything. I admit I’m asking out of curiosity but since you brought up the subject…
Kristen says
So true! We should eat outside in September or something.
Mr. FG is usually only involved in the decluttering when it involves his clothes or things like old technology stuff. And even when it comes to his clothes, I usually pull out what he hasn’t worn and then just double check with him to see if he’s good with getting rid of the stuff.
Clutter around our house bugs me more than him, but he does appreciate my efforts to keep things neat and somewhat minimalist. Fortunately, he is not much of a packrat, so we don’t really butt heads over clutter!
I’ve always involved my kids in decluttering their stuff, and at this point, Joshua and Lisey are fairly independent. Sonia and Zoe still need a lot of help and they don’t really like the process, but they do like it when their room is clean. Joshua used to HATE decluttering, and now he’s come around quite nicely. So I think Sonia and Zoe will eventually too.
Dawn says
It always seems to me like the last half of the summer goes exponentially faster than the first half. Why is that so? This has been such a nice summer after last year’s wash out in the Northeast. I’m trying to hang on to every moment… Maybe looking at it as still having half left instead of mourning that half is gone will help.
Stef says
half left! half left! from Chicago area…. I like schedules…. but for summer…. Whatever happened to the saying *the lazy days of summer*? Maybe NOT all summer (being lazy) but if you have a plan for each day and moment, it’s not so relaxing… I made sure to have 2 weeks, NO computers, NO phones (emergencies only), smidget of tv use, and just relaxing (no bills, twice shopping cuz that can be stressful with kids too!) I actually have no more pain in my back too! I too, have like three lists to accomplish and many consist of before school start thingies, but please hear me…..don’t over do it! Some decluttering and indoor stuff can wait for winter, lol! Enjoy this summer, stop and smell the roses! lol
Stef says
-grocery shop
-fresh market shop
-change Library card (since move)
-sign-up kids for school (2 older ones)
-shop school supplies
-shop school clothes
-shop some random house wares (pillows, fans, alarm clock, etc)
-sign-up little one (2) for twice a week playschool
-reorganize closet for 2 girls
-dye my hair
– hit the park twice a day (at least achieving once a day)
-planning on moving our youngest in with her sister (but still co sleeping) any advice would be nice!
-planning on how to break the cycle of waking twice a night to feed the 2 year old (milk basically) any advice would be great on this too! (very loud and stubborn)
-squeeze in some sleepovers before Aug 12! YIKES!
Frugal Paragon says
I didn’t make a list because we just moved to a new city–just a more general goal of doing some new and exciting things. So far, we’ve:
–had a bagel picnic in the park
–taken the kids hiking–our 3-year-old basically climbed a small mountain and made it most of the way down before asking to be picked up. Two-year-old made it halfway up before getting in the back carrier.
–taken the kids out to ride their bikes a few times
–gone to a concert (adults only) at Red Rocks, one of the world’s coolest amphitheatres
Next up, camping overnight and, maybe, potty training!
Nikita K says
Major kudos for getting around to the decluttering! I’ve still managed to procrastinate on that
Laura Vanderkam says
Since I never even got around to making my summer bucket list, you’re ahead of me! Oh well — it’s been a good summer regardless.
Kristen says
What matters is that you do stuff you want to do in the summer…list or not!
I just happen to need a list.
What's Linda Cooking says
I love to make lists. However, I make my lists too long. I like there are 11 items on your list…even though some are really big things like de-cluttering your home. That in itself is a huge one for a lot of us. We all have areas that are in need of a little attention.
Reading more is definitely on my list. I have a book club book that needs to be finished by tomorrow night!!!! I also have some business books to read.
Also, I have some online classes I would like to take. These are just 20 minute training courses. I will need to start doing some of those. I have 1 year to finish 88 of them. Not bad.
Going into the water is definitely on my list. I have a pool, so this is not very hard for me. But I would love to do laps 3 times per week. That would be great. Of course, our weather in the Northeast has not been great for that. Maybe tomorrow.
Noah says
I really like the calling grandpa once a month idea. I’ve been slacking myself. Good luck with your bucket list!