Final Summer Bucket List Check-In!
I know summer isn't officially over until later in September, but practically speaking, I think of summer as June, July, and August.
So, I figured it was time for a bucket list wrap-up.
1. Declutter the house from top to bottom, one room at a time.
I did get a lot of decluttering done, but I didn't totally finish.
2. Go swimming or have waterplay (sprinkler, slip n slide) more than once a week.
This was a PERFECT goal for our ridiculously hot summer. We've definitely been in the water more than we ever have before.
3. Arrange sleepovers, since this is easier to do in the summer.
4. Make homemade slushies with the kids.
5. Visit the library at least every other week.
6. Go camping again (since our new air mattress was so comfy!)
I think it was a little crazy to think we would go in the summer, especially with how hot of a summer we've had. September or October sound like much better camping months to me. 😉
7. Write an ebook about keeping Christmas simple.
I took this right off of my list, after having the shocking realization that I could take it off my list. Oh, the power!
8. Order school curriculum for the coming school year.
We're all set!
9. Make a fire in our backyard fire pit and roast marshmallows over it.
Again, I think this is a better thing to do in the fall! We have saved a bunch of branches and such that fell off of our trees over the summer, so we've got plenty of stuff to burn.
10. Sell/give away the extra electronic junk we have in our office.
I did ok on this...we have less electronic junk than we had before, but it is most definitely not all gone.
11. Teach Zoe to ride her bike without training wheels.
I did indeed. She picked it up really quickly, much to my delight. So, adios, training wheels! You are no longer necessary in this house.
12. Figure out a new chore assignment plan for the kids now that Sonia and Zoe are old enough to do more around the house. Must delegate more.
Done! We're starting to implement it this week. Hopefully it'll go well. I predict some groaning from everyone except Zoe, who is usually so delighted to be doing stuff like the bigger kids, it doesn't occur to her to complain.
13. Write a letter to my grandpa each month (he doesn't have the internet, so I have to do this the old-fashioned way.)
14. Visit Mr. FG's grandma and go for a swim in her rooftop pool (we keep wanting to do this but it's never worked out so far!)
15. Make a spur-of-the-moment trip to go get ice cream cones.
We did!
16. Eat breakfast at the pier.
Maybe on a cooler fall day?
17. Visit a pick-your-own farm.
We did pick cherries this spring, but since that was before I made this list, I'm thinking it doesn't count. 😉
18. Maaaaybe paint my kitchen cabinets. Still hemming and hawing on this one.
Last month I wondered if I could get this done in August.
The answer?
No, apparently.
19. Tackle my pile of clothes that need to be mended/modified/dyed.
I finished this just this week. Ooh, and I did a fun little shirt modification project that I'll show you later...I need to take a picture of the finished product first!
20. Get outside to enjoy lovely summer evenings.
Yep! We've done this several times now. Which is pretty good considering that lovely summer evenings have been few and far between.
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So. I wasn't entirely successful at crossing everything off of my bucket list. But you know what? I did more of those things than I would have had I not made a list at all.
That's usually my experience with goals and to-do lists. Rare is the day when I cross off everything on my to-do list and rare is the month or year when I meet all of my goals.
But lists and goals give me something to reach for, and with them in hand, I am more productive and am more successful at making time in my life for things that are important to me.
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Did you get around to all the things you wanted to do over the summer?
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Lisey and I (and the rest of the kids!) made sheep cupcakes. Go check 'em out!
Today's 365 post: I made soup. And I used my new ladle!
Joshua's 365 post: Right now I am...
Well done on getting so much of that list done! I like that it is a mix of fun things and things that need to be done. I've had a list in my head of things that I need to get done (painting furniture, decluttering, cleaning out the garage, watering the garden every day) but maybe I should add in some fun things and make it my spring bucket list (our spring starts on September 1st in Australia).
Also, I hear you about camping in hot weather. The fieldwork for my PhD involves camping for weeks on end and working at night, while trying to sleep during the day. Not fun in the heat we have here 🙁
I think that you did good. We didn't get to do everything on our list either but we still got in plenty. Some things like going to the creek for the day we did more than once. I love that you went swimming on a rooftop pool. That must have been so much fun. 🙂
Great job crossing so much off your list this summer. I love crossing things off a to-do list, it's so empowering. It's like what else can I accomplish if I just write it down and put my mind to it 🙂
We have a swimming pool in our complex and a lot of families go after work (the pool is open until 7:30), partly because after about 5:oo the sun is already starting to be behind some trees so the water is warm but the direct sun has passed. Also, it is a good way to get the wiggles out!
I had hoped to do this a lot of evenings with my baby daughter because I love the pool and it's a great place to spend time one-on-one. Also, I hoped to meet other parents in my complex. We went 7 or 8 times--far fewer than I had hoped--but the times we did go were very successful, she loved the water, and I did meet some other parents. I look forward to trying again next summer.
We are finally getting to camping this week! I am hoping we will squeeze in one more camping trip in autumn as I am thinking it is going to be a long and warm fall since summer was smoking hot.
Still working on a few things on my summer list (not necessarily on my kids' list!) but getting close to end of summer and school starting often feels like the start of the year and a good time for making a new lists. We're trying to fit in one last family hike this weekend but our weather is going to be cooler and it's a "water hike" so it's better for hot weather. Happy fall, Kristen! Loved reading about you in the NBC article.
If I make a list I get lots done. If I don't make a list I get hardly anything done. Considering my lists normally include far more things than are possible to accomplish I usually feel pretty good about getting most of them done.
I think you've done magnificently.
My summer bucket list all revolved around having my first baby in July. I managed to complete all of the goals I set for myself (with her natural birth being the top one) except finishing the nursery decor. However, I did get some extra sewing projects completed for her, so I figure things evened out.
This fall I'll have to finish the cute artwork I have planned. We are also planning on doing a few of the activities that you moved to the autumn now that the weather is getting better. More than anything, I'd love to get in another hike and smores before the first frost. 🙂
You did great! Especially since some of your items need to be moved to cooler weather in the fall.
I am in decluttering mode right now, I just want less stuff around. I've got some large items that we need to sell not sure how well Craig's List does around here, but may give it a try. The rest is just geting donated!
I think you did well. For me, making lists is a method to really think through what I "think" I want to get done. Actually writing it down clarifies what is truly important, what can wait for another day, and what can be farmed out to someone else.
I don't like to think of summer coming to an end. In the pacific northwest, summer doesn't really begin until after the 4th of July, and September is very lovely. So for us, we still feel like it should continue for another month.
"Rare is the day when I cross off everything on my to-do list and rare is the month or year when I meet all of my goals."
Thank you, that's a great reminder. I get a little caught up in the tyranny of the list most of the time!
Got a lot done by having a "to do" list, including two DIY bathroom redos, a productive garden (despite the heat) that the kids got to learn a lot from. Miscellaneous other projects on the list (love being able to check things off when finished!) and like you guys we spent ALOT of time in the pool with so many days in the upper 90's and 100's. It was really hot so many outdoor things were left undone until we get some cooler fall weather.
Kristen - you should be proud of your accomplishments! How wonderful that you listed what you did get done and not fretted over what remains. A blog is a wonderful place to keep such reminders. It's hard to focus on what we accomplished versus what didn't get done.
I did a similar thing here.
http://livingtheseasons.com/2012/08/14/keeping-what-resolution-makes-me-happiest/
I started out with what I did get done since the first of the year. It made me so happy to read it! Now when I look at the piles around the house, I remind myself that I got a lot done and I have a list I can review the next time I pull up my blog. It really encourages me.
Nancy
We've had such a hot/busy summer that we didn't make a bucket list this year. Instead we made a weekly list of things we'd like to do given time constraints/heat/etc. It's made for a very fun summer. 🙂
Move the pick your own farm trip to fall, too. Think pumpkins!! Not quite the store of veggies or fruits that you may have envisioned lining your shelves or your freezer, but still, you get to pick your own! and I freeze pumpkin all the time, so it counts as food!(eventually, after we enjoy looking at them)
Good job! You accomplished many things on your list. Besides, that's what lists are for......cross off and add on!
I still haven't got everything done on my list, mostly because of the unrelenting heat and humidity outside for more days than usual. But I have months before winter comes....
I love this! I had a list too, and we didn't do everything, but it was by far one of the most gratifying summers ever. This is the first summer since starting teaching 14 years ago that I'm actually not looking forward to summer finishing. I AM looking forward to going back, but making the decision to have more FUN this summer definitely made it a great summer! (I also wanted to paint my kitchen cabinets...and I spent a million hours checking blogs and paint combos, and just couldn't figure out what to do...so they're still dark stained 70's and butt ugly. But I cleaned them, so that's an improvement!)
You just follow meteorological summer. June 1st through August 31st. Congrats on getting so much done!