Here's how I did on my summer bucket list.
It's September now, which means that we're starting school.
And that means summer is officially over at our house.
(I'm not gonna cry, I'm not gonna cry...)
There are delightful things about fall too, I know, but there's nothing quite like the relaxed schedule of summer.
Moving along (sniff, sniff)....
Here's how I did on my list this year.
1. Declutter my house.
A big fat YASSSSSS to this one. I put this on my list every summer, but I don't know that I ever have quite gotten the whole house done.
But this year, I did!
In just the last two weeks, I did my laundry room (such a task), my under-the-stairs-closet, and my kitchen.
(I'll show you some pictures of my decluttered spaces in another post.)
The encouraging thing is, I've decluttered my kitchen every year for the past few years, and this year, it was a quick job because there wasn't much to get rid of.
This gives me hope that my summer of ruthless decluttering is gonna pay off big time.
2. Make a Travelwee photo book.
Yup. Shoo-Bop's California adventures are all documented in a photo book. Woohoo!
(Shoo-Bop is a travelwee that Lisey made, and he went with Mr. FG and Joshua to California this past spring.)
3. Paint Sonia and Zoe's room.
Yup, yup. Big job, but it's all done. See copious amounts of before and after photos here.
(Summer usually brings painting projects for me. Last summer I painted Joshua's room and his craigslist bed, and the summer before, I did Lisey's room plus my kitchen cabinets.)
4. Teach my kids to cook meals.
I did pretty well with this in June and July and then fell off the wagon in August.
(Coincidence that this falling off happened during the painting project? Probably not.)
I think this is something I should keep working on during the school year.
5. Say yes to swimming/water play twice a week.
Yes, indeedy. I think we probably averaged more than twice a week overall.
6. Eat outside.
We did do this some, but I imagine we might actually do it more once the weather cools off a bit.
7. Grab small moments to do fun things.
I think I made some progress here. For instance, yesterday I said yes to two quick 30-45 minute trips to the pool. Yay me!
8. Initiate/say yes to playdates/sleepovers.
Yep!
9. Clean out our shed.
Yup! So glad I did this.
This was, um, BEFORE the cleanout.
10. Finish odds and ends left from the wood floor project.
I'm crossing this off since we decided that we're gonna try to outsource it. Because some projects are worth paying money for. 😉
11. Landscape the front borders.
Yep. They're landscaped AND mulched. Woohoo!
12. Go to the beach once.
Yes! The kids and I took a trip to the ocean with my sister and one of my brothers.
13. Plan for the next school year.
Done!
14. Keep the library basket full.
Yep! There was a full basket all summer long.
15. Teach my girls how to use the sewing machine.
Nope.
(Please note: Sonia and Lisey have asked how to use the sewing machine. Joshua and Zoe have not, but I'd teach them if they were interested. So, this isn't a sexist item on my bucket list as many of you have worried, but rather an item based off of my children's desires.)
16. Redo chore lists.
Yep! A new round of chores have been assigned. It's a little complicated, figuring all this out so that the important things all get covered. I feel like there should be an algorithm or something.
(I hang their chore lists on their walls.)
17. Go see a cheap movie once a month.
Yes! We've been to two $1 Regal movies and also two cheap theater movies.
18. Write to my grandpa once a month.
I sent him a third letter at the end of August, so, yup, crossing this one off.
_____________________
I got a lot of things done this summer! And I also did manage to make time for quite a few fun activities too. Sooo, even though I'm sad summer is drawing to a close, I don't feel like I wasted it, so that helps.
A little bit.
Since having a publicly-posted to-do list seems to light a fire under me, I'm thinking about maybe doing a monthly goal list post during the school year. I won't be able to accomplish such big things as I do in the summer, but I could put smaller productive/fun things on the list.
Whaddya think? I'm pretty sure that would be helpful for me, but would it be interesting for you too?
Great job! I did about the same on my list, although I won't know how close I am on learning Spanish or finishing my thesis for about another week. I like the idea of a monthly goal list. It's cool to see what other folks are doing, and it will inspire me to do my own.
Way to go, Kristen! I feel like I did not accomplish very much this summer. Oh, well! Would you mind sharing the updated chore lists sometime? I would not mind some other ideas for our four kids that are similar in ages to yours. Thanks a lot!
As a to-do list addict, would love to see more lists from you!
Congratulations!
And it sounds like this year's school curriculum will include a "class" (not sure how homeschoolers call them) on home economics, between the cooking and sewing lessons. 😉
Yea for you! I know how good it feels to have all those things crossed off your list. It has been so hot here this summer that I felt sapped of energy most of the time and did not get very much accomplished outside of work and the usual stuff needed to keep us going. But look out fall! Your to-do lists always inspire me, so if you shared more I'd probably get more done also! 🙂
I'd love to see monthly goal lists, especially if there were others in the comments. They inspire me to be motivated too. 🙂
Sure, we could include that.
Would love to read more about how you figure out your chore lists---I want to do something similar for my kids soon. They love doing "jobs" now and I want to latch onto that enthusiasm before it wanes!
Wow - you did a great job on your list! This motivates me to try to get some stuff done at my house.
I would love to see a post about your curriculum choices for this school year 🙂
Alrighty-I'll put it on my to-blog-about list.
I would love to see monthly lists. I love lists and it gives me ideas! Great job on your summer list! Can you see how I love lists just by the amount of time I mention the word lists? 🙂
I understand. I have a thing for lists too. 😉
Way to go! Sometimes writing things down makes it easier and more satisfying to check something off. I feel like I need to make a fall/winter bucket list. And i will try and keep it under 20 things to accomplish... I do have to be realistic. 🙂
Fantastic job on the summer bucket list! You are inspiring.
And, therefore, monthly goal lists would be a "yes" from me as well! I have gotten so much motivation from people sharing their goals and how they achieve them on the internet, and I'm grateful for that.
It's oddly inspiring, isn't it? You think, ok, if they can do it, then I can too!
Wow Kristen, what a productive summer you had, well done!
Its so sad that its the end of the summer holidays, we are back Monday.
It would be great to see monthly lists, might motivate me too. (I need it)
Have a great weekend x
The great thing about lists is they help you realize how much you actually did do. It's so easy to look at what's left without giving yourself credit for DONE! Like without this post I would not have given myself credit for the few things I put in the donation bag that filled it up this morning. Another bag full! Something to celebrate not minimize.
I think you should continue with writing to your grandpa. And keep the letters he sends you. You will treasure them someday when he is gone.
Agreed!
I'll keep trying to write to him during my busier season of life...just maybe not once a month. He's 98, and is unable to write back to me, but whenever my dad talks to him on the phone, my grandpa mentions how much he enjoys my letters.
I'm not sure he actually remembers anything I write for very long, but I know they brighten his day when they arrive.
A monthly list sounds wonderful! Seeing your plan and progress is motivating me to do the same.
Oh I make lists all the time. Great job!
I just LOVE the photo of your daughter reading on the couch! This reminds me of childhood and also sparks a hope in me that my child(ren) will do the same...
Hi! I'm curious about that library basket. Do you pick out books for the kids? Or do they pick out their own for the basket? I have 3 yo, so I pick out most of her books, but am curious how it would work with older kids. Thanks!
We do a combo...they pick some things out, but keeping the basket full also depends on me searching out good books for them.
Have you read My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish with your kiddos? It's gotten rave reviews here at the library and the youth seems to appreciate the humor. It was on our summer reading giveaway list this year!