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…