Every year, I publish a list of the things I want to do before summer “kicks the bucket”. My list is a mix of practical and fun things because I want my summer to be a mix of those two.
For the first time since I started making these lists, I got no painting projects done!
WHO EVEN AM I?
But it’s ok. I only have two kids that I’m homeschooling now, which means that it’s quite possible I could knock out some painting in early fall. We’ll see.
(If you‘re new, you can see my previous painting projects here!)
Register Lisey and Sonia for fall classes.
I did do this! Lisey’s college classes have started, and Sonia’s tutorial starts next week.
Declutter my house. (consider this half-heartedly crossed off)
I did take a big vanload of stuff to Goodwill, and I freecycled some things. But I did not systematically go through my house like I usually do, from top to bottom.
Get out to a park with friends every other week.
Nope. But I have gone with Sonia and Zoe, so there’s that.
Install the bike rack on my van and take Sonia and Zoe biking.
Crossing this off since I’m going to install the bike rack today. For real! Like, I have it out right by my van in the driveway and I am totally going to put it on today.
There’s no time like the present. 😉
Paint my bedroom.
Nope. It’s still red, red, red.
Paint the soffit in front of the house.
Nope. It’s still dirty and peeling.
Have a picnic once a month.
I don’t think we had an official picnic at all. But we have eaten outside quite a bit, on the deck, and around the fire pit.
Go camping on a clear night.
We didn’t manage to go camping, but it appears that the park where Sonia really wants to stargaze allows you to stay after close without camping, as long as you get permission.
So, I’m going to call and see if we can get permission to stargaze!
Make a photo book.
Yes! I did this, and I got pretty far into making a second one.
Read on the hammock every possible day.
I didn’t do this EVERY possible day, but I got out there pretty often. So, I’m crossing it off.
Make my deck more habitable.
I did nothing to my deck. Maybe this fall!
(photo from when I initially painted the deck)
Do something random and fun each week.
This one I actually did pretty well on with Sonia and Zoe. For example, we’ve….
- gotten slushies
- gone to see movies
- had multiple sleepovers with friends
- gone swimming tons of times
- put together puzzles
- eaten ice cream
- gone shopping at fun places like candy stores
- taken a road trip to Ohio to visit our friends
They toast with water 😉
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So.
I might not have gotten a lot of productive things done, but I did hang out with my girls a lot, especially with Sonia and Zoe. I can always paint later. 😉
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How was your summer? Did you spend it the way you planned to?
(unlike me!!)
Deidre
Thursday 6th of September 2018
I'm still in shock that you normally go through your house from top to bottom! I have been slowly decluttering for years now - with sporadic enthusiasm; sometimes very sporadic but I think I am getting to a stage where I really want a place for everything & everything in it's place; just not sure it will happen this year but I'll give it a good go. We are opposite to you guys; Spring has just started here which is lovely but I got lots that I wanted to do this winter. I haven't made a list before but I have been thinking I want to be really intentional about spending more time with the important people in my life & I have made a very good start with that - including more phone time & cards/letters to my nieces & nephews, & eating with friends.
WilliamB
Wednesday 5th of September 2018
I had a number of big things on my to-do list. I got a number of big things done. What's funny is how few of the big things done were on my to-do list, and how few of things on my to-do list got done.
Stephanie
Wednesday 5th of September 2018
I'd say that's not a bad summer! You didn't cross off everything, but you crossed off a lot of really fun things with your kids and that's pretty awesome. :)
I got everything but ONE thing done from my list. I overhauled my episode-of-Hoarders-worthy basement, I cleaned out my laundry room, I organized all the cabinets, island, and shelves in my kitchen, I cleaned out my refrigerator, I cleaned out my closest, I donated a TON of stuff to Goodwill... The only thing I need to do is scrub off the fronts of my kitchen appliances, along with pulling out and scrubbing off the side of my oven. They're all dusty and grody looking from sitting out, but so many of my days are broken up by physical therapy right now (if my back had a face, I would punch it, for real), so that project and a lot of others are on hold until my time is my own (and my pain goes back to more normal levels). It'll get done. :)
Deidre
Thursday 6th of September 2018
Wow that's awesome, you did heaps; hope your back is better soon
Lizzy
Wednesday 5th of September 2018
Your summer still sounds super fun! I didn't do as well as I hoped either. For example, I listed that I would go hiking 15 times, but I only went five. I also planned to see two local plays and two outdoor concerts. I saw the plays but not the concerts.
So, I planned a three month fall bucket list, to end Nov. 30! My first item is to do everything possible still left on my summer bucket list.
Kaitlin
Wednesday 5th of September 2018
For the first time ever I did a summer bucket list and I was suprised at how it motivated me so well. The first week I got several things done, mostly because I made really tiny goals since I didn't know how I'd do with the whole process. All in all, I got about half the stuff completely donoe on my list and a few things part of the way done, and I removed a few things from my list when my husband's job threw some almost unexpected stuff our way. I'm doing it again for fall, and keeping the same social/fun goals that I had for summer (not my strength) with a few new things thrown in.