My annual summer bucket list isn’t a list of things I want to do before I die; rather, it’s a list of things I want to do before summer kicks the bucket.
Four weeks left…here’s how I’m doing!
Plan/Sign Up for 2016-2017 school.
Joshua: I’ve got to sign him up for college classes and also get curriculum for some subjects he’ll still be doing at home.
Lisey: Working on the process of getting her signed up for the tutorial, so that’s a little progress.
Sonia and Zoe: Nothing done here yet.
Declutter my house.
I did my linen closet and coat closet already, plus the kids’ bathroom, so here’s what’s left:
my roomthe living room(was very easy because I don’t have a lot of storage in the living room)- the kitchen
- Sonia and Zoe’s room
- the office (started on this)
- the laundry room
- my bathroom
- the under-stairs closet
Make photo books.
Nothing done here.
Make new chore lists.
Done. It was a little tricky, trying to take into account Joshua’s college classes and also his and Lisey’s work schedules, but I think I got something workable going.
Teach my kids to do their own laundry.
Done! Definitely still some learning going on. One of my girls accidentally dried a line-dry-only dress this week and now I think it’s going to have to go in the hand me down pile because the shrinkage was impressive.
It’s ok, though. I knew there would be some casualties, and that’s how learning happens.
It’s kind of like how you know some dishes will get broken when you give your kids kitchen chores. But the option of not teaching my kids these skills is definitely not preferable.
Better to have some broken dishes and shrunken clothes than to send four kids out into the world with no practical skills!
Power-wash and restain the deck.
Powerwashing is done, thanks to my dad! Staining, not yet. I need more days without rain to embark on that project.
I inadvertently added a project to my list when my dad was over. He was pressure washing my shutters in the driveway, and when I saw how clean the driveway got from the overspray, I thought, ooh, it would be nice if the whole driveway was clean!
And my dad was nice enough to stay long enough to get that done (we tag-teamed on the driveway, which was good because his pressure washer is crazy strong and I think if I was on my own, I’d have peetered out before the whole driveway was finished! Even just the kickback when you turn it on is pretty whoa.)
Paint my front door. And the trim above it.
I painted the trim above the door, but I think I’ve decided to paint the actual door in the fall, when it won’t be such a buggy, hot situation.
(If I took the door off the hinges now, the mosquitoes would eat us alive. And that’s assuming we’d survive the waves of heat and humidity entering the house.)
So, I’m crossing this off for now.
Paint my mailbox and post, and buy new numbers for it.
Done! The post is pressure-washed and painted. And I actually bought and installed a new mailbox, because the handle on our old one was broken (actually, it was completely gone.)
I also planted flowers around the bottom of the mailbox and mulched.
It’s lookin’ pretty swanky out there, if I do say so myself.
Paint my shutters.
Done! I took them down while my dad was here, and he powerwashed them so that they’d be nice and clean for spray painting.
That was a much harder job that I anticipated, especially the taking down and putting back up, but I’m glad I did it.
And I’m even more glad that it’s DONE.
Paint my laundry room.
Nope.
Get my kids to the pool at least once a week.
We’re averaging more like twice a week, so, I am doing awesome at this thus far.
Keep my kids supplied with books.
Doing pretty well on this.
Go see three movies.
We’ve been to two so far, which means I’m on track for the summer: We saw the BFG at a matinee, and Alice Through The Looking Glass at the cheap theater.
Also: Finding Dory just arrived at the cheap theater, so I think that’s on our agenda very soon.
Write to my grandpa.
My dad went to visit my grandpa, and sadly, he’s gone downhill quite a bit of late and can’t really see or hear much at all anymore, which means even if I send a letter and have someone else read it to him, he won’t get much of it.
(My grandpa and me, back in 2006)
But I was able to have my dad tell my grandpa a few things. And I’m awfully glad I sent letters and pictures while he was still able to enjoy them.
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So. I’ve got decluttering, photo-book-making, and school-book ordering to do, but I knocked out a LOT of my home-improvement projects.
I am massively relieved about that.
If you have a summer bucket list, feel free to share your progress here each month too (and link us up to your bucket list if you blog!)
Jen@FrugalSteppingStones
Monday 8th of August 2016
I did not get as much done as I wanted to, thanks to picking up extra shifts at work. Of course, school starts Thursday for my kids! My son read quite a few books, and is almost done with the first Percy Jackson book (he's going into 3rd grade). We went to the amusement park, camped in the backyard, went swimming, caught fireflies, had a sleepover, and watched fireworks. I did move most of my kids' toys into our basement to create a "toy library" and reduce the clutter in our living spaces. The kids have to take one toy, play with it, and return it to the library before getting another. Other than that, I have not done any of the organizational things on my bucket list.
Amanda
Tuesday 2nd of August 2016
I'm doing pretty well on my school goals (I'm working on a PhD in history). I wanted to read a big chunk of my comps lists and plan out my grant proposals for the fall. I got a slow start because of vacation and Bible school, but I am rocking right along now. I wish I could get more done. I would have liked to work through all the books and make my study aids. But there are only so many hours in the day, and the kids are out of school and daycare.
My parenting goals were to potty train our two year old. I also, like you, try to get to the pool each week. Also the library, and I wanted to do a science experiment. I'm doing well on this. James potty trained super fast (maybe being the second kid helps?) and we've been to the pool and library multiple times per week. I fell off doing the science experiments with our rising first grader, but he's in Lego camp this week so he'll survive.
I was hoping to lose that last fifteen pounds of baby weight this summer, but I have failed miserably at this one. After three babies you would think I could remember that I just do not get back to my regular body until I wean. This one will have to wait until next summer.
I also wanted to completely reorg our weekend house to better fit our growing family. This one is done!
Finally I wanted to lead a successful session of Financial Peace University at our church. We're set to start this weekend with five families. I think I'm ready, which means my work is pretty much done, which means I'm crossing this one off too.
Somehow there are only three more weeks in summer! I start back in class on Aug 24. Time to hussle!
Kristen
Tuesday 2nd of August 2016
I'm very impressed you're working on your PhD with several small kids at home. You go!
Stefana Durcau
Tuesday 2nd of August 2016
You are one woman, you cease to amaze me! You cracked me up a few times too! My 12 year old just learned this year to sort and wash and fold/hang. Putting some away as well. I do agree that you gotta let the mistakes happen, even as adults we break dishes and ruin our clothes.... LIFE... Your kid have grown! I haven't been here in awhile but do love your bucket lists! And home repairs, which I still need help in echm (more like a push)... I need to repaint my kitchen, do I just paint over, if it is the same color (in a rental so no choice here). What if I filled a hole or two? Anyways we have 2 more weeks for the older kids and school is on the way! Ahhhh... my list 1: Dentist cleanings for 3 kiddos 2: 1 list of school supplies 3: school shoes/uniforms 4: Ortho evaluation (for the 2nd kid) 5: Sky Zone (Library gave a pass) 6: A sleep over or two 7: Chuckie Cheese (on my email I got 50 free tokens as I signed up!) 8: And I heard of a small Space/Planetarium close to our house that is rather inexpensive and at night they bring out telescopes and the Instructors (however you call them) would point out stars and planets for you!) And watching is for free/ and entrance is around $4 dollars a person :O (OK, I guess you can tell I'm excited about this imparticular)
OK, BTW this is a bucket list for the next 2 weeks! And I will try to paint my kitchen......when it cools down so I can open the windows ;) (September-ish)
Jody S.
Monday 1st of August 2016
I'm sorry about your grandfather's decline. That's tough when you love them as much as you obviously do. I miss my grandparents terribly sometimes, and now my husband only has one grandparent left. :(
I guess I should shoot her a quick email with lots of pics while she can enjoy it still! Thanks for the reminder.
April
Monday 1st of August 2016
Please don't waste your money on Secret Life of Pets. It was horrible. We walked out at the 30 min mark.
This little white rabbit is the evil guy in it. It's played by a man who is a comedian and is black. Makes the evil guy a black gangster.....who is excited when the pets claim to have KILLED THEIR OWNERS. The cute scene from the previews lasts 2 minutes.
My kids didn't even pout when we pulled them out. (and my kids are spoiled and would normally have pouted about such a thing). The movie is blah. Several friends who didn't see my warning said, C- at best. Not worth the money. Redbox later if you must watch such a terrible movie.