Summer List 2015

Over the past few weeks, I've seen a number of summer manifestos online and in magazines. I liked this creative one by blogger Elise Blaha Cripe and this simple one from Ali Edwards. I always enjoy seeing other people's lists as well as creating my own summer list.

In fact, it's becoming a tradition of sorts; this is my fourth year making a list and posting it here on my blog. Here's a look at my previous summer lists: 2012, 2013, 2014.

Just like last year, I've written activities on our list that I think I'd like, Noah would like, and perhaps, Brian would like.

However, there's nothing that says all of us have to do every. single. activity. together.

And even though Noah is nearly a 3-1/2-year-old, (what?) there are a few "firsts" on the list -- like seeing a movie in the theater and taking private swim lessons.

This was the first year that Noah had a suggestion for our summer list. Here's the back story: A few weeks ago, he and I watched as a group of kids tossed water balloons back and forth at the park. He turned to me and said he really wanted to try it. I promised him we'd do it this summer, and as you'll see below, I added it to our summer list.  

In the past, I often felt like if I placed an item on the list, I HAD to check it off by Labor Day. That's not the case anymore. I just brainstorm a bunch of ideas, narrow the list down to 15 or less, and then go with it. If we don't get to one or two of the activities this summer, we can always do it in the fall, winter or even next summer.

Here's a look at our 2015 summer list:

Visit our local splash pad ✅ 

Take private swim lessons ✅

See a movie in the theater

Attend storytime at the library ✅ 

Participate in the library's summer reading program

Work on potty training

Attend Brian's cousin's wedding

Spend time with Noah's cousins

Go tent camping for the first time as a family

Play catch with water balloons

Attend a 4-week gymnastics class

Sell our rental home
Attend our county fair
Listen to some live music 
Finish decorating the nursery 

Your turn: What's on your summer list?

Summer List 2014 Update

Each summer, I love creating a Summer List. It gets me excited about the season--about being outside more and soaking up the sunshine and frolicking in water and enjoying time with family and friends.

For the past two summers, I've completed nearly everything on my list. (Here's a look at my 2012 list and my 2013 list.)

And then this summer happened. Things came up I hadn't anticipated. God sent a few large curveballs in my direction. My priorities quickly shifted, and I had to make choices about how I was going to use my free time.

Truth be told, because I'm a Type-A person, that didn't sit well with me--at least initially. I yearn to do, do, do and go, go, go, checking items off my list and accomplishing as much as possible.

But...as I get older (and hopefully, wiser), I'm learning to breathe...and just recognize that "it is what it is." I'm learning to be grateful for what I do accomplish, instead of focusing on what I don't get done.

Here's a look at what I did this summer:

1 | Get my Nikon D700 repaired and shoot away!
Check! I did get my Nikon camera fixed, but then I sold it--along with ALL of my Nikon lenses and gear. A few weeks later, I bought a Canon 5D Mark III! Yep, you read that right: This summer, I made the HUGE leap (well, huge for me!) from Nikon to Canon, and I'm really happy I did.

2 | Finish sewing 6 pillows for the family room couches.
Still to be done. I'm slightly embarrassed to write this, but the truth is, I made one pillow cover and it looked s-o-o ridiculous that I promptly packed up my sewing supplies and moved on to the next project on my summer list. Then, a few weeks ago, I asked a seamstress how much she would charge to sew six pillow covers and she said $60. I know that's A LOT of money, but I just may take her up on it, so I'll have some pillows on my couches before say, next summer.

3 | Complete our adoption website.
Check! I put a lot of time and effort into our website, and I'm pleased with it. Hopefully, it will help us connect with more birth parents. 

4 | Start a photo journal, adding one new photo per week.
Still to be done. I didn't get around to creating a photo journal this summer, but I want to make it a priority this fall. 

5 | Visit Oregon with Brian's family.
Check! We loved visiting Bandon, Oregon.  What a beautiful town!


6 | Indulge in a massage.
Still to be done. The gift certificate (from my thoughtful hubby) is riding around in my purse, and I'm hoping to cash it in soon.

7 | Host a play date with friends.
Check! We spent lots of time with friends--at our home, their homes and several local parks.

8 | Go on at least one date per month with Brian.
Check! And we have an August date scheduled for this weekend.  (Thanks, Mom and Dad!)

9 | Hike with family and/or friends.
Check!

10 | Attend a county fair. 
Check! The photo above was taken at the Nevada County Fair earlier this month.  

11 | Swim with Noah.
Check! We swam at several friends' houses and at two local pools.    

12 | Finish an article about search and rescue dogs and submit to a magazine. 
Check! I'm still waiting to hear whether my article has been accepted.

13 | Create a scrapbook layout about Noah's name.
Check! If you missed it, you can view it here. 

14 | Explore how to build a free little library for our neighborhood (with help from Brian).
Still to be done. I've pinned ideas to a Pinterest board and I hope to make this a reality in our neighborhood in 2015.

Your turn: What did you see/do/experience/eat/create this summer?

Summer List 2014

Taken with iPhone 5S; edited with Camera+

In our neck of the woods, the signs of summer are everywhere:

• I'm sporting tank tops, shorts, and saltwater sandals. (Who says they are just for kids?!)

• Our local pool opened this past Sunday. (Woohoo!)

• School is out!

• We've been to the splash park four times already.

Because I've got summer on the brain, I created a summer list. (Here's my 2012 list and my 2013 list, in case you missed them.)

I always enjoy the process of brainstorming what we want to do in the next few months and documenting those goals here.

I try hard to keep my list to a manageable number because too many things for me to do in a short period of time = an overwhelmed me = a cranky me.  (Nobody likes cranky me--even me!)

And I know myself well enough to know that if I have several active days with lots of going, going, going (especially if it involves social interaction), I'm going to need down time to recharge.

At the end of each summer, I love looking back at my list and reflecting on what we did and didn't do. (And it's totally okay if we do NOT get everything checked off.)

{2014} Summer List

1 | Get my Nikon D700 repaired and shoot away!

2 | Finish sewing 6 pillows for the family room couches.

3 | Complete our adoption website.

4 | Start a photo journal, adding one new photo per week.

5 | Visit Oregon with Brian's family.

6 | Indulge in a massage.

7 | Host a play date with friends.

8 | Go on at least one date per month with Brian.

9 | Hike with family and/or friends.

10 | Attend a county fair. 

11 | Swim with Noah.

12 | Finish an article about search and rescue dogs and submit to a magazine.

13 | Create a scrapbook layout about Noah's name.

14 | Explore how to build a free little library for our neighborhood (with help from Brian).

What's on your {2014} summer list?

My Summer List



Resort at Squaw Creek | June 2013

With summer officially here, it's time to share my {2013} summer list.   

1| Jump into swimming lessons.

2| Spend a day at the zoo.

3| Visit the children's museum.

4| Go camping.

5| Play in the yard and at the park.

6| Go for a hike.

7| Spend time with family + friends.

8| Attend a county fair.

9| Visit a local farm stand. 

10| Attend an open gym session at a local gymnastics center.

11| Visit the library. 
 
12| Complete Assignment #3 for my writing class.

13| Create a photo wall in our family room.  

14| Sign up for a photography class or workshop. 

What is on {your} summer list?  

Update on My Summer List

Now that we've celebrated Labor Day, I think it's time to share an update on the summer list I created back at the beginning of June. 

Over the past three months, I've crossed 14 of the 17 items off my list.  

You can view my list here.  



Perhaps, my favorite completed item is #8: Revamp my blog.

With help from 17th Avenue Designs, my blog has a whole new look.  The designer who created the template described it as "sweet and sassy."  I think that might be a fair description of me, too.  *wink*

I know many of you receive my blog posts via email, so I thought I'd include a few screenshots here of my new and improved blog.  (Feel free to check out my blog here.) 

In the shot above, you'll notice that I have a new header.  Goodbye, Life and Times of Jennie Rose.  Hello, Jennie Rose.

I added a tagline below the blog title.  I think it captures--in three words--what I'm truly focused on right now: Living life to the fullest, loving with all my heart, and learning as much as I can.

In the right sidebar, I updated the About Me section to reflect my new role as a stay-at-home mom. 

I also added a search bar and two feeds: Instagram and Twitter.

And last, but not least, I now have a special signature at the bottom of each post.  Goodbye, J.  Hello, Jennie. 

Now, back to my summer list.  You might be wondering which three items I did not accomplish.  And why? 

Here they are:


#2: Finalize Noah's adoption.
As I mentioned in my last post, Noah's adoption finalization is scheduled to happen this month.    

#4: Plant a peony bush in the yard.
Noah and I visited our local nursery this summer to see about buying a peony bush.  When I asked one of the master gardeners if the deer would stay away from the flowers, she shook her head no.  Hence why I've crossed this item off my summer list AND my Life List.  Guess I'll just have to buy peonies from the farmer's market.

#17: Document it all in my Project Life binder.
I'm not quite up-to-date on my Project Life pages.  I've finished the June pages, but still need to complete ones for July and August.  

Did any of you draft a summer bucket list?  If so, how did you do?