2018 Summer Bucket List

Of all the lists I make in a year, there is no list that makes me more excited to draft and check off than our summer bucket list.  It's become quite the tradition around here, my first one in 2012 when Cruz was just 18 months old!  As we brainstorm each year, it's fun to look back on past years' lists not only to be reminded of all the good memories we've made, but to see how our lists have changed and grown with our growing family.  And of course there are staples that have made the list every year - strawberry picking and farmer's market exploring, movies and picnics outside, and a fun date night or two for Beau and I.  Most of all, the bucket list keeps us creative, gives us lots of ideas to squeeze the most out of these days when they start to get a little long, and has become a way for our family to bond and create experiences together.  We've never had a summer where we check everything off, but that's not the point.  Summer is a sweet season that gives us less on our plate, less on our minds, and less on our to do list.  The bucket list gives us intentional ways to make the most of the less. 

I love displaying our bucket list somewhere visible and creating an easy way to see the list dwindle as we make our way through the season.  Last year, I hung these cute little tags on our chalkboard with clothespins and twine, and they made quite the statement.  They even inspired some of our friends, always checking on our progress when they'd come over or finding ways they could be involved in our fun!  This year, I took the same concept, but replaced the twine and clothespins with washi tape.  This will be even easier for the kids to remove and I won't have to rearrange baggy twine!  Cruz and Mila look at the list every day, and then follow up by asking how many days until summer break.  The anticipation is real.  

So here she is, our 2018 summer bucket list.  And a few favorite snaps from last year, too.

1. Watch The Greatest Showman outside
2. Our favorite booth at Wilbos
3. Ride in a canoe on a sunshine afternoon
4. Go on a fossil digging adventure
5. Spend a day at Adventureland
6. Go on a family bike ride on the trails
7. Go berry picking
8. Watch home movies outside
9. Lie on the ground and look at the stars
10. Big bubble fun
11. Make artwork outside
12. Read three new books
13. Play mini golf
14. Farmer’s Market morning
15. Meet Daddy at the taco truck - have a picnic in the tailgate
16. Date night to Singlespeed – with Scrabble
17. Pizza at the ballpark
18. Music on the Cedar and a walk down the river
19. Make chocolate chip cookies and surprise Daddy at his office
20. Get cookie dough from Scratch and take a stroll down main street
21. Do a color run
22. Go to Irish Fest
23. Brad and Kate at Jamesons with some peeps!
24. Swim at the Falls at night
25. Ride bikes to Singlespeed with a crew!
26. Card party – play 500
27. Hansen’s Dairy Farm – when Bri is working
28. Decorah camping weekend
29. Blue Barn BBQ picnic
30. Lay on our backs and watch the clouds - sketch or paint what we see
31. Fishing in our favorite spot
32. Order a banana split from Four Queens
33. Camp in our backyard on the last day of school
34. Spend a day in Allison – eat at the diner, play at Wilder’s,
check books out at Grandma’s library
35. Go to the movies on a rainy day
36. Visit the Dike park
37. Eat popsicles on the trampoline
38. Go to Lost Island
39. Go camping at Gabe and Gina’s
40. Have a cousin sleepover with the Henrichs kids
41. Sign up for summer reading at the library
42. Neighborhood nerf war
43. Go to a Bucks game
44. Make a homemade pie
45. Donuts at the park
46. Golfing Date with Beau, sit on a patio after
47. Sidewalk chalk creations
48. Find the perfect shade of summer pink nail polish
49. Meet friends at the park on a weekday morning
50. Beach day
51. Take naps on the front porch
52. A tea party with my girl
53. Bead making on the front porch
54. Picnic lunch at the Meadows pond
55. Backbone State Park hiking and creek stomping
56. Meet Papa for picnic lunch
57. Small town adventure