Completing my List

So today was my first day of school with my new kiddos!! I met a few of them last night, but they all officially came today and I'm beyond excited for the year. The kids are so sweet and I hope they have as much fun as I know I will. So, with that being said, summer is officially over for me (and I'm talking the summer life, not the temperatures. Those are still here, thank goodness!). So, let's recap my summer. No, I'm not going to talk about every stinking detail. But I did make a bucket list. Did I complete it all? Let's Check:

Become a better cook: I've done lots of cooking over the summer, from really easy and flavorful bruschetta to working on grilling to trying multiple recipes of chocolate chip cookies. I've still got to work on chopping (I'm awful at it!) among other things, but I'm excited to keep doing it and having fun with it.

Get back into playing tennis (and maybe this year I can finally perfect my serve): I didn't get to this! Ahh it makes me so mad! I guess I'm going to blame the fact that I didn't have anybody to play with. Even though I could've mustered up one of my siblings. Oh well, I'm not done with this yet! I really do want to get back into this.

(Somewhat) redecorate and reorganize my room: Well I didn't redecorate (yet) but I did partially reorganize and donate a lot of my old clothes (yes even some of those clothes that my sister alluded to in this post) to the donation box at my church. It was nice to make some more room in my closet, and also just keep the clothes in my wardrobe that I really love. I can't wait to reorganize and redecorate NEXT summer. I know that that will be my time to really get things done. 

Explore the wonders of Colorado and hike in the beautiful mountains: I've said a lot about my trip. It truly was beautiful and fantastic and the hiking was unlike anything I'd ever done before. It tested every bone in my body, but it was so much fun and so worth it. I loved heading out west and I'd love to go back again someday. 

Do more DIY projects (sew another dress, start the afghan I've been dying to try, make more jewelry):  I did accomplish quite a lot! My mom and I made several clutches over the past few months, which I'm loving! And I gave a few away for my friends to try and use. I wonder if they like them! I also started my blanket. So I'm excited to be semi-crafty!

Practice the piano...goal: recital!: I could've practiced more, but I'm excited to really get back into my music now. It is something that I truly find joy in and now that I'll have more space and (try) to find more time, I know that I'll be focused and ready with my goal in mind.

Ravinia concerts with my Dad: We got to go twice this year and both times were fantastic! My dad and I share a great love for classical music, and to go together with my sisters is such a treat We got to see both Emmanuel Ax and Yo-Yo Ma and I loved every moment of both. If you live in the Chicago area and you haven't been to the Ravinia Festival before, you should definitely go! It's great entertainment for a really great price. You can even bring a full picnic dinner for an evening with friends or your sweetheart. The lawn is great. I hope to go more next year.
FINALLY develop pictures that have been sitting in my computer for (sadly) years...:Yes, I finally got some more pictures!! Ahh it's perfection! I'm so glad I finally developed them and put them in an album so that I'll have the hard copies for years to come. 
Spend more quality time with the people I love most:This is probably the thing I did most on my list, and boy am I glad that I was given this chance. We had such a great summer, with good and bad times, but it was still a fantastic few months and I'm so glad we got this time to spend with each other.

This is what my town will look like in a few short weeks!
I love Indian Summer

Well there you have it! I completed most of my list. It was a ton of fun, and I think making lists like this really gives you a core of what you want to do and sticking to it.  Now it's onto fall we go! I like fall, although summer is still my favorite season. Tomorrow get ready for some awesome Friday's Fancies: Back to School Cool! I can't wait!

~Susan