Summer Bucket List 2017

1.  Pitch a tent in the backyard (or go on a real camping trip)
2.  Go fishing (pack a picnic lunch)
3.  Enjoy a day on the boat
4.  Tube down the river
5.  Host a seafood boil
6.  Feed the ducks
7.  Spend an afternoon at the Iowa State Fair
8.  Take family photos
9.  Ride a ferris wheel at Summerfest
10. Play in the splash pads downtown
11. Host an outdoor movie
12. Make s'mores at the lake
13. Maid-Rites and chocolate shakes at the park
14. Go to the pool
15. Make fresh-squeezed lemonade
16. Paint rocks
17. Make a Strawberry shortcake
18. Lay in the grass and watch the airplanes take off
19. Eat ice cream for dinner
20. Sing to the guitar by a campfire
21. Make homemade Popsicles
22. Go to a drive in
23. Take the kids strawberry picking
24. Go for a walk in our pajamas - explore outside with flashlights
25. Read books in the hammock
26. Spend an evening listening to live music at Jasper Winery
27. Donuts and a morning at the park
28. Grab lunch at the Food Trucks downtown
29. Catch lightening bugs
30. Moscow Mules and a fire on the patio
31. A nature scavenger hunt
32. Watch the sun set from the Jeep
33. Take a family bike ride on the High Tressel Trail
34. A picnic, a park, and parchment paper wrapped sandwiches
35. Swimming lessons
36. Grab TropicalSno
37. Make homemade ice cream
38. Plant flowers
39. Make a deck fort
40. Surprise Daddy with a picnic lunch
41. Fresh flowers for the house
42. Make dirt cups 
43. Take the kids school supply shopping
44. Try tennis
45. Splash in puddles in our rain boots
46. Farmer's Market on a Saturday morning
47. Grill pizza with friends
48. Take the kids to a waterpark
49. Share a bottle of wine on the patio while playing cribbage
50. Run through the sprinklers in the yard
-------------------------------------------------
2016 Summer Bucket List
2015 Summer Bucket List
2014 Summer Bucket List
2013 Summer Bucket List

Summer 2016 Bucket List-Progress

I'm in denial that August is less than a week away!  I thought I would check on our summer bucket list progress thus far, just to see where we're at.  Most of the activities still on the list involve being outside for a longer period of time {& it's been SO incredibly hot here this month!}, so hopefully August brings temps closer to 80 instead of 100!  Some just can't happen yet {school supply shopping, Iowa State Fair, etc.} but I'm confident we're going to get 90% of this list accomplished!

1.  Pitch a tent in the backyard
2.  Go fishing
3.  Enjoy a day on the boat
4.  Go for a family bike ride
5.  Host a seafood boil
6.  Feed the ducks
7.  Spend an afternoon at the Iowa State Fair
8.  Go to an evening baseball game
9.  Ride a ferris wheel at Summerfest
10. Play in the splash pads downtown
11. Host an outdoor movie
12. Make s'mores at the lake
13. Maid-Rites and chocolate shakes 
14. Go to the pool
15. Host a lemonade stand
16. Paint rocks
17. Make a Strawberry shortcake
18. Lay in the grass and watch the airplanes take off
19. Eat Orange Leaf
20. Sing to the guitar by a campfire
21. Make homemade Popsicles
22. Go to a drive in
23. Take the kids strawberry picking
24. Go for a walk in our pajamas - explore outside with flashlights
25. Go see Finding Dory
26. Spend a day at the zoo
27. Donuts and a morning at the park
28. Grab lunch at the Food Trucks downtown
29. Catch lightening bugs
30. Moscow Mules and a fire on the patio
31. A nature scavenger hunt
32. Watch a sunset
33. Take a bike ride on the High Tressel Trail
34. A picnic, a park, and parchment paper wrapped sandwiches
35. Swimming lessons
36. Grab TropicalSno
37. Make homemade ice cream
38. Plant Ferns
39. Make a deck fort
40. Surprise Daddy with a picnic lunch
41. Fresh flowers for the house
42. Make dirt cups 
43. Take the kids school supply shopping
44. Try tennis
45. Splash in puddles in our rain boots
46. Farmer's Market on a Saturday morning
47. Grill pizza with friends
48. Take the kids to a waterpark
49. Share a bottle of wine on the patio while playing cribbage
50. Run through the sprinklers in the yard

31/50

'I Think We Zested Too Much'

Oh what an awesome 4th of July we had.

As promised...the day was filled with lots of sunshine [& HEAT!] and fun!  From 10:30-5 we swam, soaked up the sunshine and ate awesome steak and snacks at our cousin's pool.

After an early evening siesta, we headed to a deck gathering at Jordyn's sitter's house.  It did not dissapoint either.

Highlight of my July 4th...taking my first sparkler photos!!  :) 

PS...the way my tummy feels today...'I think we zested too much!'  :)

First Memorial Weekend as a Mrs.

*Disclosure: This post may sound like I don't remember what this holiday is all about but we sure do...BIG THANKS to all of you who make/have made this holiday possible...I could not do what you have done...

..Friday..

Murdock gets sick in the middle of night..continues to be sick for the next 24 hours causing us to stay home and sit outside all night [that goodness it was amazing weather!]  More to come on his sickness later..

..Saturday..

Wake up and help some great friends move until noon..clean up and go celebrate a graduation for a dear friends daughter..head home to grab Murdock & go celebrate a good friends birthday on the patio & watch the UFC fights [::disappointing/waste of money::] [insert:skip friends summer deck bash & feel like a bad friend here]

Birthday Girl!

Bags!

UFC Fights from the deck!

..Sunday..

Wake up and head to good friends house to party at the pool all day & night..spend the night [insert:skip another friends birthday party & feel selfish here]

Partying [w/ Pam]!

Badminton!

Grilling!

..Monday..

Wake up and hang out at the pool all day again  [insert:skip cousin's college graduation party & friends BBQ to continue enjoying the pool & feel like a really bad person here]

Reading & Relaxing [w/ the breakfast of a champion..Mimosas!]

Getting our Tan on!

Volleyball!

All in all..we spent a lot of time relaxing & hanging out with friends in PERFECT weather this weekend.  Some guilt thrown in but we had a great weekend that we really needed!

Tomorrow:My baby sis turns 19 [insert:HOLY CRAP here]

I hope you all had a fun & safe Memorial Weekend!

and it goes on and on and on...

[[I sure hope I didn't get the dumb Lamb-chops song stuck in everybody's head.  That would be terrible]]

*This post is going to be ridiculously long because I haven't posted anything that I want to remember for almost a week...ekk!  If you want to click out now I wont be offended! :)

I'm writing this post as quick as I can because the boys are playing out in the pool & I want to be out there too.  Get ready for the hodge-podge!!

..If you have not yet requested what you want to see...DO IT NOW! {please!}

..The weather for the last week has been A.MAZ.ING!!!  So warm, so sunny!  [which is why I never update my blog anymore!]  We have been playing so much...reading in the hammock outside...splashing in the pool...playing at different parks...even some soccer, baseball, & volleyball!

..Last weekend my Mom & Sister [Alicia] & Friend [Katie] came down to visit.  I had soo much fun!  They just made my weekend!  Shopping in Valley Junction & Jordan Creek, Dinner @ PF Chengs on the patio, & ice cream outside...it doesn't get any better than that!!

..Sunday we watched my friend Lindsey's little man.  You may remember him from this post...he is such a doll!!  

..Tuesday we had F night...post to follow soon.  The kids & I also went to the Farmer's Market here in town.  We had a great time.  Such a fun experience for everyone...the twins learned about the Amish [lets be real..only a little..I don't have a plethora of knowledge on the subject!] This may come as a shock to some of you but they really enjoyed sharing a big scoop of homemade ice cream under the big Oak tree! :)

..Yesterday I came to work at 8:30 and got off at 1 since Mackenzie had a field trip to the Zoo that her mom helped at.  So the girls and I found a new park to play at and ended up staying there until Carter was done with school.  We came home & had dinner and then it was time for me to take off.  It worked out great because I get tickets for my sister, Katie, and myself to go to the Midnight showing of Sex in the City 2 so I went home and watched SITC 1 to prepare!!  We had a great time other than the fact that the theatre was approximately 50*  Oh.my.cold!!!  I'm so thankful they made the 4 hour trip to go to the show with me!  They are the best!!

..Today we met up with Alicia & Katie for breakfast at Panera before they headed back home.  The girls love going there...ok me too! :)

..I know I'm missing like 30 things that I wanted to get recorded but hopefully I'll remember them soon!

..My heart goes out to this family...please pray for them too..

Not Me! Monday...

It is Not Me that's out in the pool with these little beauties right now!

*Weekend post coming later...we must take advantage of this AMAZING weather right now*

Just Thursday & Random Ramblings

Random Ramblings..

-My SILs invited me to run a 5K with them July 3rd..kind of exciting..although I may die!

-I went running last night for the first time in 45 days!! eek!

-We had E supper last night.

-The girls and I went to the park, library, & 3 garage sales this morning.
-If you haven't already requested something to see...do it NOW! {please}

--------------

[I'm making a new button today! :]

Outside my window..the pants are being watered 

The time is..almost 2:30

Today I feel..content

I am thinking..I wish both sisters could come down this weekend :(

At the moment, I am thankful..for all the sun we have had this week [it's supposed to get to 89〬 Sunday]

I am going..to clean the house tonight

I am wearing..brown AE tshirt & jeans

I wish..I could just read all day

I am reading..just finished Shopaholic Takes Manhattan and getting ready to start Distant Shores by Kristin Hannah

I am working on..plans with my mama & sister this weekend

I am hoping..to relax with the hubbs tonight

I am hearing..the rain outside

Around the house..it's clean..we were busy all morning

I bet you didn't know..if you want your rings 'jewelry store clean' put them in a liquid cleaner and set the container on top of the washing machine during the spin cycle.  It's just like their little machine!

One of my favorite..things is reading comments from my followers! :)

Join the Fun!  Copy & Paste and fill it out on your blog!  

*Make sure to leave a comment so I can check yours out!

Have a great day Everyone!