summer goals recap

Speaking of back to school season, I always think at this time of year about that classic first day of school writing assignment: the "what I did this summer" report. And even though I don't get summer break any more, I still feel like summer is such a special time of year (aided by the fact that winter can be soooo long here) that I always want to make sure that I make the most out of summer.

So this summer I actually wrote up a list of summer goals for that very purpose - and now that it's the unofficial end of summer (tear!), it seems like the perfect time to recap that list.

Now that I look back at it, I guess I only kind of "accomplished" the 5 things on it. But I had a pretty darn great summer, so I still think I did it up right, with this list as a starting guide.

The list was:

1. Try out a new (to us) brewery: didn't actually get to a new one, but we did enjoy outings to several old favorites for my birthday and for my brother's moving-to-med-school sendoff. Plus I tried new-to-me local beers in Minneapolis and Montreal. AND new ice cream places, which really is even better.
2. Plan some bike rides with friends: I didn't quite connect with some of the friends I meant to, but I did some great family rides with my parents, brothers, Peter/Hendrik. Plus plenty of group rides where I met some new people. AND I got my awesome new road bike - so, all around a great biking summer.
3. Find a great pair of sandals and summer-weight jeans: total success here. These Sorel sandals got tons of compliments, plus they walked me MILES around my own town, Minneapolis, Chicago, and Montreal. And while it seemed like we had way less opportunity to wear jeans than other summers (so hot and humid!), I really love these jeans and will be wearing them plenty come fall weather.
4. Take Hendrik on 1-2 special outings per month: I would say this was the other big success. We did plenty of time at the cottage/beach, and then there was also his tumbling class that was great, trips to the library and the local park and downtown, plus some special things like the Dragons Love Tacos character event at the library, biking over to mini golf + ice cream, and his first time sleeping in a tent. Plus he learned to paddle a kayak! So fun.
5. Spruce up the front steps: my goal was to "find some great planters to flank the door and fill them with some colorful flowers, and also finally get our historic district plaque hung up." Well. I got some great planters. (They have been sitting empty since...June.) And we are currently in the process of having exterior painting done, after which those guys have promised to hang up my plaque. So, perhaps I can redeem it by picking up some mums for the fall, and then really doing up my planters next year. But the exterior is going to be looking good either way, thanks to the painters (and plenty of $$...)

In addition, I went on a great vacation with Peter to Montreal, enjoyed two outdoor concerts, found a fab new bathing suit, got a perfect amount of tan, and read about 20 books. ALSO September can still be quite summery around here, so I'm keeping this all going as long as I can. Great summer indeed.

How about yours?