2015 Summer Bucket List Follow-up

Preschool for both girls is in full swing and the first day of Fall began last week with chilly mornings, which led me to reminisce about our summer adventures.  Even though I love schedules, cool air, and pumpkin-seasoned anything I find myself longing for more pool, beach and seafood days and having more of that carefree, energetic spirit!  We completed a lot of things on our original 2015 bucket list, but did so many more unexpected things too – spent time at the Rappahannock River, celebrated my brother’s 30th birthday, celebrated my niece’s 1st birthday, spent Claire’s 2nd Birthday at Sesame Place water park in PA, explored new places in downtown Raleigh with siblings and friends, went on a fabulous Girls’ Trip to Chicago, celebrated my mom’s birthday and the closing of her house, went to the NC Zoo, filled rainy days with museum trips and crafts, and vacationed in the Outer Banks for a week.

While we spent a lot of time with friends and family over the summer, I will best remember this summer for all the amazing memories we created with my siblings, nieces, and Aunt Jeanne.  It’s been a rollercoaster of a summer with lots of “firsts” and some “lasts” and I’m glad to have made it through it with them.  For all these reasons and more, summer makes for endless fun and is our favorite season.  But, Fall is here now and that means preschool fun, Hokies football and pumpkin beer, so come on Fall 2015!

Check out our bucket list and photo album below:

1. Have a breakfast picnic in pajamas (fun way to spend a weekend morning)
2. Visit the library (made it to story time at the book store and library)
3. Visit the Eno River State Park (fun Memorial Day weekend hike)
4. Camp in the backyard (calling this a success even though we all didn’t make it to midnight due to an overly energetic almost 2year old)
5. Try a new ice cream place (visited Country Cottage in Topping, VA, Treat in Raleigh, Chiles Peach Orchard in Crozet, VA)
6. Attend an outdoor concert (attended Pickin’ in the Plaza, various Music on the Porch events, Midtown Park concerts)
7. Explore Downtown Raleigh via Segway (surprise birthday adventure!)
8. Play with the slip ‘n slide (July 4th fun with friends)
9. Let the kiddos enjoy the water fountains at NC Museum of Art after a Stroller Strides class (early summer fun)
10. Go blueberry picking (didn’t pick blueberries, but did pick strawberries, peaches and apples)
11. Discover three new parks (went to Eno River State Park, Blue Jay Point County Park, Neuse River Trail, Hunnicut Trail at Historic Oak View Park, Sesame Place in PA, Rockwood Park in VA, Curtis Park Pool in VA, Spring Forest Road Park, Fredericksburg River Run Trail, Crabtree Creek Trail)
12. Catch lightning bugs (unsuccessfully tried this too late in the summer)
13. Explore the Prairie Ridge Ecostation again (ant bites and all)
14. Survive swim team (what a swimming confidence builder this was)
15. Go to the movies
16. Attend a Durham Bulls game (better than a Bulls game, I saw the Cubs play at Wrigley in Aug with a dear friend)
17. Discover a new (to us) brewery (visited Blackbeard Brewery in Raleigh, Starr Hill in Crozet, Compass Rose Brewery in Raleigh )
18. Make s’mores (we ate our weight in these this summer)
19. Fly a kite (beach adventure in Cape Hatteras)
20. Watch a movie outside (watched A Bug’s Life with neighbors in our backyard)
21. Grill oysters (July 4th fun with friends)
22. Go to the Durham farmers’ market
23. Visit Beaufort, NC (heading there this weekend, though)
24. Visit a farm (attended two weddings of dear friends at Virginia farms (Richlands Dairy Farm, Hermitage Hill Farm)
25. Enjoy a bushel of crabs (during farewell party at Cin’s Landing)

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