End of Summer

So, way back in January, before I had any idea how having a baby would impact our lives, I made a list of goals I wanted to accomplish this summer. And since Labor Day is the unofficial end of summer, I decided now would be as good as time as any to check in and see how we did (and, quite frankly, if I didn't do it now it probably wouldn't get done). So, here's the list:

--Have at least two bonfires

--Attend at least five Sioux Falls Saints baseball games

--Go hiking at least twice

--Make time for at least two "Mommy and Daddy" only dates

--Participate in a road race

--Have at least two lunch dates downtown with Daddy

--Go to the lake cabin at least once

--Attend at least one large public event (Jazz Fest, Rib Fest, Sioux Empire Fair, etc)

--Get together with friends for at least four social gatherings

--Go on at least one long bike ride

The final verdict? We managed just over 50%. I was hoping for better, but honestly, I had some unrealistic expectations of what we'd be able to do with William (and honestly, somewhat unrealistic ideas of what would make good summer activities). Here's how we did:

I should have realized this when I made the list, but bonfires are not good summertime activities. Granted, we had some cooler than normal stretches this summer, but bonfires are best at dusk (and when we're getting up two, three, four times a night with baby, late nights around the fire were not appealing. Plus dusk was usually around the time we were taking turns trying to get William to sleep anyway).

I didn't exactly keep track of the exact number of games, but we definitely made it to more than five Saints games. I can't exactly say William was a good luck charm--but hey, he was there.

Hiking is also not a great summer activity. Not around here. Definitely a better spring/fall activity. And I know, this wasn't a terribly hot summer and there were days that were more than suitable for hiking... But it just didn't happen. Maybe if there were more desirable hikes around here (you know, like mountains and waterfalls), I would have pushed the issue a little more. We did put him in his carrier (which he doesn't mind terribly) and do some walking around the mall a few times--close enough?

We didn't have a lot of "Mommy and Daddy" only time, but we did leave William with my parents for an evening so we could go out to dinner, and when we were at the beach Darrell's parents watched William and we went out with his siblings and their spouses, so I count that as good enough.

A road race? Meesh. I was foolish to put that on there. I've run once (a single mile!) since having William (and pretty much never while I was pregnant). So no way did a road race sound appealing. I did get suckered into playing co-ed soccer this fall, so I'll have to do some running for that. Maybe this fall I can do a road race. Maybe (although I do have to do some at some point to make my 30 miles before my 30th birthday goal).

Do the lunch dates count if it wasn't just William, Darrell, and I? Wait, why I am giving you the option to decide? It's my game, so my rules. Of course they count. We were downtown, we were having lunch, and Darrell was there. And so was my dad, brother, and sister's husband (and occasionally my mom and brother's fiancé). Minor details.

I think we made it to the lake cabin twice this summer? Which is as many times as we've made it in previous summers, so good enough in my book. Plus William went for a pontoon ride on Lake Pickerel the weekend of my sister's wedding, and visited Lake Okoboji--so I think he got plenty of lake time in this summer.

We took William to JazzFest, and it was pretty successful. Of course, I was motivated to go mostly because I wanted a funnel cake and not because of this list of goals, but whatever.

This probably isn't a comprehensive list, but between weddings (two), book club (William came with me once or twice), lunch/play dates with friends (two or three), dinners out with friends (I can only think of one, but I'm sure there were more) and a picnic with girls from my book club, I think we managed to keep up with our social calendar just fine.

So you know those fancy bike trailers? Yeah, I was all set to get one so we could take William on our long bike ride this summer. Something I didn't know? Apparently those things aren't exactly made for newborns. Something about head control and bouncing and the like. Really didn't think that one through.

Hopefully as we approach next summer I'll have a better idea of what reasonable goals will be (although I've never had a one-year old before, so I'm sure I'll be just as clueless as I was this time around). The more pressing issue though: what to do with an infant during (what is predicted to be) a miserably cold winter? I predict lots of going stir crazy if we don't have things to do out of the house.