The summer "to-do" list is done.

Did we do everything on my list? Nope, not even close.  Barely.  So the list, not the things on the list, is what is done.

I've done this most summers, make a list that is.  Most summers the list was in my head, or in a conversation with a friend.  This was the first time I've actually posted a list to read....my big "summer to do list" of fun, new and exciting things.

And it was a failure.  Not the summer, but the list.  It was all wrong.

Why?  My intent was good: it was a night I wasn't sleeping, and with this big expanse of free time ahead of us, I was thinking of all kinds of fun we could have, and wanted ideas when we came up short.   Great idea, but not one that really works for us. 

Why it doesn't work it something I think will be helpful for the future. 

Here is my stab at it:

• We're not a list kind of family.  I've learned to take things as they come a lot more and let my planning and control tendencies go a little (a lot).   Early in our marriage dh suggested we just "pick a direction" and head out on vacation with "no plans" (and yes, I put that in quotes for a reason: you planners/control freaks will understand why).  I gasped.  The horror and fear of it all was a little much for me, but I went with it.  With a few key things in mind, we headed out, and had one of the best vacations ever.  Until the boy came along, we did this for most of our vacations.  It was awesome.
• We like to be at home.  A lot of day, curling up on the sofa under a blanket beats the best planned out day trip.  Not always, but a lot.
• There is a lot to be said for free days.   The school year is full of schedules and dates and homework and limits.  Summer? Not so much.  Having a list of things to do just doesn't seem like the right fit.

We had the perfect summer in my opinion.  We actually did a few things on my brainstorm list, but most went undone. 

Instead of a day trip to DC we had day and night long playdates.

Instead of a hectic tour of a foreign country (not written, but in the plan), we had a fun 7 days at a ocean paradise in nearby state that we had already visited....twice.

Instead of hiking trails (we don't even like to hike!) the boy and I had wandering dates around town over pizza and frozen yogurt, with good conversations and easy (ie no) schedules.

We fostered (and subsequently adopted) a nine year old kitty that is the sweetest thing ever.  We celebrated Grandma's 80th birthday.  He enjoyed his first ever bachelor party (at Camden Yards no less) with cousins and good friends.  We played Legos and sorted baseball cards, rode bikes, played in the pool and on the baseball field and learned more licks on the guitar.  We curled up on the sofa under a blanket together and each played on our own computer in the afternoons.

It was the perfect summer. 

It is something that no list could ever create.