Goals for Fall

This picture doesn't have anything to do with my goals for fall, I just can't have a blogpost without a picture. My sister snapped it last weekend and it is probably one of my new favorites.

I like lists.
I like stuff written down and organized.
I like plans and structure.
And I am terrible at getting anything done if it isn't that.

I remember telling a friend once that Matt writes out lists for me to do during the day.
Things to get done, projects to work on, food to make.
That person got really upset and said they would flip out if their husband was telling them what to do all the time.
On the contrary, I asked him to.
I don't know if it is like an ADHD or I just can't focus or what...but to have to think of things to do on my own and actually do them results in little getting done.
So it just works better that way.

I have gotten better at writing out my own lists and things to do, but with this upcoming season I am slightly overwhelmed.
Remember that ADHD thing where I can't focus and get stuff done? Well it is two-fold when there is a lot to get done. Which is totally a disaster, because then I do even less. Resulting in not a whole lot of my to-do lists getting accomplished.

Now that we have kids, I want them to experience fun things.
Someone asked me once why I document so much of the little stuff.
I document the little stuff, because it matters.
We may not be going on cross-cultural trips, or hiking up mountains.
I don't spend my days creating the latest cure for a disease or the next great piece of technology.
But I am teaching my child to walk, and talk. I am seeing them experience a bug for the first time, or trying to understand what a thunderstorm is.
My life is very mundane, and I think that is why many stay-at-home mom's struggle with finding contentment and joy.

So you have to think like a kid again and find the joy in the small things.
Find the joy in the excitement of your children's eyes when they see a waterfall for the first time, or a BIG ANIMAL at the zoo, or a skyscraper!
Some of my greatest memories growing up were the simplest things:

yearly trips to the orchard, countless sleepovers and nights out with my cousins, going to Grand Haven for Christmas, cleaning up the yard in the spring, going to pumpkin patches, hunting with my dad...

Yes, we occasionally took a big trip, and those were fun memories as well, but I love the traditions.
The small trips or get-together's repeated year after year.

While the introvert in me wants to curl up with my little family in my own home and watch a movie, the mother in me wants to get out and have my kids experience life.

I usually just write on paper and keep it to myself, but to help me stay accountable...and just for fun, I decided to make our "goals for fall" a blog post!

GOALS
-Finish our bedroom
-Convert our old room into guest room/playroom
-Take Reagan to an Apple Orchard - and pick and eat as many as possible!
-Finish new nursery.
-Take Reagan to the zoo.
-Eat as much homemade donuts and cider as possible ;)
-Go on a babymoon vacation - we are still undecided where and whether or not we are bringing Reagan with us. If you have any ideas, let me know!
-Matt to get a deer!
-Bake a fresh homemade pumpkin pie. I HATE pumpkin pie, but it is the ONLY pie that Matt likes, so because I love him...I will make one. Who knows...maybe Reagan will love it too!
-Take Reagan to a pumpkin patch and carve pumpkins.
-Go on a color drive tour and hike.
-Attend as many Thanksgiving and Christmas parties as we can while I am largely uncomfortable.
-Last, but certainly not least, HAVE A BABY!

My list at home looks much more intimidating writing out EVERY.LITTLE.DETAIL of things we still need to make or buy for the rooms. There are a lot of projects to be finished in the next few months, but we are looking forward to having some fun too and enjoying our favorite season!