Gearing Up For Fall

Browsing the ads in the Sunday paper today put me in the mood for "back to school"! I love this time of year.  It's a great time to restock my kids art supply, buy supplies for Christmas crafts, or Operation Christmas Child gifts. 
I swore after the long winter, that I wouldn't wish away the Summer, so I'm trying not to get TOO excited about Fall.  So, Millie and I worked on our Summer '11 Bucket List.  Here's what we will do before school starts:

• See the animals at Como Park
• Go on rides at Como Town
• Go to the MN Zoo twice
• Go to the island at St. Kates and feed the ducks
• Swim at Snail Lake
• Have a night-time party at the farm
• Go to the History Museum
• Go to Music in Mears
• Get ice cream at Izzys
• Farm camp
• Craguns
• Play at the Harriet Island playground
• Go on a nature scavenger hunt

In addition to all the fun things we WILL do before the end of summer, I also need to:

• Finish all my back to school  shopping
• Figure out the reporting requirements for homeschooling in MN
• Introduce Elise to daily quiet time
• Create and implement a chore chart for Millie
• Create a cleaning routine for myself
• Organize my pantry, and somehow free up an entire shelf for homeschool supplies
• Paint my living room, dining room, and hallway
• Sign up for a couch 2 5K app, and get in the habit of exercising after the kids are in bed.

I only have 7 weeks to do it all!!  I'll keep you posted.

Aaaaaaand before I go for the evening, here's a picture of Millie from earlier today.  She's really really into kangaroos right now :)