Bucket List 2016!

I've really loved coming up with a Bucket List each year. It has helped us keep our goal of having experiences that create memories instead of spending money and time on stuff that we don't remember.

So here was our list for 2015:

• Summer Road Trip- didn't happen last year, but it most likely will this year. We're thinking Yellowstone, Idaho, maybe Utah and then back over to Colorado.
• Go River Rafting! Not sure if this will be with the kids or not, but something we definitely want to do
• Horseback Riding at Garden of the Gods- I chose something else for my bday last year, but it's gotta happen this year! I will regret not doing it if we move!
• Finish Korea blog book- this is super time consuming, but will be well worth it when I finish. My goal is to finish it so it can be a Christmas gift!
• Save enough money to have 2 months rent/mortgage on hand. We plan on renting out our property so it's good to have some back up money in case it goes un-rented for awhile.
• Camping! We've really enjoyed our camping trips and hope to do some more. I won't put a number of times because we've found Dan's summer schedule to be so unpredictable that we can't even reserve a place too much ahead of time. 
• Do the incline. It's time!
• Be less busy and more productive. 
• Work ahead!

Yay! We got a lot of our bucket list crossed off! We're definitely working on that savings, especially now that I'm working full time. I couldn't have predicted that one for last year's list! I could never have guessed that by the end of the year I'd be working full time and deciding to take a break from teaching piano.

I remember last year I was feeling antsy that we didn't have any new military assignment yet, but now we do. It's all completely tentative and can totally change... but here's what we hope to have happen for our next duty stations. Dan is on assignment to 8th Army Band in Korea beginning January of 2017. He will go by himself for a one year assignment. This keeps us in Colorado a little longer so the boys can stay in their school and I can enjoy my job a little longer. By having Korea as your duty station you can usually bargain for you choice of next duty station and it looks as though Germany will be available at that time, so we're going to jump on that chance to live overseas again. It's hard to get the coveted Germany assignment and we hope it all works it out. If it does we'll be in Germany in January of 2018!

So my bucket list this year will reflect doing things as a family before Dan leaves in January. (and I already know a bucket list item for 2017- visit Dan in Korea!)

• Do a few getaways with Dan alone. We already have one planned in March, just a weekend up at Mt. Princeton hot springs. I'd like to do an overnight camping trip with Dan too.
• Camp more! Last year I think we only camped as part of our vacation, not just around Colorado. Cade really wants to camp at the Sand Dunes again and have the Bennetts come with us!
• Alex's baptism! He will turn 8 in June so we look forward to celebrating his baptism and welcoming friends and family who want to celebrate with him. Still trying to figure out a good date.
• Vacation! We've gone back and forth about doing a big trip this summer like a cruise or Disneyland. We may not find the time to do one, but I still want to.
• Hike once a week once school is out. I really miss hiking and I'm looking forward to having the summer off to get back out in nature.
• Christmas cabin! We loved our Christmas getaway and want to do it again this year. If we love Mt. Princeton hot springs we may do it there :)

We've been so blessed to be in Colorado this long and to have some tentative plans that suit our family very well. Here's hoping it all works out!