Tuesday, January 10, 2012

bucket lists. the pre-baby kind.

ever heard of a bucket list?  you know, the list of things you want to do before you … kick the bucket.  well, at least that’s why I figure they call it that.

the first time erik and I heard of a bucket list, was from the movie by the same name.  starring jack nicholson and morgan freeman, it was a movie we saw in the theater, back when we were still just a dating duo.  we thoroughly enjoyed our little movie date {out of the many movies we saw together, that particular outing sticks out to both of us for some reason}, and have often talked about what would be on our bucket lists … 

now, I understand that most of the things that end up on a bucket list are rather trivial.  they are the sort of things we want to do or see while still on this earth … rather materialistic, is it not?  well, in an effort to steer clear of attempting to make a profound theological justification for the idea behind the bucket list, I’m simply going to say that I think it’s a fun idea. 

the second time I really read someone else’s bucket list was on this blog.   about a year and a half ago, the writer behind the blog and her husband made a “pre-baby bucket list.  it’s simply a list of things to do prior to making a few additions to the family.  because things just get a little more difficult to do once you have a little miniature running around. 

and i think it’s a fantastic way to truly enjoy and appreciate the period of time you have with your spouse. while it’s just the two of you. 

because we will be parents for the rest of our lives.  and for this time only, we solely bear the responsibility of being a husband and a wife.  and we want to live this time of our lives to the fullest. 

we aren’t in a rush.  and we shouldn’t be. 

please, don’t get me wrong.  we are excited about starting a family.  someday.  {and should it happen before our timeline allots, we will be thrilled, to say the least}

but for now, in an effort to fall deeper in love before we decide to pop out a little benson, erik and I jotted down a few things we want to do, prior to growing the love circle.  it’s a list of adventures and memories we want to create. 

together. 

some are a bit extravagant.  some are very simple.  and some {ok, maybe just one} are actually stolen straight from the pre-baby bucket list of the blogger mentioned above.  we are excited to have a list that will encourage us to take every opportunity for adventure, as often as possible.  we may not finish the entire list … but whatever we don’t finish prior to having a baby, will be transferred onto the “life bucket list” {which already has a few things on it}.

so here goes.  we started out small … doable.  {however, we reserve the right to add to this list at any time}

maybe we should have started the actual list earlier in our marriage.  but regardless of whether or not our adventures were penned on paper before having been experienced, we have certainly enjoyed more than a few memorable thrills … worthy of making it onto the bucket list  {since they are just now being penned, they will also be checked for completion}

introducing our Pre-Baby Bucket List:

  1. visit chicago, eat real chicago pizza, drive to wisconsin, see the farm that housed the many memories of erik benson, see milwalkee, and go to a brewers game
  2. snowshoe up kirkwood on a full moon
  3. buy dinner for a couple in love at a restaurant … anonymously {see #14 – we couldn’t help but steal this one}
  4. spend all of our budgeted christmas $ on another family
  5. go hunting together {which means take the hunter’s safety course together}
  6. sit in the fancy chairs at a nice movie theater {the ones that move} or go to a theater where they serve dinner & drinks during the show
  7. get all dressed up and walk down the aisle together … again {set to occur on may 20th}
  8. trip {though brief} to New York … see the statue of liberty {completed june 2009}
  9. take a major road trip … 34 hours to be exact, to the lower dakota {completed november 2010}
  10. camp out in our truck and mountain bike up the coast {completed may 2009}
  11. get a dog {completed january 2011}
  12. spontaneous day trips to san francisco and lake tahoe {completed multiple times}
  13. go back to where we honeymooned {completed october 2011}

December 20104

we are happy to share our adventures with you as we embark on this journey to fall deeper in love while experiencing more of the great life we have been given together … stay tuned for more from our very own pre-baby bucket list

No comments: