2024 is almost done! Ryan and I have a shared camera roll on Google Photos, and I love going through at the end of the year to relive all the memories. Here are a few highlights from our year:

January

• Rhett turned 9, and Ryan took he and Kender to Seattle for his birthday
• I went hiking

February

• I started learning how to play the guitar and ukulele
• Ryan went on his annual snowmobile trip, and we get some snow at home
• More hiking

March

• We enjoyed some beautiful sunny weather
• We bonded with my lap chicken

April

• Ryan took me to see STARSET in Seattle for my birthday

May

• We enjoyed more sunshine and chickens
• We kind of saw the Northern Lights

June

• We took the boys to the beach at a record-breaking low tide and discovered some cool creatures
• Kender broke his arm and turned 12
• We visited cousins in Utah
• My nephew Lucas also broke his arm

July

• More hiking, but now with a 20lb vest so I can call it rucking
• Celebrated the 4th of July at Nana’s house
• More beaches and sunshine
• Nana took Kender, Lucas, and Rhett to Seattle for the Beneath the Streets tour
• Kender got his cast off

August

• More beaches, sunshine, and rucking
• Nicole’s family came to visit
• We went camping at Fort Flagler
• My parent’s came to visit

September

• Kender and I compared biceps
• More rucking
• Ryan turned 35

October

• Mason turned 6
• We celebrated Halloween

November

• The boys became briefly obsessed with sewing, and Rhett cut off his fingertip with scissors
• We had the flu for Thanksgiving
• I crocheted some toys for the boys for Christmas

December

• Ryan took the boys to the Naval Undersea Warfare Museum
• We went to our ward Christmas brunch, and Mason got to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus (who happened to be his old primary teacher, whom he adores)
• Ryan and I celebrated our 14 year wedding anniversary
• We will celebrate Christmas in just a few days!

I hope you get a chance to step back and reflect on the good things from this year. It seems like there are always infinite things to stress over, but it feels good to press pause on the worry and recognize that life is beautiful.

Merry Christmas!