Scenes from New Year's Eve

 

Our New Year's Eve involed Chinese food, Boston Cream Pie, sparking cider, review and watching Wicked. We also reviewed our hopes from 2024, which we achieved, which we did not and shared out hopes for the coming year and choosing our watchword. A perfect way to end the year and begin the next (though we were all sound asleep by 10:30pm). xo 

Year In Review

 

Happy New Year's Eve! Twenty twenty was absolutely an unprecedented year and one that none of us saw coming when we welcomed it in almost a year ago. And while it wasn't the year we had thought it would be we found many blessings amidst the chaos of life during a global pandemic. 

Our year began with dance and skiing and, in February, a wonderful trip to Jay Peak in Vermont (I would have stayed there forever if we could have). February also saw Emma turning twelve (one of the last birthday celebrations before Covid turned everything into car parades). 

Of course, if I am being honest, not a whole lot changed for us when the pandemic began. Being a homeschool family for years already we did not have to adjust to the "school at home" piece that so many of our friends did when the world shut down in March.  We were grateful to be able to offer wisdom and support for all that found themselves thrust into the world of pandemic schooling.  The biggest adjustment for us was our home being turned into a dance studio when the girls classes all went virtual (that ballet barre Dave's parents gave the girls at Christmas clearly was a bit of foreshadowing). 

The end of March saw dance competitions being postponed (even though we knew they would end up canceled) and the same held true for April. What everyone thought would be a two week "stay at home" order turned into longer and we found ourselves celebrating Pam Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Easter Sunday from our living room. 

May brought May Day and Mother's Day and some much wished for chicks(!) right before my quarantine birthday (the first one in our family).  May also was when I applied for a job that was recommended to me by my graduate school mentor. 

June brought with it more canceled plans (a much looked forward to dance intensive for Grace) and a job interview (and offer) for me. I didn't see myself retuning to full time paid work this year and can't say I was really ready for it but alas that's adulting for you. The chicks got bigger and moved out into their coop (and I didn't sleep the first few nights) . 

July brought with it a return to the dance studio (with Covid precautions in place) and more delayed dance competitions (and us wondering what was taking so long to cancel) and two more quarantine birthdays - David's and Grace's- and everyone realizing that quarantine birthdays really are pretty fab! 

We continued to wonder how we were going to juggle me working full time and homeschooling the girls (and there were many anxious tears shed knowing that the weeks were flying by).  Thankfully our prayers were answered in the form of Seasons of Seven Virtual (Waldorf) School. The timing of that truly couldn't have been better! The stars clearly had aligned for us and we couldn't be more grateful! 

August saw more canceled plans, more cancelled dance competitions but alas one ended up happening! Of course, as luck would have it that one took place after I was officially back at work. Training for work was a long two weeks. It's hard to learn a new job while having to social distance and wear a mask ALL. DAY. LONG.  August was also our anniversary and when school began for the girls and when the dance recital finally took place. Sadly, August was also when my 102 year old grandfather passed. He was born during a pandemic and died during a pandemic. A full circle moment indeed. 

September, October and November were a whirlwind of adjusting to life with both of us working and the girls in school. Or driving to dance and getting back to the gym. Of planning virtual youth group meetings and of trying to figure out what the holiday would look like. It's all kind of a blurr but in the end all worked out. 

Our December was different in that we didn't have a quiet month of crafting and elving and creating but rather a month of lessons and work. Presents were not wrapped until Christmas Eve and cinnamon rolls weren't baked until Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We did still manage to celebrate Saint Nicholas Day at the beginning of the month, though Saint Lucia got lost in the shuffle (sadly, as it's one of our faves). Our Christmas Day was small and lovely. The  most looked forward to day in December was absolutely earlier today when Emma received her first pair of pointe shoes! 

There were tears from me as a grieved my "old life" while I adjusted to the new. I miss the way things were, though I am grateful to work from home four days a week and to work with such kind people. It is nice to put my two degrees in Special Education to good use again. I am so grateful that I got to spend fourteen solid years home with my sweet girls. It's hard to leave that part of my life behind as it was truly the job that I was made to do and one that I knew I was good at. I am not sure I will ever find a job that I love as much as I loved being home with the girls for the past fourteen years. And yes, they were ready for more and have more than risen (and impressed us). I just wish I had known that last lesson year was my last at the helm. Their teachers, Ms. Jaia and Mr. Donovan have been such a blessing and such perfect teachers for them! We love that they still get to be home while having a Waldorf school experience! 

One of the biggest blessings of this pandemic has been having David home so much. In almost nineteen years of marriage this is the most he has ever been home. Yes, he continued to see patients, and yes many have had Covid (and clearly the PPE works as he has not yet contracted it). We ended 2019 with a lot of truth being learned and entered 2020 with much uncertainty and much work to do and this pandemic has allowed us the gift of time and the gift of reconnection and reconciliation and for that I am eternally grateful. 

And so, while I know 2020 was a rough year on so many fronts (we pause to remember those lives lost to Covid and to give thanks to those working tirelessly on the frontlines of this pandemic) on the whole, for us, it brought with it many blessings We became even closer than we already were, we slowed down, we reconnected, we focused on what was most important to us, we read good books, listened to good music, got outside on many, many, many walks. We absolutely miss seeing our family members (who we have not seen since February) and going on out of state adventures but we have decided to isolate now so that when we gather later no one is missing. 

This brings my tenth year of blogging to a close. It's the least I have ever blogged due to #returningtopaidwork but at 177 posts still pretty good (and brings my post count to 2.647). I still have yet to print this blog in book format (and really should do that soon). I have no idea how much I will blog in the coming year. I am hoping to get anything that "feels important" up in this space but have a feeling posts may be few and far between. Thank you to anyone who has continued to read. 

I hope you found the blessings amidst the chaos too and that your 2021 is a happy and healthy one! Wishing you a sweet and lovely new year! xo 

A Special Ending To The Year

Today, Emma is officially "all grown up" in the dance world. 

Today she received her first pair of pointe shoes! 

She's a natural! 

And since we were going for Emma's fitting we figured we might as well get Grace a new pair too. Ever since the moment she had her first pair on she has made this look effortless. 

My babies are all grown up! 

It's like they were born to do this! 

Definitely the most special New Year's Eve we've ever had! xo

Our Year In Review

It's hard to believe that it's already time to write our year in review post! It seems like just yesterday I was writing the post to sum up our twenty-sixteen, and yet here I am already reflecting on twenty-seventeen. Gosh, that year went by fast (and yet on another hand felt like it lasted for an entire decade, too).

For us as a family, twenty-seventeen was a stellar year! And while I knew this, seeing it all as I put our "2017 in Review" Flipigram together last night made me realize just how truly incredible a year it was. We watched with pride as Grace and the mini team participated in their first dance competitions (and rocked it! Even winning in their age group for their jazz dance at the second comp)! We found ourselves standing up (and marching) for things that are important to us. I shall carry with me sight of the sea of pink hats and the wonderful energy of the Women's March in Boston for the rest of my days. My only regret is that David and the girls weren't there too. We wrote letters and signed petitions and attended the March for Science in Boston as a family. We participated in vigils and made sure that the world knows that we welcome all and that "Hate Has No Home Here" (just in case that wasn't already clear).

We celebrated birthdays (including a big one- David's 40th) and anniversaries (15 years and still going strong) and so many other milestones and accomplishments. The girls said "good-bye" to one Girl Scout troop and "hello" to another. They went to sleep away camp!  Grace became a Rainbow Girl. Emma, joined the ranks of the Junior Deacons (finally, officially). We built eclipse viewers and watched in awe as the moon covered the sun. And, of course, we kept living, learning, laughing and loving together in this sweet, old farmhouse of ours! We wouldn't have it any other way (well, unless we could move this sweet, old farmhouse of ours to a small town like Berlin, then maybe we would)! The most exciting part of twenty-seventeen was finally going on our long awaited  Disney Cruise! And it was even more magical and incredible than we expected!

And so, this brings to a close our seventh year of  sharing our many adventures and daily goings-on with all of you. We offer many thanks to those who have supported us, encouraged us, and loved us this year (and always). You all make this journey (and the world) so much sweeter. Thank you for loving our little family and enjoying our many adventures. We are truly grateful.

Happy last day of twenty-seventeen, friends! We wish you a wonderful night and a blessed new year! xo

Our Year In Review

 What a year 2016 has been! In looking back over the pictures taken and blogposts written it was another truly wonderful year for our family. I wish we could say the same for our country and the world. 2016 sure was a heart-breakingly tough one for America and the world stage. 

This year saw the girls joining the ski team and Grace joining the Center Stage Dance Team (complete with sparkly jacket)! Emma was thrilled to receive her much looked forward to fountain pen and begin cursive when morning lessons began this past September.

We sent Emma on a fun-filled birthday scavenger hunt which began at church and ended when she discovered a new bike in the upstairs bathroom! A bike! In the bathroom! She's still giggling about that one!

I turned forty and Grace turned ten, and while we didn't end up having the party we had been thinking of ,we both had lovely and perfect for us celebrations in the end. Grace's flower shop birthday gathering will forever be a favorite!

And while the year for our family was generally good there were some sad spots, too. Early February saw us saying good-bye to our sweet guinea pig, Ginger. They handled her passing with such grace, compassion and poise, and as a result I do believe I watched the girls grow-up a little more that day, too. And we were incredibly disappointed  when Hurricane Matthew messed with our amazing surprise for the girls- a much longed for Disney Cruise. For as sad as we were we all agree that we can't help but feel that Hurricane Matthew may have done us a favor in the end as the re-booked cruise sounds even more amazing and magical than our original one would have been!

The four of us are excited to see all that 2017 will bring for our family. Dave will turn forty. Emma will turn nine (the last year our little family have someone with an age in the single digits). Grace will compete in her first dance competitions. And (knock on wood) we'll be cruising to the Caribbean before the end of the year!

And so, this brings to a close, the sixth year of sharing our many adventures and daily goings-on in this, our little piece of cyberspace. We offer many thanks to those who have supported us, walked with us, encouraged us and loved us this year (and always). You all make the journey (and our world) that much sweeter. 

Happy last day of 2016! May 2017 be full of peace, love, joy and understanding. xo

Our Year In Review

2015 was a truly fabulous year for us! While the Epic Winter That Was brought much damage to our sweet old farmhouse, it also equaled an incredible renovation which allowed us to complete many projects that we had talked about for as long as we have been a part of its long and wonderful history. Our house looks more incredible than we could have ever imagined, and we now feel we've made it our own! 

We've watched as the girls learned to tie their shoes, as Emma learned to ride her bike without training wheels, and as Grace learned to do a cartwheel. We sit in awe of the amazing people they are, and look forward to seeing all that they will become. Their kindness and compassion never ceases to amaze us. 

This year was the first time we tapped our maple trees (and what a sweet endeavor that was!) but it was also the first year where we canned and froze nothing. The renovations didn't allow for such, and while it was the right choice given the circumstances, it truly feels weird not to have cupboards full of food that we harvested and prepared. 

This year was so full and so wonderful that it would be hard to sum it all up in one blog post (which, by the way, concludes my fifth year of blogging)! We offer much thanks to those who have supported us, walked with us, encouraged us and loved us this year (and always)! All of you make the journey that much sweeter! 

We wish you a lovely last day of 2015 and a 2016 full of peace, love and joy! xo 

Our Year In Review

For anyone that has been following this blog for any length of time, or at the very least since this time last year, you may remember that I used this same graphic for last years "Year in Review" post.  The message of this graphic is one that speaks so deeply to us, and one that really should be shared year after year after year (and probably will be here on our blog).  It's the perfect way to end each year, really.  

For the four of us who get to share our days together in this lovely old farmhouse 2012 was a pretty great year. Sure, there were some things that we could have done without, but on the whole 2012 really was a banner year for us. 

This year saw: a new job, the addition of two guinea pigs to our ever growing menagerie of animals (stay tuned for chickens this spring!), our first family camping adventures, our 10th anniversary celebration (and what a fabulous time it was!), both girls becoming Daisy Scouts (and me becoming a leader), a new church home, and getting more and more connected within our community of like minded families.  I really feel like this year saw us become even more of the family we've always been and were always meant to be.  

Outside of the peaceful bubble that is our one sweet world, the rest of the world took quite a beating this year. And we all know that the tragic events in Newtown earlier this month about did me in. I really hope that 2013 brings much peace to our nation and the world as a whole.  It's truly long overdue.  

Tonight, we'll be dining on Chinese food (as we do each New Year's), sharing our hopes for the upcoming year, choosing our guiding word for 2013 and filling out these fabulous time capsule sheets.  Check back tomorrow to see what we came up with!

We wish you a most wonderful New Year's Eve, dear ones.  We'll see you in 2013!  xoxox