Wrapping it all up for 2021

 Usually I am writing this post sometime in January and back date the post.  This might be the first time ever it's a year wrap up at years end.  

Let's go back a few months:

Halloween  👻

Ryan deemed himself too old for Trick or Treating and went to a party with his classmates instead.  Kathryn and Addie hit the neighborhood hard - bringing in a grocery paper bag 3/4 full of candy. 🍬  She'll have to forgive me that I do not know who their costumes are based after.  It's an Instagram or Tik Tok influencer - that's all I can remember.  

Mom added a new horse to her menagerie.  This guy is "Maverick"    He used to work at a camp for kids.  His eyes show that he's always on guard for what might be around him, but they also show he is a sweet guy.  He fits in well.

The ever awesome Carson and kids at my parents place.

Christmas a quiet and calm day.  We'd planned a Christmas Eve gathering at my parents as we've done in the past.   With Covid cases on a rapid rise, we opted to split the day up.  The kids and I went to my parents late morning, Korryn and Wayne followed a few hours later.  Kerri had come to town 6 weeks earlier to see everyone.  She didn't think traveling over the holidays would be a good idea.  Boy was she right.  Not only because of Covid, but the snow storm cancelled a ton of flights.  2nd Christmas without Kerri by my side.  😢 Christmas eve dinner was at home with the kids and perfect.  Before we went to my parents house, we stopped in West Seattle to give Kelsey her gift (made home made chicken pot pies for Kelsey, Michael and Jade).m  Swung by Alki Beach for a few pictures.  My young man; officially taller than I.  My sweet girl who's a pro at taking good selfies.  

🐩  Bo  🐩 

 He got a Woodstock plush dog toy for Christmas.  He immediately started dismembering the poor thing.   I told him it was ok through, Joey would certainly approve.  Search and destroy all soft toys was her mission in life.  

Dad showing off his annual gift from Kerri. 

 We snapped this pic to send to her. 

 Love that guy!

And Carson yet again.🐾

He and Ryan have a special relationship.

I continue to find myself drawn to the ocean, even through the fall and now in midst of winter.  Every time I'm in the ocean, it's a new experience.   

This picture with the jelly fish is one of my favorites.  I'm grateful to Mary Sue for catching this moment & for her encouragement to "boop" the jellyfish on its top.  I did!  And promptly screamed because it felt so weird.  The stingy parts of the jellyfish are at the other end!

Mary Sue has been a great resource as I learn the do's and don't of swimming in the open water.

🦀 Fiercely protecting its clam for lunch! 🦀

Me, on my way down to get a closer look at the crab and the crabs lunch!

The following pictures are from December 29th & 30th.

On December 26th Seattle got quite a bit of snow and record breaking low temperatures.  Sounds like a good idea to go swimming right?

I joined a few swimming friends.

Water temp was 44 degrees.

Outdoor temp as shown.

I stayed in 12 minutes, but at the 7 minute mark I could tell I was beginning to get hypothermic.  Quickly back to shore, was able to change and warm up without problem.

Crazy?  Yep.  Worth it?  YEP.

Today: December 30th, 2021

Another dip in the water with another friend.  Kept it to 10 minutes this time and loved it.  Weirdly, it's not cold in the water.  It's the before and after that are hard in these temperatures.  That's when it becomes a tricky balance of enjoying what the water can do for one's soul and getting out before the danger sets in.  Today the waves were large rolling swells.  Beautiful.  

The air was 32 degrees and the wind was blowing.  The water temp, I imagine was 44-ish, like the day prior.

Love seeing snow at the ocean's edge. ❄

To tie up the year - a few pictures that made me pause and be grateful.  

That sunset seen from my kitchen window.  

Enough said.

My home.  I love how the snow is perfectly even on the roof.  I love how it covers the bushes.  The paint color on the house is called "Ice Cube" but should definitely be changed to "Snowfall" 😊

So grateful for that house, my home.  💕

Goodbye Louie

1989 - Trenton, Illinois 

Small town public pool. 

 I arrived for work as a lifeguard to find the pool manager skimming the pool for leaves etc.  He says "hey, you want a turtle?  There is one swimming in the pool".   Naive 18 year old Krista thinks, awww poor thing.  It's going to die after swimming in chlorine.   She takes the turtle home to help keep comfortable until the inevitable would surely happen.   Flash forward 32 years.  Many moves (including putting this turtle in a mayonnaise jar to fly to Seattle in 1990) and many life events later, Louie comes back in to my life for a short time.  It was obvious she was suffering from what I'm told was likely septicemia and organ failure.  An amazing reptile vet spoke softly to me as I cried, knowing it was time to say good-bye.  At her age and  stage of illness, it wouldn't have been ethical to try treatment.  That would likely prolong the suffering.  

On October 5th, 2021, I said goodbye to my aquatic friend for 32 years. 

 Four years ago a nurse friend mentioned her 3 boys wanted a turtle.  I thought what a perfect answer to the challenge of taking care of her while I went through some life changes.  They had her for 3 years, then let a family with 3 girls watch her up until the point she came home.  The last family said they did not want to have her any longer.  That sounds harsh, but I think they knew she was sick and didn't know what to do.  In general, I don't think she had proper care in her last year of life, but will never know and hold no grudges.  I'm immensely grateful she came back to me for that brief time.  

I got to say goodbye. It seemed fitting.  

It's silly that a reptile can find a way in to ones heart.  She traveled many miles with me over the years.  It feels like the end of an era.

Goodbye Louie.  If reptiles go to the same place my sweet Demeter and Joey are, I know you're living your best life.  

🌈 💙🐢🐈🐩💙🌈

⭐ Her last few minutes with me ⭐

Summer 2021

It was a hot one. 

 Some of my plants scorched.  

Keeping up with the watering seems futile.  But the heat is a memory along with the rest of our summer.

Seaside 2021 was bliss.  

 Almost too hot, but the ocean & this trip are a highlight every year.

The pictures below are in a bit of a mixed up order, but it sums up our trip.  We stayed an extra night this year as an early birthday gift to both kids.  It might become a routine, that extra time left us leaving satisfied.

This photo deserves an explanation.  The Seaside arcade functions off of points and those points can be cashed in for prizes.  It usually results in a whole bunch of candy.   This year Kathryn asked for 1 box lemonheads; but the cashier heard 6.  That took the remainder of her points.  It was so busy, Kathryn didn't have the heart to go back to the counter.  In honor of this memory she purchased "lemon" the octopus that has a smiley face or a frown face depending how it's flipped.  

Kathryn likes lemonheads, but not 6 boxes worth! 🤣

There was an unfortunate fire started by two kids who beat feet off to the beach when it got out of control.  This is the view from our balcony.  Very dry conditions.  

Grateful the wind was blowing away from our condo.  

They just keep growing.  💖

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My 50th birthday to myself has come true.  I absolutely love it.  I'm relearning how to bake in the oven. There are so many settings, I don't yet know which is best for my tried and true recipes.

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Birthday Week

Ryan: 14 years old

Kathryn: 12 years old

For Ryan's birthday we spent the day at a Mariner's game and celebrated with a Snickerdoodle Cake.

For Kathryn's birthday we spent the morning at a Cat Cafe that hosts a few resident kitties as well as kitties up for adoption.  We didn't go looking for a kitty, just to hang around them for a bit.  Was quite fun.

Her cake is inspired by someone she watches on social media.  It turned out near 100% to the example she gave me.  

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First day of school 2021-2022

Ryan: 8th grade

Kathryn: 7th grade

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Ryan got the opportunity to travel to Alaska for a week in August.

 He went with the neighbor Cooper and stayed with his Grandparents.  Many highlights, but his favorite was helping fly Papa Harry's Cesna.  ✈

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Just for fun

Korryn and I showing up for work in matching scrubs

Kathryn is still participating in a long term study about language and development through University of Washington.  This is her 2nd MRI for the study.  An amazing gift to peek inside what makes her tick.

                                                        

 💜 People say we look alike 💜

These pictures below show my new found love.  Swimming in the beautiful Puget Sound.  Back in May I challenged myself to start swimming again after 20+ years of staying out of the pool. I can't run or take long walks anymore.  I needed some way to move my body and clear my head.  I started swimming in Greenlake on my own.  Then challenged myself to meet with a group that routinely meets in West Seattle at Alki.  Did that twice.  First time out got stung by a jellyfish.  It hurts, but not bad enough to keep me out of the water.  Because the West Seattle Bridge is closed, driving to Alki was 45 minutes, so I challenged myself one more time.  To meet with another group of swimmers just north of the Edmonds Ferry.  I've found my place and my people.  Swimmers are there to swim with others, talk and enjoy what the ocean offers.   Yep, it's cold.  I am one of the few that only swims with a suit.  Most swim in a wet suit.  The initial plunge is cold.  But after that, I am in my element.  In the pictures (taken by a swimmer with a Go-Pro camera) there is a lion mane jellyfish.  Gorgeous, but I prefer to keep my distance. (My last swim: 10/3/21 was "jellyfish stew".  Lion mane's everywhere.  Typically they move out of the area in the fall; so I'm told.  These apparently missed that memo)

The other picture is me diving through rings placed on the bottom of the ocean.  The area also functions as an underwater park for scuba divers. Tide was low enough that day to dive down amongst the sea life.  

So happy.  🐠

⛴ Edmonds Ferry behind me ⛴

Mary Sue - the swimmer with the Go-Pro; welcomed me so warmly on my first day.  She stayed by my side the entire first swim to ensure I felt safe.  It was the first glimpse that I'd found something pretty special.