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. 💕
