Here we are again! In 2024 we spent 733 hours outdoors out of our goal of 1000. We increased a bit from last year. The benefits of the time we spent outside this year are far reaching. Beyond the obvious fresh air and physical activity, we learned a lot too. Last year we learned how to play pickleball and this year learned we’re not good at it. For myself, I’ve realized that at 43 years old, physical activity does not come as easily to my body, from dealing with plantar fasciitis due to running to PT appointments trying to rehab my arm as a result of the one time I went wake surfing back in July. But to me, the biggest benefit was that Dana and I started going on walks together in the evenings. Dana likes to fear bond over trying not to fall down on the ice and I like to point out the moon and woodland friends like deer and bunnies. I can't now find any video footage of us ATVing, unfortunately, so that didn't make it into this year's video, but that is one of my...
After Christmas was over, Clara had her friend Cora for a playdate. Dana and I were both able to get in at the spa in the bathroom. Clara's in that box. :) Brynn got in it as well and then exploded out of it when she had a jump scare on account of Clara's bare feet. Busy playing with new Christmas gifts. On the Saturday after Christmas, we celebrated with my side at Tessa and Chad's lake. It was a fun afternoon/evening of playing games, opening gifts, visiting and eating good food. Ben let me shoot his air soft guns with him. It was so fun. Dad was assisting me...and also taking these pics. ;-) Playing a game of Guess Who?: Family Edition. Tessa and her girls made a custom game with family members' faces, including pets! It's so cool. Grandpa put together some games for everyone to play and we also all played Bunco. Brynn made homemade dumplings and I made spring rolls. The dumplings turned out so good. Making dumplings was one of the activities Brynn put on the ...