Merry Christmas! Life is starting to look a little bit more like we remember it pre-pandemic as we expand our boundaries bit by bit! Overall, it's been a good year despite the "decision fatigue" I'm sure many of us continue to experience because of the pandemic. It feels like we've lived two years in one, since the second half of the year has felt much more "normal" than the first half of the year.
Our highlights of the year include:
We moved into a new house here on Sanibel! We are much closer to the causeway and back up to a deep-water canal that leads out into the bay. We are enjoying the water, more space, and close proximity to some of the kids' friends. We have loved getting to know "the east end" of the island, though we miss the quiet west end with its abundance of birds & wildlife sightings.
We've enjoyed trips to Indiana, , Michigan, Legoland, St. Augustine, St. Petersburg, Great Wolf Lodge, Atlanta and Virginia to be with family as we celebrated my uncle's life, and soon-to-be Colorado for Christmas.
L (12 years old) started school this fall. After lots of conversations and even more praying, we made the jump. He's in 7th grade at a school in Ft. Myers called Canterbury (the same name as my brother & nieces school up north in Ft. Wayne) and loves it. We're all pinching ourselves that his first semester is already almost over. He ran cross country this fall and is planning on playing tennis this spring. We're all enjoying getting to know many of the amazing families at his school. He still loves reading, photography & videography, skateboarding & Ripsticking, and playing piano.
H (10 years old) is in fifth grade and doing great. She loves reading, snuggling all the pets (including the three guinea pigs we adopted in August), Ripsticking, gymnastics, dance, chatting with friends, sewing and baking. She remains a peacemaker and convener in our family. She loves adventuring and has been a great catalyst in getting our family out the door again! And she finally got her ears pierced. :)
R (7 years old) is in first grade and is thoughtful & fun & full of spunk and energy. He loves Ripsticking with his siblings and started piano lessons this year. He still is enjoying Boy Scouts (he won the Pine Wood Derby for our troop!) and is always up for an adventure. We've all been getting used to our new school day without L at the table! But we've been enjoying a new Sanibel homeschool co-op as well as lots of Fun Friday events, including Sea School.
K & I celebrated our 20th anniversary this year by going up to St. Augustine and learning to surf! It's been a long-time dream of K's to learn to surf and we both enjoyed it lots! We hope to get the kids surfing sometime next year.
We end the year grateful for family, friends and most definitely each other. Come visit us on Sanibel!
Love & blessings in the new year,
K, M, L, H and R (+ all the animals)
