Reflecting on 2021
It’s been a minute since I’ve blogged. To anyone who thinks you missed our Christmas card this year, you didn’t. I simply did not get to it. Instead, I’m going to write about it.
In fair warning, this is a little bit of a highlight reel, mostly for myself. I want to look back and remember there were so many amazing memories in 2021, despite the challenges and stressful moments.
Here it is.
One of my favorite memories from this year was is first family vacation without extended family or friends. We went to Orange Beach, Alabama - a hidden treasure in my opinion. We didn’t get the warm weather we hoped for, and at first I felt disappointed. But Mia kept saying, “This is so cool!” She’d say, “Mom, it’s a beautiful day!” as we wore sweatshirts and light jackets all day. It reminded me to be grateful, and I felt we had quality family time on this trip. Besides, it certainly beat the extreme cold stretch that we escaped in Minnesota. The kids enjoyed hunting for seashells on the beach, exploring outside, and for whatever reason thought our Airbnb was pretty awesome, too. Mia talks about our “Alabama vacation” often and asks when we can go back to the ocean.
My other top memory is our friends vacation in Las Vegas. After a long, quarantined winter, we did not take this trip for granted. We laughed every day until my face hurt. We found amazing hikes. We ate well - the best food (and most expensive) was accidental add-on order of wagyu at Fogo De Chao. Most importantly, we enjoyed each other’s company.
We didn’t get to celebrate the kids’ birthday like we normally do; however, we did host a 1/2 birthday co-celebration with their friends in early June. The kids continue to thrive at daycare, and love all of their teachers. Sadly, daycare has closed multiple times, which adds stress for all the parents. Thanks to great support, we’ve been able to turn daycare closures into fun playdates at our house, which helps us combine resources with other parents.
Mia is our outgoing, sociable child. She enjoys meeting new people and making new friends. She likes to be helpful, and is especially thoughtful of her brother. She loves learning and trying new activities. I am thankful for her ability to reason (for the most part) and be adaptive.
Andre is the baby and he knows it. He mostly likes when Mia helps him and he definitely looks up to her. He oscillates between a spunky and easy-going personality. He is silly and makes us laugh. However, he can also be very stubborn. Andre is our napper and loves his sleep.
Both kids stayed busy with activities, including swimming lessons, tee ball, gymnastics, playing with their cousins, and more. They love to visit Grandpa and Grandma’s farm. Andre enjoys tractor rides and feeding the cows hay. Mia spends most of her time with the kittens and tells me that when she grows up she wants to be a “kitty farmer” because someone has to tame all of the kittens.
We spent a lot more time on the golf course this summer. Jose bought a golf cart, which is nicknamed the Purple Fury on our course. As you can imagine, it’s perfectly decked with Vikings and Kobe decal. One of our summer highlights is hosting friends for a “Summer Olympics” weekend at our house. It is a competitive weekend and the games get intense.
Volleyball league continues to be a favorite activity for Jose and me. It’s a competitive league and we have awesome teammates that we enjoy playing with.
We had opportunities to travel and took advantage. We flew the kids to Mexico in the spring and California in the fall to visit family. Jose and I also snuck away with one of our best friends for a quick weekend of hiking in Denver.
I logged miles with my best friends, including afternoon walks, morning jogs, bike rides, and kayaking. We made a point to make it north of Duluth for a weekend of hiking.
Work continues to be busy for Jose and me. Healthcare is particularly challenging now and I know that’s understated. As an outsider, I’ve seen it affect my husband as he bears the weight of tough decisions. I also feel pressure and frustration when he doesn’t have energy left for us at the end of the day. Yet, through it all, I’ve seen his passion for healthcare continue to shine, and I’m incredibly proud of him. I still see his spark when he talks about the awesome things his team accomplished or the projects he’s working on that will provide greater access and services to patients in our communities.
As for me, life is busy at Sourcewell. We have an awesome team and I’m grateful for who I work with. Things are always changing, which keeps work life fun and makes us better.
This fall we unexpectedly sold our house and bought the home next door. Literally, the next house over from our previous one. It is a unique situation and opportunity that we decided not to pass up. Moving sucks. Plain and simple. There’s no way around it but we managed and are slowly, but surely, getting settled in.
2021 had its tough moments as well. I had another miscarriage, which is hard to talk about and created some anxiety for me. With the support and encouragement from my husband, I’ve been able to focus on what my body is capable of rather than dwelling on the struggles. We both enjoyed working with a personal trainer, which taught me a lot about working smarter and more effectively. I really enjoy the rewards of lifting and the outlet it provides.
I’ve learned that I am more resilient than I realized, and know how to find solutions in tough situations. There’s been a lot of fun times, but there’s still stress and uncertainty. We particularly worry about our kids’ health and are constantly toggling on decisions that care for our physical and mental health.
I remain optimistic as the year comes to an end and already have a list of things I’m excited about in the upcoming year.
Each year I set goals for myself - some I kill it, some I change, and some I don’t touch. These goals are personal, and I typically only share with my closest friends. I hesitated to put it out there, but perhaps my list will encourage others with their own goals. Here is some of the list:
1. Break 25 min 5k - didn’t even come close to achieving this! I also didn’t really try for it :)
2. Katie & Jose vacation in a new country in summer 2021 - didn’t happen, adding to 2022 list.
3. Trip with kids to California & Mexico to visit family - check! This happened after canceling and rescheduling flights for 2 years!
4. Launch personal blog by March 1 - yay, here we are!
5. Take time for self-care 1x/month (i.e. massage, mani/pedi) - didn’t do this every month but was better about making time for myself.
6. Read/listen to one book per month and track completed books - I did this and more! This is the goal I’m most proud of. I’ll have 15 books read by the end of the year and plan to add this goal again next year.
7. Subscribe to Postable to automate birthday, special occasions, and holiday cards - I didn’t do this and continue to be reminded that giving gifts and being thoughtful is not my strong suit.
8. Complete one unassisted pull-up by July 1 - I did this at the end of August! My only regret is not capturing it on video…and now I can’t do it again so need to get back to it so I can have proof!
I know it’s cliché, but I feel incredibly blessed. My husband recently bought a decorative sign for our house that captures how I feel very well. It says, “I still remember the days I prayed for what I have now.”
Cheers to the last week of the year, and another great one to come.
