A Year in Review | 2019

January

2019 wasn’t as quiet as the past couple years have been. We had a lot of time working on our property, while also going on some memorable trips. I wasn’t going to go through my photos for a review post, as I haven’t for a few years, but felt a sudden urge to spend time reflecting on the year and my photography.

I see moments of growth, creativity, hurriedness, and quiet as i scroll through these images. Some leave me feeling more sentimental with our baby making that big growth spurt of settling into being a one-year-old, watching the first sunset of the year, tending the winter garden with a walking toddler, seeing the lunar eclipse, and spending time outside as much as we could despite the dampness and cold.

February

February brought a major snow storm in, giving us nearly two weeks off from school and all the outside play we could withstand, including Remy’s first time sledding. We rarely get that kind of snowfall, but it sure is beautiful when we do. Our middle girl, Kate, turned eight years old. We celebrated her by having a family celebration at home, followed by a trip to the beach with her best friend–a welcome respite from the intense snow at home.

March

Winter slowly departed, the skies showed more blue than gray, and our time outside increased exponentially. I went on a day trip to Portland with friends, garden clean-up began alongside starting vegetable seeds for spring, we visited our downtown waterfront because that brilliant blue was too hard to drive by, even if it was freezing in the windy breeze, I made it up early for many a beautiful sunrises, Remy and I spent more time in the garden and taking our lunches outdoors, we went to Spokane for an author event (an incredible experience), and my dad began clearing some of the debris on our land to make way for a playset gifted to our children. A month of welcome transition.

April

Spring! For this reason alone, April might be my favorite month, tied with October. A restful month of watching things wake up in the gardens, our kids played on their new playset, Alyx learned he could climb his favorite tree and read!, we celebrated my husband’s birthday, planted out onions, and had the best time with a peaceful and fun Easter at home. I LOVE Easter, a quiet holiday in comparison to the rest.

May

It looks like May was the month of the garden. My step-mom also came to visit us for the first time in this house, we had a quiet Mother’s Day with my in-laws Remy discovered her first strawberries from the patch, Kate picked a bouquet from our wildflowers, and we spent cozy mornings reading. A lovely and peaceful month at home.

June

By far the most exciting start to summer we could’ve hoped for! We went on our first camping trip with our baby girl, then the day after school got out, we headed East toward Idaho for a week of relaxing and boating on Lake Coeur D’Alene with friends.

July

Sweet summertime.

August

A most exciting month of adventure, an unforgettable volunteer opportunity with WDFW, welcoming our niece to our home for the last few weeks of summer break, hikes and ferry rides, picnics under the willow tree, and my favorite roses in full bloom. A full heart indeed.

September

Our annual sugar pumpkin harvest proved to be quite large this year with a few volunteer plants. School started up again with 3rd and 9th graders, our boy turning 15, and a date to the city by myself which was a lovely change of pace, followed by small signs and the slow welcoming of autumn.

October

I loved soaking in that beautiful autumnal gold sunshine with my girls and projects around our property, finishing our apple harvest, cider in the garden, planting japanese maples, a fun photoshoot at a local campus that is gorgeous beyond words, an afternoon well spent on a lake, Halloween was so fun with friends, and a glorious sunset I’m so happy to have seen.

November

We started the month at home in Washington and ended it at my brother’s home in Missouri. A long overdue trip that I couldn’t postpone another day. We spent our first Thanksgiving together in over 15 years, and it was full of good food, family, laughter, and late nights catching up on all the things we’d missed. My heart will never feel right being so far away from them.

December

Opposite November, we began December in Missouri. My brother and I have a very close relationship and it’s always hard to say goodbye to each other. I’ll always be thankful beyond words for the time we had together. Remy got to meet so much family for the first time, but also came down with a frightening flu-like illness that had us all on alert. She was well enough for us to fly home just in time and relish being with her daddy again. Before we left, we explored some really cool places though, and I just held her close so we could squeeze in a few final stops. From meeting with old friends to visiting Laura Ingalls Wilder historic home, we spent as much time as possible cooking big meals, riding four-wheelers, and stayed up late into the night talking.

As soon as we got home, we went right into holiday festivities. We took our annual family photo while getting our Christmas tree, decorated and experienced so many things with fresh new eyes as baby girl lit up with excitement from all the magic.

We let go of some beloved traditions to allow room for other memories to happen, and while we missed those things, we have a lot to be thankful for. The month of December was a beautiful conclusion to 2019. I’m hopeful and looking forward to a new year of possibility.