My Favorite 2021 Moments

As I looked through pictures from the last year, I realized that the majority of my favorite moments are things that we were able to do again after the lockdowns and Covid craziness of 2020.  We appreciated being able to enjoy our typical celebrations, visit with family members and get back into a normal school schedule.  We had a jam packed year filled with wonderful memories and some of my favorites are captured in the simple times of lazy summer days and daily routines.  2021 was good to us and we will be lucky and thankful to have an equally great 2022.

Saying goodbye to hybrid education was high on the list of most memorable moments.  We were so blessed to have Mrs. J and Mrs. H help our kids through this extremely trying time and I think everyone involved did not shed a tear when we were able to close the door on hybrid schooling.

Nolan turned ten.  Double digits!  He is a really sweet kid and is very hard working at school.  He enjoys taking the lead and being the ringleader when organizing projects around the neighborhood with his friends.  He has an entrepreneurial spirit that will be interesting to watch as he grows.  He continued to play baseball and golf in 2021 and loves collecting football cards.

We were very lucky to travel again this year.  Spring break in Key West did not disappoint.

Quinn turned eight.  Our middle child is so kind, thoughtful and empathetic.  Sometimes I worry that she tends to overly "people please" but she also has a strong voice of her own that is making an appearance more often as she is growing and gaining confidence.  She is getting rave reviews at school from her teachers and has found a love for cheerleading.  She joined a competitive cheer team with a couple of girlfriends and loves it.  She is also keeping up with tennis and even played golf over the summer.

This memory was bittersweet but I love that we took the time to say goodbye to our nursery glider and that we have this picture of all of our babies together on the chair that helped us to rock them all to sleep over the past ten years.  It's now in our niece's sweet nursery and we are happy it's in good hands.

Speaking of that niece...we welcomed baby Finley Kate Ivan in June.  It has been really fun to watch my big kids with her and have another little baby in the family again. 

Love lazy summer days by the pool.

Covid kept the Woods at bay for too long but they were finally able to hop on a plane and head our way over the summer.  They spent several days in Columbus and we packed in as much fun as possible.  The kids got along well and it was a really great visit after many, many months apart.  Kelsey hung wallpaper in Mairin's big girl room and I'll always remember that night and think of her when I see that wallpaper.

The Fourth of July event at Wedgewood is a favorite of ours and it was able to happen again this year.  The kids ran around with their friends, Mairin danced to the band and the fireworks display did not disappoint.

Another quiet, slow summer day where all three kids enjoyed an outing to Shale Hollow.  I can't recall complaining and that makes me happy :)

           

Our baby turned three.  She is so funny and smart.  She adores her big brother and sister and will tell you she is six if you ask how old she is.  She might be onto something because she definitely acts twice her age as she is surrounded by older kids at all times.  She is a lover of all things Frozen, baby dolls, noodles, and ballet.  Mairin has been working really hard on her swimming skills this year too and has moved into level four and becoming quite the swimmer.

Since we didn't do a longer vacation over the summer due to the weather being so nice in Ohio and the kids' busy schedules, we snuck down to Lake Norris again.  All three kids LOVE Norris and were especially excited to have the double decker party boat this year.  It was nonstop sliding and jumping!

                           

Everyone went back to school full time this fall!! 5th, 3rd and 3s preschool.  It has been so good for them to have some normal routine and teachers to support them.  We did not thrive on homeschooling.  This is Mairin's first year at school and she absolutely loves it.

We made a trip up to Cleveland with our neighbors, the Shears, for an Indians game before they became the Guardians.  The boys especially loved this and the girls loved the air conditioned kid zone for 90% of the game.  Between the game, staying in a hotel, dinner and bowling and a rickshaw ride, a good time was had by all.

Pumpkin patch with these goofballs.

One of my favorite memories is being able to see my grandparents.  We had stayed away before anyone was able to get the vaccine since we were afraid to bring germs around them (they are now 91 and 96 years old).  However, now that they are fully vaccinated and the Covid numbers were down, we were able to travel to Niles for a much overdue visit.  I love seeing my kids with them and watching them explore my grandparents' house, just like we did as kids.  We even got to meet baby Mateo.

My favorite vacation of the year, AMI.  We spent another Thanksgiving down there and, although the weather was cooler than usual, we had a great trip and I can't wait to get back next year.  

Quinn got her braces off after a full year of having them on.  She has such a pretty, new smile and she is so excited to be able to chew gum again!

These three.  

They make everything better and we have so many fun memories because of them.

Thank you, 2021 for the fun times.  Cheers to 2022!