little black journal

The annual roundup!  Things that brought me joy in 2024:

Favorite book:

I set a goal every year to read 24 books and eeked in by finishing my 24th book on New Years Eve.  One or two snoozers in here, but mostly four-star ratings on the Goodreads’ five-star scale.

Favorite book of all was Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver.  Maybe the best book I’ve read in five years?  I loved it so much and had all the feels for Demon.  

Favorite non-fiction was Between Two Kingdoms by Suleika Jaouad.  I’m so thankful for that glimpse into her journey of sickness and healing.  Bonus points for the mentions of Jon Batiste.

 

Favorite TV show:

Where have I been?  How did I not discover Shrinking until just last month?  I watched the first episode by myself on an evening when the house was quiet and proceeded to blitz through the first season over Christmas Break.  Finished season two last week.  Jason, Harrison, Jessica…I adore you.  I’m a sucker for a heart-tugging comedy.

 

Favorite movie:

Easy. I watched with We Live in Time with Nancy and La Verne while we were on our December weekend getaway and can’t tell you many times the three of us cried over the course of those two hours.  Love and loss and that birth scene.  

 

Favorite podcast:

I debated striking this category this year as I’m accepting that I’m just not that much of a podcast person, but I do find myself occasionally wanting to stream something while I’m in the car alone (rare) or have a quiet moment to myself (rarer).  I tune into select episodes as recommended by my most trusted circle and La Verne, thank you for the tip on the episode of Modern Love featuring Andrew Garfield.  Maybe I just have him on the brain as he features in my favorite movie mentioned above, but that man is gentleness and genuineness personified.  Give it a listen.

 

Favorite song:

We listened plenty to Taylor’s Tortured Poets Department last year and while I Can Do It with A Broken Heart is a genuine BOP, I’m going with Chappell Roan’s Pink Pony Club as my 2024 anthem.  Juliette and I have the fondest memories of belting out I’m gonna keep on dancing over and over as we drove from Charleston to Savannah.  Heck, we sing it on our 5-minute drive from home to Trader Joe’s.  It’ll get you.

 

Favorite personal pastime:

I have a standing Sunday morning walk date with some women friends and that hour each week has become such a meaningful time for me to move, breathe, and connect.  We check in and we laugh and drink coffee while getting our steps in and I alway leave there feeling restored.  Plus, these views.

 

Favorite family pastime:

Camp season 2024!  We did it!  Each of our three trips had their challenges (sleeplessness, rain, heat), but what stands out are Isaac’s shouts of glee as we erected our tent, Juliette’s eagerness to help with dinner prep at the camp stove, the moments when Isaac was occupied with his cars and I was able to scoot my camp chair right up next to Shane’s so we could sip our canned wine and listen to the wind in the trees.  I’ve got big plans for summer 2025.

 

And, favorite moments…

Suncadia was colder than cold last January, but we leaned into the cozy vibes.

 

Maui’s Makena Cove…forever our family’s most special place on earth.  

 

Saying goodbye to Denny in March was the hardest thing our family has ever done, but the evenings before his funeral spent sitting around the kitchen, reminiscing about all the joy he brought into our lives, made me thankful for the nuggets of goodness he left planted in each of us.

 

And in the thick of our grief, we found sun and water and friends.  Exceedingly grateful for these few days in paradise.

 

Sometimes Juliette greets me at the bus stop at the end of my day.  Sometimes the little things bring the biggest joy.

 

When Juliette’s soccer tournament popped up during the same weekend I had a campsite booked at Deception Pass, I almost cancelled my reservation.  But instead Isaac and I trekked out on our own, and that weekend held some of my most favorite moments with my boy.

 

Criss-crossing vacation schedules kept us from seeing these folks as much as we wanted to this summer, but when we did, it was a big ol’ family picnic.  

 

Our weekend camping at Kachess Lake was HOT, but the long afternoons on the water were GOOD.

 

Dreamy Neskowin…

 

Isaac skips naptime more often than not these days, but when he does doze, I do it with him.  These days are numbered.  

 

Buddy turned three!  And got some new wheels.

 

And Big Sis turned ELEVEN.  Sweeter and cooler with each passing year.  

 

I’m so stinking proud of Juliette’s commitment to her new soccer team.  And look at that Grandma fan club!

 

A break from soccer Saturdays to pick pumpkins and drink cider.  These family mini-adventures fill my cup.  Literally.  

 

I couldn’t pick a single pic from mine and Juliette’s southern galavant, but these are top three.  Dinner, drinks, parks.  

 

Thanksgiving was so warm and comfy this year, from the Macy’s Parade to our after-dinner pie.  Such a treat to have Shane’s mom with us.

 

Long live the Polar Express.

On with the business of 2025.

The main event!  We drove down to Portland a couple of days before Christmas to settle in with the fam and enjoy some downtime.  We unloaded our car and then got right down to business – cards and the hand slap game and lots of cousin love.

Isaac was always up early, eager to explore the house and grab some Bina snuggles.

I know, Bina – that’s how I feel, too, when Isaac wants to play before I’ve had my coffee.

We made our usual pilgrimage to Powells for books and PDX vibes.

I tell you, row upon row of beautifully-illustrated books and Isaac beelines for the carousel of Paw Patrol paperbacks.

And an intro to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

We finished our book shopping and then went back to the house to settle into the couch and watch Elf.

The BEST.

Isaac and I popped over to the playground late afternoon to get some residual wiggles out.

When the lawn decorations match your sweater…

I liked being the last one to bed while we were there, relishing the quiet and the fire and the glow of the Christmas tree.

Christmas Eve!  Isaac was up very very early and was very very loud, so I tossed him in the car, not sure exactly where we headed.  We ended up finding a cozy table by the window at Grand Central Bakery on Hawthorne.  Buddy got a cinnamon roll, I got a latte, and everyone back at the house got to grab some extra Z’s.  We all won.

A woman walked by and said, “A cinnamon roll in your pajamas on Christmas Eve?  Life doesn’t get any better than that!”  Right, Bud?

We got back to the house, threw some real clothes on Isaac, and then headed right back out with Shane and Juliette to catch the 11am showing of Moana 2.  Isaac’s first movie!

Loved it.

The afternoon was lazy and lovely.

(Can you guess who won Uno?)

Morning rain brought an afternoon rainbow.

We gathered in the living room after dinner for our annual viewing of The Polar Express.  On my list of top five holiday traditions, for sure.

We’re ready for you, Santa!

Isaac was up first on Christmas morning and I tried to stoke excitement with the missing cookies and the half-eaten carrot, but he really wasn’t grasping the concept.  “Why did Santa bring me a carrot?”

But oh, the presents.

All the kids are up!  Showtime!

The next hour was filled with the sounds of wrapping paper being ripped, delighted exclamations and effusive thank you’s.

The only thing on Juliette’s wish list was a four-pack of holiday mini Squish-mallows.  I initially didn’t take her very seriously when she said she wanted them, but then I saw the look of disappointment on her face when I told her they were sold out on Amazon.  I put a watch on them and they popped back up a week before Christmas – I’m so glad I snagged them.  How many more years of stuffy love does she really have ahead of her?

And Isaac’s main ask was for a Paw Patrol Chase stuffy.

Nailed it.

My dad sat in his usual chair and got his usual gift of beer and chocolate.  If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!

Isaac had picked out this book from Powell’s a couple of days earlier and saw us buying it, but still couldn’t believe his eyes when he unwrapped it that morning.  Three year olds are the best.

Gifts opened.  Kids thrilled.  Mission accomplished.

The rest of the morning was quiet and wonderful.  The kids played with their gifts.  I drank coffee and finished my book.  All was merry and bright.

Dinner was our usual country ham, with a side of mac and cheese a la Morgan.  Sugar cookies and apple crisp for dessert.  Thanks to Mitch and Kathryn for continuing to be the most gracious of hosts.  I know we all make for a very full house.

We headed home the day after Christmas, to tackle a couple of house projects and cozy in with the kids.

Isaac and Shane became fast fans of The Outdoor Boys, a YouTube channel filled with videos of a guy that camps in extreme weather.  Random but wholesome viewing.  Isaac’s plea all weekend was, “Watch snow camping, Daddy?  Snow camping?”

I took the kids down to the Menashee House for one last feast of holiday lights.  Shane is of the opinion that Christmas decorations should be taken down the day after Christmas – fresh start, don’t overplay the magic, yadda yadda.  I say, keep the twinkle coming.  Till New Years Day, at least, though really the full month of January is fair game.

I had something come up at work and needed to head into the office on December 30th.  Isaac was at school and Juliette asked if she could spend the day with me downtown.  I welcomed the company, as I was none too thrilled about having to give up a day with my girl.  She marched up the stairs to my building like a boss.

We cut out early and spent the afternoon roaming downtown, lunching and shopping.

It felt like one of our annual getaways – way to rekindle my love of our city, Juliette!

She makes everything new and beautiful and fun.

Shane and Juliette headed to the slopes on New Years Eve for a ski day and so Isaac and I were left to rustle up our own mini-adventure.

“Bye, sister!”  Those are heart hands he’s making…

While those two skied, Isaac and I hit up Costco and then ran circles around the Juanita Bay playground in Kirkland.

Like, literal circles.  I think he went down this slide 25 times.

The dock here is huge and amazing and perfect for tossing rocks.

And hunting for bears.

Post-playground, we warmed up at Zoka Coffee.

And then a nap by the Christmas tree, as we knew its days were numbered.  Sometimes I lament that I can’t downhill ski with Shane and Juliette, but…this might be better.

One of Isaac’s preschool buddies had a New Years Eve dance party that evening, complete with a disco ball, and we popped in for an hour to bust a move or two.

We returned home around dinnertime to get our own party started.  Games and snacks and laughs with the Rusts and Jordan.

It was a mellow evening, complete with a 9 pm New Years toast, but that’s how we roll now.  I’m not mad about it.

Cheers, Bud!

(Isaac got real into the toast thing.)

Happy 2025, friends.

December was full of all the holiday things as we fully leaned into the Schnell Family Twinkle-Fest 2024.  Early mornings were spent playing by the Christmas tree, wondering which ornament would be Isaac’s favorite du jour…

We leaned into time with our chosen family as well, gathering on Black Friday to devour a spread of Thanksgiving leftovers.  Jack’s turkey congee was so good for the soul.

We visited the Christmas market at Seattle Center while Shane’s mom was still here.  Lights and hot cocoa and a carousel (that the kids rode twice, no less) and a visit with Santa, from whom Isaac decisively requested a Paw Patrol Chase stuffy (I took notes).

Juliette says she’s too old for the carousel, but agreed to ride “just to show Isaac how to hold on”.

The Christmas Ship is another favorite ritual on our holiday calendar and since we missed the ship’s November docking at Alki Beach, we drove over to Seward Park to catch their Lake Washington show.  We perched on a log, wrapped a fleece blanket around our shoulders, and listened to the carolers’ voices ring out over the water.

Want to talk about twinkle?  The annual Menashee House display was unveiled on December 1st in all it’s brightly colored glory.

We visited our other favorite neighborhood displays, like the yard with 40 inflatables, and the house with a projection of a cookie-eating Santa in the window.  I love how this time of year turns even our run-of-the-mill drive home from daycare into a wonder-filled event, ripe with holiday magic.

Shane’s mom headed back to Minnesota in early December and we missed her the moment she left, but are so thankful that we were able to ring in the holiday season with her.

Juliette participated in her school’s annual craft fair on a Saturday, selling handmade bracelets and decorated mini-trees.  It was such a festive event, the cafeteria brimming with creativity and pride.  Juliette’s wares were a hit and she turned a good profit, though she reminded me that “it’s not about the money, Mommy”.

Juliette decorated a gingerbread house…

And Isaac ate said decorations…

There was a father-daughter pickleball game under Alki’s evening lights…

And Nancy, La Verne and I skipped town on a Friday for our annual getaway.  We hot-tubbed in Port Townsend and browsed cute bookshops and feasted at Finistere, then cozied up at La V’s Marrowstone house for movies and dessert.

We made it back to Seattle in time to watch the kids’ December piano recital.  Juliette practiced, practiced, practiced beforehand but was a ball of nerves when we walked in the church.  I sat with her onstage for a quick little rehearsal prior to showtime and watched her shoulders relax as she made it through the most challenging bars of The Beach.  She got this.

Nailed it.

My most favorite holiday tradition is our family brunch with the Chens and Rusts, where we eat and exchange gifts and be merry together.  Pickles the Bassett Hound loves it, too – don’t let those droopy eyes fool you!

Does this boy need a puppy for Christmas?!

This gang gives the most thoughtful gifts; each little surprise is emblematic of just how well we know and love each other.

(The Chens know the way to Isaac’s heart, for sure!)

Juliette and I kicked off her winter break with our Christmas tree slumber party.  I think I fell asleep well before she did, but I woke up in the wee hours of the night and found her snoozing peacefully.

Isaac joined us early the next morning…

And then I took him to our neighborhood Santa while Juliette was kicking the soccer ball around with some friends.  Isaac hopped right up onto the couch and these two had a nice little chat and then suddenly Isaac was right on Saint Nick’s lap, cheesing for a photo.

This time around, Isaac’s one Christmas request was for a candy cane.  You got it, Buddy!

Gosh, I love the Saturday before Christmas.  Most the to-do’s are done, we have two weeks of break stretching out in front of us, the house is cozy with anticipation and the sound of Elf or The Grinch playing in the background.  It’s such a good day for a blanket nest.

(Are you cozy, Juliette?)

Next stop, Portland!