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.
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