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Unfortunately, we missed our window to post during the year, but wanted to share some photos and memories from the craziness that was 2021! The year was another overshadowed by COVID and our family definitely experienced it in waves, from the start to the finish.
The early winter months were mostly filled with the pandemic routine of living and working in the same space. The kids were able to return to daycare in the fall of 2020 so it wasn't quite as hectic as the early days, but we definitely got very familiar with our new house. February brought a series of snowstorms that totaled close to 3 feet of snow. Andrew was extremely grateful for the foresight of a snow blower purchase with the driveway that runs the length of the property.
By the end of the month, the snow in the yard was up to Theo's shoulders in spots!
As the temps warmed, Andrew tackled a patio project built from extra stones from in the yard.
In May, we had a scary episode with Natalie suffering a febrile seizure leading to an evening in the hospital ER. In a way, while you never want things like this to happen, it was perfect timing as we had both sets of grandparents at the house when it happened and that allowed us to respond with an immediacy we could not have had on our own.
As Spring turned to Summer, we spent more and more time outside together as a family.
With outdoor birthday parties.
Outdoor activities like baseball.
And golf. Andrew even had a hole-in-one when playing with father-in-law Brian!
In August, we had a block party that brought the Evanston Fire Department for a visit. Most of the kids wanted to play in the water from the fire hose, but Theo had other priorities.
Starting around Labor Day, we started traveling and found ourselves making up for lost trips quickly! We started in Austin, visiting Hannah, James, and baby Spencer!
Two weeks later, we switched mini trains and visited Mom/Vicki, Dad/Tim, and Samuel in Kansas with a stop at the State Fair and a Family Dinner. We also made our first visit to Grandpa since his passing.
We visited the lake in Minnesota during the summer time as a family and then Andrew and Tim returned in September to try and start the process of building a new cabin on the property.
Then in October, we took our biggest trip yet, to California to visit a friend in SoCal and spend a few days at Disneyland. We started out in San Clemente, which is at the southern extent of the Los Angeles metro area before it transitions to communities more oriented to San Diego.
It was an extremely laid back couple of days focused on rest and beach time...
Because we knew we'd need the energy for the following days at Disneyland! Charles did an excellent job of helping us plan a truly magical trip, with a stay at the Disneyland Hotel on site and passes to both Disneyland itself and California Adventure next door.
Theo has been a Cars fan for a while, and he thoroughly enjoyed Radiator Springs.
He even steeled himself to go on Rise of the Resistance and found a passion for lightsabers.
The monorail reopened on our last day in the park so we continued our train theme (not that the Disneyland Railroad didn't count).
Even had an extra night with our friend Mike in the hotel room.
Fall was a return to the old patterns around the house with a brief interlude to Cincinnati for Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, Natalie contracted COVID in mid-December and shared it with Theo shortly thereafter. They both had cold symptoms for a few days before largely returning to normal just in time for Christmas. Out of an abundance of caution, we stuck with the longer quarantine rules and spent the holiday by ourselves as a family (for the second year in a row).
Unfortunately, 2022 started off much the same way 2021 ended with Katie and Andrew contracting COVID just this week after somehow not catching it from the kids last month. Like them, we're experiencing mild symptoms and are optimistic about our recovery but are feeling a little exasperated from the seemingly endless pandemic struggles!
We wish you all a happy and HEALTHY 2022 and are looking forward to seeing some of you when we visit Kansas around Presidents Day! Love from Chicago!
