Here we go again.  This year has wizzed by and time shows no sign of slowing down.  Let's get to it, you know the drill :)

Looking back at notes from and wishes for 2021:
- Avery is more awesome every day.  She is smart, funny, and helpful - and I am so proud of her.  It feels weird to not have milestones like what words she says to add here.  It's also crazy to see it's been over a year that she's been 100% out of diapers.
- Not a single cruise... and none on the horizon.  How depressing is that?  With the rules for travel as they are things don't look good for 2022, but a girl can hope.  We did get to visit with my sisters this year, but I only left PA twice - once for work travel and another to pick up Zero.  Avery and I did go to Living Treasures and we got another trip to Idlewild in; all of us went to Splash Lagoon meeting her bestie there.
- Speaking of Zero - we added Zero Francis and Church Noir to our family!  As of Christmas we also have a fish with us... but that's a whole other story.  The fish, a female betta is yet to be named.
- Safyre is well for her age.  Her hearing on the other hand has deteriorated significantly.  It's okay.  She can hear my poor whistle to call her in and she knows the routine.  She's been helping to teach Zero the ropes and setting a good example.  She has started going to the top of the stairs and crying, but not seeming to want to be up there if I allow her up.  Not sure if her mental health is declining or what.
- Health wise for me... there was a procedure under anesthesia to release my frozen shoulder and the subsequent physical therapy.  I also went under for my first ever colonoscopy and caved, getting my first pair of progressive glasses; talk about feeling old.  Otherwise I am well.  I would like to take off more weight, but that's a given.
- Work remains insane.  I'm at least between tasks that I have to lead, but there is no shortage of other activities I need to jump in on.  Taking time off is hard - I have to leave or schedule things in order to actually take those planned days off or I end up hoping on and getting sucked in.
- I hadn't planned anything big at the house for 2021, but was I wrong.  In the spring I ended up prepping an area and putting in a rather large swingset. I also treated myself and put in a hot tub.  I did keep pressing in on the mortgage.  If I can keep going I'm down to 2 more years.  I would be even further if I hadn't snapped and made those two big purchases as I could have dropped a nice chunk on the mortgage.
- I did finish my previous bible in a year plan and joined up with another one that started Jan 1 and finished this morning - I sure love Father Mike Schmitz, so it was easy to keep up.  I did a few other online listening plans and after a break got back on daily rosaries.  I also shifted churches and am back at the Catholic church.  After more than a year of not going to church it is nice to be back every week.

So my wishes for 2022:
- I still wish for normal to return.  Not a "new normal" - that is bs propoganda.  People need to realize they're being lied to and misled.

- I need to keep going on my weight lost journey - let's just put this plaque up as I expect it to be here every year.  I grabbed a water tracking app and am going to try upping my water intake to support this desire.  I never drink enough water, I know this, so it is a good change regardless.
- Nothing is on my mind for the house, but that was dangerous (and expensive) last year... so maybe I should plan something to keep the costs constrained.  The flooring here is all a nightmare.  The carpet is crap and has been since day one (bubbles, something underneath it in the bedroom, pulling up at some edges, and now a few spots damaged by the cat).  The downstairs flooring shifts around under your feet and you can see gaps in some spots, plus where water has laid on it it is bubbling up a bit.  So all of that should be high on the list, but that would defn be expensive and not where I want to dump money.  The windows aren't ideal, but again pretty significant cost.

- I want an actual vacation.  I know someone who is expecting in July.  I pray that things go away so travel opens up fully and people aren't leery of one another -- because I sure would like to go see them after the baby comes.  If that can't happen I do hope at least to find somewhere we can easily drive to and spend a few days; maybe into Ohio or WV.  I have started to think about a Disney trip - maybe for 2023 before Avery starts school but that too depends on how things progress in the next year or so too.