2024 is done.  I am hopeful for 2025, despite the insanity going on across the country and around the world -- but first, let's take a look back at 2024.

Adventures with the Two-legged Child:

Fortunately, with me working from home and her being a good kid, not using "daycare" was an option for summer break.  This year we skipped the public pool passes.  Instead Avery did two weeks of lessons there at Camp Splash.  That, along with two weeks at vacation bible school and two summer cruises helped to fill her summer.  There was a few weeks left in the summer where I let her sleep in and veg a bit, but we did have a few school-work-esque papers I had her work on most every day to keep her brain engaged.  There was also plenty of time outside playing on the swing set, riding bikes/scooters, and playing with neighbor friends.

We did not get to Kennywood or Idlewild this year, but we did take two summer cruises, and a third in September where she was out of school for a week.  The first was a 9 nighter, just the two of us out of Baltimore.  It was touch and go if we would depart from there after the Francis Scott Key bridge incident/collapse.  Avery and I got to enjoy Bermuda, Nassau (on a pirate ship), and Cococay.  Then in July her Dad, Nonno, and Nonna joined us on a short 4-nighter to Canada (Halifax).  Finally, in September we took in the brand new Icon of the seas out of Miami and I was pretty impressed with the ship.  Again we visited Cococay and did a quick near the port walk in St Maarten - here the ship was definitely a destination onto itself..

For Halloween she broke from her streak of superheros and I've actually spotted her playing with stuffies as well as her cars -- heck, she's even asked for makeup.  I see her forming her own style.  She got her first hair color this summer as we added temporary blue to the ends.

Avery has begun voice and Jujitsu/Muay Thai lessons and seems to be enjoying the later quite a bit.  Here too she seems to be a quick learner.  She isn't as big of a fan of catechism this year as she was last year - but she manages to impress me raising her hand with the right answer on questions I don't expect her to have the answers to (way to go CCA).

Her grades are good and we have found our routine with the demands of first grade homework, etc.  She remains at CCA.  This year I chaperoned a field trip to the Science Museum and got to see her enjoy the day with her classmates.  She is getting pretty decent at reading, has started adding and subtracting double-digits, and doing well with clocks and money.

Last year I noted that I wanted her to swim freestyle on her own and she's mostly there.  I also said we wanted to start karate, so that's another win.  We also went to the Pittsburgh Botanical Gardens (on a crazy hot day) and loved it, not that this makes up for our lack of adventuring.

We have spent half the year fighting against a plantars wart.  The teeth didn't seem to want to come out as quickly as I would have expected (so paying for the higher dental plan didn't get put to use as I expected).  In total she has only lost 3 teeth - two on the bottom earlier in the year and only one top front tooth in recent months.

Fuzzy Children:

Sadly, I lost Saffy this year.  She had her ups and downs, good days and bad days, a rough patch midway through the year when she had an eye rupture, and then a sudden downhill that was undeniable and left me making that decision.  The worst part is I had to do it while we were away on a cruise and I couldn't be right there with her holding her paw.  Thank God for video chat, but I remain sad that I couldn't be at her side and I pray she forgives me.

Zero grieved Saffy, which earned him some points with me.  He seems to be doing ok at this point.  He's still crazy but has more moments of calm and has been rewarded by not needing to be in the crate every time I leave.  If he's having a sassy day I don't dare leave him out though, as I don't need him torturing the cats while I'm gone.

Church and Barnabas have been well.  They are a great pair.  Lately they have started sparing a bit more than in the past, but the seem to enjoy each other's company. They aren't the type to snuggle up with one another, but I have caught them twice.  Barney and Church both take their turns cuddling up near me at night, especially as things have begun to cool off.

Our fosters Summer and Pickle left early this year, but Jackson remained until quite recently.  Actually, as a write this he is still foster to adopt with a would-be Mom and I am hearing about his achievements.  He took a while to get comfortable enough with me, but when that switch flipped he was all about cuddling on laps.  Jackson is the sweetest, most gentle boy.

All About Me:

I lead a pretty boring life, this part should be short.

The most notable things were the passing of my brother in Ohio and spending half a year getting my car fixed and getting partially reimbursed after someone without a license ruined my trip to get some coffee.

I got to visit with two friends on separate occasions that I haven't seen in a very long time.  That was nice.  I miss having the kind of friends you hang out with on the regular.

I had my worries after a few medical appointments.  Fortunately, all came back clear.  My left shoulder has been sassy since ... May? -- nowhere near the pain of the right shoulder when it froze, but I'm pretty sure it's the same situation with less loss of motion at this point.  Really hoping this unfreezes soon and I don't need to go through pointless physical therapy and medical intervention to get relief.  I also have things I need to do that I can't tend to properly without reaching above my head.

I hate to say it, but it's true... I think I'm at the heaviest I've ever been - I may have matched what I weighed when very very pregnant with Avery.  I need to get my act together.  The thought of being this far gone and how long of a process it will be to get back where I want to be is depressing.

Other News:

The house, as of the end of October is paid in full.  That wasn't very long ago, but the funds that would normally go there are being stacked to prepare for some repairs/upgrades that are long overdue here at the house.  I'm telling you it's falling apart.  My cold water faucet in my bathroom isn't working right now, probably a plugged up cartridge.  The pull string came out of the light over the basement sink (my shoulder is preventing me from reaching up there to change the light fixture).  The stove threw an error the other day, so it is getting the side eye every time I turn it on at this point.  The carpet is still falling to bits and bubbling - I want this to get done as soon as I have the slush fund I want - but I'm already overwhelmed and frozen at the decisions that need to be made..

What did I achieve here and cross off the ever growing list? Very early this year I replaced the flooring in the upstairs bathrooms and laundry room.  I like how it looks/functions.  Do I love it?  Meh.  I switched out the mailbox, so it is completely vertical and shored up.  I also evened out some dirt outside to avoid twisted ankles as you step off of the concrete.  I also upgraded the kitchen faucet.  Pretty short list, kind of sad, right?

I did get one wave of things out to the curb for whomever wanted them.  I easily could have done this 4 times and still had things to purge.  There is so much I need to clear away.

My garden was a bit underwhelming this year despite extra buckets.  I don't think starting the seeds in the basement does much for me.  The volunteers I got from other people grew faster and larger than my coddled seeded plants.  I can at least say that the asparagus attempt has a plant that didn't die.  It isn't something you can harvest from immediately, so this is a long-game goal.

Looking at 2025:

I have my glass of sparkling white.  I know it's early, but I don't have anything going on ... and I'll probably be in bed by midnight.

I'm not going to lie, I'm excited for some political changes to take place.  I'm praying that we will see some positive change. I still feel like I need to hold my breath... waiting for the next thing to hit us.

I get to put more money into retirement in "catch up" funds starting this year.  As old as that makes me feel I'm looking to max things out again including this extra amount.  I'm also going to focus on maxing out my contributions to my HSA, which I hadn't previously understood the power of.

There are always cruises on my to do next year list.  To celebrate my milestone birthday I want to do something a bit special.  I'm still eyeing Alaska cruises, but I haven't booked it yet and may not go that route.  We do have one booked for next August already and one of my best friends is coming with her family!.

In the garden I want to give something different a go.  A neighbor had success with brussels sprouts -- should I try growing those?  Hopefully the asparagus I started last year will winter over - it is a multiple year process.

I am sure this year will see a new foster or two.  As much as I appreciate the break, it's kind of weird to not have a foster here right now.

As to the house - it will be time for the flooring upgrades.  This may expand into some other mods in the living room and kitchen as it seems 'logical' to do the things on my mind at the same time or before the flooring.

It's been a quick year... My biggest goal is just to hold on to each day and try to savor the bits and pieces.