Taking in Life Around Me....#Sundaystills : Year in Review Reflections: July-December

This #sundaystills challenge is hosted by Terri from Second Wind Leisure. It's a great themed photography challenge that you'll enjoy. I love seeing the other participants interpretation of the theme each week...it causes me to think outside the box. I joined in hopes of it pushing me to get out and take more photos...I have to some degree, but I also like that Terri is okay with us finding photos in our archives, which is also a lot of fun. So check out my photos and then head over to Terri's page to participate or visit other's posts. There are some awesome contributors who always inspire me.

This week I'm finishing my year in review for 2023 with July-December. I don't think Terri has a post up today.

July: We didn't do much on the 4th of July. Usually we just stay home which is fine with me. I don't like navigating streets and dodging people and fireworks. Our neighbors put on a great show. I enjoyed lots of time with the grandkids on our normal days but also some extra times. We enjoyed company a few times and I also helped our daughter with her coffee cart. We celebrated our grandsons birthday. I attended the wedding of a friend of our daughters. I read 5 books in July. I enjoyed our beautiful summer weather. I went on daily walks to get my steps in, and it just felt so good. I started trying to play with more food photography and visiting thrift stores to make reels for the blog I VA for. 

When someone in your family loves something,  you kind of learn to like/love it too. My Sil loves dirt bikes, my daughter has learned to love them too. Our grandson, REALLY loves them, so when we can we spend time going to the farm when they ride to watch. 

In July, our owner and one of the other gals goes camping for a week with their families. The rest of us declare it party week...this year we dressed up as super heros. people LOVED it. We had fun. 

We celebrated Indy's birthday and since it was on a Wednesday, we drove around getting "free" birthday stuff. So much fun! 

I attended a wedding with my girls. Well, my. youngest was in it, so I drove to it with my oldest. Always fun being with them no matter what we're doing. 

August: August found us going to our county fair with the kids. They are so fun and I'm looking forward to more memories. We had company over, including Kevin's work team. One of the highlights as a family was renting a pool from Swimply. Our family had a blast. Seeing a group of people you love, having fun together is one of a kind. Continued my regular walks and also did an Arbonne 30 day cleanse with a group of friends which always feels good. I read 6 books in August.

We will most definitely rent this pool again. It was a blast. 

September: We went with our daughter and son in law to Seabrook, WA for 4 days to watch our grandkids while they had a school retreat. That was the highlight. Then at the end of September the grandkids stayed at our house for 4 days while mom and dad were gone. We also purchased our first brand new car. P.S. I LOVE it. I also helped our daughter with her coffee cart a few times. Hubby and I took a trip up to Mt. St. Helens on the day we came back from  Seabrook. My daughters hosted a ladies night that I attended. It was fun to see them in their elements with their businesses as well as other vendors. I only read 3 books in September.

Seabrook is such a unique community on the Washington coast. We loved our time there and the highlight for the kids and I was exploring the gnome trail and finding so many fun "gnome houses" left by people. 

October: I always help at the pumpkin patch in October. This year I also flew to Ohio to help harvest grapes. That was the highlight of that month. I created a reel on IG. We had the grandkids again for a week. I also walked my first 10k over the Astoria bridge with my 78 year old MIL and her 84 year old friend. That was a real treat. I was proud of us. We also watched Derek Hough in concert. I read 6 books in October.

I have a new appreciation for the price of a bottle of wine. Most of their wines would be considered estate wines...everything is grown and used from their vineyard and processed on site. Their white wines are made using grapes from another location, but still processed on their site (I believe). It's fascinating. 

Derek Hough is an amazingly talented human being. We loved this show. 

The Astoria Bridge in the background. We walked across that bridge which was just about 4 miles of the 6+ mile walk. 

November: The highlight of November was taking a trip to Leavenworth. We were gone 5 days and it was a great time. We had company for dinner a few times and Thanksgiving was at our house. I helped my oldest daughter at a wedding expo and at another small business Saturday event. I also helped my youngest as she photographed photos for a gala event. My hubby and I also went to see the Trans Siberian Orchestra. That was quite the experience. I read 3 books in November. 

Leavenworth is beautiful. I would love to visit in winter sometime. 

Coffee and treats with the grands before heading to Leavenworth. 

December: December was busy, with a family trip to Mexico for 4 days. I did good at having all my gifts bought before we left. I helped my daughter at a winter market, and also had a baking day on my birthday with my girls, and my sister and a few of her kids.  We were all together on Christmas Day. Christmas Eve was just our youngest daughter, her friend, my inlaws and a few other friends. It was a quiet time. New Years Eve was quiet. We just stayed home. Surprisingly I finished 7 books in December. Some were started in other months and I finally finished them. 

I love December, and Christmas decorations...the icing would be snow, but we rarely get it in December. The coziness helps stave off the blues of wet, dark, gloomy weather in our area of the PNW. 

Escaping to Cabo with the family was a treat. We soaked up the sun!!!

Baking with family was another treat. My sister and part of her family came down to join us. 

That wraps up 2023 year in review. I hope you enjoyed it. Here's to an amazing 2024.

With Joy Unquenchable,

Kirstin