Happy New Year! 2021 Recap
12.31.2021
This happy rollercoaster of a life just seems to be gaining speed. Our year 2021 was busting at the seams with things to do and places to see. We made our new house into a home, put in a yard, added some animals, squeezed in some adventures, and tried our best to keep up with four wild and independent boys.
I admit, adding a fourth child has been hard. There's so much joy in having a baby and I wouldn't for a second wish Ezra away, but meeting one more child's daily needs has stretched my time and overwhelmed my mental load. I think I honestly forgot how demanding it is to keep a tiny toddler alive and happy! So I've been doing my best to write everything out in my planner (I became my own mother after all! Lol.), say 'no' whenever possible, and to remind myself that nothing is usually wrong in any given moment. It's just me, stressing out. If I had one wish it would be more time. Time to dedicate to myself for exercise and creative outlets. Time to listen intently to each of my boys and to play with them. We just seem to be jumping from one thing to the next! School, dinner, sports, bedtime... and before I know it another day has passed us by.
I'm doing my best to just appreciate this phase of life. I know it will last too long and simultaneously not long enough. I have everything I ever dreamed of for myself and more! So I make a conscious effort to notice the good things the boys are doing -- they really are amazing -- and to cherish that hug, that laugh, that "I love you too, Mom". And then I pray to my Heavenly Father to make up for all that I lack.
As for Covid and the current state of the world, well, I'm expecting to prove my 23rd booster shot for a $55 dollar Hot and Ready Little Ceasar's pizza by the year 2026.
These are the highlights of 2021:
January: We sold our home of nine years and moved into our white farmhouse on five acres. A dream come true! Pinch me. I still cannot believe I get to wake up every morning here.
February: We spent the month unpacking and organizing. I fed a chubby baby 7-8 times a day. I just remember spending hours either spoon feeding or breastfeeding Ezra! Jed and Levi also started practice on swim team twice a week.
March: Bron and I got scuba certified! We took the whole family to hike and bike in Moab, UT for spring break.
April: We celebrated Easter and Jed's 11th birthday!
May: My baby boy turned one year old! Bron and I celebrated 14 years of marriage. Jed and Levi brought home their 4H dairy heifers, Domino and Pepper Jack. My dad, Liz, and Mia visited for a fun filled weekend. We did a lot of dirt work on our property and planted two dozen trees and even more plants!
June: Ezra started walking! Conrad began the summer with swimming lessons. Jed and Levi boarded their very first airplane alone to spend a weekend in California playing with Commander and family.
July: We enjoyed an epic family hike along the Fishhook Creek Trail. We also attended our first official Nelson family reunion. Jed had a fun three days at a golf camp. And we played hard when my sister Lauren and her three kids came to visit for a week! Then we gathered in Boise with more family to go through the temple with my little brother Michael and send him off on his LDS mission.
August: Conrad became a fish and took more swimming lessons. Bron enjoyed a week of high adventure with the young men. We planted GRASS in the yard! Football and mountain biking practices began dominating our evenings. Levi turned 9 and started the 4th grade. Jed started 6th grade at the MIDDLE SCHOOL and picked up the trumpet in the band. At first, he sounded like he was blowing his nose when he practiced but fortunately now he can carry a tune!
September: We spent a week as a family at the Twin Falls County Fair. Jed and Levi washed and showed their cows daily; they even won a few ribbons. Conrad started preschool five days a week and can now write his name and sing lots of silly songs. Our church stake split and we were organized into the brand new Rock Creek Ward. Then I was promptly called to be the young women's president!
October: We went on an overnight family adventure to Redfish Lake where we stayed in a cozy cabin, went for a boat ride, and did a lot of hiking. I flew to Arizona to conquer the 24 mile rim to rim hike of the Grand Canyon with my sister Lauren and two cousins, Rachel and Necia. It was a blast! The boys went trick-or-treating on Halloween.
November: Conrad turned five years old! We celebrated Thanksgiving at the Nelson dairy and tried not to drown in new church callings and responsibilities.
December: Bron and I escaped on a week long vacation to Cozumel, MX (aka Paradise!) where we went scuba diving and soaked up the warm sunshine. Then we enjoyed a magical and chaotic Christmas with our four boys. Finally, we ended the year with some freezing temps and a snow storm!
It's a crazy beautiful life!
