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2019 Year in Review

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2019 was a good year of travels.

Isn't every year.

January
Our annual Indian turkey Friendsgiving.

We had Cayla and Amanda over once again.

February
Theo's 1st Birthday at the cottage.

Cottage birthdays are my favorite birthdays.

March
Staying at a tiny house on Lake Pepin for my 34th birthday

April
My parents came to visit for the Minneapolis St Paul Home Tour

May
Biking everywhere with our new cargo bike

This turned out to be one of the best things we've ever bought ourselves.

June
Scott and the kids took a trip to Michigan and Chicago.

The kids had their moments, but it was a grand adventure to go pick up an old family car.

July
We took our first trip to Canada.

It all started on a work trip to Roseau and then we enjoyed time in Winnipeg and around Lake of the Woods.

August
We did our first camping trip in the Boundary Waters.

We'd been up here the year prior, but this was the real deal. The kids made me nervous a few times, but it was an epic adventure made better by Blake, Daniel and Zissou.

September
My parents came up for another visit.

In-law visits are always a good time and more than a few breweries are visited.

October
Visited Bond Falls in Upper Michigan.

Check it off the bucket list. We've been planning on stopping there for years.

November
Took a trip up to Duluth for the Duluth Christmas parade.

We also went on a epic late fall hike.

December
Celebrated Christmas in Chicago and Michigan.

It was great seeing my family on this long winter break trip.


Things We Hope to Accomplish in 2019

Brooke
1. Buy less clothing and start making more of my own. I'm still new at sewing and hopefully I can improve this year. I didn't make as much as I had hoped. Just one shirt for me and 3 skirts and 1 dress for Meadow, but my sewing skills definitely improved.

2. Eat less sugar. I think our whole family could do this. Start having treats as actual treats and not a fourth meal. We still struggle with this. I'm usually reminded of my sugar intake when I get sick. I've seen improvements with my skin when I lower my sugar so hopefully 2020 is the year!

3. I've brought this up in previous years, but hike/camp the Superior Hiking Trail. Since learning that we can take the trail from Blake's house to his land I think it could be doable. Still haven't accomplished this. Maybe when Theo is a little older and can hike on his own long distances.

4. Go on a bike camping trip. We plan to get a cargo bike this year so I'm excited for the adventures we will have with it. Would still love to do this just need to figure out how to carry stuff for 4 people on a bike.

5. Improve flexibility. I'd like to be able to touch my toes by the end of the year. Wow, I sadly am failing this year. Still not close to touching my toes.

6. Take advantage of our Enhanced Driver's License and take a trip to Canada. Yay, something we actually did!

7. Make a point to exercise everyday. Go for more walks, do yoga or even play Wii Fit. We definitely biked more this year than previous years. I still struggle with being more active during the colder months.

Scott
1. Make it to all four corners of Minnesota for work or play. This year took us up to Roseau, Lake City, Grand Marais and the Gunflint Trail for work. We also made it down to Lake City/Wabasha for Brooke's birthday. If you count Willmar Lakes as southwest than I knocked this out of the park.

2. Visit my mom and sister (and her fam) in Michigan at least once. I made it twice. Once with just the kids and then a second time with the whole family for Christmas.

3. Expand my business another 25% year over year. I can see it already. It happened. My best year yet as  a freelance photographer.

4. Bike ride everywhere on our new cargo bike or my city cruiser. I suppose we did that. Lots of fun rides and grocery runs during the warm months.

5. Go fishing with Meadow and Theo at least 6 times this year. That cargo bike is going to be perfect for Lake Harriet fishing adventures. Only went once or twice. A lot less city fishing than I expected. We were too busy traveling.

6. Lose 15 pounds. Daddy's gotta get rid of this newborn weight. Yeah, no.

Meadow
1. Make a pie. I don't recall any time in the last year where Meadow made a pie?




Things We Hope to Accomplish in 2020

Brooke
1. More sewing and less buying
2. Reduce our plastic intake
3. Eat less sugar
4. Go on a backpacking trip with Meadow
5. Touch my toes while standing or sitting

 Scott
1. Meadow says I need take the prettiest pictures ever.
2. Bikepack with the whole family. Coon Rapids has a park that would be perfect for this.
3. Increase my business revenue by 20% year over year.

 Meadow
1. Read Harry Potter
2. Be better at rollerblading
3. Learn how to draw the Northern Lights.



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