Still catching up! Things that brought me joy in 2025:
Favorite book:
23 books last year. One short of my annual goal, but a valiant effort.
Favorite book of all was Anxious People by Fredrik Backman. My five-star rating might be a little bit of a right time/right place kind of thing as I read a lot of this while sitting in coffee shops with Juliette in New York City, but still, his characters are so damn engaging. I snickered several times. Got a litle misty eyed for a minute near the end. All the feels.
Favorite non-fiction was Solito by Javier Zamora. God, the things people endure, the cards they play to make a life in America. Or the things they endure if they don’t.
Favorite TV show:
Tricky one. Shrinking still has my heart. Nobody Wants This scratched a particular itch. But prime kudos to The Pitt for being something totally out of the ordinary for our family. Medical dramas tend to be riddled with romantic hook-ups or far-flung plot lines, but The Pitt (from where I sit) feels much more grounded in the realities of patient care. Juliette and I spend a solid twenty percent of every episode averting our eyes from the TV given the up-close, too-real blood and guts, but when Robby spouts his doctor jargon or McKay shares tough news with a patient or Dana takes charge in the midst of chaos, we are riveted.
Favorite movie:
Easier one, because as per usual I watched only a small handful of movies, and Hamnet takes first prize. I cried buckets. I adored the kids. I almost felt my own body split open in that first birthing scene. Beautiful. AND, we went with a couple of friends and left all the kids home alone together and no one was injured and nothing was broken while we were out. Dare I say we’re tip-toeing toward a new version of freedom?
Favorite podcast:
Also easy. Amy Poehler, I adore you. Always a Good Hang. My favorite podcasts are always the ones rich with friendly banter and human connection and Amy Poehler is so good at drawing out the kindest, funniest, truest pieces of her guests. Especially loved her interviews with Kathryn Hahn, Seth Meyers, Aziz Ansari.
Favorite album:
2025 was the year of HAIM in our house. I Quit for the hands-down win, with special mention to the songs Love You Right, Relationships, and Take Me Back. Shane, Juliette and I loved the album from the first listen, but when we saw the sisters live here in Seattle back in Seattle, we turned die-hard. Danielle has presence and talent and bas-assery like you wouldn’t belive.
Favorite personal pastime:
2025 was notably short on time for myself. Partially for reasons I’m ok with – I spent a lot of time cheering on Juliette from the sidelines of the soccer field and we did a lot of getting-outside together as a family, but also, I too often let work swallow me whole. Balance is a life-long pursuit and some years I’m better at it than others. I did, however, join a gym in the fall and I managed to make a regular habit out of exercising for the first time in I-don’t-know-how-long. Big win.
Favorite family pastime:
I claimed camping in 2024 and I’m going to do it again for 2025. Long live tent snuggles, toasted marshmallows, and unplugged afternoons.
And, favorite moments…
Sparkly Suncadia…
And Makena Cove 4-EVER.
Zion was a stunner. We headed to Utah not entirely knowing what to expect and it knocked our socks off. I still remember feeling like I shoud pinch myself on our bike ride through the park on our first day there, wondering to myself, IS THIS EVEN REAL LIFE?
I’ve made a tradition of a May getaway with this crew and oh, to stay up late laughing and snacking and sharing. And then to sleep in the next morning! Luxe.
And THEN, an anniversary getaway with my favorite guy. Just a night, just a couple of hours from home, but this meal at The Oyster Catcher held my favorite bites and my favorite conversation of 2025.
My girl graduated from elementary school and I felt all the things, but above all, gratitude.
We welcomed summer with a little extra fanfare last year. FREEEEEEEDOM!
On a simpler note, we did plenty of backyard summering. Sometimes a sprinkler brings as much joy as a speedboat.
Isaac and I had two camp trips on our own and we rocked both of them. Deception Pass might forever be our special spot, but Salt Creek / Lake Crescent was pretty damn magical. To sit on a beach blanket and watch my boy fall into his own little world, happily runing his Hotwheels up and down logs and rocks…ZEN.
We got the crew back together for a weekend of camping at Lake Kachess and it felt like old times in the very best way.
Juliette went to her first sleepaway camp and to be honest, none of us loved it, but to wrap her up in the biggest of bear hugs at the end of that week? All was right in our world again.
Minnesotan porch evenings, playing cards and drinking wine (or Sprite) and telling stories.
Isaac turned four and his party was a hit but I especially loved this evening scoot around the neighborhood, just me and him after all the hustle and bustle died down. I was reminded how big his joy is, even without the bounce house and the cake and the gaggle of buddies. He loves life through and through, this boy.
Soccer QUEEN. She’s growing so much.
New York City with my best pal. Highlights included Broadway (HARRY POTTER!), witnessing a Central Park marriage proposal, and jamming down the sidewalks to the soundtrack of HAIM as we shared a pair of AirPods.
Saturday mornings are for coffee and coloring. Often my favorite couple of hours of the week.
Thanksgiving was extra-cozy last year. Shane’s mom was visiting and my parents came to eat with us and Isaac in his new flannel jammies was almost too much. The kids were so sweet at bedtime that night – holiday vibes were in the air. Bring them on.
And on that note…happy December.
