We've already had a month of 2026 and I haven't posted anything!
There are a few reasons for this.
I don't spend much time on computers because my eyes find it difficult to do for long stints.
My off-line life is more fun and full!
Our brains and emotional tanks have been challenged by what has been going on in the Twin Cities.
But documenting my beautiful life is meaningful to me, so I'll just jump back into it.
This post is a summary of my favorite moments and events from the past year!
We got to see Greg's Dad, Rick, and his wife, Karen, for pizza in January.
My aloes have been growing like crazy!
Allistair has been cuddly (he's always cuddly!)
We enjoy all the different Weathers.
I ran a lot on the treadmill!
Ivy was cute.
I enjoyed time at church with my wonderful students!
We are getting closer to having a separate classroom for the kids who would really benefit from a different environment, and I'm EXCITED!!!
Nora refused to eat veggies.
I visited Arizona in February.
Sky Harbor airport in Phoenix has unforgettable flooring.
I was excited to see my beloved Sprouts grocery store!
And of course, I got to see my parents!
My Mom and I got to shop quite a bit.
I got to see some friends, too.
Love you, Jihae and kids!
I walked past our old house (where we lived for TWENTY-SIX years!)
This little home is full of beautiful and happy memories.
Nice to see you, Stacey!
Lovely to walk with you, Jen!
Allistair had to comfort Greg while I was gone.
I ran my old route starting from our old house!
It was kind of emotional,
I had a looooooong chat with Echo!
I LOVE YOU!
I saw my sweet friend, Kristi. I've known her since she was 18 and I was 23!
And I hiked one of my favorite hikes in Arizona.
Later in February, Greg and I had dinner with our college friend Rich and his wife, Linda.
Love you!
And of course there was an Easter celebration with our family!
We spent an early summer weekend at the cabin.
Ivy fell in love with this igloo.
I hung some beautiful paintings in the guest room.
These are my Jack Clevenger, my friend Cindy's late father.
Ivy sat in the mud room closet.
And looked at things cross-eyed.
I got to hang out with my nieces.
We had pizza.
We went to the book store.
We went to Target.
We dipped things in chocolate.
The cats decided to come up into our bathroom most mornings to drink from the sinks, tub, and shower.
Allistair likes to get brushed while sitting on the counter.
Most weeks, I got to meet virtually with my dear friends Naomi and Sharon!
Here we are in coordinating outfits!
I got to meet my brother Mark and my niece Esme at Goodwill unexpectedly one evening!
Esme insisted I buy this little drawer unit as a second nightstand for the guest room and she told me she would help me fill it with helpful things for our guests.
She's right! It looks adorable!
Nora was glorious.
As the weather warmed up in the spring, I was able to run outside instead of on the treadmill.
I love being outside!
We got to see another friend from college, and we haven't seen him SINCE COLLEGE
over 30 years ago.
I got to spend some time with my friend Heather's daughter, Hannah.
We made some cupcakes.
And we played some games.
Ivy played in the laundry hamper.
Spring arrived and so did the geese!
Allistair enjoyed the sun,
Greg kept on cleaning windows and testing all the equipment to find the best stuff!
In December, he won a gift card to Window Cleaning Resources, the best website for window cleaning resources! Ha!
More time with Cora and Esme.
And most of the rest of the family (my parents were still in Arizona).
Esme took this one!
Nora watched geese.
Ivy was cute as can be.
I hung a painting in our bedroom.
Here is the view from the hallway.
Ivy got more snuggly and started liking snuggles a bit more.
Allistair is the best boy.
I got to spend shopping time with my Mom, sometimes with pizza for lunch!
Father's Day to celebrate a wonderful Dad and Grandpa!
He's great!
A celebratory meal when my parents came home from Arizona.
Piano recitals!
My brother and his wife bought a property not far from us and we investigated!
We played at the park nearby.
My parents helped me plant a pollinator garden this spring!
Here are my Mom and I picking out flowers!
I choose a purple and white theme.
Our apple tree bloomed for the first time!
I found a beautiful checkerboard coffee table for the basement seating area.
It was $12, but 75% off at Goodwill!
It looks very cute!
My rhubarb went wild and grew like the dickens!
Allistair helped me cook.
We got to enjoy the end-of-year show-off party at our nieces' school, along with a book fair!
I ran as much as possible outside, and especially enjoyed the rainy days!
I planted very small blueberry bushes and they flowered!
Greg cleaned the windows at the cabin!
We kayaked.
My Dad hung up this printer drawer for us in our bedroom at the cabin and the girls helped me fill it with very small treasures.
My flowers began to bloom!
This is an iris in the colors of the University Of Minnesota!
Here's a purple one!
Columbine (new to us this year)!
Pincushion:
I saw my Kindergarten teacher, Mrs Chacka!
Nora watched the birds and squirrels.
We organized a teeny bit more in the basement.
I shopped and ate more with my Mom!
My daisies bloomed! A lot!
I planted at least 10 small lavender plants this year that SHOULD be perennial, so I'm excited to see them come back when spring comes!
Nora was dignified.
Nora watched out the window and Allistair took a nap on the couch.
Greg helped me hang up most of the gallery wall I've been working toward!
Basement is looking cute and cozy!
We saw lots of creatures, including herons.
Another fun family meal!
I love my Dad!
Another cute creature - a tree frog!
Greg cleaned some more windows with very long poles and special glasses.
My Mom and I and the girls went shopping and tried on these silly hats!
Ivy and Allistair snuggled.
We had wonderful nocturnal visitors!
Greg cleaned more windows.
I filmed a bunch of videos for my
We had our friends Paige and Nick over and celebrated with a feast!
We spent our annual family week at the lake!
Esme helped me shop for the fruits and veggies we needed for the week!
The girls drew an amazing representation of our activities at the cabin!
AND they told Greg how much they wanted to ride with him on the tube!
There he is!
Esme wanted me to try her goggles, but they were a very funny size!
My new swim suits/wet suits were perfect for all our water activities!
Hooray for Greg on the tube!
We played Dutch Blitz!
We celebrated Faux Day together!
The girls and I spent a lot of time in the water, even on the chillier days.
And we enjoyed the fire!
And the boat!
Cora's glorious tongue on display:
My baby blueberry bushes made some blueberries!
Nora sat prettily on the couch.
I got to spend more time with Paige!
And Nick came, too.
Greg and I went to Bemidji to visit his family and we got some pizza at his very favorite pizza place: Giovanni's!
More window cleaning.
On this shopping day, my Dad was able to meet us for lunch to make it even better!
My flowers continued to bloom.
Daisies:
Pincushions:
Veronica
I harvested wild grapes for the first time this year! And I made jelly!
We saw a group of people we knew from college. Everyone is pretty elderly now.
Esme and I baked some cookies with pink icing!
Nora and Ivy snuggled.
Nora sat in an odd way.
Ivy showed us her pretty tummy.
We enjoyed a beautiful rainbow over the pond!
I ran outside some more.
Wild daisies began to bloom, indicating that fall was approaching.
Ivy and Allistair snuggled some more.
Ivy drooped.
I made a LOT of apple cider!
Once I figured out how to make it, I wanted to make it all the time because it's delicious and easy!
I made it when we had people over. Not only was it tasty, but it made the house smell lovely.
Allistair helped me with meetings.
We had a fall party for our family, and the girls learned how to use a record player!
The daisies KEPT ON BLOOMING.
So did the lavender!
We went as a family (minus Jillian, sadly) to pick out our pumpkins!
I found a beautiful set of vintage silverware to supplement our current set.
The pattern is fruits and flowers.
Paige and I both have birthdays in October, so we had a part for ourselves!
Greg and I took Cora and Esme to Stillwater and enjoyed a beautiful day!
We carved our pumpkins together.
And then it was time to celebrate my BIRTHDAY!
We had dinner together.
The colors of the fall leaves always make me happy.
Nora enjoyed a new doughnut.
Ivy was inside!
My Mom and I had more shopping adventures!
For my Mom's birthday, Greg the T-Rex and I took her flowers to celebrate her!
The T-Rex also got to celebrate Halloween with Hannah!
Allistair napped.
The pond froze over!
And then we had crazy northern lights!
We got to see Cora's play!
And we got to celebrate Thanksgiving with my parents.
My Dad glued together my falling-apart slippers!
My Dad glued together my falling-apart slippers!
My parents bought me a beautiful fragrant little candle in this sweet bag.
It made me feel very special and loved.
Ivy played in my hoodies.
Greg and I enjoyed the view EVERY SINGLE DAY.
Greg and I took the girls shopping for Christmas gifts for the family (Thriftmas!)
And then it was Christmas!
Esme made a little medallion of our family.
CG - Christie & Greg
GG - Grandma and Grandpa
Rs - Mark, Jillian, Cora, Esme
We are separate families, but also ONE FAMILY.
She also made me a little snowman.
And she made Greg a tiny little bucket and squeegee!
Grandpa got a fancy new hat!
Cora bought me these little gingerbread friends; she said it's me and her and Esme.
We got crackers this year!
With our paper hats!
I hope your 2026 has started out beautifully and that you are navigating through these challenging times with peace.
More soon!
xo
