Year in Review : 2022
Last year was the year of mask-wearing, vaccines, quarantines and working remotely. This year is the year of now-hiring signs, backorders and shortages, and rising costs. The fun times continue! ;) Besides what’s happening all around us, the year for our little family has been pretty low-key. As Anna gets older, we continue to get out and about, doing more activities and fun things with her (which I think she loves). Here’s a recap of some of the happenings of 2022!
Holiday things!
The build-up before the holidays has been fun this year. We typically read holiday-themed books and Anna does related art projects at school. She usually gets blessed with fun holiday gifts from Aunt Jill and Nana, too!
Valentine’s Day included wearing a pretty red dress from Nana and getting a balloon from Daddy!
A (cold!) Easter celebration at Jills’ with the Schnoes family and an early Easter/April birthday celebration at our house with the Ruba family that featured her first-ever egg-dying! Also did an Easter Egg hunt at Howell’s Farm with our McCarty friends.
Anna spent the Fourth of July cooling off in McCarty’s pool.
Trick or Treating as the cutest little pumpkin with Grandpa and Grandma Schnoes and Eric and Christina. First pumpkin carving with daddy, too!
We filled our bellies at Thanksgiving. Anna loved helping Nana make pumpkin pie!
Christmas Celebrations included Santa at the McCarty’s and the Schnoes and Ruba family Christmases (Celebrated GG and Great-Grandpa’s 60th wedding anniversary, too!)
Winter things!
Nana and Papa’s yearly winter trip this year involved sledding in our backyard and bowling with the extended Ruba and Schnoes families.
Built first snowman! He was a looker!
Dad’s Annual Butchering weekend
Iowa State University basketball game
Galena Trip with Waldschmitts (Night with Uncle Casey and Aunt Jess for Anna)
Spring things!
RSM Ball with friends with other highlights being Anna’s first visit to Archie’s Waeside and bottle-feeding the baby calves
A Cherry-Blossom-filled picnic at Waterworks Park with Paige
Celebrating Ryan’s 40th birthday and Eric’s 30th with a family dinner at Splash downtown
Mother’s Day Omaha trip with my sisters and mom with the things we excel at — shopping and eating (and getting lost)!
Mystery Murder “Trailer Trash” party with the neighbors
Summer things!
Bacoon bike ride with Willetts and Joe
Annual Okoboji Lakes Trip
Fun back at Nana and Papa’s — Millcreek Pond, Kids Days and horses at Uncle Jim’s
Camping with Ganzers on a hot, hot day
Minneapolis Trip with Schnoes siblings
Anna’s 3rd birthday was Paw-Patrol Pawfect with GG and Great-Grandpa celebrating with us.
Neighbor parties and pool time at Ricci and Andy’s
Iowa State Fair with Nana, Papa and Aunt Jess (Keith Urban for me with my mom and sister)
Des Moines ice cream and playground tour — went to 10+ of ice cream joints in the metro and quite a few new playgrounds
Picnics, swimming and splash pads, farmer’s market, zoo with Nana, Jess and Paige and more!
Fall things!
Gary Allan concert with Schnoes siblings
Eureka Springs 10-year Anniversary Getaway — which included a hike, massages and dinners out for us and the zoo and time with Nana for Anna!
Disney Live “Costume Party” show — where Anna got to sport a cute Minnie Costume she got from Aunt Jilly for the occasion
Iowa State football game for Ryan and I
Pumpkin Patch with the McCartys and Nana!
Visit to Jess and Casey’s that included a Pumpkin Patch, dinner out and loving up on the dogs — while Dad went to a retreat at church
Harvest back home … Anna’s first ride in the combine! Trip to the Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor and another pumpkin patch!
Weekend at Lake City, MN with the Langfritzes while Anna enjoyed a night over at her cousins!
Big girl things
Anna is potty-trained!
Big girl bed which she loves
First haircut, dentist
Kicking the thumb sucking at night (thumbs up, Brown Bear!)
3YO room at school that includes worksheets and learning to write her letters
Learning to ride her trike
Project things
Added stone that goes out to patio area in our yard included a fire-pit
Sad things
It was a sad fall for Ryan in that two of his very good friends, Ryan and Stevie, lost their dads. Bob and Jim were influential people in his life growing up and they treated Ryan just like a son. Jim would call Ryan on his birthday and from time to time and was the mastermind behind the rebuilding of Ryan’s M tractor. I’m so glad he was able to do this project with him a few years back.
Career things
Ryan got the opportunity to be a loaned executive for United Way for three months late this year. What’s exactly a loaned executive? Ryan technically stayed a Corteva employee with his wages paid by his employer but he spent those three months working on the United Way of Central Iowa’s giving campaign. He met with various employers while also having the opportunity to volunteer at organizations, like the food bank, that benefit from UW giving. It was a great experience for him and one that reminded us both how fortunate we are in our lives. Now, back in his role, he did have a slight shift in territories, covering more of the south now vs. the north (MN, WI, Dakotas).
As for me, work hasn’t changed much. I often get asked by people when I tell them I’m fully remote if I like it. And, for the most part, my answer is yes. I think my role being so active with no shortage of things to do keeps me engaged. Zoom meetings make things easier and many people on campus participate in these even when in the office! I typically travel to Cedar Falls once a month to see everyone in the flesh :)
Anna things.
To end the recap, here’s some photos of Anna doing her thing — eating popcorn, watching TV, snuggling with us, running around, playing with her toys, reading books, dancing and enjoying life!
