Year in Review : 2023
Another year gone by. We had some big highlights for the year in Paige’s wedding and all the festivities that went with it and Jess' and Casey’s pregnancy announcement. We’ll start the year off right with Baby Boy Dunning joining the Ruba Ranks in late January. We’re all very excited, especially Anna, who says she’s going to teach her little cousin everything she knows. Other than those events, we’ve filled our weekend time with family, friends and lots of activities with Anna. Finding happiness in the simple things in life is what we strive to do! Wishing you all a very happy new year ahead!
Winter
Anna going to the Science Center with cousin Jack
Minneapolis Trip with Nana and Papa (Great Wolfe Lodge, Mall of America, Uncle Nick’s)
Butchering weekend back in Remsen (Fun for Ryan … not so fun for Nana, Anna and me … Anna getting her head stuck at an indoor obstacle course and us three getting a bad stomach flu bug)
Ryan Ice Fishing Trip
Quick trip to Florida for Ryan’s work conference
Annual Bowling with Schnoes Family
Spring
Kansas Trip w/ Kara for Kelli’s 40th birthday
Easter fun at Living History Farms + Schnoes Family Easter celebration at Jill’s
Ruba annual April Birthdays Celebration
Anna’s first ISU football game (spring event)
Trip to Cedar Falls
Anna’s first birthday party (for friend Everett)
Paige’s Bridal Shower!
Dustin’s Birthday Party with Waldschmitt’s
Summer
Omaha Zoo with Nana
Bacoon Bike Ride for Ryan with Joe, Shannon and Dawn
Ruba Family Reunion
Paige’s Bachelorette Party
Fourth of July fun in Remsen
Minnesota Vacation with Schnoes Family
Pool Parties at Smarshes and McCartys
Swim lessons for Anna
Celebrating Anna’s fourth birthday in Des Moines — and finding out the Dunnings are expecting!
Mom-So-Hard show with Kara, Kaitlyn and Steph
Camping with Ganzers
Ryan’s Fishing Trip
Iowa State Fair
Fall
Anna’s first day of Pre-K at her daycare
Paige’s Wedding
Pumpkin Patch
Visit to Cedar Rapids
Vintage Market with Paige
McCartan Visit
Lake City Trip
Remsen for Harvest (although it rained so no harvesting)
Halloween
Jess and Casey’s Baby Shower
AMA Conference in Chicago
Iowa/Iowa State Game Day with Neighborhood
Thanksgiving
Disney on Ice
Progressive Holiday Neighborhood Party
Seeing Santa
Anna’s first Cyclone basketball game
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Other ongoing fun included family dinners and get-togethers with the Schnoes family, pedicures with Kara, dinners and lunches with Paige, Chick-fil-a trips with Anna, visits with Ron and Barb in Ames, occasional date nights, many park/playground stops, picnics, family dinners out, runs around the neighborhood (trail is currently under construction), and lazy weekend mornings.
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Ryan continues to travel for work in the winter and summer. Travels this year included Florida, Texas, South Dakota, California, Idaho and Indiana. I travel to Cedar Falls once a month to get human interaction in my role with my UNI coworkers. I’ve started to integrate overnight visits, which is nice because I then get to see my Cedar Falls friends and occasionally my sister!
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We don’t watch much TV but did stream this year: Lessons in Chemistry, Morning Show (in progress), Ted Lasso and Shrinking. (Feels like a lot once I put that in writing!) Ryan has read a lot of books and I’ve edited a lot of photos (haha). I’ve done a little freelance for Vivid (Cam and Kara’s company) this year as well, which has been nice.
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No house projects this year but we did upgrade my vehicle. The Pilot was acting up a little and with its low mileage, we decided it was time to trade it in. I honestly was looking forward to the safety features of a newer vehicle more than anything. Traffic here sometimes makes me nervous, especially because I don’t have to travel in it much so I’m rusty!