Funny to think, this time last year we were in the peak of unemployment/pseudo-early-retirement. It’s fair to say that 2017 did not turn out at ALL how I had anticipated, but I have achieved more personal growth in such a short amount of time then I ever have before as well. I always try to be intentional about major life decisions, but this last year has really taken me for a ride, I admit it. I am excited about 2018, despite the fact that I know I won’t be able to predict all the twists and turns.
On my end, I am planning on training and completing a one day, 24 mile hike through the Enchantment mountain range in Washington State this summer, in order to raise funds for Rescue:Freedom International, actively working in several countries to set women and children free from human trafficking. The funds I raise go directly to this great cause, and if you feel so inclined to donate, follow this link, and thank you very much!
https://rescuefreedom.kindful.com/freedom-hikers-2017/andreas-hike-for-freedom
I was also asked to teach two PE classes to a bunch of homeschoolers (another opportunity homeschooling Rylan has brought me), and Rylan and I have chosen to continue on the homeschooling path for ONE more year, unless by some miracle he gets into a really good charter school.
Rylan is doing well, and has already completed his full kindergarten curriculum, and is starting first grade math this week. He is also really into dinosaurs (as many young boys are), and right now is reading differing views on how they fit into history; creation vs. scientific theories. I am attempting to guide his way, yet still trying to let him form his own decisions. And, let’s be honest, I don’t know that much about dinosaurs anyway! We were both thrilled to learn today, for example, that Brontosaurus’s are a complete mistake, and are actually Apatosaurs, due to the original archeologist putting the wrong head on the skeleton at first!
Rylan also started piano lessons, and is taking a beginning Spanish class next week, so I think I’ll start learning that along with him as well.
Quinn is…two years old. Maybe I should just leave it at that, eh? I am anticipating age three to be much worse, but there is so much sass right now. On the upside, her most recent accomplishment is that she has potty trained herself. I know, maybe I should repeat: SHE POTTY TRAINED HERSELF. She told me the day after Christmas that she was ready to be done with diapers, and hasn’t looked back since. The times when she does want company in the bathroom, she wants Kevin. Score for me!
Our Christmas season was pretty enjoyable. We made a lot of cookies, went to the Botanical Garden’s Winter Garden Aglow, went downtown for the annual Holiday Parade, Santa, First Thursday, Model Train Set, cut down our own Christmas tree in the forest, went for winter hikes, etc. Really the list goes on, we kept ourselves busy.
As a family, our goals for this coming year of 2018 include some more traveling (Grand Canyon, anyone?) and hopefully finishing up our kitchen remodel! It’s not like we started it 7 months ago, right? Oh wait, we did!
Speaking of which, parts of remodeling any part of your house include some very loud noises. The kids only tolerate that part because they get to wear their “ear glubs”, as Quinn calls them. AKA, “ear gloves”, AKA noise cancelling ear muffs. Yep.
I think that’s all for now. My first post of the new year. Check!
Kingsbury Reports 