Nathalieland - Year In Review

So 2021 looked a lot more like 2020 than we would have liked! Online learning, social distancing, masks, no out-of-province travel, and no end to the pandemic in sight. Vaccines over the summer allowed for some return to normal, but it's the end of the year and we have more active COVID cases in our area than ever before.

That being said, we've been very fortunate with our health, family, and security throughout the year. We've spent a lot of time together, enjoying the little things (like family games, nature documentaries, walks around the neighbourhood, good food, lots of books, music, and regular exercise). Here are some of our highlights from 2021:

In January we were in the middle of a lockdown, so the girls continued with online learning and we found plenty of things to do at home. My blog turned 11 years old!

We had an outdoor family gathering in February -- on a frozen lake! I started blogging about my scroll saw projects and the girls got into skating. Thankfully the stay-at-home order was lifted, so we celebrated Family Day and Grand-Papa's birthday together. 

March was a little different than usual: heightened restrictions led to us having early birthday celebrations and no March Break. I still had a wonderful birthday and apparently I did a lot of scroll sawing!

April was a lot busier! It started with a fun Easter holiday that included chocolate and rollerblades. We made big changes to our vegetable gardens to keep the rabbits out and the girls got an April Break from school instead of March Break. The rollerblades were such a big hit that we all got some and went on daily strolls. I made some really cool shadow boxes with my scroll saw, which got me thinking about trying to sell some...

The best parts of May were Mother's Day, swimming in our neighbour's pool, and Jessi turning 10!

June was full of excitement: we got our first dose of the vaccine against COVID-19, I launched my website, www.paulpieces.com, to sell some of my scroll saw items, and the kids tried canoeing for the first time at Grammy's cottage. Not to mention Father's Day and the last day of school. Love!

In July we visited the Kingston Mills Locks and my sister's campsite at Charleston Lake. Our pet guinea pigs turned 3 and I blogged about our successful garden harvests.

This August we made two road trips to visit family and friends: first to Petawawa then to Cambridge/Kitchener. We got a bird's eye view of baby birds (pun intended!) from hatching to leaving the nest. Steve and I celebrated 13 years of marriage and Emily turned 12!

Emily and Jessi were excited to go back to school in September. Grand-Maman's birthday gift was a two-night stay at Snug Harbour, which was fun for all. At the end of the month, the girls took their friends to the Corn Maze and I became a treadmill owner (and avid user!).

October started with a trip to the Toronto Zoo. Thanksgiving was celebrated with both sides of the family and included a third visit at the cottage. The month ended like it always does: Daddy's birthday and Halloween!

In November we checked out the new Boiler Room Climbing Gym and liked it so much that we invested in a family membership. We sadly said goodbye to our pet fish, Lil Click, and I finished learning German on Duolingo with a 1000-day streak. Emily painted a rainbow on her wall and we started decorating for Christmas.

December was (yet again) quiet but filled with Christmas cheer. We had to postpone our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day gatherings, but managed to see my parents on Boxing Day (which included belated stockings!) and Steve's family yesterday.

Who knows what 2022 will bring? An end to the pandemic? Travel to see our faraway friends and family? Continued health, happiness, and gratitude? We sure hope so.

Happy New Year from Nathalieland!