12-31-25

 

Reflecting on my 2025 goals.

My 2025 word was NEW, for a new role at work, a new grandbaby, and new adventures. Explore and take in new things, establish stronger friendships and new rhythms, and experience health and movement through a new lens.

Most of the year I slept better, so the HR project testing role seems like a good fit even if it is still chaos.  We prioritized spending time with Poppy, had a lot of successes loving on her and helping her parents out.  New adventures, maybe.

Mini goals were trying new local restaurants, reading less books to make time for more movies, and investing more in friendships and hanging out with others.  We tried at least a dozen new to us downtown restaurants, some with a new “supper club” group at church trying to explore Belltown eateries.  Read a lot fewer books, 40 instead of normal of 60+.  Saw close to 40 movies, including more at the SIFF film festival.  We took in new and traditional outings, alone and with friends or family, joined a new small group and finance group, but can always use more community.

Health is slightly better but not transformed.  Leaned into WHOOP, diving into the detailed lab testing, more zone 2 and zone 4 work, more strength training, and more yoga.  Feeling better but not yet where I want to be.  Grateful I didn’t gain weight over the holidays and that I ended the year a few pounds lighter.

This necklace, representing NEW and Poppy girl, has been with me for a year.  It will feel odd to hang it with the others that came before it.  And more to something different since my normal Etsy artist is on maternity leave. Here’s to all things new!

12-30-25

 

Showing Poppy the Mt Rainier display at Wild Laterns.  Great weather, great art, great company.

12-29-25

 Poppy and Isaac had a playdate at Children's Museum.  A series of fun floor times.

12-28-25

 

Quiet Sunday morning with our coffee, the newspaper, decorations, and no big plans.

12-27-25

Torn on whether to tear down Christmas or not, since we still have more Christmas to go, but not here.  Sabbath hits different when all week is a Sabbath of sorts with no work, less routines, more time and energy.

12-26-25

December 26th.  Some after Christmas shopping, a play, enjoying the slower pace.

12-25-25

Merry Christmas morning with little bedhead who spent the night at the ER with her fever.  Even as a fusspot she is a joy to watch.

12-24-25

 

Christmas Eve downtown.

12-23-25

Adventure south with the kid and grandkid to do a little shopping and drop of some gifts with Carasas.  First inkling that little P may not be up for the holiday bustle.

12-22-25

PTO... deep breath, two weeks with no alarm clocks.  A chance to slow down and catch up and regroup.  And not get too latched on to plans, as they are always shifting.  First stop, Target.

12-21-25

A festive morning at church, Isabelle and I rocking our Christmas sweaters.

12-20-25

Out with friends tonight.  A drag burlesque show that was a whole lot of fun.

12-19-25

 

Our flock of birds from Target through the years - Bruce, Michele, Anastasia, Jacob, Poppy, Xander, and Alison.  Poppy always makes a beeline for her bright pink one.

12-18-25

Poppy likes the snowflakes on her big drum table up on the roof.  Thursday night babysitting is a highlight of the week.
 

12-17-25

Christmas building party tonight.  Hot cocoa bar, pizza, photos, cookie decorating, and loads of cookies to sample.

12-16-25

 

Our small group, or Table Group enjoyed dinner and games on the roof tonight.

12-15-25

 The rooftop is only partially decorated but it is still magical.  I can't imagine decorating so many trees.

12-14-25

 Yep, Poppy, we are on some sort of bug.  We explored the Pacific Science Center and Seattle Childrens Museum today.

12-13-25

Cookie baking day.  Lots of activity in the kitchen, lots of people to entertain Poppy, lots of flat cookies, lots of love and fun. 

12-12-25

 Been enjoying my tea advent calendar, trying new flavors of tree.

12-11-25

Thursday night and no visit from Poppy.  But who will crack more heads off my thrift store nativity?!?

12-10-25

Since moving to Seattle several years ago, the holiday gift from Weyerhauser have been fleece wear or Stanley cups.  This year  I roll up to HR and got a treat stack instead.

12-09-25

 

Weyerheauser tree on the 8th floor at work.  It is a festival of trees tree customized for WY.

12-08-25

Bruce suprised me, and early, with a hydroponic garden for Christmas.  Will be fun to grow our own salad.  So far I am really enjoying the super bright light.

12-07-25

 

Took some photos of the apartment today to use as a Christmas backdrop at work.

12-06-25

 

Figgy Puddy carolling contest with the family.  A few Ukrainian groups this year.

12-05-25

 

Off to West Seattle for a magnificnet night of theater.

12-04-25

 

Poppy is enjoying our tree one ornament at a time.

02-03-25

 The Christmas birds: Bruce, Michele, Anastasia, Jacob, Poppy, Xander, Alison.

12-02-25

 Metro has some new holiday cheer.

12-01-25

 Look who Grandma's got for book club!  Photo credits to Grunkle.

11-30-25

 

Early admission to the aquarium for photos with diving Santa.

11-29-25

Lovely concert at the Pike Place Market tree lighting ceremony.  Yes, back to back tree lighting ceremonies a few blocks from each ohter is a thing.
 

11-28-25

 Torrent hockey game then the tree lighting ceremony at Westlake.  Blending new and old traditions.

11-27-25

 

Poppy's first Thansgiving.  She loved corn, cranberry sauce not so much.  Mashed potatoes were fun to play with but meh to eat.

11-26-25

Spent the day baking and icing shortbread cookies.  Learned a lot.

11-25-25

Tuesday night out with Poppy girl, this time at Taco Time.  She is imitating my game of peek a boo with the napkin. 

11-24-25

 

Finally remembered to a take a photo on a Monday! It is a silly photo, but a slice of life with Monday night dinner out with Mom after our walk.

11-23-25

Sunday evening ritual.  A drink, a book, a soak in the tub.  Enjoying my chai bath product.  And really loving that I don't work tomorrow.

11-22-25

A lovely evening with Xander and Alison at Festival of Trees, and a great photo for a small donation to the Children's Hospital.

11-21-25

 Fridays and Mondays are for banana walks!

11-20-25

 Took Poppy to Wendy's tonight.  She was good as gold and liked the french fries too.

11-19-25

Did a quick tour of the Grand Central block across from the WY HQ building.  It has been years since I have been there, and only ever to the Grand Central restuarant, I had no idea it was such a big building.  So much goegeous brick!

11-18-25

 Loving the new scooter parking artwork.  Not loving the bikes, gliders, and scooters on the sidewalk.

11-16-25

Apple donut from VooDoo.  The icing was so thick, but the apple filling was really yummy. 

11-15-25

 

Adoration House prayer room during the Coastline winter retreat.

11-14-25

 

Poppy will not give up on playing with my barely alive potted plants (some of which I got from Julia when Levon was younger and would not give up on playing with her potted plants) so I repurposed the plant corner into a critter corner.  

She isn't a huge fan of stuffed animals, but her face lights up when she sees their faces.

11-13-25

Poppy time!  Teeting cracker is a big hit but also a big mess.  Poppy is great at big messes, she tears through our apartment exploring and moving everything.

11-12-25

Walking home in the dreary dark after an extra long day, and behold, it is grocery day!  Their pink vans make me happy, they are pepto perfection.

11-11-25

 The potato chip rice krispy treats I made for co-workers are a hit.  So many snacks during on-site weeks...