twosmallcones

Just days into 2022, I swore to myself that I’d update our blog more – a resolution of sorts. First post of the 2022 year and it’s already 2023. Is it just me, or did 2022 fly by?

From my last post published (Arco’s Third Birthday) until now, a tremendous amount has happened. Adventures of all shapes, sizes, and colors have unfolded; however, the most notable ones included sharing sweet moments with family, friends and loved ones, perfecting our favorite outdoor experiences, growing in our professions, and house renovations.

To start, Arco is a driven five-year-old and loves adventure. He can ski down the mountain without Poppa support (in fact, he’s already a better skier than me, and he rivals Ethan’s skiing ability). He is proficient in riding his pedal machine all around town, and he’s eager to learn the lessons of skateboarding. He is extremely interested in writing words, and has a memory like a steel trap. He can spell his name, our names, and Chossy’s too, and he is eager to write his numbers. He’s intuitively good at everything, including fishing, which he’s obsessed with. He caught his first rainbow trout at Hayspur Hatchery on his first cast, and has since done the same at Penny Lake in Ketchum and Brown’s Pond in McCall. He’s a sucker for a good book and tall tale, loves to listen to stories, make-believe or otherwise, and can accomplish anything he sets his mind too. He’ll be reading before I blink next, and he’s a natural learner – constantly questioning how things work, and always intrigued by his surroundings, new places, new people, and new experiences.

Then, there’s Ramey Dude. Ramey creates his own adventures. He loves brother Arco, and will mimic any mannerism, saying, or story Arco shares. He loves the water, music, and dancing more than anyone I’ve ever met. His spirited personality and courage has him almost swimming laps, skiing, climbing, and engaging in any other hobby without hesitation. Mountain biking at the local pump track, gardening with sharp tools, playing construction site with real nails, screws, and hammers, or sawing logs with a mini saw are some of his go-tos. Like Arco, he too loves to read, spend his days camping, pretend cooking, and digging in the dirt. Let him out of your site though and he’ll be sure to ruin something – he’ll pop your brand new outdoor pool with a meat thermometer, color the walls with marker, spread his cocoa smoothie across the deck because it “feels good”, chase Chossy with the vacuum, rip your favorite book to shreds, hit his head on something hard, and request to play with the scissors.. But then, he smiles and it’s the sweetest.

Ethan crushes life. Be it work, hobbies, chores, hunting, new adventures and endeavors, family or friends, he’s a true inspiration. Goals to him are like warm chocolate chip cookies for me – motivating, sweet, satisfying, easy to whip up, and easier to eat through. In 2022, E truly immersed himself into ultra running. He set a goal of running his first 100-mile race, and in early June, he crossed the finish line of the Scout Mountain Ultra. He finished in an unbelievably good time, a finishing time that I can only dream of. He enjoyed it so much, he signed up to run the Bigfoot 200 Ultra this year (yes, a 200-mile race).

In 2022, Ethan also transitioned from his arborist summer gig to working for the National Avalanche Center (NAC). While a dramatic shift from the physically laborious arborist schedule, working with the NAC has him furthering his career professionally in the scientific field of snow. This more flexible, research-based, work-from-home-schedule is the chocolate chip in my cookie – really good stuff!

I, too, have made strides in my personal passions and professional career this last year. I began running more – a lot more. The simple act of running has helped me process the deep grief inherent after losing loved ones. Running too, has been a way to rediscover myself and life without my mom and younger brother. It has been my therapy. Moving for hours at a time, accepting vulnerability and pain, embracing the mix of emotions that death evokes, and pushing beyond my mental and physical capabilities has been balanced by poignance and reflection. I trained for 16 weeks and ran my first ultra in April, the Spitfire 55K. This 35 mile race took me up, over, around, and down the Menan Buttes of southeast Idaho, twice. I finished in eight hours and fifty-seven minutes, three minutes from the cutoff time. On all accounts, it was demanding and emotional, but exhilarating too. I reflect often on the experience, memories, and moments; a process I’ll never forget and a path I hope to continue well into 2023.

April proved to be a big month for me. Before crossing the finish line of my first ultra, I was promoted within my organization – moving from City Planner to Community Development Director with the City of Hailey. While familiar with the duties and responsibilities of this new-to-me position, growing into it has been the theme of the last year. This professional shift has been incredibly gratifying, challenging, and one that I hope to continue to blossom in. It’s a sure way to represent the community I love, and the city I hope to be able to serve for many more years to come.

House renovations were also part of our adventure equation in 2022. We remodeled our 30-year-old kitchen by adding new flooring and lighting, new appliances and countertops, new tile backsplash, cabinet paint, and fancy hardware. We celebrated our newly remodeled kitchen by having our paver patio in the backyard redone, went from a green house to a deep purple one, and replanted all flower beds in the front yard. We hope to carry this home-improvement momentum forward into 2023. Plans include an insulated garage, a new office space for Ethan, and dare I say it, a second bathroom?

While only a brief summary of our year, it was a good one. Our adventures for this new year are still unfolding, but we’re certain it too will be one for the books – chock full of our favorite people, experiences, and meaningful life lessons.