A Look Back at 2024

On By Erin @ Cracker Crumb LifeIn Uncategorized

Hello everyone! I apologize in advance for what may end up being a very rambly, disorganized post.

This year, I made some much needed changes. First of all, I decided I was not going to let my anxiety run my life anymore, and found a good therapist who worked for me and also a prescription that helps as well. At the beginning of the year, I was in a very terrible headspace, and by the end of January I knew something had to change. So, I did. It wasn’t easy but I am so much better now, and I feel like I have my muchness back!

Once that was all out of the way, I hit the year running. I knew I wanted to build community for my boy, that was of great importance to me. And I wanted to build a community for myself as well. Our lives can be rather isolated, with homeschooling and also the degree of difficulty we began to have just leaving the house as Wyatt grew and it was harder for me to carry him outside. That was my next task, building friendships and community everywhere. I sooo appreciate all the friends I have made on my blog; you guys don’t know it, but your comments make my day a lot of times. I have many quiet days and it is so good to just chat with you all on here – and I am very much looking forward to the zoom crafting afternoons in January and February. Thank you so much for being part of my community!

We are regulars at the library, and everyone there knows Wyatt and he is getting to know them all as well. I consider them very much a part of our community. I also try to shop at the same local stores often, and the people at these stores know Wyatt, and he knows them. The woman who works at our local fish store is always so friendly and kind to Wyatt when we stop in – and usually pick something up to bring home with us – to the point where she wanted us to come back after Halloween to show her photos of Wyatt in his costume. He loves the woman who cuts his hair, who is also a neighbor, and we also go to the same pizza place every Friday, where he feels completely at home.

However, one of the biggest things I did to build community for Wyatt was start our Cub Scout pack. I am not going to lie, starting it from scratch was really difficult! I had no idea when I started how much bureaucracy went into it all, all the forms and committees and meetings and hoops to jump through to get it started. But I persevered and my friends did right along with me, getting this pack off the ground, because it is was so important to me to get this started for our kids. I am proud of myself guys! And we have reconnected with old friends from preschool, and even Wyatt’s old preschool teacher. Wyatt absolutely loves going to meetings and we have some really cool field trips lined up for January and February!

We did some pretty cool things as a family this year. Small things, but good things.

We visited some cool independent book stores and ate at a few new restaurants!

We had some new experiences and revisited some old ones we enjoyed too. Winter lights at the zoo, a train ride in a vintage domed car, seeing some very famous (and cool) works of art in person. Wyatt and I went to see the Wild Kratts and the Halloween lights at the zoo, Wyatt went back to RicStar Music Camp, Billy was in an art show. Wyatt bowled for the first time, got the fish tank (and a few more) that he wanted, and attended his first baseball game. We also went to a dark sky park for Wyatt’s birthday and it was a moment I won’t forget.

Wyatt has been working hard on walking, and Billy and our friends and family built a ramp that so many people donated to, that I was overcome.

This year I also decided I was going to make myself feel better about myself. Lol. I was just feeling so grungy all the time. So, slowly but surely, I started to increase my skin care routine, step by step and product by product. I had to learn what I was doing in part, because forever and a day I was a wash my face with whatever and move on kind of person. So having a multi-step process was new and I have enjoyed it. I also – gasp!- added makeup to my repertoire. I don’t usually do that either! I splurged on some Blur cream, mascara, and lipstick (Kylie Jenner brand. You should have seen this fish out of water at Ulta.) and I am enjoying this newness as well. I don’t do it everyday but if I am leaving the house I do. I love the lipstick the most. I learned that during the World War II, women wore red lipstick because Hitler hated all makeup, so it was like a subtle fight against fascism. So red lips for me!

I also indulged my creative side quite a bit this year, which has also been fun. My stepmom made me a jewlery-making kit at Christmas which I am super excited to start, and I am working on my embroidery all the time. I have also been painting some, when Wyatt does. I am not great at that, but I enjoy it nonetheless. Because it is not about being good, it is about having fun.

Overall, it was a year. It had its ups and downs, like any year, but we definitely made some great memories together.

Thank you again for hanging out around here with me!

28 thoughts on “A Look Back at 2024”

  2. Joanne's avatar Joanne

    It really has been such a great year of accomplishments when you realize all you’ve been able to do! The cub scout troop sounds like so much fun and I am sure the work was well worth it. And I know how life changing that ramp has been for you all. Wishing you all the best in 2025 too.

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    1. Thank you Joanne!! The Cub Scout troop was such a pain to set up but it was definitely worth it. Every time I felt discouraged I would just think of Wyatt and the other kids and was like nope, I can do this! The ramp – it’s been so amazing. I can’t wait for spring and Wyatt can go outside more! Finally!!!

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  6. marsha57's avatar marsha57

    I don’t know if I discovered you and your blog this year or last, but it is one of my favorites! I’m so glad Wyatt got his ramp…what a wonderful spring he will have as you plant things. You should be so proud of yourself for organizing the Scout pack. I was a Brownie leader for a few years, and that was hard enough. I didn’t have to start from scratch, though. I can’t wait for our crafternoons. I’m going to have to figure out what to do so I can talk and craft at the same time!

    https://marshainthemiddle.com/

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    1. Aw thank you Marsha! I love catching up with you too! I can’t wait for spring this year, and for Wyatt to be able to just go outside. It became such a struggle for us that we just didn’t go outside anymore, unless it was the front porch. So it will be so nice to go outside again! I was so overwhelmed with everyone’s generosity in donating to it; I will be forever grateful.

      And thank you. That scout thing – I really couldn’t believe how much they required. Lol. But it was so worth it for my little scout pack. I am so excited for Wyatt to have new experiences with them all. And I love that you were a Brownie leader!

      I am excited as well!!

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  7. Wow, it sounds like you really had a bounce-back kind of year, with your mental health, taking charge of your life, and building community through positive activities. And I didn’t realize how much progress Wyatt had made over the past year because we’ve only been chatting for a few months, but whoa! What a year for you both. I love that you decided to list out all the positive aspects of the last year like this. And here’s to a better 2025 for all of us!

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    1. It was definitely a rebuilding year for us! 2023 was a really rough year, for Wyatt’s health which led to some issues for me with my mental health, and then poor Billy juggling it all. This year thank goodness and by the grace of God has been better. And I just felt so much better, and I wanted to get these things done for Wyatt.

      Wyatt has kicked butt this year. We started with Lokomat, a robot type thing to help him walk, he then used a gait trainer, and he has moved on to a walker with some support, although at short distances. I am so proud of him!

      I have enjoyed getting to know you this year, with our convos on here!

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  9. What a great year! I am so happy for you in getting the scout troop organized. It is such a wonderful experience for boys and girls. I too have been trying to put a little more time on me. I feel like I have sort of let myself go this year and I want to get me back. Happy New Year to you and your family!!!!

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  10. I’m so glad you’re taking care of yourself in all the ways. I wear makeup pretty much every day – not because I feel like I need it but because I really enjoy sitting down for 10 minutes and putting it on my face! I also am a big fan of skincare and haircare for the same reason. I love and am so impressed with how you’ve organized the Scouts troop and all the fun you’ve gotten into this year! Happy New Year!

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  12. I hadn’t quite gathered that the Scouts thing was an attempt to build community so well done you – I can only imagine the admin as parkrun can be an admin nightmare and I didn’t even set ours up from scratch! Well done for all you’ve achieved this year, and I’ve loved seeing the year through your eyes.

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  14. I discovered you late in the year, but I’ve been so happy to have stumbled upon and joined your little corner of the interwebz ❤ What a beautiful look back on a lovely year – so many good things and memories! 🙂

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