The 2010s: Looking Back on a Decade
Originally when I began thinking about writing this post I thought I’d select posts from each year but that is proving to be a task because I am not one for brevity—all of my posts bring back a lot of memories and I think back about everything that occurred this decade and I want to share it all! So, I think I’ll go for a short photo series that encompasses the highlights, some good, some bad, some sad. Here’s my 2000-2009 In Review if you’d like to peruse that old post!
2010
The decade started off with my baby niece Ashleigh being born at 26 weeks gestation at the end of January. What a wallop of a way to start the New Year but we were thankful at that time that mother and baby were managing to do ok. I was still in Florida at the time of her birth and we’d leave a few weeks later for Texas where I would finally get to meet her through her incubator. Sadly, I would never get to spend quality aunt time with her as she passed away on May 4th later that year. Chris, my dad (who’d come out to hike on the AT with us), and I flew back for her funeral. Gut punch. 10 years later and that’s still hard to write about. I can’t even fathom what my brother and sister in law even feel.
We started the Appalachian Trail….
And we finished the Appalachian Trail! I still think about the trail weekly and sometimes daily.
2011
We started the Florida Trail…
We finished the Florida Trail!
We spent a few months in Beaumont Unit of the Big Thicket doing field work.
Then we settled into a rental house where I got a job that I am still at today.
My nephew Grayson was born!
With our friends Patrice and Justin, we summitted Guadalupe Peak, the tallest mountain in Texas, at Thanksgiving.
2012
Our garden at the community garden was very fruitful.
We hiked the Eagle Rock Loop in Arkansas with my brother and dad and some of their Scouting friends.
My Grandad passed away a few days after I took this photo in June.
We moved into our house at the end of June!
And then had our first of many floods—even in a state wide drought!
We tackled Aasgard Pass and the Enchantments for our 10 year anniversary trip! Ah, what a great hike—highly recommend!
2013
We started the garden…
Got our first round of bees…
Traveled to Arkansas for a vacation with my family
My grandmother passed away, leaving me grandparent-less.
We attempted and failed to hike the Northeast Texas Trail.
I was pregnant in December of 2013 with Forest! I suspected in this photo but hadn’t taken a test yet.
2014
Forest went on his first swamp walk in utero
There were baby showers…
And a baby!
Eh, the rest of that year was all about baby!
Best of 2014 — this is the last year I did a year in review! Err, just kidding, found one from 2018.
2015
Forest went on his first long hike in Sam Houston — 8 miles while strapped to my front.
And had his first camping trip at Bastrop State Park later that spring.
And his first trip to the beach!
And his first trip around the sun!
Another kid centric year!
2016
More outside adventures
And plenty of toddlering…
Turning 2 at the beach.
I crocheted something!
Eh, what can I say, the tail end of this decade is very kid centric!
2016 also saw the worst flood we have had and I hope we never see that again.
2017
I got the gardening groove again, aided by a growing kid who could play more independently.
A trip to the Bolivar lighthouse.
A helpful gardener
Raising monarchs for the first time.
And successfully growing pumpkins!
Turning three!
And a bizarre December snow!
2018
Ending an era and sold all of our cloth diapers.
Luna moths…
On our second backpacking trip with Forest.
Reunited with Eliana once again!
And Forest’s first steps on the Florida Trail.
Took Forest down Juniper Run in Ocala National Forest.
Survived a trip to The Mouse.
A friend reunion in Austin.
Four!
The Davis Mountains for Thanksgiving!
2019
Exploring Inks Lake State Park
Seeing the Sam Houston and not by driving by it on I-45.
Forest’s first dance recital.
Van Gogh exhibit!
Alaska!!! The best of 2019.
First major citrus harvest at the house!
Lots of things I didn’t mention in the post and many things I just never wrote about here to begin with—it was a wild ride, 2010s! We’re not kicking off another decade with a long hike but I hope we have some great adventures between now and 2030!
Happy New Year, friends!
One Comment
Patrice La Vigne
So many life changes for you in the last decade!!! This is what I love about blogs, looking back & reminiscing. I know you will have so many fun adventures this new decade shaping Forest into an outdoorsman (I predict). He will be a teenager at the end of it!! Crazy to think about!!