Writing has blocks. That is what they say. There are these things called writers blocks and for me, it has been one that has lasted for nearly 3 years. It isn’t that I have nothing to share, it is that this space, my safe space, the literal space that I own here, became a space of necessity instead of respite. I started having deadlines and needed to constantly be creative to keep up and it just became daunting instead of joyful.
When I did finally want to share something, I was behind on sharing 18 other things and then, well, it’s been 3 years. Now I have written a few things here and there (like this quick 6 month recap of the first part of 2024), however, I still felt so far behind and truly part of what keeps me sane is just sharing our life. I have this grand idea to go back to the beginning of when that writers block started and start just writing our stories. I know that I am truly the only one that looks back on it, but it is so therapeutic for me and something I think would help me get through a bit of this block. We will just have to see, but for now, here is a rundown of the last 6 months with the Funks.
June
Although summer flew by, June had a slower pace. We were definitely home a lot more than we normally are and that made for some nice time enjoying our home, the last year of this stock tank pool and gardening.
We snuck in a little trip to the Bubble Planet exhibit, where I found a wet duck in this tub (yeah…kids are gross man) but we really enjoyed the whole experience.
We also got to preview the highly anticipated Inside Out 2 (read my full review here) and actually spent a lot of our summer and fall at the theaters. It was really nice to just hang out, see some films and relax.
I was so lucky this year to partner with the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and get to check out their awesome exhibits with my kids. Poison actually was lead by a friend of mine and it was the best time!
Our camper (we’ve affectionately called “Big Jack”) was back from the 9 month paint job, looking gorgeous as ever (also why is it so darn difficult to get work done on campers), and we squeezed in as many trips as we could. In Colorado, you need to start booking your camping trips by March, so finding a place was not always easy.
We spent Father’s Day at one of our favorite campground (Fort Collins KOA) trying out the new Solo Stove and these GCI Rocking chairs that Scheels so kindly donated to us. We are so truly lucky to partner with the brands and companies that we love.
July
My great uncle died a couple years ago and left my daddy a really special piece of land in the middle of nowhere. We were lucky enough to finally get to spend a week with them at the land and holy moly my entire soul felt great.
I love the mountains, I love glamping and I love just the peace and serenity of being, without expectation. My entire life is go go go and when I am forced to slow down, I can breath and I feel so wonderful. This trip was a great reminder of how incredibly important it is for me to reset and be in nature.
I stupidly purchased a fishing license and I say that because I do not like to actually CATCH fish. I like to see how far I can cast a line out and then reel it in just a quickly, but to do that, the law requires you to have a fishing license. Of course I caught a fish, I screamed, my entire family came running over to me and I was bawling by the time I got the fish in. Fish died, I did eat him.
We also spent 4th of July at the land with my parents and although fire danger was high we were able to have a tiny celebration of our own without actual fireworks (we did drive nearly an hour into town to see the ones that the fire department were putting on though). It was a perfect getaway and only a week later we were onto the next!
We camp each summer for a few nights at Jellystone in Larkspur. It sort of reminds me of the camp from Dirty Dancing for some silly reason which makes exactly zero sense because it’s just a campground with a waterpark. I took lots of pictures but we are with friends and I really dislike posting pictures of our friends children without permission, so here is the only photo of my two maniacs enjoying the ice cream and probably $70 basketball.
August
August came with huge changes in our lives. Our kids were ready to start middle school and high school and I was turning 40. We capped off the summer with a trip to Urban Air with my sister and nephew which is a place I truly wish was just a bit closer because my kids could spend hours running around here (yes even as teens).
The kids both wanted some fun hair to start the school year so the teen boy got a perm and the littlest dyed her hair purple. Big hits, but also that teen boy is 6 foot tall and looked like a senior.
Before we went back to school my teacher bestie and I saw WICKED live and it was amazing (peep the Glinda and Elphaba fits by accident). We had a whole ticket fiasco this year and were involved in a huge scam that was all over the news. Thankfully, the money was refunded to us and we were still able to go to the show, many others were not so lucky.
School started. The littlest was off to middle school and the teen boy was headed to high school with his mama. To be honest, I was terrified of this transition for all of us and now that we are through 1st semester I am feeling a bit better. It has truly been a great change for everyone.
Oh and did I mention that I turned 40…yeah. I was not making a big deal out of this day. I wasn’t dreading it, I was just overall, kinda busy with school and was keeping it low key. Jokes on me, my friends and family surprised and spoiled me for nearly an entire week. There were confetti cannons, surprise parties, homemade cakes, gambling and disney presents!
September
This school year has been better than last year, but still I am in a headspace around education that is not great. I love my students, I know I work in a great building, but I am telling you, I am so sick and tired of being exhausted from teaching. September was a lot of just exhaustion.
Oh and did I mention that I stepped back in the shower and put my heel through our primary bathroom shower floor. So that was cool because for the majority of the month, there were 4 of us sharing one bathroom.
We also took our final camping trip of the season up near Grand Lake and it was literally stunning. The fall colors were in full effect and the campground was empty yet the weather and company was perfection. Take me back.
October
The primary bathroom was FINALLY completed and honestly I am so dramatic about this because from start to finish it was just over 1 month and the bathroom is beautiful. It was exactly what I envisioned and thanks to my husband it was so far under budget.
We also had permanent lighting installed on our home. We have competed in our neighborhood holiday light contest for years and our roof is extremely dangerous. Like I have been on many roofs, this one is by far the worst, so we decided to install these lights and I love them so much. Lights year round for all the holidays and seasons!
October ended with Halloween (obviously), my kids did dress up but I literally do not have a single picture (I think my sister does) and the only one I have is of me dressed as a chicken which was part of our department halloween costume.
November
November was a blur, however, my best friends joined me for Hamilton and it was the best day ever! Neither had even seen the Disney+ showing so they were in for a serious awakening. I was worried we would have a baby before the show was over and we all left just on a Hamilton high.
We were also invited back to Gaylord Rockies for their incredible holiday festivities and I luckily was able to see my original blogging bestie! It was such a nice night with great company.
We ended November with a family getaway to Glenwood Springs where the Adventure Park hosted us and we had a ball. It was the best short family staycation with so much relaxing and we felt so incredibly fortunate for this experience.
December
December came in like a wrecking ball, fast and furious. We went to our yearly (well sort of) Disney on Ice experience with these two nuts and it was probably top 5 of my favorite shows they have had. Makes me super excited for the next show in March.
We also were able to go to the Denver Zoo lights. Both Disney on Ice and the Zoo lights have been yearly traditions that we have NEVER missed since the companies have started them.
Christmas came and went and we were so so so fortunate. I realize just how lucky we are to be able to celebrate the way that we do. Christmas was big, everyone was spoiled and truly we are so blessed.
2024 was a whirlwind of a year and these are the highlights. There was so much more that happened and so much that I had to leave out. I hope in the next year I can break through my writers block and start sharing our memories again, just as this space was intended.
I hope you have had a moment to reflect on year and to relish in the blessings. Life is beautiful. Thank you for reading, supporting and sharing. Here is to 2025!
