30 Years Together?! (w05)

Last week I was late. This week, I’m early.

Tomorrow, we have a family date to play pickleball. So, I decided to get the blog post up today since I know I will not have the energy between dinner and two hours of pickleball after work.

By the way, this will be the first time any of us have ever played. Well, maybe not The Husband. I’m not one for team sports, but when the opportunity presented itself, I thought it would be a nice way to spend time together as a family and get the kids off their computers.

Dating Anniversary

Anyway, this past weekend was pretty special. The Husband and I celebrated 30 years together!

I can’t ponder that number for too long because it feels overwhelming and impossible. When I reminisce, I’m taken back by all the life we have experienced together. We truly are each others’ “person,” and I am grateful every day for his companionship.

We have literally grown up together! When we met, I was 18 and he was 19. For Pete’s sake, WE HAVE A 19-YEAR-OLD SON! What a head trip that is!

I can’t even even. lol

We decided to spend the weekend in Gettysburg to celebrate. It was just far enough away to get away but not too far since we only had Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday morning.

Here are some photos from Saturday.

It was the perfect little getaway to just spend some time together and exist.

We stayed at Hickory Bridge Farm, which I highly recommend! The cottage was exactly what we were looking for—a comfy room, fireplace, and disconnection. We didn’t even have cable. We watched old DVDs and enjoyed the quiet.

Their breakfast was terrific, too. It was served family style. We met our “neighbors” and enjoyed talking with them over warm peaches, oatmeal, and scrambled eggs. They said they come to this bed and breakfast multiple times a year. That’s how much they like it!

The Gettysburg National Military Park was a great experience! The museum was well-designed, and we used the NPC app to take the self-guided auto tour of the battlefield. Then, we enjoyed dinner at Mason Dixon Distillery, which I would also recommend!

We had such a good time that we decided to do something similar for our 24th wedding anniversary in April. So, if you have any recommendations for a fun bed and breakfast in a smallish town, I’m all ears!

Family Dinners

We returned home a little after lunchtime on Sunday, and both boys were still alive. They even cleaned up the house!

Then we brainstormed dinners for the week, and The Husband and I went grocery shopping.

I tend to take over dinner duties and then get angry because I end up making dinner every night. So, I’m doing my best to get everyone involved in some capacity.

It’s kind of working. I’m still the ringleader, of course, but they are all more involved, and the kids have been doing a great job of picking a meal and taking the lead. Especially the 19-Year-Old who will be making us fried chicken sandwiches on Thursday! That was his choice. He has a recipe from Nick DiGiovanni that he likes.

Last Thursday, we made Pork Loin with Fig Sauce, roasted potatoes, and bacon green beans. Also, his choice!

He’s my foodie-kid, and I absolutely love it. The other one still needs a little work, but he’s progressing.

Hobbie Updates

I did get a little painting in this past week.

Yet another @andrea.nelson.art tutorial. Her ideas are so much fun and low-stakes. I can’t help myself!

This was her “I love you a latte,” but I added a tea bag to mine since I don’t drink coffee. So I guess mine could be “You’re Tea-rrific”!

I don’t have an updated photo of Doughbra, but she’s doing great! If she’s ready, I may try to bake my first loaf of sourdough bread this weekend!

I may also make some homemade ravioli as an experiment because next week, I’m hosting a Valentine’s Day dinner party, and I have a few ideas I want to try before cooking for others. I’m thinking heart-shaped beet ravioli is in order.

Training Update

I am back to Olympic Lifting training! I still have a minor glitch in my lower back, right side. I think it’s my SI joint, but it doesn’t bother me when I’m lifting. Only when I’m sitting, which is odd.

My current training cycle combines Olympic lifting, strength training, and conditioning. I’ve focused solely on Olympic lifting for the past year and a half, but I was getting burnt out mentally and physically. So, I decided it was time for a change.

Once I decide what competition I will train for, I’ll focus on my lifts more, but for now, I’m enjoying the variety. You can see my training here. By the way, I started tracking my weights in kilos since we have new kilogram plates at the gym, and that’s what they use at competitions. It’s taking a little time to get used to it.

2025 Goal Check-in

I love reviewing this every week. It is really helping me keep my goals top of mind!

1. Blog Weekly.
   • so far… ✔️
2. Paint More. Don’t overthink it.
   • so far…✔️
3. Make a new handmade pasta monthly.
   • Jan ✔️ ✔️
4. Hike at least twice a month.
   • Jan ✔️
   • Feb (planning on going this weekend)
5. Perform one unassisted dip.
   • Training! Down to the blue band.
6. Perform five strict pull-ups.
   • Training!
7. Handstand walk.
   • Training!
8. Take at least three yoga classes a month.
   • Jan ✔️
   • Feb (planning on going this weekend!)
9. Make homemade sourdough bread.
   • Doughbra is being fed!
10. Take the kids to Iceland (planning is in the works!).
    • no progress
11. Fix the holes in my house (long story, lots of plumbing issues this year).
    • The 19-Year-Old is tackling the hole in the ceiling this weekend!
12. Continue my Spanish Streak on Duolingo (I’m on day 1,231!!).
    • so far…✔️ day 1264!
13. Take a Spanish class in person.
    • I am registered! I thought class started 1/27, but it starts 2/27… so yea. Shit still not together. lol
14. Plan something special for The Husband’s 50th birthday!
    • no progress
15. Snatch 125lbs.
    • Training underway!
16. Compete in at least one weightlifting meet.
    • no progress
17. Walk a minimum of a half-mile daily with Marsh and, preferably, with the Husband, but I can’t base my goal on him.
    • 32/35 days so far this year.
18. Track my movie-watching on Letterboxd.
    • so far…✔️ – Click here to see!
19. Keep my citrus trees alive! (I have a lemon and a lime tree I named Laverne and Shirley. Laverne is not doing too well after a disastrous root rot issue this fall, but we are doing our best.)
    • so far…✔️They are doing okay. I think Shirley is losing leaves, and I’m distraught.
20. Host an extended family dinner monthly.
    • Jan ✔️
    • Feb – I just texted some dates to see if they are free. Yay for the blog keeping me accountable!
21. Clean out and organize my closet and drawers.
    • no progress.
22. Thrift more and purchase no brand-new clothes.
    • so far…✔️
23. Take daily supplements more consistently.
    • so far…✔️ keyword “more,” I’ve missed a few days
24. Reduce alcohol consumption to once or twice a month.
    • Jan ❌ 1/18, 1/23, 1/31 (close!)
    • Feb 2/1
25. Cook one new recipe/dish a month.
    • Jan ✔️
      • (Spiced Rubbed Pork, Honey Soy Glazed Cod, Italian Bread!)
    • Feb
      • (Thai Peanut Sauce – making tonight to drizzle over seared tuna!)