2022 recap
It’s always amazing to me how much can be accomplished in a single year. I shared a lot of our 2022 highlights along the way, but I like having a yearly recap all in one place — they’re really fun to look back on!
JANUARY
Finch started seeing a functional neurologist and began eating gluten-free
We traveled to Minneapolis and visited the Ice Castles
I served on jury duty
We went snow tubing!
Eric and I heard Mia Hamm speak at a local event
Rooney was involved in volleyball, dance and softball
FEBRUARY
Eric and Rooney went to the Daddy Daughter Dance
Finch and I went to the Mother Son Dance
Eric went to Orlando for a work conference
Rooney celebrated her 10th birthday with friends at a hotel swimming pool
MARCH
Rooney turned 10
Eric turned 38
We went to Okoboji for a few days over spring break
I went on a weekend shopping trip with my friend Blake to Kansas City
APRIL
Finch started baseball
We celebrated Easter
Eric and I traveled to Arizona to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary
MAY
Rooney went to her first concert — Mat Kearney!
Eric and I went to the Needtobreathe concert with friends Jeff and Ashleigh
Rooney danced in her first dance recital
The kids had their last day of kindergarten and fourth grade
We went to Okoboji for Memorial Day Weekend and did our annual MS Walk
Our summer nanny, Abby, started!
JUNE
Eric bought a new vehicle!
We took our annual time capsule photo
We went to an I-Cubs game
Finch turned 7 and celebrated with a friend pool party
Finch took swimming lessons
We found out Finch needed glasses & vision therapy
Rooney went to basketball camp
Eric biked 208 miles to Okoboji (his favorite day of the year)
The kids went to overnight church camp for two nights
JULY
Eric and I both had our 20-year high school class reunions
The kids and I did Vacation Bible School
We enjoyed a weeklong family vacation in Okoboji
AUGUST
We visited the sunflower fields
Eric and I rode the Boone train
We went to Adventureland with friends
We went to our first NFL game — Vikings vs 49ers (preseason)
Finch started first grade and Rooney started fifth grade
Grotewold family reunion in Lake Mills
SEPTEMBER
We went to Kansas City for a USWNT soccer game as a family
School rollerskating party
Iowa vs Iowa State tailgate party with friends
Rooney joined the church’s children’s choir
Eric and I attended the Caldwell wedding (it had been several years since we had been to a wedding!)
I took birthday photos to celebrate turning 39
Homecoming parade and high school football games
OCTOBER
Birthday shopping with Blake in Ankeny
Finch started taekwondo
Eric and I celebrated 16 years of marriage!
Jester Park weekend with Eric’s family
Fall family photos at Ledges
Center Grove Orchard
Schitt’s Creek family Halloween costumes
NOVEMBER
Jen Hatmaker event with my mom and sister
Eric went to a Hawkeye football game
Rooney started volleyball
We celebrated Thanksgiving in Okoboji
DECEMBER
Finch had his first school music concert — with a speaking part!
Eric and I traveled to Puerto Vallarta
Rooney sang the national anthem at a high school basketball game with her school choir
Rooney had her first band concert
We celebrated Christmas with family
Traveled to Seaside, Florida, with my dad and siblings
What a wonderful year — here’s to hoping 2023 is just as great!