Today on the blog we are doing a look back; a Richmond family photographers 2020 recap. It feels like kind of a weird year to do that but it’s nice even in the midst of a crazy time to reflect on the things that are good.

So we started off the year pre-Covid kind of in a sort of quarantine already. We were new parents. Niles was just over a month old. So we were pretty much staying at home anyways. Actually quarantine started for the state of Virginia on the very day that I was supposed to return from maternity leave.

So we have been able to both be at home for the entirety of Niles his first year which is incredible. I honestly can’t believe he’s one already. It flew by so fast.. even though we were able to be there for every single moment it’s hard to believe it’s already been a year.

Beginning of the year we decided we were going to try to go on a date night once a month. And it started off well we went to Alewife in January and Michael surprised me with going to go see my favorite author Bob Goff in February. But then quarantine happened so that kind of stopped…

Then Covid hit. So basically this year has just been us quarantining to go to the beach quarantining to see family and repeating.

One of the biggest things that happened this year is that Laura went full-time. It’s crazy that we’ve both been able to be at home for Niles’ first full year of life. And this gave us the flexibility to retreat to the Outer Banks.

Probably one of the greatest blessings of 2020 is that my parents have that house in Duck, Outer Banks where we can go and spend some time while still feeling safe and quarantining. Got Niles in the pool, in the ocean, and he’s been so great at the beach he loves it now.

Richmond Family Photographers 2020 Recap – Michael’s top 3

What would you say are your top three moments of 2020?

I think I would’ve said going to the beach as much as we did.

I think another one that has to be listed as utensil-gate.  Oh my goodness y’all if you don’t know what this is go look at our Instagram highlights. But basically it sums up to everybody uses their fork and knife in a different way and it’s crazy to see the different things that people do when they’re eating.

And then I would have to say our chickens would be number three. The whole chicken process. We got six chickens as baby chicks and have raised them and lost a few. If you are interested in getting chickens talk to us first. It has been an emotional roller coaster.

Richmond Family Photographers 2020 Recap – Laura’s top 3

My top three moments.

I would’ve said our anniversary trip to Blacksburg. My parents are big Hokies and so they have a house in Blacksburg. So we felt like we could go there and still be really safe in the midst of Covid but have a bit of a vacation. So we went on a couple of hikes and a winery and some fun restaurants. And I was just a nice little escape.

I also loved being able to go to Syracuse. We went to go visit my sister. Also we are project people so we went to Syracuse but also did some projects at their house. Like we need the closet around. Just started back up on Monday crafternoon series. So instead of a blog post like it used to be it’s now a video series on our Instagram.

I feel like everyone is using this time to do projects or new hobbies. Everybody started the new things. Like my sister got me a floral workshop over Skype with Vessel and Stem. I started to do embroidery. I made homemade bagels.

Third thing would have to be Christmas at the beach. My sister created the “beer Meister challenge” where we turned beer tasting into a game. It was so fun and I was actually the winner… so fun.. we will have to turn it into a yearly thing. We had a refrigerator full of random craft beers. And then my sister created a whole spreadsheet with a form and rules for a beer tasting game. It was so fun.

Let us know if you’re interested in us sharing more about this and we well.

Then also we did a murder mystery dinner. My sister bought a murder mystery box for my other sister and we all surprised her with getting dressed up in 1920s wardrobes. She actually got her a rent the runway dress so that she could fit in with the theme too. And we had this murder mystery night. I was the host, Michael won best actor with my sister.

Best part was that you could play the same game three different times and they were different outcomes.

Honorable Mentions

Do you have any honorable mentions?

Our basement flooding. Really our basement flooding makes a top moment? Yes. It was as good as it could’ve been with it being as terrible as it was. That’s like the theme for 2020.

It had rained so much that there were literally geysers coming out of our floor. We have a cement floor in our basement and there was water shooting out of the concrete in like six different spots.

I guess going to Cape Cod would be mine. Doing a huge road trip with Niles and him doing such a good job. Stopped off and saw Michael’s family and nails got to meet his great grandma.

The Cape is one of my favorite places so it definitely has to make the list.

What a year.

It’s crazy it’s now 2021.. just praying it’s a better year.

For as bad of a year as it was.. it was a great year.