Best of 2024: Favorite Moment

I feel like 2024 was a pretty great year for the Croyle Family. It is impossible for me to pick just one moment, so instead I will copy last year and do a top ten list! I know how much everyone loves my lists. 

10. Hershey Trip–We decided to check out Hershey for Christmas. I highly recommend seeing the place all lit up. The kids had a great time, and I seriously think they like Hershey more than Disney. 

9. Bird Family–Getting the birds was cool. Payton was super happy, Logan is starting to get used to them. And surprisingly, Lindsey loves them. She was against it at first, but she and Payton are the ones to generally take them out and play with them. They love letting them fly around the house (I seriously never thought Lindsey would be cool with that).

8. Baseball–We went to three Pirates games this year (once with the kids, and once just Lindsey and I), and then one just me, a few Millrats games, plus all the t-ball, coach pitch, and softball games. This was also my final year coaching t-ball, but my first year as the head coach of softball. Not going to lie, I really enjoyed it. 

7. Payton’s Dance Recital–I joke about going to this, but I do enjoy it. We have a fun tradition of going to Applebees after the show with a few other families. 

6. Parties–We had two big parties this year: Summer and Halloween, plus the two birthday parties. Birthdays are fine, but our summer and Halloween parties are super fun. I love that we are building that core group of family friends. People that I like hanging out with. I am lucky that both kids have friends, who I enjoy spending time with their parents. 

5. Someone Special Dance–Even though it is an entire evening of standing around talking to other dads, I still have fun, and love seeing how much Payton enjoys herself. 

4. Alex & Ryan’s Wedding–Ryan finally got married! I could not be happier for he and Alex (I knew she was awesome and the one when he brought her to my 40th birthday party). Lindsey and I had so much fun at the wedding (especially staying in our super tiny bed at the hotel, haha). The bachelor party in Pittsburgh was also great. Nothing too crazy, just some drinking on the North Shore and a Pirates game. I loved hanging out with some of my closest friends from college: Jason, Offord, Stef, and oh yeah, Ryan. Plus, I made a few new friends, which is always a positive.

3. Virginia Beach Trip–I finally got to take Logan fishing! And we caught some. It was cool getting to show off my skills, haha. We went somewhere new (Sandbridge near Virginia Beach), and it was great, but it was also the type of place where we realized why we love going to Myrtle Beach.

2. White Out Game–My work called and offered me free tickets for the Penn State/Washington game, and even though I would have to adjust my schedule, I did not hesitate. I was nervous about taking Payton and Logan, since it was going to be cold and late, but they loved it. 

1. Disney Trip–I mean, what else could be the favorite moment? This trip was great because we got to meet so many characters (last time they were not out because of COVID). My favorite day was meeting Chewbacca and Darth Vader. OR, our Epcot Day. Yes, the day it rained. I still crack up thinking about Payton on the Soarin’ ride thinking we were actually flying (not in a good way). I am not lying when I say that I cannot wait to go back. Probably a credit to how great of a job Lindsey did with everything.

I have to mention my least favorite moment this year. February 25th, I receive a picture of Lindsey’s foot. I was at home, and she was at work. The picture showed a giant blister on her foot. She said she spilled hot grease on her foot, and then she asked if she should go to Medwell. I took her to the doctor, and she had a very nasty burn. The problem was that it was on the top of her foot, and socks would rub the skin off, and cause it to not heal. She was in pain for a few weeks, and I honestly did not think we would be able to go to Disney. But, she did everything the doctors told her, and we went. She had to change her bandages once per day while at Disney, and there were times when she did it while in line. She never complained, and she never slowed down (we averaged 22,000 steps each day). I would not recommend burning your foot. It was a rough year for Lindsey because of it. Months later, it still bothered her at the beach. I think now it is fully healed, but she does have a slight scar.