Admittedly, 2016 was a rough one, but it wasn't all bad. The Olympics happened, with the U.S. dominating the medal standings. Netflix wowed us over and over throughout the year. And Prince George taught us it's all about the little things in life.
1. #no-DAPL Movement
Beginning in April, protesters stood strong at Standing Rock Reservation fighting the oil pipeline running through sacred ground. The months of activism paid off, as it was finally announced Dec. 4th that the pipeline would not run through the reservation.
Credit: Photo by Michael Nigro/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images
2. The Rio Olympics
The world was blessed with this photo of Jamaican runner Usain Bolt winning the 100m race at the summer Olympics in Rio.
Credit: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
3. Pokémon Go
This summer, one thing united us all: Pokémon Go. Granted, we were all walking around like zombies, but we were doing it together, sorta, and getting outside! Hoards swarmed in parks at all hours of the day and everyone started getting their steps in.
Credit: Lam Yik Fei/Getty Images
4. National Parks
Speaking of getting us outside and walking, the National Parks Service turned 100 this summer. Here's to another 100 for us all to get out there and explore them!
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5. Panda Cubs
Chengdu’s giant panda breeding program had 23 adorable Panda cubs born in 2016, all of them adorably fluffy, one of them a little too adventurous.
Credit: Zhang shibo - Imaginechina
6. Netflix
Stranger Things, Gilmore Girls, Black Mirror, offline downloads. Binge watching somehow got so much better this year. Plus, now you can download it all.
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7. Chicago Cubs
The 108-year curse was broken when the Chicago Cubs won the World Series in Game 7.
Credit: Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/TNS via Getty Images
8. Beyoncé
No further explanation needed.
Credit: Daniela Vesco/Invision for Parkwood Entertainment/AP Images
9. Cool things happened in space
Scott Kelly spent a year in space on the International Space Station. The astronaut left Earth March 27, 2015 and returned March 2nd, 2016. Also, NASA's Juno reached Jupiter after a 5-year trek. Yay, space!
Credit: Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP
10. Prince George
Prince George and his bubbles warmed all of our hearts when he showed us what pure joy looks like at a Garden Party in Victoria, BC. He also took business casual to the next level when he met President Obama.
Credit: Photo by Pool/Sam Hussein/WireImage
11. Obama/Biden Memes
Last, but certainly not least, is the goldmine of Obama/Biden meme's that's sprung up. The supply seems endless and all of them are gold.
Credit: Photo by Michael Nigro/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images
Credit: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Credit: Lam Yik Fei/Getty Images
Credit: Zhang shibo - Imaginechina
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Credit: Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/TNS via Getty Images
Credit: Daniela Vesco/Invision for Parkwood Entertainment/AP Images
Credit: Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP
Credit: Photo by Pool/Sam Hussein/WireImage
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