I’ve been keeping bees for the last two years, too. They certainly are interesting critters. I just re-queened for the first time.
This is my second year beekeeping as well. My girls last year lasted up until January. Then the cold and moisture did them in. You learn by doing. Unfortunately, when you screw up they suffer. I put in new packages (2 hives) this spring and they’ve each got almost 2 full shallow supers fully capped plus a capped deep below them and above the bottom deep. Now, if I can just help them make it through this winter............