The Holidays 2022

Health update: Stable. Nothing super new to report. I have had some ups and downs, but the details seem tedious (leg pain, skin stuff, etc.) and I've lost the energy to go into it, even in writing. So, instead, here are the winter updates that are long overdue.

Thanksgiving week was wonderful! We loved being in California with John and Janet! The wedding ceremony was small and sweet. We enjoyed a celebration with their friends, as well as a delicious Thanksgiving dinner. I spent as much time at the beach as possible. 

We had a week before Christmas off, which was delightful!

Although I missed the killer party hosted by Chris at Bar LeToomis for our colleagues, I got to have a girls night in the city with Kelly, Lynn, and some of Lynn's friends.  We missed having Lanie join us, but we will certainly have to do it again! We all saw SIX! had a lovely dinner, and then spent the evening with another NYC friend's apartment. 

I had another visit to the city to see the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree-- which this year hailed from Queensbury, NY! Chris' mother Iva lives in Queensbury and enjoyed seeing it wrapped up for travel to the city, so we thought it would be great to have her see it all dressed up. Although she grew up a few hours north, she had never been in NYC proper, so we had a nice stroll through Bryant Park Holiday Market, toward Central Park before heading home. 

I was able to finish up some needlepoint, punch needle, and embroidery projects for gifts-- and then start some more. I can only work on them in the car, at other folks' homes, or when Tassie is locked away. The kitty simply can not handle being around yarn, thread, or string of any kind. 

I had a nice visit to NJ to see Sophia and after our catch-up, I went back across the bridge and then turned right back around quickly because Chris and I made the snap decision to head to VA a day early to miss the bad weather. 

We enjoyed several days together with family at Kelly's house in VA. Beau, Lanie, and Max were there with Bentley for a very full and vibrant home. Dad came for Beau's birthday dinner and spent the night Christmas Eve. I played taking-care-of-babies with Max with many "Oh no! Where are our babies?!" moments when we were doing other things. Max is gearing up to be a wonderful big brother!

Kenny played lots of games-- although refused to acknowledge that he wanted to play them. He received a Nintendo DS for Christmas and I had moment when I thought that I had been replaced by technology. 

Chris and I went out for New Year's Eve for the first time in... forever? Neither one of us could remember the last time we stayed up for it! We joined some of our neighbors at the lake for late night appetizers and festivities. 

We are back in the school routine now. January was a busy month for me with two big parent-volunteer programs that I organize. February is a bit challenging with gray days. Chris and I anti-celebrated the Superbowl by going to a restaurant with no TVs. For Valentine's Day Chris ordered me a kitchenaid mixer for the house, and I had a needlepoint belt finished for him. We then ordered take-out with our upstairs neighbors because we called in a leak that lead to the destruction of their kitchen! 

I am looking forward to a spring break trip to France to celebrate John & Janet's nuptials, the end of the school year, a visit from AJ & UT, and another trip to France as chaperones! 

We are thinking about summer plans now, so please let us know when you would like to visit us! We are super excited to host folks at our lovely little lake house.