November-December 2022

 I may have topped my record for the longest time in between blog posts. I have photos from Halloween to Susannah's birthday to share, along with our first Christmas holiday shots. Peter was in Kyiv for all of November but the girls and I rallied together and made it fun. We were so happy when he came home early to surprise the girls in time for Susannah's birthday. Here are all the pics from the last 6 weeks or so. (These are in descending order because I posted them incorrectly and can't bring myself to fix it.)

Susannah celebrated her 12th birthday with a "Wicked" birthday party.  

"Wicked" was playing at the Kennedy Center so Susannah invited three friends to the show and we had cake and pizza afterward.  

This is the girls leaving the theatre......they were giddy over the show. 

Susannah deemed it "the best day of her life."

Peter and Sarah Avery dropped us at the theatre and spent the afternoon at the National Zoo.  

Apparently, all the animals were out and they had a great time. 

Elephants!

A lazy orangutang. 

A roaring lion. 

Meanwhile, back at the Kennedy Center, I had an excellent single seat.  (The girls sat together without an embarrassing mom.)

They were pumped before the show started. 

The patio at the Kennedy Center has such a beautiful view of Georgetown. 

It was such a great way to celebrate this wonderful girl.  

I can't believe these beauties........yesterday they were in kindergarten. 

The weekend before the performance was Susannah's actual birthday, so we spent Sunday afternoon celebrating with a family birthday party.  She opened her presents.  

And at homemade cupcakes that Mom made. 

Susannah has made us so proud this year. She transitioned to middle school with such grace and ease. She is kind and always has the most positive outlook on life. She loves musicals and choir, Georgia football, jogging, reading, and her friends. She started a book club after school that is thriving and is excited to start the basketball season.  We love you, beauty! 

Peter and I attended a Hawaiian Ball one evening in December to support one of the supporters of the Christ Church Refugee Ministry.  

We were so happy Daddy came home early enough to help us decorate for Christmas. 

Sarah got to put on the star this year. 

We bought our tree at a new tree farm this year and it turned out to be a fun evening. 

They had selfie stations.  :)

Our beloved Sam arrived on December 1st. 

He brought Christmas socks, peppermints and a lego advent calendar. 

My partners in crime when Peter is away.  

I took the girls to the movies the day after Thanksgiving.  Sarah Avery was excited about this Icee that was bigger than her head. 

Susannah's friend Zoe joined us. 

We had the most delicious, relaxed, and fun Thanksgiving meal with the Buchanan's.  

Ms. Jess did the heavy lifting with the cooking, but we did contribute these turkey brownies for dessert.  

These little bakers were proud of the final product. 

Peter at Thanksgiving dinner in Kyiv with his Embassy colleagues

                                       

    Peter saw these street performers in Kyiv on Thanksgiving Day (the day after massive                                             Russian missile strikes).  The city lacked power and water, but these guys played Christmas carols. 

     

We spent the Wednesday before Christmas running holiday errands, including mailing our Christmas cards.

The day before Thanksgiving break was book character day. Sarah Avery was the pigtailed girl in "Sideways Stories From Wayside School."

This is my view every weeknight when Peter is away.  Reading in Mommy's bed has become a favorite wind-down activity. 

Sarah Avery joined a new Brownie troop with some of her friends from school.  

The girls spent one Saturday baking this elaborate pool cake that included blue jello.  It was a sight. 

And finally, Halloween!  We were so excited to be back in our old neighborhood for trick-or-treating.  

Our family joined in 2022's most popular costume craze......Top Gun Maverick.  

It felt so great to be back to our old Alexandria traditions.  

This year even Mommy participated.  

Maverick, Pheonix, Bob, and the pumpkins. 

Daddy helped with the pumpkin carving. 

The girls went with the Aiken family to their pool's trunk or treat, so they got to wear their costumes an extra time. 

The first round of candy sorting. 

Pheonix and her navigator. 

Fierce.  

Peter flew back to Kyiv as soon as trick-or-treating wrapped on Halloween night, just in time to attend a military attache memorial event in Kyiv.  He was the first U.S. Military Member to wear his uniform in Kyiv since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

A few days later, the first big snow fell.  We are so proud of all the important work he is doing. 

                                       
And now it's December 16th and Christmas is closing in fast. The girls are finished with school and Peter and I are both taking two weeks off from work, so we are ready for some lazy days of baking treats and watching Christmas movies.  Happiest Holidays to you and yours from Alexandria.