Happy New Year 2024! I'm typing this on January 1 after a long and relaxing 2-week break from school and work. Tomorrow re-entry will be harsh, but we feel ready! Our Christmas was fun, but I want to highlight Susannah's birthday before I share those photos. She started the celebration the Friday before with a parent-free dinner party at Ramparts, our neighborhood restaurant. No pics from that because I wasn't there. :) But the girls returned to the house for cake and ice cream afterward.
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| We are so thankful for these kind and intelligent girls who helped celebrate Susannah. |
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| Susannah wanted a red velvet cake, so that's what we had. |
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| Her 13th wish! |
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| Susannah requested no gifts from her friends, opting to have them donate to The Sierra Club, but she still had family presents. :) |
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| The Saturday after Susannah's dinner party was decorating day. We bought our tree from the neighborhood lot which was super convenient and fun. |
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| Having older kids who can actually help is such a fun development. |
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| Christmas crew |
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| The finished product was perfect. |
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| The following Monday was Susannah's actual birthday. We celebrated with take-out and presents. |
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| And a few treats from Alexandria Pastry Cafe |
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| One more wish! |
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| This year was a first because we let Susannah watch one of our all-time favorite Christmas movies with us while Sarah Avery was away on a sleepover. |
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| That Sunday was the church Nativity Play and SA was the star!! |
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| Always the most adorable way to get into the Christmas spirit! |
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| Last year, they were a shepherd and a sheep.....so this year was a promotion. ;) |
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| Another longtime tradition is skating at Pentagon City and pizza at Matchbox. This year, Cousin William joined us. |
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| One day we all headed into DC--Peter and SA went to the zoo, while Susannah and I checked out the African American History Museum. |
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| After the museum, Susannah and I had a delicious Mexican lunch. |
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| The next day was cookie baking day! |
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| And cinnamon roll-making day! |
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| Here is the finished product, ready for delivery. |
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| These girls were kind enough to do the deliveries before their slumber party. |
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| We were so happy to be back in our house on Crest Street so we could reclaim our Christmas Eve hosting duties. Like the pre-Ukraine days, we hosted our supper club families for snacks and drinks before the candlelight services. |
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| We made apple cider, pigs in a blanket, sausage balls, and a dessert board and friends brought other snacks. |
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| Ready for the guests! |
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| Everybody had on their Christmas plaid. |
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These ladies.......so happy to be back to sharing holidays together.
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Sarah wrote the sweetest notes for Sam and Santa. And left a second plate of food after Honey ate the first plate. :)
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| Ready for bed in their new pjs. |
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| We made them sleep until 8 am this year so they were itching to take the mandatory stair photo before running to see what Santa brought. |
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We had the best morning. Santa gifts and stockings, then a big breakfast and more family presents.
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The next day, Grammy arrived and we got to do a second round of gift opening.
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| Grammy's visit was short but sweet. We took her to see a 3D movie! |
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| The days Grammy left Susannah had a procedure at the podiatrist. She was really brave. |
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| We have spent the rest of the break hanging with neighborhood friends and getting the house back in order for January. Feeling really grateful for these two weeks together. |
We hope that all of you had a Merry Christmas and that 2024 brings you lots of joy and peace.
