2026 is Off to the Races!

     The fact that it is mid-March and I'm just now sitting down to post our first blog update in 2026 attests to how busy we have been.  I did an intensive internship at Trinity Presbyterian and took an online course in January.  Sarah Avery played basketball, and Peter was one of her coaches.  And Susannah ran indoor track and participated in her first Model UN Conference. We also suffered through one of the coldest, iciest winters we have ever experienced in DC.  Here are a few photos I managed to snag.  

SA had an awesome basketball season.  They didn't win one game, but she was such a leader on her team. 

I spent a weekend in Charlotteville with my pickleball ladies.  

We shopped, we ate, we pickled.  :)

In matching outfits, of course.

SA's crew celebrated Vivi's birthday with an escape room and dinner in Old Town.  

It wasn't snowmageddon, but it was a good snow with ice-mageddon on top.  After one day of playing, everything turned into one big ice skating rink that lasted for weeks.  

But these girls had fun inside and outside.  

The whole family was into it.  (Except for me, who preferred being inside by the fire.)

I spent a Sunday afternoon at the National Gallery checking out this beautiful exhibit of Australian indigenous art.  

I don't have any photos of Susannah's model UN conference, but here she is at the Virginia General Assembly session, lobbying for safer schools.  So proud of her.  

I'm now on spring break, and Sarah is home with me.......with a case of Mono.  As soon as she can, she will be back out on the lacrosse field.  Susannah is running outdoor track and preparing for another Model UN competition.  Peter's retirement for 2027 has been officially approved, and I'm closing in on my final year of seminary.  So grateful.  And a little tired.  :) 

Last Post of 2025

 2025 has felt like a blur.  Lots of fun memories were made, but man, we were busy!  Our Christmas season was a delight, despite Susannah and Sarah passing the flu around the week before.  Here are the photos:

Jasper was our holiday houseguest.  A very sweet boy.   

Christmas Eve pj photo

National Lampoon's was this year's theme. 

We hosted our annual Christmas Eve pre-church gathering.  

My Christmas beauties

Of course, we made a double batch of sausage balls in honor of Grandmama and Poppy. 

The girls had Christmas haircuts.  

Jasper and Sally took care of SA while she was sick.  

We made gingerbread houses this year.  A first for us!

Susannah's friends came over to watch Percy Jackson and make cookies.  

And Peter kept a cozy fire going almost every night.  

We are extremely grateful for another year of healthy, happy memories.  We pray that all of you can say the same.  We wish you lots of hope and love as we welcome 2026!

December Catch-Up

The Christmas season is here!  Which means I need to do a blog catch-up.  These photos are in reverse chronological order, of course.  Here are the happenings since our last post.   

We had a guest last weekend, Snufkin.  She brought lots of fun and lots of hair.  :)

I don't know how, but this beauty is 15 years old.  

We had the best time celebrating her with a family birthday party that included cookie cake, sushi take-out, a roaring fire, and a viewing of The Grinch.  

Her actual birthday was spent watching Sarah Avery's middle school chorus concert, but we did squeeze in a late dinner at our favorite Mexican place.  The entire restaurant sang happy birthday, which was so fun!

Sarah's chorus concert was so fun.  She sang beautifully.  

How are these girls so grown up??

Sarah Avery is in the middle on the right side.  

It was a beautiful concert. 

We started Susannah's birthday with blueberry muffins and some new body scrub. 

Our elf, Sam, arrived right on time, on December 1.  He brought Sephora Advent calendars this year.  

We opted for a smaller tree this year, which means it is super full of ornaments.  It was SA's year to put on the star.  

Susannah and Sally decorated the tree together this year.  :)

We bought our tree the Sunday after Thanksgiving.  It was cold and drizzly after church, but we pushed through and came home with a great tree!

Sarah Avery went ice skating with some friends over Thanksgiving.  

We have had lots of cold temps, and Peter is great about keeping a roaring fire in the fireplace.  Sally is a fan.  

Papa came for Thanksgiving, and I was horrible about photos.  This one of our table was the only one I snagged.  We had a lovely steak dinner and a fantastic time catching up with Papa.  

Sarah went to the opening weekend of Wicked for Good with a group of her friends. 

A sad highlight of this season is that we said goodbye to our beloved Honey.  She was such a good and faithful dog, and we loved her very much.   It was very hard to say goodbye, but we found some closure in the little service we had, where we said some words and threw flowers into the Potomac, just like we did with Meadow.   

Halloween beauties.  Belle and Ariel stopped by for some water during their evening of trick-or-treating. 

These cuties had the best Wizard of Oz theme.  

Even my pickleball ladies came to play with some festive gear.  

Peter, SA, and two of her friends did a great job carving our pumpkins.  

SA's fall lacrosse season was a great success.  They won several games and had a blast!

First Homecoming Dance.  

These beauties had a great time!

True Lacrosse after their first fall tournament.

Susannah ended her cross-country season on a high note.  Her JV team won a huge meet, and then she was bumped up to Varsity and ran in the Varsity District meet.  

I just finished finals, and the girls have one week left of school.  Christmas is almost here!  We love and miss you all and send our love from Alexandria!