Snow days and sledding

This year we had THREE snow days before mid-December. It was essentially two snow "events" but for Williamsburg, that's not common. Happy kids on snow day #1:

Eleanor had a friend spend the night.

These two got busy making (very messy) pancakes.

Snow days two and three involved a tween trip to CW.

Then some fort building:

The first day of this one the kids pulled each other around the backyard on sleds:

Our house in the snow:

A walk around our neighborhood to see lights at dusk:

And day three involved real sledding!

Sledding videos:

Sometimes we go years without any snow days. Last year we had six and this year we've already had three. Crazy!

Our year in review - 2025

2025 has been a great year. Eleanor wrapped up her first year of middle school and is leaning into the tween years. Jane is enjoying her last season in elementary while leaning into her sports passions. Rosie is snuggly, fierce, and opinionated. Ben continues to be an amalgam of opposites: sweet and annoying, tough but sensitive, and is liked by everyone. Work is going well for both Chris and me, and our schedules are now firmly ruled by the kids' lives (for a season). 

(For past years, click the following links: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008)

January: We spent New Years with friends and doing the Polar Plunge. We got so much snow! I think the kids had six total snow days and two delays. We wrapped up last year's kid dates. Jane had a chorus concert, we had more art to celebrate, and we went bowling.

February: I went to Texas to visit my grandparents, the kids had a VIP dance at school to celebrate Valentine's Day, and we went to the Gold Rush game at W&M. We did our first set of kid dates for the year, had a bunch more snow, and Chris took the kids to the arcade.

March: We spent time at Busch Gardens. The kids participated in the Reflections contest and basketball season wrapped up. Jane competed in Battle of the Books and Eleanor crushed it in her first musical: Something Rotten. She also got to go on our church's winter retreat and to her school's spring dance.

April: We took a spring break trip to visit New River Gorge, Great Smoky Mountains, and Mammoth Cave National Parks, as well as Chapel Hill. We celebrated Easter, and got to meet cousin Sally! We had more artwork come home, and shared the kids' school pictures.

May: Jane had her spring chorus concert (with a solo!) and participated as the Marquis de Lafayette at the wax museum. Chris took Ben to an air show, and we wrapped up lacrosse season. Rosie and Ben got their Bibles at church, and Grammy and Aunt Holly came to visit! We also celebrated Memorial Day Weekend.

June: Last day of school! The kids had field day, Eleanor finished up a history project, had a band concert, and Ben and Rosie had an art show. and The older girls headed straight to SB2W. We also wrapped up more kid dates.

July: We celebrated the 4th of July and had more kid dates! The kids took swim pictures. We went to Avon to visit my cousin Jesse. The kids wrapped up swim season with kid in a cap (top times) and had a great time. We had VBS, went tubing, the girls tried on my wedding dress, and Eleanor gave Rosie a makeover.

August: We spent time at Busch Gardens and Water Country, Eleanor turned 12 and had a great birthday. She also got to go on the summer retreat. Chris and I took a trip to Switzerland (Rigi, Stoos, Titlis, Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald, Oeschinensee and Harder Kulm, Bern and Zurich) and the kids spent time with their grandmothers! At the end of the month, the kids reluctantly headed back to school.

September: We celebrated Labor Day and Chris and I went to see Thomas Rhett. Jane turned 10, had a lovely birthday, got her ears pierced (!) and we went to New York together! Chris also had a birthday!

October: We went pumpkin picking and had more kid dates! Eleanor participated in her school's cabaret and her volleyball season came to a close. We went to a W&M football game and celebrated Halloween.

November: Ben and Rosie turned 8! Soccer wrapped up for Eleanor, Rosie, and Jane and flag football wrapped up for Ben. We celebrated Thanksgiving and did our annual Turkey Bowl. We had more kid dates, Ben and Rosie got to go to Sky Zone, and Ben took a trip with Chris down to Duke.

December: Chris and Jane ran a 5k, we went to the Christmas parade and Grand Illumination, and spent time at Christmas Town. We did lots of sledding and enjoyed the snow, all while a renovation started at our house. We celebrated Christmas with family and we visited the wreaths of Williamsburg.

2025 has been a wonderful year of growth and we hope all the best to you in 2026.

December wrap-up

December has been busy (as always) with a bunch of snow days, basketball season starting, getting organized for Christmas, starting a renovation, and trying to keep everyone in clean clothes. Amongst all that we have had some very sweet and normal moments around the house!

Jane knit herself a hat!

Ben drank his first coke:

Morning walks have been calm and beautiful.

Evening sunsets have been just as gorgeous.

We went caroling with neighbors and then had a progressive dinner.

Ben and Rosie wore their grinch sweatshirts to school for Grinch Day.

Chris and I went up to Bethesda for my work party.

While we were gone the kids hung out with Coach Anne and Crazy Dave. Eleanor drove a car...yikes! They also got hibachi!

Chris stocking up on Christmas lights for next year...

Making peanut butter balls!

Facemasks:

Ben working on thank you cards:

Annual cookie decorating tradition with friends:

Posts and pictures on the holidays coming soon, but for now, December, you were lovely. Onward to a new year!