Welcoming Santa and the New Year at Home

With all of the celebrations for Reese's birthday complete, we were ready to turn our full attention to the holidays ahead. For the first time in a long time, we had no plans to travel anywhere and were going to spend the whole Christmas break in Kentucky. Fortunately we managed to find a lot of different ways to fill our days.  In second grade, one of the traditions is a Flat Stanley writing project, which is required to be completed during the two-week school break.  We had to keep Stanley occupied. But first we had to dress him, so Reese made sure he was properly attired.

Among the many stops that Stanley made during his time with us was the birthday party of Lizze, one of Reese's friends from school. At this place called Adrenaline, Reese and her friends got to do all sorts of fun things while Stanley looked on in admiration.  Here he watches Reese joust Lizzie.

We decided that if we were going to be home that we would try and make plans to get together with as many people as possible. One night we put together a drinks and dessert gathering. The dessert preparation was an all hands on deck affair, the end results were both pretty and tasty.

We are not sure how we let the night escape us without getting a picture of the Prestons, but we did manage to capture a good family photo of the Sheehans. Amelia is one of Callie's friends from school, and Dan and Liz are great folks who we don't see often enough.

It was a close call in that we almost didn't get to decorate gingerbread houses this year.  However, we managed to pull something together with the Johnsons at the last minute.  The kids had a lot of fun working as sibling teams and the adults had a lot of fun just hanging out.

We also had to work in a tape ball night with the Abrahams before they left for Florida. As usual, tape ball was a blast and we barely had time to snap even this photo. Best of all, it was the second straight year that we were able to complete the night without tears over stolen gifts and hurt feelings.

Much to the girls' excitement and joy, we finally made it to Christmas Eve. We went to the Christmas Eve service at church and then went back to the Chrisman's for dinner. This year the tradition was made that much sweeter because the Gipes joined in on the fun.

The girls even got to hang out, eat sweets, coordinate treats for Santa, and count down the hours until morning. We hope to keep capturing pictures just like this one for years to come.

Christmas morning arrived in all of its splendor and we were ready to welcome it with open arms. For some of us our eyes were barely open, but our arms were ready.  The girls were patient and allowed their parents to make cups of coffee before the tearing of paper began.

Santa was once again very interested in how the girls were developing as soccer players, and underneath the wrapping paper were different training tools they could use throughout the year.  Not pictured is another big present, which was Charlie, the Robo Dwarf hamster.  Although this was on the girls' Christmas list, they weren't totally sure how to embrace Charlie.

Callie and Reese were very happy to display their Big Blue Nation t-shirts, however.  They kept talking about how they don't have enough Kentucky gear, so hopefully this will get them started on the right path.  Once again they were both very lucky to receive great gifts from all sorts of folks and it helped make for a great Christmas.

The day was made that much better when we got to head over to the Leatherman's for Christmas dinner. It was our second year in a row, but the first year that included the Gipe family. With that being said, this was the first year that the girls decided to put together their own Christmas pageant and perform it for the whole crew. It was impressive to say the least, especially Lucy's role as the Virgin Mary.  She takes her acting seriously.

One of the great things about being in Lexington over the break is that we were able to take advantage of many activities we often miss.  This time around we made a point of going to see the UK Women's basketball team play.  The seats are great, Memorial Coliseum is a little more than a mile from our house, and the basketball is fun to watch.

These girls are definitely Kentucky born and bred. They have spent a lot of time in California and Connecticut, but this is their home. It's easy for them to cheer on the Wildcats and wear the blue.

Speaking of the Cats, we kicked off 2019 with another big UK celebration. We had our New Years' gear ready to go after a night at home, and sat down to watch the Citrus Bowl where the UK football team prepared to cap off a great season. It only made it more interesting that they were playing Penn State, the alma mater of Uncle Chris, Michael Balestracci, and Mike Skonieczny.

The fact that we were facing the Nittany Lions made it a lot of fun.  We had some good old fashioned trash talking leading up to the game and then had some great exchanges of videos and pictures during the game. The Johnsons were happy to help us out whenever we needed to let the Penn Staters know that Kentucky had scored. And it turned out to be a great day for the Kentucky version of Blue and White as they pulled out a victory. Not a bad way to kick off 2019.

Uncle Chris, Fencer Extraordinaire

When we were out in Colorado for Thanksgiving, we found out that Chris was going to be at a U.S. fencing competition in Cincinnati in December.  We jumped at the chance to see him in action since we have heard so much about his fencing prowess over the years.  And as usual, Chris was always ready to host, teach, and be generous even when he should have been focused on the competition.

It was so cool to see him in his element.  This picture does not come close to capturing the passion with which he fences.  Nor does a simple photo highlight the noise that accompanies both each successful touch and point.

As an extra bonus, we not only got to see Chris but also his mother Suzy, who has only taken up fencing very recently.  But I guess when you watch your son live out his dreams for as long as Suzy has you finally have to give it a go.  Watch out, Callie and Reese, your Mom might start looking into an over 40 soccer league!

What was also great to watch was Chris giving his Mom advice as she scoped out her competition and prepared for her very first bout.

We must admit that after watching Chris in all his glory, Suzy in the  women's over 70 division was a slightly different experience. The movement was more tentative and the speed was a bit reduced.  But Suzy held her own and came away with some good lessons for her next bout.

We had to leave before the day was done for Chris, but we had an incredible time and were so glad we had the opportunity to see him do what he loves to do.

Reese's Birthday and Lunch with Dad

This year was a family trip year for Reese's birthday.  Up to this point she has followed Callie's lead, and that meant we headed up to Great Wolf Lodge outside of Cincinnati. And since we have already seen the fall decor the girls were excited to see how the Lodge would do Christmas. The answer to that is no surprise - over the top.

Reese was excited to get her birthday wolf ears and couldn't wait to hit the pools and water slides.  We all knew the landscape so we already had plans for what we wanted to hit first and how much fun we were going to have.

Reese loved the wave pool...and we loved the fact that three years after our last visit both girls were now great swimmers and comfortable with all that the Lodge had to offer. Unlike last time we didn't take any breaks to play games or go trick or treating. We had slides to ride!

John's favorite activity was the lazy river, which is just the right speed to get away from the overall craziness for a minute or two.  And the whole family had fun chasing each other to try and force someone to get hit by the water traps that pop up along the way.

Clearly we spent a lot of time in the lazy river.  One of the other nice things about it is you don't have to wait in line to use it, which is John's sweet spot.

We did take the time to check out the glow in the dark miniature golf course.  We took multiple pictures, but honestly all you could really see was Reese's neon shirt so we decided not to share any of those with you. We also learned that none of us are headed to the PGA or LPGA tours any time soon.

We end with a classic picture from the weekend. It was another successful and fun-filled birthday trip.  So Happy 8th Birthday, Reese!  This has become a great tradition and the girls look forward to it every year. We can't wait for what the future brings for birthday trips.

Since Reese's actual birthday fell on a school day, John decided it would be fun to pop in and have lunch with the birthday girl.  She was excited to have her Dad there, but also somewhat embarrassed by the attention. The most entertaining aspect for John was listening to all of the table conversations.  Second graders have a lot going on, that's for sure.

Santa, Nutcracker, Chocolate, and Jingles

Typically, on November 1 we receive our invitation to go meet Santa at the Mayfield-Ingle residence.  This year was no different, and so once Thanksgiving was over, we welcomed the Christmas holiday season with our first official event. Although we have attempted to get family pictures before, this is the first time we really to a good one of all four of us with the jolly guy.

One of the best things about this event is that the girls get to truly engage with Santa, and Reese took every advantage of the opportunity this year. This Santa is really a good guy and always seems to know how to get the kids talking.

This year we decided to reenact a picture we first took eight years ago when all three of these girls were only three years old and not at all interested in interacting with Santa. They have gotten a lot taller in the intervening years and clearly a lot more comfortable with the whole situation.

Another grand tradition for the holidays is the girls trip to see the Nutcracker.  Fortunately, we were able to make it happen even though we only remembered to get tickets a couple days before the performance. It was another great time together and we were able to see Katherine Bracken in yet another role.

Although we have lost count of just how many years it has been going on, Sarah and Kelly once again invested a whole day into dipping chocolate. They dip cookies, pretzels, potato chips, bacon, and just about anything else that isn't nailed down and is edible. Everyone benefits from all of the work they do.  And the best part is that they have a lot of fun doing it.

Another great event to mark the holiday season is Ms. Stringer's Winter Concert at Cassidy. She puts so much work into making it a lot of fun for all the kids and parents. Part of this year's fun was the fact that Callie's friend Addie played the role of DJ Jingles, her friend Holland was the principal, and Callie got a spotlight role as the Grinch. Great times all around.

The only way to celebrate a performance like that was to head to Graeter's and get some quality ice cream with family friends. And the holidays kept rolling on!

Long Awaited 5th Grade Activities

There are a lot of events that happen during the 5th grade year at Cassidy, and Callie had been excited about most of them. One thing she was very much looking forward to was the day at Biztown.  The preparation for this day takes several weeks, but the day itself is what everyone looks forward to. Callie was super excited because she was selected to be the CEO of Forcht Bank. Although this sounds impressive just in terms of the title, her bank had to produce all of the paychecks for the entire fifth grade.  And that was responsible for providing the cash flow for all of the student run businesses on site.  It was quite a responsibility.

Callie was up to the task and took her responsibility seriously. In fact, she got the award of Top Business and Top CEO for the day. If this minor simulation foreshadows the future, we might be able to stop saving for retirement and just let her take care of us. But in all serious, this was a phenomenal experience and all of her friends seemed to enjoy their various jobs and responsibilities.

Next up for the 5th graders was what is known as Colonial Days, where each student learns and then demonstrates a particular craft or trade.  Callie was a potter and got to get her hands dirty all day long.

The students also had to dress the part, and we were very fortunate in that a friend's older sister still had her outfit from her Colonial Days experience.  So we didn't have to buy anything but a slab of clay and some good hand soap for the potter in training.

Another experience from 5th grade was Callie's flirtation with the alto saxophone. Following her failed engagement with the violin in 4th grade, she decided to try her hand at the band. Unfortunately we have to report that this experience was short-lived as well. But we did have the good fortune to attend two different band concerts over the year.

Thanksgiving in CO

With the exception of the year Sarah was nine months pregnant with Reese, we have spent every Thanksgiving as a couple in either California or Connecticut.  Well 2018 was groundbreaking because the Bowes family headed to Colorado for Thanksgiving at the Hannens.  We all gathered outside Denver and looked forward to a new experience.

Reese and Callie always love to have time with their cousins.  Reese especially loves this time with Zoey because this is the time of year when they are both the same age until Reese's birthday in December.  And Zoey certainly seems to appreciate the attention she gets from her older cousins.

Of course it isn't just about the little ones. The Balestracci boys have never said no to a good time either, especially the oldest Balestracci boy.  Callie and Reese love their Uncle Chris, that's for sure.  It was great to have the whole crew together, and fun to hear how Brendan's first year and Michael's last year of college were going.

It just so happened that a great Thanksgiving 5K was held in the town next door so we all got to head outside Thanksgiving morning and get in some good exercise. It was a little chilly at the start, but the girls were all ready to go.  We hoped that this turkey trot experience would be better then our last family one in Sacramento.  At the very least neither one of us wanted to have to carry Reese for the last 2 miles.

So here was the official 5K crew.  We made it in time for the start, had our own personal cheerleader in Sport, and had packed our good attitudes.

We weren't able to stay together for the entire run, but we all managed to finish with smiles on our faces, so that's a good thing.  It turned out to be a beautiful day and we had definitely earned our meal.

And in the midst of everything we were able to spend some time with some good friends who live in Denver.  Thomas and John went to college together and were roommates in Los Angeles when they were both dating their now wives.  In short, the four adults pictured here have known each other for a while and don't see each other enough.  But we got some in some ice skating, a visit to Powell's bookstore, and a nice breakfast.  So when all was said and done, we had a wonderful visit to the Rockies.  Can't wait to get back there!

Fall Fun

There are many reasons why it's wonderful to live next to the Chrismans.  One of them is that on occasion we will get their tickets for a football game.  These have always been good tickets since they are near the 50 yard line and only about 15 rows from the field.  But since the renovation of the stadium they have gotten even better because they come with access to the field level premium community area - a.k.a. room full of free food.

John was out of town and Reese had a sleepover, so Sarah and Callie got the take advantage of the royal treatment.  It was a cold night but the two of them had an absolute blast.  And Chris's sister and brother-in-law were at the game to show them the ropes. Callie's smile says it all.

Another year of school means another year of Variety Show fun at Cassidy. Reese branched out this year and joined girls from her class to perform a dance number to Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. It was sweet, age appropriate, and somewhat coordinated.  The thing that melted our hearts the most, though, was that when Reese had her mini solo, Callie and her fifth grade crew erupted in cheers.

Callie, meanwhile, was participating in Variety Show swan song, and this was her fifth year being a part of it. So what better way to cap it all off then to have a showcase of all their previous performances. They did a phenomenal job and we are truly thankful that Laurie Preston had the drama-teacher background that brought it all together.

With the Variety Show concluded, it was time for the next opportunity to dress up.  We were all pretty excited because Reese has had her costume since our July visit to the Everglades. For some reason this year Callie never really pulled a costume together. Lucky for us we have a basement full of options from previous years, and a butterfly seemed like it would work well.

We ended up actually outfitting both her and one of her friends and grabbed a net for Reese so she could chase her sister all night.  It ended up working out quite nicely.

For years we have had a tradition of getting together with Harper and Kennedy for Halloween, and this time around we decided to go around their neighborhood.  Now we must admit that their costumes have always had a darker tone than ours, but this year they really took it to another level.  Doesn't seem to bother Reese and Callie and they don't really know what the story of the costumes is.  But as long as it doesn't interfere with their candy collection they don't mind.

Although we had a busy fall, this year we were lucky that we were able to fit in some family photos.  The photographer was fun to work with and we got quite a few good ones of the girls. Yet out of all the photos we took we only had one family picture that turned out well.  But this is the one that qualified for the blog.

In the month of October and November, five of Callie's good friends, including herself, all have birthdays. This happens to be a picture from Addie's birthday party, which had a movie theme.  The girls took pictures and made their own short films. They are certainly a creative bunch and a silly group when they get together.

Every year at Cassidy they host a big Thanksgiving meal and invite all the parents to attend.  Unfortunately John's teaching schedule didn't allow him to join in the fun, but Sarah was able to eat not one, but two helpings of instant mashed potatoes.

This continued the farewell tour of all of Callie's annual Cassidy events.  Her last Thanksgiving celebration in elementary school.  This event is always couple with the book fair.  Callie capitalized on her mom's sentimental mood and was able to make quite a large purchase of books that day.