A Kentucky Christmas and a New England New Years

Over the last couple of years we have leaned into the matching pajama Christmas trend. This year Reese led the efforts in selecting some very soft winter jammies that were a big hit for the girls. Unfortunately the style did not include something for John and as you will see in a later picture he had to go in a different direction. The Christmas morning photo may be one of our most consistent pictures taken over the years and it never gets old to hear our girls wake up on Christmas morning. The nice thing as they have gotten older is we typically have a cup of coffee and some good conversation before they start to stir.

 

In these days of modern technology the girls have started to create Giftful websites that allow them to make Christmas lists of links to exactly what they want. It is both nice and irritating as it allows us to get what they want but also takes some of surprise/joy out of the process. But we still manage to throw in a few things they aren't expecting. For Callie it was a laptop in preparation for college and some airpods.

 

We should also be clear that both girls are always extremely appreciative of every gift they open and also want to be sure that we are opening our gifts along with them. Reese in particular has always been the most expressive gift opener ever and she is a joy to be with on days like this. In fact the things that she can get the most excited about tend to be items that might not get the same reaction from most. We have a video of Reese opening up a 35oz container of bursting Boba Pearls where she shows the most excitement of the entire morning. Her sweetness knows no bounds. 

 

John has a running joke that the girls are very familiar with - if someone is trying to figure out what a gift is before they open it, John will say, regardless of the size or shape, that it is probably a football. This year Callie was rightfully proud of her gift for John, because in box inside this box, she had wrapped a football just for him. Best. Gift. Ever. 

 

In a surprise twist, John and Sarah abandoned their children for New Years. Really we just abandoned Reese because Callie already had plans. The short story is when John called his buddy Amit to wish him a happy birthday on December 23, Amit talked him into having both of us fly up to Boston to bring in 2026 with his family. After some hesitation and a brief consultation with Reese we decided the 36 hour New England interlude was exactly what we needed. 

 

Amit and Una know how to entertain and they are very good to their friends and family. There were ten folks in total ringing in the new year at the Basak house and we had a great time. The food was tasty, including the caviar appetizer that Una prepared, and the company was even better. We were able to take a cold but wonderful walk with Amit, caught up with Una, learned from Maya what she was up to, gave high fives to Saching, spent time on some car rides with Anjin, and reconnected with Georgia and her family. 

 

You come across a lot of people of the course of your life and when you are lucky the best ones allow you to hang around. John and Amit have a special relationship and we are so fortunate that as the years have gone by the relationship has expanded to include our families. And for those wondering Reese had a wonderful time watching Stranger Things and eating popcorn and M&Ms into the late evening. Thankfully she had a wonderful dinner with the Abrahams as well. We also facetimed with her at midnight all was well. Long story short, we would do this trip again in a heartbeat! Looking forward to a great and eventful 2026!

Chocolate, Carols, Lessons, and Tape Ball

We always have a lot going in the lead up to Christmas but there are three staples that always make the season special for us.

We're not sure how many years this has been going on, but Sarah and Kelly did their chocolate dipping day after last year's cookie baking interlude. We've had a couple of guest stars over the years but the grueling process has limited any return appearances until this year. Brian Begley was there for the second time and he brought magical back patches that made the hours of standing much more tolerable. With all of our kids getting older we are no longer producing batches for teacher gifts, but that doesn't mean we hold back on overall volume. It was a great day that produced a lot of good sweets for the season.

 

Over the years John and the girls have been asked to read at church for various occasions and they are always up for the task. This time John and Callie agreed to what they thought was a reading at the Sunday service. Instead, their reading turned out to be every passage connecting all the carols in the traditional Carols and Lessons service. It meant that the two of them were at the pulpit no fewer than seven times, a bit more of a commitment than they had anticipated. But we are happy to report that John was the only one who made a slight mistake and Callie was quick to cover for him. 

 

Obviously, church services highlight the reason for the season, but we also have grown to believe that Christmas is not the same without tape ball. This has become a special tradition with the Abrahams and it doesn't matter what travel plans people have or anything else, we find a way to make it happen. This year's ball resembled more of a cube, but it didn't stop anyone from ripping it apart when the time came. We had another tear-free experience and it is safe to say that everyone is now old enough where those days are behind us although there is still some irritation from some parties when it comes to gift stealing. It's all part of the Christmas spirit! 

Reese Turns 15

Reese loves her birthday and loves the Christmas holidays. This year's party theme was Christmas movies with a hot chocolate bar. Everyone was invited to wear their Christmas jammies to the festivities. 

Reese's friend Carson has a special talent for banner painting/production, which is all the rage these days. She was very kind and made one especially for Reese's birthday which made the decor that much better. We had a great crew of girls come over and celebrate Reese's milestone and seemed to enjoy each other. You will notice that there were ten girls that slept over. Reese had this group on their best behavior. Honestly, once we went to bed we didn't even know they were there. This was very unlike the previous week when Callie's three friends slept over and it sounded like ten times as many giggling girls were in the house. Not only was Reese's crew well behaved on the noise front but when we woke up the next morning we saw that they had cleaned up the kitchen and living room before going to bed. Very impressive.

 

It was strange that we didn't capture a lot of photos from the evening, but we did get this one since Mary asked her mom to open up a Christmas present early to ensure she would have matching pajamas with Reese. These two are pretty funny and keep us entertained with their shenanigans. And they have only just started their high school adventures.

The Bowes Hit Sedona

For the third time in the past ten years, John's family decided to take a week-long vacation together and explore a new part of the country. It started with a celebration of Nana Banana and Sport's 50th wedding anniversary back in 2016 and this time around we chose to spend Thanksgiving week in Sedona. It was a great choice.

As we drove up to Sedona from Phoenix it was cloudy and a bit rainy, but the forecast for the week was sunshine and good weather overall. You always wonder if the rental house looks as good in person as it does online and fortunately we were not disappointed. This was just one of the views from the balcony off the main room.

 

We did not want to waste any time and the first full day there Sarah started off the morning with a hike with Suzy. Then she rallied John, Chris, and Callie to venture out for another hiking destination. This one was called Soldier's Pass and was a short drive away. Nothing is too far away in Sedona, we soon found out. But this hike was a great introduction to the beauty that the area offers.

 

We managed to get another hiker to grab a picture of all four of us at one of the many scenic vistas along the trail. Because of recent rains there was a fair amount of water running off the mountains and it added to the experience. Hiking in a new area is always enjoyable, especially when the landscape is so different from what we are used to. And boy did Sedona have a lot of beautiful landscapes and interesting vegetation.

 

Sarah, per usual, pushed the envelope when she tried to rally the troops for a sunrise hike the next day to Devil's Bridge. In the end it was just Sarah, Callie, and John who made the trek, and they were smart to head out so early not only because of the beauty but also because this popular hike gets busy. You see us here on the top of the bridge with seemingly no one around. What you don't see is the line of people waiting to capture this same photo. We only had to wait about five minutes for our turn. By the time we were leaving the line had already started to grow. 

 

One of the very cool architectural and spiritual must-see sites in Sedona is the Chapel of the Holy Cross which is a church built on a vortext and into the very rocks of the mountain side. John and Sarah took Nana Banana and Sport to this church for a 5pm service one of the nights we were in town. We knew that Nana Banana would love it but didn't realize the effort it would take to get her there. It was definitely worth it in the end.

 

We also ventured to a scenic overlook by the Sedona airport where we were able to see across the entire expanse of the region and got a look at map that labeled all of the peaks in the area. We could have hung out here for hours but our parking pass only allowed for 30 minutes or so. Sedona is a popular Thanksgiving spot, that's for sure. But it continued to be beautiful during our entire stay.

 

While we were checking out these sites the rest of the crew went on a hike that ended in Subway Cave. One of the great things about the extended family vacations is that we have a lot of active people who are always up for an adventure. Just as important, we have a lot of folks with adventuring experience and so there are always a lot of ideas brought to the table. It's also cool now that the girls are older that we all can pick what we want to do and are welcomed in that group. Callie and Reese love to spend time with their cousins and their aunts and uncles and these family vacations have only strengthened these relationships.

 

The Grand Canyon is a relatively short drive from Sedona, so we made sure to plan a day trip. This was especially important to check off one of Sport's bucket list items. The group divided into two. One group took advantage of the driving option that came from a special pass acquired due to Nana Banana's mobility limitations. The other group decided to hike into the belly of the beast on the Bright Angel Trail. Both groups had equally great experiences.

 

What goes down must go up is a phrase that we kept reminding ourselves of as we went deeper and deeper into the canyon. We had water, food, and high spirits as we began the descent. Zoey and Reese led the way. Zoey is an experienced hiker living in Colorado and Reese is always determined to show that she can hang with the best of them.

 

Overall our round trip covered about 11 miles. We made it to Havasupai Gardens, which is deep into the canyon but still not close to the bottom. It was a great place to have lunch and prepare ourselves for the journey back to the rim. One impressive achievement was Abbey's spirit and ability to navigate this trail from top to bottom. We all felt it the next day but were very proud of our accomplishments. Hiking the Grand Canyon is no joke and we were there in November. 

 

We also did our best to find time to partake in the local amenities when given the chance. In the short window before going on a jeep tour we took in the tasty beverages of the Basecamp Brewery with Suzy and Brian before meeting up with the rest of the crew. We definitely needed more time there but our daughters texted us wondering where we were so had to leave that fine establishment.

 

With an age range spanning seventy years we always try and find a couple of activities that will allow all of us to experience adventure together. The jeep tour turned out to be a perfect option. The guides even made sure the newest jeep with the best shock absorbers held the elder members of our group. We got into the backcountry and had a few spots where we could get out, walk around, and take some pictures.

 

The six grandchildren were encouraged to pose for multiple photo opportunities. Fortunately they love each other and are willing to put up with all of the requests. We really are very lucky that these six are so good to each other and enjoy their time together. They are a lot of fun to be around and help make these trips special.

 

And here is the whole family as the sun was setting towards the end of our tour. We have a number of group pictures taken in a variety of places over the years. This is another great one and we know how much John's parents cherish these moments.

 

Speaking of Nana Banana and Sport, here they are in the back of their high performance jeep. They are the ones smiling ear to ear from beginning to end. It is nice to see how grateful they are for the simple gift of being together. We are blessed to have them as role models for what matters in this life and setting that tone for our own families. 

 

As anyone who has traveled with family knows, a key decision is what to do about food. There are always multiple trips to the grocery store, unique food requests, and questions about who is doing the cooking. We have a good system developed over our trips. Each family takes on one dinner from prep to clean up and it is fend for yourself for breakfast and lunch. This year was a little bit different with Thanksgiving where we all shared in the efforts. And Reese ended up cooking with the Balestraccis because she bailed on her responsibilities with her own family. But overall it works and leads to some great meals over the week.

 

And what is Thanksgiving without a good Turkey Trot? 10 out of 14 of us signed up for the Sedona 5K. It was beautiful but hilly, and the added element of some elevation took a toll on the non-Colorado folks. Zoey and Reese led our group and finished in 10th and 11th place in the girls under 19 division. They both ran sub-8 minute miles which is saying something for this course. The rest of us were proud to be standing at the end. While most of the crew stayed until Saturday we had to fly out on Friday and so missed the last day of hiking. It only means we will need to return so that we can hike Cathedral Rock, among other things.  

Last Hurrahs and Fresh Starts

 Senior year of high school is quite a journey where you are looking to the future with all the college applications even as each day, week, and month, seems to be wrapping something from the past. In the fall, soccer took center stage in that department for Callie.

Who knew fourteen years ago when we had to convince this little girl that her legs weren't too tired to go on the field that she would fall in love with the sport and pour her full self into it. From the Sting in LYSA to her senior year at Henry Clay was quite a journey. Both Callie and her parents had no clue back then how much she would be rewarded for staying with this beautiful game. 

 

Yes, this is the same girl holding a soccer ball all these years later. The field is bigger and so is the goal, but that is the same kid. This year marks her fourth year on varsity and her second year as captain, and we all were looking forward to see what the season would bring for her and for the team. But each game played was going to be one step closer to the final match in a Blue Devils uniform.

 

But Callie was not alone in this venture. In fact, some of her senior teammates had been on this journey with her since elementary school. This picture here captures Callie, Lydia, Addie, and Maddie from a tournament during the epic season with the LFC Gray team, when the girls were only 12 years old and endured a season of challenges and lessons to last a lifetime.

 

But they all grew up and six years later they were still together playing soccer and enjoying their senior year. Each one took a different path to get there but when all was said and done they recognized how special it was to have been a part of it together.

 

And they were just four members of a large senior class that had eleven girls overall. One of these girls, Janie, was on the Sting with Callie so their soccer journey goes all the way back to the very beginning. Others she got to play with only in high school but has a lot of good memories with all of them. It was quite a crew that gathered for a dinner hosted by the Stones and we are going to miss many of the parents as this season marks their last with Henry Clay.

 

For four years we witnessed, helped organize, and announced the senior night activities for the girls soccer team. It was a little surreal that it was now Callie's turn. The night was a bit rainy, but thankfully it held off for pre-game pictures. And the game itself went well, with Henry Clay winning and Callie scoring a goal. 

 

Perhaps the best part of Callie's senior season has been the support she has gotten from her friends. They show up to all the home games rain or shine and this senior night definitely tested their commitment. Either the student section wasn't as large in previous years or it just seemed larger this year because we kept hearing them chant Callie's name. Regardless, it was great to see and we love to know that her friends support her in this way.

 

An extra surprise on senior night came in the form of some of Callie's friends from GSP, including her closest friend Kendra. They drove from over an hour away and sat in the pouring rain with this sweet sign and a care package just to show up for Callie. It made us weepy just to see it but it highlighted Callie's character that she has friends who are willing to make this effort just to be there for her.

 

This season, like any other, had its ups and downs and it didn't always go Callie's way. But we have always believed that sports are important because of the life lessons they teach and that is so true in Callie's case. It has not always been a smooth ride but she has learned so much about herself in the process and we are proud of her. She had a strong senior sesaon and has the stats to prove it. But more importantly, she was a great leader, especially when it came to the younger players trying to navigate the dynamics of a high school team. One of the best compliments Callie got was from Erin Oakley, who went out of her way to tell us how much of a role model Callie was for her daughter Mary, who was a freshman on the varsity team.

 

One of the biggest ups on the season was the district championship that Henry Clay won by defeating arch-rival Frederick Douglass, something that hadn't been done since Callie's freshman year. It was a nice victory and another feather in Henry Clay's cap as the team headed to regionals.

 

All good things must come to an end, however, and after a first round victory the Blue Devils lost in the Regional Semi-Finals to Dunbar. And so the journey came to an end with a lot of ugly crying and hugs among the girls and their parents. This hit Callie a little harder than she expected because it came with the realization that this was really it. She had decided not to play club soccer any more and had also put aside the possibility of playing in college. It was a great run while it lasted and she knows that her future will always include the love of the game.

 

Even as Callie's senior year was playing out over the fall Reese was making her mark on the JV team. We had hoped she would be on varsity with her sister but it was not in the cards. Instead, Reese captained the JV team for her second year in a row and made the most of every opportunity given. 

Her coaches quickly recognized her skill, versatility, and willingness to do whatever they asked. As a result, Reese played most of every game and at a variety of positions. She was a bit devastated by not making varsity but this was a character building year and she took advantage of it.

 

The JV team only lost one game during the season and Reese scored, assisted, defended, and led the team in positive affirmations. We are obviously biased in our assessment of her playing, but we had a lot of other folks share with us how impressed they were with Reese.

In the picture above Reese is on the move in a game against Lafayette, and you can see one of Lafayette's coaches in the background. That coach also happens to be one of Reese's biggest fans and our friend Ella Abraham. Ella repeatedly made it clear to Reese that she is a great player who deserved to be on varsity. Those things don't make everything better, but they certainly helped Reese maintain her confidence.

Not only did Reese not get to play with her sister, but she had to navigate the hardship that came with having her best friend Mary make varsity. Callie, Mary, and Reese did an excellent job of cheering each other on, understanding the sensitivity of the situation, and maintaining great friendships. It is a testament to all of them that the season went as well as it did for all of them. And at season's end, Reese was the well-deserved MVP of the JV team and Mary earned Rookie of the Year honors for Varsity. Callie wrapped up her career with the Blue Devil award for varsity. So proud of all of them and can't wait to see what Reese and Mary bring to the field next season.

A Great Kentucky Fall

There are a lot of great things about fall in general, but fall in Lexington brings with it a host of fun activities that we have gotten used to over the years. It's hard to imagine fall without college football, horse racing, and other fun autumn treats.

At least once each year we get the privilege of getting to use the Chrisman's season tickets for a UK football game. Sometimes it is all four of us but on special occasions two of us get to join the Leathermans. Chris's sister Cissy and her husband Kenny are phenomenal people and a blast to go to a game with. They definitely make the whole experience fun.

 

On this particular gameday Reese and Sarah got to see a thrilling game between UK and Texas. The Longhorns and their high profile QB Arch Manning came in as big favorites but the Cats almost pulled off a huge upset. That close game ended up being one of the few highlights of the season. Sarah and Reese were glad they got to witness it first hand. 

 

Keeneland's fall meet is another significant piece of the fall social schedule for young and old. Reese took in the horse racing with one of her long-time friends Ella. It wasn't the best weather day but the whole Hughes family was there so Reese was over the moon. She is essentially an honorary member of their family and they all had a great day.

 

Callie has made the leap from going to Keeneland with our family or another family and is heading there with her own group of friends. This picture captures six of the seven members of what has become known as Core, a solid group of great kids who have supported each other and taken on numerous social events together. They certainly have plans for making the most of their senior year of high school.

 

In a twist of fate, the very weekend after the Texas game we were offered the use of two groups of four season tickets for the UK-Tennesse football game. Both were atttached to the clubhouse which meant we didn't have to draw straws to see who would get the free food. We had an adult foursome and then a kid foursome. And before the game we also got to stop by a tailgate to hang out with our favorite first-year UK med school student, Ella Abraham. We are so happy for her but even happier that we get to have her back in Lexington.

 

The weather for this game was not so great and the final score was even worse, but the company was fantastic. We invited Bob and Tracy Fultz, who have been great friends for over fifteen years. Our normal interactions with them center around our wine group so it was nice to throw a different activity into the mix. 

 

And yes, the girls do actually go to school in the fall as well. In fact, this is the first time since elementary school that they are together and they are enjoying it. It is great to see how Callie and her friends support Reese and we are happy to see Reese following in her sister's footsteps while also making a path all her own. And while the construction of a new school is going to lead to these trees coming down, we can enjoy their fall colors for now. 

 

We are in the very final stages of childhood Halloween, which means that Reese and her friends dressed up to give out candy but still found a way to get some candy of their own and have fun together. Reese has a good group of girls here and they all play soccer at Henry Clay as well, which is fun.

 

And now that the girls are very much on their own for Halloween we get to figure out what we want to do. In past years we have walked around the neighborhood and enjoyed seeing all the festivities. But this year we saw that the UK women's volleyball team had a home match and couldn't pass up the opportunity to see a nationally ranked team in action. It was a lot of fun and right down the street. Glad we got to see them before they made their run to the national championship game. Although they fell just short of the championship they are still number one to us!