Happy 2020, everyone! Did you have a nice holiday? We definitely did, but as always, the season was fast and furious.
It started with our neighborhood holiday progressive. Always fun!!
And Brie and I did some holiday baking. Isn't our kugel beautiful? It fit perfectly on one of Grandma Lonia's old plates. 💜
I then took a quick trip to Chicago to attend the Union for Reform Judaism's Biennial! It's a huge conference where Jewish leaders from all over the world meet and learn. It was really interesting and I got so much out of 2.5 days! It also was nice to get away; I roomed with my friend and fellow mom of little people Dani!
The speakers were amazing. This young man is an Ivy League student and DACA recipient with no living family in the U.S. He is literally alone and in limbo.
I reunited with one of our rabbis from North Carolina!
Yeah, Rockdale!
I even got to enjoy happy hour with some IvyGate colleagues who live in Chicago. Woohoo!
Our delegation!
Shabbat dinner for 5,000 people. It was (mammoth and) delicious!!
When I got back, we jumped right into holiday mode. Hehe.
Go 'Hoos!
Speaking of ornaments, the kids got some very thoughtful gifts from our awesome bus drivers this year, including these. 💚
We squeezed in a little Hanukkah...
Including teaming up with two friends to teach Sebastian's class how to play dreidel. It got pretty competitive!
And then we hit the road! Anyone else feel like they just kind of just "survive" the holidays of late? Well, each and every year, we worry...will we catch the plague? Well, we nearly survived. At the end of our 7.5-hour drive to NoVa, Brie started to look a little green. By the end, I had handed her a ziploc bag...and as soon as we got out of the car, well, you can guess. ☹️ So that night was rough--poor Brie--but to her credit, she bounced back the next day. And then for three days, we thought we were in the clear, but then Samuel got sick during dinner on Christmas Eve. ☹️☹️ He also bounced back the next day, but poor Samuel! LUCKILY, the rest of us stayed well for the rest of the trip. Phew!!
Now to the good stuff. Our trip was lots of fun...reuniting with good friends Jackie and Justin...
And the kids!
And Jay and Courtney!
Outdoor time on warm, sunny days...
Nativity scene and gingerbread house!
Lots of cousin time!!
Presents!!
Incredibly delicious food and animated conversation!
A cute winter play directed by Aunt Cheryl!
Sister time!
Uncle silliness!
Family pics!!
Doggies!!
Sebastian especially loved Abby and Riley at my aunt and uncle's in Richmond. Lunch + labradors = a great time!
The beach!!
More presents! It was a great moment when Sebastian opened this doll because Samuel assumed it was for Brie, but Bas was insistent that it was his. He specifically asked for "Leslie" who comes with a husky puppy. Leslie and Tenny enjoyed walking their dogs together!
Holiday lights!
More Hanukkah!
Pizza!
With pizza earrings!
Books!
Holiday decorations at the Cavalier!
Wrapping up Hanukkah!
Bowl game excitement (followed by a bit of fizzle). At least we played pretty well!
Two trips to Jungle Golf!!
Tony and I were slaves to our laptops this winter break. Oy! No photos of that, but I have to mention it. I might still be bitter.
We did pause long enough to have a fabulous New Year's Eve with Beth! ❤️
We walked to EAT down the street from my folks. It was DELICIOUS. And, of course, we enjoyed champagne and cocktails.
And then we drove back to Cincinnati the next morning. Sad, but snacks from Gammy made it better.
One last highlight of winter break: the kids went to art camp (YAY!)...
And now, thankfully, they are back in school. The break was long and the kids were starting to burn out. Let's hear it for a fun holiday and a great start to 2020!
P.S. I got the
BEST holiday gift this year: a heated puff vest with a rechargeable battery! Love it!!
P.P.S. While I was holed up in Gammy's office editing thousands of essays, I had fun looking at old photos. These two of me and Beth when we were younger are two of my favorites. 💛
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