Kristen trip - part 1

 2-9 to 2-20

Kristen is away for the longest trip/time that we have ever been apart.  She is visiting with Elizabeth and Lyra in Colorado and staying with Jason and Melissa while getting to do the “auntie” thing.

The comedy scene



Went to the Comedy Scene tonight with Kristen for another Groupon activity that K bought to make us get out.  We were the very first people there….it didn't start until 8, and we were walking in the door at 7….the bar wasn't open and they weren't even ready to redeem tickets…oh well.

Unfortunately, the comedy wasn’t great.  It was expensive for Kristen to have a couple drinks, and it was bitterly cold tonight getting in to and out of the conference room where it was held.

Got K French fries on the way home to make sure there was a happy memory in there as well :) 

Happy New Year - 2022

We did make it to midnight last night and even a bit later as we hit the hot tub for a short spell after the ball dropped.

We had the pleasure of meeting Alex, Jaden’s girlfriend tonight and then saw them off this morning to head back to New York.

While Kristen is still recovering from COVID, and largely just rested for the day after getting up to do the breakfast work, Jacob and Jude…once they finally decided to start the new year by getting out of bed, did end up going out with friends to enjoy an Escape Room adventure and dinner out.

Year in books - 2021

From the Goodreads app, they provide this cool snapshot for the year.  Always nice to see a retrospective :)

51 books was a good amount of material but I am determined to to a better job getting they more non-fictions in 2022 than what I did this year.

I think 8 of the 51 were non-fiction out of this list- so, definitely a year of enjoyable reading more than anything else.

Jacob is 17

 

I love that we do a plate for each birthday. - I kind of wished we had purchased 20 plates from like a dollar store and done 1 for each birthday and then give them back to the kids for memory keepsakes.

Jacob being 17 is crazy and while I know he didn’t get to spend it how he would have liked…he did still get to sleep in, open presents, play games, eat Chinese food and brownies….and even got to have socially distanced time outside with his girlfriend today.  So - hopefully still a great birthday.  

Covid Christmas

 Trying to maintain some social distancing within the home during Christmas does NOT make for good pictures or for the best family time.

Jaden and Jude shared this couch area to open their stuff

Kristen made a beautiful tree - though very frustrating that Christmas morning one strand went out right in the middle of the tree creating a dark ring.

This is Jacob at the very top of the stairs, Jaden and Jude 2/3rds down so that I can be at the bottom to take the picture…not being too close to Jaden and Jude…while making it look almost like Jacob is near Jaden and Jude…

Jacob in his corner of the living room

Mom in the middle of everything handing out the gifts

Uncle and Aunt - again

 Welcome to the family Lyra!

Kristen is ridiculously excited and already planning her trip to visit this little angel.

Dec 23rd - what else would we be doing?

 

Jacob and I are at the urgent care awaiting Covid testing.  We got here at 7:45, stood outside in line to check in for about 30 minutes- it was coldddd!.  Came in the building and checked in, which was probably 15 minutes?  Waited in the car for about an hour, came inside to the waiting room for another hour, to finally see the nurse around 10:40.  Quick questions and testing to wait the 15 minutes for results.

Leaving at 11:00 - sadly we are positive for Covid and have to now quarantine for 10 days.  Happy holidays indeed :(

Wicked Good Challenge

 

The 18th and 19th had Jacob at his first Club volleyball tournament.  

Jacob’s team played pretty well on Saturday and won 2 of 3 matches.  I went nice and early with him…leaving the house at 6am to get to his first game…and spent till about 2 following him around to his games with Katherine and Katherine’s mom, Melissa, joining me in the sideline watching.

Sunday…while Jacob had Mom, Jaden and Jude to cheer him on, the team did not fare well.

They lost the first match in 2 sets…to the eventual champion and then played a consolation match and won that one 2-0 to close out the tournament.

Award miles

Just a fun memory

Jaden called tonight as he was working on travel plans for his January break from school.

He called about using some miles he had accumulated for signing up for a card - “I have 3,000 miles…my flight is for less than that…how do I use those miles?” 

It was just one of those things that you never have to deal with until you do…so when would you ever learn that 1 mile of award miles doesn’t equal a mile of a flight?”

Well…Jaden was today years old when he learned :)