Feb vacation

 

This maybe wasn’t Kristen’s best Airbnb choice as the parking was non existent, the street was a mess with dead mice on the sidewalk and we were surrounded by graffiti- 

 We invited Katherine to come with us - a first for us - as a girlfriend has never been on a trip before…it was part of what made us look for 3 bedrooms in an Airbnb…which wasn’t easy to find at any kind of reasonable rate…part of why we ended up where we ended up :{

 One of the reasons we choose to go to New York for this break was to use our Broadway credits…from 2 years ago when Sheldon was perming and it was shut down due to COVID…

We went to see Harry Potter and it was incredible.  It was a 3hr 30 minute for the show with a fifteen minute intermission…so long, like wow long…but amazing.  The stage work, the special effects, the direction - all made for a memorable experience.  So was the $200 I spent in the theatre for drinks and popcorn…but someone had to pay for the Harry Potter themed carpet…. 

 Dressing up to go to town

 Our first ever forays into the subway system.  We navigated it ok…but we were very happy that Jaden and Alex were guiding us the first night.

 An awesome picture - during the daytime that day it was in the 70s temperature wise and during our 4 hrs in the theatre it dropped down to the 30’s and got windy.  No one was prepared for that except me…which is why Kristen is wearing my coat :)

 The Harry Potter stage

Graffiti near our Airbnb-for memory sake :)

Kristen and the kids got to do the Ferry during one of the days in New York while I worked from our Airbnb.

 Jaden and Alex - we only saw them for the time at the theatre…but it was a wonderful memory together.

Office update

 

While Kristen was cavorting around the states, I worked to get my office fixed up a bit.

I figured…it would be WAY better to do it while she was out of town because…well…it is just easier to not deal with the anxiety that comes with making a mess as I made shelves, and file drawers and such and took everything out of my office in support of organizing and cleaning and updating my office.

Kristen is very happy and says it is way past due…and that she is glad that it looks like a professional office now rather than a “catch-all” junk room.

Happy Valentine’s Day

 I know Kristen is on her trip - and somehow it seems we are apart for one reason or another on Valentine’s Day - but she still made sure that the boys and I were loved today :)

Also, Jacob took out his girlfriend tonight and was surprised that it was a fixed menu and had a price per person for the multiple courses.  He called me and I had to give him money to help cover for the night…but he said it was the best food he ever had, and, I imagine being the only teenagers in the restaurant helped cement a memory for them as well.

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.