Highlights of 2019 + a touch of 2020

2019 was a big year. In no particular order, we finished our house renovation (documented in a previous post), my mom moved from Richmond to Maryland (very bittersweet), Owen lost his front teeth (but there were "shark teeth" right behind them so that he barely ever had a space there), Amelia lost a tooth too (and another one soon after), Amelia danced in couple recitals, Jacob graduated elementary school (and had to describe himself in 6 words), Uncle David & Drew came to visit (we saw the soon to be World Series champion Nationals play!), Aunt Jamie and family came to visit (we saw the sites), we went on lots of fun summer adventures (to be documented in future posts), Sam graduated high school and went off to college (UVA), there was the first day of pre-k, 4th and 6th grade, we had a grand celebration filled with hope to welcome 2020 with the Schwartzes (good riddance 2020), Mike and I went to Key West with friends (take me back!!), all five of us got a glimpse of what we might look like when this pandemic is over (not really, but it was fun to see what we might look like when we're old-er), and other fun and exciting stuff.  

Aunt Jamie, Uncle Jared, Heath, Laila, Olivia & Barkley came to visit little old us!

"Camping"

One of our last walks around UofR lake

A visit with Bill, Graham and Charlotte

Our last day at 7700 Hampshire Road

Jacob pitching

Owen FINALLY lost his front teeth!

Amelia's dance recital

Elementary school clap out!

Nana and Papa came to help celebrate Jacob's elementary school graduation. 

Jacob in his own 6 words

Amelia with her 3s class teachers, Mrs. Biggs and Mrs. Mac & Cheese

Last day of school - 2018-19

Uncle David and Drew's visit

Amelia's and her best buddy Cambria

Amelia hiked the whole Billy Goat trail - 4 miles!

Sam headed off to college!!!

Outfits ready for the first day of school!

First day of school 2019-20

Owen 4th grade, Amelia pre-k, Jacob 6th grade

Short trip to Allentown for Gabriel's bat mizvah

Halloween - Owen the garden gnome, Amelia the baby shark (in a nod to the World Series Champion Nationals!), and Jacob was attempting to camouflage with the dark (?).

Firepits and Schwartzes

Girls' trip to Lake Gaston 

(Sanchia, Amy, Jean, Jen, Danielle, Stacey, & Shannon)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! 2020 is going to be AMAZING!!!!

We got to explore the World Series Champion Nationals' park in the off season

Key West forevs with Laura, Mike & Molly, Matt

Amelia's winter dance

And then, just for fun...

I guess one day we'll see how accurate this was. Yikes. 

The Shermans Visit and then...

Though there's no picture of all of us together (and apparently not a sign of Wendy in any picture anywhere?!?), the New York Shermans, Wendy, Dave, Avery and Drew, came to visit! 

These two crack me up.

And this guy cracks himself (and Amelia) up.

We visited the Udvar Hazy museum to see a variety of historic aircraft one of the days. Then walked along the National Mall for a couple miles the next. Sadly, Avery wasn't feeling great on day 2, so she and Wendy skipped the Mall. Just means she'll have to come back to visit soon.

Love this picture.

photo credit: Dave Sherman

I know we're making the same face, but I think Owen and I are obviously related.

Such a great weekend with Uncle Dave, Aunt Wendy, Avery and Drew. Avery and Owen are both in kindergarten and spent a lot of time together comparing notes, doing artwork, and joking around. With all these kids it was nonstop, but so good to have the five of them together for a whole weekend.

And then, a few short days later...THIS...

Happened.
That's a lot of signage on my front lawn.
Thanks so much for that...Nancy, Steve, Sam and Anderson!

Oh Happy Day!
I will admit the number (40) is a little daunting when I think too much about it, but since I'm quite sensible, I can appreciate how fortunate it is to keep getting older, so I hope to keep doing that for a very very long long time!

Also, a few days later Sarah, Stacey and I went to Palm Beach, FL to bask in the sun and drink our cares away. Only kidding. We are MOTHERS, people!

 Oh wait.

 But there was also tea.

Cheers to the forties!!!!