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. 

Chugging Along Through Fall and Winter

Time flew by so fast that I went another long spell without updating the blog! 

Before we knew it it was Halloween - Amelia was a fairy, Owen a pirate, maybe an attempt at Jack Sparrow?, and Jacob the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man. 

Owen joined the cross country team for the fall and ran the 2k race at 2 meets.

We LOVE our Thanksgiving traditions of going to NY, seeing all the cousins (and everyone else too of course), playing a big game of football, watching football, eating tons of food, and our annual family adventure (which has turned into just me and Owen) into NYC!!

 Look at all those kids! So hard to get them to all look at the same time. 

Back together again. 

Mike's cousin Jeremy and Diya are engaged!!!

Laila (6), Drew (5), Avery (8), Amelia (3), Jacob (10), Owen (8), Heath (9), Olivia (6) 

(ages at Thanksgiving 2018)

Owen and I ate and walked our way through Manhattan with a stop at Dylan's Candy Bar, Wagamama's, the Empire State Building (well, the lobby), and everything in between.

Next was Christmas

Amelia was in her first school dance show. She did a little routine to the song Hot Chocolate from the Polar Express with her class.

In Richmond we saw Charlotte and Bill with baby Graham! His first Christmas.

Sam turned 18!

Visits from Anne Van...always the helper!! Owen had a small "indoor football game in the basement" accident that required a staple on his scalp (which he handled like a pro with no numbing med, NONE!) and AVA kindly took it out for him. Priceless.