2023 in Alphabetical Review

A  Anders, Anna, Andy & Amy, Acapella, Anna Grace, Airbnb rentals, Achilles Tendonitis, Alpen

B Brothers, Buffalo 

C College, Clara, Crazy for You, Camp Counselor, John Canning

D Drivers License, Disregulation, Dorm, Dinghy

E  Eighteen, Evan, Ellie, Elie, Emida,  emergency room visits w Barbro & Bjorn

F  Foreign exchange student from Frieberg, Fires in Canada, FMLA for 6 weeks, Family, Friends

G Germany, Geoff, Graffiti explosion, girlfriends, homemade Granola

H High School Graduation, Hadestown, Hamas attacks Israel 

I  Israel attacks Palestine, Improv, Icelandic sweater 

J  Judy, Jasper and family move to Idaho

K Kuba, Keats, Kefir, pirate King & swamp King

L Lightening Thief, Science Labs, Les Mis, Lake Champlain

M Morgan, Mikayla, Mexican Lasagna

N Neil Patrick Harris

O Our Flag Means Death, Only Murders in the Building, Old BHS demolished

P Perkins Pier, Prom,  Pirates of Penzance, Ping Pong, Peter Pan Goes Wrong

Q Quilt for Anders

R Rich & Rachel

S  Sailing, Samuel, Sylvan, Sweet Sixteen, BHS Sophomore, Sandy, Spamalot, Squidward,          Spongebob, Side of our house reSided

T Truro Fine Arts Center, Trek, Tenor Bass Choir

U University of Vermont, the war in Ukraine, JV &V Ultimate

V  Very Merry - for work and play, Voice Play, a lot of  College Visits

W Wildlife biology, Walt & Chris, CCRH WE, Wordle

X MMXXIII

Y Brown Cow Yogurt 

Z Zoe goes to Kindergarten 

Christmas 2023

This Christmas had some kinks.
The first being that Peter and Jen were going to host the Thelemarcks on December 24th. Then we were going to celebrate Christmas day with Sandy at our house and Anna's brothers and mother would have Christmas day without us.  But - fate did not allow that.  Peter got Covid and so the plans changed. 

We did meet up as a big group at Peter’s house to exchange gifts, outside in the backyard with Pete masked up. Later that day we hosted Christmas Eve without Peter, Jen and Kaj. The next day we had Christmas brunch with Claes and Vikki and Sandy, and Christmas dinner with Sandy and Barbro.  Lots of last-minute changes! We rolled with it, but it felt a bit confusing at times. We really missed Jen, Pete and Kaj.  Also, perhaps it was odd because Lea and Hannah were not here either and they add so much life to the mix.  We still managed to have a delicious Swedish Christmas eve and a mellow and relaxed Christmas day.  Next year we are heading to Buffalo. Hopefully, Covid won't become a regular part of our holiday celebrations and derail next year too!

 

FONDUE

This holiday season could not go by without a fondue dinner.

We invited Sandy, Jamie, AJ, Zoe, as well as Morgan and her mom.  

It was a very cheesy night with a delicious spinach salad and 

yummy dessert.  Some of us just loved it, and others of us felt like 

we have turned into a ball of cheese ourselves. 
MORE SPINACH PLEASE! 

 

Holiday Mud

'Tis the Season...for mud? 

Climate Change has certainly impacted our weather.

Absolutely NO SNOW this Christmas.

In fact, in exchange for snow, we've had flooding! 

Here we are walking in the intervale which was coated with mud, everywhere.  

Still, our spirits were bright and our desire for fresh air was just as high as ever.

 

Pierogi

 

All the Light

 Anna and I hosted a dinner party on the Solstice.
The guest list was carefully curated by Anna - who wanted to be sure that there would be a nice connecteion between guests, as some knew one another and others had never met. It was super fun and spirited and Anna did a great job!

Happy Solstice!

 

Solstice Fun

We took an evening hike with friends up to Lone Tree Hill at Shelburne Farms.

It was beautiful and we sang and ate cookies and played in the dark night.  

Happy Solstice!

 

Sisters

This year my sister has become even more important to me. 
Losing my mom has brought her into super sharp focus.  

I love her so very much. 

I need her in my life so very much.

I feel enormously grateful.  

 

Semester 1 - It's a Wrap!

Anders finished his last exam on Friday, December 15th.  
It was exactly one week after having all 4 of his wisdom teeth extracted.
He was home by the late afternoon, with a car full of plants and bags full of clothes.  

WE CANNOT BE MORE PROUD OF HIM.

He did well in his classes, found his friends, he and Sylvan are great roommates, he joined clubs and held a part time job and started a relationship.  Amazing.  

JOY.

He will be home for one month so we get to seem him regularly now!!

 

From This to That

 

The tree experience this year was a bit of wild goose chase.  We went with Andy and Amy, and headed towards Underhill.  We passed by the regular White's Tree Farm and drove to their alternate site.  After many wrong turns we ended up finding out it was not open this year.  Instead, happened upon a fun little sign advertising a family run tree farm.  It was truly that, and it wsa behind their house.  So we tromped into the field and each found one. I think this year our tree is a lot wider than it usially is, but it's still quite lovely.  Happy Holidays! 

Madrigal Concert

  

This year Kuba has joined the BHS chamber choir, and sings with a small group of others.  Recently they performed with about 20 other high schools at the Unitarian Church.  It was lovely to say the least.  You can check out this beautiful performance here.  

First Snowball

 I took a dog walk with Kuba today.  There was a bit of snow and he was goofing around.which I loved.

Still Happy to Help

I always love it when we bake together.

First we had Kuba helping and then later, Anders and Morgan.

I'm so happy they are willing to jump right in.