Here's Zara somewhat uncharacteristically playing the field (based on previous post of goalie auditions). She's actually been dividing her time between goal and almost every field position, having played wings, midfield and forward in the last few games. She's loving soccer this season even though they have yet to post a "W" (they tied once!) but such is the life of a scrappy, raggle taggle JV crew.
I could regale you with tales of how 8 of us ended up spending the weekend together in Pittsburgh doing all sorts of fun things. Some of the fun things are pictured here - carousel rides, natural history and art museum, and science museum with a super cool indoor high ropes course. Many are not pictured - the quirkiness of the AirBnB we stayed in, getting Stu and Chris' car unstuck in the mud, some delicious food and coffee, and of course the completely intangible and unquantifiable delight that is getting to see your childhood friend's kiddos and your kiddos secretly planning to conquer the universe. Grown up time with said childhood friend was also good.
Zara has been playing goalie off and on since she was 9, but this is the first year she's had actual goalie coaching. Part of her move to JV soccer and true goalie tutelage involves dressing the part.... dress for the job you want indeed! (She also might be stealth auditioning for the part of #00 - the goalkeeper - in The Wolves)
Zaza and I took a brief trip to see our Brooklyn family as she missed out on our December visit due to fun in sunny Mexico. It was delightful, and while I once again failed to capture much of the trip photographically, please enjoy these snaps of us waiting for the F to take us to Penn Station and the Amtrak train that would carry us back home. C'ville is definitely home these days, but Bergen is my home stop!
Happy Birthday to the coolest polar bear in town!
We had originally planned to have Amity's super awesome spy party on her actual birthday, but 48 hours prior to this moment she was down for the count with a stomach bug, and we didn't want to risk "sharing" (or that some of the rest of us might be sick for the party). So, instead, we had a low key actual birthday, including a taste test of some Sugar Shack donuts (pictured here) and Brazos tacos for dinner. The actual birthday party was an insane feat of planning and execution and I can't believe we pulled it off, bit it included a laser maze, an escape room, may different kinds of codes to break, and a whodunnit mystery. It was such an event that we neglected to take a single picture, but believe me, it was grand!
Rung in 42 (the answer to everything!) with some of my favorite peeps over a lovely brunch at Firefly. Mimosas and coffee? Check! I really know how to party!
Amity participated in the 3rd and 4th grade Recital (nee talent show, nee nee variety show). She could have played piano, but chose to perform some Irish soft shoe (you can't tell from this still, but I assure you, it's a jig) instead.
We had a lovely trip to NYC over break. Highlights included seeing Klaus, seeing Erica, Emma and Chris, seeing our Brooklyn family, seeing Wicked, and... finally riding the Dumbo carousel! It was a good last day activity because it also included a 3 mile walk (which we knew would be followed by 8 hours of sitting in a car) and a lovely time was had by all. Not pictured here are both Evie and Sophie, who bravely accompanied Amity on the carousel!
Chanukah was on the earlier side this year, so it fell smack in the middle of concert/performance season and all of the other business that is the beginning of December. Nevertheless we did our best to light our menorah nightly, and in one case we even had M's guest menorah join us! For brevity's sake, I present a selection of menorah lightings for your enjoyment.
