January 2021

Happy 2021!

Since I lead the Pandemic team at work, I was eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine and I was thrilled to sign up!  I got my first round, and will get my second next week.

2021 started out on a negative note because I tripped over the wooden threshold going out to our garage and landed on concrete, breaking 3 teeth, fracturing a small bone in my hand, and causes a bunch of bruises that still aren't healed.  An awesome dentist got me fixed up right away and my hand is now healed.  What a way to start a promising new year!

Brennan moved back to his dorm on his 19th birthday, but Thomas came home the night before so we could have a proper celebration!  We went out to dinner and had a fun night celebrating Brennan.

Our podcast, RomCom Love, had a live taping!  We watched "Bridesmaids" and then recorded our latest episode.  Brittany and I had a ball and we appreciated 20+ friends for making it out to our local independent theater for a fun night!

4 of my super fun friends came dressed in Bridesmaids dresses.  It was such a great night!

Bailey turned 7!  Bailey and I are the same age for a couple of weeks (49 in people years).  We had a little photo shoot to commemorate the big day.

Too sleepy to pose any more

Remy was game

Bailey finally woke up between my meetings

I completed a virtual challenge, walking and exercising my way around the Ring of Kerry in Ireland.  Maybe I'll get to drive it in person one day soon!  

And two more photos of sweet puppies.  We don't get out much and work most of the time :)

December 2020

I got behind in my blogging!  I originally started this blog so our family afar could keep up with our life.  Now with facebook, Instagram, etc. it seems like maybe it's not necessary, but since the boys aren't really on social media, I keep it up!  I also love being able to find photos quickly by going to the blog.

We hope you're doing well.  Thomas and Brennan are back in school in Indy and West Lafayette.  We're hoping that some normal activities resume sometime this semester.  It's hard being isolated and focus on school work in your dorm or apartment all the time.  But they're doing well, and David and I are still enjoying working from home.  I feel like I don't give the dogs enough attention, but who am I kidding?  We seem them all day every day, plus they're our Netflix buddies at night.  We're all doing just fine!

We stayed super busy at work but had some time to safely meet up with friends to celebrate the holidays.

Bianca had us over for a book club discussion. She is the best chef, amazing host, and our December kicked off right.

Our town is very festive.  I love the familiar signs that the holidays are here!

Cindy and Eric hosted a safe wine club event - a couples Christmas decorations scavenger hunt.  It was such a fun evening!

It was great having Brennan home for 2 months.  He finished his last 3 weeks of his freshman semester at home.

Unfortunately, after Thomas's last final he had to have 4 wisdom teeth removed.  He rallied remarkably quickly.  He had no issues at all.

David and I celebrated our 28th wedding anniversary at a great little restaurant in Brown County.  

They have these greenhouse pods which was really fun!

We had a great Christmas at home before heading to Mississippi with family.  We were thrilled to get to do that this year.

We made a nice breakfast together and had a great morning opening gifts.

We had a nice trip south to see family and celebrate the holidays!

Bailey and Remy joined us of course.

We zoomed with 24 of 29 extended family members in 4 different states on Christmas day and that was such a treat!

And of course had some wonderful meals together.

Happy 2021!

November 2020

Where did November go?  It was a busy month at work, but we had a lot of great family time too.  Brennan came home Thanksgiving week and will not return to Purdue until Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which is also Brennan's 19th birthday!

Our Wine Club had a quick get together to commemorate the opening of Abby's Way next to the Philharmonic.  Her parents, our friends Jan and Roger, were so touched that we could plan this event.  These photos are the only time we didn't have masks on.  Our friends are mask wearers and rarely venture too far from home these days!

Abby passed away 15 years ago in October while on a medical mission trip in Belize.  Abby's House was built in her honor and we have been long time supporters of that location for medical students and doctors to travel and stay there to provide care.

Bailey and Remy are doing well and are rarely not by my side.  Now that David and I work from home full-time, it's no wonder why most of my photos are of them!

When I sit outside, Bailey often sits with me.

Their nemesis (the mail truck) was parked IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE when we returned from a walk.  They were anxious to get there to chase him away.

Bailey was so excited to be done at the vet.  He's been licking a lot.  Had to get him checked out. He's fine, by the way!

Every time we leave the vet, Bailey stops here.  So cute!

David and I finished watching "Lost" all the way through.  We usually watch an episode or two over dinner while I catch up on my work email!  This is a frequent view from my spot on the couch.

Donna and family celebrated Grandma Carolyn's 84th birthday!  We can't wait to see all of these smiling faces at Christmas!

Renee celebrated a milestone birthday in November!  I wish I could have been with her to celebrate, but Japan is a little far.  Can't wait until we can meet up in person someday!

Here we are in 1988

And a couple of years ago!

David drove up to Purdue to pick up Brennan and bring him home for 2 months.  I surprised him with a sign.  Pumpkins by Tracie Johnston!

I took the boys shopping with me.  We had a lot of fun downtown.

Don't you love our live gnome?  He sits out on the front porch in a big pot.  So cute.

Thomas changed our sign and we had a great Thanksgiving, just the 4 of us.  We made a huge feast and really enjoyed our time together.  We also had a Zoom with our family over dessert!

The guys helped me decorate for Christmas which is always a huge help.

Brittany and I have helpers when we record our podcast, RomCom Love.  Aren't they cute?

Laura, Violet and I did a downtown walk on Sunday.  We stayed masked up because we are all dealing with COVID all day every day.  Laura as a school administrator, Violet as a teacher, and me at my job.  It's exhausting and I'm ready for that vaccine!

I hope you are enjoying all the Christmas celebrations, decorations, music, movies, and planning!  It's really a great time of year!!