• Sharp Family Blog

    Sharp Family Blog

It’s official – Lauren is 12! Because her birthday falls between Christmas and New Year’s, when so many people are out of town, we typically do two birthday celebrations – one with the family on her actual birthday and one in January with all of her friends.

This year, Dave had planned to take her skiing, but the weather did not cooperate, so instead we just hung out locally and did all of her favorite things, which included a breakfast of giant chocolate chip pancakes at Hymies, going to Target, and eating chocolate cake 🙂

Next up is her friend birthday celebration.

Read more

The best morning of the year is Christmas morning and this year was no exception! If we’re focusing on the material things, and let’s be honest, we have teenagers so that’s exactly where they’re focused, it was a good year. They both got phones (a first for Lauren) as well as clothes, shoes, skincare, and gift certificates. What else could a girl want 😉

We hosted dinner again this year, but unlike years past, it was a pretty small crowd. It started out smaller than usual with a few families elsewhere this year, so we were expecting 19. But in the end, we only had 10, including us, because of sickness. It seems like everything is going around right now – from the flu to COVID – and folks were dropping like flies. But it still turned out to be a lovely day. While I usually find myself buzzing around making sure everyone has a drink and a seat, this year I got to sit down and have a good chat with everyone. And we even had an impromptu concert with tiny instruments that Suzy supplied. We had enough food to feed an army, and put a good dent in it, but enjoyed those leftovers for at least a week afterward!

Read more

Since my parents sold their house this summer, which is where we’ve celebrated Thanksgiving for as long as I can remember, we had a venue change this year and Vicki and Doug hosted. It was the full Rainer gang with a few additions and it was perfect. Everyone brought a dish and Doug kept the fried turkey tradition going. Everyone fit for a sit down dinner divided between two tables in the kitchen and living room.

The next day Julia and Madeline hosted everyone at their house in South Philly for leftovers and games.

Read more

As is our tradition, we headed to Yaeger’s Tree Farm to cut down our tree. It was the first very cold day of the season and the hay ride out to the tree field felt especially chilly, but we found the perfect one, so worth it!

Lauren with the winning tree
And after the fall
Sophie was a passive participant this year
Lauren after decorating the tree

Lauren and I decorated the tree when we got home. Petunia tried her best to help as well.

Read more

We still have one kid who is into Halloween and we’ll take it! Lauren leans more gory and frightening and did not disappoint this year. She went trick-or-treating around our neighborhood with her friends Noa and Maddie (who also leans toward gore). As usual, our street didn’t get my kids, but there are a few other blocks that are busy, so that’s where they headed.

Read more

At the end of October, my family came up for the weekend to celebrate the engagement of Hayley and Tim and to see all the Savage cousins who were in town. My grandfather’s youngest sister, Carmela Savage, had five kids who were all in town. My mom and the rest of the Rainer clan were invited to Steve Savage’s house for a cousin reunion. I’ve met everyone at some point, it’s been a while. It was fun to catch up.

The next day Hayley and Tim hosted an engagement party at a cute farmhouse they’re renting in Chester County. It was a beautiful day and the house was a perfect setting. No date set for the wedding yet.

Read more

At age 11, Lauren has finally decided that she wants to get her ears pierced. Up until now, she hasn’t wanted to and just a few weeks ago started talking about it. I waited a few weeks just to make sure that she was serious and she was, so we headed to the mall and did the deed. She was brave and it was quick. And I think she already owns more earrings than I do!

Read more

It’s been a lovely fall. It hasn’t rained here in about 6 weeks, which has been terrible for the grass and plants, but with low humidity and the perfect temperature, it’s been amazing to just be outside.

Dave and I competed in the Waterman’s Olympic Distance triathlon in Rock Hall at the end of September. I was still in great condition from training for Nationals and ended up taking 2nd overall in the Masters Category (anyone 45+). I was a little offended to be considered a Master, but what can you do? It was my fasted Olympic Distance so this Master killed it.

Lauren ran on the cross country team again this year and did really well. She ended up in the Top 5 of her team of about 30 5-8th graders. She really enjoys it and is also very much looking forward to joining the track team when she’s in 7th grade (track is only 7th and 8th).

And Sophia had a cool experience with the Philadelphia Girls Choir. She was one of just a few singers invited to sing with The Philadelphia Orchestra in their performance of G. Mahler Symphony No. 3. They performed twice at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia and once at Carnegie Hall in NY! The most exciting part of the NY performance for her was running into Alec Baldwin in the hallway, who then took her phone to take a group selfie (“he touched my phone!!”).

Read more

At the end of September, Shannon and Mike got married at a beautiful place in Stroudsburg, PA. It was a perfect night and the ceremony was held outside in the woods followed by a reception in a building that had a log cabin feel. It could not have been more them. The girls stayed home and watched Maddie while the adults all drove there and back. It was the perfect night for the perfect couple!

Read more