Now that the kids are finally back in school in person – at least 1/2 days – they had their school pictures taken. Here they are!
Picture Day 2020/21!
Happy 70th Birthday, Dave!
We’re leaving for vacation on Dave/Pop pop’s actual birthday, so we celebrated a week early with a nice dinner and wine pairing down in Rock Hall. If it was non-COVID times we probably would have thrown a big party, but this was the second best option. Dave cooked the whole dinner and I made a cake. It was another beautiful early spring weekend, so we got to spend a lot of time outside.
The birthday boy! 
The menu
On Sunday morning we walked to the beach where the Bay was like glass. Petunia loves to run around on the beach and will dip into the water, but won’t go in past her chest.
It was a really great, relaxing and celebratory weekend. It made me very excited for this coming summer and warm weather! This has been a long, cold winter and these glimpses of spring have been wonderful.
Happy 70th Birthday, Dave!
Coughlin Visit
My family came up for a late birthday visit in the middle of March. No one has been vaccinated yet, but they all should still have antibodies from being sick at the end of 2020. It was another low key weekend, where we hung out at the house. They brought Penny for the first time, so the dogs had a blast playing in the backyard (and all over the house). Fortunately the weather was nice all weekend, so we got a lot of outside time for eating and playing. The swing that Lauren got for Christmas continues to be a hit with all the kids, which has been great.
Goofballs 
Birthday celebration Take III 
Birthday girl 
Cousin love 
Nana with her girls
Happy 11th Birthday, Sophie!
We just hit the one year mark of the pandemic, which means Sophie is one year older! The very last “regular” get together we had with people was for her 10th birthday sleepover. What a year it’s been.
This year she celebrated on Saturday with two friends, Ruby and Sarah, who came over for a few hours for some crafts, pretzel making, pizza, cake and a movie. Fortunately it wasn’t a freezing day, so the kids could take their masks off and eat outside.
When the girls first arrived they made some bath bombs that were able to set by the time they left.
Dave then gave some pretzel making lessons and they made some Philly style pretzels to take home to their families.
pretzel folding lessons from Dave 
pretzels pre-bake 
the final product!
On her actual birthday, which was a Tuesday, she did a scavenger hunt for her birthday presents (a new tradition started with Lauren’s last birthday). And that night the Sharp’s came over for dinner – homemade pizzas and chocolate mousse cups.
Sophie and Lauren in very disturbing anonymous masks that she had asked for. 
they’re always happiest opening presents
Happy 11th Birthday, Sophie!!