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Since the girls aren’t in the same school system this year, they didn’t have the same spring break, which was a total bummer. So we decided to do something a little different. Sophie and I took a trip together and Dave and Lauren took a trip together. While it wasn’t the same as our big week-long adventure, we all ended up having a really good time and also got some great one-on-one time.

Sophie and I went to NYC for 4 days, where we stayed in Chelsea and did vintage shopping, wantered around with no agenda whatsoever, ate delicious food, and saw two broadway shows – Six and Operation Mincemeat. Sophie has been dying to see Six and knew the entire soundtrack. And Operation Mincemeat was brand new – just arrived from London – and was very Monty Python-esq. Both were so great.

On the last night we had an amazing turn of event, and realized that our friends who moved to Hawaii, The Marvin’s, would be in NYC the same night, flying back from Europe! We got together for dinner and caught up and it was so great. Sophie and Claire, her old friend and neighbor, have stayed in touch and were so happy to see each other.

Three weeks later, Dave and Lauren went to Disney! Lauren had never been before and really wanted to go, especially since Sophie has been four times! So they did it. By all accounts, they had a great time and did all the things, as well as enjoyed the sunny Florida weather.

We’re not sure if we’ll do the same thing again next year, but it worked out well this year. Grateful that we get to travel to so many exciting places!

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Oh my gosh – Sophie is 15!! I know – we can’t believe it either.

She kept it lowkey this year with a few friends sleeping over on Saturday and a family party on Sunday. We were happy to celebrate all things Sophie for the full weekend!

And the next weekend she got her last birthday present, which was getting her hair professionally dyed red. She’s been using box color for years and has very much wanted to make it permanent, so we finally did it and she loves it.

Happy Birthday sweet girl!

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This winter has felt like a long one. Very cold, lots of snow – all the things. We’ve been trying to keep it cozy inside, but cabin fever is setting in. There have been a few highlights.

In January, Lauren had her winter band concert, which was excellent and she sat in the first row!

Sophie joined the basketball team! She started as the manager, but they didn’t have enough players, so she was soon a member of the full team. Having never played before she and the team were really good sports and she actually enjoyed it. She even made a game day promo!

Dave and I went to the Commodores’s Ball at the Union League and had a chance to get fancy.

Lauren also got fancy for her Valentine’s Day dance

Erin brought the college friend group back together with a karaoke birthday party!

And to top off the end of winter – the EAGLES WON THE SUPERBOWL!

So, all in all, a pretty good end of winter.

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I got a little time away in sunny Miami!! with Aleen and Sallie at the end of January. We were joined by a few other folks this time – a few friends of Aleen’s from Charlottesville and our college friend Kara. All in the spirit of women’s basketball – to support Unrivaled, a new off season league for women based in Miami. It was a great combo of basketball, eating, music, more eating, and general relaxing… ahhh

Why am I the only one wearing colors to the club??!!

Not our typical girls get away, but so much fun all the same!

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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