• Sharp Family Blog

    Sharp Family Blog

The day after Christmas Sophie got to do something very cool. She, along with the Philadelphia Girls Choir, sang the National Anthem and the halftime show at the Eagles game against the NY Giants.

The girls were originally invited to sing just the National Anthem, but a few days before the game the halftime show cancelled, so they jumped in and did halftime as well! They sang Deck and Halls and Jingle Bells for that one.

We got tickets for Dave’s parents and my family to all go. We got great seats behind one of the field goals. The game was good, but of course the best part was the choir!

Lauren and I before the National Anthem

There was a lot going on down on the field when the girls sang the National Anthem. As the girls stood down on the field waiting to sing, all of the players ran on to the field through smoke and fireworks. Then the Eagles drum line played and everyone sang the fight song. It was a lot. Finally the girls sang and they were excellent! The stadium was quiet and erupted when they finished.

The choir singing the National Anthem

At half time the girls came back out on to the field and sang two Christmas carols. It was a little tougher because the stands were loud and their voices are so delicate. But they were all featured on the jumbotron and saw a few good closeups of Sophie because she was in the front row.

The choir singing at halftime

Despite winter hats in these pictures, the weather was unseasonably warm, no jackets necessary. We were incredibly lucky because the day after was 40 and raining. It was such a cool experience and everyone had a great time, most of all Sophie!

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Christmas is back! After essentially being cancelled last year, we were back in action this year. There was a slightly smaller crowd this year – all vaxxed and tested ahead of time – but we were all together!

Christmas morning came early – 3AM to be precise. We told the girls they couldn’t wake us up until 6AM, so they entertained themselves for three hours with stuff from their stockings. I can’t believe they woke up that early – or that there was not a huge crash that afternoon, which I really thought would happen.

When the girls came downstairs they both found exactly what they asked for under the tree.

Lauren got a Vespa electric scooter
And Sophie got a phone!

After the morning of present opening and breakfast we cleaned up and prepped for the crowd coming later that day.

Calm before the storm

The Sharps, The Boyles, Don, Zoe and Maddie came from Dave’s side of his family, and Dan and family and Joan came from my side.

Don, Dave, Ed, Dylan
The cook sous chef
Zoe gave the girls a tumble mat and Shannon taught them some moves
Fierce game of Uno
Don and Dave
Dave and Don
Shannon, Sophie, me, Lauren, Zoe

As tradition goes, we performed a Sharp Family concert before dinner. Sophie played Carol of the Bells and Lauren did Jingle Bells. Accompanists were Kathy on clarinet, Dave on trombone, me on violin, and for Jingle Bells, Kish and Ash joined in with bells.

Later that evening my parents, Becky and Ari came up – just in time for dessert. It was a lovely evening, mostly because we all were able to be together again!

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In December, both of the girls had their respective end of year performances/races.

Lauren did Girls in the Run this fall for the first time. She was extremely reluctant to try it (as she is with all new activities), but ended up loving it. She’s also a very strong runner, no surprises there. She had practice twice a week for about 2 months and then a celebratory 5K run. Each girl runs with a buddy so Dave was her running buddy. The day was beautiful and she did really well. Out of 600 girls she came in 10th!

Lauren’s Girls on the Run team
Lauren and Dave (her running buddy) after the race

Later in December the Philadelphia Girls Choir had their holiday concerts. They did two this year – maybe to make up for not having any last year. The first was in a church in New Jersey and the second was at Temple Performing Arts Center. Both were amazing. Even though they had to sing with masks on, they still sounded amazing. This is also the first year that Sophie is performing with Cantata, the next group level up.

The first performance at a church in New Jersey
The second performance at Temple Performing Arts Center
Sophie with her friends Ella and Jojo

Now we’re enjoying a few activity free weeks before everything starts up again in January

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The day after we got back from Virginia we headed to Yaeger’s Farm to cut down a tree. When we went last year there weren’t a lot of trees, but this year was a bit better. We found one pretty quickly and the girls both took a shot at cutting it down before Dave ended up doing it.

  • Lauren giving it a go…
  • and Sophie
  • With the kill!

That evening the Sharps, Zoe and Maddie came over to help us decorate the tree.

  • Maddie & Lauren
  • putting up decorations
  • the final product!

A few days later I did a photoshoot with the girls to attempt to get a good one for our Christmas card. Here are some of the outtakes.

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We headed down to Charlottesville again for Thanksgiving. This year only Doug, Vicki and Nana came down as well. We had a gorgeous long weekend and were able to eat dinner outside (again). Doug did the deep frying and we all agreed, this was the best turkey we’ve ever had. Dave got the rub just right, and Doug has the oil temp and timing down.

  • the master fryer!
  • Dave & Doug
  • Lauren and her turkey leg
The Thanksgiving crew

We brought Petunia with us and she met Vahid for the first time. She was fascinated and a little nervous, but then started to try and bit her shell (dumb dog), so we had to separate them.

One night the girls had a sleepover at Becky’s new townhouse – but I don’t think they got much sleep.

  • Nana & Pap Pap with the grandkids
  • the girls at Becky’s for a sleepover
  • Lauren & Ari reading in front of the fire
  • Petunia meeting Vahid

The day after Thanksgiving we went to a whisky distillery that was a converted house in a beautiful spot at the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Even though the weather was much chillier than the day before, we all sat outside around a fire pit – and the whisky also helped to keep us warm 😉

  • Whisky around the fire pit
  • Me & Becky in our twinsie outfits

On our last night there we went to Winterfest at Boar’s Head. It was an outdoor lighted walk around the property that ended with Santa.

  • The girls with Santa & Mrs. Clause

It was a lovely trip and really nice just to hangout with the family.

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After a weird hiatus in 2020, Halloween was officially back this year! It landed on a Saturday, which meant the kids didn’t have to start trick-or-treating until after everyone got home from work (and there wasn’t an annoying half-day of school where the kids are ready to start at noon!).

Since we’re still in a pandemic, instead of having pre-trick-or-treating pizza at our house, some neighbors arranged a block party on Brentwood beforehand.

Lauren went as the Grim Reaper. She had decided this spring that that’s what she wanted to be, and stuck with it. I’m trying not to think too much into it. And Sophie went as some sort of deranged jester. After spending about an hour in the costume store, it was what she landed on.

  • The scary ghouls

After last year, where there were few houses, and really few kids, who were participating in trick-or-treating, the neighborhood went all out and the girls cleaned up!

The Sharps came over for the festivities and to give candy out at our house.

Candy management. Don’t mess with them!

We’ve had a very mild fall, so the weather was lovely all night.

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To celebrate her 96th birthday, Nana rented a beautiful waterfront house in Rock Hall (how convenient!) for the whole family. Between our house and the rented house we were able to have the whole group together. Some people were there for a whole week, and others just the weekend. We didn’t want to take the kids out of school (they’re far enough behind as it is), so we were part of the weekend crew.

It was a beautiful fall weekend and we spent a lot of it outside.

  • Lauren, Sophie, Ari, Kishore, Ashwini
  • Nana and Mom on the lawn in front of the house
  • Dave, Dan, Doug on the house’s dock
  • Ashwini, Kishore, Maithili

Lauren and Ari got a lot of time to play and love each other. The time together is never long enough for those two.

The great-grandkids also got in some good Gigi time.

We had a big Italian birthday dinner on Saturday night and I made an apple bourbon cake for dinner. It was a very happy and festive celebration!

We also got in some sailing. Dave captained two crews. On Saturday there was wind and they were able to do some sailing. Doug, Vicki, Carly, Chris, Julia, Maithili, Dad and Sophie went on that trip. And on Sunday there was little wind, but it was still beautiful, so Mom, Becky, Dan, Maithili, me and all the kids went. It was Ari’s first time on a boat and at first she was nervous, but eventually got comfortable, and event went up to the bow to sit with Sophie for a bit. We toured around the harbor and enjoyed some wine and snacks. It was lovely.

On Saturday right before the birthday dinner there was a beautiful rainbow that spanned the entire back of the house. Very fitting.

Happy 96th Birthday, Nana!!

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Picture Day! The school year has been going well and everything is running almost normal – the kids still need to wear masks all day, lunch is physically separated in the gym or outside – but for the most part it feels pretty normal.

  • Lauren, age 8, 3rd grade
  • Sophia, age 11, 6th grade
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The first weekend in October was the annual fall triathlon in Rock Hall. The event was cancelled last year, so this was the first year back since 2019. Sadly I’m still on the long road to recovery so was cheering on the sidelines this time, which was also a lot of fun.

The Morris’ came down for the weekend and Don did the race with Dave.

Just two men in their tight wetsuits

The start was a little different this year, with everyone lining up and jumping in one at a time. This was the first year that Dave wore a wetsuit and it was pretty terrible for him. The suit was too tight and he had trouble breathing. He didn’t swim nearly as fast as he has in past years, but fortunately made it up on the bike ride.

  • swim to bike transition
  • out for the bike ride
  • start of the run

He ended up doing pretty well, coming in 4th in his age group. And Don did really well, placing third in the Clydesdales category.

Don placed 3rd in the Clydesdales category!

Petunia also felt she deserved recognition, although we all know she can’t swim, and really is pretty terrible on a bike too.

Petunia taking 1st place

It was a quick weekend, but we did manage to get in some good Rock Hall time with a walk to the beach for sunset and a sail on Sunday after the race. October is beautiful down there, and the weekend did not disappoint.

Oliver doing their “normal” and “crazy” poses
Sophie hamming it up
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It’s finally back to school time! This summer felt like a long one – and it was. School didn’t start until September 9th.

Sophie officially started middle school and so far so good. She’s in a program called Evolve, which is a more hands-on, experiential experience. She seems to really enjoy it so far. The school is big (1200 kids) and she said she’s gotten lost a few times, but didn’t seem to phased by it.

Lauren started 3rd grade and has Ms. D’Orazio, whom she loves (Dave and I do too). She also has gotten off to a great start and seems to really love school. She also made a new friend, Harper Peters, who sits next to her in the classroom.

First day outfits!

Middle school starts an hour before elementary, so Sophie leaves the house at 7:40 and then we walk with Lauren at 8:40. Sophie gets out of school at 3 and then picks up Lauren at 3:30, which is super convenient.

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