This summer we didn’t take a trip anywhere and instead kept it kind of local. The girls spend a week in Charlottesville with my parents and then Dave and I came down to join them for a few days. On our way back to PA we stopped over in DC for two days to do some of the touristy stuff that we haven’t done in a while.
In Virginia we visited with Aleen and watched some polo at King Family Vineyard. We also toured Monticello, and we met up with the Davis’ at Pro Renata in Crozet. I love when we can get Sophie and Lexi together.
King Family Vineyard MonticelloSkater GurlzSophie and Lexi
In DC we hit two museum, the Spy Museum and the Museum of the American Indian. We walked along the lawn and saw the Washington Monument, various memorials, and then veered off to see the White House. We also had some very excellent dinners, which was a good reward for all of the walking.
Overall the girls were pretty good, although I wouldn’t say it was their most favorite vacation. But I’m happy they can still be good sports for us.
Outside the White HouseVisiting Mr. LincolnOutside the Spy Museum
We headed down to Charlottesville for Thanksgiving again and enjoyed the regular festivities. The weather was pretty warm and beautiful and we got to spend a lot of time outside. Dave cooked the dinner, with Uncle Doug deep frying the turkey per usual. It was a delicious feast like always. This year Chris joined for the first time and Quinn came in from Arizona, which was great. Becky’s boyfriend CJ was also there. It was a great crowd.
the chef! Lauren and her favorite part of the turkey – the leg! The Thanksgiving gang!
The rest of the weekend we enjoyed activities around town including holiday lights at Boar’s Head, hiking to the quarry, and wine tasting at King Family Vineyard.
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.
We decided to make a trip down to Charlottesville over the long President’s Day weekend. It’s been so snowy along the east coast that we were worried we might not be able to make it – and it turns out there was a big snow storm the day that we left – but it didn’t get bad until we reached Charlottesville. They ended up getting about 4 inches of snow.
The four day weekend consisted of a lot of hanging out and not much more, which was perfect. Mom, Dad, Beck and Ari all had COVID at the end of 2020 and everyone is finally back to feeling better, thank goodness.
The cousins had a blast, especially the two peas in a pod, Lauren and Ari.
They spent most of the weekend outside in the snow – sledding down the hill, running around with the dogs, and playing on the swings.
The dogs also had a blast. Murci is so old, she didn’t do much, but Penny and Petunia played hard all weekend.
after hours of play t hey finally chilled in front of the stove
Murci loving on Petunia
Sophie finally got to meet Becky’s cat, Patches. She was in love. We’re still not getting a cat though 😉
Sophie & Patches
Our last day there was Valentine’s Day. The girls enjoyed some Valentine’s day presents and lots of candy! My parents let the kids roller skate in the house (unlike our house), so they had their wheels on most of the weekend.
the Valentine’s Girls
It was a great, relaxing weekend. Happy we were able to make it happen given the weather and pandemic. Looking forward to the next get together, hopefully soon!
We headed down to Charlottesville again this year for Thanksgiving. Because of COVID it was just our family this year who made the trip. We minimized our stops along the way to try and make exposures as few as possible.
This was the first long trip with Petunia. What we’ve found is that if you put her in the back of the car she’ll chew anything around her, BUT if she’s in the front seat she’ll travel happily anywhere. So… she did the whole trip from the seat of honor (oy).
Petunia enjoying the front seat.
Once we arrived we did little but hang around the house and enjoy the great weather. It was unseasonably warm all week, so we got to spend a lot of time outside.
Petunia got to meet Penny and they became best pals quickly. We arrived in the day, instead of the middle of the night, which is what we usually do, because we knew the dogs would be insane for the first few hours. We were right.
Penny & Petunia. Keep away was a favorite game. As was sitting on top of Petunia when she finally got the ball! After many (many) hours of nonstop playing they finally rested, if only for a few moments. Once recharged they were back at it!
Since we won’t see my family for Christmas, we decided to celebrate that as well. We all got into it and it really felt like Christmas. The kids decorated the tree on “Christmas Eve” and we had a big, festive dinner. On the morning of “Christmas” the girls were up early and ready to open presents.
Decorating the tree on “Christmas Eve” Waiting at the top of the steps on “Christmas” morning
Lauren painted a platter for Nana
Ari got a hoverboard
Sophie loving on Penny
Ari & Lauren figured out how to simultaneously use the hoverboard
And then the next day was actual Thanksgiving, so we quickly changed gears and got into the Thanksgiving spirit. In all there was enough eating and drinking in those three days to last the entire month!
Since Doug and his family didn’t come down this year, Dave was in charge of deep frying the turkey. Doug had sent along detailed instructions from the last six years, so he had some good guidance. It turned out deliciously!
lowering the turkey
the finished product
Lauren approved!
It was such a gorgeous day that we ate outside.
It’s the first year that I can remember that the kids got to sit at the “big table” and we didn’t have to serve the food buffet style.
On the day after Thanksgiving we took our usual hike. It was another gorgeous day and we had a special visitor – our friend Carl, who lives in North Carolina, came up for a quick visit. It was really great to see him!
The girls usually spend one week of the summer down in Charlottesville with my family. Since I’m working from anywhere these days, I went down with them and stayed the week. We hadn’t seen everyone in-person since Sophie’s birthday back in March, so it was really nice to finally give real hugs. The week was pretty low key. Most of the activities that the girls do while down there are closed this summer, or we just weren’t comfortable doing them, so we spent a lot of time at the house and just took a couple of trips out.
One day Becky and I took the girls to Sugar Hollow, which is a beautiful hiking spot where I spent a lot of time in high school.
On a rock in Sugar Hollow
Another day we went to a lake that was open for swimming.
One afternoon we met up with my friend Sarah and her daughter Lexi, who is 2 weeks younger than Sophie. We typically see them once or twice a year. The girls have totally different personalities, but get along pretty well. This time they bonded over Tic Toc (if I could find an eye roll emoji I would insert it here).
Sophie & Lexi (looking at Tic Toc together). Also pictured, adorable Caleb, who is just a year.
And the rest of the time we spent at the house – playing in the yard, fishing, and just hanging out.
Sophie and Penny fishing at the lake.
Lauren lost a tooth while we were down there – her 8th tooth, and third to lose while we’re with my family. Must be a tooth fairy preferred location.
Holding up her 8th lost tooth.
We of course travel with all of the animals, which right now just included Lauren’s tortoise, Jewels, and Sophie’s parakeets, Princess and Zebra. Jewels had an opportunity to meet Vahid, and she was not thrilled about it. She kept her head in the shell the entire time.
Jewels and Vahid meet.
Lauren and Ari are pretty inseparable, and spent nearly the entire time together. At times it makes it tough for Soph because she feels left out. She and Ari also play together, but their personalities are very similar, which usually means it leads to fighting pretty quickly.
Mom also wanted to recreate a picture that she took of Dad, Becky and I about 30 years ago when we had Hannah, who is a doppelganger of Penny. Penny wasn’t super into taking direction, and we’re all a lot bigger than we were 30 years ago!
1992 vs. 2020 The whole fam on our last night there.
We headed down to Charlottesville Tuesday night before Thanksgiving. It was the usual crowd this year – Doug, Vicki, Quinn, Carley, Nana, and our family.
Since we were last down in Va. Becky has adopted a new pet – Penny, who is a purebred Great Dane. She’s only 6 months old and already over 100 lbs! We were a little worried bringing Benson down because he’s such an old man now and pretty frail. In their first meeting Penny knocked him down, but after that he held his own, even playing a bit.
Benson and Penny playing tug or war
Thanksgiving morning we had the now annual Glenaire Turkey Trot starting at the top of mom and dad’s driveway and looping around the neighborhood. This year Lauren ran it with Dave and me! We had to do a little run/walk action, but she made the whole thing!
The Turkey Trot gang
After the trot we headed back to the house and Dave started cooking. He’s been cooking for so many years now that he’s got the schedule down to a science and the whole day is pretty low stress – totally acknowledging that the person writing this is also the person sitting in the living room, reading a book and sipping wine 😉
Doug deep fried the turkey again, which has been our tradition for maybe the last 6 years. It great – frees up the oven, takes about 45 minutes, and tastes delicious!
Doug pulling the turkey out of the deep fryer
Penny is nose height with the turkey. Luckily she was caught before that tongue came out!
Obligatory pre-meal picture! Kids table
The day after Thanksgiving we enjoyed another tradition – hiking and then wine tasting. It was a beautiful day and we hiked Sugar Hollow and then headed to King’s Family Vineyard in Crozet.
Hiking in Sugar Hollow. We brought Penny and the Rainer’s dog, Jasper, with us. Penny loved jumping in the creek, Jasper, not so much.
The cousins at King Family Vineyard
The long weekend wouldn’t be complete without some good family pictures
This year’s spring break was pretty low key, and it was also really nice. We did a tour of the Mid-Atlantic – visiting the Townsends in Maryland, staying a few days with my family in Virginia, and then ending the week in Rock Hall with the Sharps.
We stayed with the Townsends in their new house, which is beautiful. All three girls get along really well, but Bella and Lauren are especially close.
Bella and Lauren playing dress up
Then we hit the road down to Charlottesville where we stayed for a few days. The weather was mostly beautiful and we took full advantage spending a lot of time outside.
Ari and the girls also get along really well, especially Ari and Lauren who are only a year apart.
On the Lawn at UVa
On top of Wilde Rock in Crozet
We spent the last few days of the week in Rock Hall, where the weather was beautiful and we were able to hit the beach one day, and where I also neglected to take any pictures.
And we ended the week off with Easter brunch at Torresdale with the Sharps, Zoe, and Elliott.
We headed down to Charlottesville for Thanksgiving again this year. We left late Tuesday night and stayed until Saturday afternoon. It was a chilly weekend but really nice – not all of the leaves have fallen from the trees down there.
As always, it was a crowd with my parents house packed. Lina also came down with us and got to experience a Coughlin Thanksgiving in all its cramped glory. She slept on an air mattress in the playroom.
We did the traditional seafood boil on Wednesday night, which is always a fan favorite (at least for me).
Doug and Dave with the seafood bounty.
On Thanksgiving morning there is a mini Turkey Trot in the neighborhood. There were about 15 people who did it this year. The winner was a 4th grader, which Dave and I close behind him. The biggest difference between this neighborhood Turkey Trot and the big one at Boar’s Head is that Dave and I at least have a chance to place 😉
The Turkey Trot crew and helpers.
Dave did the cooking again, with some help from Nana this year on the stuffing.
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The cooking fairy and his unicorn side kick.
The obligatory turning into the pot picture – of course I’m missing the most important person – Doug who has perfected the lowering after all of these years.
The girls put together a costume parade pre-dinner so that we were all in the right festive mood.
Here’s the group post-parade. It was truly magical.
The Thanksgiving table. Aleen and her mom, Yvonne, came over for dinner as well. You can see Lauren in the back holding up her turkey leg, which has become her favorite part of the meal.
Me and Becky. And the cousins. Lauren was given this pair of costume glasses and she wore them straight for about a week.
The day after Thanksgiving we did a long hike on the Monticello Trail and then his Pippin Hill vineyard that afternoon. It was an excellent few days.
This year Becky entered Ariana into the Annual Dogwood Festival pageant, and she won the Tiny Miss title! Which meant she got to ride on a float in the Dogwood Festival parade and also celebrate at a Queen’s Ball.
The girls and I made the trip down to see her.
Here she is on the float before the parade started (it was a Candy Land theme).
Doing her princess wave as she passed us.
My high school friends Jenny and Samantha, and Jenny’s sister Laura all came to watch with their kids.
Here’s the whole gang – between the four of us we have 9 girls and 1 boy.
Here we are, each with our oldest. Everyone has a mini me, it’s a little crazy.
That night we got all dolled up and headed to the Queen’s ball at the Double Tree hotel.
The girls and I at mom and dad’s house.
Becky and me, and the girls with the little Princess
The event was a mix between a wedding and a high school dance. The girls were most thrilled to dance with the Queen herself. Lauren especially was enamored.
It was a really fun night and Ariana had a great time. She felt so special all day and my girls were thrilled to spend it with her.
 
