The One With New Year's Eve

 

 

Happy New Year's Eve 2022

We are watching Avatar (for the first time for any of us).

Here is hoping 2023 is AMAZING!!!

The One With The Year In Review

 

 

Looking back, 2022 was quite a year. We had some good memories and some sad ones, too. Here is what the year had in store for us:

 

• Sadly, Dad Number Two joined Mom Number Two earlier this January

• We returned to Canada in July

• We saw Bri and Kiff in Marching Band

• We went to the Weeknd, Imagine Dragons, and Post Malone Concert

• We went to the Red Sox

• We saw our First Celtics Game

• We watched Bri in her first St. Patrick's Day Parade in Boston. 

• I returned to 8th grade

• We cleaned out the Brown House and it sold 

• Sadly, Auntie Nancy and Uncle Chet left us

• We saw Polar Express in the Theaters for the first time 

• We took the kids to the Union Oyster House for the first time

• We chaperoned our first band event 

• Kiff did track

• Bri became a co-captain for Winter Guard

• We were able to watch the Celtics return to the NBA finals.

The One With Our Christmas Movie List

 

Here are the Christmas movies we watched this year:

 

• Spirited (good movie)

• Christmas Story Sequel (the third one, came out this year, was excellent, though bittersweet)

• Christmas Story

• Its A Wonderful Life (it was 75th anniversary)

• Christmas Vacation

• Santa Clause

• Bad Mom's Christmas

• Daddy's Home

• Just Friends

• Miracle on 34th Street (which we watched on Thanksgiving).

 

 

The One With Bri's colleges

 

 

Bri is a long way off from going to college, but today she showed me all of the emails she has received from colleges. Of course, as she mentions, they are form letters. But, the list is pretty hefty and includes:

 

• BU (my BC rival)

• Hofstra

• Bryant

• Siena

• Dean

• Assumption

• Salem State

 • University of Minnesota

 

The One with Bri and Kiff Day

 

 

Today, we had a Bri and Kiff day. Emmie took Kiff to see the Fabelmans (they loved it) and then to Texas Roadhouse. After that, she returned home to chill with Bri and have an in home Spa Day.

 Bri and I went to eat at Not Your Average Joes. She got a salad. I got the BBQ Meatloaf. It tasted great....but I can still taste those garlic potatoes.

The One With Our First Celtics Game as a Family

This Tuesday, December 27, we did something we have never done before as a family. We went to our first Celtics game. In fact, it was the first time Bri or Kiff had ever been to one. Being huge Celtics fans - especially Kiff and I - it was a memorable event.

The Celtics had just come off a Christmas Day victory over the Bucks. They have had an up and down December after dominating much of the NBA in October and November, so I wasn't too sure what to expect.

However, before we got there, we went to Tasty Burger, where Kiff and I introduced the restaurant to Emmie and Bri. They both liked it.

Then, we went into the Garden. Of course, we had to buy the obligatory "merch" (that word still makes me cringe) and then got drinks.We went to our seats in Loge 7, Row 22 (worth remembering because they have a nice overhang in front to put drinks).

The game started off a bit slow, as the Celtics played pretty evenly with the Houston Rockets (who have one of the worst records in the league). Part of the problem was that the Celtics couldn't hit a three pointer for much of the first half (they were shooting 20% for most of the half). Ugh!

The best part of the first half was that the Celtics honored Paul Silas, a former Celtic who recently passed away, and whose son, Steven, was coach of the Rockets. That was a touching moment (he later expressed appreciation for it and mentioned his brother and sister were there).

By midway through the third quarter, the Celtics finally kicked it in gear and pulled away. In fact, much to Kiff's chagrin, we were able to leave with 4 minutes left in the game.

It proved to be quite a game. In fact, Rob Williams tied a record with Paul Silas for most rebounds (15) in less than 20 minutes played - which was cool. The Celtics also set their own franchise record for most threes taken in a game....they missed more than 50 percent of them.

Overall, a VERY MEMORABLE evening.

The One With Yule

 

On December 26, we celebrated Yule as we typically do each year. It is always something I look forward to.

 To celebrate, we harken back to an earlier time to honor what our ancestors experienced in the past. So, we always make sure to get up to see the sunrise. This year was no exception...but we woke up just in time to see it rise in Beverly.

Then, we came home and had breakfast. We watched a nature show - Yellowstone at Christmas - to capture the mood. We only watched a little bit of this.  

 We then made sure to prepare food for the animals to hang on the Solstice tree. I always love doing that. We served apples with peanut butter, bread and peanut butter with birdseed, and cranberries.

 We then made our annual Yule logs, complete with decorated Swiss rolls. It was a ton of fun!!! I love those rolls.

We wrapped up by turning all the lights in the house to "honor" the light.

All and all, an authentic, and ancient, way to reflect on life.

 

 

The One With Christmas

 

 

We've had a fun, but tiring Christmas weekend this Saturday and Sunday.

We had the Forest family Christmas Eve party at our house yesterday.

Then, we wrapped lots of gifts.

Then we took a ride and went to Tony's to say hi and drop off gifts.

Then, we came home and had Chinese Food. We wrapped up putting gifts by tree at midnight (a new record).

 

This morning we got up early and opened gifts and watched services on TV

We had brunch

We opened more gifts.

Right now Emmie is taking a nap at 4:00 PM. We are counting down to the Celtics!!!

Merry Christmas to all.

The One With Christmas Eve

 

 

Happy Christmas Eve to all and all to a good night!!!

 

The One With Christmas Carol

 

 

Today, we saw a different version of the Christmas Carol - the one from the North Shore Music Theater. Emmie had told me that this was quite different from versions she has seen before. In fact, because it was theater in the round, it was a very different type of play, with little sets...so we never checked this one out together.

 

We originally had plans to go to our favorite version - which is now at the Hanover Theater. However, a flu bug hit us, to we had to forego that plan last weekend. However, we scrambled to get tickets for the second to last show on Thursday December 22. And it did not disappoint.

Although we had a few snafus - lots of rain and some overzealous ushers at times - it turned out to be a GREAT show. As Emmie said, they had really reworked this show a ton. It has lots of sets coming from above and below stage, as well as wheeled on by actors. And the special effects were awesome.

It was definitely a highlight of our Christmas season!!!

The One With The North End Parade

 

 

Today, our kids - along with the Danvers High School Marching Band - were in the 50th annual North End Christmas Parade. And, boy, was it a show.

First, we should mention that Emmie and I decided to chaperone our first parade. It was quite an adventure. Little did we know it would be about 20°F. But, that was no worry. It was a blast. We even took the bus in with the students. I was the wagon wheeler (it reminded me of Time for Timer).

However, the real treat was the parade itself. It was amazing Bri was in color guard as usual and Kiff was playing trumpet. The entire band was dressed up in their Christmas ugliest - with a plethora of ugly sweaters (actually, most were rather snazzy).

The parade itself featured all sorts of attractions - mascots like Blaze the Bruin, Elmo, Mickey Mouse, a Minion (Kiff got a picture with one with the trumpet section) and more. It was amazing! Santa also arrived by helicopter, which was pretty cool. Wally and Tessie from the Red Sox were behind us...awesome.

The parade itself wove through the streets of the North End, ebbing all around and actually recrossing a few spots (including twice by Mike's Pastry - yum). It was long - and chilly - but a spectacular to watch (and to be a part of for the first time). 

This was a quaint addition to the Christmas festivities calendar, but one we will hopefully get to do again!.

The One With The Polar Express

 

 

 

Last night, we went to AMC Danvers and saw the Polar Express  on the big screen. While Emmie and I saw it back in 2004 on the big screen, it was the first time Bri and Kiff did. It was fun to take them.

 

While I have never been a huge fan of the story, I can say that I forgot how majestic it was on the big screen. It was amazing.

 

Kiff said, "I loved it. It reminded me of why it was my favorite Christmas movie."

The One With Kiff's Championship Game

 

 

Kiff was in another Championship Game this year. This one was for his basketball team - the Earthquake. And was it a good game. 

 

Kiff played solid defense and his team was neck-in-neck with the opponents through the first half. During the second half, the opponents pulled away. However, Kiff's team still had life in them. In fact, Kiff made a shot with 8 seconds left to get his team within a point. They quickly got the ball back and had a chance to win at the buzzer....but the shot did not go in.

It was an amazing game and yet another amazing championship game!