January 2014

There was a mustache event at our Smucker Christmas this year.  It was the first time in 71 years that Phil's dad had grown facial hair on purpose.  Don't they look like a respectable crew?

I couldn't take my eyes off my man with a 'stache.

The cousins all had a great time together as usual.

One evening we got babysitters and took Jan out to dinner in Mishawaka to celebrate her birthday later that month. 

By some fluke, Joe and Teresa received extra jerseys in the mail when they ordered one for T.J., so all of the cousins represented the Colts QB Andrew Luck well.  One of the more memorable things about this trip back east was the blizzard we had to drive through in our rental car going back to Chicago.  It was one of the more harrowing driving experiences Phil or I have ever had.  Amazingly our plane made it out of Midway only slightly delayed.

Sasha had her 6-year-old birthday party at the Santa Fe Children's Museum after school on a Friday.  Most of her kindergarten class came and some other friends outside of school.  I made a red velvet cake with coconut cream cheese frosting in the shape of a swan at her request. 

I went to Pittsburgh over MLK weekend to see 6 of my best friends from college so  Phil and the kids were on their own.  One of the highlights for all three of them was going to "Cool Springs", a trampoline park in Albuquerque.  It's a huge warehouse with wall to wall trampolines and foam block pits--kid heaven.

For the winter recital Sasha did a lovely rendition of "Long, Long Ago".