Arizona

After dropping off Elizabeth in New Mexico, Lee headed to Arizona to spend time with his brother and his family. In addition to quality family time, Mike played tour guide, taking Lee within yards of the Mexican border, as well as introducing him to hiking in the southwest. Despite a too close for comfort encounter with a rattlesnake, Lee really enjoyed the time he spent out there and is looking forward to future trips. 

Weekend in New Hampshire

We spent the second weekend of the month in New Hampshire. Emily arrived home from school just in time to travel with us to Joe & Karen's to celebrate family Christmas. We then headed to stay with Grammy, sharing food and gifts on Sunday morning. We went to visit my parents and Grampy in Boscawen and then fit in some visits with other relatives as well, before heading to Brown's (in a snow storm, of course) so that Elizabeth could get in her yearly fix. All in all, an exhausting but lovely weekend.

Brown's during a snow storm is a completely different experience than Brown's in the summer.

Brown's 2025

 For the 51st consecutive year.....

Summer Vacation 2025

This year, we returned to New Hampshire for our annual summer vacation. It was a little bit strange to be on a family vacation without Elizabeth, but we soon fell into a routine that worked for the three of us. Although it was cold, we all swam in the ocean every day, which was great. We did a lot of walking and just relaxing. Overall, it was a great week. 

Emily loves to swim the length of the beach every day.

After all these years, I've finally gotten Lee to come around to just letting me get my morning coffee on vacation. The lattes at La Mulita are superb.

Best thing about vacationing in New Hampshire is catching up with old friends.

Because our vacation was so close to preseason, Emily had to workout almost every day. We figured out a way to make it a little bit more palatable - every morning, she ran to a coffee place and we would meet her there, get a snack, and then drive back to our place.

Jumping off the bridge at Rye Harbor. This photo is at least 15 years in the making - she's been wanting to do this since she first laid eyes on teenagers making the jump when she was a toddler.

Friday morning, Emily ran from the Beach Plum to Hampton Beach. She then got breakfast from the shop where one of her college teammates works.

Holiday Odds and Ends

End of the fall semester, celebrations, pick up soccer, long drives, and a big day for Lee and the Special Olympics all make up the last odds and ends of 2024.

Catalina

All dressed up for her biggest presentation of the semester - and she killed it, getting funding for her new company.

Lee and Nick spent the fall training a Special Olympics athlete for a powerlifting competition and he had a great meet!

Lots of sleep over Thanksgiving break.

Back with NWC besties.

Sporting besties reunite over Thanksgiving break.

I drove more than 50 hours in less than a month - beginning the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and culminating on our round trip to New Hampshire on Christmas Eve.

Dinner in the hotel lobby - soccer tournament style.

The roads around Potsdam are always snowy.

The rest of Elizabeth's college classes are online - she is not happy, but at least she graduates a year early!

Morning runs in the snow and cold.

Hanging out with Kathleen and Peter while Peter recovers from knee surgery.

Lots of pick up soccer over the holidays, even thought the weather was always well below freezing.

When Elizabeth does something, she does it at 100%. Starbucks' Partner of the Quarter for the last quarter of 2024.