Halloween

 Zombie Pigman (Minecraft), Mara (Progressive commercials), and a Skeleton friend

Happy birthday, Joshua!

 

It is always such a delight to celebrate our favorite guy.  We love you so very much -- today and always.

Fall 2021 Updates

While the cooler weather was slow to arrive, it is finally coming to this area.  Life feels normal in this pesky pandemic -- we are ever so slowly starting to see people and do things (outdoors, with caution) and still hesitate against pretending that life is back to normal.  It's tiring but not new.

Photo updates: Our family went to Linvilla Orchards to pick and launch apples (truth: we were hoping for sling shots and got loud air-compressed guns), have still been enjoying our version of tag-on-bikes in the empty corporate parking lots, went to a college soccer game, met up with Nana and Grandpa for a visit to our favorite Lehigh Valley Zoo and picnic at the Jordan River, I was surprised with a promotion at work (adding the word "Executive" to my title) and some very large grant awards (nearly $3M in federal grants that I submitted were awarded this month, which is fantastically bonkers), Alma is still working so hard in middle school, James got a nice shiner from his knee doing a flip on the trampoline, and Alma caught a big catfish at her friend's pond.

Other fun happenings: I went golfing with my father, which was a great chance to use my new clubs and spend time with him.  I only lost seven balls on the nine holes (ha!).  Alma and I met up with Christine for an outdoor lunch, which was the best.  I'm so grateful to have such wonderful relatives.  And, lastly, I defended my dissertation proposal and received IRB approval to begin my research.  It's been quite the process but I'm grateful it continues to move forward.

One sad thing: I cannot get over how much I miss Simon.  The house is so quiet without him and I can always feel his absence. When I walk in the door, I expect to see him; when I sit at the computer, I expect his head on my lap; when I'm restless and need a walk, I don't have my buddy to accompany me.  Thinking of petting his soft head always makes me tear up.  While he wasn't the best-trained dog, he was such a great companion.