Happy New Year 2025

To ring in the new year, Cadence had 4 of her friends spend the night: Macie, Lilly, Grace, and Liv.  Somewhere along the way, they heard that you're supposed to eat 12 grapes at the "stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve to bring good luck and prosperity for the upcoming year. Each grape represents a month, and the goal is to eat one grape with each chime of the clock."  I guess if you also eat the grapes under the table, it's thought to "help attract love." They did it!  I hope it brings them luck!  The rest of us: Colin, Danny, Mom, Dad, and myself, stayed upright and did the traditional "cheers!"

I snapped this cute pic while Cadence and Oden were relaxing on New Year's Day.

Cadence took the rest of the photos of the goofball pup!

Xmas '24

On Christmas Eve, we enjoyed dinner and cookies at Momma & Pop's house, then we decorated gingerbread cookies.  It was a good time!

Cadence was there, too, just didn't "okay" me sharing her pictures.

The beautiful tree with all the gifts

They're so cute and festive

FitBod Subscriptions

This girl loves her some SZA

The drone he still hasn't had the chance to fly (and it's now April!)

They put bows on Oden's behind and thought it was  hilarious

This kid wanted the black UGGs so badly!

Starbucks tumblers (I broke the one we had that Cadence used on the daily)

No holiday is complete without a LEGO set!

He chewed up all of his "non-destructible" toys before the day was over

Cadence gifted Colin the drawing she did of him for art class!  She did an awesome job!

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

After celebrating Thanksgiving with Momma and Pops (Mike & Gina went to Dayton), we jumped right into decorating for Christmas (we took a break to watch the game against TTUN...ugh, another heartbreak).

Our festive boy enjoying some sunshine

Cadence, Mom, and I took a trip to Youngstown while Melanie and Auntie Darlene were in town.  We got to meet Melanie's kids, Della and Clayton.  So cute.

Colin celebrated Jaden's birthday with their buddies at Top Golf.

Colin and the 6th grade band knocked our socks off at the Holiday band concert.  Most of the kids had just learned to play their instrument and read music at the start of the school year in August.  That's a lot to learn in a few, short months!  They did great and I'm so proud of Colin for learning a new skill (and playing the saxophone really well!)

We love the Rileys!

Danny had to wrap up '24 with a work trip to Chicago, LA, and Seattle -- we sent him these pics while he was gone 😊

Oden is so photogenic!

On Christmas Eve, we got the kids' passports information squared away at the library, enjoyed breakfast at Maple Street Biscuit Company, and had some fun at the mall.  The boys took a test drive with the Apple Vision Pros!

Cadence took a well-needed nap before we headed to Grandma and Poppa's for Christmas Eve dinner!  I couldn't pass up the photo op! 😍