KD Bid Night

 I told Abby that I needed more blog content, and she delivered. Pictures from her sorority bid night (cowboy themed):

International Lego Day

We bought a set of Lego plants to do in celebration:

Sorority Girl

Abby surprised us by deciding to participate in winter sorority rush, and was delighted to get an invitation to join Kappa Delta, so she's a sorority girl now:

January Snow Day

Charlottesville Schools called a snow day last week, even though we only had a little bit of snow (that fell at just the right time). The snow was light and powdery, so we decided to try for a little snowman. Isn't he cute?

Benji wanted to try forced perspective to make it look bigger. Didn't quite work.

Snow Walk

We finally had snow in Charlottesville, much to Kevin's delight, and an actual snow day off from school. We took a brief walk while the flakes were still coming down:

FTC Event #2

Benji's FTC team had their second (and last) qualifying match last weekend, making it into the final round but ultimately not qualifying for States:

We watched the competition from home, even though it was at nearby Albemarle High because the matches were pretty spread out through the day

Benji's team (20342) was part of the alliance that won the first round of finals, before tieing in the second match and ultimately losing

With his Final Alliance medal

Gammy's birthday, part 2

On the actual day, Gammy came over for Carvel cake and to open her gift. Then on Sunday we had lunch and a movie, but I didn't take any pictures of that:

Certified OnShape Associate

 This was before break, but just found the picture. Happy to have passed his certification exam:

Happy 77th Birthday, Gammy!

Josh came down and we had an early birthday dinner at Mockingbird:

Calennig Celebration

 Celebrating the Welsh new Year holiday was on our bucket list this year:

I baked traditional Welsh tea bread, Bara Brith

Decorating an apple this specific way (three stick legs, a sprig of evergreen and a design of cloves) is a Callenig tradition)

19.5!

For Abby's half-birthday this year we sent her cupcakes in a jar (the mini cupcakes last year were great, but she had to be in her dorm to receive them). She sent a pic:

Rome Highlights

We were not in Rome to get our own pictures, but the chaperones generously shared through Facebook and I grabbed a few to memorialize the trip for Benji:

First performance in Chiesa di Santa Maria in Portico Campitelli

Sightseeing around Rome with friends

Pep band performance in Frescati

Lining up for the New Year's Day parade

Pre-Parade picture

From a parent at the parade

Screen capture where you can see Benji on TV

And another one (3 from the back)

Outside the Forum

At the Coliseum

New Year's Eve 2023

New Year's Eve was a low key affair this year -- Alex's mom's memorial service was on Friday, Benji was in Rome, and several of the adults were sick or recovering from recent illness. The girls spent much of the day painting in Julia's room while the adults hung out, and we had a shorter-than-usual round of games in the evening, followed by our traditional watching of the ball drop and midnight picture:

Both Alex and I abstained this year and Jules remained champion of the candy cane pick-up

We retained the "most extra" trophy for family Win, Lose or Draw for the second year

Steph bought an old rebounder game off ebay so we could relive our 80s childhoods (Kevin won)

Spoons

Watercolors

 A watercolor workbook was one of Abby's Hanukkah presents (I got us each one), and we had a chance to paint a few pictures while she was still home: