A monkey. A squirrel. One happy family.

Hello. So many things have happened in the last several months, but sitting down at a home computer has not been one of them. We had a lovely Christmas, New Years, Valentines Day, and both girls' birthdays. Ella's quiz bowl team and robotics club have performed really well. She just tried on every pair of shorts in her drawer, and out of 12, only two fit. (We went to the mall. And survived.) Annie is reading on a third-grade level and ready for swimming lessons. Both girls continue to be funny and exasperating and surprising and delightful. Some pictures to catch you up. January Taking a break from baking for a little jam session. Some Sparky's ice cream for Ella's 12th birthday! February Cake for breakfast on Valentine's Day. March A co-birthday celebration for Annie and cousin TJ. Easter egg hunting with Uncle Marty! April Reading an old favorite with the girls. Ella's quiz bowl team!

We were blessed with beautiful weather for this year's Christmas tree hunt at Starr Pines Christmas Tree Farm. We found a little beauty, just right for our small living room. While helping to secure it in the tree stand, Ella discovered a small bird's nest, which we decided was good luck. In the words of 6-year-old Annie, "We picked the correct tree!" Nest! To the trees! That-a-way, dad! Ella Annie Our lovely little tree. Happy holidays!

The new fancy doughnut place in town is offering "memory maker" events from time to time, and last weekend we signed up to make a gingerbread house at their store. Someone else makes the gingerbread and buttercream, provides buckets of candies, serves up hot cider, feeds us cookies, and does all of the clean-up? Yes, please. Merry, merry!

I somehow never thought to take a traditional family-round-the-table photo this Thanksgiving, but there is still much to be grateful for. Cousins at Grandma Ann and Grandpa Butch's house. Grandma Ann's famous pies. Constructing marshmallow shooters at Thanksgiving round II. Spencer wins uncle of the year award. XO, dear ones!

This Halloween was one for the record books. We had the most trick-or-treaters we've ever had and a ton of fun. In the past year, some enthusiastic readers in our neighborhood started a book club, and this group has developed a secondary purpose: make the 'hood awesome. On Halloween, one member had hot dogs and a fire pit in her front yard. At our house, we set up a tailgating tent and an extension-cord-enabled crock pot full of hot apple cider. Another house had a s'mores bar in the garage. Add to that plenty of decorated houses and flocks of kids, and Halloween was a spectacularly spooky good time. Annie was a Jedi named Barriss Offee. (I think the appeal factors were: she already had the "right color" of light saber, and she got to wear black nail polish. Plus, Star Wars is awesome. Obviously.) Ella - in no way influenced by her father's tastes, I'm sure - chose to be a bottle of Sriracha hot sauce. Happy Halloween! Ella carved her pumpkin all...

Better late than never! Here are the girls' first day of school photos.

Ella picked up her schedule for 6th grade today, practiced her locker combination, and found her home room while I quietly had a heart attack over the fact that my baby is starting middle school. She'll be riding to and from school on the bus, letting herself in the house with her own key, and generally needing to be way more grown up than maybe any of us is ready for. Ready or not, here comes middle school! Getting her school picture taken.  Trying out her combination lock. Failing. Trying again. Success! Annie fits! Celebratory ice cream/