Polar Plunge 2023

We finally put our new pool to use getting it cleaned up and ready for the kids to kick of 2023 with the Polar Plunge. We thought about turning the heater on for them but decided that was cheating. And while it was 70 degrees earlier in the day, the water was a brisk 55 degrees so definitely still considered a polar plunge. It was a fun way to celebrate the new year. We will have to make it an annual neighborhood tradition. 

 

The rest of February 2021

Annual Mom/Son, Dad/Daughter Valentine's Date Night (global pandemic style). James and Emery got Panda Express take-out and then watched Dolittle upstairs and Case and I ate at Sonic and then watched Dolittle downstairs.  

The kitties just being cute, snuggling during this stupidly cold weather

Round one of snow came on Sunday, so we had a little fun with friends at Harding Academy. 

The evening concluded with dinner at the Butler's (with their pet snake)

Monday was President's Day (and a day off from school already) and that's when the BIG snow came! 5.5 inches. Biggest now in 30 years in Memphis! Here are some pics of day one and two of snow fun in Brierwood! 

Emery and Kaitlyn making snow balls with whip cream and chocolate sauce. 

We introduced CJ to snow cream ... he approved. 

The next few days brought a lot more snow fun and sledding. Pics from days three and four of snow fun in Brierwood! 

Tyler, Case, Caroline, Griffin, Sadie and Emery

And then on Wednesday night, we got four more inches, bringing the grand total to 9" of snow! Definitely an all-time record for Memphis. 

We literally shut it down at dark every night. These kids (and adults) just couldn't get enough. I think we all wanted to make the most of it, just in case it's another 30 years before it happens again. 

 

Closing out 2020

As with almost everything in 2020, James' birthday celebration was a bit different. No dinner with friends (and we missed celebrating with them) but a nice home cooked dinner at home, ringing in the new year with the kiddos. They got to stay up until 11:00 p.m. to ring in 2021 with the East Coast. 

But I couldn't let James turn 42 without something special. So on New Year's Day, we headed downtown for some R&R.

We both enjoyed a massage at the Peabody Spa

Stayed at our favorite downtown hotel, The Central Station Curio

Getting ready for a fancy dinner at Bishop...

...with our masks on, of course! 

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It was so nice to take a less-than-24-hour break from reality. Just what we needed to take on 2021 with gusto! Here's to hoping that 2021 brings some good things our way.