We started out the year with a good month! We had our traditional good luck meal on the 1st; hoping it brings us good fortune in 2026. We had a nice family dinner out at the new Doherty's in Holly Springs on the 2nd where we ran into StMM teacher/friend Mrs. Smith. Bob and Anna watched a sad Wolfpack loss to Virginia on the 3rd, but we all enjoyed a fun and exciting Wolfpack women's win on Sunday afternoon!
It was back to school on the 5th. This week was my busiest week for Robertson interviews, and between conducting the interviews and typing up my notes, I logged 33 hours of work! That hasn't happened in 16 years! Otherwise, it was a good week back to the routine. Erin registered for an exciting school trip to Costa Rica in February 2027. It's going to be a great experience! Anna tried to register for the trip to Western Europe at the same time, but it filled up with rising seniors before the rising juniors could register. She has a plan to try to go to France with the French teacher in 2027 and hopefully go to Japan with Gibbons in the spring of her senior year.
Anna got her hair cut on Thursday evening and helped with 8th grade placement tests on the 10th. Bob and I enjoyed a fun wine tasting class at a store in downtown Raleigh on the 11th as a part of my Christmas gift.
Anna was back to youth group that evening, but due to holidays and weather, has only had to go once in 6 weeks (fingers crossed for another weather cancellation this coming weekend!). Bob left for New York bright and early on Monday the 12th and returned in the late evening of the 16th. We had our shower regrouted and fixed up from Monday-Wednesday that week. It looks so much better!
Anna and I went to a college planning meeting on Tuesday evening while Erin was at piano. Joe came over on Friday night for some quesadillas and basketball watching.
Bob and I watched a sad loss to Georgia Tech on the 17th, but then the Pack upset Clemson at Clemson the following week. We can't figure this team out, but, overall, they're doing pretty well. I went to Liz's birthday lunch at Chuy's on the 18th while Bob helped drive Erin to work (weather concerns). Anna and Joe did some shopping, bowling, and then came over to our house for pasta and cookie decorating. Monday (MLK Jr. Day), I had piano and Anna babysat for her friend Foster for a few hours.
Tuesday ended up being Anna's only day at school for 11 days (!) before she was home sick the next 3 days. I had an extra morning at CPO on Tuesday and got to supervise some Gibbons kids who were helping with their advisory. They did a very good job! Anna was better by Saturday and enjoyed a fun day at ParTee Shack North and Morgan Street Food Hall with Joe's family, his friend visiting from Florida, and the friend's family. Bob and I went to mass while Erin was at work before the "huge winter storm hit" on Sunday.
All churches (and everything else) were closed on Sunday. The storm ended up being less than 0.5" of ice and thankfully, despite lots of warnings, we did not lose power. Anna did a lot of sledding with the Tierneys and Finley enjoyed walking in it. It was mostly melted on Monday, but due to very cold temps and the risk of freezing, the kids were out of school on Monday and Tuesday but had work to do from home.
The rest of the week was fairly routine. Bob headed to Brussels and London on Friday. That rounded out the month! Anna and I were hoping to meet Ansley's family and Grandma and Grandpa for lunch in Greensboro on Sunday for Ansley's birthday, but they got loads of snow on Saturday while we got none! We all had some lingering sickness at various points, but nothing we couldn't handle. Let's hope for fewer school cancellations and better health in February!
