Hello! how are you? I’ve been missing this fun and smart community and I’m looking forward to catching up. I have some fun posts planned for this month. In the meantime, here are some snapshots from our vacation. If you would like to take a look…
This year’s Christmas was held in Brooklyn. Of course, in addition to the kids and I, my dad, my aunt Lulu, and my cousin Jimmy also attended. We lit lots of candles and ate lots of delicious food. (“I’m modestly addicted to tangerines,” Toby told me.)
The first adventure of our holidays is always a drive to see the street lights in the Dyker Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn. Can you imagine moving there in the summer and suddenly it becomes a Christmas scene? People selling hot chocolate in their garages, Bing Crosby blaring on the car radio?
We were so excited when our relatives arrived from England.
Jimmy and Anton had already become twins without any plans…
And Lulu immediately started making carrot soup. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Shit
I took a walk down the Brooklyn Promenade…
..and stopped by jane’s merry-go-round and nearby ice skating rink…
…and admired the view from edge In Manhattan.
On Christmas Eve we went to church and ate lots of stinky cheese.
By the way, how cool is this? this olive tray?This was a Christmas present to myself 🙂 I can’t remember where I first found this newsletter in the Substack Design newsletter, but I’ll let you know when I find it.
On Christmas morning, the boys opened their stockings. This is the achievement of 12-year-old Anton. I love how his wish list reflects his in-between age with items like scented pens (kids) and acne patches (teenagers).
Of course, it also comes with a 12-pack of Dr. Pepper.
We had a gathering on Christmas Day. Kids often get excited and irritable in the afternoon, so it’s nice to have a friend over to soak up that energy.
Also, long-time readers may find it hard to believe, but I actually enjoy cooking as a hobby. It was so easy to make a crowd-pleasing dinner for a group. Bean dishes with cheese. I added more onions for a crunchier texture and crushed red chili peppers for more spiciness.
Kalanithi’s parents. Lunch at hook fish.
Afterwards, my father and I headed to San Francisco to meet my sister, daughter, and in-laws.
She and her family were out of town, so we stopped by our friend Lena’s beautiful home. (They will be staying at our house for the summer. Like a non-concurrent housing exchange.) And that cool word art? “When my son Eli was learning handwriting, he started writing large letters on a sheet of construction paper,” she explains. “I lined up my favorite pieces in giant plexiglass frames I bought on Craigslist.”
As usual, we visited Paul’s grave on New Year’s Eve. We poured champagne for him and the kids toasted with Martinelli.
I hope you had a good vacation, rest and relaxation. If not, that’s okay. As the saying goes, everyone you meet is fighting a battle. As always, with lots of love, we look forward to a wonderful 2026 together. Shit
PS 11 readers share their happy moments. What are you grateful for, big or small?
Source: Cup of Jo – cupofjo.com
