January 2025

We had plans on January 1 to watch the Fighting Irish in the Sugar Bowl at a friend's house. After a terrorist attack on Bourbon Street, the game was postponed to the next day. We still went to their house to watch the Rose Bowl.  During the game, there was talk about how so many people with tickets to the Sugar Bowl would have to sell them because they couldn't stay an extra day in New Orleans. I was not in the room when they cooked up the idea to leave after the Rose Bowl and drive down to New Orleans and go to the Sugar Bowl the next day. When I came back to the room, I thought it was a joke and surely they wouldn't do something so crazy. I was wrong.  Brady took 5 kids (3 of his and 2 of ours). They left after Ohio State won the Rose Bowl and drove south.  They stopped at a hotel well after midnight and continued on to NOLA the next morning. They were able to get a great deal on tickets and saw an incredible playoff game. Go Irish!

Jim and I celebrated his mom's birthday with her, Paul, and Margaret at The Charcoal House. 

A lazy, cold afternoon at the Kelly house. 

We got a lot of snow in January, and it stuck around for weeks.  When it first fell, we loved it!  Jim and I went on a long, quiet walk in the snow. 

Then, Jack and I went on a walk on the quiet, snow-covered streets. 

This "igloo" was around for weeks.

We walked to a friend's house and then went sledding. 

So much fun!

I went on my first Kairos retreat in January (no pictures). I returned the Friday of MLK weekend. We made plans to go to Kentucky to visit Mammoth Cave National Park for a quick family getaway. Here's a picture Maggie took at dinner one night. 

I found this picture on my phone. It's a selfie Patrick took in our hotel room. I promise he was having a better time than the picture indicates. 

There was not much to do in the town and we spent a lot of time in the hotel.

Jack found a small space to retreat from us. 

We made a reservation in advance for a cave tour. We timed it so we could go to Mass (we experienced a Latin Mass) and then grab a bite to eat before our tour. Jim got an email while we were at lunch that they were cancelling tours for the rest of the day due to weather. There had been some snow and they were concerned cars would have trouble leaving the park after the tours.  We went to the National Park anyway and explored the visitor center and walked to an opening of the cave, but we couldn't go in. Bummer!

We were able to walk in the very beginning of the entrance. 

The visitor center was mildly entertaining. . 

We took a family selfie in the mirror before going to see Moana 2 at the theater in town and then out to dinner. We had both places to ourselves.

Jim and Jack left early Monday morning and drove to Atlanta for the College Football Playoff National Championship game.  They met up with some of Jim's friends at some tailgates. 

They had a blast, but were bummed ND didn't win. 

Back home, the kids and I watched the game on tv with friends and neighbors. There were some shenanigans. 

Jim was able to accompany Charlie on field trip to SLU Medical School. 

Patrick joined the chess team at school. I snuck this picture of him during a competition. 

Jim and I used a free dessert coupon he was sent on his birthday on a weeknight date.

Friends invited us to trivia night at their parish. We had a lot of fun and didn't win.  

Charlie had a lot of flag football games cancelled/postponed due to weather this year. They played in snow for several. 

Instead of a party this year, Maggie invited a friend to see Wicked for her birthday. 

We celebrated her birthday with the family and she asked for homemade ice cream cake. 

Jack was excited by the huge pretzel Marquette sent him.  It was almost enough to change his mind.

My friend Julie had her second baby and I got to snuggle with him after work one day!