One for the Road

It is a few hours from 2018.  We are enjoying a night with friends, food, and games.  It is bitter cold outside, her clear and the full moon lights up the snow on the ground.  How lucky we are and have been this past year.  Our lives are full, yet we look forward to more adventure and challenges in the new year.  Where will we be in a year from now?  Where were we last year?  What do we want to accomplish?  What do we need to accomplish?  What is something I have always wanted to do, but have yet to attempt?  We all have a window but we do not know how long it will be open.  Even in our lives, there seems to be finite time to accomplish certain things, and as I start to see some of my windows close, I look for all windows still open and consider them while I still can.  A new year does not mean a new me.   A new year means new opportunities.  

Winters Past

Sam watching our first winter snow. 

This morning I awoke to the sounds of nothingness.   It was absolutely quiet, not even the slight breeze was audible as I lay in my dark room.   I turned and pulled aside the window curtain and was forced to squint at a world blanketed in snow greeted me.  

The sounds of the world are muffled beneath the first true layer of snow this winter season.  I have opened all curtains and blinds, letting the views of outside enter our home.  The falling snow is hypnotic, and brings a kind of inner peace to me.  

Kim has been busy with all things Christmas and the kids have been enjoying the holidays, including Hanukkah and driving around the county viewing amazing and complex Christmas light displays.  

Sam has been very fascinated with the candles and lights and now snow.  He observes and smiles and babbles at everything.   Life is good for this one year old.  

The snow continues to fall, bringing with it memories of my own Alaskan childhood.  It is genuinely shocking to me to have our first real snow on Christmas Eve.  In Juneau growing up, it was possible to be trick or treating in snow gear!  I remember nights as a young person where I walked in complete silence as enormous waffle snowflakes fell in the darkness.  Everything was silent safe for the patter of the flakes hitting the ground.  Each step I took left the sole print on the ground, as everyone else was asleep.

Now I sit, listening to my children play...although they should be cleaning their rooms.  Sam is crawling around his playroom while I type this, and Kim is in the kitchen planning her Christmas Eve dinner.  More wrapping awaits me while I watch the Bears finish their woeful season at noon.   Life is good...

And though I look forward to my winter break and Christmas tomorrow, I am kept content by the memories of my winters past.

-a

I have been baking a lot as the weather gets colder.  Here are the bagels I made for my team breakfast at school.

Sam waiting in anticipation for his first birthday smash cake!  It was an epic mess!

Latkes on Hanukkah!

Silly selfie with Dad and Sam during Latke making!

Audrey making he first ever batch of latkes!  She is going to be a great cook!

Sam is 1

Happy Birthday Sam Edward Orelove.  We love you.  You bring your own light to our lives.  

Cooling Down

Sunset

Winter is knocking at our front door.  The wind howls some mornings, and others it is just a mild breeze.  Either way, the cold is not starting to nip and bite at times.  I find myself covering up and making sure gloves and a hat are with me at all times, as well as with my children.  As any good suburban family man, I have completed my final raking of the leaves today, and gone to the hardware store to make sure I have plenty of salt from the driveway and the cars both have extended ice scrapers and snow brushes.  We are ready for the snow, although I don't mind driving on clear roads.

Our little family is snug in our home, and we are thankful for all that we have.  We are preparing for the holiday season, and my thoughts wander towards my family and friends all over the country and world.  I take time to be thankful for my health, which I hope to improve in this next chunk of time, as I will be training for another marathon in June, as well as a half or two before then.  

Mostly, though, I give thanks for my children and my wife.  While every day is a bunch of laughs with Sam and Audrey and Violet, there were a couple close calls when Sam was born...and I am just grateful that both he and Kim are alive.  There are so many things in this life that seem important, but when we realize they matter not when held up to life and death.  So now I am getting my family calendar prepared, and looking on Amazon for some gifts for people...but I am content knowing that everyone I love and care about are happy, safe, and healthy.  

-a

Clouds

Eggs!

Sam on Swing

Family Selfie at the Zoo

The girls at the Zoo Lights festival!

Sam in his Bears gear!  It's been a long season!

Our winter lights are out!

Thanksgiving

A final picture in the front yard before hitting the road home.  Another year, another sweet year.

It has been another successful, beautiful Thanksgiving adventure to Richmond.  Our family is so wonderful, and they always welcome us with open arms and hearts.  We enjoyed our time, laughing and talking and sharing about our lives from the past year.  It always amazes me that we go about our lives all year and manage to return here to this special place each November.  The food is always beyond delicious. 

I am proud of my children, my sister, and my cousins at the amazing people they are growing up to become, and it is so special to watch them play and interact.  I also learn more each year about what it means to be a father and a parent from my Aunt Irene and Uncle Fred, and try to just watch how they live life and interact with their children.  Each year we depart from Richmond with hearts overflowing,  keeping us content until next Thanksgiving. 

-a

PS-The pictures loaded in reverse order for some reason, so this year the reader will experience the trip backwards...which is interesting in a way. 

Turkeyhead cousins.

Saturday breakfast before we all depart towards our homes.  Sad yet special.

Audrey with triple turkey head.

Sam and Violet.  Cousins.  She loves this guy.  

Aunt Eden, Audrey, and Cousin Emma.  The Orelove Turkey Ladies.

One of my favorite moments of the trip.  Sam naps with Aunt Irene and Emma.

Aunt Eden and Sam are all smiles.

A family selfie by the James River!  What a nice Friday to be outside!  

Sisters at the James River Walk.

James River and Violet and Audrey.  Rock hoppers.

Abel and Kim selfie.  I love this lady!  

Panoramic photo on the Teacup Bridge.  What a great day!

Family photo on the Teacup Bridge.

Uncle Fred and the kids on the bookstore in Carytown!

Emma and Sam in Carytown

The Orelove men hang out in Carytown.

Uncle Fred, Sam, and Sam in the World of Mirth toy store.  

A beautiful red on a quiet morning walk with Sam.  I love walking around the neighborhood.  

Sam snoozing on our morning walk.  He's under there somewhere!

Sam bundled up on a chilly morning walk in Richmond!

The family chills in the TV room!  

The girls used magnablocks and electronic tea lights to create a zoo!

Sam slept through his first Thanksgiving dinner!  No turkey needed!

NOW it's Thanksgiving!

How lucky we are to be able to gather at this table each year.

Sam out for the count on his first Thanksgiving!

Kim, looking beautiful as always, holds sleepyhead Sam.

Audrey helps Aunt Irene each year set the table and decorate.  It warms my heart!

I love these cacti on the corner!

Violet and a leaf.  We had a competition to see who could find the biggest leaf on our walk!  She won.

This house had a 20ft Darth Vader inflatable Christmas decoration outside.  It was great!  

The family after the annual Turkey Trot!

Cousins during the Turkey Trot.

Sam, Emma, Audrey, and Violet.  My Turkey family.

Brother/Sister turkey selfie.

Audrey and Sam...turkeys.

Violet and Audrey...turkeys.

Emma and Violet playing at the park.  I love how much they laugh together.

Cousins going down the slide.

This yellow tree outside the house is just stunning in the sunlight.

Uncle Fred greets Violet as we arrive in Richmond!

The girls enjoy the fireplace in the hotel outside of Pittsburgh.  We just finished breakfast and are now eyeing Richmond! 

Hitting the road to Richmond!  Full car!

Sam is ready for his first Thanksgiving!  Violet is packed and ready for the road trip!