Wrestling Senior Night

 Another big milestone tonight. We celebrated Aidan's senior night with the Wrestling Team. It was so fun and they all did really well against a bigger and super tough team. It was also the WinterFest at Potomac and it felt like the entire upper school squeezed into the wrestling room for the match. The atmosphere was electric and the room was vibrating with all of the kids cheering. It was so awesome for the wrestling team to get so much support from the school. Another amazing memory made during Aidan's senior season!

The Other Shoe...

Well - I made it almost 3 years without having COVID. Two weeks ago Aidan tested positive and was home for a week. He mostly slept and seemed to feel better on about day 5. One day after he went back to school Declan tested positive and was home for a week. I tested positive on the day that Brendan was leaving for Alabama for the week and Aoife tested positive three days later. Emmy escaped it this time - she had it back in September. 

It is not a lot of fun for sure - the worst congestion ever! That being said - I did learn how to order groceries online! The brain fog is really the worst part - I hope it doesn't last too long!

 

Welcome Baby Lucas!!

 Welcome Baby Lucas William Scott Stone!! We are so happy that you are here! Your cousins and aunts and uncles love you!!

UPenn Camp

 This afternoon Emmy and I drove up to Philadelphia so she could go to a lacrosse clinic at UPENN. It was an excellent experience and very well run. She enjoyed meeting some of the UPENN players as well as the coaching staff. It was a very encouraging and positive atmosphere!

The Very Last Baby Tooth

 Declan lost his very last baby tooth tonight! I can't believe that this is the very last baby tooth in our house. Seems like just yesterday that Declan was getting his very first tooth! We remember the trauma surrounding the first few lost teeth - he even pulls out his own teeth now!! Time moves so quickly. 

Aoife's first W

Williamsburg wrestling had their first meet today. They were supposed to wrestle against Gunston but the team never showed up and they had an intersquad meet. Aoife wrestled against Janna and beat her in three periods 8-1! They both did a great job - can't wait for another real meet next week!

 

Declan's Hot Chocolate Buddy

The cat has taken to sitting on chairs next to us while we eat or drink anything! Declan thinks this is hilarious and LOVES it when Kit sits on a chair!

 

Emmy got her Permit!!

 Emmy got her permit today! After lots and lots of studying, she passed!!  Can't wait to get her out on the road!

Decoupaged Oyster Shells

When we visited Cape Charles in 2021 Aoife and I saw lots of decoupaged oyster shells that were being sold in gift shops. They were beautiful but pretty expensive and we wondered if we could make them.

After a lot of trial and error, we have come up with a process that produces beautiful shells!

If you are interested in the process - here's a basic outline:

1 - clean and sterilize the shells - scrub them with a stiff brush and warm water and dish soap. Soak the shells in a bucket of water with about a cup of bleach overnight. Scrub the shells again and scrape off any barnacles or loose material. Once the shells are very clean, run them through the dishwasher.

2- Once the shells are clean and dry, paint the inside surface with white tempera paint. You may need 2 coats. Let completely dry.

3- Cover the back of the shells with three layers of modge dodge - gloss finish - letting each layer dry in between applications. Let shell dry completely overnight.

4- chose the paper napkin with  the pattern that you would like to apply to the shell. Peel off the top layer of the napkin.

5 - Paint a thin layer of modge podge on the inside surface of the shell - over the white paint - and lay the printed napkin over it, smoothing out wrinkles as you go. Allow to dry an hour. Trim off the extra napkin.

6 - apply three layers of modge podge - glossy  finish - over the napkin, sealing it to the shell - allowing each layer to dry between applications.

7- once the shell is completely dry, apply two layers of spray clear acrylic sealer or spray clear enamel to front and back of the shell, allowing to dry between applications.

8 - allow shell to dry completely - this may take 2 days

9 - paint a thin layer of gold leaf paint around the edge on the front and back of the shell. Allow to dry completely. 

10 - enjoy!!
 

Yellow Jacket Invitational

Today I got to spend the day with Aidan and the Potomac Wrestling Team at the Yellow Jacket Invitational at Randolph Macon Academy. It's always fun to spend the day watching wrestling! Aidan and the team did great - even though they only brought 6 wrestlers to the meet. Looking forward to another meet next weekend!

 

Jamestown Volts

Declan had his first basketball games this weekend! They are getting better and better each week. It's going to be fun to watch them improve this season!

 

Happy New Year!

 2022 has been quite a year! In January we had a huge snowstorm and many basketball games and wrestling meets!

In February Aidan turned 17 and competed in the Virginia State Wrestling Meet:

March had soooo many lacrosse games and Emmy's first Varsity start!

In April, we celebrated Aoife and Brendan's birthdays and Aidan and Ella had their Junior Prom!

In May, Potomac Lacrosse won the MAC Championship, Yorktown won the Liberty district, we finally got the garden put in and we spent Memorial Day weekend in an old Mill and watching Emmy compete in the National School girls tournament.

June was a big month! Emmy turned 15, Yorktown won the Girls Lacrosse State Title, Brendan graduated from the War College and the summer  travel lacrosse season kicked off!

July was really fun but we missed having Brendan around - he was in Alabama for flight training for the Army. We took a long weekend at Rehoboth beach, Emmy played in the All American Tournament and 

we celebrated the 4th of July!

August saw the beginning of football and field hockey as well as the first day of school! We also went hiking and sailing!

September was very full of field hockey games, football games and many outings! We went to the Renaissance Festival and celebrated Brendan's Change of Command. Declan turned 10!!

In October Aidan and Emmy both had Homecoming, we celebrated Senior Night at Potomac and Halloween. The Freshman and JV Field Hockey both finished their seasons undefeated!

In November, Emmy and I traveled to Dallas for lacrosse, Potomac football made it to the State Semifinal game, Stars Lacrosse finished up their fall season, I went with Declan's class to visit Jamestown, and we drove up to Massachusetts for Thanksgiving!

 

December was a fantastic Holiday season!! Lots of wrestling, basketball and indoor track! Aidan received All-State honors, and we celebrated Christmas all together as a family!! 

An incredible year - so many fun and exciting experiences and, just like any year, some tough times as well! Here's to a great 2022 and an even better 2023! Lots of big changes coming!