Happy New Year 2026!

This past year has been our best yet as a family. We have focused on routines, and health, and traditions, and family time. We played in the snow, made art, did experiments, played games, enjoyed good food, went for walks, took hikes, listened to music, read books, played at playgrounds, attended holiday gatherings with family, and even had date days. We went to the Boston Museum of Science, the Whaling Museum, the Discovery Museum, bowling, ran the Mattapoisett 4th of July race with the kids, and attended Harbor Days. We took three camping trips, one with two sets of grandparents!  River learned to ride a bike. River and Eleanor started preschool. Eleanor has grown from toddler to little girl, and Jack has turned from baby to toddler. All this on top of keeping the house clean, the laundry washed, the fridge stocked, the yard tidy, and the bills paid. We are doing our best, actively trying to be the best parents, the best spouses, the best individuals we can be. It can all feel like constant compromise- sleep versus productivity, chores versus fun, one child versus another who needs attention- and I am never certain how exactly to fill the pie chart of time in a day to maximize the twenty-four hours we are allotted. But reflecting back on the year, I feel like we did well in making the most of our time, and we found a good balance. We have made some very happy memories, maintained a clean and warm home, and kept our children healthy and safe. The year 2025 is over, and it was a good year. We plan to approach 2026 with goals, discipline, a positive attitude, and most importantly, love, and I am excited to see what we can do with the next 365 days.