January 2026

Can you believe I am focusing on just one month? But we have had so many snow/ice days and there is no major removations, or painting projects in the home that I can do at this moment so I am catching up on everything else!

Two things happened in January - 1. Todd and I went to Lexington/Frankfort for a Bourbon Trail weekend, and 2. Nick turned 13. Otherwise it was cold and snowy and there were lots of snow days. 

For Christmas I gave Todd an experience gift. The experience was The Bourbon Trail (part 2). We concentrated on Lexington and Frankfort and managed to visit 6 distilleries during a fairly quiet weekend on the trail. 

We stayed at The Manchester in the distillery district. It is a perfectly themed hotel for the Bourbon district. Warm and cozy. The night we arrived we had dinner at their highly rated restaurant which was very yummy. We managed to rest well that night before the next 2 days of bourbon.  

The next day we started with a very good breakfast at a local breakfast joint. Then we headed to the Lexington Brewery and Distillery where we has a scheduled tour through their buildings with 2 separate tastings - a beer flight and a bourbon flight!

Next we headed down the road to the next distillery - RD1 who just moved into this new building. We had a flight of bourbons and then Todd filled his own bottle straight from a barrel. 

After this distillery we headed over to the distillery district and ate a midday snack before our next tour. This tour was a surprise as it was in the tinies distillery we had ever been. It is located in the old barrell house of the original distillery on the property. Therefore, this distillery is called The Barrel House. Such a gem of a tour - felt like we were in somebody's basement making bourbon. But - I took no inside photos!!

We went to Wise Bird after for a flight of ciders. It was a lot of cider following bourbon all day so we weren't able to finish it all. We ended the day with dinner at a Chinese restaurant in Lexington. Over stuffed for the night!

The next day we woke up refreshed and ready to go to Frankfort. 

Our first stop was Castle & Key. We thought we would just do a self guided tour. We walked the outdoors area which was filled with beauty and history and so we decided to see if a tour was available so we could see the inside. And there was! And it was an amazing piece of history that has recently been brought back to life. What a beautiful building and grounds!

Next up we headed to the city of Franfort for a candy tour at Rebecca Ruth Candy. What a history their family has in the business of candy! We didn't get to see the chocolate being actively made and packaged due to the holiday but we had a very nice visit. 

Next up we stopped at a distillery that another couple told us not to miss while in the area. It's called J 

Mattingly Distillery. We felt like we had the place to ourselves. We sampled 6 bourbons and a impromptu tour. Definitely a small gem. 

Next we headed next door to Buffalo Trace Distillery which is quite the opposite of all the other distilleries we visited this weekend. It was huge but a really great tour. They have it figured out!

After we headed back to Lexington to have our last dinner in town - pizza! We finished it all, we were starving! Then we headed back to the distillery district and had one more flight - of ice cream. It was delicious!!

What a great weekend away!

Next up we had a Scout Court of Honor and Nick ranked up! Russell also earned a couple of merit badges. 

We have some evidence of snow! We got around 8-10 inches.

Next up was Nicks actual birthday. He turned 13! We had steak ramen and brownies to celebrate! He was able to open a gift and we got him a new bike (which he quickly put together and awaits better weather!)

We celebrated with friends and family that weekend and enjoyed our first party in the house since the renovation was completed last year! It felt good and Nick had a great day!

Now on to February....

Dear Nick

Dear Nick,

You are 13! It feels like you have been 13 for awhile. You have so much knowledge and can do so much independently that 13 feels like it happened so long ago. But now we celebrate! It's official! You have adjusted to your new school this year so easily. We know you have so many friends and people who want to be your friend. We hope to get to see them more as you get older. 

You have excelled in a challenging learning environment and adjust easily to the large school and complicated bell schedule. But, of course, you would!

You continue to be a great cook and baker. You can fix most things and you can figure out how to work any electronic without any instruction. Very impressive. 

Your drumming ability has grown so much this year and we cannot wait to see where this brings you next year. It's so much fin watching you perform. 

Scouts has been a great place to grow in leadership and hands on skills. You are working through your ranks quickly! 

We cannot wait to see what 13 brings for you Nick and what new things you may explore this coming year. We hope it's a great year!

Happy Birthday!

Love, 

Mom and Dad

Christmas is here!

Christmas Eve kicked off the Christmas festivities with an afternoon church service followed by lasagna and sourdough bread at home. We ended the night with a Christmas movie before heading to bed for the big day. 

The next morning the kids were up early! This was a shock. And Santa had come overnight! It was a joyful morning with homemade cinnamon rolls and plenty of present exchanging. 

Next stop - grandma's house. 

The next day we headed north to Buffalo to experience ice and rain. Oh boy! And where are all the photos?? I guess we had too much fun that very few photos were taken. 

What a whirlwind!

Now on to the new year!

We rang it in together at home at midnight after some boardgames, MarioKart, and way too much food! This was our first time staying up until midnight as a family!