Dryden Christmas in Virginia

 

Panthers Game

We headed down to Charlotte the day after Christmas to catch the Panthers against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in (what we thought was) Tom Brady's final season as quarterback.

Auntie JOB let us crash at her place a few blocks from the stadium, giving Paul & Kate a chance to roam Charlotte's Uptown (Center City?) and reminisce on our old days in the Queen City.

 

Christmas 2021

 

Christmas Eve 2021

 

Clara at Men's Soccer National Championships

 

Clara got to go to the NCAA men's national championship match in Cary, cheering on Clemson with her friends the Krakowiaks. (Dad, Wojtek, played his college soccer with Clemson and so had the in with the team to get on the field after they won it all.)

Kiawah Half Marathon

 

Hattie Turns 10!

 

Hattie has been saying she's in double digits since she turned six (that's when it took two hands to count how old she was). Now it's official. Hattie hits the decade mark.

We started out with some presents for Hattie before school...

And out family celebration that evening, where Clara serenaded her sister with a Happy Birthday rendition. (Video on the blog...)

Hattie's birthday party started with friends coming over before a walk up to North Hills. Hattie had been practicing this Vanessa Carlton song on the piano for a few weeks and was happy to show it off for her buds (video on the blog)?

They played outside a bit and then...

Hung out at North Hills before...

A very brave Mama agreeing to host them for a night in a room at the Renaissance Hotel. 😬

They came back to the house the next morning to dine on donuts and roll on with their weekend plans.