It has been quite a weather-y few weeks, Leland streeters! Snow and cold! Before Christmas we had an historic snow storm where our block showed its true colors, from Charles Duffy, like Santa, going from house to house, car to car to help with shoveling to Marcy – seeing too many cars and too few spaces - making sure everyone had room to park.
The Lee Family:
Ann writes: My son, Michael and Velina were married in a beautiful ceremony in the mountains of North Carolina on November 27. We are thrilled to welcome Velina and Simone into our family. Here is the glowing bridal couple as well as some of the younger members of the bridal party, included are Ann Lee’s Grandchildren and Velina’s daughter, Simone.
The Lee’s annual Christmas caroling party went ahead in spite of the weather thanks to my family and some hardy, spirited neighbors. Even with all that snow, Julie Trocchio was outside with a lovely tray of eggnog for the carolers, a wonderful treat and very much appreciated. I am now paying the price for eating all the leftover goodies--but it surely was fun! This was the first year in over 30 years that the weather played havoc with the party--and hopefully the last, though it was absolutely beautiful outside.
The neighbors of Leland Street so appreciated Ann Lee continueing her Caroling party even in the midst of a record breaking snowstorm. Ann Lee’s family led carolers through ice and knee high snow to bring holiday cheer right to our doorsteps.
The fun continued back at the Lee Homestead with lots of home baked treats including Ann’s gingerbread cookies.
The Bateman Family:
Jill writes: The Batemans are excited about the prospects of the New Year but a little sad to see the holiday season come to a close. The full house is emptying quickly.......Annie returned to Georgia last Wednesday (where she was disappointed to find weather conditions almost as frigid as here!) and Claire returns to Vanderbilt on Sunday. As Will says it will now just be the three of us empty nesters again plus Rugby of course (who expands to fill whatever void she senses).
The whole family enjoyed a Christmas visit to NYC, returning on the train in the middle of the blizzard (supposedly we got the last train out of Penn station before the cancellations began). Coming home through the snow storm at dusk was like riding the Polar Express......very beautiful and quiet.
Claire and Jill spent this past Wednesday at the American Indian Museum researching the Lakoda Sioux tribe. Claire is a site leader for a group of Vandy students going to the South Dakota reservation for an alternative spring break trip in March.
If you haven't spent time in this particular museum, Claire and Jill highly recommend it......and don't miss the film in the round domed theatre on the top floor and the delicious food. The family has spent many lazy cold nights in the movie theater over the break. All really enjoyed Up in the Air (Jill says who wouldn't want to look at George Clooney for 2 hours) Terry and Jill saw An Education which they thought was excellent and are encouraging Annie and Claire to see, and A Single Man which they report is beautifully done and very poignant (and Colin Firth is brilliant) but is admittedly a little on the depressing side. Claire and Jill loved Avatar......all 3 hours of it! Good books read include The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls and Gourmet Rhapsody by Muriel Barbery.
Jill was fascinated by My Stroke of Insight, a definite must read about a brain scientist's personal journey of recovery after a massive stroke. Claire recommends The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz and is looking forward to reading Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann. All the Batemans wish all Leland Streeters a very happy and blessed 2010!
Arthur and Marcy invited Farrell Cosmas and Florence Lloyd for cocktails and conversation and got bonus opinions, anecdotes and laughter.
Marcy and Farrell attended a holiday party at Curves...it was a nice change be near fitness machines and not have to work out! Pictured here are Farrell with Laura Baron, blues, jazz, folk vocalist/composer and Marcy with Kathy McGuire, Curves Mgr.
Stenseth-Bergem Family:
Hello from Oslo, Norway from Knut, Leni, Mira and Falk. They are happy, healthy and very busy settled in Oslo enjoying new friends and old friends and family. Leni is loves her work with the Red Cross, Knut is publishing books, Mira loves High School, and Falk plays soccer every day. Here is a family photo enjoying winter sports.
The Ayaz Family:
Nicole writes:
We had a full house over the winter break. Nicole’s parents visited from Tucson, Arizona and her brother visited from California. Luckily everyone arrived safely and without delay despite the snow storm!
Arianna and Sophie enjoyed their new dolls and special time with Grandfather, John Gabroy, (Nicole's Dad).
We had a lot of big family dinners and went to Philadelphia to see the newest addition to the family, Gracie Lena, born December 23rd. Gracie is Nicole’s cousin’s first child and is adorable! We took the girls sledding and enjoyed the big snow fall. Tony and Nicole got to enjoy some fun nights out while the grand-parents baby-sat, including a holiday dinner for Tony’s federal team. We enjoyed the more relaxed schedule and are slowly easing back into the school and work routines. We wish everyone a very Happy New Year!!!
Nicole just finished reading “Stones Into Schools” the sequel to “Three Cups of Tea” and highly recommends it!
The Forrest Family:
Marcy writes:
Our year-end finale, gave us ample experiences to celebrate the season. We appreciated Ann Lee’s carolers bringing the holiday spirit right to our doorsteps. The holidays are always a lively month for our family and super busy for Arthur with his end of year production, so, December’s calendar was dotted with good times on both coasts; every experience from quiet dinners with friends to a black tie affair.
We had our family celebration before waving Nicole and Steve off to enjoy time with his family, a visit to NYC and then returning for a Black & White Ball on New Years Eve.
Arthur set our New Year off to a fine start, once again as Executive Producer-Director The Tournament of Roses Parade. What better way to start the year than with the bang and toot of marching bands, the trots of several equestrian displays and forty-seven flower covered floats in the Rose Parade!!
We attended the annual Rose Banquet honoring the Rose Parade and network Officials including this year’s Grand Marshall, Captain Chesley Sullenberger, the airline pilot who skillfully landed the plane in the Hudson River.
We were so impressed with his equal measures of charisma and humility.
Arthur orchestrated the shots for home viewers from the NBC control booth while I enjoyed the fun from the stands with my brother, John Butler.
We enjoy the spectacles as well as the patriotic themes. There was a very special tribute float this year to the Tuskegee Airmen. The float featured flower petal portraits of the pilots and several Tuskegee veterans rode on the float. There were several wonderful school bands from all over the United States and world as well as the Marine Corps Marching band which is always so impressive.
We took a two day detour to Arizona en route home from California. Arthur landed in Tucson with his Telethon production team for meetings on the next Labor Day Telethon. I touched down in Phoenix to visit a friend. Sherry and I both worked the fashion runways in the 1970’s. Sherry retired from the fashion world to become a Special Agent for the Attorney General of Arizona. We had a rolicking good time.
The Boland Family:
Leanne writes: The Bolands enjoyed a wonderful Christmas with everyone in the family in town.
Christmas Eve was at Shannon and Joe's, Christmas Day was celebrated at our home on Leland Street, and we joined the extended Boland clan for Chinese Carry Out, at what has become an annual event hosted by one of Jimmy's sisters, on the 26th. We'd like to thank Ann Lee for again hosting a joyous Caroling Party. Although the " crowd" was a bit thinner due to the frigid weather, we were proud to be shivering along with them! Jimmy and Leanne look forward to skiing in Vail, Co. and attending wedding festivities in New York this month. As for books, Leanne enjoyed
"The Help" by Kathryn Stockett.
The Martz-Davies Family:
Stephanie writes: The Martz-Davies family had a snow-tastic holiday, with everyone not only on the same continent, but in the same state, town, and even house. As we have done every year, we packed everything off to West Virginia for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Santa brought a karaoke machine, a hockey-playing Canadian version of an “American Girl” doll (“MapleLea” girls, they are called, and this one is named Leonie – she’s Quebecois), a goalie helmet, and skis for the kids. VERY early in the a.m. of December 26, we evacuated W.Va. for Dulles and spent five days skiing in Snowbird, Utah. The kids loved it, and Stephanie is now officially the worst, or at least most chicken, skier in the family (well, Pip isn’t on skis yet, but it’ll take about two days for her to catch up with her siblings).
Reading and movies: Both kids can’t watch enough of the movie “Up,” and Kyle is very into the TinTin books right now.
The Duffy Family:
Bonnie writes:
We enjoyed spending Christmas with Bonnie's family in North Carolina.
Matthew especially enjoyed being with his cousins and was thrilled by all the Christmas treats and activities at home, school and church. At the top of his list for Santa was hockey equipment - at this point he has great aspirations to be a goalie! We all loved the beautiful snow and the quietness that came with it.
The Trocchio Family:
Julie writes: It was great having Jennie home from sunny Florida. She loved the snow and walked all over Bethesda and Chevy Chase. Her studies go well; just a few more courses and she can start her dissertation for her doctorate in special ed.
Julie recommends, The Sharper Your Knives, the Less you Cry by Kathleen Flinn about a year at Cordon Bleu Cooking School.
