2022 Year In Review

Normally we like to put a few highlights of our year into our Holiday Card¹, but this year we realized that 2022 had way too much happen in it to fit everything in a single card (even a multi-fold one like the one we picked out), so we figured we’d write up our year on the website for those who are curious about the everything that happened.

⚠️ Caution ⚠️ : The standard caveat for this server applies. This website is hosted on a server using my home connection, and this is a fairly image-heavy post, and links to a few image galleries, so loading all the images may require some patience.

Highlights:

Trip to Austin, TX
Trip to Salt Lake City
Paul and the boys in LA
Trip to Spain
Move to Somerville

January Link to heading

Paul gets LASIK Link to heading

Paul started off the year by getting LASIK surgery.

Max’s Birthday Party Link to heading

Max turned 4 at the end of January and had his first big birthday party since the start of the pandemic. We may have gone a little overboard. Party activities included Pass the Parcel (inspired by Bluey), a balloon drop, a piñata, and cake punctuated by a confetti cannon!

Max's haul of presents — Max’s haul of presents

[📺 Playing *Pass the Parcel*](https://youtu.be/POl7h5huMIo) — 📺 Playing *Pass the Parcel*

[📺 The balloon drop](https://youtu.be/U12BfDGTFyU) — 📺 The balloon drop

Confetti on the table after [singing Happy Birthday 📺](https://youtu.be/6suKTA1ZwS0) — Confetti on the table after singing Happy Birthday 📺

Max excavating dinosaur bones from an egg

Mark starts daycare, gets his first tooth Link to heading

At the beginning of January, Mark started going to Day Care with Max, and at the end of January, he got his first tooth! He was 5-6 months old during this time.

Mark, Mama and Max reading a book the night before Mark's first day in Day Care — Mark, Mama and Max reading a book the night before Mark’s first day in Day Care

Max and Mark getting dropped off on Mark's first day at Cadence Academy — Max and Mark getting dropped off on Mark’s first day at Cadence Academy

Mark's first day at daycare! — Mark’s first day at daycare!

Mark got his first tooth on January 24, 2022

March Link to heading

Trip to Austin, TX Link to heading

In March, we went to Austin, TX, where Paul was giving a talk at PyTexas. Tyren and the boys visited the Selfie Museum and got lots of great pictures, and the whole family went out to the Museum of Ice Cream together. We took in the sights, the sun and of course, we all had lots of delicious food!

Max in front of the 'Greetings from Austin' sign — Max in front of the ‘Greetings from Austin’ sign

Embodying the spirit of Austin, DJ Max eats Chicken and Waffles for breakfast

The whole family outside the Museum of Ice Cream

Paul and Mark in the Sprinkle pit at the Museum of Ice Cream in Austin

Gregarious as ever, Max makes new friends wherever he goes

Paul with Mark enjoying the pool in Austin!

Tyren and Max following the railroad tracks

A significantly more extensive gallery of our trip to Austin can be found here.

April Link to heading

Easter! Link to heading

In preparation for Easter, Paul and Tyren took the boys to the Connecticut Trolley Museum for some Easter festivities, where we met the Easter bunny and made some bunny ears!

Tyren, Max and Mark at the trolley museum

On Easter, the Easter Bunny made it clear that there were 64 easter eggs hidden around our house for the boys to find.

The Easter Bunny tells us there are 64 eggs to find

Hint from the Easter Bunny: There are no eggs hidden behind this door!

Mama and Papa are definitely up and ready to help with the Easter Egg hunt 🥱

Mark is finding eggs even while he's getting a diaper change! — Mark is finding eggs even while he’s getting a diaper change!

Tricky Easter Bunny tried to make us think this was a lime

The best part of Easter egg hunt — tasting the contents!

Mark and Papa's Easter basket — Mark and Papa’s Easter basket

The eggs aren't the only things with cracks this Easter 😛 — The eggs aren’t the only things with cracks this Easter 😛

Max found a robot for the boys along with his basket!

These chicken and waffles seem extra sweet... — These chicken and waffles seem extra sweet…

Mark gets in a little 'protein' during the Easter festivities — Mark gets in a little ‘protein’ during the Easter festivities

The Easter bunny wasn’t the only visitor on Easter, though, as we also got a visit from Aunt Booie and Aunt Renie! A great time to visit Connecticut, since the cherry blossoms were just starting to bloom.

On Easter Morning / The cherry blossoms in bloom / Family visits

Trip to Salt Lake City Link to heading

In April/May, Grace joined Tyren, Paul, Max and Mark for a trip to Utah. Paul was attending PyCon US and giving a talk. Everyone stayed in SLC for a few days at the beginning, and when the conference was in full swing, Tyren and Grace took the boys on a tour of some of Utah’s beautiful national parks.

Max settles in at the AirBNB in Salt Lake City

Max is ready for the road to the national parks

Paul with good friends Matt and Pablo in Salt Lake City

After the conference, Paul hitched a ride with his friend Scott down to Bryce Canyon, where he met up with the rest of the family to get in on the National Park hiking! Max became a Junior Ranger and earned 4 badges for the parks we visited: Arches, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands. He was really excited to earn badges and super proud to display the badges on his new Junior Ranger vest.

Max learns about Bryce Canyon National Park at the information center

Tyren and the boys cuddle up while hiking in Bryce Canyon

When you gotta nap, you gotta nap! Mark sleeps in his ErgoBaby while Tyren, Grace and Max navigate a steep rock face

Grace makes a new friend at the Double Arch in Bryce Canyon

Paul with Max and Mark at Canyonlands National Park

Paul, Tyren, Max and Mark in Canyonlands

Junior Ranger Max investigates an interesting rock formation in Canyonlands

Grace hiking in Canyonlands National Park

Mark is excited to get out of the ErgoBaby and practice his walking!

Max ready to go to the airport after a long trip

June Link to heading

At the beginning of June, Tyren took a trip to Israel for an awesome aerial retreat, and while she was gone, Paul took the boys to Los Angeles to visit Glamma (Grace)!

Paul and the boys in LA Link to heading

The boys had an awesome first time in Los Angeles, and loved visiting with Glamma. Unfortunately, her back was acting up and she couldn’t carry Mark, but luckily Junior Ranger Max was able to step up whenever Papa wasn’t around!

On the AirTrain to JFK — our flights left from the same airport around the same time, so we could all go together!

Max is strong enough to pick up Mark, so he can be a good Junior Ranger and help out while Glamma's back is on the mend! — Max is strong enough to pick up Mark, so he can be a good Junior Ranger and help out while Glamma’s back is on the mend!

[📺 Max teaching Mark how to go up the stairs](https://youtu.be/1_7o5BMy_xM) — 📺 Max teaching Mark how to go up the stairs

While in LA, we visited the Kidspace Children’s Museum in Pasadena

Max and Glamma at the Kidspace Children's Museum — Max and Glamma at the Kidspace Children’s Museum

Max running around at the Kidspace Children's Museum — Max running around at the Kidspace Children’s Museum

Paul and Mark at the Kidspace Children's Museum — Paul and Mark at the Kidspace Children’s Museum

Mark couldn't walk yet, but he already loved climbing! — Mark couldn’t walk yet, but he already loved climbing!

Max immediately wanted to go to the top of this tower!

Glamma and Max building something in the making area

Mark and Max assist in rebuilding efforts at the site of what appears to be some sort of natural disaster

While we were there, we got to attend Paul’s cousin Caroline’s High School graduation. Mark was very taken with cousin Luke!

Caroline's graduating class — Caroline’s graduating class

Mark and Luke at Caroline's graduation — Mark and Luke at Caroline’s graduation

[📺 Mark having fun with Luke and Max](https://youtu.be/5PcQFdqYkh8) — 📺 Mark having fun with Luke and Max

After a long day, Max fell asleep in the car on the way home

We also got to visit the Travel Town Museum, which has tons of trains for Max and Mark to see and ride!

Papa and the boys riding the Travel Town Trolley

As usual, Max makes a new friend. As a Junior Ranger, it appears he is now qualified to give tours of Travel Town

Junior Ranger Max leads us in a hike behind Travel Town

We spent the rest of the visit playing in various parks, visiting friends, going for hikes and we even got to swim in the local pool.

Paul pushing Mark on the swings. Max and Mark were REALLY loved these swings.

Cousin Ben joined us for a hike and some lunch

Glamma and Max swimming in the local pool

Glamma risks permanent spinal damage to give Max a BIG hug goodbye

Max is already sleeping before we even made it on to the red eye flight

July Link to heading

Trip to Spain Link to heading

At the beginning of July, the whole family traveled to Spain for some vacation and to attend a wedding. We had a great time! We spent the first few days in Madrid, where we got to do some sight-seeing and eat some great food. It was over 100°F pretty much every day, so we were lucky that jet lag had us staying up late and waking up late 😅.

Mama and Max share a dance on our arrival in Spain

Enjoying a *delicious* breakfast in Madrid

Max loved being helpful, and wanted to be the one to push Mark in the stroller

Paul near the Royal Palace with Madrid in the background.

Tyren and Mark at the Royal Palace overlooking Madrid

Paul and Mark enjoying a swing in a park in Madrid

While in Madrid, we paid a visit to the Museum of Illusions, where we got some cool photos:

Tyren and Mark had a magical card game, but the players were all evenly matched!

Tyren and Max having a stroll on the ceiling at the Museum of Illusions

A giant Paul reaches out to a tiny Mark at the Museum of Illusions

After a few days in Madrid, we hopped on a short flight to the south of Spain to the beach town of Málaga, where we met up with our friends from London. Málaga is a beautiful town, and by the end of the trip Tyren was already looking up real estate prices.

[📺 LET'S DO THIS!](https://youtube.com/shorts/N_35zeS7gHs) — 📺 LET’S DO THIS!

Tyren surveying Malagueta beach from our porch in Málaga.

*Max, hunting*<br/>Mark: ¡Papa! ¡There's a **pigeon** under the table! — *Max, hunting*
Mark: ¡Papa! ¡There’s a **pigeon** under the table!

Tyren with Mark in front of an ancient Roman theater built in the 1st century BCE

Max, Eric and Esther discuss the vintage of their apple juice.

Baby ho! Eric spots Paul and Mark at a restaurant in Málaga

Max, Eric and Esther enjoy a tapas meal together in the modern fashion

Max falls asleep on the porch while watching the beach

Esther shows Mark a shell while sitting on the beach with Tyren and Millie

After our far-too-short stay in Málaga², it was time to pack up the rental car drive to Cáceres for the wedding, with a stop off in Seville for some delicious tapas.

Loading up in the car for the road trip!

Max was not happy that our seating was outside in the >100°F heat

Mark was also hot. Did I mention how hot it was?

Max makes all my Spanish friends proud by enjoying some *jamon iberico*

Once in Cáceres, it was time for wedding festivities! The night before the wedding was an opening reception, and the ceremony in the cathedral was the next morning. After that, we all drove out to a castle for the reception, where we were given prodigious quantities of extremely high quality food and drink, and the dancing went until 6 AM. Needless to say, it was extremely fun.

Max Trying on a possible new blazer for the wedding

The pre-wedding party: this wasn't even the part that's an actual castle, Cáceres just looks like this all over the place. — The pre-wedding party: this wasn’t even the part that’s an actual castle, Cáceres just looks like this all over the place.

Tyren catching up with London friends Pablo and Ester at the ceremony

Paul, Tyren, Max and Mark at the reception

Tyren with Pablo, Ester and Eric at the reception dinner

Paul with the boys at the reception dinner

Paul and Max dancing at the reception (it was ~1AM at this point)

Paul and Tyren in front of the castle at the reception

The bride and groom dancing at the reception

The sun was rising over Cáceres when we finally made it back to our AirBNB

After all the fun of the wedding, it was time for the long trip home. First we drove to Madrid, stayed the night, then flew to New York and finally drove home to Connecticut.

Max enjoying one last *helado* in Madrid

Mark and Tyren getting some much-needed rest on the flight home

If you want more pictures and videos from Spain, see the full galleries from Madrid and Málaga and Cáceres.

Mark turns 1! Link to heading

When Mark turned 1, we had the last big party we were going to throw in our Connecticut house. We had a bounce hou se, water activities, barbecuing, and a whole lot of friends and family! The party had a music theme, since Mark is such a big music fan!

Mark with Max enjoying his birthday breakfast and presents

Mark had quite a haul of presents. Some of these are for Max, for some reason.

As part of the music theme, we had a bunch of inflatable musical instruments

The bounce house came the day before, and Max made sure to take full advantage of it!

Cake #2 was an ice cream cake, but we *may* have forgotten about it after we took it out to defrost... Still good, though! — Cake #2 was an ice cream cake, but we *may* have forgotten about it after we took it out to defrost… Still good, though!

Mark in the pool, which Tyren had filled up with water beads

Max loads up on balloons during the water baloon fight

Valerie loading up on balloons for the water balloon fight

Bashful Mark and goofy Papa relax during the festivities

August Link to heading

In August we were preparing for our move to Massachusetts by trying to have as much fun as we could in Connecticut, and spending some time with our Connecticut friends.

Mark enthusiastically tells Marlene a story

Spending some time in the inimitable [Farmington Public Library](https://www.farmingtonlibraries.org/), a highlight of our time in Connecticut — Spending some time in the inimitable Farmington Public Library, a highlight of our time in Connecticut

Max and Valerie on our trip to the Sunflower Maze

Claudia came to visit and we went for a walk down by the Farmington River

One last disco party in our beautiful Connecticut house 🪩

Max makes friends with a turtle at the Mystic Aquarium

Granny came to visit; Mark was a big fan

Max's last day of school — Max’s last day of school

Max and Mark relaxing together before the move

In between trips to Boston to find a new place to live, we managed to have a thoroughly enjoyable family trip to Mystic, Connecticut:

And Tyren did a group Lyra performance, with a forest fairy theme:

Right before we moved, we also got the gang together for a last hurrah of mini golf and ice cream:

September Link to heading

Move to Somerville Link to heading

On September 1st, we moved from Unionville, CT to Somerville, MA!

Last family portrait in front of the Connecticut house. We'll miss you Nottingham Boulevard! — Last family portrait in front of the Connecticut house. We’ll miss you Nottingham Boulevard!

We had a *lot* of stuff. Not pictured: All the boxes filling *both* of our cars, and the cab of the truck.

Perils of driving your own truck: no one to blame when the driver accidentally knocks over the mailbox

The Somerville house starting to fill up with boxes

The whole place looked like this for a few weeks

The weather was beautiful when we moved in, so we explored our lovely neighborhood, right on the Somerville community path (bike path) and right next to Lexington Park!

Tyren, Max and Mark entering Lexington Park

Elf Land — a small collection of toys along the Somerville Community Path

Max starts school Link to heading

Right after Labor Day, Max started in his new school, the Capuano Early Childhood Center, where he is in the Squirrel Class! He wasn’t sold on the idea at first, but within the first week he loved going to school, and still loves it to this day!

Max was a bit dubious on his first day at school

The first week, the whole family was able to go in with Max in the morning to help him get used to his new school.

Max lining up to go to school on his second day

Mark starts walking, scootering; Max starts bike riding Link to heading

When we moved, Mark was on the cusp of walking (he was at that stage where he demanded that someone hold his hands so he could walk around), and he started walking by himself at the beginning of September! We all went to LegoLand and at the front of the line for one of the rides, they said, “We just need to see the baby walk before he can get on the ride” (What‽ There were no signs!) Mark had taken a few steps before, so we figured we’d see if we could pull it off and when we put him down he just started walking! Way to go dude!

[📺 Mark takes a few steps](https://youtube.com/shorts/P3vLceLQv28) — 📺 Mark takes a few steps

[📺 Mark starts walking](https://youtube.com/shorts/jjnNHbbm1tw) — 📺 Mark starts walking

Tyren, Max and Mark at LegoLand, taking a rest from all that walking!

In Somerville, Max was excited to finally learn to ride his bike, and he quickly got up and running! Mark was not far behind — despite the fact that he had just learned to walk, in November, at age 16 months, Mark learned to ride a scooter, and he’s been obsessed with it ever since!

[📺 Max rides his bike](https://youtu.be/spW5iwFFrCE) — 📺 Max rides his bike

[📺 Mark rides his scooter](https://youtube.com/shorts/Ci_QpQqInEY) — 📺 Mark rides his scooter

October Link to heading

October was packed full of Halloween activities! We went to the Somerville Public Library for some face painting, a scavenger hunt, and a costume contest! Then the following weekend, we went to the SomerStreets Monster Mash event, where Max ran into a ton of his friends from the neighborhood, from school and even one special visitor from Connecticut!

The family in costume at the Somerville Public Library Halloween event

Mark gets his face painted at the Somerville Public Library

Painting pumpkins at the Somerville Public Library

Tyren and the boys at the SomerStreets Monster Mash

Paul with Mark at the SomerStreets Monster Mash

Max and Valerie see each other for the first time in a few months! Max shows off his new kitty stuffie.

Then it was time for Halloween proper, which is actually a big deal on our street. We got something like 800 trick-or-treaters, and the street was seriously decked out. Max’s friend Valerie and her family came into town from Connecticut to trick-or-treat with us!

Max's costume was... kitty! — Max’s costume was… kitty!

Max and Valerie take a break with some candy

Max had so much fun handing out candy to all the trick-or-treaters!

Paul helped out with the candy distribution as well

December Link to heading

Paul’s new cargo bike Link to heading

In December (perfect timing), Paul went out and bought a new cargo bike. The boys love it, and Max especially loves riding it to school every day! Once we had the cargo bike, we could also participate in the annual Somerville Christmas Lights bike tour!

Joining the Somerville Christmas lights tour — bikes are big here!

The boys ride in style at the Christmas lights tour!

Or, in the case of this year, our “Random of time of year that we happened to get the card together” Card. ↩︎
If we had our way, we’d still be there now 😛 ↩︎