Winter 2026

It was a snowy, cold winter, but just in the last couple days it's really starting to feel like spring. Samantha spent 10 weeks on the crew team learning to row, while Marcus finished up the season on the swim team. Then Marcus switched to crew (only on the non-frisbee days) and, of course, frisbee, and Helen started rehearsing for another major dance show. Kids and friends fill the house, and life is (as they say) good.

 

Winter sports here include indoor frisbee (Marcus coached little kids), and Girl Scout cookie sales.

 

We made it to the Museum of Science while their Christmas train exhibit was up, which is always a hit, especially the Boston display. Meanwhile, in actual downtown Boston, this year's Winteractive brought big see-saws to Downtown Crossing and sea monster tentacles to a building.

 

Pop-pop turned 88 on Groundhog Day!

 

Free tickets to BU hockey, and post-game skate with players? Yes, please.

 

Helen loves spending time with friends, whether that's on Wacky-Tacky Day at school or making dumplings with Rohan and Kavi during a snowstorm at home.

 

And yes. Did someone say snowstorms?

 

We went to see the commercial dance showcase at Boston Conservatory, where our cousins Bella Butters and Libby Butters are, respectively, a senior and a first-year in the program. One of Helen's friends went with us, and we enjoyed chatting with Minnesota cousins afterwards.

 

Helen got to play for the students in a New England Conservatory string pedagogy class, and they were adorable and very serious trying to put their theory into practice and give her some mini-lessons. Their teacher was wonderful, and put Helen and her friend at ease--"It's not a test for you, at all. Whatever you do is wonderful. This is a test for MY students!"

 

We spent five days in Steamboat Springs with Grandma Judy over February break. Robert and Marcus skied three days each, and Helen skied one day. Lots of visits to the lovely heated pool, some movies and crafts, and walks around town also occurred. It was balmy and pretty warm (though we did get snowed on once, and also hailed on, in the swimming pool) until the last night, when we went out for fun burgers, Marcus had his first experience driving through slippery snow with poor visibility, and Helen got to staple a decorated $1 bill to the bar walls.

 

On the last day of school vacation week, we visited the big ferris wheel downtown for its free day--also in snow--and went to the Children's Museum, watched some Olympics on the big screen outdoors at Quincy Market, and then went to a girls' sports festival at BU, had a great Thai dinner out, and saw a women's hockey game. And Marcus got more experience driving in snow!

 

There has been a lot of ice skating in our lives this winter--Saturday outdoor lessons at Kelly Rink, and then Sunday indoor lessons at BU. Helen can do little waltz and toeloop jumps, and spins, and is working on making her back crossovers better. She has loved skating with friends (sometimes with Marcus, too, when he joins them), and also practicing on her own.

 

For Marcus's superhero-themed senior dress-up day, Samantha first trekked to Goodwill in the snow to look for possible shirts for him, and then started painting a plain blue shirt we had at home. Fantastic results!

 

Helen's chorus got free tickets to a Bruins game!

 

Despite delays due to snow, the school lunar new year celebration was finally held, and the JQES Flying Dragons were the grand finale. Helen and her friends had been practicing two mornings a week before school since January.

 

Helen's orchestra went to Provincetown for a weekend residency, staying at the Brasswood Inn, playing three concerts, collaborating with Red Door Chamber, and also sight-seeing a little.

She came back thrilled and proud, happy to have stayed in a hotel with friends, and having enjoyed all the music.

 

Samantha celebrated a Girl Scout friend's birthday at Activate in the South Bay.

 

Helen and I went to Holi in Roslindale Square.

 

And finally, Helen turned 10. Samantha made her a beautiful card, we brought flower pot cupcakes to dance on the day of her birthday, and she's getting her ears pierced and having a small party and sleepover on Saturday. Exciting events!

 

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Created: 3/26/26. Last Modified: 3/26/26.