Kicking Off a New Decade...

Greetings from the future-- 2020! can we all believe it?!?! I remember when 2020 sounded like a lifetime away, and now... we're here.  Well, it's January, and I thought I might extend some belated new year greetings and a little update since I didn't post since Christmas.

New Year's Eve didn't work out quite as planned due to a wave of family flu and strep, but we made the most of it and rung in the new year at home with a few dear friends.

I have to admit, we are now in the midst of our annual doldrums.  Not too much going on, but this pic of Simone sums it up.   The Dotsons are content in our winter routine.  We are back to school, back to work, back to the hum of the daily rituals that are our life. 

Simone has started school musical season -- Disney Newsies will hit the stage in late April, and she landed a speaking role this year.  She is over the moon and having an awesome time already.  We are so proud of her!  She  also turned in another quarter of top grades and will be inducted into the National Junior Honor Society next month.  

Beyond that news, we spent the month staying warm inside, putting away all the holiday decorations, saw a few movies, and racked up some community service hours on the weekends.  And oh!  we also got some news that we will be hosting an exchange student from France this spring!  We are all excited for that and have begun thinking about all the things we can see and do with our guest.  

We'll be sure to keep everyone up to date with Simone's February adventures.  There's bound to be some highlights!