2024 Recap
Taking the hint and finally giving a family year-end wrap-up a try.
This year, I scanned a few annual wrap-up mailers and realized I don't have a holistic view of how the year went for us as a family unit. A few highlights come to mind, but as a year, what exactly did we do?
🇩🇴 Well, we kicked off 2024 in the Dominican Republic. That alone is a surprise—it feels like two years ago! But remembering that puts into perspective how quietly wild a year we had.
🍾 There's a video somewhere of Kelley chugging a bottle of champagne in our room just hours before we flew back to Maryland. The trip was fun but a little too curated. We like being immersed in the countries we visit, and an all-inclusive resort didn't provide. Since then, family travel has been modest.
🏝️ During a week in Deep Creek, we became an Olympic-obsessed family. We hope to make it to LA for the '28 Olympics. Kelley and I made frequent day trips to Sandy Point this year, a departure from our typical week-long jaunts to Delaware and Florida. However, we did manage a long weekend in Bethany Beach as a family this summer.
📚 Kelley spent a lobster-filled few days in Maine for work. She's also been juggling a lot of creative output through writing across many mediums. Think novels, journals, social media campaigns, newsletters, blogs, whitepapers, and more! She's even joined a writing program to take her creative output to the next level. If you need some help on the communications front, I suggest contacting her soon because yesterday's price won't be tomorrow's price.
⛳️ I (Antoine) drove a van load of items roundtrip from DC to Florida over three days with my cousin and discovered I like road trips, despite the specific cause for this one. I also golfed... a lot, started a business (again, and more on that later), and joined a social club. Who am I?!
🏐 AJ (19) is having a very successful sophomore year studying Financial Economics and is eagerly seeking summer internships. Feel free to give us a holler if you have any leads. He's also been very active since joining an intramural volleyball team on campus.
🎷 Mia (16) is in her junior year of high school and leads the low brass section. During a band trip to Florida, she performed at Universal Studios and led her section during our city's Labor Day parade. We're planning to start touring colleges this Spring!
🕺🏽 Nathan (12) competes in dance, sometimes practicing up to nine hours a week. He's enjoying middle school (as much as anyone can) and had a successful few days at Outdoor Ed.
⚽️ Kelley and I became season ticket holders to DC's winningest team, the Washington Spirit, after watching them finish second this year in the NWSL and sending off the USWNT before their successful Olympic run. While we mainly stayed local this year, in addition to seeing the Wizards and DC United, we were grateful to see Stevie Wonder, Kid Fury, Meshell Ndegeocello, and a handful of local comedians live in warm and cozy venues.
Next year's calendar is already littered with dance competitions, professional training, trips, and commitments to pouring into and strengthing our relationships with each other and our greater community.
🎤 I wish you a prosperous and peaceful year, and should anyone get in the way of that for you - knuck if they buck.
