2022 Wrap
- russhakespeare
- Dec 19, 2022
- 1 min read
Updated: Dec 19, 2022
Re-capping our year and what we look forward to in 2023!

You made it!
We thought last year's card was weird and this year you get half-naked Santa ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Anywayyyy... let's recap!
TL;DR - we finally got to explore Austin and settle into life at Barley Point. Looking forward to 2023!
Winter
- A visit from Marianne and Todd! Unfortunately, they were victims of a stomach bug and spent a lot of their trip in our guest room :( They will have to return!
- We joined a corn hole league! We came in dead-last place but had a great time and made some friends!
- We made like tourists and did one of those cheesy amphibious bus tours!
- Laura's Mom, Ellen, paid us a visit! We hit up some museums and touristy Austin places. Bea was SO happy to see her Grandma!
- We popped up to Waco to spend the day with Molly and Kate. We went to the Baylor children's museum, out to eat, and to Top Golf for some mini golf and ice cream. It was quite the day!
Spring
- Time to head back to Jersey! We drove the southern route which allowed us to see friends, Ali, Hope, and kids in Houston!
- Spent a day in the Pensacola, FL area to catch some rays.
- Took a week-long driving break in Atlanta. We rented an Airbnb with a yard for Bea, worked from our laptops, and got to explore the Atlanta area in the evenings. It was perfect!
- We made a pit stop in Baltimore to see Christine and Matt and the boys and finally made it to Barley Point.
- Brandon and Amberle's wedding (and essentially a college friend reunion) in Maryland on the Chesapeake Bay. Gorgeous!
- Ellen has a total knee replacement!
- The Hoppe clan hop on a Hudson River dinner cruise to support the Hoboken Shelter.
- Lots and lots of hours behind the computer working on Camp Ma-He-Tu projects - but we have a new website, new registration software up and running!
Summer
- Jon's first real "tour" of Bear Mountain.
- Into the city we go for birthday karaoke and Korean BBQ for Marianne!
- A weekend visit from Christine and Amanda and their boys! We spent a lot of time on the beach eating sand! Well... DJ did, anyway!
- We took a trip to Madison, WI! It was technically a work trip for Jon, but it was over Laura's birthday so there was plenty of fun to be had - we hit up our favorite new and old restaurants and saw had lots of time with friends. Madison in the summer is really hard to beat!
- Time for the BP Luau! Megan, Marianne, and Todd were special guests!
- We finally got to go back to Women in the Woods at Camp Ma-He-Tu! Ellen, Jen, Addy, and Harper all had a blast!
- Drove up for a long weekend on Cape Cod to hang with our Mass-friends, Allie, Justin, Alex, Mark, and Marisa! Justin led us on an AWESOME kayak tour out to the ocean and we (Jon) ate lots of seafood!
Fall
- With help from Laura's Dad, Dave, we start playing more and more pickleball. We even took lessons from a pro!
- Annual pumpkin picking and painting with Addy and Harper was a hit!
- Drove up to Brooklyn for birthday brews for Rand and visited the Cooper Hewitt museum with Glenda and Chris!
- Time to head back to Texas. Our route took us right through Jackson, MS and it was REALLY IMPORTANT that we stop so Laura could show Jon all of the old stomping grounds.
- Sarah organized a thrupple's-costume to show off at Morgan and Joey's Halloween party! We were a bike, rider, and 3rd Wheel! Laura was very excited to give out candy to trick-or-treaters for the first time ever!
- We got a new car! Traded in the Volkswagen Tiguan for a Kia Telluride.
- Thanksgiving weekend started with friendsgiving at Sarah's house! Then we drove up to Dallas, got to meet the new dog, Gus, learned how to play Chickenfoot, and played Left Center Right for REAL CASH! Molly and Laura won!
Winter (again)
- We joined a Pickleball league! So far, compared to cornhole, we are NOT in last place, but we also haven't made any friends yet.... stay tuned.
- Laura organized a community party for our condo complex and Jon took the decoration-making VERY seriously. But thank goodness, because the games were a hit!
We'll be heading up to Branson, Missouri with the extended Russell clan on December 26 for a week of family fun! Then on to Florida in January for Grandma Bev's 80th celebration!
In 2023, we're looking forward to (hopefully, fingers crossed, please pray for us) that we start renovations on Barley Point. We're hoping to enclose the pilings and add a deck - both should give us some much-needed additional living space! And we hope we get to see as many of your faces as possible too!! Please come visit us in Austin or New Jersey!
All our love,
Laura, Jon, and Bea
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