The Adventures of Jake and Allie: 2026

We started the 2026 with some football!

Go Ducks & Dawgs!

No more braces!

Go Dawgs!

Beat Texas!

It snowed!

Kirby liked the sweatshirt, not the vest!

Out with BFF, Scotch!

We didn't take pictures but we celebrated our #1!

Happy Birthday, Alex!

How was the birthday boy not in the picture?

Happy Valentine's Day from Kirby to you...

actually to Scotch!

Early morning flight for me & Jake to East Lansing to visit Michigan State University!

We had a lovely night celebrating Dorothy's 80th birthday! Alex hired a chef and server for the night and it was so fun to host Ken & Loretta, Cindy & Murray and Brenna & Pipi and of course Phillip and the birthday girl!

Next up, our visit to Indiana University!

After a busy start to the year, we were super ready for spring break in Costa Rica! When Alex and I went in 2019 we said we'd love to come back with the kids and that is just what we did.

We started in the North part of Guanacaste at

Hotel Hacienda Guachipelin. At the foot of the Rincon de la Vieja National Park and the largest and most active volcano in the region.

We arrived mid-afternoon and while Allie chilled we found the bar (18 is legal in Costa Rica) for happy hour.

With hammocks outside each little bungalows, it was a beautiful and lush location.

Before heading out to hike the Rincon de la Vieja National Park.

After the hike and lunch, Alex, Allie and I check out the natural hot springs and mud baths!

We didn't take pictures but the next day we went on a river tubing adventure. We went down about 3 miles of class 2 and 3 rapids. I was nervous but it was really fun and the scenery of the Rio Negro was beautiful.

From the mountains to the beach!

The next morning, we headed out super early to go fishing. It was Jake's one request so we were excited to make that happen! It was so nice to be out on the boat but the fish were not cooperating!

Just when we were about to call it a day we saw the biggest "fish" of them all...whales!

The next day Allie and Jake went on a scuba adventure and Alex and I hung on the boat!

Sad to go!

Pura Vida!

Allie was perfection in the spring show, the first musical in the school's history!

Legally Blonde, JR was incredible and Allie was the perfect Vivienne Kensington, preppy b*tch that she was!

AAA - Allie, Avery & Annie

AKA - Vivienne, Elle & the student director

With her biggest fans.

We are so excited that Jake has selected Michigan State University as his home for the next four years! So proud and excited for him!

Kirby is all in on MSU!

Alex and Jake went to the first playoff game for the Spurs! And they won! Go Spurs Go!

Allie attended her first BBYO convention. She loved it and loved that it was at CYJ!

8th Grade Dance for Allie. She and her friend Avery got ready together for the dance and Kirby, at his own direction, was part of the photoshoot!

Following the 8th grade dance, Allie had her theater banquet. Her theater besties, AAA - Allie, Annie & Avery had a special night out at Chez Zee to celebrate their accomplishments at Murchison theater program.

I had a lovely Mother's Day! We had breakfast out with cards and gifts and I went to Pilates before meeting up with some of my bestie moms!

The last theater performance at Murchison

Last last day of senior year and K-11!

First and Last Day of Senior Year!

Allie went on an amazing trip to NYC with her theater program. They saw 3 shows, Stranger Things, Shmigadoon and Little Shop of Horrors. They did and saw so much!