A Very Merry Holiday Season

Laurie and I just spent the past six weeks enjoying another epic holiday season! We are now winding down from the hectic pace and almost non-stop celebrations but also continuing to reflect fondly on an absolutely wonderful holiday season! Here’s a quick recap for you in case you weren’t here to enjoy it all with us!

The 2025 holiday season kicked off for us on November 17^th when Laurie and I decorated the house for the season! We love getting an early start on the festivities to ensure we maximize the time available to celebrate everything the Christmas season has to offer. The first big event was Thanksgiving, which we hosted this year with Laurie’s mom, Linda, her brother and his wife Brad and Marilyn, and their dog Zap joining us for a relaxing visit. In addition to a fun dinner out at Allswell in Waterside, we enjoyed hanging out by the pool, feasting on Turkey and all the fixings on Thanksgiving Day, watching boring football games, and even braving UTC mall for some Black Friday shopping (Laurie and Brad, definitely NOT me!).

Laurie with Zap, and Thanksgiving dinner sides

Next up was our annual holiday cocktail party with the Summerville 6 (all of us bought the same home model, the Summerville, when we purchased in Lorraine Lakes), which was great fun as always. After that, it was off to the races with one party/holiday event after another (again, more for Laurie than for me). Some of the highlights included a holiday lady’s pickleball tournament, a lady’s Christmas party, a bourbon tasting featuring Horse Soldier Bourbon at our community clubhouse, an evening at Siesta Key Distillery for a rum tiki Christmas party, a celebration of Laurie’s birthday at a Salt Cave Spa in Lakewood Ranch, and dining out at new restaurants and some of our old favorites, including Cooper’s Hawk, Agave Bandito, Bar Italia, 131 Main, and enRich Bistro.

Celebrating with the Summerville Six, Laurie’s birthday cake, and the holiday cocktail party spread

Christmas pickleball tournament, rum tiki Christmas party, and lady’s holiday party

We also hosted our annual holiday wine tasting dinner with our friends Terry and Gerard, and Karen and Rich. It was a great time with lots of Christmas music, laughter, and food and wine of course!

Pastina meatball soup, 5-cheese arancini with basil cream sauce, the menu, and antipasti platter

As the big day approached, Laurie and I watched our favorite holiday movies (The Grinch, Elf, A Christmas Story, Home Alone, Planes Trains and Automobiles, It’s a Wonderful Life, Mame, and A Christmas Vacation), while munching on Laurie’s famous sugar cookies. We went to Tsunami on Christmas Eve for sushi and hibachi grill before watching Christmas Vacation, and then spent Christmas day opening presents, and enjoying more food, wine, and cocktails! We started with homemade sausage balls paired with golden tomato bloody Mary’s, and then a few hours later had brunch which included pomegranate mimosas and Eggstuff (our favorite bacon, egg, and cheese casserole). We enjoyed cocktails while watching the sunset and then had beef bourguignon for Christmas dinner and Junior’s cheesecake (from NYC) for desert.

Christmas Eve dinner at Tsunami, bloody Mary’s, and beef bourguignon for Christmas dinner

The week between Christmas and New Year’s was a bit of a blur (lots of napping and floating & reading in the pool), but included a kayaking adventure off Casey Key for Laurie and Theresa (along with Daniel and Abigal!) to try out their new inflatable kayaks, along with NYE celebrations with friends, including a NYE cocktail happy hour at Terry and Gerards home, and the grand finale, Matt and Cathy’s annual NYE bash (which was fantastic as usual!).

New Year’s Eve party at Matt and Cathy’s, and kayak day at Casey Key

Well, I think that covers most of it, although I’m sure I left out a few things! Coming next is the winter visitor season, which we are eagerly awaiting! Until our first visitors arrive next week, Laurie and I will be resting, relaxing, and recharging our batteries. I hope you all had as great a holiday season as we did! Cheers to all for a happy and healthy 2026!