I enjoy writing monthly Life Lately updates like they are my own personal diary entries so I have something to look back on later in life. This winter Life Lately update for January and February 2026 includes everything from a family ski trip to Mount Snow and a Connecticut blizzard to dance events, NYC adventures, and everyday mom life.
March is now here and we already have had a delay and a snow day. It didn’t really snow, but that’s okay. The new year has brought more than enough to the snow-loving Houston family!
January 2026
January was a very cold and snowy month. We started at an ice skating birthday party for Annabelle’s best friend/one of my oldest friends’ daughters. Their family builds an ice skating rink in their backyard every winter, but last year wasn’t cold enough to really enjoy it. For her 12th birthday she had a hot cocoa AND a macaroni and cheese bar – it was such a cute idea!
This winter has brought many park gatherings for the OWA crew. Whenever the snow starts to fall, our whole neighborhood meets to go sledding. After a long day on the big hill, we all pile in someone’s house for food, beverages, and fun. I cherish these moments with some of my favorite families.
Another fun highlight from Life Lately in January 2026 was watching my middle child perform during halftime at the Southern Connecticut Women’s Basketball game. She and her best friends attended a dance clinic with the SCSU Dance Team and then performed with the girls. It was such an amazing experience for the 9-10 year olds! Our dance besties also came over to watch the UDA Nationals – it is one of the BEST weekends for television of the year!
February 2026
Life during February 2026 was just as fun as January. From a neighborhood Galentine’s gathering to a Girl’s Night at Glow, from homemade Valentine’s Day gifts to a school Cornhole Tournament fundraiser – we went nonstop! There was an Olympic USA Men’s Hockey watch party with friends, a trip to Barnes and Noble (Annabelle is starting Hunger Games), and a few mirror selfies at work. The month went by so quickly because there was so much to do – and that isn’t even everything we had on our calendar.
One of the biggest adventures of February was a 24 hour escape to New York City with Ailey and our best friends from dance. The moms and daughters took the train into the big apple for one of the girls’ 10th birthday celebrations. I am working on a full post to share the details – because it was an epic trip! They went to the spa, had a private shopping party at Kendra Scott, and brunch at the Louis Vuitton Cafe. We are so fortunate to have such an incredible group of friends.
The Blizzard of 2026
To top off an eventful month we experienced our first BLIZZARD in Connecticut. I think this winter broke the record for most-snow-ever since we moved back to my hometown. I will never forget the first blizzard Brandon and I experienced together. Snowed in with THREE FEET as newlyweds in 2010? It was incredible. We spent so much time outside in the snow with cocktails and freezing our tails off.
The blizzard of 2026 brought almost 20 inches of snow to Wallingford. It was so deep on top of what we already had on the ground and the snow drifts were twice as tall. Arbor could barely walk through the yard! My family and I love snow so much – whether we are playing in it or just watching it come down, it brings us so much peace and joy.
Unfortunately the blizzard was not as kind to everyone in New England. Our favorite place – Cape Cod – was hit pretty hard by the historic snowstorm. Hurricane-force sustained winds, power outages, flooding during high tide, etc – we’ve all been praying the Cape recovers soon.
Greetings to March 2026
We are only in the first few days of March, but it’s already been eventful. The family went skiing at Mount Snow again (another post to come) with Epic Pass. This trip made if official: we are a ski/snowboard family. Every single one of us – Arbor included – loves skiing or snowboarding.
Brandon, Annabelle, and I spent a lot of time actually skiing down the mountain at Mount Snow. One big thing I learned on this trip: Annabelle is truly fearless! She encouraged us to go on every trail we did! Another lesson: collisions happen quite easily. I met a snowboarding couple on the lift who invited me to follow them down the trail. No less than one minute into our journey, one of them accidentally t-boned me, knocking me out of my skis. The accident took the wind right out of my sails and I’m still sore from skiing stiff and scared for the rest of the weekend.
As for the rest of the Houstons – Brandon has found a love for skiing after descending the Grand Summit. He says he finally understands how people can spend a half hour waiting to board a ski lift to ride down the beautiful trails. Arbor continues taking ski lessons – which she seems to enjoy, despite initial protests before each lesson. Ailey impressed us all spending two days snowboarding down the Discovery Mountain. It is so incredible to watch her determination to master the skill, as well as the way her confidence grows with every pass down the slope. I have to admit- my dream of finding a winter activity to bring the family together has finally come true!
Looking forward…
Looking at the calendar for March 2026, we are a little less busy (for right now). The biggest event is the girls’ first dance competition – and I cannot wait! Competition season is always one of the highlights of my year because it is so rewarding to see my daughters and their friends on stage. The girls work so hard every week!
❤️