The older girls keep encouraging me to blog at least occasionally, so here is our family Christmas update (from our card/letter) and a few of our family pictures from August. It's really been a wonderful year, even with a few big changes in there.
A full and fun year for all of us and we are grateful for another Christmas season!
Amalia (18) graduated from high school in June and is now a freshman at the University of Wisconsin. Go Badgers! She’s pursuing a pre-med track while enjoying football games and everything that Madison has to offer. Her favorites so far are the farmers’ market, the Hoofers outdoor adventure club, and running along the path of Lake Mendota.
Brinnly (17) now has her turn to embrace senior year. She’s deep into her college search and enjoying the fun senior year traditions. One of her summer highlights was participating in a service trip to the Zuni Native American reservation in New Mexico and she hopes to return there again.
Carrigan (15) had a great spring track season in both running and jumping. She took first place in high jump at the JV conference meet and is looking forward to the next season already. She now has her driving permit and works in the after care program at her younger siblings’ school and as an in-demand neighborhood babysitter.
Delaney (12) was confirmed in a beautiful service at our church this spring. She’ll turn 13 on December 22nd and is already taller than a few of her sisters. She’ll be baking her favorite birthday treat–peppermint bundt cake again this year. She continues to have fun on her volleyball, basketball, and track teams and we love cheering her on.
Everly (9) has also joined a basketball team and we’re excited to watch her play with her friends! She recently began flute lessons at school and eagerly practices and performs for us at home. She still loves to read–especially by the pool during the summer.
Grant (9) had great basketball, baseball, and flag football seasons. He had a blast fishing with Jonathan at their annual Boys’ Club campout this summer. He also loves to read and listen to audio books about history and natural disasters. He and his friends have fun biking together and challenging each other to eat the spiciest hot sauce possible.
Jonathan has enjoyed his first year on the Real Estate Services team for the Lutheran Church Extension Fund and traveling to support the projects he assists in developing. Kaethe started a new position in August as the School Social Worker at Mill Creek Academy in Waukesha which is part of National Heritage Academies (headquartered in Grand Rapids, MI!) We both continue to appreciate the opportunities for Wisconsin running and Jonathan did his favorite 5K with his guys running group this spring and Kaethe ran beautiful race courses in Eau Claire and Door County with friends. We are also grateful for opportunities to travel for college visits with the older girls and Kaethe’s trip to Texas to celebrate her goddaughter’s graduation.
Our year was filled with our favorite traditions as well and we traveled to Michigan for holidays and family celebrations. We went fishing, boating, and tubing at the annual Shunkwiler lake house vacation and explored fantastic new restaurants and a dinner cruise here in Wisconsin with Grandma Deni. We always love hosting friends and family around our pool and firepit and hope for even more opportunities to do so in 2025.
We are thankful this year and every Christmas for the opportunity to rejoice in the birth of our Savior and to connect with loved ones near and far. May God richly bless you and yours in 2025!
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