highlight reel 2024
Every year, I enjoy a few minutes to reflect on the changes, growth, highs, and lows of our family. This one brought some first-time experiences and unforgettable memories. Transparently, while I do these annual wrap-ups mostly for myself to reread later, I hope you enjoy reading about our family fun!
1. Joining a Small Group. Jeremy and I have been attending a church for quite a number of years now, but with COVID and new babies, it took us awhile to become fully planted in a Christian community. Our hearts were aching for the authenticity, camaraderie, and FUN this group brings to us and our family. We were incredibly grateful to get to share our home with them in this picture!
2. Nashville. Jeremy and I planned a “baby-moon” back in 2021 to Nashville before Asher was born and had to cancel our flight because Asher had other plans for us (which included some time for me in bed trying to keep my cookies down!). Instead of re-planning and going on our own, we decided to make the trip a family one over Spring Break and it was an amazing road trip and adventure as a family of six! We were able to connect with some of our dearest marriage mentors who were part of our dating story and wedding. We also had dinner with fun friends who gave us ALL the family-friendly tips and made our experience in Music City an incredibly memorable one. We made it to a classic honky tonk spot, walked the streets taking in all the music, explored the Country Music Hall of Fame and Pantheon, visited the zoo and got to pet kangaroos, and ate some delicious hot chicken.
3. Rhode Island. In June, my employer selected me to attend a conference for a week in Providence, RI. One of my favorite parts about traveling is to meet up with old friends and this was no exception! While there, I stayed with “framily” in Newport and enjoyed views from the naval station, Cliff Walk, and streets of the quaint European-esque little town. We took a day trip to Cape Cod for some beach time and seafood. (And I learned a little and got lots of Continuing Education to renew my license! 😉)
4. Carving time intentionally for dates. Despite the seemingly endless loads of laundry, homework help, dishwashing, and the more mundane, I am proud Jeremy and I have found time to spend together. Bike rides, finding new restaurant gems, and football games – it’s been a great year!
5. Military Moments. Since I graduated college, I’ve worked for the military, seeing ceremony after ceremony for different awards and promotions. However, this year my perspective really shifted about the work I do and the history I have created with the Army. On a daily basis, I get to work with and aid in the recovery of phenomenal servicemen and women. That is not lost on me. This year, I got to see a more than deserving friend and co-worker be promoted to MAJ, a soldier be presented his Purple Heart, and a CPT be recognized for his heroism within his community when he saved the life of a man hit by a car on his bicycle.
6. Asher’s Dedication to God – With plans to dedicate Asher this year, we knew we were all going to be visiting Jeremy’s family over the summer and wanted his parents to be part of and perform the ceremony. It was an intimate, small and informal moment, but will stand as a permanent bookmark of a new chapter in Asher’s life.
7. Summer vacation! Every year, we spend a week in New Jersey visiting my in-laws and a week at the beach with my parents. This trip up north brought an adventure to Legoland NY, hangouts at the pool with family, and a roadtrip to Coney Island for the first time. We all enjoyed getting hot dogs on the boardwalk and walking through the New York Aquarium.
In North Carolina, we lounged in the pool, played in the ocean, and ate shaved ice on repeat!
8. New Orleans to see Taylor! Jeremy definitely did a phenomenal job with this one! He planned everything for Lilly – from tickets to airline to hotel and rental car. This was a true delight to experience myself, but even more – to see Lilly at her first concert experience. The show was amazing! We enjoyed going into the city for some New Orleans cuisine (although I never got Lilly to eat crawfish or gumbo 😂) and meeting other Swifties who had taken over the area. Let’s just say the friendship bracelets were flowing! 🩷 It is a trip I will never forget.
9. Watching the kids come into their own. Jeremiah finished his senior soccer season this year, attended his Homecoming in the fall, and has been participating in a program where he’s placed in a professional environment (think a hospital) in preparation for college and beyond. We cannot believe he’ll graduate in May!
This year, Lilly has really been into music, dance, and art. She’s always loved the arts, but watching her blossom INTO it has been such a gift. She frequently dances around the house, practices her violin, or is preparing for her weekly dance classes. She was selected to be a House Leader at her elementary school and we are mentally preparing to have a middle schooler next year!
Aiden absolutely loves his pre-K class and teachers. He has learned so much and very often, exerts his independence to let us know he can do things on his own. He still loves outside time, playgrounds, running/jumping/falling, and has started playing basketball. He is still the tender-hearted, selfless little man he’s always been. He can spot sadness or joy or frustration on my face faster than anyone else. He is very responsible, helping with household chores and remembering his own school requirements each day.
Asher is still at home with our nanny, Ms. Amber who he adores. He loves “going to the park,” reading books with whoever he can find, copying Aiden, painting, snacking, library visits, more snacking, and pushing any boundary he can! He is kind-hearted, a huge talker, and melts me every time he says “love you more mommy.”
10. Our Disney Cruise! For part of the kid’s Christmas present, we wanted to give an experience. We decided since my parents are retiring/retired this year and Jeremy and I are gearing up to celebrate 10 years of marriage 🤯, we would go big and have a huge celebration! We enjoyed our cruise to the Bahamas and watching the kids’ faces light up with excitement as we met some of their favorite Disney characters. We ate some incredible cuisine and then ate some more!
