2022 Christmas Card ~ Blog Post Style

I can’t believe we’re about to close out another year. I thought I was behind on getting this out there, along with everything else I’m behind on, but turns out I’m right on time! Last year I got our Christmas blog out on December 12th too! Speaking of December 12th…I’m supposed to be registering Talan for HIGH SCHOOL by TODAY! High School, y’all 🤯 This can’t be right. I’ve procrastinated on signing him up, but 8th grade night is already in January where they pick their classes and all the things and I’m not ready 😭 Anyways, enough about that. Time to give a recap of our 2022…

Travis ~ Continues to work at Kuehne + Nagel as a Senior Operational Manager, International Supply Chain. He’s been with KN for 5-1/2 years now! He’s been going back into the office a little more this past year, which I think has been a nice change of pace. When he’s not working, he’s doing all the Dad things and helping with chauffeuring the kids around to all of their activities or volunteering at church on Sundays. He’ll be rounding out this year turning the big 4-0!

Mandy ~ Welp. With all the kids in school this year, I decided to take on 3 jobs. I mean, why not? 🤣🤷🏼‍♀️ It’s made things a bit busy and the kids don’t always get fed or they might have to dig clean underwear out of the dryer, but it’s fine. Everything is totally fine! Ha!…I continue to do hair out of our home, which I love! I also started working in the school office 3 days a week which has been so fun, and I also work from home as a Talent Operations Coordinator for Advantage Solutions. My greatest joy is watching all of our kids being healthy and active in all of their many activities. If you know any part of my story, you should know that I most definitely do not take their health and ability to be active kids for granted at all.

Talan ~ (13 years old; 8th grade) Continues to grow as a soccer player. He was on the D2 team his first year in club soccer and made the jump up to YSSL (D1) and MWC this past Spring! He plays soccer year round, along with playing basketball for his school. I thought this winter would slow down a bit, but he’s playing or training for and with 5 different soccer teams/trainings along with basketball starting up. I told Travis he can manage Talan’s schedule and I’ll deal with the other 3. Ha!

Grayson ~ (11 years old; 5th grade) Loves to be in everything!…except basketball. He has made it clear he will NOT play basketball. He has kept busy with soccer, baseball, cross country, and gymnastics. He may be little, but he is strong! He loves all things sports and would be happy to sit on the couch watching football games with Dad all day. (Travis loves his love for watching football games with him on Sundays 😉) He also continues to be our puzzle and Lego kid. And one change this year is that he said math was his favorite subject! These boys definitely don’t get their math brain from their Mama! Thank goodness 🤣

Kylan ~ (9 years old; 2nd grade) Keeps busy going to Parkour twice a week, plays soccer in the Spring and Fall, and kept busy being in basketball clinics in the beginning of the year and took a basketball camp over the summer. He still loves creating with his sister, playing on any motorized little vehicle he can drive on, and playing his video games. Reading is coming slowly but surely and he has been able to make the switch and not be pulled out for math any longer! He still has homework modifications, but being able to stay in math class with his peers was an exciting win!

Isla ~ (6 years old; Kindergarten) started Kindergarten in the fall and LOVES school. She stays busy with being on Pre-Team in gymnastics and loves her dance class. If she’s not in school or at an activity she’s usually doing handstands or cartwheels throughout the house, singing and dancing to music she has me put on for her, or reminding me she has homework. She also loves creating. She will turn anything into a project or make use of complete junk! 😆 (she used stuffing from a stuffed animal, that got chewed open by Oakley, to make a bubble bath or hot tub in her Barbie playhouse pool. I mean…this girl…)

Oakley turned 2 in October and is currently enjoying an extended stay at Grandma’s house in South Dakota! We’ll be heading to AZ for Christmas, so Mom agreed to take Oakley home with her after Thanksgiving and will keep him until she comes back in January for my birthday and to help with my sister. We are beyond grateful to her for taking him, and I know he’s living his best life out there being able to play and run around with her dog in wide open spaces and just be a dog! He’ll probably be depressed for weeks once he’s back home 🤣🙈

Life is hard and can be messy, but may you all feel the Love of Jesus wrapped around you, have Peace in your homes and feel Joy in your hearts this Christmas Season and through the New Year!

~XOXO