As the festive season twinkles upon us, we extend our warmest wishes and heartfelt gratitude to you, our cherished friends and family. This annual Christmas letter is more than just an update; it’s a reflection of our journey through a year filled with unexpected challenges, profound growth, and immense joy. From our home to yours, we wish you a truly Merry Christmas, abundant with love, laughter, and peace. We’re also looking forward with great anticipation to the promise of a brighter New Year, brimming with fresh beginnings and exciting new adventures for our growing family. Join us as we recount the memorable moments and celebrate the milestones that shaped our year, filled with stories of resilience, family bonds, and unwavering hope.
Josh – Our Resilient Five-Year-Old’s Triumphs
Our incredible Josh, who recently celebrated his fifth birthday, truly kicked off the year by embodying pure resilience and an indomitable spirit. January brought a significant hurdle as he underwent surgery to correct congenital patellar dislocation in both knees – what we affectionately called getting his “super knees.” This challenging period involved three weeks in full leg casts, a time that tested his patience and our family’s collective strength. The recovery journey was long and demanding, but watching him bravely navigate the world again with his adorable little walker was both heartwarming and profoundly inspiring. Every wobbly step, every small victory, was a testament to his unbreakable spirit and determination to regain his independence.
By spring, our little toughie had fully recovered, trading his walker for boundless energy, running, jumping, and playing with all the vigor of a healthy five-year-old. His physical therapist was amazed by his rapid progress, a true testament to his active nature. This summer marked another exciting milestone as Josh fearlessly learned to swim, embracing the water with a newfound confidence and splashing joyfully. His love for outdoor adventures continues with his bike, exploring our neighborhood trails, and indoors, he’s mastering new worlds on his Nintendo, developing impressive problem-solving skills. The past year also introduced us to the unpredictable landscape of virtual learning for pre-kindergarten, which, admittedly, presented its unique set of challenges and provided us with plenty of laughs and teachable moments! However, he has since returned to in-person preschool, where he absolutely thrives, delighting in every lesson, game, and interaction with his friends and teachers. Josh’s journey this year has been a powerful reminder of his innate strength, his infectious joy for life, and his incredible ability to overcome adversity with a smile.
Ryan – Our Charismatic Two-and-a-Half-Year-Old’s Milestones
Ryan, our sweet and effervescent two-and-a-half-year-old, is brimming with excitement as he anticipates becoming a big brother. His tender heart constantly leads him to hug and snuggle “baby-brother-mommy’s-tummy,” a clear sign of the immense love and protective instincts he already holds for his unborn sibling. This year has seen a remarkable explosion in his vocabulary; he’s talking up a storm, learning new words and forming complete sentences at an astonishing pace that continually shocks and delights us. It’s a true joy to witness his mind expand daily, as he expresses his thoughts and asks endless questions about the world around him.
We often affectionately call Ryan our “monkey” because his climbing prowess knows no bounds. From furniture to playground structures, we’ve learned that keeping a watchful eye on him is a full-time job; 30 seconds is all it takes for him to scale something new and unexpected, always with a cheeky grin! Beyond his adventurous climbing, Ryan has mastered several impressive developmental milestones this year. He confidently rides his strider bike, demonstrating incredible balance and speed as he cruises around. He’s also bravely learned to “not drown” during swimming sessions without a floaty, a testament to his developing independence and courage in the water. At the playground, he’s our fearless adventurer, tackling the tallest slides and jungle gyms with infectious enthusiasm and absolutely no hesitation. Despite his daring spirit, Ryan remains our little snuggle bug, always ready to dole out the very best, most comforting cuddles. His vibrant personality, boundless energy, and loving nature bring endless joy and laughter to our home, making every day an adventure.
Anticipating Baby Boy #3 – A New Chapter Arriving January 20th!
Amidst the unprecedented backdrop of a global pandemic, we found ourselves asking: “When better to have another baby?” And with immense joy, we are absolutely thrilled to announce that our newest little boy is set to join our family on January 20th! This exciting news has brought a wave of happiness and anticipation into our home. Remarkably, this pregnancy has been the smoothest and easiest yet, a true blessing during such a unique and challenging time in the world. We are incredibly grateful for how well everything has progressed.
Our hearts are full as we picture a future teeming with the laughter and energy of three lively blond boys running around, playing, and growing up together. The vision of their camaraderie, shared adventures, and brotherly bonds fills us with profound happiness and excitement for the years to come. We’ve already picked out the perfect name for him, a name we believe will suit his sweet spirit and complement his big brothers perfectly, adding another unique personality to our dynamic crew. The arrival of a new baby is truly the most wonderful way to usher in a new year, symbolizing hope, renewal, and endless possibilities. It reminds us that even after a challenging year, the best is always yet to come, and every new life brings with it a promise of brighter days and untold blessings. We eagerly await his arrival, ready to embrace the beautiful chaos and overwhelming love that comes with expanding our cherished family and embarking on this thrilling new chapter.
Us – Celebrating Eight Years Married, Seventeen Years Together, and Unwavering Resilience
This year marks a truly special milestone for us: our eighth wedding anniversary and seventeen incredible years together as a couple. It’s been a year that, on paper, presented some of our toughest challenges yet. We successfully navigated Josh’s double knee surgery, a physically and emotionally demanding recovery for our little one that required immense patience and care. Simultaneously, we weathered the global pandemic, adapting to new realities of daily life, all while raising two energetic boys in our cozy, yet perfectly functional, 700 square foot home. The unique demands of 2020 truly tested our limits, pushing us to find creative solutions and lean on each other more than ever.
Remarkably, despite the hurdles, we’ve emerged stronger and more connected, never feeling closer as a couple and as a family. This year has profoundly taught us the invaluable lesson that all we truly need is each other – our love, our unwavering support, and our shared commitment to navigating life’s adventures together. Shawn continues to find deep fulfillment in his role as the Health and Safety Tech at our school district, a position that became incredibly vital and demanding during the pandemic. His dedication and diligence ensured the well-being of countless students and staff, and we are incredibly proud of his critical contributions to keeping our community safe. Natalie’s passion project, her recipe website, has flourished beyond imagination. With so many people spending more time at home and embracing home cooking, her website has become a go-to resource for delicious and accessible recipes, experiencing unprecedented growth and allowing her to connect with a vibrant, supportive community of home cooks. This synergy of personal and professional triumphs, coupled with our unwavering family bond and deep gratitude, makes us truly believe that life is wonderful, even amidst its complexities and challenges.
A Heartfelt Thank You and Festive Wishes for a Bright New Year
As we reflect on the incredible journey of the past year, our hearts are overflowing with gratitude. We are profoundly thankful for our cherished family, for the precious gift of health that has carried us through, and for the immense hope that the coming year, 2021, promises to bring. We eagerly anticipate new beginnings, positive changes, and countless opportunities on the horizon, approaching them with optimism and a renewed sense of purpose, ready to embrace whatever comes our way.
To you, our wonderful community, thank you for being an integral part of our lives. Thank you for being here, for taking the time to make our recipes and share your culinary successes, and for following along with our family’s fun, joyful, and sometimes chaotic adventures. Your unwavering support, encouraging words, and shared kindness mean the absolute world to us. We constantly feel your love and support, whether through comments, messages, or simply by your presence, and it fuels our passion and fills our hearts with immense joy. We are truly blessed to have such a supportive and engaging community surrounding us. From our entire family to yours, we wish you the Merriest Christmas, filled with warmth, love, cherished moments, and delightful memories, and a New Year brimming with happiness, health, success, and all the blessings you truly deserve.
Photographs capturing our joyous family moments by Lisa Kathleen Photography