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We did it!

We made it through the fall semester, the holidays, the flu, and the year! There were definitely moments where I wasn't sure we could handle one more challenge. The obstacles of ordinary life can sometimes feel extraordinary. I don't have any magical solutions for myself or the kids, except to take things one day at a time, one challenge at a time. And I'm pleased to say we were successful! 

I love the everyday moments now where all four of them are home. 

Lorelei had a rough start to her first semester, and just when she started to find her groove, she got sick! She spent most of November battling pink eye and an upper respiratory infection. I was so proud of how she gracefully handled getting herself to the doctor at school. She even got two parking tickets cleared after being given them by mistake. She has done a great job "adulting." 

Poor thing! Her eye swelled up so much!

She's enjoyed spending time with me at Wernli. The kids love her and can't wait for the days she's there. 




This was the moment she got home for the semester. She was exhausted but happy to have survived finals, and even thrived! She got great grades.  

Jonas had a successful semester. He is spending a lot of his time devoted to his Texas 4000 group. Between training, school, and social events, he stayed very busy. He always humored me and sent photos regularly. 



He supported his friends, and he supported me by running the Girls on the Run 5k with me. 


He got a cool job this semester at the Paleontology lab at UT. He's working with fossils and, well, really large sets of bones!
As soon as the semester was over, he took off on one of his adventures. He headed to Puerto Rico to visit and stay with a professor and his 11-year-old son, Jacob, whom he met in Belize. He is becoming our world traveler. 

As I have said before, I am proud of this kiddo...he is literally going places!

Savannah has been up to her own travel adventures, although not international. She headed to San Francisco this November for the Neuroscience conference. 



She has worked her tail off this semester in graduate school. She is loving it too. I'm so proud of all her hard work.

She had another wedding of a middle school friend. It's crazy that her friends are starting to get married! 

The rivalry game for these two BFFs was fun! Hook 'Em! 
Bailey had a successful fall semester, too. I get lots of time with him at the gym and on hikes. 

We celebrated a few holidays.

Thanksgiving...



Christmas Eve...with the flu for Lorelei and me!



Christmas Morning and day...





And so many other moments of fun, friends, and family...



















I'm a pretty lucky lady...surrounded by a lot of love, trying to savor each little success, each hardship, each challenge, and realize that these moments and memories, whether good or bad, make for one extraordinary life. 

Cheers to 2025! Looking forward to whatever 2026 throws my way. 
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