I’m Back!

Hi!!! It’s been way too long since my last post (October, oops!) The rest of the year just got away from me and so did the routine of blogging. My annual subscription for this website recently renewed so I thought “welp, I better get this going again!”

Today I thought I would play some catchup of where my family is at in life right now as we are almost one month into 2025. Here is the most recent family photo I have from Christmas morning:)

Ryan is currently working in Ann Arbor (not his favorite city lol) Monday-Thursday. This obviously isn’t an ideal situation, but we are getting through it and know it’s only temporary until spring. He is thrilled Ohio State won the National Championship though!! Ryan and Lucas did go to the Michigan game. It was not the outcome they hoped for but still a special memory.

I’ve been holding the fort down with Ryan gone. My heart is mostly in the home right now and that is right where it needs to be. I am fully enjoying this stage of being a mother to my boys who are growing up too fast. I pray often about the future and the path God has in store for me, but right now I have so much joy on this path I’m currently on.

Drew has a birthday this week! How is he turning 11?! We are 100% potty trained which is AMAZING and constantly saying new words either verbally or on his speech device. We are now thinking about the transition to middle school (how?!) and having meetings with schools to determine the best fit for Drew. Another thing I pray about constantly!!

Lucas turned 9 in December! He also started playing basketball this winter. He wasn’t too sure about it at first, but with experience, he’s improving and loving it. It’s been fun to watch him go from deer in headlights on the court to actually shooting baskets! This kid loves sports and he’s so fun to watch.

Owen is at the most delightful age; I literally want to freeze him at 5. He asks the best questions, says the funniest things, and just a joy to be around. He is learning to read and acts like a little sponge absorbing everything around him. I am trying to cherish him so much these days as I know they are fleeting.

Winter is actually wintering this year, and we are loving it! We’ve enjoyed lots of fun in the snow including hiking, sledding, ice fishing, and ice skating. We haven’t gone tubing yet, but hopefully in the near future! Winter has actually grown to be one of my favorite times of the year up here. I love the balance of indoor hibernation with fires and books and outdoor snow adventure. My dream is to learn how to ski one day!

I also enjoyed the perfect winter retreat with my friends who share such a special part of my life: Down syndrome. We spent the weekend eating, chatting, playing games, going in the hot tub, and watching the Lions (sadly, not the outcome we wanted) We also took an outing to a few local favorites: Rove Winery, Suttons Bay Ciders, and Hop Lot. This is becoming an annual tradition, and I am beyond thankful for their friendship. I’ve said before that I believe it was part of God’s plan for me moving up here-to connect with these beautiful mamas and their beautiful children.

Last weekend, the boys had a combined birthday party at a sledding hill. I rented out the warming hut right next to it and it was the perfect way to celebrate my winter babies together. They did several runs down the hill, which I must say was pretty gnarly! The young boys loved it though! Inside I served up some hot cocoa, snacks, and of course cake. I do wish more of Owen’s friends could have come but he had no problem keeping up with all those bigger boys!

This week is extra exciting because Friday Drew turns eleven and Saturday we leave for Orlando!!! Disney World has always been a topic of discussion when thinking about vacations, but we have never pulled trigger. I did run the Disney Princess half marathon several years ago and we took Andrew and Lucas to Magic Kingdom and Epcot. That was more for us as they don’t remember it.

Now that the boys are getting older, we thought this year would be the perfect time to do the big trip. Owen is at the best age, and I know he will find everything so magical. Lucas loves to ride rides, and I know even at age nine he’ll experience the magic too. He’s still so young at heart. As many of you know, Drew is obsessed with Toy Story so that will definitely be the big highlight for him! He also LOVES all Disney music so I think the shows will be a favorite too. He’ll be singing and dancing along for sure. Also, a huge shoutout to my sister Tiffany for helping us plan this magical vacation!

After our trip, I hope to come back on here and recap as much as I can. I am not sure if I will do a Friday Favorites this week, but I also hope to get back into that routine and regular blogging after our vacation. Thank you so much for reading and have a wonderful day!