Each year at this time, we reflect on all of you, near and far, who have helped to develop the “many chapters” of our lives. You each matter to us and appreciate the ability to stay connected, whether it is in person or through social media, or a yearly card.
This year has been one of beginnings, endings, and future beginnings.
A whirlwind of growth and change for our family!
Blake turned 16, a milestone marked by a driver’s license, a car, and a part-time job! As he balances school, work, and friends, he’s also starting to explore colleges and preparing for the SAT. We’re so proud of his hard work and dedication. He would like to be a pre-dental major. He is super social these days and enjoys hanging with friends any chance he has.
Judy celebrated her 50th birthday with a trip to Cancun with friends. This mid-life marker has got her focused more on future plans, including a bucket list of trying out new hobbies and a list of places she’d like to see. Her career is going well. She likes the blend of supervision and seeing patients.
Brayden, our youngest, turned 15 and got his driver’s permit. He’s also made the high school basketball team, a significant achievement given the tough competition. He is finding himself busy between managing the demands of daily practices, tournaments, and high school games with the rigorous of his demanding school schedule. He continues to find some time to be a “teen” and enjoys shooting hoops, gaming, and hanging out with friends. He is now the tallest in the family!
As we reflect back on 2022 our overriding theme has been family. This year the boys had a chance to visit with all their first cousins both near and far. It has been wonderful to get back to traveling!
Brian continues to work for Anodot as a DevOps Engineer. Several of his teammates are Ukrainians and their war with Russia has hit a little closer to home as he has heard about how their lives have changed over the last year. He continues to work from home and has made our home study his work office. Judy continues to work in a group practice setting and is now supervising pre- and post-doctoral interns. She used to do this when she lived in Houston and is enjoying the change to supervision in addition to seeing patients.
Blake is now 14 and a Freshman in High School! He continues to be a good student and is enjoying his classes in yearbook and photography. He has taken up an interest in the sciences and is interested in pursuing a career in the medical field when he finishes school.
Brayden is now 13 and in the 7th grade! He is also a good student and seems to have adjusted well to middle school. He continues to enjoy baseball and basketball and recently made his school’s basketball team. We continue to have a basketball hoop in our entry hall (mom was outvoted) and from morning to night Brayden challenges his dad to scrimmages to keep up his game.
A year in reflection…
2021 in Review…
This Christmas was the first where our kids were really excited about the big ol’ red suited guy making his rounds.
Sea World, San Antonio. Well, it’s not Disney, but it did the trick. We have decided to wait until the kiddos are school-aged to make that monumental trek. In the meantime, we have opted for day-drive destinations.
Yes he truly does. He did a good job in checking things off our kids respective lists. For Blake a drum set and microphone. For Brayden a dump truck and a fire truck.