The rest of Christmas break unfolded just the way we hoped it would—slow, full, and wrapped in togetherness. Christmas morning started with opening gifts as a family, the kind of morning where no one rushes and the coffee stays warm a little longer. New toys were quickly put to use, with the 3D printer stealing…

Christmas Eve looked a little different for our family this year—but in the best way possible. As Grandma Ket spent her first holiday in an assisted living home, we pivoted and found a new place to gather, bringing our annual Christmas Eve celebration to The Finery Event Center on Main. After Christmas Eve Mass, we…

We managed to squeeze in our annual progressive dinner with the Markovetz family—our fourth year… or maybe only the third? At this point, the exact number doesn’t matter nearly as much as the tradition itself. It’s one of those nights we all look forward to every holiday season. The idea is simple and so fun:…

Both boys had their holiday concerts this month, and they were such special nights to witness. Leo was up first, performing several songs with his class. One of them was O Little Town of Bethlehem—sung entirely in Latin—which was absolutely amazing to listen to. I’m always surprised by Leo in these moments. He can get…

Bodhi officially turned 12, and this year we decided to keep things simple and centered around the things he truly loves. His actual birthday was a low-key, cozy day at home—exactly his style. We spent the day hanging out, cheering him on at soccer at the dome, and wrapping it all up with a birthday…

It’s been a few years since we had family photos taken, and we decided to go back to the location of one of our favorite photo sessions we have ever had….the place we were when we did our baby #4 announcement photos. With the sun going down and Blake’s cowboy hat on point, it was…

Our recent family trip to Colorado was everything we needed—fresh mountain air, cozy downtime, and so many little moments that made the week feel like magic. We split our time between Glenwood Springs/New Castle, and by the end of the trip, none of us were ready to head home. We packed in a surprising amount…

Having Halloween fall on a Friday this year made Noah’s 14th birthday weekend even more fun. His friends walked home with him after school, and the house was instantly filled with laughter, snacks, and the kind of energy only a group of teenage boys can bring. They stayed up late, and the next morning we…

All Hallow’s Eve was full of costume changes, candy, and chaos—just the way we like it! Leo started the day dressed as Pope Leo for school, feeling pretty holy and proud of himself. By evening, though, he’d swapped his robes for a badge and cowboy hat, ready to patrol the neighborhood as a Wild West…

Today marked the end of Willow’s competitive dance season, and what a season it’s been! After months of early morning practices, long bus rides, and countless hours of rehearsing choreography until it was second nature, the girls took the floor one last time at the State competition in Watertown. Just last week, the team danced…