I hope this letter finds everyone happy and healthy. The Stallbaumer family had a wonderful 2017. No major changes this year, everyone got a year older. For the kids, that's of course a much bigger deal. They are growing fast and have both developed their own personalities. Ava is loving 1st grade. She does well in school both academically and socially. She keeps us entertained with her dramatics. There is something major going on in her world everyday. This past spring she started piano lessons. I have been quite impressed and she's doing well. I hope she sticks with it! Will started preschool at SPPS this fall, going two mornings a week. He doesn't love it but he doesn't go kicking and screaming either. He prefers to be doing anything outside that requires lots of energy. Jeremy is still working for J-Six Enterprises at Fairview Mills - Seneca Corn Mill. I am still not sure what he does but he comes home dirty and tired so I guess he's got some responsibility there. I still work full-time for Eisenbarth Plumbing doing all their accounts payable. I have been volunteering as much as I can at the kids school and keep things going at home.
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| In March Jeremy and I went with 4 other couples to Nashville and had an amazing time. We left good friends and came home great friends!! |
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| Still not sure about the fish! |
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| Fishing - Ava caught the most she was proud! |
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| T-Ball - Ava is in the front row 2nd from the right. |
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Jeremy coached Post 21 Legion Baseball again this year and had a successful season!
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| Mini family vacation to KC to Royal's game and Schiltterbahn water park! |
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| On September 10th we traveled to KC and Jeremy participated in the KC 9/11 Memorial Stairclimb. He, along with 342 other fire-fighters, climbed 110 flights of stairs. The same number of flights that were in the World Trade Center. It was supposed to simulate finishing the climb for those 373 that lost their lives in the 9/11 attack. It was beautiful and moving tribute we were honored to be apart of it. |
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| Jeremy with the group from Seneca he climbed alongside. |
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| Ava, Bella Haverkamp, and Will at the first K-state game of the season. We had an extra ticket that day so Ava got to bring a friend. It was Bella's first KSU Football game and I think they all had fun despite the heat! |
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| First day of Preschool at SPPS - Teacher is Ms. Debbie Ford |
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First day of 1st Grade - Teacher is Mrs. Allison Hermesch
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| Soccer - Ava's team got 2nd place. |
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| Family photo with Willie at the Kellen and Devon Sherlock's wedding. |
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| Standing on the shore along Cape Cod half way through a 22 mile bike ride. |
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The Dragastin adults went to Cape Cod & Boston to celebrate mom's retirement
and mom and dad's 40th Wedding anniversary! |
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| Jeremy and Justin got to check an item off the bucket list and caught a game and Fenway Park! |
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| Ava was Belle from Beauty and the Beast for Halloween |
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| Will was Leonardo the Ninja Turtle for Halloween |
We continue to be blessed with good health and thank God everyday for that. We continue to pray for our friends and family that are fighting ongoing health battles, especially Jeremy's God-mother/Aunt Shirley who has sarcoma and our nephew Gavin who goes head to head with Type-1 diabetes every day/hour/minute.
Once again, I reflect back on the year, and go through our Christmas card list, and think it has been a while since I've seen so many people and would love to see them soon. I am grateful for social media to keep up on pictures and what's going on in peoples lives, however nothing beats sitting in the same room with them! I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a blessed 2018!
Love,
Brooke Ann
