Stallbaumer Stories: December 2021

Happy Holidays! I hope this letter finds everyone happy and healthy. Health is something we have learned to not take for granted the last few years. I thought 2020 was going to be the year I wouldn't want to remember with Covid but I can honestly say from my professional teaching standpoint that 2021 has been worse on the school year! We have students out all the time and it definitely makes it difficulty to keep up on everything and make sure kids are getting what they need. However this too we pray will pass and I have faith eventually we'll get to our new normal!

We moved to a new home at the end of March. We upgraded a little bit on size but mainly location. We are a block away from the grocery store, church, and school! It's been so nice to be able to walk to all those places on nice days and to not live on the two busiest streets in Seneca! We are doing some updates. We poured a big patio to go along with all our shade trees in the backyard we are looking forward to spending some time entertaining outdoors next summer! The basement is the next project! It's unfinished and we plan to put two bedrooms downstairs. Currently Ava and Will have to share a room but will each get their own room when the basement if finish and Liv will move out of our room across the hall! Needless to say ALL of us are highly anticipating this project to get finished.

Ava is in 5th grade this year at SPPS. She is on the same floor as mom and it might be too close for her liking! She does have me for a teacher this year for science class. We are both getting through it! Ava is continuing her piano lessons, started 5th grade band this year and is playing trombone, did softball this summer and decided to do soccer again this fall. She also got her first taste of overnight camp when she attended Camp Tekawitha in July. She did get homesick but said the other day she does want to go back! We are starting down a new path and she has joined a club volleyball team that will travel to other towns and play in three tournaments early next year. This Christmas season she also participated in a production of the Nutcracker and was a Chinese Dancer which she is really enjoyed. She did give us a trip to the ER this year for stitches on her upper ankle. She tripped in the garage and cut it on a tool box. Ava continues to get praise from her teachers of her kind heart. She is starting to be a big help to mom with little sis! If I had to guess I would say she grew over 3 inches this year. I can't believe how fast time goes!

Will continues to keep us on our toes. He is happiest when he is outside competing. He regularly tells us he hates our new house because we don't have a basketball goal and he continues to use his big brown eyes to try and manipulate his mother...which a lot of times works. He played "real" baseball this summer which he loved! He did swim team...which he didn't love but mom loved because it wore him out, and he did soccer this fall. Wrestling season just started for him and he's hoping to do some tournaments in January and February if the schedule allows. He made his First Reconciliation in November and is highly anticipating his First Communion in April!

Liv has been an absolute blessing this year. It's crazy how having a child later on in life and after you have already gone through it twice can feel and be totally different. Watching her brother and sister interact with her on a daily basis and seeing their appreciation for one another is such a blessing. She brings so much joy to all four of us. She is getting use to being drug around to everything and is really going to be in for it in January but she is such a trooper! She is growing so fast, she was definitely our first "walker" starting right around 11 months and keeps up with all of us very well!

Jeremy had another successful year at the Seneca Corn Mill. They have taken on some new projects and keeping busy with all the different things they do. He continues to enjoy is work and the challenges it brings. Since 2020 he completed another junior high basketball season, a junior high football season, another Legion baseball season and took on a different coaching role this fall changing to Freshmen boys working at the high school level instead of junior high. So far he has enjoyed the change and the new challenges it has brought. He is still on the Seneca Fire Department so there are weeks where I feel like we never get to see him but for the most part he enjoys it all!

For the first time in my teaching career I am doing the same thing for the 2nd year! This has been a blessing since I have had a new little one running around and I am trying to keep up all the events the older two bring to the table. Most days I feel like I never sit down but I truly love all the blessings and gifts God has given me.

We did go to Colorado in July with 17 of our closest friends! We left Liv at home with Grandma Drag but there were 21 of us in one house! Ten adults and 11 kids. We had lots of fun and made some great memories that hopefully will last a life time. We are so blessed to have such great people surrounding us and supporting us year round!

All 11 kids standing onto of the mountain at Winter Park.

21 of us total! We had a great time!

We are looking forward to seeing family and friends over the holidays and continue to thank God everyday for each other and all our blessings. My brother had twins in 2021 and Jeremy's brother had his first baby so getting everyone together this season will be lots of fun! We hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!