Christmas Letter 2023

It's been a few years since I got the Christmas letter done!  I mainly do this for myself.  I am not a scrapbooking mama so this digital blog I do once a year is all my kids are going to have some day.  2023 came and went just as fast as the others but here are some highlights:
Jeremy finished coaching freshman basketball in January.  At the time he was unaware but it was the end of this chapter to his high school coaching career.  Personnel changes at the high school and Ava reaching junior high made it the right move for him to go back to SPPS and coach the Trojan boys.  He's had a challenging season but overall it has been a positive change for the family.  He continues as the Manager of Fairview Mills in Seneca.  This is his ?? year with the company.  Fairview Mills is constantly evolving and growing, so the work keeps him busy and challenged.
Ava started the year off finishing her club volleyball season.  This was the 2nd year with the same group of girls and their growth, skills, and bonds have come a long way!  She went to Camp Tekawitha again this summer.  The junior high camp is 5 nights!  She didn't love being away from home that long but made lots of new friends and lasting memories.  She continues to amaze us with her ability to talk and relate to people of all ages.  Junior high has brought on a new set of challenges and a busy schedule.  She loves all the socializing that comes with it.  She got confirmed in December and that was a very special time for her.  She chose her Aunt Julia as her sponsor and we are proud of her for this special day in her life.
Will still goes at 100 mph.  The kid never slows down.  If he does we get worried because we know he's sick.  He still lives for all the sports.  He wants to do all the things but we have had to start telling him no.  He did get to go to Basehor-Linwood football camp again this summer.  This is still a highlight for him!  Jeremy and I get asked all the time what Will's favorite sport is and it's always whatever is "in-season."  So right now it's basketball!
Liv is the glue that holds us all together.  She turned 3 and is going on 13.  She is quick witted and too smart for her own good.  She can put a smile on any of our faces after a long day and keeps us grounded on what matters most.  She had to switch daycare this year due to the center she attended shutting down at the end of the year.  So she is making new friends and of course made this transition with ease.  She fills all of us with love!
Jeremy and I got to take a special trip in May with some of the best people in our lives.  We had a wonderful week-long vacation at Akumal, Mexico.  The trip for us was to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary that rolled around in August.  We had a great time and are dreaming of when we can go on our next trip!
This fall brought on my 5th year of being in the classroom.  This is my third year at SPPS, I continue to teach all science classes.  This year I have 5th-8th science which is 94 students.  This is the largest number of students I have had to date.  I also coach track and a big project that came with that this past year was putting  together a new record board that can be displayed.  I am looking forward to that project coming together for everyone to enjoy!  
I continue to be grateful for all the blessings God has given us.  I wish you a happy and healthy 2024!
God Bless!
Brooke

Christmas Letter 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!

Lake Granby, Colorado

Liv's Baptism

Dropping Ava off at Camp!

Will and Jeremy were soccer champions again!

Will took two friends to KSU Football game to celebrate turning 8!

Liv with Great Grandma Davis

Ava meeting the twins!

Liv and the twins messing in grandma's kitchen.

Ava celebrating turning 10!

Catholic Schools week - Career Day

Catholic School's week Team day!

Stallbaumer summer gathering!  Brothers holding their daughters!

Will won grand champion at the county fair on his Lemon Cookies!

Boo at the Zoo in Manhattan

Liv was spoiled on her birthday!

Liv meeting the twins.  She wasn't too impressed!

Once again the 9/11 stair-climb was done on their own but Jeremy participated with some fellow firemen by running 3.43 miles.

Liv with her birthday cake!

Christmas Letter 2020

Wow!  What a year...

Not even sure what to write about 2020 but definitely know I want to document it.  It started on a high note.  The Chiefs winning the Super Bowl was a time of huge celebration...unfortunately we did not attend any parties because we were home with the stomach bug!

On March 13th we celebrated Ava's 9th birthday, not knowing the world was literally shutting down. My spring break at Axtell was just starting,  never in my wildest dreams did I think I wouldn't get to say good-bye to my students in person.  Remote learning began and it's a time I never want to return!  I am not sure if it was worse as a parent or a teacher, but it was not ideal.

This summer we managed to get in pool time and both kids played ball.  Jeremy and I helped coach Will's team.  GOD BLESS all primary teachers...trying to wrangle 12 six year olds with bats and balls while pregnant was interesting!  Ava and Will both did swim team, this was Ava's second year and Will's first year. They both improved every meet and enjoyed it.  They both participated in Junior Golf this year and had a lot of fun with it.  We were so grateful the kids had these normal activities to do during a time filled with so much uncertainty and anxiety.  

In July we braved the pandemic and took the kids to South Dakota.  My parents went along with us.  We stayed in a VRBO that we felt was "away" from others enough to be safe.  We had a great time!  We did Wall Drug, Bear Country, Reptile Gardens, Deadwood, and of course Mount Rushmore.  The kids really seemed to enjoy the trip.  It was very important to me that we get this trip in as a family of four and I am so glad it happened!

Jeremy continues to work as a manager for Fairview Mills in Seneca at the Seneca Corn Mill.  It was a challenging year for everyone that manages people dealing with positive cases, quarantines, and anxious employees.  However he continues to enjoy the job and does so great maintaining the respect of his co-workers.  He coached JH Football and basketball again this year.  I believe this is his 7th season doing basketball!  He also went back to helping coach Legion Baseball this season.  He is still on the Seneca Volunteer Fire Department so his free time is usually taken up by these obligations but he continues to enjoy them all.  They did the 9/11 Memorial Stair-climb remotely this year so he did not travel to KC.  It wasn't the same experience but still a good experience.  

I, again, had a job change this year.  This was not the ideal year to change positions but when I made the decision to go into teaching a few years ago, the goal was to eventually be at Sts. Peter and Paul with my kids, and that is where I landed.  I loved Axtell, so it was hard to leave, especially as I never got "closure" in the building, I would not have left Axtell for anywhere but SPPS.  It took a lot of deliberating and praying on God's timing of everything.  A job change, new baby, and pandemic was a lot to consider!  However a few things played out in my favor and I accepted a 5th-8th grade science teaching position.  I was nervous about middle school but so far it has been an enjoyable experience and I feel I am where I belong!  I feel so blessed!

Ava is in 4th grade now.  She participated in her first 4-H Fair this past summer. Not a regular Fair and it literally rained on the parade!  She also tried something new and tried out for a virtual play.  She very much enjoyed the process and hopes to do it
again soon!  She participated in softball this summer and decided to try soccer again this fall.  She hoped to do volleyball and got to do some practices but due to COVID never had any games.  She's looking forward to basketball again in January (fingers crossed).

Will or William (some days he thinks he likes that better) continues to keep us on our toes.  He is full of energy and if he's stuck at home...which was a lot of 2020...he is usually driving me crazy.  He does better in the open air where there is less to break.  He finished up his first wrestling season last January with a 1st place finish.  He played baseball this summer and soccer this fall.  I think maybe we managed to stay out of the ER again this year with him (hope I didn't just jinx that).

Liv Irene arrived November 28th, six days before her due date.  Through most of my pregnancy I doctored in Seneca but had to switch to a Marysville doctor and delivery location during the final month. I am SO GRATEFUL for all our healthcare workers.  I can't imagine the stress and pressure they are feeling during these crazy COVID times.  We are blessed in our small rural areas to have the doctors and nurses we do.  We are grateful for all of them that helped safely bring our beautiful bundle of joy into our lives!

Jeremy and I both contracted COVID in late October.  We had mild symptoms, but it landed us in isolation for 10 days and put our kids in quarantine from Oct. 23- Nov. 16.  They missed 3 weeks of in-person school and participated in remote learning.  I taught 4th grade math two years ago at Holton and it was a challenge then, however trying to help Ava with it every night proved to be even worse!  

2020 has definitely brought a few punches, but God continues to bless us beyond measure and we are so grateful for our family and friends.  We are ready to feel free to gather with our loved ones again and branch out and see some people we have not connected with for a while.    

Will's first wrestling meet in Marysville.

Holton meet!  Cousins - Gavin and Ethan also competed and Will won his weight class!

Mahomes hair - 2020 style of the year!

K-State Men's Game in February - Ava and Reese

Will and his best buddy Cooper at the KSU Men's game.

March 13th - Out to dinner with friends.  We were all supposed to be in Hutchinson watching the NC girls try to capture the KSHSAA 3A Title.  It got cut short due to COVID hitting the USA.

Mass online in our jammies - Church was closed (along with in-person school)

Celebrated Ava's birthday with friends in the summer.  They all tye-dyed their own t-shirt.

Father's Day 2020 - Dad had a Legion game.

Swim Team @ Seneca - Ava's 2nd year Will's 1st year.

Family Vacation to Mount Rushmore!

Mom's first day at SPPS - everyone had to wear a mask.

2020 9/11 Memorial Stairclimb - Seneca Style

Will's 7th birthday party - his whole class and then some.  Chiefs theme!

Halloween costumes - no trick or treating due to being quarantined.  They had lots of people who collected candy for them.  They did well despite not being able to go door-to-door.

Meeting Liv for the first time.  No one was allowed to come to the hospital but dad.  The kids had to wait until we came home on the 29th!

Christmas Letter 2019

Happy Holidays!  I hope everyone has had a great 2019.  It was another quick year with lots of memories made in the Stallbaumer home.  Jeremy wrapped up another successful season of Junior High basketball in February.  His team once again claimed the OTL Title.  They had a very successful year and it was a great class of 8th grade boys to work with.  Come April, Ava made her First Communion.  It was a very special time for her and she continues to thrive in her faith.  To conclude my very first year of teaching, Jeremy and I went with some of our closest friends on our first all-inclusive vacation.  We went to Cancun, Mexico and stayed at Secrets the Vine Resort.  We had a fabulous time and created many memories we will cherish for years to come.  We feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to take this trip.  Summertime brought on the first year of swim team and another year of softball for Ava and Will got a small taste of T-ball.    I am afraid to type this out but I believe 2019 did not bring on any stitches.  I really hope I didn't jinx myself because there is still time.  This past fall Ava took on a new sport and learned the basics of volleyball.  She got to play on Sunday's with some of her classmates and she made HUGE improvements throughout the season.  Will got his first taste of competitive sports this fall while playing soccer.  He played and Jeremy coached his team.  They won the Kindergarten age division and Will did very well and scored lots of goals.  He comes by his thirst for competition naturally and isn't as modest as his mother would like him to be.  Jeremy did not help coach junior high football this season.  He took on a new role at work towards the end of the summer that brought on more responsibility so he opted out of football coaching to make sure it was a smooth transition.  He did complete his third 9/11 Memorial Stairclimb in September and this time just the two of us went and the kids stayed behind with grandma.  We made it to a Royal's game as a family and also did a K-State football game, sadly we only made one K-State game this year.  Will is starting to follow in his father's footsteps with sports viewing as well and has started to enjoy watching games on TV thankfully it's been a fun year to follow the Chiefs.  Last spring I got the opportunity to apply and interview for a teaching job closer to Seneca and landed in Axtell teaching 5th grade.  So far it has been a good year.  I feel like I may have gone from the newest school in the state to one of the oldest schools structural wise but Axtell has many great features despite the age of the building and I am enjoying the job.  We count our blessings daily and continue to thank God for our health and happiness.  We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a blessed 2020!

Secrets the Vine Cancun - Celebrating 11 years of marriage, no more daycare, and my first year of teaching!

Kindergarten Champions

First year of swim team!  She enjoyed the experience!