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!

Christmas Letter 2018

Happy Holidays Family and Friends!  As I sit here and reflect on 2018 all I can think about is how blessed Jeremy and I are for our health and happiness.  Two thousand and eighteen started out like all other years but has repeatedly shown us how valuable life is and how each day is a blessing.  In the middle of June I got a wild hair and decided to e-mail the State of Kansas to see what it would take to renew my teaching license.  I was not thinking I was going to be in a classroom anytime soon in front of students. I was thinking I was going to have to go back to school myself.  After a whirlwind of events I started my first teaching job in August as a 4th Grade teacher at Holton Elementary.  This definitely threw a big change in our day to day operations at the Stallbaumer household but we take it one day at a time and I greatly appreciate how Jeremy and the kids have adapted to our new normal and encourage me to follow my dream.  I have truly enjoyed being in the classroom and feel I am doing exactly what I am supposed to be doing.
Jeremy continues to work at the Seneca Corn Mill - Fairview Mills and this past year coached Junior High football and basketball at Sts. Peter and Paul.  This was his first year for football.  He was the assistant coach for football and was the head coach again for basketball.  The head football coach assists Jeremy with basketball so they have the same coaches for both just in different roles.  They do an outstanding job at, in my humble opinion, and have had success this year with a good group of 8th grade boys.  Jeremy still volunteers for the local fire department and participated for the 2nd year at the 9/11 Memorial Stairclimb event in Kansas City.
Ava is having a big year in 2nd grade.  She made her First Reconciliation this month and is gearing up for her First Communion in late April.  She has grown up so much this past year, both physically and in maturity.  I can hardly believe it sometimes when I look at her.  She makes us proud every day and keeps busy with piano, sleepovers, and played softball this past summer.  She also joined her brother this past summer in the stitches club.  She jumped off a chair on the back patio and caught the metal end of the folding chair with the corner of her eye.
Will continues to go, go, go.  He couldn't be outdone by his sister and has made two trips for stitches this year.  Again he did it when mom wasn't around.  He is still anxiously awaiting his turn for organized sports.  He feels he has done enough spectating and is more than ready to participate.  He has a smile that can light up a room but can also make you feel the most frustrated you've ever felt all in the same minute.  His new thing is he loves to dance, typically it's a touchdown dance or a victory dance but all the same he loves to show off his moves.
We hope everyone had a great 2018 and wish you many blessings in 2019!

Christmas Letter 2017

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.

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!!

Still not sure about the fish!

Fishing - Ava caught the most she was proud!

T-Ball - Ava is in the front row 2nd from the right.

Jeremy coached Post 21 Legion Baseball again this year and had a successful season!

Mini family vacation to KC to Royal's game and Schiltterbahn water park!

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.

Jeremy with the group from Seneca he climbed alongside.

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!

First day of Preschool at SPPS - Teacher is Ms. Debbie Ford

First day of 1st Grade - Teacher is Mrs. Allison Hermesch

Soccer - Ava's team got 2nd place.

Family photo with Willie at the Kellen and Devon Sherlock's wedding.

Standing on the shore along Cape Cod half way through a 22 mile bike ride.

The Dragastin adults went to Cape Cod & Boston to celebrate mom's retirement
and mom and dad's 40th Wedding anniversary!

Jeremy and Justin got to check an item off the bucket list and caught a game and Fenway Park!

Ava was Belle from Beauty and the Beast for Halloween

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

2016 Christmas Letter

Another year has gone by and once again I reflect back to the beginning of the year and think to myself...that was 10 months ago?  It seems like yesterday.

5th Birthday in March

Miss Ava Ann turned 5 in March.  She has had a big year!  This past summer she got to play T-Ball which was her first experience in organized sports.  She did better than I expected and seemed to enjoy it.  It was a pretty relaxed atmosphere.  She started Kindergarten this fall and the first few weeks were pretty rough on her.  The all day everyday thing definitely interfered with her previous daily nap schedule.  However she has adjusted and is doing quite well in school and makes us proud. She played soccer this fall.  This was a little more rigorous than T-Ball and at times we had to convince her to go and participate however once there she did fine.  Her team ended up getting third place and were awarded medals, so then of course at that point soccer was the best thing ever!

At her Uncle James & Aunt Kelsey's wedding in April.

Before her first soccer game!

Band-aide over the 2nd set of stitches.

William gave this year some highlights.  He is ALL boy and loves to be outside and is happiest with a glove, bat, or ball in hand.  The worst thing you can do for this child is not give him an outlet for his abundance of energy.  He is a daredevil, not scared easily, and goes 100mph at all times.  Unfortunately this combination gave us our first trip to the doctor for stitches in late May.  Ava and Will were spending a few days at Grandma Drag's and Will decided it was okay to jump off the furniture and the upper corner of his right eye met the corner of the coffee table.  He got a decent sized gash and so Grandma loaded him up and took him into the Washington Clinic to see none other than Dr. Sherlock (MD not DVM) I am not sure who suffered more Will, Grandma, or Kellen but all three made it through and Will's scar is pretty minimal considering the gash he gave himself.  Fast forward a few months to August and I get a call from daycare that I need to go pick Will up because he fell into the corner wall and had a cut on the corner of his right eye that needed more than a band aide.  That's right...back to the doctor for a couple more stitches and he's definitely got a good side and rocking the tough guy look once again.  In September he started at Teddy Bear Daycare.  They have a very structured schedule throughout the week and Will has been doing well with this atmosphere.  He is learning new things everyday and we have been very happy with his is progress.  He is as ornery as the come but has a smile and a hug that will melt your heart.

Valentines Day 2016 - spiked hair for the ladies

Uncles James & Aunt Kelsey's Wedding

Overall both kids are healthy and happy and I thank God every day for the gift of motherhood.  I often find myself at times looking at them and assessing how much they've grown asking myself "Where have my babies gone?"  They bring me so much joy and I love watching them both thrive in this crazy World.

Super Hero & Firefighter for Halloween

4th of July 2016

James & Kelsey's Wedding April 2016

Jeremy continues to work for J-Six Enterprises in the Fairview Mills division.  He currently has the roll of Quality Control manager at the Seneca mill location.  He enjoys his job and likes the variety of tasks the position offers.  He coached Legion Baseball again this past summer.  They had another successful year and played a grueling schedule for their Zone Tournament and missed the State bid by a small margin.  It was a disappointing end to the season but still a fun summer of watching good baseball.  He is coaching junior high basketball again this year for Sts. Peter and Paul School.  He is the head coach after being the assistant the past two years.   They have had a great start to the season and he is enjoying the time in the gym.  Jeremy also has a year on the Seneca Fire Department complete.  They just voted a new member on in November so he officially has lost his "Rookie" status.  It is a great group of men and Jeremy and I both have enjoyed the friendships that come along with being on the department.

Seneca Firemen's Ball

I am still working at Eisenbarth Plumbing Heating and Air.  I was given some flexibility in my schedule this past year that allows me an afternoon every other week to be home and catch up on housework.  This has helped me out tremendously and helps keep me sane.  We are hoping to get some traveling done in 2017.  We owe my mom a trip to celebrate her 60th birthday...the idea of Boston has been tossed around but no definite plans have been made yet.  In March, Jeremy and I are planning a trip with 4 other couples to Nashville.  We are looking forward to this and there should be some good memories made.

We hope all our family and friends have a very blessed Christmas and Happy New Year!

2015 Christmas Letter

Oh my where to begin!  Two thousand and fifteen flew by and for us, it's looking to end the way it started:  Jeremy taking a new job.  In February, Jeremy took a position at the Nemaha County Training Center (NCTC) as the Director of Development.  The position was responsible for all events, both promotional and fundraising, associated with NCTC.  Jeremy really enjoyed this opportunity and his time at NCTC but after much deliberation along with prayer and spending a long time on the fence he decided to leave NCTC and take a new position with J-Six Enterprises.  As I am writing this letter he is still a week away from starting his new job so I can't really tell you much about it yet.  For everyone who is reading this that is from my side of the family, J-Six is the same company my dad has been working with for the past couple years.  So...now you are asking yourself, "How can an old vet and an almost 30 year old with not much of a farming background work for the same company?"  The answer it's a big farm with lots of different operations and they will be doing two totally different things.  Jeremy will be working the in the Seneca Corn Mill office.  As long as we are on the subject of Jeremy I will keep going.  He coached his first year of Seneca Post 21 Legion Baseball.  They had a very respectable season and I think he had a lot of fun teaching the "older" boys which he wasn't sure about at first.  He also got to spend a lot of quality time with his childhood friend Phil who was his assistant.  The kids and I spent many of those summer nights at the ball field cheering them on, which we all three enjoy doing!  Jeremy is also assistant coaching JH basketball again this year for Saints Peter and Paul boys team.  They ended the season last year 14-0 with the "A Team" winning the league championship.  So far they are having another undefeated season and with some hard work might be able to pull off another "perfect season".  FINAL news on Jeremy is that this past September he was recruited to be on the Seneca Volunteer Fire Department.  The best way for me to describe the Seneca Fire Department is by telling you that it's like a Fraternity that has a limit of 28 active members.  These members have monthly meetings, functions, parties, and also carry pagers that occasionally go off and call them to a burning structure.

Jeremy on far left.  They did the no hair cuts and beard shaving until they lost...

2015 OTL Champions (Jeremy on far right)

2015 Seneca Fireman's Ball

Ava is doing very well.  Just ask her.  She loves to converse and is very observant when it comes to people.  She does well in school and enjoys going places and socializing.  You never know what she is going to say and keeps up laughing.  She lives for weekends at Grandma Drag's and loves to put on a show.  In October, a couple of other mom's and I took our daughters to Frozen on Ice in Kansas City.  We had a wonderful time and Ava keeps asking to go back!

Piper, Ava, & Jaci getting ready to go see Frozen on Ice!

Ava & I on 4th of July

Will is on the go.  Constantly.  The kid doesn't sit down for much, except to eat.  He also loves to eat. Much to his father's dismay (sarcasm) he has already shown a keen interest in sports at his young age.  He lives for going to the diamond to watch the baseball boys and threw an absolute fit when we went up to the school for the soup supper and we didn't go into the gym.  We ended up having to take our meal to go so we didn't ruin the entire event for everyone!  His favorite toy right now his is his Fisher Price basketball goal.  He loves to "get his shots up" as his father would tell you.  He has finally come around to verbal communication and using more and more words everyday.  It's not so much of struggle to figure out what he's wanting anymore.  He is ornery as all hell will get out but he's got a smile that will melt your heart and quickly makes you forget how frustrated and angry you are with him!

Will's "typical" appearance. 

Put me in coach!

July was the highlight of our year as we got to travel to the beautiful state of Colorado to celebrate my grandmother's 80th birthday.  We had a wonderful time and almost all of my mom's side of the family made the trip.  This was our first real "road trip" as a family and it was perfect.  We really enjoyed our time together and I hope we can find time to do more things like that in our future.

Family photo in the mountains.  The kids were both disappointed to leave!

Great-Grandma Ann, Ava Ann, and Grandma Denise Ann riding the Gondola.

I am still working for Eisenbarth Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning and enjoy going to work.  My evenings are mainly full of trying to figure out how to get everything done.  My house is never clean anymore but I have learned that sometimes you have to put the mop down and instead read a book, pretend to be a horse, or just sit and rock.  God shows me my blessings on a daily basis and I am very thankful for everything I have in life.  I wish everyone a loving and peaceful 2016!  God Bless!

Love,
Brooke Ann