Tuesday, December 31, 2024

End of Year questionnaire

It's been a few years since we've had a recap questionnaire. Here you go!

Grant
What was your favorite memory this year? Jumping out of planes
What is something new you learned this year? Survival and Evasion skills
Who made you feel happy or loved this year? Brennan Stephens and Keanu Gotay. 
What was the best book movie or story you enjoyed? Ted Lasso or Gladiator 2. 
What is something you are proud of achieving? Recognition as a Doolie. 
If you could redo something this year, what would that be? Soaring Glider program - to do better. 
What is your favorite moment with your family? Going to Fair Hills. 
What are you most looking forward to next year? 
Who is someone you would like to spend more time with next year? A girlfriend. 😭 
If you could give a thank you to anyone, who would that be and why? JP King- as my supervisor he made my Doolie year much better

Stacy
1 What was your favorite memory this year? Probably with the whole group at Fair Hills celebrating my parents and having all four of my boys happy together at our favorite place. Specifically, closest to the pin evening, celebratory drinks with Jason, Mom and Dad that Tuesday night (!!!), and sailing lesson with Jason.
2 What is something new you learned this year? I have learned a lot about financial software and report generating and account creating. Also, learned KLIFE treasurer stuff which took a bit.  On the bitter side - that not all church people are good Christians. 
3 Who made you feel happy or loved this year? Kyle has been a nice surprise for me this year as he's started being affectionate and kind again.
4 What was the best book movie or story you enjoyed?  Top books in no real order: look on Goodreads :)
5 What is something you are proud of achieving? Finally looking at my health and making a choice after a decade of deliberating how to move forward.
6 If you could redo something this year, what would that be? I would either not have tried/cared so much at the church job and stuck with it or left much sooner.
7 What is your favorite moment with your family? Fair Hills. I also have a lot of pride at USAFA watching Grant in his dress clothes marching. I may tear up every time.
8 What are you most looking forward to next year? Watching Kyle get to experience first semester at OSU! Some need-to-be-scheduled vacations. Getting in a healthy routine.
9 Who is someone you would like to spend more time with next year?  I'd love for us to find some good couple and/or family friends to spend time with consistently.
10 If you could give a thank you to anyone, who would that be and why? Probably my folks. Every year that I get older, I appreciate them as people and as a couple and my friends and my parents more. Thankful they truly care, not just surface care, about us.
11 What else about your year or thoughts to share? I cried more the first half of this year more than I ever thought possible with my job and church family. Everything about it stunk so much. Not sure I am "glad for the trial" either - feel like we've lost a huge chunk of our lives that we thought were important and realizing how little people actually care.  SO glad we had the KL group this summer. Thankful as we're nearing "empty nest" in four years to have had two decades of basically being able to stay home and raise our young men - truly a blessing and gift that Jason has been able to provide financially and I wanted to provide as well. 

Kyle
1 What was your favorite memory this year? Buying Sadie and getting closer to Jesus with buddies during the summer.
2 What is something new you learned this year? How to slow down and enjoy the present.
3 Who made you feel happy or loved this year? Wrestling team, family, buddies, and JESUS!
4 What was the best book movie or story you enjoyed? Fight Club
5 What is something you are proud of achieving? First varsity wrestling win
6 If you could redo something this year, what would that be? Not wreck Donna
7 What is your favorite moment with your family? Finally going back to the motherland that is Fair Hills!
8 What are you most looking forward to next year? College and new opportunities as well as going to the casino and gambling.
9 Who is someone you would like to spend more time with next year? Gale, Jace, Hunter, and all my current buddies. I love my dawgs.
10 If you could give a thank you to anyone, who would that be and why? Nana, really, really helped me out by helping to pay for my car!!
11 What else about your year or thoughts to share? Lots of ups and downs this year, but I've gotten to know myself a lot better. I've started to not take things as seriously and it has helped out a lot.

Reid
1: My favorite memory from 2024 was jumping off the Tower at Fair Hills for the first time in a few years
2: I learned that Math will only get harder from here and it's already SO HARD
3: Eddie, the little McGeester, made me feel loved because he cuddles the most with me this year (except for Mom) and I pet him a lot which makes him want to be around me a lot more than Kyle and Jason
4: Well, I haven't read toooo much, so I'd have to say Greater?
5: All A's through the 1st semester and student of the Month in November
6: How I'd address and see cross country
7: Playing QuipLash for the 2nd time in October
8: Ollie Gordon and Brennan Presley DOMINATING the NFL
9: Eddie, for being so kind and loving to me
10: I'd thank veterans for defending our land

Jason
1 What was your favorite memory this year?  Grant and I got to see Kyle wrestle and he won his first varsity match.  Fun memory!
2 What is something new you learned this year?  Dental insurance companies are shadier than I realized...
3 Who made you feel happy or loved this year? Reid's happiness in theater.
4 What was the best book movie or story you enjoyed? Red Rising book series
5 What is something you are proud of achieving?  All the work at the KLIFE house over the summer.
6 If you could redo something this year, what would that be?  Not go to Fair Hills on the first week.
7 What is your favorite moment with your family?  Seeing Grant during Jump.
8 What are you most looking forward to next year?   All the unknowns within our family for each person, everyone is on their own path and where that will lead for 2025.
9 Who is someone you would like to spend more time with next year?  Kyle before he moves on to college, even though he will still be in Stillwater.
10 If you could give a thank you to anyone, who would that be and why? Big thank you to the guy upstairs when we hit the deer on the interstate doing 80mph.
11 What else about your year or thoughts to share?  Surprised about our old church home and relationships there, would not think we are where we are today one year ago.  Enjoyed the pivot to KLIFE and the great people God provided for us to meet through the board we may not have encountered if not for leaving UHBC.  Excited to see Kyle's next 12 months and the subsequent changes that will follow.  Always eager for Grant updates and movement on his future/ happenings.  Reid and tennis was something new I enjoyed.  Stacy had a busy year, I was happy to be by her side and support her.











Ski trip, Fantasy and Poker

Grant's trip - lunch break
Chili and Secret Hitler
Lunchtime!
Kyle WON his fantasy football league (see the trophy and prize money at the front of the picture). He was able to make his final payment on Sadie and take a breath! 
He and his buddies are now into poker and, just today, had a 14 person tournament going in a garage. PLUS, he won this, too!! 
I like to read… :)







Monday, December 30, 2024

December happenings

Our friends, Cal and Cassie, are working towards becoming missionaries in northern Africa in 2025 and came to town to talk about it. We had the UHBC staff (all of us are former) over for dinner.
Kyle is growing out his mustache!
This is what pictures I send to Grant look like sometimes - 
HIIII!!!
WANNA CALL ME?!?!
Kyle laughed at this - but he is rated a 2.5 star wrestler, which I guess is a pretty big deal for his experience level.
part of my BSF group.
Grant's sophomore year C3C official government photos
This would be the picture of a dog throwing a fit.  I forgot what happened but he was mad at me and went as far away in the car as possible.
Movie time with my parents! Wicked!
selfie time at volleyball
our wrestler!
senior year has started for our wrestler! 
Reid had a lesson on gift wrapping this year. He did pretty darn good!
He got a dog sitting job for our neighbors. I'm not sure who had more fun, Reid or Lily!
after church lunch - Bagel Cafe
happy mom - all the kiddos are home!
his new thrift shirt (that is too small).
Unloading the dishes brought a smile to my face.  All three color cups are represented in this load!
Team scrimmage and join party with the 12-1 team
Grant and Jason went to Owasso to watch Kyle wrestle.
He won!
funny. Not funny. Totally true when Grant is home
Fridaway with his second best girl :)
Grant visiting his Meridian teachers.
Thank goodness I asked them to take this picture - the ONLY one of all three of them this year.
I was the lucky one to be sick this year and missed out on all things Christmas and lost a week of my life. Jason did a good job managing the house and me.
Christmas dinner served in bed.
Festive even with a fever.
Best dog ever. Was with me until a boy took him away the entire time I was sick.
a sweet goodie basket from a friend.
Grant. Sleeping.
present and pretty tree.
annual cookie making with GG
I see a theme of Eddie and a boy sleeping...
boxbollen game - fun!
the boys had cigar night.
Grant headed out at 4:45am on the 28th to head back to Colorado. He has a ski trip with his friends before reporting back to campus, where school starts on the 3rd.
Off skiing with Alex Hill, Mack Kulling, Hayden Sutherland and Marek Oomens
byeeeeeeee for three months!