Happy Birthday, Bella!

Bella through the years. . .

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012 

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

Bella is SEVENTEEN! This was another big year for her. The biggest excitement from this past year was probably getting her driver's license. She also opened checking and savings accounts at the bank. This has given her additional freedom and independence. She continues to be a hard worker, especially when it comes to academics. She's also very involved in several school clubs as well as basketball and tennis. She has begun to look at various colleges and universities and had her first campus tour last month. Her current career goal is something in graphic design. Creating art is something she really enjoys. It's hard to believe she has one more year before becoming an official adult! We are so thankful for this time we have with her.

Happy Birthday, Isabella! We love you so much!

November Happenings

My youngest sister, Lori, had her baby!!! Conrad Benetti Donovan was born on October 18th, 2022. A few weeks later, I went up to WI to meet him.

I just love baby snuggles. 

We had a little Sip n' See where family and friends got to meet Conrad. 

I wish I knew what we were talking about when this photo was taken! 

Jodi made some delicious cupcakes. 

And big brother, Branko, was a big fan! 

While I was gone, our kids participated in Black & White night at the high school. All the basketball players were recognized and the pep band played. There was also an alumni basketball game, which is a lot of fun for this community.

Basketball season is officially here! This is Bella's photo for the paper.

Here is her team! The season is off to a great start!

Curtis is playing for the 7th grade team. I missed his first game due to a conference I was attending (and Andy had church meetings), but some other moms got some photos of him playing for me. I was also able to catch some of the game thanks to another mom recording a Facebook live video. Curtis loves playing basketball and I'm so happy that he gets to play for this team! 

Big new for Graydon. . . 

He got his braces off! Look at that smile!!!

Now he can eat apples again! 

I'll end with a random shot of him playing his sax. Look at all that hair!

Halloween

A few days before Halloween, we went to a Haunted Trail that some friends had on their property. 

Our office staff dressed up as Corn this year. This costume was inspired by the viral Tik Tok song titled, "It's Corn!"

Graydon dressed up as Bob Ross. 

Curtis threw on his jersey and went as Giannis Antetokounmpo. 

We carved our pumpkins on Halloween this year.

Neither Bella nor Curtis went trick-or-treating.

Graydon went with some friends.

Our three jack-o-lanterns. Curtis made the one on the left, Bella did the middle, and Graydon's is on the right.

I made some apple dumplings and we watched "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown."

I love our little Halloween tradition of watching that cartoon. 

Beautiful October

Fall is so beautiful and our backyard did not disappoint this year! We took advantage of this backdrop for a picture of the two of us taken before a wedding.

I went on a few walks through the woods. These photos are unfiltered and unedited.

The warm weather did age Graydon's pumpkin a little bit. 

I tried to get outside and enjoy as much of the beautiful fall days as I could. The only thing I don't like about this season is how it ushers in winter. 

Curtis finished up a successful flag football season. His team came in 2nd place for the championship.