Kate is a teenager!!

Kate has really flourished this year. She started 7th grade at Highland Intermediate, facing all the challenges that come with a new school, new friends, and a new location—and she has handled it all with such determination and grace. She has learned to be more independent (only missing the bus once, on her very first day of school! 😂), navigated the frustrations of group projects, and grown so much in confidence.

But one of the very best parts of this year has been her little friend group. They are some of the cutest, smartest, and most gifted girls, and they have given Kate such a fun outlet to just be herself. It has been so much fun watching her come out of her shell, try new things, and build friendships both at school and at church.

One of my favorite things is hearing her come home laughing as she tells us about all the crazy things that happened in the hallways or lunchroom. Her teachers absolutely adore her, and she has even turned her love of crocheting animals into a thriving little business!

Kate continues to play the piano and ukulele and loves tennis. She also started playing pickleball with her friends after school once a week. And while she still absolutely cringes at the thought of getting into cold water, somehow that’s exactly what she chose for her birthday party—a trip to an inflatable water park! 😂

She was SO excited to get a cell phone for her birthday, and honestly, it has been wonderful to see how much it has helped her friendships grow even stronger.

Thank goodness for parents who raise good daughters, because Kate has surrounded herself with some pretty amazing girls. ❤️

We love you so much, Kate! Watching you grow into the beautiful, kind, funny, talented, and confident young woman you are becoming has been one of our greatest joys. We can’t wait to see what this next year brings!

Happy birthday, Kate! We love you! ❤️

 

December 2024

Christmas Carnival Games

Christmas Parade

Beach Cleanup with 808

Gingerbread contest winners at Bryan's work.

Wreaths Across America- National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl)

6th grade Christmas Party

19th Anniversary in Maui

Snuba/Snorkle Molokini Crater

Hiking Haleakala, Waihee Ridge Trail, and Iao Valley

Christmas Party with Aloha Eye Clinic

Bryan works 2-3 days every month at an eye clinic in Maui.

The girls had a blast staying with our dear friends, the Chambers.

When we got back from our trip, we went Christmas caroling.

After we celebrated Christmas in Hawaii, the girls and I flew to Utah for a week. The girls were super excited to be cold, touch the snow, visit cousins, and open presents from grandma and grandpa.

We drove up to Bear Lake with Kim and her family. Kate and Jane couldn't wait for grandpa to pull them behind the 4-wheeler like they saw their Koplin cousins do last year.

We enjoyed 2 days of skiing at Beaver Mountain. This was my first time skiing here and I absolutely loved it.

May 2022

Lots of goodbye this month...

At the beginning of the month, I took the girls to Louisiana to visit my best girlfriend, Jennifer. Our dogs did not get along! But Bryan was working on getting his parachuting license and wouldn't be home to watch him. So I had to bring Howie with us. Otis is really sweet, but definitely a protector. 

In the morning, we went to the Armadillo Stampede 5K in Leesville. The girls rode their bikes while Jennifer, Ryan, and I ran. Kate took off and I was running after her panicked she would get hit by a train, that I ran my fastest ever, until a train made us all stop. Ha! I ended up with the first female finisher and got to eat breakfast for free at the May Day Fest.

After we cleaned up, we went downtown to enjoy the festival.

Jennifer made us do this crazy awesome video!

The girls got some awesome face painting and slushies. It was really HOT! 

And then we went over to Jennifer's friend Zandy so the girls could create a cute little Mother's Day artwork for me. Isn't she the most thoughtful?!? Thanks Jenny!

The following weekend, our family flew to Utah for Bryan's mother's funeral. She passed away on the 4th of May surrounded by family in her home in Highland, Utah. I will forever be grateful for Debbie teaching Bryan good work ethics and strong mindedness. She had such a strong personality and I can see a little bit of her in all 11 of her living children. She is survived by 46 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren (probably more than this). If you knew Debbie, then you were sure to know her whole life story. She had a smile in her eyes and an enormous amount of energy. She was steadfast in her faith and the glue that held the Ahlborn family together through the years. I am grateful she is at peace after a tough battle with cancer. She will be sorely missed by all. 

She had a beautiful funeral service. The 11 siblings were finally together after 20+ years. Most of the grandchildren were able to make it out to the funeral as well. Stratton, Becky, Rachel, and Aunt Julie were the speakers and they all did a fabulous job describing their mother/sister. We were able to have a goo day celebrating the life of Chammelia Deborah "Debbie" Ahlborn. 

Debbie's one wish was to have family photos completed with grandpa. The photos turned out really well and it was nice to see everyone together.

When our family returned back to Texas, it was my turn to say goodbye to all my friends and co-workers at Seton Medical Center. This is the first place I have worked for a consecutive 4 years. I worked with some really great people and am really going to miss the place. 

The girls had their last day at Northside Baptist Academy. They spent 2 years at this wonderful private school during such a crazy time (pandemic) in the world. I will forever be grateful for filling up the last available spots the week before school started! 

School ended early with a pizza party, bouncy house, and obstacle course.

Kate's teacher Mrs. Harvey

Jane's teacher Mrs. Oster

Saying goodbye to everyone is so hard! I wanted the girls to be able to enjoy the last day of school and so we had an end of school, moving, and pre-birthday party at our house after school. One last hooray! I ordered Chick-Fil-A and a water bouncy house and let the kids go at it. 

Jane wrote this cute story about her summer plans. I love it!

Another goodbye...

I am so grateful for Mrs. Christie! She was such a wonderful piano teacher for Kate and Jane. The girls did a great performance at the end of the school year recital. Jane played "The Cinderella Waltz" and Kate played "Almost There". 

We put our Harker Heights home for sale on Memorial Day weekend. Over the last 2-3 months, Bryan and I have been preparing for our move to Kansas. We sorted through our stuff, hosted a garage sale, starting using up the freezer and canned goods, and fixed up the house (all the important things that need to be done before a move). We will miss this place!

Saying goodbye to our great neighbors!

And of course my best friend!

We started our 3rd drive to Utah at the end of May- actually the day after school ended! The house was packed (mostly) and we were headed to vacation before the great move to Kansas. Time for a little fun! 

A stop at Wilson's Arch to break up the drive. Bryan and I have been up for 24+ hours at this point...

When we finally arrived in Utah, I think Bryan and I took a 4-5 hour nap. We were exhausted. When we woke up, my parents were home taking care of our kids that we had neglected (kind of) while sleeping. So grateful they house and feed us during our times of limbo. 

Memorial's Day was a bummer because it was cold and wet! We were used to Texas weather and Utah wasn't really showing signs of summer when we arrived. Bryan arranged for us to go to the Children's Museum with Becky and Lauren's kids. They had fun, until playing in the water area and getting too cold again...