tales from a far-land

September brought a mix of thrilling accomplishments, cherished memories, and a startling moment that reminded us of what matters most. Here’s how our family navigated this eventful month: Madilyn’s High School Adventures Madilyn embraced her freshman year at Xavier College Preparatory by fully immersing herself in the social scene. She joined her XCP friends at most of the Brophy College Preparatory varsity football home games, enjoying the camaraderie and excitement of high school sports. She has also embraced the high energy and class rivalries that develop during XCP's school rallies. During one of the games in September, Madilyn asked a couple of her girlfriends to attend Homecoming together. Watching her navigate this new chapter with confidence and joy has been heartwarming. Aiden Joins the Volleyball Team Aiden decided to try out for the Mountain Sky Junior High volleyball team and was thrilled to make the team! September was packed with practices and games, and Aiden loved...

August was a month filled with road trips, celebrations, and transitions for our family. Here’s a look back at everything that made this month so memorable: Continuing Our California Road Trip We kicked off August by continuing our family road trip to San Jose for Aiden’s final box lacrosse tournament of the summer. On August 1st, we took a scenic drive up the coast, stopping at the Elephant Seal habitat near Piedras Blancas in San Simeon. Watching the massive seals lazing on the beach was a unique experience for all of us. We made another stop in Paso Robles, where Josh and I enjoyed a wine tasting at Alpha Omega, a sister winery of our wine club. Meanwhile, Madilyn and Aiden explored Downtown Paso, shopping and indulging in some local eats. We ended the day in Santa Cruz at the Beach Boardwalk Amusement Park, enjoying rides, games, and a lively coastal atmosphere. A Challenging Camping Experience On August 2nd, we ventured to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park for what was supposed to ...