2025 PartinFive Recap

And just like that, another year has come and gone. It seems like the older the kids get, the faster the years go by. I'm not sure how to get time to slow down, but in the meantime, I'll reminisce. 

January

Matthew and Jessica started building a dining room table. Okay, to be fair, he did all the hard work (because I don't do math well). 

         

Danica got a fish aquarium (as her 2024 Christmas gift from us)

    

The boys participated in their CAP awards banquet and were recognized for their volunteer service. Zach was also recognized for achievement and leadership as a Cadet Officer.

                    

February

Matthew and Jessica completed the dining table build. 

            

Danica graduated from Excelsior University with her Bachelor's of Science in Liberal Arts!

March

Matthew celebrated his 50th birthday! We spent the morning at a new park near us and had a picnic lunch. Later, the kids surprised him with dinner at the Cheesecake Factory and tickets to the Carolina Hurricanes game on his birthday.

April

Zach celebrated his 17th birthday!

Danica became an employee (not just an intern) at the NC Museum of Natural Science!

Matthew bought a Mazda Miata. Not for Danica.

We went to the NC Auto Expo where Elliott met two instructors from Wake Tech who encouraged him to consider a degree in the automotive industry.

May

We celebrated our nephew's birthday. The mobile gaming truck was a huge hit for the young and older kids alike.

June

Elliott and Jessica toured Wake Tech's Northern campus. He was enamored by the automotive building. We followed the tour with a lunch date at Zaxby's.

We enjoyed a picnic lunch date with Danica at her work. 

July

We vacationed in the NC mountains. And replicated an old photo of the kids. 

     

  

Danica celebrated her 19th birthday!

Elliott turned 16 and got his license! (Gramma wins for holding a place in line at the DMV before 5am!)

The boys attended the youth group's annual Engage conference in West Virginia.

Danica and Jessica went to The Warning concert at the Ritz.

The boys both promoted to Major in CAP.

August

Matthew and Jessica spent our 25th anniversary on a river cruise in Europe. We visited Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, Dürnstein, Melk, Linz, and Passau. We even dipped our feet in the Danube. We visited Munich for a day since our flight home was cancelled due to the flight attendants' strike over that weekend. 

    

    

    

The boys participated in Cadet Competition for CAP.

September

We enjoyed our family vacation to Topsail Island. 

    

While on vacation, Zach "sprained" his left wrist while skateboarding.

October

The boys started learning to drive a manual car. 

Elliott applied and interviewed at AutoZone.

Elliott & Matthew replaced springs in the Miata.

Zach started working at Adidas!

Danica and Zach went to a Tedeschi Trucks concert with Gramma & Papa.

November

Matthew bought a 2008 BMW 335i convertible. It's a manual.

Matthew and Elliott repaired the Flex (an 8 hour job).

With the help of PW, they also fixed the blower motor issue in the BMW. 

Elliott is employed by AutoZone!

December

Zach's "sprained" wrist wasn't healing. Because it was actually BROKEN! He had surgery to repair his Scaphoid bone. He will be in a cast for a few months. We've been told the recovery will be about 6 months long.

Matthew bought another car.

Zach promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in CAP.

We celebrated Christmas with Jessica's family. 

Zach was selected to serve as Rover Team OIC and scheduled to go to Alabama for CAP encampment but came down with a virus on Christmas day. So that trip was cancelled. 

As a family, we enjoyed a charcuterie board for dinner and the game Just One! and lots of laughter on New Year's Eve.

    

Once all the sickness moves out, we look forward to celebrating with Matthew’s family.