New Year's was bittersweet as part of me felt like I was leaving my dear Autumn behind in 2024, but I also know her spirit isn't bound by time. 2025 will be a year of change and adventure, filled with graduations, new schools, epic vacations, and for one of us, a new city. It's comforting to know Autumn will be with our littles as they step into these new chapters.
We kicked off the year with some chilly New Year's Eve ice skating at Chicken and Pickle with the Brawner crew. Finley was the only one in our group who braved the rink, joining Emmy and Sully while the rest of us stayed warm inside. Afterward, I dropped Finley off at a friend's house, and the rest of us celebrated at the Brawner's. Atticus perfected his pogo stick skills in the garage, while the rest of us played games. As is tradition, we rang in the New Year with NYC before heading home, but Atticus, Baylor, and I stayed up to welcome 2025 with some sparkling grape juice on the back porch.
A few days later, anticipation grew as a major snowstorm was set to hit KC. The kids were thrilled about an extended Christmas break, and after two and a half days of ice and snow, we ended up with over 11 inches. Unfortunately, the bitter cold kept them from enjoying it for long, but once temps warmed up a bit, I took them to the Leawood Library sledding hill for an afternoon of fun (and exhaustion from trekking back up the hill).
That Friday, Briley and I drove to Omaha for her recruiting visit at UNO, a school that wasn't on our radar until recently. With a strong offer from Truman State, I thought that was where she'd end up, but UNO's coach put in a lot of effort recruiting her, so we felt she should visit. From the moment we arrived, we were impressed. The athletic facilities, the campus feel and even the dorms, which are four-bedroom, two-bath apartments impressed us. Getting out and exploring Omaha only solidified the school's appeal. That evening, we had dinner with the coaches and another recruit before heading to a UNO hockey game. Briley spent the evening with the team, while I connected with other parents. Afterward, she went for ice cream at the #1 rated ice cream shop in the U.S. and at that point, she was pretty much sold. The next morning we went out to breakfast with the coach, she took some pics in the UNO uniform, we wrapped up the visit, and then it was back to KC.
The following weekend, Finley, Briley, and I headed to Columbia for prom dress shopping with Ellie. We met family for lunch before the girl's appointment. When they went shopping, I went and checked out Asa and Kelsey's new house and played with Seger. Watching little Seger play in his own space was the sweetest. Prom shopping was a bit overwhelming, but thanks to Kelsey, Briley found exactly what she was looking for. Ellie wasn't as lucky but found one the next weekend. The Chiefs game was also going on, so we listened to the first half on the radio on our drive back to Kansas City and watched the second half at the Knoblauch's house. It was fun to see them pull off the win, even more fun when the rest of the country is rooting against us.
On Sunday Atticus had basketball, Finley had a birthday party at the Olathe Aquatic Center. That evening, we celebrated Mr. Patrick's 2nd birthday at the Brawner's, this little guy is the sweetest and loved all his gifts. Meanwhile, Finley, our queen of sleepovers, stayed at a friend's since they were off for MLK Day.
Baylor's basketball season has been packed, with two games a week crammed into a five-week schedule. He also had his high school orientation at Blue Valley North, which felt like a full-circle moment, one child leaving BVN, another starting. When it's all said and done, we'll have had a student there for 12 consecutive years; four down, eight to go!
The next weekend, we traveled to Kirksville for Briley's final recruiting visit at Truman State. Touring the campus felt nostalgic since I grew up there and Autumn attended Truman for two years. Briley spent the evening with the team, while I had dinner with the Bobziens. The next morning, Baylor, Atticus, and I caught a ride back to KC with Jared for the Chiefs AFC Championship game. Briley and Finley stayed behind, but Briley ultimately decided to skip her team run and lunch as it was pushed back, opting for coffee with Ellie before heading home.
That evening, Jared and I joined the Clevers and Shreve's for an epic tailgate before the Chiefs-Bills showdown. Between the tents, heaters, TV playing the NFC Championship, wings, and smash burgers, we had the perfect setup. The game itself was a classic, with the Chiefs pulling off another close win. We stayed for the trophy presentation, celebrating the reality that they might actually win three Super Bowls in a row. I may or may not have prayed for Autumn to intercede in those final three minutes!
But the biggest news of the week, Briley committed to the University of Nebraska Omaha for Cross Country and Track. From the moment we left campus, I knew this would be her choice. You could see it in her smile, she felt at home with the coaches, the team, and the school. It just feels right. We are beyond proud of her. She has worked so hard to get here, and we know her determination and drive will take her so far in life. Congratulations, Briley Mae!
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