The Best Ending to Our 2025

I've needed things to look forward to while in my postpartum bubble. I told myself I bet I would be ready to go to a basketball game by December 31. I practiced wearing Emery in the baby carrier so she would become familiar with it & we had her wear her little green headphones the night before. 

On December 31, we picked up Walli and headed to the Uber Arena! It was so fun to be back. Justin's team arranged a suite for us to watch the game. I was eager to see all of our friends in our regular seats though, so we treated the suite as our home base. 

After arriving, Logan and Walli enjoyed the view while I got Logan's snacks packed and Emery situated in her headphones and carrier.

Walking down to our seats was surreal. I couldn't believe I was there with my two babies. I remember Logan's first game in the same baby carrier and headphones. I felt so loved as we walked to our seats. Lots of happy faces & hugs from friends I had missed seeing in the last month and a half.

I was so happy to be there cheering on our favorite guy. <3 

Sweet Emery and Logan did amazing. She slept the whole time and I know Heavenly Father had a hand in that. Logan was doing his best to be independent and I'm so proud of him. 

Norman and Birgit were also a huge help, handing out snacks and water from Logan's backpack throughout the whole game. I'm so grateful for them. 

Birgit's sweet mom. She turned 101 this year!! She and Justin get a picture together after every game.

Alba won and all of the family went down on the court afterwards to celebrate. It was a core memory to be together, celebrating the end of an incredible year.

2025 was the last full year we'll have of this basketball lifestyle. It was full of ups and downs but we did it together. I have a lot of gratitude for everything I was able to experience. I know I'll never have a year like this again. We're looking forward to you, 2026. <3

Christmas Season

My 2025 Christmas Instagram post, with one of my favorite pictures:

We've watched The Christ Child almost every day this month, at the request of Logan. feels extra special this year, as it did two years ago, with our brand new babies.

How thankful I am for a loving Heavenly Father who would send His own baby to the earth to be our Savior.

One of my favorite names of Jesus Christ is Emmanuel, meaning God with us.

While we haven't been physically close to family these last three years, l've never felt closer to Christ than now.

I know that He's with me — on the good days and the hard ones - lifting me and bringing more light into my life. I love my Savior. I know that He lives and loves us.

If you want a special Christmas video to watch, YouTube The Christ Child.

The Church website had a list of fun Christmas activities coupled with how you could "add light" to each activity. We chose to make Christmas cookies and bring them to our basketball friends who live in our apartment.

Which included walking up 7 flights of stairs due to a broken elevator. <3

We drove by this beauty as often as possible. No drunk Santa's singing by the tree this year!

I finally had the endurance to be on my feet longer than 20 minutes so we decided to try one last Christmas market. It was the first time we took both kids in public as a family of four. Felt a little wild with two strollers!

Brrr!! It was cold and beautiful. 

After 15 minutes, we had our half-meter bratwurst and churros and were ready to call it a successful night. Ha! 

I was really humbled and appreciative of the friends who brought meals & visited us. It's quite a sacrifice to spend the time planning and preparing a meal, then walking to your train, riding, and walking some more, before delivering the food and making your way back home again. 

Thank you to the Steins, Jacintos, Farnsworths, Wardles, Agbakokos, Walli, and Alice. We felt so loved and taken care of.

Thank you, Alice for asking if we had a family photo yet and offering to take one. I framed it and now Logan loves to grab it off of his dresser to carry around and look at.

We've had fun putting this little lady in new outfits and bows. She's growing too fast. <3

Christmas Eve was unique. It was our third (and last!!!) one away from family. Thank goodness for FaceTime so we can carry out traditions virtually. One of my favorites is our siblings gift exchange. We keep it a secret and share what we love about that person before they open their gift. 

Christmas morning was spent with Alex and Walli, who shared a creme brulee french toast breakfast at our apartment. Then Justin left for a roadtrip an hour later and I fell into a pretty sad bubble. I've been away from family on Christmas as a missionary, and for the last two years. But this was the first time I had been married and without Justin, freshly postpartum, with two sweet, dependent children. 

Again, thank you FaceTime and family, for pulling me out of the bubble and sharing some joy with us through the phone. It was still a hard day for me, but we need those to balance out the good ones. I know I'll appreciate the Christmases to come, no matter what they will look like.

What a special, sacred, hard, tiring, Christmas season - that brought us Emery Claire right at the beginning! 

xoxo, a tired, happy mom

More Light

A part of my new routine with two kids is a daily walk by myself. I'm grateful for these walks where I'm able to see sunlight and feel spiritual light as I have alone time to focus on God. 

Taken Care Of

The best nine days. <3 I love my parents. I feel so lucky to have seen them in September and again in December. They're my heroes. They came to Berlin and took care of us. Cleaning, changing diapers, cooking meals, bringing Logan around Berlin, taking night shifts with Emery, lifting, encouraging, supporting, and loving. 

In the three years we've been here, they have yet to watch Justin play for Alba. Thankfully, their travel plans went according to schedule and they were able to go to a game a few hours after they arrived!

We've slowly been sending things back to the States as people have visited us. I asked Mom and Dad to bring us three empty suitcases we could fill up and send back. Instead of coming empty, they were filled with Christmas presents and we had our own little Christmas morning together. 

I loved watching Dad play the grandpa role and give Logan gift after gift, so excited to watch Logan's reaction. 

Logan was lucky enough to go somewhere new every day that they were here. He hadn't been to the park in MONTHS (since it hurt my back to walk more than 5 minutes outside haha). He was so happy to be there with Gigi and Grandpa.

Christmas Cookies <3 

Emery and I had our first outing since leaving the hospital. We went to Burgelhaus and looked at Christmas pyramids and nativities. 

Justin and I had waited for this last Christmas to pick out a German nativity and this was the day we brought it home! I've loved my mom's Jerusalem one forever and now I can't wait to put ours up year after year.

The days were slow and relaxing for me while I recovered. I loved getting pictures like these sent to me while they were out and about.

Trucks are way more fun when you have Grandpa to play with you. 

The five of us went on another excursion to see the Christmas tree at the Brandenburg Gate & Ronald Reagan's plaque. It felt so good to be outside and I couldn't have been happier to be at one of my favorite places in Berlin with my family. 

Justin came home from his road trip and we went to a new German restaurant. It was so good! The nice waitress asked Logan if he liked ice cream and came back with his own cup and spoon. I guess we should've waited before we ordered his food haha. He was in heaven. 

Spaghetti Eis!

Sunday <3 Mom and Dad took Logan to church and got to meet all of our friends. Dad picked up Logan from nursery and as they turned the corner of the hall, Logan saw Mom coming and yelled, "Grandma!!" running to give her a hug.

They were truly the best nine days even though all of us were pretty exhausted between jet lag and a new baby. I can't say how grateful I am for my parents and who they are. They're incredibly selfless and would do anything for their family. 

The week went by too fast and soon we were packing up those three now empty suitcases. Days and weeks like those, spent with family, reminds me how excited I am for the next phase coming up. I'm so excited and ready to be closer to my family. 

Logan 2023

Emery 2025

I love, love, love you Mom & Dad!