New Years

We were invited to spend New Years with the Champion's for snacks & games. We aren't big New Years people. It's overrated in my opinion. Plus, I don't like staying up late. I love to sleep. After celebrating this New Years, I really learned I don't like it. 

All the kids were blowing the horns, poppers & it was just too much. It was so loud. Not long after it was midnight, I told Fred it was time to go. I couldn't take anymore. I was too overstimulated, tired & had a headache. Not really how I wanted to ring in the New Year. It did start off better though...

We watched the series finale of Stranger Things as a family before going over to their house. It was awesome & I love that we all got to watch it together as a family. That was by far the best part of the evening. We love that show & I'm personally sad that it's over. One of the best shows, ever.

Anyway, we're excited for what 2026 will bring. 2025 was a pretty phenomenal year. I don't know if we could ever top it.

Backyard Upgrade

After finishing Fred's new office, we decided to replace the grass. It had been trashed from the construction & because of where the sun hits, some of it was just muddy all the time. We also didn't like the decomposed granite they put around his office. So, we decided to put in faux grass. It looks so nice & actually makes the backyard feel bigger. We put it all around the office too. We will have to treat it periodically because of the dogs. Asher & Macie want a trampoline again too & now we can finally get one without ruining any grass. With the office where it is, we couldn't get a trampoline with real grass because we can't move it around & the real grass would get ruined. With this turf, we can have one & not move it. We'll see if we actually do get another one. For now, we're enjoying the space and the clean look.

 

Christmas Day

Even though we took this picture back in November during Christmas Kickoff, I'm using it here because I took ZERO pictures on Christmas Day. I guess I was just in the moment too much. Santa gave Ethan a new iPhone, Caleb $1,000, colone & a jacket, Asher a drum set, & Macie a new iPad. They all got lots of other stuff too, of course. 

After opening gifts, we went to IHOP, Fred's favorite part of Christmas. Then later that day we went to Buca di Beppo with my brother, Travis, for Italian food. My parents didn't come because they weren't feeling well.

It was a nice Christmas. As I grow older, what I love the most is the time we spend together as a family. The kids are realizing more & more what it costs to make Christmas & they're becoming more appreciative which is nice. Fred works so hard & spoils them so much (honestly more than I think they should be). These kids are so incredibly lucky to have such a hardworking Dad who wants the very best for them.

Christmas Eve

We hosted Christmas Eve. It was loud, full of laughter, lots of games, but also lots of work. I spent all day getting everything ready, cleaning, & setting up. Lots of people only stayed for a short time which was disappointing & a lot of people didn't even come whatsoever. I told Fred that I think I want to take a break from hosting because it's just so much work for such little effort of people coming over for only a few hours. The most important thing was all the kids had fun. We'll see what we do next year but regardless, everyone said they had a good time.

Vasquez Rocks

We spent a fun day exploring Vasquez Rocks! Caleb was working (still at Old Navy) and the rest of us were home. We decided to get some Jersey Mike's & have a picnic & explore Vasquez Rocks since we hadn't been there in a really long time. It was such a perfect & beautiful day. We had forgotten how cool that place really is. Macie & I did a great job at keeping up too. It's been nice to have Ethan home for the holiday & I'm glad he was around to come with us.

Macie's Winter Recital

Macie had her Winter Recital. She did 2 dances, one was ballet & the other was lyrical. She is really enjoying ballet the most. She took 3 dance classes this past Fall/Winter. The 3rd class she took was Technique. She has improved so much these past months & it's been so amazing to see the progress she made. 

She is interested in joining the Dance Team for Empire Dance Center so we'll see how this Spring goes & maybe we'll have her audition for it. She had both sets of grandparents come to watch her which she loved but did make her a little nervous. She also did both her dances with her bestie Beatrice. She made lots of friends in her Technique class (Beatrice didn't take that class with her) and we learned Macie was the only one in Technique that isn't on the dance team! 

Anyway, she did so well at her recital & is so graceful. She has the perfect long legs for dance. We're glad she's enjoying it and are really proud of her!

2025 Christmas Letter

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from The Everts Family!

The holidays are here again (can’t even believe it!). Here’s a little update from our family to yours…

Ethan- Officially an adult! He turned 18 in January, graduated from high school as an Honor Scholar & started San Diego State University in August for Music Composition. He’s loving college life & the classes he’s taking. He even has a surfing class! He has a busy & full schedule including being in the SDSU orchestra but we still manage a weekly family FaceTime with him that usually ends up with the kids making jokes, dumb faces or using stupid filters while Fred & I try to have a normal conversation with them all. Typical. We miss him lots & hearing him play his cello.

Caleb- Now a senior! Caleb turned 17 in August & can usually be found hanging out with friends, doing homework, at swim team practice, working at Old Navy or going to a concert all while juggling AP & Honors classes. He’s such a fun & optimistic kid, is loving his senior year & being in school with Asher again. He aged out of our neighborhood swim team over Summer & did so well in his final season. He’s planning to join the Coast Guard after he graduates.

Asher- Turned 14 in March, graduated from middle school in June & started high school this past Fall. He is in the Band (playing bass drum), Swim Team & taking his first AP class. He loves the marching band & the friends he’s made there. He also enjoys being on the swim team with his brother. He’s doing so well in school & is such a bright kid. In his free time, he’s usually making delicious food, practicing on his drums, snuggling with the dogs or hanging out with friends.

Macie- Our little dancer! She has found a love for ballet & lyrical. She turned 10 in November & is in 4th grade with her besties. She loves being home with the family, playing with our dogs, all things girly, shopping & reading. She’s such a smart, kind & thoughtful girl!

Kirsten & Fred- Kirsten got a new car in March. She loves it & still won’t allow food or drinks inside it. We used some of our backyard space & built an office for Fred. It’s beautiful & just what he needed. Kirsten got to tag along with Fred on a work trip to Tennessee in the Spring. But the biggest thing we did this past year was taking a family trip to England & France! We stayed in a cottage in the Midlands for 4 days, London for 3 days, then spent a week in Paris. It was the trip of a lifetime & we all had so much fun being all together as a family with zero interruptions. We celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary in August with a trip to Disneyland. Fred says he’s learned the best way to enjoy Disneyland is to go without kids because no one asks you for anything. Kirsten agrees.

We hope you have a wonderful holiday season & a fantastic 2026!