Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year! It’s a little unreal how another year has passed in what feels like such a short time. And yet, 2024 was so full! We hope that you are able to take some time this month to reflect on your year, and hold some space to prepare for what is to come in 2025.

It’s always such a gift to look back on our calendar and photos and see just how much life has been lived in a year’s time! In 2024, we traveled to Houston for a family wedding, welcomed friends visiting us in KC, and had the joy of our second oldest niece living just 30 minutes away for college, to name a few highlights.

In February, I (Tiffany) traveled to Mississippi to be with my parents for the memorial of my grandfather (my dad’s father). Although it was a sorrowful occasion that brought about the reunion, it was a sweet time to reconnect with my aunt and uncle, as well as my grandmother for a few short days. I hadn’t seen them in probably close to 20 years, and I really enjoyed listening to stories told of my dad’s childhood from both his and his brother’s perspectives.

In March, we got to take the kids on their first camping trip with our friends, the NeSmiths. We went over the Easter weekend, which was so much fun doing an Easter egg hunt at the campsite. They had such an amazing time, and didn’t want it to end! We went again in October, and both times had such great weather. Fall in Missouri is really beautiful, and we were so fortunate to see all the leaves turning and had some fantastic hikes! Ryan and the kids went fishing every day (that’s a no from me), and were absolutely in their element. We hope to make camping in the spring and autumn a regular tradition!

Another monumental moment this year was the solar eclipse many of us witnessed in April. The kids loved watching the eclipse through their glasses, though they were confused about why it didn’t become completely dark since we were at a 90% coverage spot. It was a good teaching moment and a memorable event to share with friends!

In May, our second oldest niece, Belle, graduated high school, and we were able to visit AR for the weekend to celebrate her. She is now attending school at Park University, about 30 minutes north of us in KC. It’s been so fun to have her close, getting to spend many weekends together, and even seeing my sister and her family a bit more often as they’ve driven up to stay with us and see Belle.

Only a couple short days after that visit to AR, our dear friends Jamie and Erin came to visit! We all attended the 20th anniversary tour for Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service albums, but really it was just the excuse they needed to finally come see me! Erin moved to AZ last year, so it was such a sweet time to reconnect, as we now all live in different states.

Speaking of reunions, in November I had a fun visit to Houston, stepping back in time, and reuniting with my friends Jenna, Amanda, and Taylor. Jenna and her husband, Stephen very hospitably opened up their home, and I got to hang out with them and their sweet kids during my stay. The four of us (Jenna, Amanda, Taylor, and myself) hadn’t hung out together in at least 15 years! A band we all used to listen to (blast in the car with the windows down) together was having a 20th year anniversary tour, so we all decided to get tickets and scream our hearts out together once again. What a fun time reconnecting, sharing stories of our kids, and reminiscing on all the things that have changed, and some things that haven’t! Ps. All these 20th anniversary tours must mean I’m getting old…

One of our longest friends, Angelique visted us over fourth of July weekend, and was so kind to take our family photos again. She is the brightest soul, and every year that goes by I feel I’m more thankful for how loyal of a friend she has been to not just me, but Ryan and the kids as well. It’s a priceless gift to have friendships that have grown with you over multiple decades, and have held space for each other as we have both changed so much and been through so many life shifts. All the family photos we enjoy are her incredible artistry!

This summer, we had the joy of celebrating the wedding for Ryan’s cousin, Kate. As the wedding was black tie optional, it was the first time since our marriage that Ryan and I got to dress up that fancy, and the kids’ first time to wear three piece suits! The wedding was beautiful, and the reception was a blast. Jude and Jake really danced the night away with their cousin, Jada, and we loved getting to spend some celebratory moments with the family.

While we were in Houston we made plans to extend our stay after the wedding and get away with our friends, the Floreses. Aside from reminding us how much we miss them, we had a fantastic time in Bolivar and Galveston together. Unfortunately, due to the storms that had just come through, there was too much bacteria in the water to swim in the ocean. But we made the most of our time with a pool day, dolphin tour, and a trip to La King’s Confectionery. The best weekend!

On the way home from Galveston, we stopped to see Ryan’s grandmother (Honey), as her health had been declining quickly. It was a hard visit, but it was one we will remember and cherish for a long time. After Honey had a stroke in July, her speech and mobility had suffered a lot, so she wasn’t able to communicate as well. We sat with her for a while, and told her stories about Kate’s wedding, and showed her pictures of all her kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids all dressed up and dancing. Her face lit up when we shared pictures and stories, and it was a beautiful moment we were able to share. While she couldn’t respond as easily, she had strong eye contact and connection, and we knew she could hear and understand. Ryan got to pray with her, and we said our goodbyes. In August, we received news that she passed. We are so glad we had the opportunity to see her, and are very thankful for her life and the legacy she left with her family.

Mid-August, my brother, Jonathan and his family came to stay with us for almost 2 weeks. They moved to New York last summer, as Jonathan is in seminary to become a priest in the Orthodox church. We’ve missed them so much since they moved, as they used to live not even 2 miles from our house. However, my younger brother, Christian and his partner are now living in their old house, so that’s a fun trade off. Jonathan, Christina, and the kids are here to visit again for Christmas break, and we are soaking in the time together!

Jude is in the third grade, and will celebrate his 9th birthday in January. He has been eager to constantly remind me that he will be double digits next year(!!!). Last year, over winter break, we transferred him to the school that Jake had been attending, and it has been so, so good for him. The school they attend is a Montessori school, which functions a bit differently from traditional school settings. One thing I love is that they encourage self-starting mindsets and work to protect the curiosity of learning that kids often lose as they age. They also often work in groups, and are encouraged to collaborate on researching information for projects they are working on. Jude worked on an Ancient Egypt project with 3 classmates last spring, and presented it at the end of the school year, complete with a diorama, memorized speeches, and even snacks to share that originated in Egypt during that time period!
Jude has taken a deeper interest in football, and knows far more than I about the sport. He plays with his friends at recess daily, and both he and Jake are getting really good! We love watching their excitement grow, and of course, love any opportunity they will take to get outside and run around!

Photos by Angelique Humcke

Jake turned 6 in September, and is in Kindergarten this year. He is one of the oldest in his class, and he carries that with pride. He has such a tender heart, and I love hearing how he looks out for and cares for the younger kids in his class. While he loves numbers, spelling has been a bit of a challenge for him. He’s been working so hard this year on his sounds and reading, and it is so fun to watch him succeed and see the excitement on his face when he recognizes words! His class has a mantra on their wall: “We treat every living thing with kindness”, and it’s so sweet to watch this in practice. They got to watch baby chicks hatch in their classroom last spring, and have learned how to grow plants from seeds, and how to care for them on their own. This type of care and responsibility are amazing life lessons that we’re seeing slowly make their way into life at home as well.
Just like Jude, Jake loves football, and particularly Pacheco from the Chiefs. In addition to playing at school, he asks Ryan and I to play football (or at least practice passing and catching) with him nearly every day. He loves working with his hands, and is always the first to volunteer to help with whatever task is at hand. The kid is nonstop! It’s so fun to watch both our kids as they grow and their personalities and interests develop.

Photos by Angelique Humcke

Ryan continues to work at Living Water International as Manager of IT Support, and just got back from spending some time in Houston with his team this month. He and my brother, Christian are also still going strong with Beskar Books, and were able to set up at a booth again this year at Planet-Con. In 2025, they will be hosting the booth, which means their name will be on the sign (so cool!). They’ve also continued to build a great community with Tower-Con, the event that Beskar Books hosts about three times a year. This year they featured local artists, and supported some great charities with raffles and giveaways. Ryan also has a weekly tradition with the kids to visit a local comic shop and reads them the comics they pick out. He’s influencing these kids, and it’s fun to see their interest and knowledge of the comic book world grow.

Another fun milestone: Ryan turned 40 this year! We had such a fun time celebrating him with some big surprise gifts (including a group gift of the huge Millennium Falcon Lego). The week after his birthday, the NeSmiths graciously watched our kids for a weekend while Ryan and I flew off to Denver to see Hans Zimmer Live! It was an unforgettable show, and far exceeded any expectations I had. We both loved hearing the stories Hans told of how the music came to be written, the collaborations, and the history. I realized mid-show that many of us were raised on the soundtrack that is Hans Zimmer. He brought all of the original musicians and vocalists from these soundtracks, including the cellist who co-wrote Wonder Woman with him, and the vocalists from Dune, Gladiator, Interstellar, and even Lion King! One really cool moment was when we learned that one of the vocalists featured throughout the night is the daughter of Lebo M, the vocalist of the famous Lion King theme song. She sang with him for that piece, and it was a surreal moment of realizing she grew up with that movie just like we did. Not a dry eye in that arena!

I (Tiffany) had some big transitions this year, including a major job change! In November, I left my job at my old gym and accepted the brand new role of Director of Functional Training at a studio called Revive! Revive opened in 2022 and was indoor cycling only. The owner, and my new boss, Thomas, had a dream to expand the studio to include strength training, and I’m so honored to be considered and approached for this role. Even a few months ago I would have never dreamed of taking on this position, but I am loving the exciting challenge of building a program from the ground up, training coaches, and designing this concept for the participants. Revive is a small space, but the community they have built speaks volumes. They have won “Best of Kansas City” Indoor Cycling Studio and Group Fitness Class for two years in a row (reminder that they’ve only been open for two years!), and the sense of belonging and excitement when you’re there is unmatched. We launch the LIFT classes on December 31, and we all cannot wait to share these programs! I’m also picking up some classes at The J starting in January, as I have many Les Mills certifications that I’d like to keep, and also just really enjoy teaching Les Mills, so didn’t want to give that up. I’ve subbed a few classes since being officially hired as an instructor, and the community and layout feels a lot like my old club in Colorado (which I loved). I’m very thankful for a place to teach what is familiar and something I love while breaking new ground in the space at Revive. I am very busy, and some (most) days I feel like my brain is melting, but it’s such a gift and privilege to be in spaces where I feel belonging, feel a sense of challenge and purpose, and have the opportunity to dream and explore new growth.

2024 carried so much, from overwhelming joy and celebrations to deep grief, as well as stress, frustrations, disappointment, hope, surprises, reunions, uncontrollable laughter, and everything in between. As always, thank you so much for taking the time to share with us in our memories and hopes for the year ahead.

We wish the very best for your and your loved ones this year. We’d also love to hear from you and what you’ve been up to, so please feel encouraged to reach out and connect! Merriest, warmest holidays, and much love from the Butterfrases!

-Tiffany, Ryan, Jude, and Jake

Photos by Angelique Humcke