Mary, age 9

 Happy birthday, Mary! After last year's bummer of a birthday (celebrating with cousins, but then spending most of the day at Pam's preparing for her funeral 😢), we were determined to give her the best day ever! She made everyone wake up early on Labor Day so she could open presents, then she worked on Legos until a couple of her friends came over to play! It was a wild 9-year-old fun time playing and harassing Eddie, which I don't think he minded too much. We had pesto pasta for lunch, then took her friends home and Nellie back to school. The bowling alley was closed for the holiday, so we got Subway and went mini-golfing before coming back for cake and ice cream. It was a chill but very fun day!

Mary has grown up a lot this year, and it's a blessing to witness her development as a person and in her relationships. She takes on life with a ferocity that's hard to explain if you don't know her. This year, she tried out basketball and musical theater, worked hard at softball and had an undefeated rec league season :), battled and defeated Lyme disease, continued piano lessons, and tried out for her first real musical. She and Eddie will be in Frozen Jr. this fall - the show that started it all for Annie and Nellie many years ago!

It's hard to be the last child standing as all the siblings become adults, teens, and tweens, but Mary certainly holds her own and makes her presence known. We love her endlessly and wish her the happiest year.

What was your favorite memory from the last year?
Probably everything from the whole Florida trip. But there's so many other things, like softball was my favorite summer activity, and going out to "the bowl" to play and sled with Eddie and DJ was my favorite winter memory.

What is one way God's been working in your life this year?
Over the last year, God's been helping me work hard, have fun, and be successful in the things that I'm doing. Like softball and getting into Frozen Jr.

How do you feel about being nine?  
Not different. But I feel like I'll be able to have new opportunities and new things to learn and do.

Now looking ahead, what are you most looking forward to in the next year?
Frozen Jr. obviously, like the actual performance, more family times when we're all together like Christmas, birthdays and just doing fun things together as a family.

What new things or skills are you learning?
Gardening, lots of new dance moves and things for the musical, math - I've been practicing a lot at home. 

Who are your best friends?

Hannah and Emma, Julianna and Abigail. Everybody in my grade are my good friends. I'd be happy to hang out with any of them.

What kinds of things are you good at?

Softball, piano, and math.

What careers are you considering?
Astrogeologist, or any kind of astronomer.

Why are you interested in those things?
I love thinking and learning about space. I really love math and science, and those are two things you'd need to be able to do.

What’s your favorite song?   
Well right now I'm caught up in the Broadway Frozen music, but I love the Greatest Showman, especially Rewrite the Stars and The Other Side.

What's your favorite food?
Pesto pasta [crowd favorite]. If I had to make it a meal, with a side of cantaloupe and maybe some good apple juice.

Favorite movie?   
The Greatest Showman, but I really like a lot of movies. I like the Zombies movies, all four.

Favorite book?   

I like the whole Vanderbeekers series and the whole Penderwicks series, but my favorites are the third Vanderbeekers and the fourth Penderwicks.

Favorite color?   
Blue, but like the color of the sky on a good sunny day.

Favorite place to be?

Sault Ste. Marie, grandma's condo, or home.

What are your favorite things to do?
Play piano; play softball; math; right now, work on my Frozen Jr. script; play games as a family; do crafts.

Is there anything else you want us to know about you as a nine-year-old?   

Guys, this is an important announcement: My favorite planet still remains as Mercury.

Nellie's last birthday interview

It's obvious that my first baby child would also be my first adult child, but it still seems strange somehow. Nellie is a bit of a paradox of her own, though. Fiercely independent but prefers to be around people. Marches to the beat of her own drum (forever) but led the band as drum major. Is registered to take both organic chemistry and music theory in her first semester at MSU. 

An 18th birthday is a little bittersweet as we look toward big changes in our everyday family life next year! Nellie is headed to MSU to study plant biology and flute performance. She'll live on campus, so the discussion of who gets their own room(s) is on and heated. Looking at the past year, it has been FULL of activity and excitement. She was head drum major in the marching band and took three AP classes. She spent many many hours applying to colleges and writing essays and scholarship applications. She practiced flute endlessly to prepare for music school auditions, and made it into the All-State Band. She auditioned, and then she waited. She saw the fruits of her labor. We celebrated. Through all of it, we watched Nellie's friendships grow and her values and beliefs deepen and most of all, we enjoyed our time with her. She's learned a lot, and like all of us, has a lot to learn. But - she is headed out into the world, and she is ready!

August

September

October

November

December

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

The old days

This is it! Your last interview. I really only have a couple of questions. First, you're going to meet so many new people who don't know your family or your childhood. So - what's your elevator speech? What was it like to grow up as a Wernet?

Growing up in a big family is a blessing and curse in many ways, especially being the oldest child. From a young age I had a lot of responsibility. I've been treated like an adult for a long time so turning 18 doesn't feel that different in that respect! Our family is really weird and silly and goofy. But underlying that is a lot of love. As annoying as you and Dad can get sometimes - well let's just say in some ways it's a Christian, traditional household, but we're also a random, out-of-pocket, funny family in some ways. Like one day you won't let me go to the mall because I haven't spent enough time at home, then then next I'm telling a friend about something that happened and they're like, "I would never get away with that at my house!"

Having a lot of younger siblings is really nice because there's no limit to the possibilities on what you can do. You can max out your characters on Mario Kart or play 2v2 basketball. If you want to do something - take a walk after dinner, go to the library at the last minute - someone will want to go with you. It was really nice growing up watching the rest of my siblings grow up. Lately, for example, DJ seems really grown up and he, Annie, and I can hang out as friends. Watching them grow and change and mature has been really interesting. Annie is probably my best friend, ever, which is really cool.

I will say, there have been a lot of rules and restrictions on ME that I'll bet the other kids aren't going to have. 😏 And it was interesting being the only kid at Grand Ledge while the others were at LCS. I think my experience in our family will be unique.

So if I had to sum up our family, the title of your blog is pretty apt. We say we're not that crazy, but kind of...we are. And that's a beautiful thing.

What advice do you have for Annie, DJ, Eddie, and Mary as you "move on?"

Don't forget your favorite sister! To the oldest three, don't let Mary get away with too much. To Annie, you're the oldest now, and that comes with responsibility. I think you'll have an easier go of it, though. Going into junior and senior year, try not to stress out too much because there are a lot of things that seem really big that aren't that important. You're passionate about and talented in lots of things, and that can be hard because you're trying to divide your time. Take deep breaths, find balance. I'm only a call away if you ever need me! 

To DJ, I would say take it easy, be chill. I think we're similar in the sense that we feel a strong sense of responsibility for what the younger siblings do, and that can mean bossiness and control issues. It's all going to be okay. You are the one thing in life you can control! And that's okay. You have a great mind. You're really smart, so that's going to take you far so don't get hit in the head with a baseball and you should be fine.

To Eddie, don't let yourself be overlooked! Your siblings might shine brightly and you're stuck in the middle, which can be tough, but you're the funniest person I know and weird and goofy. You offer something to the world no one else does. Speak up, feel your feelings. You're capable of just as much as the rest of us even with your big, bold siblings.

To Mary, you are a fiery person. Don't let that fire burn out but don't let it turn into a wildfire. Stay sassy, stay bold, stay bright. That will take you far in life! But know your limits and when to reign it in. You've always been our "sweet and spicy" girl. Be content, find joy. Don't let yourself get spoiled! I love how excited you are about nature and being outdoors, hunting and fishing, and music! Stay wild! 

All of you - be grateful, live in the moment. Not everyone gets the family experience we do and a lot of people are worse off. Be present and don't take it for granted. It's going to be over before you know it!

Thinking back on the last 18 years, what are some core experiences that you recognize as being formational for you in getting to this point?

The most obvious one for me is breaking my leg, and then the covid era but those are wrapped up and intertwined in my mind. It was so awful in the moment, but it shaped me the most. It taught me about pain, relying on others, asking for help, needing to lean on people. All experiences, even the painful ones, are inherently beneficial. Our lives are a culmination of everything we've experienced on earth. Everything I've done, everyone I've met, everything that's happened, shaped me into the person I am now. So I don't think I would really change anything.

Freshman year band camp really cemented a lot of the most important friendships I have and set me up for high school - all the people I would be friends with and my love for music.

Being in a romantic relationship taught me a lot about love and life and balance. I learned a lot about relationships.

Experiencing the death of a close family member for the first time with Aunt Pam passing away. 

Transferring to Grand Ledge from LCS was really hard in the beginning. I had a lot of anxiety, middle school was really tough. But in the end, I'm so glad I stayed. It was a blessing in disguise. People say God doesn't give you the path you want, he gives you the path that's right. I see that as God working in my life.

Many of these things weren't "good," they were hard, but they were right. I learned a lot about life. I view them as lessons, now.

Where do you hope to be in 10 years? What do you hope to be doing? What kind of person do you hope to be?

Well, 10 years...I'll be 28. I hope I'm married, or close to married. In a healthy relationship. But - I don't know, maybe no kids yet! I hope to be out of college and grad school. I hope to have a meaningful job, working in something that's good and helpful for others and the environment. Something impactful. I hope to still be close with all you guys and with my friends. I want to still talk to my high school friends.

I want to be the kind of person who is passionate and determined. [I'm not worried about her not being that.] Who strives to do good and be good in my everyday life. I hope to still be the cool older sister, someone to look up to. [It's already wild to me how much Nellie's decisions, like being in band or trying out for that first musical, have influenced the other kids' interests.]

I think that's it. Is there a final question? [Do you want there to be? Any last words?]

I'm grateful to everything who's read all these birthday interviews! Who have watched me grow up. All the grandparents and aunts and uncles and family friends who have supported our family and me. Thanks for sticking it out, for having faith in me and seeing good when I can't see it myself. I love all of you!

We love you, Nellie.

Annie, age 16

Annie's sixteen! When Nellie turned sixteen I could hardly believe it, it just seemed so old. For Annie, it's like, "finally!" She passed her driving test the day before her birthday and we couldn't be happier to have another driver in the house. Though all of a sudden, three cars somehow feels like too few with working teenagers. Sixteen suits Annie just fine. She'll get a little independence and she can finally listen to whatever she wants in the car without DJ and Eddie complaining (or singing different music loudly in the backseat. It's getting old for all of us.) She's a busy girl, and is going to be an upper classman, so we're looking forward to everything that's to come this year.

It's been a year of ups and downs for all of us, but there were lots of highlights! I'm curious to hear her favorite memories, but mine include: Another awesome cross country season, with great friends, PRs, and a trip to states; learning she loves studying literature with Mrs. Chadwick in American Lit; the regional choir weekend at WMU; the Taylor Swift concert in Indianapolis!; attending the Worship Symposium at Calvin; a strong basketball season; playing Annie in Annie; getting her first job; and trying out track this spring!

Annie is just as delightful as ever - a good friend, sister, and daughter, and endlessly encouraging and helpful. We're lucky she's ours and are happy to celebrate her!

Early morning birthday run

Maiden voyage to get milk at QD!

Pepper spray for solo trail runs

Thanks Cousin Connie for the awesome hot air balloon cake! 💜

What is a favorite memory from the last year?

Running cross country states AND watching Taylor Swift perform in the same 12 hours!

What is one way God's been working in your life?

I feel like I've been able to love Him more, and early on in my relationship with God, when I was first becoming a Christian, I wasn't really sure what that meant. I'm learning to love Him more. This has very much been a year of loss, but that's helped me learn what prioritize and let go of some things.

How do you feel about being sixteen?

I definitely thought that 16-year-olds were so mature and old, but I feel like I'm still little! And I can drive, which I feel good about. I like driving myself around a lot more than (some) others driving me. [I think that might be a dig on a big sister.]

What are you most looking forward to in the next year?

Driving myself around, another cross country season, Gettysburg [the spring junior trip], AP US History, coming back to the U.P., hanging out with family and friends. If that can even happen in junior year.

What is one goal you have for next year?

Find more clarity when it comes to college and career paths. And just survive - get through the school year while prioritizing my relationships with God and others. And be willing to say "no" to things.

Who would you say are your best friends?

Lydia, Makenna, Adrienne, Robynne, Hudson

What would you say are some of your strengths?

I'm determined and hard working. I have mental toughness. I hope people think I'm nice and Christ-centered.

What was your biggest accomplishment this year?

Probably being in the musical or qualifying for states individually for cross country and track, even though I only did track for half a season because of cross country.

What careers are you considering?

Dear me. Right now, nothing is jumping out to me as much as in the past. But for a long time I've considered something law related. I've considered pursuing something medical for awhile but now I'm leaning away from that.

What’s your favorite song or type of music?   

Usually - well, it's almost always something Taylor Swift. But it changes regularly! Recently, as in the last two weeks, it's been Innocent by TS and Smoke Slow by Joshua Bassett.

What's your favorite food?

Pesto pasta, and pretty much anything chocolatey. And toast from Dairy Queen.

Current favorite movie or TV show?

Probably Gilmore Girls and I don't watch a lot of movies!

Current book(s) you're reading?

Well I just finished Firekeeper's Daughter for the eighth time, and now for my in-between books I'm reading the To All the Boys I've Loved Before series.

Favorite color? 

Purple  

Favorite place to be?

Probably Gull Lake, Sault Ste. Marie, Petoskey.

What are your favorite things to do? 

Read, be with my friends, run, bake, listen to and play music, go swimming.

What was a favorite present?

Oh, for my birthday? I have to run an inventory...maybe that squishy duck from the Meyers.

If you could describe your year in one line from a Taylor Swift song, what would it be?

I've never been a natural, all I do is try, try, try.

Is there anything else you want us to know about you? 

I think that's it for now!

Eddie turns 11

Eddie is such a fun kid! He's chill but always gets us laughing. He loves math, music, and sports - especially baseball. He had a good year, acting as Billy the duckling in his first musical, playing basketball, and playing baseball with a great team of boys who keep getting better! The fifth grade class was a fun-loving group in which everyone is friends, and I think they're going to have a good time in middle school. It's always fun when another Wernet moves up to "my" side of the building.

Baseball is Eddie's absolute favorite, at least in this season. On his birthday, he and DJ went to the Grand Ledge baseball camp (which he said is the best camp ever), then his friend joined us for mini-golf and batting cages. We had a quick dinner of pesto pasta then headed off to their baseball game, where Eddie pitched his best game yet. He got to eat ice cream with his team before heading home for cake and presents - so all in all, a great day. Here's wishing him a great year to come!

Heading out early to try his new wiffle ball bat

Mini-golf at FunTyme!

Cheering section

!!

Eddie got the game ball!

Beach Eddie

What was your favorite memory from the last year?

Florida! Particularly swimming in the pool and in the ocean.

What is one way God's been working in your life this year?

He's been helping me wake up. Like wake up on time and keeping me going every day.

How do you feel about being eleven?

I feel short. For an 11-year-old.  

What are you most looking forward to in the next year?

I'm excited for Frozen Jr. (the fall Midway Theater Co. production) and a growth spurt. 

Who are your best friends?

Aidrick, Cameron, Maxwell, Davis, Dallas, and Brayden. Those are my best school friends. Otto, Roger, siblings outside of school.

What are your strengths?

I'm good at school and sports. I'm funny and I know when the time is right to be funny.

What careers are you considering?

Oh I have no idea. [Is there anything you definitely DON'T want to be?] I don't want to make mac and cheese for Kraft. :)  Maybe a musician or an elementary teacher. Or preschool teacher.

Why are you interested in being a musician or a teacher?

I like helping little kids and I like music!

What’s your favorite song or type of music?   

Right now...Dirty Little Secret by the All-American Rejects. It's fun to play on Rock Band. Or The Way by Fastball.

What's your favorite food?

Pesto pasta, those broccoli-chicken-cheese things

Current favorite movie?   

Cool Runnings.

Current book you're reading?

It's called Summer Ball by Mike Lupica. It's good, I got it from Aunt Genny.

Favorite color?

Purple and red and yellow.   

Favorite place to be?

The LCS baseball field, Gull Lake, Grandma Linda's condo in Petoskey.

What are your favorite things to do? 

Playing baseball. Playing basketball, making music, swimming, and reading.

What was your favorite birthday present?

Batting gloves and the Motor City Tigers shirt that Grandma Linda got me when we went shopping.

Is there anything else you want us to know about you?

I'm tired. But I want to play baseball!

Sick house

In January, I made the mistake of commenting on how healthy we'd been over Christmas break - no one had gotten sick, which was unusual with all the people we see over the holidays.

Well. Starting MLK Jr. weekend, all that changed. In the course of two months, we had:

• 3x influenza As
• 1x strep throat 
• 4x regular old everyday colds
• 4x noroviruses from the underworld, and
• 1 case of shingles.

It was rough - one illness after another pretty much straight through winter. By the time we got to spring break, it felt like we were one of those old-timey families like from a Jane Austen novel who have to go to the seashore to get healthy. 

This picture is a super happy moment - DJ had just won the basketball tournament! BUT the boys don't quite look like themselves...they were so thin from being sick the week before. :(

Magical

 No Disney this time, but the word that comes to mind when I think of our Florida spring break trip is 🌟magical! 🌟 It really was. Sure, there was squabbling and not enough sleep and different ideas about what is fun at any given moment. But I spent the months before our trip worrying about everything that could go wrong. My biggest concerns were somebody getting sick and major delays or cancelations with our flight. Both very possible scenarios. We had already hit a serious roadblock when, after booking a suite in the same little motel we stayed at a couple of years ago, our reservation was canceled a month before we left because of hurricane damage. The rental agency had been hopeful it would reopen before spring break, but no. With a little luck we booked a place down the road.

There was no real solution to the worry other than coaching myself to remember that the important thing was being together - likely Nellie's last spring break with us, and all - no matter what "adventures" came our way. And then...everything went just about as realistically perfect as possible! The backup condo turned out to be just right, and we loved being on the bay side so we could see the sunrise, sunset, and dolphins swimming by right outside our window. The flights were on time, all the late-winter illnesses we brought with us quickly resolved, everyone mostly got along, we didn't have any car trouble. It was CHILLY when we arrived in Florida, but it got warmer every day and it certainly didn't stop us from having fun.

If you asked any of the us, everything was a highlight. The sunshine, the food, shell hunting, dolphin seeking, the Tigers spring training game, Busch Gardens (definitely not as magical as Disney, and once was enough for me, but the kids loved it), the obligatory forced hiking trip (so hot and so many lizards!), walking for coffee and donuts, the rubber literally flying off our suitcase wheels in the airport because they'd been sitting in storage for decades, the teens bonding over The Office, waking up early and staying up late to soak up every bit of Florida beauty and fun, the pool and hot tub, accidentally bringing home a live conch (sorry, Fred!), ice cream, and shopping. It was all amazing and wonderful and yes, maybe a little magical!

Here is our trip, in pictures, more or less in reverse order. 🌞💖