Annie turns 14!

A great joy in my life the past several years is working at the same school my kids go to. They might not always love it, I guess! But it means I get a little extra time with them, they can wave to me through my office window (or pretend to ignore me, as the case may be), and I get the inside scoop on their friendships and what they're learning and how they're doing in school.

That's especially true with Annie as she wrapped up middle school and prepares to start high school. I love that she stops by my office at lunch and that as I work with her class on academic planning, I already know most of them. I got to catch snippets of musical rehearsals and chaperone her 8th-grade trip. 

Annie has grown a lot this year and she's definitely ready for 9th grade. (I'm more ready than I was with Nellie, that's for sure!) She's had some great opportunities this year, running cross country, playing basketball and softball, performing in two musicals, leading middle school chapel worship, working on yearbook - she likes to be involved! She also took her first trip to Florida and Disney World. She is maybe a little obsessed with Taylor Swift. In the best possible way, of course. Through it all, Annie has remained good-natured, hard-working, and committed to her friends and family

On the 8th-grade trip

At a Tigers game

Headed to a Taylor Swift watch party - Photo credit Mrs. Sabins!

We did sort of forget to get Annie a cake. We stopped at Meijer on our way home well after 10pm for a chocolate scoop cake. Love you, Annie!

It seems like this was a pretty good year for you. What is one of your favorite memories from the last year?

Our Florida trip was pretty fun! There's not really a favorite memory - just all of it I guess. It was split into categories - like Disney was super fun with rides and us having fun together, eating good food. The resort was sort of its own thing and that was great. Then there was relaxing and having family time and beach time. I loved all of it.

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

I was just thinking about how He's surrounded me with people I love and who love me; I have a good community.

How do you feel about being fourteen?

I don't know, I guess older kind of, but it's not like a big year. I mean, I am starting high school. But it's fun!

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

I think trying new things and spending more time with people, seeing new places.

What is one goal you have for next year?

Don't fail high school! [Do you really think you're going to fail high school?] I don't know, maybe! That's why it's my goal! I guess find a good balance to where I'm comfortable saying "no," manage my time well and not try to cram too much into my life.

Who would you say are your best friends?

My cousins, Lydia, Hudson, Sophia, Juliet...I have a lot of people I'm good friends with!

What do you say are some of your strengths?

I think, um, hmm, I guess I just do so many things and I try to be optimistic and...I'm not afraid to try new things but also know when not to add new things. I think I'm good at having routines but then also going out and trying new things. I think I'm sensible most of the time and I'm good at...well...I'm good at making decisions but not making them quickly. [Kevin: You're good at deliberating.] Yeah, I'm good at both thinking through decisions but knowing when I just need to go for it. I'm good at adapting. [Like when you had to pick a cake last night at Meijer.]

What careers are you considering?

Cosmetologist or dermatologist, interior designer, lawyer...I don't know, it changes every doctor. Teacher, doctor.

What’s your favorite song or type of music?   

I definitely don't have a favorite song. I just have songs that I like more than others and listen to over and over again. [So what's your favorite right now? What do you play a lot?] Well, Taylor Swift, but that's a given. I like Reputation today. I like Tour the States!

What's your favorite food?

Mac and cheese - Grandma's, Panera's, McAlister's and Bob Evans are tied. At the same time, that's just one of my favorite foods. Pesto pasta, buttered noodles, that pizza from Wagon Wheel with pesto and chicken, anything from Tim Hortons, anything with sugar and chocolate. Chai tea lattes and coffee drinks. There's never not a time for a chai tea latte or coffee.

Current favorite movie or TV show?

I mean, Gilmore Girls, but there are some good movies, too. Back to the Future, The Hunger Games, 13 Going on 30, 10 Things I Hate About You, Legally Blonde. The Princess Bride, Get Smart - there are so many good ones.

Current book(s) you're reading?

Pride and Prejudice. Recently, I read Firekeeper's Daughter, Warrior Girl Unearthed, All Fudged Up series, The Summer I Turned Pretty series, To All the Boys I've Loved Before.

Favorite color?   

Purple!

Favorite place to be?

In my lifetime, Buzz's Lakeside Inn and Aunt Pam's house. Now, Petoskey or Papas' houses. Home...really anywhere that I go with my family and cousins. Tennessee was so pretty; I'd go there again if I had a chance.

What are your favorite things to do? 

Read, bake, sports - running, basketball, softball - musical theater. I like going places and seeing new things, but I also like being at home.

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

Let's come back to that one. Okay, "Unusually and exceedingly peculiar and altogether quite impossible to describe."

What was a favorite present?

I had a lot of good ones this year. I didn't have a major one except for getting to hang out with my friends. I liked all of them. They were good all around.

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

[Kevin: You're 14.] In the past, I don't know how long ago it was, maybe when I was 12...anywhere, I said I was still single. And I still am. [Kevin: Also you were born with a monkey tail and we had it surgically removed.]

Mary and Mom

As we were snuggling a bit before bed:

Mary, sighing: You're amazing.
Me: No, you're amazing.
Mary: No, you're more amazing because you birthed someone amazing.

Riding the baseball ferris wheel at the Tigers game!

The other night, Mary was asking about Kevin's middle name(s). It took some explaining of family history, and it became clear that Mary didn't know Grandma Robynne was actually Kevin's mom who passed away when he was about Mary's age. I was (and still am) a little worried about her reaction. She teared up a little, and said,

"Well, I don't want you to die, but it would be nice to have some alone time with Dad."

That was not what I was expecting, but it's good to know she'd be okay.

Eddie, age 9

Eddie continues to be an absolute delight. He had a great year of piano lessons, soccer, basketball, baseball, and learning to play ukulele and guitar. There were some lows (like a beloved teacher leaving mid-year) and definite highs (left the state for the first time ever for a road trip to Florida!). He's still easy going and silly and loves to be outside playing even more than playing video games. Eddie has made some new friends this year and reconnected with some old ones. He doesn't mind going to work with me in the summer or going to infinitely many of DJ's games because he always finds someone to play with! Eddie is an awesome kid - and although humility might be a growth area - he is aware of his awesomeness, as you will read in his 2023 birthday interview. ↓

Turning 9 is a big deal - a lot has happened this year. What was one of your favorite memories from the last year?

Spring break! Specifically the beach - I liked being in the ocean for the first time. I got to go to six different states!

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

He helped me realize I'm awesomer than I thought. He made me braver and smarter. Also, my friend Maxwell helped by telling me, "Eddie, you're awesome."

How do you feel about being nine?  

Awesome.

What are you most looking forward to in the next year?
Otto coming over to our house. I'm looking forward to 4th grade and getting smarter, like learning long division.

What new things or skills are you learning?
Long math, like long multiplication (multiplication with big numbers) and long division.

Who are your best friends?

Cameron, Dallas, and Maxwell.

What kinds of things are you good at?

It's hard because there's so many different things. Ninja Warrior, piano, chess, Legos, building marble works, math, enjoying nature, baseball, and that's it.

What careers are you considering?
Video game designing, being a pastor, there are so many things that are awesome that I want to do. Construction worker or engineer. Musician. [What are your top choices?] Engineer or musician.

Why are you interested in engineering or being a musician?

They sound fun!

What’s your favorite song?   
Dang it... [He struggles with favorites.] I don't really have one! I like all music as long as it's not Taylor Swift or Pink.

What's your favorite food?

Pesto pasta forever!

Favorite movie?   
Probably The Super Mario Bros. Movie now!

Favorite book?   

Tale of Despereaux.

Favorite color?   
Red

Favorite place to be?

Grandmas' houses - Grandma Lisa and Grandma Linda.

What are your favorite things to do?

Read, play sports, and play using my imagination.

What was your favorite present?

Probably Pokemon Scarlet.

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

Um...no!

FLORIDA! DISNEY! BEACH!

So here's the thing. Nellie has been asking to go to Disney World since she was about 3. At that point, we told her we needed to wait until Annie was old enough to walk on her own and enjoy it. And then we had DJ, and so on. Eventually we had five kids asking us about Disney, but the cost! Not to mention that it seemed really...confusing. There are maybe bracelets involved? You need to contact a Disney specialist? Get an app? There are 1,000 rules, tips, suggestions, and best practices. Disney truly started to feel like a dream that's really a wish your heart makes. Not a reality for the Wernets.

Finally, we just went for it. Step 1: Ask a colleague-friend to recommend a Disney specialist. Step 2: Email the Disney specialist (not sure that's actually what she's called.) Step 3: Make lots of decisions that make you feel like a real grown-up.

One of the biggest decisions we had to make was: Drive or fly? When we looked up the cost to fly, it was an easy answer. We would drive. We would brave any weather and likely car trouble and all the sanctification that one experiences riding in a minivan with seven people, and we would drive.

Guys - we did it. And it was magical. I won't go into all the details, we kept a journal for that. But I will say that the universal highlights were the car ride itself, the Guardians of the Galaxy ride, the German Biergarten, and long beach walks hunting for shells and Dunkin' Donuts. Here is a (large) selection of favorite pictures.

Florida or bust! Leave time 4:17am.

MarioKart in the van was dizzying but fun.

Picnic lunch in Kentucky

Travel day 2 - rain in Georgia

Then sun in Florida! Or maybe still Georgia.

We made it to Port Orleans Riverside!

Poor Eddie, no one wanted to share a bed with him.
We caught photo evidence that he is indeed a bed hog.

The lovely resort

The photo we were waiting for

Up first, Space Mountain! Then Disney donuts and coffee.

True story - I cried in this part of It's a Small World.

It was HOT.

But Disney ice cream helped.

Dinner was a few shared Mexican dishes in Frontierland.
This was the grouchy part of the day.

The last ride of the night was the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train - it was worth the wait!

So tired at the end of the day

Epcot the next morning was misty

We were thrilled to make it in the "queue" for the new Guardians ride!

The aquarium was a surprise family favorite.

Annie had been looking forward to visiting Canada for ages :)

Sharing a single beignet

The Biergarten! Dinner was a Christmas present from Aunt Pam.

Disney waffles revived us...

...and we were beach bound!

Made it to Treasure Island!

Sunrise beach walking

The Friendly Fisherman

Kevin's been coming here since he was a kid!

Sunset beach walking

The last day, we were sunburned, hot, tired, sore...
we spent the afternoon in the stinky alligator rescue.

Last swim

Last shell hunting

Headed home - we drove through the night because we were anxious to get there!

Home again, home again.

Family nap after little sleep in the van

I consider the road trip to Florida and taking on Disney among my greatest life accomplishments. :) Was it the last time we'll make that trip? No. Are we ready to go back any time soon? No. Was it a family dream come true? Yes.