Our Family Blog

This year’s big adventure took us on an unforgettable cruise to the wilderness of Alaska. Surrounded by towering glaciers, snow-capped mountains, and pristine waters, we were constantly in awe of the natural beauty. We spotted bald eagles, playful otters, orcas, and so much more.

Life aboard the cruise ship was a delight. RJ made it a mission to visit the Cones and Coffee shop at least twice a day for chocolate ice cream, while Hayley indulged in countless chai lattes. The dining experiences were top-notch, with every meal feeling like a special occasion.

Entertainment on board was also great! We enjoyed a comedy show, trivia night (shoutout to Chris for leading the Schoeneman family to victory!), live music, and a dining staff performance.

Our shore excursions were just as thrilling. In Ketchikan, we cheered on lumberjacks as they chopped, threw axes, raced up poles, and balanced on logs in a high-energy show. In Juneau, we visited the Iditarod summer camp, where we rode behind a team of 16 spirited Alaskan huskies and cuddled with adorable puppies. Back in Skagway, we soared through the spruce and hemlock forest on ziplines, flying over waterfalls and taking in the lush scenery from above.

We are so grateful to have this amazing experience!

We spruced up the dining room. The new windows have white trim so obviously we needed to change the whole room. (We never really liked the yellow trim.) We thought a chair rail and wall trim would add a touch of elegance.

We’re still not quite done. The buffet top will be replaced with unpainted maple, hopefully soon.

Hayley is solidly a teenager now. We celebrated Uncle Jeff’s and Hayley’s birthday by doing an escape room together. Hayley had friends over for dinner.

Hayley has also been busy sewing clothes from patterns and applying her own artwork to thrift-store bought items. And seemingly every other weekend there’s a volleyball tournament.

In January we welcomed Taylor, a four year old female Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Kristel has long wanted us to be a big dog / little dog family and now we are. Taylor came from a breeder in Riverside, CA and pick up was delayed due to the wildfires. Kristel drove down and back in a weekend and used the time to bond with her.

The bonding worked! But too well. Taylor previously lived with a bunch of Cavaliers and very few people. Now only Kristel can get close enough to pick her up; she runs away from everyone else. But she’s sweet and she’ll let you hold her when Kristel puts her in your arms.

Our family trip to Washington D.C. was an unforgettable adventure! Hayley was thrilled with the museums. She spent hours wandering through the exhibits, soaking up all the knowledge and history. RJ, on the other hand, found his joy scootering around the National Mall. The wide-open spaces and iconic landmarks made it the perfect playground for him. After our D.C. adventure, we took the train to Nana and Grandpa’s house for Thanksgiving. It was wonderful to reunite with family and share Thanksgiving with extended family.

Back in California, we set up the Christmas tree, arranged the stockings, and put lights on the house. We enjoyed festive events like Glowfari, where the illuminated animal displays were a hit, and Carols at Grace’s Cathedral in San Francisco. Christmas Day was spent in Sacramento with Grandma and Grandpa, Uncle Jeff, and Beckett. It was a lovely day spent with family, creating memories and enjoying time together.

After Christmas, we set off for Morro Bay. We explored stunning coastal trails and beaches with Darwin. Visiting Hearst Castle was a highlight, with its grandeur and history captivating us all. We marveled at the elephant seals lounging on the beach and enjoyed the views of the gorgeous coastline. This holiday season was truly special, filled with exploration, family gatherings, and the joy of being together. We can’t wait for our next adventure!

This fall we enjoyed the traditional Halloween festivities. Both kids had a blast trick-or-treating with their friends, while Chris and I stayed home to hand out candy. RJ’s haul was impressive—11 pounds of candy!

For the long weekend, our family took a trip to Disneyland. We had an amazing time riding attractions, indulging in delicious treats, exploring the park, and most importantly, spending quality time together.

Our summer wrapped up with birthday celebrations for RJ and Chris, followed by a fun trip to San Diego over Labor Day weekend. The kids are back in school, joyful to reunite with friends and dive into their studies. Hayley is busy with soccer, volleyball, and rowing, while RJ enjoys playing with friends, spending time with our pets, reading, and indulging in Minecraft. We’ve welcomed another litter of foster kittens into our home. Life is wonderfully busy.

We are so lucky to spend our vacation in Hawaii this year! We chose The Big Island to see an active volcano and to visit friends who relocated to Waimea.