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I hope this letter finds you both happy and healthy. From our family to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. That being said, we’re about to dive into our very long and detailed family newsletter—there’s a lot to share this year!
Let’s start with some big news—our family is growing! First up, Sierra. On June 28th, Sierra accepted a marriage proposal from her long-time friend, Isaiah. Sierra and Isaiah’s friendship goes way back to 2016, when Sierra was a high school senior and Isaiah was a freshman. Sierra used to say, "I would never date a freshman," but, as life often shows us, things have a way of changing! Their friendship turned into something more about a year before the proposal, and now they are preparing to start a new chapter together. Isaiah has been part of our family for years, being best friends with Luke, we couldn’t be happier for them.
Now, if that wasn’t enough excitement, we have more wonderful news—Luke met a beautiful and sweet girl, Chloe Obregon, in 2023. They had been dating for just over a year when they received the incredible news that Chloe was pregnant! God certainly has a plan for them, and we are all beyond excited to meet their little boy, Luke Jr. It’s a blessing to see the next generation of our family begin, and we can’t wait to hold him in our arms.
Continue reading for the Nuts and Bolts of our year.
We kicked off the year by celebrating our dear friend Julie Hanson’s 60th birthday with a camping trip to Superstition Desert in January. It was a great time for the whole family to get together, and Isaiah got to ride his quad for the last time before selling it. The proceeds would help to purchase an engagement ring for Sierra—such a sweet and meaningful way to start the year!
The Cosners, our close family friends, also had a gender reveal party for their youngest daughter Kristina and her new baby, Liam. It was a joyous occasion, and we were all excited to learn about the newest addition to their family.
Speaking of family milestones, in February we celebrated a very special moment when my niece Kelly’s little one, Miss Emme Sevick, turned one year old! They had a lovely party at Santee Lakes with friends and family to mark her first year—what a joy it is to watch her grow!
Also in February, we celebrated Kristina Cosner’s bridal shower. It was a beautiful event, and we’re all looking forward to her upcoming wedding in April!
Larry and I took a trip to Solvang, California—a charming Danish village in Santa Barbara—just after Valentine’s Day with our friends Toni and John Nubert. It was a relaxing getaway and a great way to enjoy some time away from the hustle and bustle.
In March, my sister Theresa and her family came to visit us. Their son Jacob, a Marine stationed here in San Diego at the time, was able to join us as well. It was wonderful to spend some quality time with them all.
March also marked Luke’s Golden Birthday—he turned 22! We celebrated with a fun family trip to Rockin Baja Lobster in Old Town. It was a great way to celebrate his milestone birthday and enjoy a delicious meal together.
In April, Sierra and Isaiah took a trip to San Francisco to see a Giants VS Padres baseball game. They took a stadium tour. Their goal is to visit all the baseball parks in the us. They have already been to Petco Park (Padres), Dodger Stadium (Dodgers), T-Mobile Park (Mariners), Angel Stadium (Angels), and Oracle Park (Giants). There are talks that their honeymoon may be attending baseball games and visiting some baseball parks on the East coast… We will see.
On April 13th, it was my Birthday, and I finally had my 80's birthday party. I originally wanted it for my 50th, but COVID would not allow it. So, needless to say, I had time to plan. It was a huge undertaking, but with all hands on deck, help from friends, Dina and Stacey, the entire family, it turned out EPIC!! My goal was to dance all night long, and I did…
I hope everyone had as much fun as I did, but if they did not, Oh Well!
Larry and I had the pleasure of attending Larry's nephew, Justin’s wedding in Mississippi on April 20th. It was a beautiful ceremony, and it was wonderful to spend time with family and celebrate this joyful occasion. While we were in Mississippi, the kid’s attended the wedding of Kristina Cosner and William Steiger.
A few days later, on April 26th, we celebrated Isaiah’s 22nd birthday with a fun pool day at Sycuan. It was a great way to relax and enjoy the sunshine together.
On May 25th, we hosted our 2nd annual Memorial Day party. It was a wonderful gathering, and as always, a great way to kick off the summer season.
In June, is when Luke and Chloe shared the good news that they were having a baby. This unexpected gift of our first grandchild is a true blessing. Little Luke Jr. is a wonderful addition to both the Simanek and Obregon family! We are all looking forward to his grand entrance into the world. Chloe's official due date is February 8th, 2025. Please say a prayer for Mom and baby for a safe and healthy delivery and baby!
Also in June, we celebrated a major milestone in the family—our niece Olivia Simanek graduated from high school! We’re all so proud of her, and it was a joy to see her reach this achievement.
For Father’s Day, we treated Larry to a lovely trip to Lake Cuyamaca, where we spent the day fishing and enjoying the beautiful surroundings. It was a perfect way to celebrate him.
On June 19th, we marked Chloe’s 22nd birthday (Luke’s girlfriend) with another fun pool day at Sycuan. It’s always a good time when we get to spend the day together by the water. Her family joined us that evening for a celebratory dinner.
One June 22nd, Larry and I celebrated our 28th wedding anniversary, with a simple dinner at Texas Roadhouse.
June was a busy month. Not only did we find out we were going to be Grandparents, but on June 28th, Isaiah proposed to Sierra at Presidio Park in San Diego. You can watch their sweet recap on YouTube.
Finally, on June 29th, Luke and Chloe set sail on a Mexican Riviera Cruise, they had a great time. We are glad they got to do some traveling before the baby arrives.
July brought more excitement when Larry and I departed on our summer adventure. After flying into Fort Lauderdale Florida on 4th of July, we saw the fireworks on Fort Lauderdale beach. We woke up early the next morning to watch the eastern sunrise. Such an amazing experience, make sure to put it on your bucket list. On July 6th we checked aboard the Enchanted Princes for our Western Caribbean cruise. We got to visit Saint Thomas and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Once we returned to Fort Lauderdale, we flew to Seattle to visit with Larry’s Brother Lance and his wife Chloe. We stayed with Larry’s friends Jeff and Tina. We got to visit with their kids and their families. It was a great time.
Larry and I returned just in time to celebrate Isaiah and Sierra's engagement. Isaiah’s family hosted an engagement party at his Aunt Heidi’s home, on July 27th, it was so lovely meeting even more of the family. It felt great to share in their happiness.
On July 28th, we had another joyous occasion—little Emme was baptized alongside her cousin Claire. It was a beautiful day, and we were all thrilled to be part of such a special moment. Later that day Luke and Chloe had the pleasure of sharing some exciting news with Isaiah and Sierra: we’re expecting a new baby! They decided to wait until after the engagement party, but it was so nice to finally share the exciting news with them.
On August 2nd, Larry and Linda, Larry’s Mom and Dad, came into town and stayed at Sycuan. While they were here, we were thrilled to let them know that they are going to be great-grandparents for the first time!
August brought more celebrations. On the 20th, we all sang “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” as a family at the Padres game, celebrating an early birthday for Sierra. It was such a fun outing.
On August 24th, Grandma, Sierra, and I went wedding dress shopping for the first time. It was an exciting experience, followed by a delicious lunch at DZ Akins.
My mom set off on a grand vacation to London on Sierra’s Birthday. Where she’d be cruising the British Isles until September 12th. It was a big adventure, and probably her last “BIG” trip for a while. .
For Sierra’s 25th birthday! We kept it low-key this year since there have been so many celebrations recently, but it was still a special day.
On August 31st, Larry, Luke, and Chris headed out for the dove hunting opener, in Yuma Arizona. Always a fun tradition for the guys!
Sierra and Isaiah took a trip to Washington to visit Sierra's best friend and maid of Honor, Kiya and her boyfriend John. They were able to see our close family friends, Jeef and Tina and their family. They got to see a Mariners game with Jeff, Tina, Kiya and John, Larry ( who just happened to be in Washington) and his brother Lance.
From September 11th to the 15th, Larry traveled back to Washington for the USS Pogy submarine convention. Jeff and Tina joined him for a week full of meet-and-greets, museum visits, dinners, and catching up with friends from Larry’s time on the submarine. It was a fantastic opportunity for Larry to connect with submariners old friends and also spend some quality time with his brother and his family.
On October 15th, we held our first annual Pumpkin Palooza. We made pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin cookies, and pumpkin cinnamon rolls—everything turned out delicious, but the cheesecake was a standout! It was so good that we’ve already asked Luke to make it for Thanksgiving.
From October 10th to 14th, Chloe and Luke took a trip to Nashville, TN, with friends for an early "babymoon." Even though it was planned way before the news of the baby, It sounded like a wonderful trip, full of fun memories before the big arrival.
On October 11th, Larry celebrated his 55th birthday with Isaiah and Sierra at Korean BBQ. Afterward, we all watched the Padres lose their playoff game, but it was still a great evening spent together.
In November, we had our third annual Veterans Day campout at Lake Cuyamaca, a tradition we always look forward to. The Newberts and Bertrands joined us, and Sierra and Isaiah were able to join, using their new "truck tent" for the occasion. It’s always a fun, relaxed time filled with laughter and good memories. We already have reservations for next year.
On November 16th, there was a beautiful baby shower for Chloe and Luke at Chloe’s parents’ house. It was a wonderful day, surrounded by family and friends. Everyone showered them with love and support as they prepare for their little one’s arrival. This baby is going to be surrounded by so much love!
Later, we got the exciting news that the Cosners’ oldest daughter, Nicole, is expecting as well. It looks like 2024 will be a year full of new babies in the family!
We spent Thanksgiving at my mom’s house this year, and both Isaiah and Chloe’s families had their own Thanksgiving celebrations—one with each side of the family. It was a lovely, full day of delicious food, laughter, and gratitude. I am glad we were able to spend the holiday with our kiddos.
As for December, we are looking forward to all the holiday traditions—decorating the tree, watching plenty of Christmas movies, taking our annual trip to Starlight Circle with our friends from Holy Trinity, Spending the night downtown to watch the San Diego Parade of Lights. This will be our third year, getting a hotel with a balcony- to watch the boat light parade. Looking forward to creating more memories together as a family. It’s such a magical time of year.
Larry and I feel truly blessed, and we can’t wait for 2025! We’re especially excited to welcome our first grandbaby and gain a new son-in-law. The bridal shower in April and wedding in May will be such fun occasions to look forward to as we celebrate our family and both of our children’s new chapter.
Cheers to a New Year full of love, laughter, and new beginnings! 2025- Here we come!
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