Benjamin is 17

I can’t get over the time. My baby is 17. He is the size of a grown man but yet still my little tiny baby. Benjamin loves volleyball and is super smart. It is fun watching him make friends and see where he wants to start heading. The last few months he sat down at the piano again and is playing music by ear. He will work for about 15-30 min and then will have a new song memorized and just work on it from there. It’s really impressive and I love hearing him play. At his birthday dinner he did a little impromptu show for us. His friend Ava came and celebrated this year with us. The kids all got in the hot tub. We played games and had his favorite biscuits and gravy for dinner and Oreo milkshakes for dessert. For his birthday this year he wanted shoes and clothes. He got some new legos and has been pretty into building them again. He also loves ping pong and so we got a portable set up that my mom has for him to have too. We love you Benjamin! Happy seventeenth!

 

Christmas 2025

Christmas Eve we went ice skating. The kids danced and played games. The rink had a lot of the skating assists so they all used them to work up their skills. I think everyone had a crash. Xander and Benjamin full on danced and sang with a lift even. Navy was ecstatic that she was able to bring our elves around with us all day.

Christmas Eve dinner was breakfast for dinner. Jake cooks all the bacon and sausage and we do muffins and eggs. We all love our tradition. Opening up our Jammie’s and all ready for Santa. 

Christmas morning came with lots of smiles and excitement. The kids got a couple presents for their bigger present which is our first family cruise. Coming soon!

Deedee had all her kids at Christmas with her yummy scones. We even did some karaoke with us girls.

The kids played and got into the wigs.  

We were ended the day with dinner at my mom and dad’s. We got to talk to Charlotte and see her cute face that’s in Florida. Grateful for all our loved ones and for the Savior in our lives. 

 

Family pictures

Pictures by my bestie Brittany. Turned out incredible as always. I love making these memories. 

Now just to decide which ones to print off. 

My black and whites for our photo gallery wall. How are my kids getting so big?!

Idaho always gives for the best backdrops. 

Love my family. 

 

December part 2

December is always busy with friends and games. To add to our list Emma got her drivers permit. It is wild that I will have two drivers now. 

Benjamin and I were off to CA for the last tournament down there this season and Navy hopped in last minute. We stayed with Richard and Sheryl. They are the best hosts who we always love to see. They took us out to dinner and in the elevator on the way back to the car- we were headed to do some Christmas shopping- we got STUCK! 

It was horrible. We were in there for over an hour. The temperature got hotter by the minute and we were all dripping sweat. There were 5 of us and 9 total in the elevator so no room at all. The permit expired 4 years ago. The operator on the intercom lied to us saying he had called the fire department. He did not till the very end because he didn’t want to get in trouble, which he did. The fire men were so great and helpful for us, but that guy was in trouble and being lectured to shut down all of them because of how he handled everything. I have never had a fear of elevators before but that is definitely a valid fear. Very grateful none of us were hurt. As soon as the doors shut they opened about 2 inches but then would shut again. It just stopped working. We were on the bottom level so didn’t drop either. The alarm was going off the entire time though which added to the misery. 

Benjamin played amazing and had a great weekend. We did some team bonding and I had fun with Navy and the other parents. We loved seeing the giant tree and ice skating rink in downtown LA by where we played. All things Christmas make me happy! 

Jake and I got to go to a Knight’s game with Taliah and Ben. Our team had a rough night, but it was so fun cheering and being together. We all even made it on to the jumbo-tron.

I went to a couple different girls nights and got to decorate sugar cookies. I always love being around fun women, in the midst of the busy Christmas season. Noah had his first Christmas choir concert. He had to stand strict straight with a pretty on top of them choir teacher for those middle school boys. They sang great and it was a good performance. 

Our ward party did a shadow nativity scene to a Christ

Version of Hallelujah. It was absolutely beautiful and so spiritual. Benjamin was part of the stable and Navy was a shepherd. Navy was even in tears with how strong she felt the spirit and the gratitude she was feeling for our savior. An amazing way to remember the true reason for the season. 

We had an early Christmas celebration at Jeff and Melissa’s so we could have most of the cousins together. They did a cousin gift exchange. Melissa had it all set up with gingerbread house competition and sugar cookie decorating. Hailey and Emma did some flour game and had us all laughing. Benjamin and Umi got in the hot tub and penny and Emma’s gingerbread house was the upside down complete with Vecna. All the kids laughed all night. It was one of the best Bierstedt Christmas’s. 

December part 1

Jake’s work party we went to Lawry’s for dinner. It is always great company and delicious food. Having the group dressed up caroling during dinner makes a perfect holiday night.

For my work party we went to Play Play ground. It is for teens/adults. The whole place has kid games, but big sized. We did an inflatable bounce thing with arms you have to either duck or jump over. The guys all did the Velcro bullseye jump. Benjamin got first and Kai third

for a skee ball version game, it was a tournament going on ending that night. They even won money! 

Jake and I our both lucky to work for such great companies. 

The annual Polar express night. It is one of our favorite events of the year. This year we were so excited to see our favorite (car pool partner) as the best conducter! He let Noah punch his ticket and made sure to make the experience even more special. All the kids love him and he totally got on the microphone and had the entire train sing happy birthday to Emma. We then saw his wife getting food and she did the same thing. Lots of laughs and warming up by the fire. 

 

Idaho Thanksgiving

We started our Idaho trip at Grandma Schraft's. I am so grateful that we are all so close to my grandparents. They are all wonderful people. We watched movies with grandma while the kids played and cooked. We always make 7 layer dip and peanut butter balls to snack on. 

The kids played football because the weather was perfect to be outside. Dad and Jake were impressed with Emma's skills and we cant wait to watch her play. Benjamin has been teaching himself piano and so grandma sat down with him and gave him a lesson. I am so impressed with his musical ability just by sound. He learns these new songs so fast. 

We spent the day at Brittany's house. I did her and her mom's hair while she took pictures for us. She is so talented and does the best work. The kids are all besties and play non stop together. Travis and Brittany introduced us to a new mexican restaurant as well that I will be craving till next time. Best fajitas I've ever had.

Thanksgiving day we started with our annual 5k with the cousins. I love them and being able to spend time together catching up. We even ran into quite a few friends I haven't seen since high school which was fun seeing how everyone's families have grown. 

.

                                       

Oh how we have all grown! Time is a thief, I do love these people. 

Thanksgiving this year was at the church building because our family has grown so much. We had games, pictures and so much food. We even had all of the great grandkids dress up and take a nativity picture. Kelsey made the cutest sheep costumes. The kids were "baa-ing", crying and laughing. It was entertaining. 

Black Friday time and we hit up all the cute boutiques with free goodie bags and amazing deals. A lot of the cousins even did a cross fit workout competition together. Jake and Kylee partnered together and totally smashed it! 

We played lots of cards, games, shopping and talking.

It was a great week. Our last day we went to the city pool and all the kids swam. They had a jump course to get across and it was so fun seeing the little kids cross pretty easy and then the big guys all trying their best to get across.

Of course we had 9 beans for lunch. I’m always grateful for these moments with family. Love you all!

 

November

My dad did his first 100 mile bike ride so we made posters and did a little cheer section for him. We are so proud of his hard work. Christmas went up and all the kids were so excited for all the trees we do. Grandma Cindy even had an extra so Benjamin could have one in his room as well. 

Navy and I got to have a girls night with Grandma Deedee, Linda, Melissa, Hailey and Kinslee. We went and sang our hearts out to Brandon Lake. I am definitely in my christian music era. Ill take all the positivity I can. Navy is a vibe at every concert she goes too. She will sing and dance, putting her all into every single song. We had a great night. 

One day tournament for Benjamin. Emma came with me and we got to sneak away and do some shopping and our favorite pizza and ice cream between games. It rained the entire time there and back. Made for some tense driving, but we made it and the boys went 3-0 for the day. 

Birthday week is always fun. My dad made my moms favorite mint cake. For my dad's night we had angel food and for Kylee's we met at a new ice cream place. Jordan's was celebrated in Idaho. Jake and I took Navy and Noah to the new wicked movie. Noah also got lucky and got to head up to Idaho early with the Zerkles. He mowed my grandmas yard and loved being able to help with all the kids. 

All of Jake's siblings made it to Dee Dee's house for a Thanksgiving dinner. It's pretty rare to have them all together. The littles played outside the whole day and the teens did some fun games. Benjamin even tried taking Chad on with some wrestling moves, it did not work out in his favor. Grateful for family and cousins.