highlight reel 2025

1. Graduations! – 2025 was a huge year for the Rivera kiddos! We celebrated Jeremiah’s high school and Aiden’s preschool graduation in May, followed by Lilly’s elementary school graduation in June. While Asher didn’t “graduate” per se, he (and WE!) underwent a major transition, saying goodbye to our nanny, Amber, of the last four years. We can never truly express our gratitude for Amber’s dedication to our family since the COVID timeframe. In all this time, I think she’s only missed 3 days of work. She has been a steady, reliable rock for Jeremy and I to continue our professional lives and an absolute gift to Aiden and Asher. She has spent thousands of hours outside at the park, finger-painting, making snacks, reading books, and loving on the kids. We are wishing her well in a new season of her own – nursing school! 🩷
2. New Beginnings – And with the end of one chapter comes the beginning of a new one for all the kids! Jeremiah started his freshman year at a college in Missouri where he’s playing on their soccer team. Lilly has started middle school and spends much of her free time in dance classes at our local studio. Aiden started kindergarten and is trying baseball and basketball to see what he likes best. Asher started part time preschool where he’s thriving and enjoys singing, dancing, and driving his vehicles at home. 

3. Kansas and Missouri Trip – This fall, we took our first ever family airplane trip to visit Jeremiah at his new college, flying in and out of Kansas City. We got to watch his soccer game and explore downtown Springfield together. There was a moment on this trip where we were all eating KC BBQ at a restaurant outside Union Station, watching the trains come and go, with the Chiefs game playing on a tv nearby. The kids were talking to each other, coloring, and playing with cars. Jeremy and I had a few moments to soak up the experience, fully aware these family adventures will be some of the best memories of our lives and where our minds will wander in our older age. 

4. Local tourists – We have a family desire to play tourist in our own beautiful city and take advantage of all the opportunities it affords the kids! If we are here and experiencing all the traffic, we also want to experience the rich culture and unique entertainment options. 😉 This year, we took a visit to the cherry blossoms and it was absolutely gorgeous! We were surprised to listen to the boys asking questions about the trees and Tidal Basin as we made our way around. While Jeremiah was visiting, we visited the super fun Museum of Illusions. From old to young, we were all fascinated with the brain games all the illusions played on us! In September, Jeremy took us back to his old stomping grounds where we got to experience our first air show at Joint Base Andrews! The kids tried their best to stump the pilots with their questions. 😂 Lastly, over Christmas, we visited the Botanical Gardens to see their train and dinosaur exhibit! 

5. NYC and NJ – We had the opportunity to take not one, but two separate trips into NYC. Our first adventure took us to Central Park and the Central Park Zoo. Our second trip took us to see a show at Madison Square Garden and enjoy some Christmas sights! The kids are still talking about both of our jaunts and cannot wait to explore more when we get the chance. We got to take multiple trips to see our NJ family! Swimming, Aiden and Asher’s birthdays, day trip adventures, and celebrating Jeremy’s grandfather’s 90th were some highlights!

6. Lilly’s Baptism – We always wanted Lilly to guide this decision of faith and we’ve patiently waited as we’ve become more and more planted at our church. She has been consistently asking questions about her salvation over the last few years. When we attended a baptism at our church two years ago and she noticed a girl she knew getting in the water, she started to ask more pointed and specific questions, specifically how to move forward. On Easter Sunday, Lilly had all of us, her grandparents, and two best friends cheer her on as she made a public decision to follow Jesus. Many of our loved ones tuned in online and we are so grateful for your love and support. ❤️

7. Date Nights! This year, for our 10 year wedding anniversary, Jeremy and I set a goal to have a recurring date night every month of the year – being intentional about the two of us in a very busy season of life.  I am elated to say we met our goal! Jeremy’s favorite time together was our first shared tomahawk steak and mine was cooking together at Sur La Table and our Christmas double date to a festive DC restaurant.  

8. Great Wolf Lodge and Liberty Science Center – When Jeremiah came to visit, we took a drive to Williamsburg for a couple days at Great Wolf Lodge for Father’s Day. We were grateful to have that indoor activity for quite a rainy weekend! Aiden and  Asher got to experience water slides for one of the first times and there were plenty of shrieks and squeals throughout our time!  We also got to spend a day at Liberty Science Center while we were in New Jersey. Jeremy’s aunt has worked there for decades and gave us all the secrets! We even got to watch a show in the planetarium which was a hit with all the kids!

9. Seeing the kids thrive in their activities! Lilly has definitely found her niche! She excelled in her recital this summer and is enjoying four new types of dance and five different total dance classes! At any given moment, you can hear music somewhere in our house and Lilly will be moving to it! Aiden has enjoyed trying out t-ball, our local swim team, and continues basketball. Basketball seems to be the favorite and we find him shooting hoops in our goal in the garage whenever he gets the opportunity!

10. Mom and Dad’s retirement – I’m sure you’re thinking this is an interesting highlight to add to OUR family highlights for 2025, but this year was profoundly different than others. My parents both retired about 6 months apart after serving 20+ year careers within my hometown community. We celebrated them and have enjoyed the tremendous support they’ve given us as dual working parents. We have been able to enjoy countless visits and invaluable family time because of their selfless devotion to their grandkiddos (and kiddos)! 

If you made it this far, thank you for reading and supporting our family! We wish you a wonderful 2026 full of love, joy, and beautiful memories!

Love,

The Riveras