Once the student, now the master! Yes, after several years of coursework on top of a full time job, Samantha has earned her Master's Degree in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education from CU Denver. As the Assistant Site Director and Curriculum Specialist at Wildflower pre-school, she has been shaping the lives of little ones for several years now. Though it leaves her drained at the end of each day, it doesn't stop her from delivering another one-of-a-kind educational experience the very next day. Justin is now mostly recovered from a spinal fusion surgery that he had in September to correct a pinched nerve in his neck. Now back to work at Arryved, he says he's at about 85% and feeling much better overall. In the coming year, Sam and Justin hope to abandon apartment living and find a house where they and their cat, Winnie Cooper, can spread their arms and paws out a little bit.
In February, Nick finished his coursework at Johnson and Wales University and received his Bachelor's Degree at commencement in May. Watching him walk across the stage to finalize his college journey was truly a triumphant moment in his life, and it definitely was the same for his family who shared that moment with him. In true Nick Wayne style, he was the ONLY one who threw his cap in the air at the conclusion of the ceremony! Glad to see somebody willing to uphold the traditions of academia, GEEZ! Nick has been volunteering at Wildflower with Sam, teaching the kids how to make fun, healthy snacks and how to have fun in the kitchen. He has enrolled in some classes starting in January 2020 to begin exploring the possibility of becoming a high school teacher where he can, in his words, "Instill the same passion for the culinary arts in kids, the same way it was instilled in me."
As if raising our own three amazing children wasn't enough, Maura and I are still playing a big role in raising the adorable, mischievous twins, Emmett and Michael. We even had the honor of becoming their Godparents in February! Of course, it is Maura's paid job to care for these two dynamos, but they have become very much a part of our family and are on the verge of turning 3 years old! Maura takes the first shift when they arrive each weekday morning, and I offer her relief when I get home from work around 4:00, until their mother picks them up around 6:00. We can attest that caring for twins is more than twice the work, as they often still seem to use their own language to plot against us. To them it is obviously just play and we have to treat it that way, but it will be nice when the day comes that we don't have to chase them around the kitchen just to put their coats and/or shoes on. All in all, the daily shenanigans of these rascals still bring lots of laughs and smiles to our home, and for that we are grateful.Thanks for sharing the joys that we were graced with this year. Our hope is that your lives were equally as wonderful, if not more. Remember to slow down and enjoy each moment with your family during the holidays, because sometimes that is the only time you get to do so. God bless and we hope you have a spectacular new year ahead!
The Stauffers
