2024: A Year in Review

 How did we get here, how the hell?  Christmas!  Christmas Eve last year.... (Nod to my favorite musical of all time...RENT).  

But seriously.  How am I sitting here typing our Christmas letter already?

We again are forgoing our paper mailed Christmas Cards and making a donation to a charity of our family's choosing. This year consider our donation to the Multiple Myeloma 'Foundation'.   Amazing to think that last year at this time, we didn't even know MM existed and now, it's our life.  We are incredibly grateful to the amazing research that has been conducted just in the last few years and are hopeful for a future with an MM cure!  

Here are the Bachs from December 31, 2023.  So what do the Bachs of 2024 know that those Bachs didn't know (Oh. My.  How loaded is that question?)

OLIVER WALTER BACH - 10 Years Old

Someone turned double digits this year and likes to continually remind us that he is no longer a 'kid', but a 'tween'.  As much as I technically disagree with that statement, he is definitely older and much less 'kid'-like.  At a doctor's appointment this year I was asked if I have any small children at home.  I said I have a 10 year old son.  The doctor laughed.  I guess even the doctors agree that 10 is not a 'small child'....but I digress!  He may be growing up, but at his core, Oliver has not changed.  He still loves with his whole self. He is authentic and genuine.  He can light up a room with his smile, his laughter, and his small talk.  He is smart as a whip and has a memory of a steel trap.  He loves to solve puzzles and figure things out.  He does not LOVE to read (or, apparently, write poetry).  He joined a new soccer league this year and it has definitely paid off. He improved tremendously through the fall and is eagerly waiting for spring soccer to start.  When he's not on the field you can still find him in the pool.  He likes swimming, although, I'm not sure it's not 'his thing'. To relax and unwind Oliver loves video games and you can usually find him at our family desk with both his ipad and his laptop! Oliver always has a story, a joke, or some sort of knowledge bomb he learned in school that he is eager to share with you.  I still consider him my baby, even though I know he's growing wonderfully into a little man.

ELEANOR FRANCIS TERRONES-BACH - 16 Years Old (on the 24th) 

We shall pause here for two facts.  1) my baby is turning 16 this year!!  and 2) she officially has a different last name.  Last Christmas we shared with our immediate family and friends that Eleanor had asked Andy to officially adopt her.  On May 10, we made that a reality.  With ALL our parents and siblings in tow.  It was a magical day.  Eleanor now honors BOTH her dads with a beautifully hyphenated last name and it's a heck of a last name to add to a swim cap!  Eleanor did indeed get her temps last winter as well and is now preparing to take her official driver's test later this winter!  I can't imagine life with another driver!  Eleanor spent her 2023 Christmas break becoming a certified Lifeguard and in her 'spare time' she lifeguards at our local gym.  Spare time is a joke.  She completed her second year of high school swim and in the off season swims with club, marching band, several school clubs, an impressive academic course load with two math classes, AP coursework and Chemistry.  I seriously don't know how she does it! She did get to enjoy one week of down time this summer at Camp Anokijig, but sadly acknowledges it was her last year.  A busy travel schedule this summer, combined with band, sports, and work will prevent her from becoming a counselor at her beloved camp.  Eleanor still loves reading, loves music of all types, and has no idea what she wants to be 'when she grows up', but we are at least working on what she doesn't want to be (no doctors or anything related to medicine, likely nothing law related)  If I've said it once, I'll say it a thousand times.  It's crazy that she's growing up, but she's doing it so well, I just love the phase we're in!

ELIVER

My little siblings. I may have just mentioned I love the phase were in, but oph, it can make my blood run cold sometimes.  Oliver still adores his big sister, but big sister is usually much too busy.  And in the rare event she has free time, it's not usually spent with her little brother.  And I get sad.  And then I look over and they are playing together.  Or just casually talking.  Or cheering each other on.  And I remind myself.  They are siblings.  They have the most sibling of relationships.  When life is good - it's fine.  But when in need - they have each other's backs.  I really couldn't ask for much more ♡

DEBBIE DA DOG - 6 Years Old

Oh my darling Debbie.  She is still our very reactive dog.  There is not an Amazon truck, walker, car, squirrel or leaf that goes past our house that Debbie doesn't let us know about!  Our 'favorite' is when she starts barking at our car, in our driveway, that has been parked there for awhile.  She's an idiot.  But she'll curl right up next to you, in the tiniest little ball, invading all your personal space, and let out the most content sigh.  She's so tolerant of our shenanigans, which usually involve making her wear some type of head wear.  She brings us so much joy...even if you can hear us yelling, "Debbie SHUT UP" all the way at your house!

DANA LYNN BACH - Nonya Biz-nass

A spring chicken I am!  You guys.  I SWEAR I wasn't looking.  But 2024 resulted in me getting a new job.  I loved TIKI so much, but a company acquisition lead to massive changes and the position itself wasn't bringing me any type of joy anymore.  It was boring.  So when the recruiter called...I answered.  I found myself at a glorious little company where we make cables and connectors for the Aerospace and Defense industries.  I have no idea what half my employees are talking about most of the time.  It literally is rocket science!  But it's an HR Dream: policy creation, procedure creation, talent management, growing business, continuous improvement.  I'm so very happy!  And in case you didn't hear...I ran an Ultra Ragnar this year.  It was one of the most emotional experiences I've had, and that says a lot for me.  If you want to hear more about my Ragnar, PLEASE PLEASE call me.  I LOVE talking about it and most people are done listening about it!  I would also call my 1/2 marathon in June a success and consider myself to be past my injury.  I need to get something on the books for 2025.  As much as I complain about training...it gives me life.  Any suggestions?

ANDREW JAMES BACH - an oldie but a goodie

Move along.  Nothing to see here.  I saved him for 'last' this year.  I tried to avoid mentioning what you all know already.  We thought Andy was going to have the biggest year by adopting a kid this spring.  But nope.  He really threw us a surprise when in October of 2024 Andy was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma.  A rare form of blood cancer that affects his plasma.  Our last months have been a blur, but Andy has remained Andy.  He is positive, hopeful, and handling his treatments like a CHAMP!!  Andy is amazing.  And that's all there is to it.  And he adopted a kid.   A kid that asked him to adopt her.  He deserved that honor SO much!  He has been with Eleanor since she was 3 and the love between those two is certainly special.  Andy continues to be the treasurer to our swim team and works full-time for Direct Supply.  If you looked at him, you would never know he has cancer and that's how we intend on keeping it!  Andy is the calm amongst our madness and keeps us all sane. 

DABACHERY - 11 Years Old

I can't believe we've been married OVER 10 years.  I believe there is no greater pair then Dana and Andy.  I come up with the stupid ideas, he rolls his eyes, and most of the time says OK (running a 1/2 marathon).  If he doesn't join in on the madness (i.e. Ragnar Ultra, getting a new job) at least I know he has my back 100%.  I can enjoy our time together even if it's walking around a hospital together (but I prefer to not ever do that again)!  As we knew, even pre-cancer, our days of training for long runs together was coming to an end, we decided we were going to take up golf.  We got golf clubs and go to the golf course...but thus far, we've only gotten as far as the club house bar and have yet to swing an actual club. Ha! Maybe in 2025! We had vacation planned to Las Vegas in November that had to get reschedule for 2025 and we definitely plan on doing that!  Yes, the end of 2024 has been wild, but there is still no one I'd rather create shenanigans with.

The TERRONES-BACH Family

The blog has always been for me.  This Christmas Card has likely always been for me.  It's so much fun to reflect on the past year.   January of 2024 was such a long time ago and so much has happened since then!  We crashed Eleanor's Spring Break trip with her band to Disney World in March, we created more memories in our favorite WI vacation spot, Devil's Lake. We made some really interesting choices (like going to Circus World for the first time ever), we made some really good choices (like NOT driving to Green Bay in one of the greatest blizzards we've seen in a long time!).  We cheered each other on at swim meets, soccer games and while training for runs.  We said good-bye to family favorites (good-bye sweet sweet mini-van!!) and hello to new family favorites (it's not normal to love a car as much as I love my new car!).  We drive each other crazy, but we are the greatest force to be reckoned with.  

And that's us.  And our year.  The Good. The Bad. The Ugly. The Pretty.  2024 had some surprises, some we would love to forget, but most that we will love to remember.  When it was dark, we were each other's light and when we couldn't shine, you, our amazing friends and family were our light.  We are blessed indeed.  Thank you for being a part of our 2024, for the memories made and the laughter exchanged.  

In 2025 we look forward to more laughter than tears.  We look forward to more memories to be made. And we look forward to doing both of those with all of you. 

Merry Christmas, Friends and Family.  And a joyous, happy, healthy 2025!