our 2022 Christmas letter

The Scherlings are either turning Christmas letter writing into a biannual tradition, or Anna and Ian wanted to give Ellis a really solid second child complaint story by skipping letter writing for his first Christmas. He’ll be fine. Right?

our 2020 Christmas letter

While a global pandemic may seem like the perfect excuse for the Scherlings to once again drop the ornament on their unreliable Christmas letter-writing tradition, they decided it was actually an opportunity to sandwich two years into one (and hope you weren’t too disappointed their 2019 letter was MIA).

Micki

I was so honored Dane asked Emily and I to give eulogies for Micki, alongside him, Ian, and Ren. The following is what I shared at the services in Lafayette, CO, and Goodland, KS.

I have had the privilege of knowing Micki for 14 years, and calling her my mother-in-law for 11. But more than that, she became my second mom, and one of my greatest friends.

our 2018 Christmas Letter

When what to their wondering eyes should appear, but a prompt Christmas letter and one crying toddler! (Don’t worry. Ian and Anna rescued Lucy from the clutches of that red-suited terror moments after the photo.) Yes, it’s a Christmas miracle: the Scherling family’s annual awkward, third-person Christmas letter has arrived in inboxes around the world before December 25!

Lucy's birth story

I went into labor a year ago today, which feels like an appropriate time to finally share Lucy's birth story. It was a bumpy entry into parenthood, but it reminds me I am stronger than I think, Ian is my rock, Lucy is incredible, and God is in control.

My pregnancy started out textbook. The biggest hiccup was needing a second take on our 18-week ultrasound (which resulted in our first parenting lessons: dealing with fear and accepting our lack of control; we also remembered why it's never a good idea to Google anything medical—our doctor suggested sticking with the Mayo Clinic).

Things continued along swimmingly until April 7, when I went in for a growth check ultrasound. I was measuring a little small at my previous appointment and the doctor wanted to confirm the baby was still on track. The baby's size was fine, but the ultrasound revealed an umbilical cord cyst. The ultrasound doctor assured me it wasn't a problem, but we should monitor it to make sure it didn't become one. I drove to my prenatal appointment with the news, but my doctor immediately sent me to the Brigham for high blood pressure. This was the first appointment where I was flying solo and, already stressed, I had to drive down Route 9 to Fenway. I called Ian to meet me at the hospital, and spent the afternoon hooked up to monitors. The baby's heart rate was strong, and my blood pressure was back in the high range of normal, so they sent us home with a directive to take things easy—a challenge given our not-quite-completed bathroom project.

our 2017 Christmas letter

All the Christmas trees have made their trip to the great forest in the sky, which means it's time for the Scherling family's annual, awkward, third-person (usually late) Christmas letter! Perhaps Anna and Ian should admit defeat and call it a New Year letter, but they're optimists at heart.

welcome home, Lucy Grace!

Three weeks and about 12 hours after Lucy popped into the world, she finally came home! We're so grateful to the NICU team and our community for taking such good care of her (and us) on this journey. #nicugrad

lyric by MUTEMATH

welcome, Lucy Grace!

On April 26 at 6:17 a.m., our little Lucy Grace decided it was time to see the world, and she stole our hearts with all 5 pounds, 13 ounces, and 18 inches of her. Because she was in such a hurry to meet us, she's needed a little boost in the NICU to catch up. We're thankful she's healthy, and that she has such an incredible care team to help her come home soon! #lucygraces

Christmas in Kansas 2016

This Christmas, both the past and the future were on our minds as we anticipate the arrival of our little one. We started the holidays on the farm with my family, where we spent lots of time reminiscing over old family photos. Nostalgia hit me hard as I realized I've celebrated Christmas at the farmhouse every year of my life, and next Christmas we'll start the tradition with a new generation.

our 2016 Christmas letter

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, which is a strong indicator that it’s time for Ian and Anna’s annual, awkward, third-person (usually late) Christmas letter! You may be thinking, “hey… I’m getting tired of waiting to read about more than just the two of you.” If so, this is your year: they got a cat! And she’ll get a whole paragraph all to herself! (Your excitement is palpable.)

We're thankful for a lot this year...

...but especially our newest pair of (tiny) TOMS shoes. #may2017

#thejureyisin, or, the day Anna got her second sister

Caleb and Kate haven't been a thing as long as Nathan and Sara, but I think they've known each other longer. Their story involves unrequited high school love and bad timing, which just turned out to be God making sure that when they finally took a chance on a relationship, it would really work. I was so excited when Caleb told me he proposed, and we wouldn't have missed celebrating their wedding with them for anything!

We got into KC Thursday evening and stayed with Nathan and Sara for the night (they took advantage of this time to make us start watching Stranger Things). The next morning, we headed to Manhattan, arriving with enough time to sneak in a bite to eat and a pit stop at Danenburg Jewelers for a ring cleaning before ending up at Houston Street Ballroom to help decorate for the reception (yes, the same venue where Ian and I had our wedding reception, and we definitely reminisced). Caleb and Kate had a vision, but they kept everything super chill, which was fantastic for all of us enlisted to help make it happen. We finished up with plenty of time to decorate the church before the rehearsal. We were pleasantly surprised to find our our friends Ben and Storm were providing the ceremony music, and had lots of fun catching up!

After the rehearsal, we headed to the Jardine complex (where Ian and I lived his last year of school, more memories), to the student-run restaurant that was hosting the rehearsal dinner. (This was followed by more episodes of Stranger Things at the hotel.)

The day of the wedding, we got up early, picked up breakfast at Varsity Donuts, and spent some time with Grandma Marilyn, Susan, and Dane and Micki (who were in town for the wedding). We're so thankful we were able to squeeze in some time with the Scherling family too!

After running some errands, we got ready and headed to the church. The wedding was beautiful and so personal! After family photos, we stopped at Chick-fil-a for a quick bite, and then headed to the reception. Arrow Coffee catered the desserts and drinks, and wow, was that food good! We had so much fun hanging out, dancing, and generally being silly (see selfies below). All in all it was an incredible evening, and my amazing sister count is up to two! CRAZY!





Sidenote: I realized too late that I took a grand total of seven photos. Caleb, I'm sorry that my sibling wedding photography mirrors the trajectory of what Mom did with our high school graduation floral arrangements. I love you. Promise.

Sunday, Caleb and Kate hosted a quick brunch and then headed off to Austin for their honeymoon!

We stuck around Manhattan for another day, spending more time with family, catching up with old friends (Britni, Joe, Spencer, so good to see you!), and lecturing at K-State... okay, the last one was just Ian. He's kind of a big deal. #soproud

Before we knew it, we were on our way back to Kansas City, and Nathan and Sara were driving us to the airport (after sharing their Netflix info so we could actually watch the last episode of Stranger Things... it's only fair since it's their fault we were addicted).

Caleb and Kate, we're so glad you found each other. Kate, welcome to the family! We love you both!

we bought a house.

Our home buying story is later than I meant it to be (#storyofmylife) but it feels appropriate to share it exactly one year after closing on our first home.

a day on Martha's Vineyard

Before the impending move, Micki really wanted us and Grandma Judy to experience Martha's Vineyard together (we'd never been and neither had Grandma Judy). So the last weekend before their big move to Colorado, Ian and I headed to the Cape for a final hurrah. We arrived Friday evening, and woke up bright and early the next day to catch the Island Queen Ferry. It was a beautiful day, and so we picked seats on the upper deck to enjoy the views. And we even saw a biplane fly-by!



A short 30 minutes later, we arrived on Martha's Vineyard. Micki had a full day planned for us, to make the most of our time. We strolled around Oaks Bluff (after picking up some Murdick's Fudge and caramel corn to sustain us). The gingerbread cottages were particularly fascinating. The cluster of tiny, ornate houses started out as a summertime Methodist campground with open air revivals. Lodging for the revivals started out in tents, which were eventually replaced by permanent structures. From the outside, it's hard to believe these tiny summer cottages, built in the mid-1800s, have transitioned into modern homes.



We made our way to the bus stop to get to our next destination — the Polly Hill Arboretum — but due to some unlucky timing, we ended up taking a cab. We spent a few hours wandering the grounds, and it turns out we were there at an incredible time. All of the peonies were in full bloom, and we saw some incredible trees in bloom as well, like the dogwood allée, and the giant Julian magnolia.



We finished up just in time for the private island tour Micki had scheduled with a local guide. He picked us up at the arboretum, and we spent the next few hours driving all over the island. We picked up some chowder and crab cakes at Larsen's Fish Market, visited the Gay Head Cliffs and Lighthouse, passed lots of locations where Jaws filmed, and learned more of the local history and culture. We finished up back in Oaks Bluff with just enough time before the ferry to make an ice cream pit stop.



The next day, back on the Cape, we stuffed ourselves at the Old Yarmouth Inn's brunch buffet before beach hopping the afternoon away, and ending up, as we usually do, at Katie's for ice cream.



Micki and Grandma Judy, thanks so much for making our first trip to the Vineyard such a great one. We're going to miss our New England adventures with you!

Memorial Weekend adventures around Boston

Micki and Grandma Judy headed our way to spend the long weekend in Boston, as part of our attempt to squeeze in as many sights and fun memories as possible before they move to Denver this summer (#denial).

Saturday included a stop at our favorite sandwich shop followed by an afternoon at the Gardner Museum. It was their first time there, and they loved it! As a return visitor, I especially appreciated the Off the Wall exhibition. The second floor in the original building is under renovation, but they temporarily moved some of the key pieces into a gallery in the new wing so patrons could still view them. It was so interesting to get a closer view of some those famous paintings in a modern museum setting (i.e. at eye level with optimal lighting and more information and context), along with larger prints and the history of the famous stolen paintings. And no visit would be complete without stopping by El Jaleo, the courtyard, and the greenhouse.



Sunday was overcast, but after church we headed to the Crane Estate in Ipswich. A wealthy industrialist purchased the land in the early 1900s as a summer retreat, and built a gigantic mansion in  the 1920s. Walking through the house and grounds made me feel like I was stepping into The Great Gatsby. We strolled the long lawn to take in some beautiful ocean views, then found the path down to the beach. I love gray days on the beach — it's empty and quiet and hauntingly beautiful.



Before heading back to Boston, we stopped for dinner at the Clam Box, which apparently is an institution. We waited in line, but it was worth it. I'd recommend the fish and chips!

Monday (I love long weekends!) we visited the Harvard Museum of Natural History. The highlight was the renovated Blaschka glass exhibit, showcasing Harvard's rare and priceless collection of botanical samples crafted in glass. A first look is unimpressive: they're just plants. But the Blaschkas' skill to craft glass into something so delicate, beautiful, and lifelike remains unmatched.



After wandering around the museum, we grabbed lunch at the nearby food trucks and Micki and Grandma Judy headed home. We'll miss them dearly when they're gone, but we're so thankful we can make the most of their remaining time in Massachusetts!

S plus N, or, the day Anna got her first sister

It feels like Nathan and Sara have been together forever, but records show it's only been about five years. I still remember when my family came to visit us in Boston and Nathan told us he had started dating someone. We knew it was serious even then, and their relationship has survived so much, including two years of long distance and a huge semi-DIY gut renovation of a sweet old house that needed a lot of love. We're so proud and thrilled that they've made it to this milestone, and we're so thankful we were able to celebrate with them!

We got into town Thursday morning before the wedding, and after lunch, Nathan debriefed me on all of the reception decorations details, because he was putting me in charge of ensuring their vision was executed (pressure!). We took care of all the flower arrangements that afternoon, with plenty of time to enjoy a cookout with Sara's family that evening.

The next day, we headed to the church to start decorating. Dad and Nathan left the hotel early, per Nathan's detailed timeline. Caleb, mom, Ian, and I soon followed, but due to a miscommunication, first arrived at the reception venue, then the police station across from the church. But we finally made it, and spent the entire day (with an amazing pizza break for lunch) turning the church's youth room into a wedding venue. Mission accomplished with plenty of time to prepare for the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner (from Anna's Oven, which Nathan and Sara have been telling us we need to try for the years, and yes, it was worth the hype).

The next morning, we headed to the reception venue (we had no trouble getting there since we already practiced the day before) and got started with the decorations. We had a small army, and thankfully everything was almost finished and Nathan-approved by the time he and the groomsmen had to head out to get ready. We finished up the details (including a chalkboard sign Ian rocked and chilling all of the fun an obscure bottled sodas hand-picked by the bride and groom), and then grabbed lunch before heading back to the church to get ready.

The wedding was beautiful, we took some great family photos, and then headed to the reception. The details really made the space, the food was delicious, Sara's dad and the wedding party gave great speeches, and we had so much fun in the photo booth and on the dance floor. It was definitely a night to remember!

The next day, we had a family + wedding party brunch for gift opening, and then they took off for Colorado, while we enjoyed a little more time with family, and squeezed in a couple visits with some dear friends we miss. We even got to meet a new baby (congrats Karen and Jeremy!). And Megan kindly drove us to the airport after meeting up for breakfast the next morning.

It was a quick trip, but we're so thankful we could celebrate with them, and that they got hitched without a hitch. Sara, welcome to the family. We love you!

See the rest of our photos on Flickr. And don't miss their (way better than mine) official wedding photos!

our 2015 Christmas letter

2015: it wasn’t boring. In fact, it was so not boring that Ian and Anna didn’t have enough time in the year to write their annual awkward third-person Christmas letter. They kindly ask you to light a balsam-scented candle and eat sugar cookies while you read this, in hopes you won’t notice it’s kind of really late.

visiting Remily in Knox Vegas

In April, Ian's brother, Ren, and Ren's fiancée, Emily, moved to Knoxville (affectionately referred to as Knox Vegas by our dear friend Grant, who grew up there), for an amazing job opportunity. And in November, we visited them!

We caught an early morning flight to Nashville where we spent the day working in coffee shops and hanging out with our friend Drew, who left Boston to grow his second startup company. No big deal. The three of us enjoyed lunch at the new (super hipster) BarTaco before we got a tour of his company's space in Weld.



We arrived in Knoxville after dark, with just enough time for hugs and an introduction to Charlie and Violet, Ren and Emily's adorable dogs, before we crashed on the air mattress.

The next day, Ren and Emily had their usual work days, so we took off for a fun date downtown. We stopped for beverages at Old City Java, because Ian. We then headed to the Museum of East Tennessee History. It was fascinating to learn about the history of a new-to-us part of the country, with all it's charms and challenges. From the first Native American inhabitants, to slavery and the Civil War, to the present day, the museum covers it all with an impressive depth and complexity. Fun fact: Mountain Dew originated in Tennessee. "It'll tickle yore innards!"

Our brains full of history, we wandered around downtown for a bit, flipping through letterpress creations at Pioneer House and taking in the view from the Sunsphere, before meeting up with Ren and Emily for dinner at The Stock and Barrel. It's one of their favorites, and we totally understand why! (Their recommendation: get the duck confit fries with your burger.) After dinner, we headed back to their apartment for some Cards Against Humanity. What happens in Knox Vegas stays in Knox Vegas.



Saturday, we got a tour of Ren's office, then headed to Magpies for a tour of Emily's (which came with sample cupcakes — sorry, Ren, Emily's office takes the cake). Grabbing Chick-fil-a for lunch, we headed out to Gatlinburg and took our third tour of the day at Sugarlands Distilling Co. We learned about the process (similar to other grain spirits, minus the aging) and the history.

Turning grain into moonshine made the farmer's harvest an easy-to-transport product that would make them more money. And moonshine itself doesn't make people blind or cause death. Methanol, a byproduct of the process, is distilled out in the heads and the tails of a batch. As long as you only drink the hearts, you don't have to worry... unless you drink too much. (We were warned about an illegal moonshiner in the area who was not so scrupulous and people wound up in the hospital. The lesson? Make sure you can trust your source.) When Ian asked our tour guide how long he'd been moonshining, he answered "over 30 years... legally, 8.5 months."



After watching the tour, we headed to the sample table, where we got to try all their flavors, while Tadpole told us about hillbilly dentistry: if you drink cinnamon moonshine and smoke a pack of menthols, and you'll never have to brush your teeth. Em and I's favorite was their Appalachian Apple Pie. After a swig, every breath in tastes like caramel, and every breath out tastes like apple.

On Sunday, we went to church and met some of the wonderful people in Ren and Emily's community. And there was no other choice for Sunday dinner but Chandler's. Because what's Sunday in the South without fried chicken, cornbread, and mac and cheese?



We walked it off at a cool new park we discovered: High Ground Park, which was the site of a Civil War fort and is part of the future Battlefield Loop. I felt like I was in District 12. And then went to see Spectre (Daniel Craig, how I'll miss you), because James Bond is really part of the family.



Remily, thanks for hosting us. We had so much fun, and can't wait to see you four again!



See the rest of our trip photos on Flickr.

cranberries on the Cape

In October, my parents headed to New England for a visit. Since we'd already shown them around Boston (twice, in four parts), we thought the new family outpost on the Cape would be perfect for a long weekend visit. And while they arrived a bit early to enjoy peak fall foliage, the cranberry harvest was in full force.

Saturday morning, we headed to the 12th Annual Cranberry Harvest Celebration at the A.D. Makepeace Company, a founding member of the Ocean Spray grower-owned cooperative (Ocean Spray commercials are, coincidentally, one of my favorite ad campaigns).



For a small entry fee, visitors could watch the cranberry harvest, shop at a giant cranberry-focused outdoor market (with lots of free samples), and enjoy good food and music. The weather was beautiful, so we slowly meandered our way to the main events: a bridge overlooking the cranberry harvest and tour around the bogs. We hopped on a flatbed trailer with hay bale seating and learned all about cranberry farming.

For most of the year bogs are dry — irregularly shaped depressions in the ground covered in bramble, which look nothing like a quaint New England postcard. In the fall, farmers flood bogs for harvesting, and suddenly they are transformed into those iconic shimmering, ruby red ponds.

Coming from a rural Kansas farming background, we were struck at the similarities between cranberry and wheat harvesting (substituting water for air in the reaping, threshing, and winnowing process). Fun fact: unlike wheat, cranberry vines can live for 100+ years, although the extension agency recommends farmers replace their plants every 15 to 20 years to optimize yields.





We also learned about the sustainability of Massachusetts cranberry farming. "There are approximately 14,000 acres of cranberry bogs in Massachusetts with cranberry growers maintaining another 60,000 acres of open space serving to protect and recharge watersheds (Cape Cod Cranberry Growers Association)." The undeveloped land surrounding the bogs is integral to the year-round process of cranberry farming, ensuring it's protection for generations to come.



We left with a much greater appreciation for the humble cranberry (and a craving for more cranberry almond chocolate bark).

The rest of our time on the Cape we enjoyed relaxing at home, strolling on the beach, and eating lots of good food. We had so much fun introducing my parents to a place we've come to love, and we're so grateful to Ian's family for hosting us!



You can see all our photos from the weekend on Flickr.

a year of Cape Cod

Before Ian's parents and grandma moved to Cape Cod last October, we'd made just a few short trips to the Cape and islands, and had the general impression it was a fancy place full of wealthy people and summer tourists, with unbearable summer weekend traffic. While that perception isn't entirely off the mark (their cozy home is a short drive away from the expansive Kennedy compound), we discovered it is so much more.

Given the timing of their move, we experienced the off season first. I've been enamored with the image of the beach in winter ever since I read Hattie and the Wild Waves when I was little. It was so lovely to spend Thanksgiving and a belated Christmas strolling on the beach, with a roaring fire waiting for our return. The ocean was expansive and beautiful, and we had it all to ourselves. One of their amazing neighbors took us oystering and clamming, and we felt like locals in our waders, clam rakes slung over our shoulders, filling up wire baskets then slurping down oysters with homemade hot sauce, the smell of ocean filling all our senses.



And then summer came. After our eternal Narnian winter, I didn't care how bad the traffic was, as long as we could soak in the hot summer sun, feel sand between our toes, and eat all the ice cream we wanted (Grandma Judy is a connoisseur, and her favorite is Katie's). It was glorious.



While we'll miss the sunshine and ice cream, we're looking forward to once again bundling up and enjoying quiet winter weekends on the Cape, watching the wild waves. You can call me Hattie.



See more of our Cape Cod photos on Flickr.