2024 - Our Year in Review

Hi there.  By now, you've received our annual Christmas card and were curious enough to come visit this here spot on the Web to see what's doing.  Good news for you:  plenty was 'doin' with the Parrillo family this past year. 

But, before we get into our Year in Review, I'd first like call attention to a couple things with our 2024 Christmas card.   While we will always have a hard time topping our Griswold-family-inspired card from 2022, this year's card includes something novel:  artificial intelligence.  

And that's fitting, right?  2024 sure seems like the "Year of AI".  

The AI at play here is courtesy of Google Photos and their AI Magic Eraser.  Say goodbye, trampoline in the background.  Replaced with grass and trees.  Magic, indeed.

Secondly....related to this year's card, I'd like to acknowledge an omission.  For the second year in a row, I've been told by "Leadership" that there simply isn't room to include a greeting for our friends and family that celebrate Festivus.  Fortunately, the digital version has been annotated and is posted below.

Now...on to the Year in Review for The Parrillo Family:

Activities and Such

Despite my best-efforts to become a 'sports family', it appears that we're well on our way to being a 'theater family'.  All of the kids took to the stage in 2024.   Eloise played the role of 'Penelope' in the Ghostlight production of "13".  While she did great on stage, the best part was having all of her family come support her after the show:

Frankie took a turn as "Uncle Henry" in The Wizard of Oz. "Oh, she bit her dog, eh?"

And, SD was one of the princesses in The Little Mermaid.  Three kids, lots of stage time.

Nat and the kids found time to take in the eclipse this past April:

And...for the first time...all three kids went off to Camp Techumseh.  Nothing better for the kids and the parents than good ole' fashioned camp.  

And, has Eloise talked to you about Harry Potter and the Cursed Child?  It opened in Chicago this Fall and we suspect that Eloise is the #1 fan.  She's been a handful of times and is desperate to go even more before it closes in early 2025.

 

Eloise made the DGN Tennis team:

Frankie fell in love with Football - and attended ALL of the DGN home games with Friday Night Lights:

We found time to get down to Champaign for a couple of Illini football games this season.  What a treat - good weather and a good team!

Milestones and Birthdays

We have a high schooler.  That's right, Eloise graduated from Eighth Grade at Herrick Junior High and enrolled as a Freshman at Downers Grove North High School.  The photos above are from her graduation.

Another trip around the sun for all of us. 

Sadie turned twelve.  (But...it sure feels like we have a second teenager living with us now...)

Frankie turned 10.  

And...Eloise is about to turn 15.  Yes...15.  STOP.

Travel and Visits

We spent Spring Break down with the Country Bears (and Mickey the Mouse, of course) in the most Magical Place in the world:  the Vacation Kingdom.

And, while that was the *only* family Disney parks trip, Nat went to both coasts a couple of times including some "work trips" - where she was one of the very first to ride Tiana's Bayou Adventure.  (Which...if we're being honest...is a *fine* name.  But...they *had* a BETTER name right in front of them.  "Princess and the Log", people.  "Princess and the LOG!".  Oh, well...)

We also gathered for Camp Moranimal in Twin Lakes in August - where the kids hung with their cousins and aunts and uncles.  And avoided Nat and I as best they could.  Nat and her sister Elise also are now boat owners - the Mazda Miata of Lake Elizabeth - that is fast and fun.  The kids were whipped around pretty good.  

Eloise was treated to an experience of HER LIFETIME courtesy of her 'cool' aunt in Los Angeles - where Eloise was able to be her "Plus one" at the Emmy's.  THE EMMY'!?!?

We took a road trip and made a couple of stops at Buccee's, of course.  I'm partial to the sammies.  That's SD above with the Beaver:

We also spent plenty of time outdoors - with nature.  Including to one of Nat's favorite places:  The Spruce Plot:

Work and Such

Speaking of travel, Nat's business has continued to grow in 2024 - where she worked with families to create unique experiences to Disney theme parks, Europe, Disney theme parks in Europe, cruises, the mountains, the ocean, and everywhere in between.  As we all expected, she's *really* good at it and has found a real calling.  There's so much more coming in 2025 from Natalie - including a broader focus on even more destinations, a bunch of new travel and more. So... if you're looking to travel anywhere...drop her a line, give her a follow or fill out her form.  

For me...2024 has been a year.  At work, there's been ups-and-downs.  Strikes-and-gutters.  Despite a rough recent patch for the firm, I'm still here at Edelman working on promoting brands, protecting reputations and building trust.  I'm fortunate to be looking at coming up on my twelve-year-anniversary at Edelman.

That about wraps up the year for us.  We're sure hoping you and yours had a good year, too.  

You made it this far? Holy cow. Here's a little treat: 

Below is Frankie with Bears great Olin Kreutz down in Champaign for the Illini game:

Here's to an even better 2025.

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