Summer has always been my biggest fan (she continued wearing my HS cheer pin for years after I graduated.) She’s also my voice of reason. If you want an honest opinion, ask Summer. I don’t even think she’s capable of sugar-coating anything. I’ve lived most of my adult life “phoning a friend” any time important matters (like which wedding dress to buy) come up.. it might take us 3-5 business days to return each other’s calls, but we’ve always known what the other was feeling before words were even exchanged.

Ryan and Dillon have been best friends since birth. Even the Hollaar family’s move to Hartford when the boys were in 2nd grade didn’t hinder their friendship-it only improved their penmanship. To this day, the two continue to bond over their love for video games, killin’ sh*t, and beautiful blondes. It’s a bond that is second to none.

As the story goes, Nicole told Ryan he didn’t stand a chance with me the night we met. Thank goodness she was wrong (and thank goodness he didn’t listen)! She quickly realized that he did, in fact, stand a chance with me. She immediately welcomed not only myself, but also the kids, into the Hollaar family with open arms. We both wear our hearts on our sleeves, and we make no apologies about it.

Jordan always wanted to be friends with Ryan, but Ryan wasn’t so sure. So Jordan married his sister 🤣, and now the two are bros for life. With so much in common, you can usually find them fishing together, hunting together, building something together, or talking on the phone with each other about one of the above.

When Covid tried to shut the world down, our driveways opened up. Lindsay wandered up the street with a miller lite in her hand to introduce herself, and we never looked back. Our ADHD souls connected instantly over single-parenting, working too hard, and starting projects that we’ll never finish. She’s quick to give you the snuggie off her back, the wire-cutter from her attic, or the giant pot you need to make apple pie moonshine right out of her cupboard.

Seven year old Ryan made a pretty good sidekick for 17 year old Derek. He just had to win the ladies over with his charm, and in return got to listen to Kid Rock in Derek’s car. Don’t tell Greg and Lisa. These days it a little harder to tell them apart. They both turn into sloppy golfers after a few beers and cry themselves to sleep when their fantasy football league isn’t going the way they’d like.

Seeing Wendy and her family strolling down our sidewalk the day we moved into our house was one of life’s greatest surprises to date. It felt like she was dropped from the sky and placed back into my life after more than a decade apart. The timing was perfect, and the friendship much needed. We’ve spent the last 4.5 years shoppin’ ‘til we drop, laughing until we cry, and just crying in general because life is HARD. I know no matter what challenges come my way, I can count on a warm batch of Wendy’s life-changing chocolate-chip cookies to cheer me up.

Tad’s the type of guy you want on your team. He’ll be the first to give the shirt off his back and refuse anything in return. If we ever plan an event, I ask if Tad can come because that’s a sure-fire way to a good time. There’s bound to be music, laughter, whiskey, and an occasional cigar involved!

Our 11 yr old Taisley is wise beyond her years. She has a quirky personality that will either have you scratching your head or laughing with her hysterically. At times we can’t even tell if she’s laughing or crying because her emotions are BIG, and she’s not afraid to share them with us. She’s a book collector and animal lover-always trying to help a stray and hopes to own her own shelter some day. We love her whit and determination and enjoy supporting her in softball and choir.

Lawson is the spitting image of 9 yr old Ryan. They both love legos, video games, and giving authority a hard time, but Ryan is still trying to convert him into a Broncos fan and a car fanatic…They love their “boys’ nights” at Dave and Busters almost as much as the girls of the house enjoy the peace and quiet while they’re gone. Lawson’s knowledge of random facts has been impressive since he learned to talk-at least 80% of these facts are accurate 🤣.

Hazel is tough as nails! She once took a frisbee thrown by Uncle Ryan to the forehead and barely shed a tear. She’s always up for a new adventure and has been such a trooper spectating at her older cousin’s extra-curricular activities. You can tell she works hard on her academics both at school and home because she’s easily smarter than a 5th grader.

You’ll never catch this kid in a bad mood. He wakes up with jokes on his mind and truly loves life. Although he’s a Mama’s boy through and though, he still loves following his older siblings everywhere and getting dirty on the farm. Despite having the best flag football coach of all time, he’s still trying to gauge whether it’s his jam or not. He might be a little too pre-occupied for organized sports!

Lola’s smile is sooo contagious. The world would be a better place if everyone just adopted her same free spirit. She has no fear with anything she does or tries. She’s always taking in her surroundings and calculating her next move. She’s definitely going to tear up the dance floor!

Karson may be one of the quietest on both sides of our families, but he’s not lacking in adventurous ideas or practical jokes. He’s been dedicated to trying new sports and loves them all. His older sisters are going to have a hard time dating any time soon! He’ll be sure to chase off any prospects.

Jaida’s the youngest of the bunch, but don’t confuse that with being the weakest. She knows what she wants, and little miss independent will do it herself! Since her vocabulary has taken off, it’s easy to see that her sense of humor will definitely take her places in life.

Kason is always FULL of questions! He’s gotta get to the bottom of everything. He’s obsessed with all things Sonic and his big cousin Lawson. His sense of humor keeps everyone around him laughing.

These ladies are two peas in a pod. They have the same kind heart and “how-can-I-help” personalities. Their smiles light up every room they walk into, and their energy is both calming and rejuvenating at the same time. They can tell if haven’t slept or eaten enough just by looking at me! The lectures on those things are never-ending 🤣. I’m so lucky to have them by my side both at work and in life. It was a no-brainer to ask for their support on one of the most special days of my life.