Christmas 2025

 Merry Christmas!

This year, we had visitors ... my Mom, sister Liz and her fiancé, Mack. Somehow I didn't get pictures of everyone.  But here are the kids. :) 

They each got a phone ... finally!  

Cambria Christmas Market

My goodness ... these kids of mine.

Each year, in the nearby coastal community of Cambria, they host the "Cambria Christmas Market" during December.  It's amazing at night with all the Christmas lights throughout their expansive property.  Weekends are especially busy and crazy.  

This year, we just went to their store during the day on the first day they were open.  Christian and Scarlett didn't want to go and made sure that they were totally goofy in the photos I took. 

Ah ... teenagers.

Christian Turns 18!

 

“The days are long, but the years are short.” Gretchen Rubin, The Happiness Project

Today our sweet boy becomes an 18 year old man!

When a mama has a young child, more seasoned mamas will remind her to "cherish these days because they go by so quickly." But in the midst of diapers, laundry and day-to-day parenthood, we often think those days will never end.

But they do end, and then suddenly your child is an adult.

We are so very proud of the young man Christian has become! He loves Jesus. He is sweet, kind, polite and well-mannered. He works and studies hard.

Christian has an amazing memory and a remarkable knack for trivia.

He LOVES movies and music of all genres. He's got too many favorites to list, but I love that he has discovered classic movies and absolutely loves Audrey Hepburn!

Christian is an old soul who flies under the radar as much as possible ... few people truly know what a wonderful human he really is!

Thankfully Christian is just a high school junior, so we've still got lots of time with him here at home before he goes off to conquer the world.

Happy, happy birthday to our 18 year old Christian! Welcome to adulthood!

A farewell from some of Christian's childhood pals.

See that purple "X" in front of one of his framed photographs? It's one of those foam letters for kids' bath time. As a young child, Christian absolutely loved X for the longest time and carried it *everywhere.* I'm so glad we kept it tucked away all these years! Such fond memories of Christian and his beloved X.

I had to make sure everyone in the neighborhood knew it was Christian's Birthday!

Christian is a huge movie buff, so of course his 18th birthday included watching "Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere."

The Wonders of Accutane

Christian has spent much of his teenage years with uncontrollable acne. No matter what we did - over the counter & prescription oral and topical meds - his acne would not improve.

So a few months ago, he started taking the infamous acne medication, Accutane. It really wasn't a path I wanted to take because it requires monthly bloodwork (Christian has a fear of needles), and monthly doctor visits.  But it was time ... we had done everything else.

Several months later, his face is looking so much better and far less enflamed.  I am so impressed!

This photo was taken at his dermatologist appointment today. He's such a good looking kid ... but he just doesn't see it. 

 

The Together Photos

Scarlett and Christian started school this year on different days, so it took a few days to get a photo of them together!

For size reference:  Christian is taller than Jonathan and Scarlett is getting very close to being as tall as I am at 5'3"

And of course, the required "make a goofy face" photo!

 

Christian's First Day of School - Junior Year!

Today Christian started his junior year at Templeton High School!  

He loves the shows Only Murders in the building and Dexter, and said his new "vibe" is a combination of looks from that show. 

But then I spied him in a video the school posted from the first day of school pep rally, and he unbuttoned his shirt, and put on the baseball cap.  So the new vibe was a short-lived vibe.

This year, he's taking:

• Weight Training (second year for this class)
• Anatomy & Physiology
• US History
• Geometry
• Transitions (a class for kids with IEPs to help prepare them for life beyond high school)
• English
• Digital Photography
• Digital Art

Christian still has his weekend job at the Paso Robles Pioneer Museum, and says he's saving his money for a trip to Paris.

(See Scarlett's first day of school here: https://loslucerosdeux.blogspot.com/2025/08/scarletts-first-day-of-school-8th-grade.html )

Christian is a "Kind Human Bean," Part II

The school gave Christian the "Kind Human Bean" award a couple of weeks ago but didn't post about it on social media as they usually do.  I wasn't sure they were going to share his photo, so I took my own with him wearing the shirt, and also a photo of the comments he got from a few teachers.

Awwww!  Just so proud of him!

Christian is a "Kind Human Bean"

Christian continues to be amazing and impress us!  Each month, one of our local coffee shops, "The Human Bean" recognizes one Templeton High School student as being a "Kind Human Bean" - so cute!

I love the write-up the did about Christian (posted under the photo). 

Celebrating Templeton High School's Kind Human Bean of the Month!

Meet Christian Lucero, April's Kind Human Bean of the Month from Templeton High School! Recognized for embodying kindness, respect, and a positive spirit, Christian stands out as a beacon of compassion and integrity on campus. His actions inspire other students and uplifts the school community, making Templeton High a better place for all.

Congratulations on this well-deserved honor! Keep shining and spreading kindness wherever you go.

#KindHumanBean #TempletonHighSchool #StudentSpotlight #KindnessMatters #TheHumanBean #CommunitySupport #PositiveVibes

Christian's 10th Grade Portrait

 Sure, it took me the entire school year to order the school photos.  But here it is!