From Our Corner of the World: The Frederick Family Newsletter

Welcome to our first update!

We’ve been thinking a lot about how we want to remember this time in our lives. While we love staying connected, social media often feels too fast and fragmented to really capture the intentional life we are building. We wanted a quiet, dedicated place to document our journey and share updates without them getting buried in an algorithm.

This monthly newsletter is a way for us to share the stories and lessons we’re gaining as we simplify and focus on what truly matters.

What You Can Expect:

A short (2–5 minute), photo-friendly update on our previous month, including:

• The Month in Review: A quick snapshot of our month.
• Family Highlights: One or two wins per person.
• The Reading Rainbow: Books we’re reading and what I’m thinking deeply about.
• Tales from the Kitchen: New recipes we’re brave enough to try.
• Where in the World…: Travel updates and future plans.
• A Look Ahead: What’s on the horizon for next month.

What this is NOT:

• A brag sheet or a formal holiday letter.
• Mandatory reading—just a window into our lives whenever you feel like looking in.

What We’ve Been Up to Lately (The Mini Update)

Since this is the first one, here’s a tiny taste of what’s been happening:

• In the Garden: Spring finally feels like it’s here after that unexpected winter weather in April. We’ve been out revitalizing our herb garden. Last year was my first season planting herbs; seeing them survive the winter was a huge win, so we’re adding several new varieties this year.
• The Kids:
  • Ava is knee-deep in AP testing and college decisions while soaking up the final months of high school. It’s that unique milestone where you feel like you’ve learned everything there is to know, while we, as parents, know she’s just at the starting line.
  • Ruth is in a beautiful stage of curiosity, obsessed with reading, languages, art, and outdoors. At six, everything is still so new; we’re just trying to figure out how to keep that flame of curiosity alive.
• The Grown-Ups: Aaron is focused on the business and looking around corners for new acquisition opportunities. As for me, I’m spending my days studying Spanish, researching the brain; specifically how to use it most effectively, and mapping out our next travel adventures – oh my!

The Reading Rainbow

What I’m Reading: I’m currently rotating through a few very different worlds. I’m diving into the grit and intensity of The Poppy War, while also sharpening my own learning habits with the classic How to Read a Book. Alongside those, I’m reading Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise.

Deep Thoughts: Reading Peak has me thinking deeply about the difference between just “doing” something and “deliberate practice.” It’s making me look at everything from my writing to how we support the girls’ through the lens of building true expertise. It’s a great reminder that the way we use our brains matters just as much as the time we put in.

What Ruth is Reading: Ruth is currently flying through the Elephant & Piggie series (Gerald and Piggie’s friendship is a household staple right now!). For our nightly read-aloud, we are currently in the middle of The Wild Robot Escapes. It’s been such a fun way to end the day together.

Where in the World is… The Frederick Family?

The maps are officially out! We are currently in the thick of planning a massive adventure for this summer. We’ll be heading across the pond to Europe, specifically trekking through the UK, France, and Spain. There is something about the planning phase that feels just as adventurous as the travel itself. Stay tuned for itinerary updates!

Tales from the Kitchen

This month’s “Kitchen Tale” features a successful experiment: Pineapple Bread. It was absolutely delicious! The big takeaway? The key is using fresh pineapple rather than canned—it gives it a sweetness and texture that you just can’t get otherwise.

Looking Ahead

Next month’s newsletter will include our first full “Month in Review”—complete with photos, quotes, and at least one inevitable mishap. Thanks for letting us share a little more of the ordinary, wonderful chaos.

With love,

Michelle, Aaron, Ava, and Ruth