I’m taking a trip down memory lane today…back to 2020, 2022, and spring of 2024 when these three siblings all graduated high school within just a couple years of each other. It was an honor to have all three of them featured on my blog to celebrate each one’s high school completion and all of their accomplishments! I dusted off their senior pictures from my archives to remember back to my favorite picture from each session.
You can see the full sneak peeks from each of their senior sessions here, here, and here.
It’s also pretty remarkable that all three siblings decided to attend the same college! The oldest (J) just earned his bachelor’s degree from Notre Dame (congratulations!) and he’s moving on to get his masters there. Middle sister (A) will be a junior at Notre Dame this year, and together they are welcoming their baby sister (M) to Notre Dame for her freshman year next month. Together, they are the J-A-M siblings! They have been dedicated to scouting for many years, and now they help run scouting camps and other youth programs. They are nothing short of an incredible bunch of young people!! I know mom will proudly hang these beautiful pictures of her sweet kiddos (turned adults) in her home to enjoy and cherish forever!
Mom took the time to put her heart (her kids) on paper. Enjoy what she has to say below, and JAM siblings, enjoy your sneak peek!
-Jamie
Parker, Colorado Family Photographer
Telling YOUR Story
Tell us about the importance of scouting for your family.
Family tradition – the JAM Trio has an Eagle Scout grandfather, a grandmother who was a Girl Scout, and their Mom (me) who also was a Girl Scout. It was important to me for the kids to be in scouting so D (their dad) and I got our JAM trio started as soon as they were old enough. J joined Cub Scouts in 1st grade and the girls joined Daisy Girl Scouts as Kindergartners. Over the years D and I were active in many ways in both programs, always supporting the kids. J achieved Eagle Scout rank just before he turned 15, but continued to give back to his troop as a Junior Scoutmaster, until aging out of the program at 18. He spent a few summers working as a Den Guide at Magness, the Cub Scout camp part of McNeil Scout Ranch at Peaceful Valley (PV), in Elbert, CO. The girls became Program Aids (PA’s) and spent a few summers assisting at Franktown Day Camp. In 2019, girls were allowed to join Scouts BSA (fka Boy Scouts of America). Jacob encouraged his sisters to join since at the time, their Girl Scout Troops weren’t as active as the girls were hoping. All three of them loved camping, high adventure, learning how to be effective leaders, and the exposure to so many different things by earning merit badges. A achieved the rank of Eagle Scout shortly before age 18 and also earned her Girl Scout Gold Award. She is the family’s “Golden Eagle”. She is currently an Assistant Program Director at PV having worked several summers as a rock climbing counselor and a Den Guide. Megan too achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and earned her Girl Scout Silver Award. She works at PV as the Lake Director having spent a few summers as a canoeing and row boating counselor. Scouting has given them practical and lifelong skills they now use as young adults. Each has found enough value in the program to want to give back to those coming up through the ranks.
What do the JAM siblings enjoy doing together?
They are typical siblings with 3 years and 8 months between them. A fair amount of sibling bickering takes place, but they are also the best of friends. They enjoy high ropes courses, camping, and indoor rock climbing together. Watching movies, playing board games, and sharing meals where they can just hang out and talk about school and share job stories is also time well spent together. The girls often look to their older brother for advice in many areas.
What makes them laugh together?
Being goofy – a McDonald’s coupon good only in Washington DC, expired in 2015, is still a popular Birthday gift passed around. A can of black beans has been put into the bag of a sibling heading off on a retreat, trip, or camp out. One even made it to college with Jacob unknown until he unpacked. 3-D printed gnomes, in many colors and sizes, have been found hiding all over the house, and of course, made their way into backpacks, luggage, etc. J thinks this is funny, no one likes the gnomes.
Tell me about the decision to send them all to Notre Dame.
The kids have always worked hard and were all blessed to be accepted at the University of Notre Dame. J paved the way starting as a freshman in the fall of 2020 during the pandemic. It’s one of those schools where if you get in you figure out how to finance it. He recently graduated but will continue on at Notre Dame in Master’s Degree program this fall. A will be a junior and M will be a freshman. None of the kids set foot on the campus until they were accepted to attend the University. They are all excited to be in college at the same University this fall.
Describe what your family means to you.
Family means there is always someone there to help you grow and work through the highs and lows of life. They are the ones who know you best, understand you, support you, and love you unconditionally. You can count on family to be honest with you, even if what you need to hear is not what you want to hear. Family is a place you can fail, pick yourself up, try again, and persevere. Family is security, you are always welcome. As any mom would say, family is the most important thing, it’s everything.
