Christmas 2009

Spending Christmas in Wisconsin with my family was a real treat. My nieces and nephews are in that perfect age range in which the magic of Santa is alive and well, and their excitement adds a special spirit to the holiday. Our traditions include attending a Christmas pageant service at either my parents' or my sister's church (this year was my sister's), eating a nice dinner together at my sister's house, and then everyone sleeps over at my parents' house. The kids all have a slumber party in the basement, and at 7am they are allowed to go upstairs to open their stocking presents, and then wake the adults. After 7am, we open presents in our pajamas, eat a nice brunch together, and then play the rest of the day!
Christmas EveA "snow-couple" created by my niece and brotherHow do you wrap a hockey stick? This reminded me of the Peyton Manning commercial with the football...."You'll never guess what it is..."
The Christmas blouse :)

2010 Resolutions

In looking ahead to the next year, I feel sure that 2010 holds many exciting adventures for SB and me as we continue our first year of newlywed-hood (though I'd be happy if it wasn't quite as eventful as 2009!). Here are a few of my goals for the new year:

• Join a gym and make strength training more of a priority. Ever since our move I've relied on running and tennis to stay in shape, but I want to start working out at a gym again.
  
• Travel whenever the opportunity presents itself. It will only get more difficult to be able to do so in the future.
  
• Read the book I have on financial planning in January and take a more active approach to investments, etc.
• Be proactive about planning to do things with new friends in St. Louis, and continue to make more friends here.
• Make things happen at work.
  
• Be the best wife for my husband, the best daughter to my parents, the best sister for my siblings, and the best friend to my friends that I can be.
  

2009 was a life-changing year. Here's a quick recap of some of the highlights:

• Moved from Washington DC to the St. Louis area (June)
  
• GOT MARRIED!!!!! (July 11)
• Bought a house!!!! (closed on June 30)
  
• SB started a new job
• Traveled to Jackson Hole, WY (friends' weddding), Atlanta, Athens, GA (visited family and friends), New York City (work), Washington DC (work), Chicago (girls' weekend with high school friends), Madison, WI (visited family, bridal shower, Halloween weekend), Ponte Vedra Beach, FL (wedding), Kiawah Island, SC (honeymoon), Nashville (Rams v. Titans game)
  
• Trained for, and ran my first half-marathon (March)
• Joined the Junior League
• Started a blog (and holy smokes, I have 50 followers! You guys are wonderful, and I love reading your blogs, sharing in your joy, learning from your trials and tribulations, and getting to know you all better!)
  

Family Football Tradition

Hello all!! I hope you had the merriest of Christmases last week. Our trip to Wisconsin was wonderful. The drives up and back were both filled with freezing rain/snow/ice, and were about 90 minutes longer than what they should have been....but we arrived safely, so I guess that's what counts. I'll fill you in on more Christmas fun, but tonight my mind's on the football bowl games!

My dad has hosted a family football bowl game pool ever since I can remember. We would all make our picks for the biggest of the bowls (now there are so many that don't really count, we just narrow it down to the biggest games, and the family's favorite teams), and throw a quarter into the pot. These days, now that we've all moved in our separate directions, we do everything over email, and our extended family participates too. We no longer charge that quarter fee.....the winner just gets bragging rights for the year. Tonight is the first game in our pool.....UGA v. Texas A&M. Our little house out here is cheering for UGA!! (we're watching it on DVR right now since it started at 4pm our time) I can't remember the last time I won the family bowl game pool, so keep your fingers crossed for me!! Last year my uncle and my 2-year-old nephew tied to win the whole thing (which proves that luck and skill factor in equally to pick the true winners!!).

Merry Christmas (a tad early)

The days are flying by, and Christmas is right around the corner! I can't wait to spend time with my family, and especially to share Christmas with my husband for the first time as a married couple! Thankfully, my brother's family arrived safely Sunday morning, and so the last arrivals will be SB and me. We have a full schedule of activities and events - so it will surely be a whirlwind, but a very, very fun one!! I wish each and every one of you a joyful, peaceful, wonderful Christmas!

Oh, Mother Nature!

Today in Missouri we woke to the first snowfall of the year. Granted, there's just a light covering of snow on the ground - but I love seeing the white stuff this time of the year! As you surely know, the east coast is getting hammered with snow. My brother's family (with 3 little ones between 5 and 1) was supposed to fly into Madison from Manhattan today to help celebrate my little niece's 9th birthday (can't believe she's 9!!!) and watch her Nutcracker performance (so sad that we're missing it!!). At first he emailed to say that their flight was canceled, and there were no flights between now and Christmas. Hours later he miraculously managed to book 4 tickets tomorrow. My fingers are majorly crossed that they get out ok!! I hope that Mother Nature doesn't spoil any of your Christmas travel plans!!

A few pics

So I missed wordless Wednesday......but here are a few pics to share:

This first one was taken the week of my wedding. A huge storm was blowing in on the left of us, but the sky was beautiful and bright blue to the right. The clouds were oh-so-dark and ominous, but the sun made everything else shine.

These sunrise pictures were taken in my backyard really early in the morning. The colors in the sky were just breathtaking!

Wish List

This has been a big year - with a wedding, a move halfway across the country, and a new house. I sincerely feel like I have everything I need in my life right now - and I'm really looking forward to going home to Wisconsin for Christmas (where my Georgia-born and bred husband will be experiencing 17 inches of snow, and subzero temperatures!!) Buuuuut.... what would Christmas be without a little wish list, right? Here are a few goodies on mine:

Transition back to December-esque posting!

Our Christmas cards have been mailed - and I'm happy with the finished product (I debated the concept of matte photo finish versus 110 cardstock for a long time when submitting the final order, and I think I wish that I went with the cardstock....but I'll probably have many more years ahead to give that a try)!! I don't know about you all, but I'm a firm believer in writing a message on each one, and not just stuffing them in an envelope and slapping a stamp on them (nothing like a personal touch to make it a bit more meaningful ..... as taught to me by my father).
(PS - not sure why the picture is so pixelated.....oh well, you get the gist :)

Post-Ceremony Pictures

Wedding Pictures: The Ceremony