The obligatory 2011 re-cap.

Here we are, at the end of 2011.

Another year comes to a close.

Another year full of experiences...

growing...

...lessons learned..

ups and downs.

Ups and downs. That's kinda how I feel the year was... it was either up or down. I guess that was to be expected after the awesomeness that was all of 2010.

The theme of 2011 seemed to ring nothing ever goes as planned.

Remember -- marathon training? Oh yeah, that never happened.

Sure didn't plan this. That's for sure.

Bahamas? Beautiful, awesome girls trip with Cousin, buuut... still some hiccups.

Even though Alaska was amazing, even that didn't go off without a hitch.

And Kosmo losing his small intestine sure wasn't anything we planned for.

THANK GOD this went totally according to plan though.

Phew :)

And even though not everything went according to my plans this year, I know that everything happens for a reason. I know there's a bigger plan at work. I learned a lot. About celebrating the little things in life. Living in the moment. How to make the best of things that don't go the way you want them to. Not taking anything for granted. Especially people... family... loved ones.

Some things did go just as planned though.

We added Lola to our family and she has just been perfect. Well, Josh would argue otherwise, especially when she poops in the house, but I think her's just perfect. Especially for us. And he totally loves her now. Well, he always did... but especially the past few months after she became less of a crazy puppy who chews on everything and poops everywhere and more of a good girl who listens most of the time and finally sleeps through the night.

And Kosmo? Well, he's just smitten. He loves his baby sister (even now that she's bigger than he is) :)

Other awesome things that seemed to work out just right?

I was able to spend time with my brothers and my family more than just during the holidays.

I've been able to dabble in photography a little more, learn more about it, and have some fun with it in the name of a tiny little side business.

My brother Adam got engaged to an amazing girl and in 2012 I'll get a new sister!!!

Can't WAIT! Love you Jenn!!

I've made new friendships and sunk deeper into old ones.

And even if none of my trips this year went just according to plan, I still had the opportunity to visit some amazing places and see more of this beautiful world!!

-- I got to spend quality time with my favoritest Cousin!!! In the Bahamas!

I really, really, REALLY hope this Girls' Trip thing becomes an annual thing. Or at least a bi-annual thing!

-- Alaska? AHHH-MAZ-ING!

I mean, I rode in a helicopter.. the door flew open!... we stood on a freaking glacier. Unreal.

I got a bike (thanks B!!) and completed a triathlon. I turned 25. We had good family time up at the family farm.

We went camping and jet skiing. Lola graduated from puppy class. And even though I wasn't able to really run, Josh totally smashed his running goals and PR'd his half marathon time AND began marathon training. His 1st marathon is only 15 days away!

We set some new traditions, celebrated some birthdays, had lots of fun, and made lots of wonderful memories.

I've been thinking about resolutions... and I've decided that, if there's one thing 2011 taught me, it's that sometimes even no matter how much you want something, sometimes life just has other plans. If I say I want to run a marathon (as I said last year), I can try all I want but it just may not be in the cards. Not that you shouldn't make goals and strive to achieve them; I'm not saying that at all. I'm just saying, this year -- my only goal, my only resolution is to be happy & content, thankful for what I have, and do the best I can with the opportunities and things I'm given. I want to love better. I want to show the people I care about how much I love them. I want to seize the moment. Soak it all in. I want to do all I can to keep becoming the best version of myself possible.... and I think if I do these things, good things will happen.

So overall? Some wins, some losses, but all in all 2011 was a pretty great year.

Here's to 2012! Make it your best.

[2010] [2009]

Eleven.

My brother Eric posted this photo of my Dad on Facebook sometime this past year. He was about 30 when it was taken... at least that's what they tell me. I wasn't born then so I wouldn't know.

I enjoy seeing "new" old pictures of him. Pictures that I haven't seen before. They either give me a glimpse into his life before I knew him or bring me back to a time in my life when he was still here.

The funny thing about this picture (besides his hair ;)) is that this is exactly how I remember him -- even though this was taken long before I was probably even thought of. He always wore a tie, and a button-down shirt, and he always, always, had a pen or two in his shirt pocket. That's just how it was. And I can't tell if the ones in his pocket in this picture are the same, but I remember he liked those silly pens with "wet" ink and really thin points that I always found seriously hard to write with.

I can't believe it's been 11 years now. SO crazy to even think about that. How is that even possible? Every year when this day rolls around.... I think about all the things that have happened to me in the past year and how I wish my Dad was here to be a part of it all. What would it be like if he was? What would he have thought about me and Eric going sky diving? Would he have begged us not to do it and stayed safely on the ground with Adam, or been there right along with us? I kind of think he might have taken the plunge, too :)

I wonder if I'd feel quite the same way if the anniversary of his death wasn't right at the New Year, when you're kind of nostalgic about the past year already?

I love you Dad... and miss you so so much.

[ 2011 re-cap coming tomorrow ]

Christmas pajamas make everything happier!

...continued from Part 1.

Christmas: The Morning

LET'S GO SEE WHAT SANTA BROUGHT US!!!

One of Josh's family's traditions is breakfast together on Christmas morning. Last year I decided it would be super fun if we did this tradition IN PAJAMAS!! I mean that just makes sense right? You eat breakfast in pajamas. And I mean if nothing else, it's more comfy. And I'm all about being comfy.

So this year, I made the executive decision that in order to be allowed in the house you had to have on pajamas. They didn't even have to be Christmasy. I'm not picky. I just wanted to make it a little more fun/silly/happy. Obviously, the men in the family were thrilled ;) Josh doesn't even own sweatpants, let alone pajamas, so I got him some that were kinda Christmasy, but not over-the-top so he could wear them after Christmas too.

Luckily, Josh's family embraced my Christmas craziness this year and went along with it!!! :D I'm not sure if they even realize it, but little things like this -- like wearing pajamas on Christmas morning -- are helping me enjoy Christmas again and I thank them for that!! :)

I love the little butt on Lola's!! I'm thinking I should dress the dogs more often. Josh even admitted that Lola looked adorable in her Christmas jammies (!!!! yes he did !!!!) Kosmo looked cute too, but poor little guy's pajamas kinda swallowed him since he's lost weight from his surgery... I tried to get him a smaller size but he was too long for those. Too long for smalls, too skinny for mediums... poor guy.

I think I picked a winner! Josh hasn't put his Kindle Fire down since he opened it... minus the hours he was sleeping.



While breakfast was cooking, Gage and Morgan showed off their letters from Santa Claus!

And breakfast was served!

Waffles (with syrup of course -- like Buddy the Elf!!), eggs, biscuits & gravy, and orange rolls! Been forever since I'd had those!

We spent the morning hanging out, eating delicious food, and watching Elf.


After everyone left we spent the rest of the day in our festive jammies and had a wonderful lazy day at home! I kind of think that's exactly how Christmas should be :)

Lola slept all day. ALL DAY. We tried to go for a family walk around the neighborhood in our pajamas (and deliver a present to our neighbors) but I could not wake her up! I poked her, blew in her face, and literally had to just pick her up and stand her up in order to wake her up. BABY GIRL WAS TIRED. Christmas wears her out apparently! When we finally did make it outside, she would take 2 steps then just sit there. BABY GIRL WAS LAZY. So our walk never really happened and our neighbors weren't home, but we did get a bit of fresh air.




Hope your Christmas was everything you hoped it would be!!

Merry, Merry!

"The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other."

~ Burton Hillis

Christmas: The Eve

Round 1

My mom and Mark, along with the Boston Terriers of course, came over to exchange gifts.

Lola, Kosmo, & Roobee -- Mack was there too, but I was lucky enough to get 3 of the 4 all in one photo.



Afterwards, the traditions with Josh's family started rolling -- Christmas Eve pizza dinner, A Christmas Story, and presents.

Behold, Round 2.





I wrapped all of our gifts the night before -- except 2 that Josh had gotten for his parents and I didn't know where they were. He wouldn't tell me. I'm guessing they were in his "secret hiding spot" and he didn't want me to know where that was.... so I left those 2 for him to wrap.

I love my B and most things about him, but when it comes to wrapping Christmas presents, he does not have a sense of urgency. When we'd all exchange gifts on Christmas morning, we would be up all night wrapping gifts on Christmas Eve. Apparently this year he didn't get the memo that we were all exchanging gifts on Christmas Eve instead of in the morning, because when it came time to open presents, he was running around the house wrapping those last 2 gifts.... silly B ;)

Meanwhile, the rest of us watched A Christmas Story. Patiently waiting for present time!


Finally the gifts were wrapped and we dug in!

Of course, it wouldn't be a family get together without the Angry Birds!

Apparently the Boston Terrier Party beforehand wore little Lola out, because she pretty much slept through Christmas Eve.

Seriously, check out the bigger picture.

In the midst of all the Christmas chaos and commotion, she slept. She'd open her eye every once in awhile but I'm pretty sure she didn't move from that spot once she fell into it. And then she slept all night long. And when she woke up in the morning, she got up for 10 minutes and then went back to sleep. Lola's 1st Christmas (with us) must have been exhausting!


I got Josh a Kindle Fire. First thing he does? Angry Birds, of course.

I love how kids get toys and then just want to play with the boxes. :)

Ha! Please notice what's in the background...
Hint:

Of course.

I should probably start embracing this Angry Birds thing, huh?

After everyone left, Josh and I curled up by the fire, by the light of the Christmas tree and watched a movie (Water for Elephants) and enjoyed a glass of wine.




Perfect ending to Christmas Eve.

To be continued.....

[Christmas quote from here]