2012 Recap

I'm starting to read blog posts about wrapping up 2012 and reflecting on the year, and I'm thinking, "Wait, what??"  We've had such a sweet holiday season that I guess I'm just not quite ready for it to end.  I was trying to determine if it was a "good" year or not, and I believe it definitely has been.  It's a little difficult to top 2011, with an engagement and a wedding, but it's been a good one, for sure. 

This recap is just for us to remember 2012, so feel free to skip or skim--I realize it's quite long!

Here are some of our favorite highlights:

Events planned:

1. Adam's birthday festivities
2. SMoo's 25th Birthday weekend
3. Guatemala Benefit Concert (at Mom & Dad's house)
4. Shauna Saturday (w/ Anna, Mom and Laura)
5. Mom's birthday party
6. March for Babies*
7. Signature Chefs*
8. Breakfast with a Champion (much easier a second time around!)*

*work events
 
Friends and family who visited our home:

1. Dave P., AMP's buddy from Iowa
2. David (AMP's bro) from Iowa (and the great stomach bug of 2012)
3. Mary Ellen, before her half marathon race
4. Patriot Cash, our dog-swap buddy 
5. Mike and Norene (June and again in December, with the dogs!)
6. Papa & Jonita for Father's Day lunch w/ the Paulsons, and my multiple kitchen goof ups
7. Joey and Amanda (with the dogs), and occasionally just Amanda!
8. SMoo, Claire and Lyndsy all over at various times for girl's night sleepovers
9. Mom & Dad for dinner at Halloween
10. Progressive Dinner w/ the Cashes and Phillips
11. Guatemala Friends Dinner

Trips and Adventures:

1. January: Mendocino County, California
2. February: Adam's ski trip to Colorado, Shay in Waco to see Anna' perform in Sing
3. March: Staycation at the Adolphus (6 month anniversary)
4. May: Boston for Troy's Graduation and our trip up to Maine
5. June: Shay's trip to Houston to surprise Amanda
6. July: Guatemala Mission Trip, Boathouse weekend and the BSB weekend
7. August: Trip to Iowa (with Rye)
8. September: Anniversary trip to Disney Land and Twain Hart, CA
9. November: Adam's first Baylor Homecoming and our first Dixon Thanksgiving spent at the Lake

Fun Dates:

1. Nick & Sam's Grill--V-day, Six Month & One year anniversaries
2. Jump Street
3. Arboretum
4. State Fair & Addam's Family Musical with the Cashes
5. Shay's b-day dinner at Kenny's Woodfire Gril
6. Lakehouse getaway, just the 2 of us!
7. Pumpkin Carving Double-Date w/ Bryan & Claire

Projects we accomplished:

1. Washer Stand
2. Picnic Table
3. Chalkboard wall
4. Pallet Art
5. Light in the bathroom
6. Ottoman Slip Cover
7. Map Wall Art
8. Drop Cloth Curtains
9. Rewiring the garage lighting
10. Guatemala Fundraising...40 lasagnas and lots of babysitting jobs later
11. The Pocket Buzz Blog
12. Whole 30 eating

Major Decisions we made:

1. Adopting Rye
2. Going back to school
3. Changing Fire Stations (a great thing!)
4. Selling the 4Runner & buying Etta the Jetta
5. Going to Guatemala on our mission trip
6. Getting rid of cable (surprisingly, not bad!)
7. Buckling down on our budget to save for school

Traditions we started:

1. Snug time w/ Rye Dog after work
2. A picnic and Sprinkles Cupcakes on our engagement anniversary
3. Wearing my wedding shoes on our anniversary
4. Buying Lotto tickets...just occasionally!
5. Weekly Meal Planning

New (to us) Restaurants we like:

1. Keller's Burgers
2. Penne Pomodoro
3. Taverna 
4. Kenny's Woodfire Grill
5. Smoke
6. Whiskey Cake

Celebrating highs and lows with dear friends:

1. Smoo's Dad is battling prostate cancer, but it has been a joy to walk this road with her, see him respond positively to treatment, and rejoice in another year of full life for Bobby.
2. Joey got a job in Houston, so that meant he and Amanda moved further away, instead of closer, like we'd hoped.  Our friendship isn't defined by miles, though, and we've made the best of it!
3. Claire fell in love and got engaged!  Pure sweetness!  So excited.  Can't wait for June 2013.
4. I finally got to meet one of AMP's really great friends, his roommate while in college.  Dave was driving through Texas several times in the spring, and we enjoyed seeing him multiple times during those months!  And this summer, I finally got to meet his wife Elizabeth, and their little boy.  I love getting to be around people who are important to Adam, so this was a definite highlight.
5. One of my favorite things has been "Brunette Dinners," where I get together with SMoo, Lyndsy and Claire about once a month for dinner.  We catch up and hang out, and just get to "be."  Next year, we are going to start rotating dinners at our own places, so that will be a fun new thing.  I'm so grateful for their friendship!  Before we get up from the table, we whip out our phones and put the next dinner on our calendars.  Usually, it's about a month out, but we just do what we gotta do!

 Specific Things to Remember:

1. We learned our lesson the hard way that it's best just to tell your realty company when you get a dog.  Probably the less-expensive route.  :-) 
2. I won my first ever blog giveaway, a pre-released copy of Shauna Niequist's newest book, Bread & Wine.  A total highlight!
3. We grew roots in our church, by going to the Newlywed class, singing on the praise team, going to Guatemala with 90 people we didn't know, and joining a weekly Bible study in the Fall.  And my favorite, we made church friends!!  Hooray.
4. Adam has gone back to school, and made A's in his classes.  This is no small feat, considering it's Organic Chemistry and Anatomy & Physiology.  I am so proud of him.

Wrapping it up:
As I reflect on this list, it's becoming clear that we spend a lot of time hosting events, hanging with friends and family, working on house projects and traveling together.  It has been a year of growth, a year of laughter and fun things together, and a year of loving on each others people.  I love that.

Our other biggest joy was, without a doubt, the process of going to Guatemala together, working toward our goal, and finally getting to see what the trip was all about.  We have a heart for the kids there, for their education to continue and for their hearts to be softened toward the things of God.  Not only did we get to serve together, we made "couple friends" together, and they are so much fun to be with!

I can't wait to see what 2013 has in store for us.  Besides five weddings in January through June, we'll apply to PA schools in June, find out in the Fall and see where that leads.  Ready or not, here we come!  

{2011 Review}