Off To A Good Start!

Oh Lordy, this is long.

Save it for when you're desperate.....  like if you get stuck on an elevator or something.  It's that bad.

How is your 2013 going?

We're only a few weeks into the new year, and already I'm behind on uploading photos (hence this post that never ends).

Here are a few from our New Year's Eve....

We went for Mexican food with Mom, Dad, Jason, Sam and Abby...

And then back to our house to ring in the New Year.  How sweet is this New Year's Eve baby?

We have done our Christmas with Sam and Jason on New Year's Eve for quite a few years now.

Troy and I found the neatest ornament shop when we were in New England.  We couldn't resist these for Sam and Jason...

Sam has told Abby from birth that we are "Aunt Kristin and Uncle Troy," which melts my heart into a million pieces.  But currently, Abby only gives Troy the title ....   she address me just by my name...but this is still her "Untle Troy"....

Jen and Nate walked over before midnight so that they could ring in the new year with us....

Isn't there some kind of saying about the people you ring in the new year's eve with are the people you'll spend your year with?

Maybe I made that up??  It sounds good, so I'm going with it.

Kisses at midnight....

Do you make New Year's resolutions?  I never really have and I think that's because I dread the New Year SO much.  I have trouble with endings and good-byes in general   Also, it's the end of the holiday season...  the end of a year full of so many memories...  it's bittersweet to me. 

I do however, always reflect back on our year.  I try to name the highlight, or what I feel was our biggest blessing of that year.  Going back just a couple of years.... my biggest blessing of 2010 was Troy matching for residency at the University of Louisville....  and buying our home.  I've said for a year now, that my biggest blessing of 2011 was a new friend and neighbor.  I love having such a close friend across the street.  And my biggest blessing of 2012 was by far the traveling we were able to do.  Five vacations in one year was an unbelievable opportunity for us, and one I'll always be thankful for.  Especially knowing that we started 2012 with "we can't have a baby yet...  we need to travel more....just the two of us."  We had no idea the Lord would bless us with the trips and opportunities that He did.  It still gives me goosebumps to think about it.

No matter the year or what I consider our biggest blessing...  we always seem to end every year with "this was our best year yet!"  I hope to say the same again at the end of 2013, no matter it's details.

Maybe that's my resolution.




Do you remember when I talked about Jen, and her best friend Lauren expecting at the same time?

Miss Erin Elizabeth has arrived!

A few weeks ago, we drove to Northern Kentucky (where Lauren lives) to see baby Erin and to celebrate Jen's birthday.

The new big brother....

 Megan and Erin....

This is Jen's boss, Julie...  her and Megan drove from Lexington to see Erin and to celebrate Jen's birthday.  I adore Julie.  She is so good to Jen and is the world's best boss.  She invited me to the next "work meeting" at Keeneland ....and said she'd just tell them I was her temp.  Love it!

We drove to Maggiano's for lunch to celebrate Jen's birthday.  Yes.  We drove to Cincinnati for lunch.  We enjoy it that much.

Between courses and the insane amount of food...  we passed Erin around....

After dinner, we visited the mall.  Jen and Lauren shopped for their new baby girls.  I loved watching them ooh and aah over all things girl.

Jen now refers to this day as the "world's longest lunch date," as we left Louisville at 10:30am and returned 11 hours later.  Time flies when you're having fun!  Thank you girls for including me in your day.  And to Karla- it just wasn't the same without you!  We did terrible with placing our orders, and really needed you there to control the situation.  Oh how we miss you.



Jen's wasn't the only birthday we celebrated.  Jason turned 40 this month and we celebrated with his family,  close friends, and Japanese food!

Troy and I took a couple of photos before we left for the party.  I had to share this one.  Troy is on a dermatology rotation right now, and the physician who works in the lab brings her cat to work every day (??).  Troy is allergic to cats, but can't resist them.  He LOVES them.  He's been coming home from work with itchy eyes/nose because he won't leave the cat alone.  He got a piece of cat hair (I guess) in his right eye on this day.   :)

After Japanese food, we went back to Sam/Jason's for dessert.  Debbie (Sam's mom) wanted Troy's medical expertise on something.  We were dying laughing because it reminded us of Sam's wedding rehearsal dinner (2006).  Debbie cut her hand during the rehearsal dinner and one of the aunts yelled for Troy to come to the rescue. 

He had been in medical school for 2 weeks...  but apparently in the midst of panic, they thought he could stitch it right up.  He looked at the hand and said..  "yeah...  you cut it," and didn't have too much more to offer.

Seven years ... and thousands of dollars later.. .  he knows a few things, : )   and can now provide adequate assessments at the kitchen table.

Debbie's copay was waived due to her keeping me company at the hibachi table during dinner.

; )

Happy Birthday Jason!  We love you!

Still not finished with birthdays.....

This weekend we celebrated a very late birthday with my brother-in-law....... who by the way may be the sweetest brother-in-law there is.

I don't say enough good about Eric on this blog.  He and Troy were inseparable when I came into the picture.  They spent their summers camping, going to the movies, Kings Island...  you name it.  And then Troy met me.  Their guy movies and fishing trips were replaced with Troy spending his every minute planning our next date.  

Even after Troy and I began dating, they at least played games on Sundays at the kitchen table.

And then Troy married me.... and left home.

I feel like he also left behind his brother time...   and I've always wondered why Eric is (and always has been) so good to me.

He is crazy smart, very successful, and a good man.  

And his girlfriend Sarah puts up with me and my picture taking ..... with a smile : ).  

Happy Belated Birthday Eric!  We are so proud of you and love you very much!

In between birthday weekends, I've enjoyed a couple of lunch dates.  Cheryl S. and I had lunch together one Tuesday and saw "Le Miserables."

It was a beautiful movie with great music and talent!  But the company is what I enjoyed the most.  Cheryl told me once that even though she's only known me for a few years, she feels like it's been a lifetime.  I couldn't agree more.  She has become such a wonderful friend to me!  She accepts me (and all my weirdness) for who I am, and that tickles me so much.  She listens to my Troy stories...  my work stories...  and will even hear all about Disney : ).  She requested text/pictures while we were in Disney and has probably regretted it ever since.  I flooded her phone.  But she is always so sweet to respond to all of my goofy text.  I think for me, what stands out the most about our friendship is her genuine happiness for me.  She is always so happy to hear about what Troy and I are up to, and no matter how exciting or boring it is, she is excited and happy to share in it.  I love that.

I also had a lunch date with my Ann last week.  She didn't want her picture taken because she was in sweats without her face on, but I told her that was too bad.  That's what so nice about a friendship of 22 years....   you treat them like a sister.  

And how cute is she?  And why do all of my friends who are my same age look 15 years younger than me!?  Time has been good to them.

I see my Ann every 4-6 weeks (she is responsible for all things hair for me) but it's not the same as a lunch date.  I'm glad we make time to spend together, even if we do see one another two days later for my hair appointment!

Ann is 5 months pregnant (though you'd never know it) with baby boy #3, and I love it so much.  I love that she's having another....   I love that we will maybe have little ones close in age...  but more than any of that I love seeing a best friend experiencing the things that we grew up talking about.  When I look at her pregnant, I see my past, present and future all at the same time.  The only thing sweeter then this photo will be the first photo of her and baby boy.....

Love you Ann....and all of the memories you have and will continue to give me!  Life just keeps getting better!

And while we're on the topic of memories and friendship....... last night Jennifer, Sam, and I went to dinner for our birthdays.  The three of us are all a week apart!

Aren't they precious?  I love them more than they'll ever know!  These are good girls...  girls that love the Lord....  we pray for each other....laugh with each other and love one another.  We continue to do all of life together.

Ann, Sam and Jennifer know me better than anyone in the world!  That is not only fun....  but so comforting.  Jennifer said last night that she remembers the three of us going to dinner for our 16th birthday.  I think this is so rare and so special!

I am so blessed!

I think that's it for January (so far!).   Looking back at these photos.....  I can't believe we've done all of this in 3 weeks!?

I'd say we're off to a good start!

Troy just came in from work looking like death again....  I said "did you touch that cat today?"   

His response...  "oh I have a new picture of Ginger, hang on I'll show you."

I give up.

Until this rotation is over I'll have the world's sexiest husband with one eye swollen shut :)

If anyone made it through all of that (hi Mom- love you!), I apologize and will try to be shorter next time!

Have a good evening!

Love,

Kristin