2016 year in review

I didn't blog once in 2016. Maybe after you read about all the things that happened in 2016, you'll understand a little more. I have loved having this blog to look back on, to remember things, or to look up information I posted about and I'm sad I've lost a whole year of that, but when you barely have time to sleep, something's gotta give, and for me it was the blog.

For my memory's sake here's a 12 picture review of the crazy, awful, and wonderful year we've had.

1. I started paralegal school at Georgetown University

The main reason why this blog died this year was because of school. I enrolled in Georgetown's paralegal studies program and was working full time and going to school full time for an entire year. It ate up all of my free time, but I learned a lot and made some friends, and came out with my paralegal certificate in the end. Which then led to a surprise promotion at work. You're looking at the legal department's newest and only paralegal.

2. Hal started a new job

Hal very suddenly received an amazing job offer at a really cool biotech he just couldn't turn down. He said Bye Felicia to EY and working a billion hours and hello to growth, new opportunities and a company that is actually working to cure diseases and save lives.

3. We bought a house

After searching for a house for almost a year, we found our perfect little first house. It's exactly what we were waiting for, in the exact neighborhood we wanted to live in, and for the price we were looking for. Seriously, the planets could not have aligned more perfectly. We wanted something that was a good price and wasn't already remodeled, so we could make it exactly how we wanted. We bought a house and left for Asia the next day.

4. We spent 3 weeks in Asia

In January while we were snowed in a friend notified us there was a mistake fair to Asia. $450 roundtrip tickets and a break in-between semesters led to perfect timing to spend 3 weeks backpacking across Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia. It was such an adventurous trip and we even came back with a huge dinner table from Cambodia. We had clothes made in Vietnam and ate all the pho, toured breathtaking ancient temples in Myanmar, got scuba certified in Thailand and went back to our village in Cambodia, saw our friends, family and students.

5. We gutted our first floor

We bought our house, left for Asia the next day and while we were gone, this is what our house looked like. The house was supposed to be almost done by the time we moved in, but we ran into some problems with permitting and plumbing, and it took a month and a half longer to finish than planned. Meanwhile everything we owned had to be in the three rooms upstairs, we had to live without a kitchen for two months and without running water for days at a time.

6. We remodeled it into a home we love

I literally just walked downstairs and took this photo since people had been asking for more photos of our house. While it was such a pain to live through the remodel, to say we're in love with how it turned out would be an understatement. We just ran with the ideas in our head, didn't listen to anyone else and are so happy with how it turned out. Now we get to slowly remodel the upstairs ourselves.

7. We expanded our animal farm

Little miss Maeby joined our family in July. We pulled the trigger right as our remodel was ending and rescued this snuggle bug. She was a breeder dog who was turned out and on death's door when the rescue found her. She loves people almost as much as she loves blankets and will snuggle all day long.

8. No more antibiotics

I took this picture the very first morning I didn't have to take antibiotics with my breakfast in almost 2 years. I still take quite a few supplements and tinctures, but my doctor has slowly been weaning me off of them, while ensuring my body will stay strong and healthy on its own. While my journey with Lyme isn't over, nor will it ever be, I'm finally on the up and up.

9. We went to Canada

Neither Hal or I had been to Canada before, so Hal planned a surprise anniversary trip to Niagara Falls and Toronto. Niagara Falls was breathtaking. And we stayed in Kensington Market area of Toronto, a wonderful hipster neighborhood which we loved. We also found Toronto was plentiful with mangosteen, our favorite fruit, which is hard to find in America.

10. Hal turned the big 3-0

Hal turned 30 the day after I finished school, and I was so glad we got to celebrate together. I threw him a surprise birthday party. We were so honored so many friends from all different parts of our life came together to celebrate Hal with us.

11. We ran a Spartan Sprint

Spartan Sprints are a 5 mile 25 obstacle race. I viewed this race as a sign of conquering Lyme Disease. For the first time in almost 3 years I had the energy to work out, so I set the goal to run the race with Hal's family. We had so much fun. We did it all together, helping each other and encouraging each other along the way. I never thought I'd say this, but I can't wait until we do it again.

12. We survived

Hal and I enjoyed staying home for Christmas last year so much, we decided to do it again. We hosted Christmas Eve for some friends, then headed down to Williamsburg and spent some time in Colonial Williamsburg and Jamestown. It was so nice to have some time to do nothing but hang out and reconnect after such a busy, stressful year.  When 2015 ended, it was such a hard year and I remember writing the year in review just feeling like the hard times weren't over. While this list focuses on the wonderful things that happened to us in 2016, it was a hard year on so many fronts for both of us. We made it through remodels, awful elections, sicknesses and school and have finally made it to the other side of 2016. Thankfully it feels like 2017 is also going to be on the up and up. 

2015 year in review

Facebook just told me that it's been 8 years since Hal became my facebook friend. Since we were talking in the hallway at church and told him what facebook was, and that he had to add me, and that I was the most important person to add; so he put a star next to my name and history was set forever.

Well it's got me feeling nostalgic and it being the end of the year, so I thought I'd finally get around to posting a little year in review.

1 move & 1 offer on a house

We moved once this year which brings us up to something like 11 moves in the last 7 years. We moved in order to help the second number 1 on this list. We put 1 offer in on a house. While we got our hopes up with a verbal yes to our offer, we're both glad in the end it fell through. This was a big step for us, and the house hunt continues in 2016

2 best friends

2015 really was the year that these two became best friends. Their personalities compliment each other so well and they're hilarious together. I can't imagine not having both of them around.

3rd year in DC

We started our 3rd year in DC. We have really grown to love living in DC and love the neighborhood where we live. DC is so centrally located and is filled with endless things to do, most of them free. It's also nice living in a destination city because then we get to see friends and family as they travel through.

4 weddings

We were so lucky this year to celebrate the weddings of four couples that we love dearly. Each one was in a different state, spread out across the country and we are so thankful that we could spend their special days with them, and be a part of their celebrations.

5 beach trips

Hal and I were kind of beach obsessed this year. Every chance we got, even with Hal studying throughout the summer we went to soak up the sun. We've never lived this close to the beach, so we try to take advantage of it at every opportunity.

6 years out of school
                                         
This May was 6 years since I finished school. Well that's all about to change in 2016. I'm headed back to school. I got into Georgetown's paralegal program and will start there next month. I'm really nervous to go back to school since it's been so long, but hopefully it's like riding a bike.

7 years of marriage

Hal and I hit 7 years of marriage in September. There's no 7 year itching going on, so I guess we can count ourselves pretty darn lucky.

8 years together

Look at what youngins we were! We were pretty much inseparable from the night that we met 8 years ago,

9 hikes

This year we went on 9 fun hikes. We love being out in nature and taking in the beauty of the earth. It can be so hard to escape civilization out here, so going on hikes has become a respite from busy life. We were pretty lucky to have some windows of good health where we could go on such long and intense hikes. Hopefully next year we'll be able to go on even more hikes!

10 trips

This year really was the year of short spontaneous trips. We went to so much fun places, New York, Savannah, San Francisco, Charleston, The Grand Canyon...just to name a few. We love exploring new places and love trying wonderful restaurants in new cities.

1-1 Certifications

I couldn't think of an 11, so I split them into two ones, because we had some really big things happen this year. We had 1-Hal became a fully licensed CPA. WOOHOO! After a year of studying his butt off he passed all of his tests with flying colors and became licensed. and 1- I became a fully certified doula!

12 months of Lyme

This whole year has been filled with Lyme. I've officially been on antibiotics for year. Sometimes it's hard to believe it's been that long, and other times it's hard to remember what life was like before I was sick. It's been filled with so many sick days, so many pills, and so many disappointments. But I try really had not to let Lyme define who I am and what I can do. It's so endlessly frustrating to feel limited because of Lyme, but I know that it won't be that way forever, so I keep pushing myself not to give in to symptoms.

We had a pretty crazy 2015. We were able to fill it with fun adventurous things despite life getting in the way. I can't wait to see what adventures await 2016!

2014 In Review

This Year has been a pretty crazy one for us, so I thought it might be fun to review how many changes we've had in our lives this year.

We started off the year with me moving back to DC by myself while Hal finished his last semester of school in Utah. Hal sent me flowers every two weeks and I sent him a handwritten letter every single week, and a picture of me and our cat every day. Hal flew out at the end of January and surprised me and we went to Richmond, Virginia for the first time. Best surprise I could have asked for.

 In February we missed Valentines day because my flight was canceled, but we still got to see each other and celebrate with a sushi making lesson. In March Hal came to visit me and we went to Harpers Ferry and hiked along the Appalachian trail for the first time. At the end of April I flew out to Utah for Hal's graduation and we moved ourselves officially out to DC. I don't think I'll ever move myself across the country again. We also moved into a our own new apartment which felt amazing after living with a family for 9 months.

We then only had weekends together while Hal worked in New Jersey over the summer, we hit up Assateague Island almost every single weekend. We got a new cat as Hal's graduation present, Tuk Tuk and Pepe became fast friends. In July Hal decided Jersey was stupid and not worth it and officially moved home. YAY. He moved up his start date and officially started as an auditor with EY in August. We celebrated our 6 year anniversary in September. In October I got to go to Portland and meet my new niece Lillian.

I discovered I love living in a tourist city, because people actually come visit you! We've had lots of visitors since we moved out here, and think people should keep visiting.

I also chopped off my hair myself which maybe wasn't the smartest idea.

We traveled quite a bit within the US this year which was a lot of fun. We went to Moab Utah for the first time. How are we both essentially from Utah and have never been to Moab? The hike to Delicate Arch is definitely worth it. In September we went to North Carolina's Outer Banks which was such a blast. I also went to St. Louis for work that month. In early December I went to Philly with some friends for a girls weekend.

Lastly this year Hal got Poison Ivy and I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease. But on happier notes, Hal took his first CPA exam and is currently studying to take his second; and we finally live in an apartment where we can have a real Christmas tree again.

This year has been so full of change for both Hal and I; some good and some bad. I can't wait to see what 2015 has in store for us!

2012 Year In Review

This is a pretty big year to review, I don't know how I'm going to fit it all into one post! Get ready for lots of pictures, because I'm throwing in a few things I never blogged about.

We started out the year by celebrating in the Gulf of Thailand

My student won second place in our provincial spelling bee, which really relects nothing about my ability as a teacher, but I'm taking credit for it anyway.

This year I was evacuated from Cambodia to Thailand with a case of Dengue Fever. I then came back to practically sleep the month of March away and woke up to it being the hotest month of my life.

I was blocked by my POE from take my students to learn about the Khmer Rouge, so we hitch hiked and went with another volutneer's school.

We rode the Bamboo Train in Battambong, and proceeded to get soaking wet thanks to the rainy season.

We got to expereince really cool facets of Khmer culture. There is not just one way to show how many cool things about Khmer culture we were able to experience, but this was one very cool one when my host uncle/best khmer guy I've known got engaged.

I went on my dream vacation to Scotland. Seriously, a Dream vacation.

Followed later by a vacation to China and Vietnam. China was possibly the best vacation I've been on. I never blogged about Vietnam because I'm lazy and was busy, but we did a motorcycle trip through the mountains. Very cool.

We had Cambodian Wedding pictures taken. Please go look at them and be jealous.

We had the biggest and best project of our time in Peace Corps, CAMP GLOW! I can't say enough about how much I loved and enjoyed Camp GLOW, and watching the girls learn, and then teach other girls in my village what they learned. Best way to go out, ever.

We finally made it to really see Angkor Wat. If you ever get the chance to go see Angkor Wat, please go.

We celebrated my 25th birthday and a bunch of other PCV's birthdays by going to the island Koh Rong.

We said goodbye to our host family our students and our Peace Corps family and headed back to a new life in the US.

And we said hello to our US families for the first time in over a year. Being back in American definitely took some adjusting after living in third world conditions for a year.

We met a new niece for the first time and got to see cool cliff dwellings in Colorado.

We celebrated lots of events such as our 4 year anniversary, and birthdays, namely Hal turning 26.

We got to participate in holiday traditions and celelbrate Thanksgiving.

We finally got to experience cold and snow, and celerate the holidays with our families.