Hay & Eli - December

Now for the last post of the kids for 2016. I just love them so much and I am so glad that Hailey is coming to visit in a couple months! 

Isn't she just precious!

End of 2016 Random

My last random post for 2016! After this post there are only 2 posts left - yay me for finishing relatively on time this year. Now to wait until I find a coupon to print my blog. I'll recap 2016 in the last post of 2016 but below are some randomness for the month of December. 

Dex and I cuddling.

This cracks me up! My cat has some serious issues!! But I love her to pieces!

Dexter was so excited to be in the basement and see the KITTY!!!

 Baylor trying to snuggle as close to me as possible.

 Is my cat seriously the biggest animal in this photo. They all thought I had something yummy - nope - just cinnamon. 

I love my friends from my last job. I am always thankful for the friendships I create along the way. On the Wednesday before Christmas a happy hour was organized for another former employee and it was great because all the people that had left showed up and only Martha and Lyndsey were still employed at the company where we all once worked. Tara was in town from Nebraska so I got to hold her baby, Ryan for an hour and it was so precious. It was great to see Debra and Rupert and of course Gina! I miss this girl and she kindly took me to my car so I didn't have to ride the metro.

Earlier in December Kathie, another friend from my old job stopped by my work so I could see her precious babe Tristan (who I had early on nicknamed Dorito). And I got to hold him for a while as well. I just love babies (not children), just babies. 

 After years and years and years of trying to get me to try Cafe Rio I caved and finally went, and it was really good. I still love Costa Vida and it is nice to have something similar that is close by.

And to cap of this random post with some seriously random things. I love this saying, "What if I fail? My darling, what if you fly!" I have always been afraid to fail, which is turn has kept me from trying new things. I was scared to move to the east coast because what if it didn't turn out the way I thought it would. And guess what it didn't turn out the way I thought it was going to turn out to be and yet I still flew. I am also a firm believe in making memories and not stuff. I am not a materialistic person, probably cause I like to travel too much! :)

I love this - I really do try to be happy, honest and real.

Goodbye 2016 randomness and hello 2017 with probably just as much if not more randomness.

Kimberley's Wedding

On Friday, December 30, I had the privilege of watching Kimberley's wedding to Marcos. Kimberley and Marcos were married in Brasilia, Brazil and they streamed the wedding ceremony live on Facebook, love technology! 

Kimberley's brother, Stephen and their mom, Kay.  

 Stephen and Karen.

 First sight of Marcos and Kimberley.

 Kimberley and Marcos praying.

 Kimberley's dad, Ivor, speaking to them about having a Christ centered marriage.

 Princess even watched the ceremony.

 While Facebook live is an amazing invention, you have to be friends with the person who is broadcasting live. Therefore, Lisa couldn't see the streaming video, so after trying to figure out a few video chats we finally remembered that Facebook messenger has a video chat feature - so I held my phone so Lisa could watch on my computer. Again, isn't technology amazing!

 I took these from people posting on Facebook. I love the picture of Marcos picking Kimberley up - they are both radiant and so in love. Makes my heart full. 

 Kimberley is absolutely beautiful.

 

I have known Kimberley and her family since I was 5 years old and living in Battle Mountain. I consider the McKeown's family. Karen, Kimberley and I have traveled all over the east coast together, been to Northern Ireland and of course Texas, Idaho and Nevada. I had the honor of meeting Marcos in February when they came to visit for a long weekend, blogged here. While I was not in Brazil for the wedding I will be in Texas at the end of January for a reception for them, I am beyond excited to see them again as husband and wife.

Random Christmas Events

This last Christmas post is just the random that the holiday brought to me this year. 

My amazing friend, Karin made this awesome gift for me and it all stemmed from a conversation we had when I was in Idaho this summer about how I was thinking of getting an Idaho tattoo with the DC skyline. I proudly now have this displayed in my office and it has been a great conversation starter for a lot of people. I mostly get comments like, "I have never met anyone from Idaho". I still haven't figured out what to say about that.

The weekend after Thanksgiving Alexandria had their annual lighted boat parade on the Potomac. it is cool to see in person, but the photos just don't do it justice.

After the boat parade and dinner at Mai Thai in Old Town we took the metro back into DC and someone was a little tired.

Next, we tried to go to the White House national Christmas tree but as we were maybe, 20 feet away the lights turned off! :( Apparently they turn the lights off at 10pm every night. So we looked at the White House instead.

At work they do a holiday office decorating contest. I stayed at work until 8pm with 2 other people to decorate for our Tropical Holiday. While it was a lot of work, it was a good opportunity to bond with my new colleagues. On the day of the judging I made tropical smoothies for them with my fancy Ninja blender that I brought in (good think I drive now). We did not win - but rather we got second place. Next year we are going for the gold!

Speaking of work - they have these beautiful trees in our lobbies.

It was an Idaho Christmas for me for sure! Yesenia sent me this amazing sign that I have decided to keep at home because it matches my decor. I love love love love it!

And speaking of Yesenia, I sent her husband Lionel some of the famous pumpkin cookies that I hadn't baked in 2.5 years. They are just as good as a I remember them to be.

On Tuesday, December 27, I drove to Springfield (cause I drive now - yuck), to have dinner with my amazing friend, Whitney. We had lunch at Chuy's and then like me she loves bubble tea so we went to a new place in the mall for a super yummy tea. Whitney also gave me an Idaho sign (told you it was an Idaho Christmas for me), that I have in my office. Love this gir1 and so thankful for our friendship.

One of the things I absolutely love abut Christmas is receiving Christmas cards! This year I got so many that I will cherish them throughout the year when I clean off the freezer from last years card and replace it with all these beautiful cards.

Merry Christmas to you all!