Saying Goodbye to 2014!

Each year I like to think back through the previous twelve months, which always seem so long and so short at the same time. Kind of like our work weeks - they can seem slow in the day by day, but boy do they fly by from quarter to year. 

2014 held some exhausting transitional challenges for us, yet was also filled with exciting highlights that I want to capture. Because what is life without the highlights, right? 

Our favorite highlight in 2014 is a long awaited one…

We paid off our student loans from grad school!!!!! And the best way we can describe the feeling is to show the printer scene from one of our very favorite movies, Office Space. That printer… yeah, that's our student loans. 

We celebrated 6 years of marriage. 

Richard received a promotion! 

My role at work changed to support local volunteer efforts once again. And I love it. 

One of the projects I got to be part of this year at work grabbed National attention from the White House and was advertised in the New York Times! 

We were lucky enough to enter a few cool New York buildings - drinks with the Mayor at Gracie Mansion, Gala at The Pierre Hotel, events at Chelsea Piers, and a romantic gondola ride with cocktails in Central Park. I also attended events featuring Hugh Jackson, Chelsea Clinton, NY Giants Andre Williams and NYC's Mayor Bill DeBlasio. 

Our travels included trips to Michigan (#yorkvilleindeckerville), multiple trips to Texas (hey there newest nephew!, Richard's 10 year HS reunion, Christmas), Mexico (#cabotilyouwabo), Boston (work trip turned family fun, mom and daughter trip) and the magical Fire Island (celebrating six).

My Mom and the Pettys both came to visit twice this year - which was so fun for the different seasons they got to experience! And other fun visits from my sister, Jamie, and childhood bestie, Olivia, and her sister.  We also had some fun NY meet-ups with Christie & Frank, the Noschese family, Annie & Kyle, Schott Family and my college roomie, Lilli. 

Friends had babies, so many new memories were made, friendships were strengthened, several 30th birthdays were celebrated, friends moved, drinks were had, tears flowed, picnics in the park were enjoyed, weekly date nights continued, we toured all 5 boroughs in one day, our community group transitioned, we dived in deeper to kids ministry at church, our mon/fri breakfast dates were created, we enjoyed snowy days, lots of sunshine, rooftop parties, fancy dinners, home-cooked dinners, barber shop trips, coffee shops, sittings on friends couches, prayer… so much prayer, exploring NYC, snuggling with Pickle and Sundae, long walks, complaining through rainy days, new work projects, moved to our second NYC apartment, stressful work weeks and weeks filled with fun, weekly workouts, listening to podcasts, hosted our first NYC Friendsgiving, reading blogs and books, and drinking coffee… oh, so much coffee. 

Hey, 2015. Let's go.