Here, on the last day of the year, I have decided to pick up blogging again. You see, if I technically began in 2014, then it is NOT a New Year's resolution. If blogging isn't a New Year's resolution, then I can let it slip....but I hope I don't!
2014 has been a life-changing year for me. It has definitely been the most adventurous year of my life. This year I traveled extensively, put my roots down in a foreign land (read "Indiana"), survived my first year as a teacher, and added a member to my family. This year I experienced wonder, fear, success, self-doubt, overwhelming love, and deep loss.
I wish I had a year's worth of blogs behind me to recap 2014, but here is a bunch of chronologically ordered pictures- occasionally captioned- instead!
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| London, England |
2014's biggest adventure was at the very beginning of the year (technically the euro-trip began in the last week of 2013, but what REALLY is time anyway? So.... I'm counting it). Sam and I went on a two week trip to Europe.
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| Amsterdam- And Churros! |
We spent 4 days in London, 2 days in Amsterdam, 2 days in Germany visiting a good friend and her family, 1 day driving through Austria, Lichtenstein, Switzerland , and France, and we ended the trip spending 3 days in Paris.
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| New Year's Eve in Paris! |
Last year we brought in the New Year with a kiss under a sparkling Eiffel Tower, surrounded by thousands of people from around the world. The atmosphere was buzzing with energy that night. I don't think I have ever been around more people at one time. I could feel the pulse of the crowd-it was amazing.
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| Adoption Day! |
As soon as we got home I begged and begged and BEGGED to get a dog. Sam patiently explained to me that it was not the smartest choice to bring a puppy in to a rental house, but I would not relent. I think I remember saying things like "But EVERYONE in Europe has a dog!" and "We can train him to make us pancakes!" Eventually I wore Sam down, and in March we got Indiana Jones, "Indy" pup.
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| What our handsome boy looks like now! |
We think Indy pup is the best decision we have ever made (his little white fluffy head is sfdklfdkfd leaning on the ;lksdkjl keyboard as I tttry to type). We take him everywhere we can and spoil him too much. He has yet to make us pancakes, but he will watch an entire episode of Scandal with me!
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| The CRV |
In April, I retired Walt, my 2003 Santa Fe, and we made our largest purchase ever as a married couple, a BRAND NEW CAR *read as Bob Barker*. Okay, the car wasn't new, but it was newer than 2003!
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| Kass's Graduation |
In May, we were home in Branson every other weekend (8 hours each way!) I watched friends get hitched, spent a lot of time with family, and watched my baby sister graduate high school. *Collective "Aweeee"*
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| GHS Prom |
I also went to prom....as a chaperone. Scary experience. I almost got permanently sucked into a crowd of sweaty teenagers. My teacher friend, Maggie, kindly offered to take a prom picture with me.
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| Vacationing in the Caymans! |
In June, I went to one of the most beautiful places in the world, the Cayman Islands. I went as my sister's plus-one on her Senior trip. I missed my husband terribly, but spending time with my family was lovely and nostalgic. I explored shipwrecks, read 8 books, and hugged a stingray!
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| We rode a Tandem Bike! |
In July, Sam and I went on a mini-vacation to Michigan. We spent the 4th of July on Mackinac Island (the Island of no cars) and watched my friend Mattie Jo perform in Footloose.
We briefly visited the Canadian side of Niagara Falls and I gambled at a casino for the first time. So many lights! So many noises! And we doubled our Canadian money!
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| Lots of copies...... |
August brought on a new school year and a whole new set of challenges! I am teaching 6 different preps this year- Honors English 10, Creative Writing, Yearbook, Reg. English 10, Film Literature, and Newspaper. Although I only teach 5 of them at a time (2 are semester courses) it is still WAY overwhelming, especially for a 2nd year teacher. That is kind of the curse of working at a small school- I have to wear lots of hats! I still haven't gotten used to my brain being split 5 ways everyday but my students are wonderful and so are my co-workers. It has been a great year so far and I wouldn't change it for anything.
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| Home Sweet Home! |
August also brought the biggest commitment of my life (I guess besides that whole marriage thing :) ). We bought a house! Like a seriously legit grown-up house. I have a mortgage. Am I old enough to have one of those? The angle of the picture makes it look bigger than it really is.
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| Indy Pup modeling in our library |
Our home is nice and cozy and filled with pink carpets, green blinds, and appliances from 1993! Buying a house is fun, but SCARY. Home ownership is a serious commitment. Sure, Sam is a life-long commitment, but he is portable! The house isn't! We have to stay here now!
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| Beautiful Charleston, SC |
In October we did something crazy, seriously crazy. We decided to drive the Charleston, SC.....the night before we drove there. It was an 11 hour drive. We drove through the night and spent the rest of the night sleeping in a Walmart parking lot. We had a wonderful 22 hours in Charleston. We went to the beach, visited a fort and 2 old plantations, walked the famous Citadel campus, saw the historic homes and the BIG mansions, shopped an art market, went on a ghost tour and paid some strangers $35 to stay in their spare room! (They were nice!) We had an amazing time!
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| My sweet grandma |
In late October, I suffered my first true heartbreak. My family lost a patient, god-loving, one-of-a-kind woman, my Grandma. It has been hard on my family and we miss her. I know that I think about her every single day. I frequently wear the jewelry she has given me, and look through all of our old pictures. I feel lucky to have had her beautiful influence on my life.
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| Picking out the perfect tree! |
December brought Sam and I's first "American" Christmas. We got a live tree, even though I fought for a plastic one! (don't tell Sam but picking out the tree was actually kind of fun). We semi-decorated the house, and even lit up a tree outside!
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| He doesn't even care about the presents.... |
We just got back from a week-long Christmas vacation with our families in Branson. Indy pup loved Christmas. Especially the wrapping paper!
Well, that's it, my 2014! The most grown-up year of my life. What do you think, am I a grown-up now that I have a dog, a job, a car, and a mortgage? I suppose I am certainly more grown-up than last year, that is how time works after all, but I don't think I am an adult quite yet.
Sorry for such a long post, 2014 was just so full of adventures! I would be lying if I said that I hoped my post would be shorter next year. I will cross my fingers that 2015's "Year in Pictures" will take up a lot more space.
Until next time,
Kelsey
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| Our poor rental house |
