….annnnd the coldest.

A year ago today we were in New York City, in Times Square, bringing in the 2009 New Year.  It was the COLDEST, most miserable and memorable New Years we have ever had.  It was cold.  When I say cold, I mean bitter freeezing…it was one of the coldest New Year Eves on record in New York.  We breathed in our scarves, we clenched our hands in our gloves, we jumped up and down, and we huddled together to stay alive.  I’m not really exaggerating when I say that last statement.  It was both terrible and perfect and the same time.   I have a video on my facebook page that shows what we did after we counted down the New Year.  We had a plan…we counted down, watched the ball drop and we got out of there!  I have so many beautiful pictures of New York from that year but I’m only going to post a few of Times Square.  They were taken with a point and shoot so the quality isn’t the greatest.  These images bring back the memories for me and they make me laugh so loud.  These pictures tell the true (freezing) story.  Six friends and the chance to experience New Years Eve in Times Square.

Poor Ashley’s toes were BLUE from the cold.

Smartest advertisement location, ever!  Every once in awhile we’d turn around and say, “Why didn’t we choose the beach instead?  NEXT YEAR, we’re going on a cruise!”

Sorry the picture is so blurry, but what can you do when your body won’t stop shivering?

When I got back to the hotel that night, I knew I had a mild case of hypothermia.  Someone back in St. Louis asked me how I knew.  Are you serious?  You just know!  I took an extremely hot shower in water I couldn’t even feel.  When  I got out, my body was still shaking and my skin was ice cold to the touch.  You just know.

It’s such a fun story to tell now.

Great friends, great year.  As cold as it was, it was perfect.

I will never forget that New Year’s Eve and it was one of the best I will probably have.  This year we were asked to go to New York again.  We really wish we could have pulled it off, but with all of our other exciting news, we’ve decided to just hang low this year.  We’ll for sure be laughing and saying, “I was there last year!” when we watch the ball drop in New York from our warm living room.

Who knows, maybe next New Years Eve will be another one to remember?!

I woke up at 7:00 today to start my productive day…only to find out it was snowing outside.  So I went back to bed.  Woke up a little bit later and decided that because it was snowing, I would stay inside and in my pajamas all day.  The snow will do that to you.

Scarlett and I looked like this most of the afternoon.

(*Side Note: Don’t you just love that one eyeball that is going the other way?  She’s always watching ya!)

Despite me not getting out of the house much…I was extremely productive.  I even started compiling a list for the wedding.   We had no idea when we wanted to get married, or even a season, but out of the blue we kind of settled on a date.  We have to figure out the logistics of it before we announce it but we’re pretty excited!

You might think that First Grade is all about cutting, pasting, and crafts.  Sadly though, we hardly ever have time for any of these things.  I love to teach reading and math and seeing their progress at the end of the year is why I love what I do so much.  Once in awhile though, it’s fun to sneak in a little craft…which is why I’m thankful for the two day week before winter break!

Last year I started this tradition in my classroom where the kids make their very own snowman to give away to someone special.  They fill it with rice and the take their pick from tons of buttons, ribbon, felt, pom poms, and all things crafty!  The kids then make homemade wrapping paper (out of a brown lunch bag) and wrap it up for their “someone special”.  This year, I had the kids come up with a little birth certificate so they named their snowman/snowwoman and wrote about it’s hobbies.

They were so adorable.

These snowmen are as unique as each 6 and 7 year old that made them.

We had five…and a half “Christmases” this year!  Cra-zy…but it was fun and full of friends and family!  I didn’t take as many pictures as I would have liked so I am kind of bummed about that.  I did manage to take a few, but I always wish I would have taken a little more.  We started our Christmas festivities by traveling up to the Quad Cities to visit Shawn’s family.  The weather was supposed to be really bad but luckily for us, it just rained the whole time!  We spent the day with Shawn’s grandma and then went to his aunt’s house on the other side.  It was really nice to get to meet people I hadn’t met before and to see faces that I knew.

On Christmas Eve we headed back to St. Louis.  We started off Christmas by going to my parent’s house to enjoy homemade Christmas breakfast and to open presents.  Then we went to both sides and did the same thing!  Yesterday I went to lunch with some high school friends that came in from out of town.  It was really good to catch up with old friends that live so far away.  Today Shawn’s dad came to STL to give Shawn all of his gifts that he missed.  Phew…it has been a crazy, but really good past few days!  I’ll stop writing and share just a few of my pictures.  Like I said, I didn’t get to take as many as I would have liked.

I hope everyone had a Christmas filled with as much love as I did this year!

Shawn and I are officially telling the world…we’re getting married!!!  Shawn popped the question on December 22, 2009.  I know I shouldn’t really hold out and just stop there…but there are “big” plans to tell our whole story.  Just stay tuned into my blog and I hope to share more then!  Thanks to everyone for being so patient and letting us share the news with our family and friends before posting on Facebook.  We’re happy to tell everyone…it’s not a secret anymore!

We are engaged!

We’re literally running out the door as I squeeze in a blog post before Christmas.

Here is the card we sent out this year:

This was another option but we didn’t send it out.

Shawn, Scarlett, and I wish you a Merry Christmas…

and a happy New Year.

Here are the other pictures I promised.  We are very happy with the end product and wish we would have done it sooner.  Each DIY project leads to another one, so after the New Year we will be replacing the kitchen lighting.  I’m hoping that will be all for the kitchen, except for adding hardware to the cabinets.

I was looking through pictures the other day of what the condo looked like about two years ago when I bought it.  I’ve changed a ton in the kitchen, and at least a little something in every room.  I’m going to keep improving this place because it’s too fun.  I love these mini transformations!

Several people have asked to see the kitchen…so here it is all decorated for Christmas.  I’ve been rushing around lately (like everybody this time of year) but I will try to get more up on the blog tonight!