It's always so special to reflect on what the past year has brought into David and my lives, even if I am a bit late. 2012 was quite definitely bursting with adventure, change, and joy. And I'm so excited to share the highlights with all of you!
[1]
In January David and I both began our very last undergraduate semester. I started mine with an episode of Spongebob Squarepants, which was amazing. It snowed .00132948 inches and it was magical. We were also excited to begin our 100 day countdown to graduation.
[2]
In February David melted my heart with a spicy chicken biscuit and hash browns. I shared the chai recipe that I picked up during my time in India. Those slipper sock things up there were probably worn far too much. And I got a little mushy about David playing the guitar.
[3]
In March we road tripped to the Grand Canyon with our very best friends. On our way we played in the snow and gazed at stars in Colorado, stopped in Las Vegas, met a blog friend at In-N-Out, walked through the Gateway to the West, and then relived it all thanks to the video that Mason made. We also started seeing a lot more sunshine and blooming trees and there was that time I talked about the woes of toilet paper.
[4]
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| photo of David and me hugging by Ed Hetherington & photo of David and Sadie by Mason Beckman |
In April David launched the boat that he built himself. We went on a hot date all thanks to my grandma. Despite that fact that I was unbelievably sick, I proudly walked out of my last undergraduate final ever and it felt so good.
[5]
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| Breakfast photo by Mason Beckman |
In May David and I graduated from college (cue cheering!). We also held hands on our second anniversary, which was special because we celebrated our first over Skype. I enjoyed the most delicious of Nutella crepes on a road trip with my brother. David and I dried fruit out of sheer boredom and then got really excited about it. We also spent some time in New York and went on a picnic at sunrise.
[6]
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| Beach and camping photo by Cate Entrekin |
In June we spent quite a bit of time at the lake, which Sadie throughly enjoyed. The Outer Banks changed my mind about the beach. And while we were there, we went sailing and I had a lot of fun with a disposable camera. I'll never forget my time at Monticello because of this. And we spent the night in a tent, which is always the best.
[7]
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| Pizzeria photo by Mark Watkins |
In July my mind was blown by a slice of pizza. We celebrated Fourth of July by running a 10k with my brother. My best friend and I hiked into the Appalachian Mountains. My brother and I explored those same mountains for an article he was writing, which was extra exciting because he asked me to be the photographer. We ate pesto and prosciutto sandwiches while drinking boxed wine with our friends on a hot summer afternoon. And I also shared David and my love story.
[8]
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| print by Here & There |
In August there was that time that we jumped out of a plane. We also spent some time in the mountains with best friends. And then had a slumber party in a giant blanket fort. At the end of the month, we boarded a plane and moved to Switzerland.
[9]
In September a little attic apartment became our home. We watched the Astronomical Clock strike the hour and felt like we were the only people in Prague Castle's Royal Gardens. We explored the Naschmarkt and listened Mozart's Requiem in one of Vienna's oldest churches. There was also that really embarrassing thing that happened in Pisa.
[10]
In October David and I rode around Rome on a moped. Then we met up with a best friend in Venice. We experienced Germany in its finest form, also known as Oktoberfest (you can watch the video Mason made about our adventures here). I enjoyed the best muffin of my life in Copenhagen, failed in Stockholm, and saw some pretty cool things in Oslo. David turned 23. And I fulfilled a life goal in chasing the Northern Lights and it was even more incredible than I imagined.
[11]
In November I sat on the edge of a 2,244 foot cliff. David's visa was authorized and we celebrated. We hiked through Spain's Sierra Nevada. The monkeys of Gibraltar made friends with us. I was moved by our time in Barcelona. We hosted our very first Thanksgiving abroad and celebrated my 23rd birthday with some dear friends the very same weekend.
[12]
In December we were so excited to finally welcome Sadie to Europe. I shared about one of the most beautiful places I've ever been and rode my bike in the snow. We skied through the Alps with some wonderful friends. It was the very first time that we celebrated Christmas just the two of us. And David surprised me with a visit from my best friend.
What an incredible year it's been. Three cheers for all that 2013 has in store for us!
(and if you're interested, you can read about 2011 here)
