2011 in Review

My friend over at Ruby Red Slippers posted her "Year in Review" and I had to copy.  I thought it was a great idea! 

2011 was a fabulous year and was filled with engagements, more weddings, babies and more!  Wow we were busy!!  Let's get started...

January

• Annual Strong City/Cottonwood Falls Trip

• 80's Pub Crawl in Old Shawnee

February

• Matt & Andrea (Brian's Cousin) have their baby - Maggie

• LOTS of snow!

March

• My 27th Birthday weekend in KC

• Being the MOH for Julie - throwing her Bridal Shower and Bachelorette Party

April

• MOH in Julie and Jeff's Wedding

May

• Wedding in New Jersey for my Aunt Jody and Eddie

• Wedding in Strong City for Brian's high school friends

June

• Night away at a B&B with Julie and Jeff

• Good friend Shelby's Wedding in Topeka

July

• Hermann, MO winery trip with Brian over 4th of July Weekend

• Bachelorette Party in Fort Myer's for my bestie!

August (was a very VERY busy month)

• Moving in with Brian!!!

• Our Engagement!!!

• Best friend's Wedding!!

 

September

• Lake with Brian's brother, sister-in-law and their kids

• Trip to Atlanta

• Hosted a baby shower for Kathryn

October

• Sarah & Jeff's Wedding in Wichita

• Kstate Game with the fam

November

• ADPI Reunion Weekend in Manhattan

• Chief's v. Bronco's Game

December

• Christmas & Crafts

I hope your 2011 was just as memorable and fun as ours was!  Here's to a very happy and healthy 2012!!!

MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

I'm a little behind on my posts - life has been a little busy lately, but that's ok...

Christmas was just last week.  Brian and I were able to spend a lot of family time!!  We also bought a Wii for ourselves and have been thoroughly enjoying that as well.

My sister is also was back in town from Florida for a few weeks.  Friday we went over to my dad and Kim's to do Christmas with them.  Had some yummy lasagna, opened presents, and played Wii Mario Races for a few hours! 

Saturday (Christmas Eve) we spent with my mom.  Opened presents, made dinner, went to church.  We also played with Lauren's new Ipad...

Sean - Joe's Son

Mamma Dorward

Joe - Mom's BF

Brian

Sarah

Sunday (Christmas Day) we drove down to Strong City, KS to spend the day with Brian's family.  All 5 nieces and nephews opening gifts is pretty hysterical.  We try and go in some sort of order but it never works out that way.  It was soo fun to watch them all get excited about their gifts!

I am very lucky to have such loving family and friends I was able to spend my time with.  2011 is coming to a close and it has been one of the best years!  I can't wait for what 2012 has in store!

Feliz Navidad!!!

ZUMBA

Last week I took my very first Zumba Class.

Except -- I looked like the lady in the bright orange pants who is standing there trying to figure out what the heck is going on!

But I LOVED IT!  I had soo much fun in my first class.  I'm going back tonight for my 2nd class and I'm hoping it goes better than the first.  

People said it would take about 3-5 classes to get the hang of it...but I don't exactly have good rhythm...so we'll see.  

But who cares -- at least I'm dancing for an hour, sweating and getting a good workout!!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

On Sunday Brian and I began decorating our house for Christmas!!!!  I love having all of the decorations up in the house.

I even bought us little Santa hats to wear while we decorated!  Cheesy I know, but I don't care.  I always wore a Santa hat when I decorated the Christmas Tree as a child, I thought it would be a good photo opp. for Brian and I!  

Our fantastic new stockings from Pottery Barn!

I even had a stocking made for Ellie!

Lights & Garland to meet you as you walk in the front door.

And the item we love the most!  Our Christmas tree!!! 

I also began a craft project after seeing a Ornament Ball Wreath on Pinterest!  I did one of my own!!  I think it actually turned out pretty good, if I do say so myself!  It was a little more difficult than I thought...but with a little patience and A LOT of hot glue, here we go!

Step 1 - Ball Craziness!!!

Step 2 - About 1/2 way there.

Step 3 - It's all done!!

My heart is full!!!

This past weekend I was able to spend Saturday with all of my college friends (well about 90% of them). 

We had an ADPI Reunion Tailgate at the K-State v. A&M Football Game in Manhattan, KS.  It was a blast!

Tailgating....

Game Time.....We were busy jump starting the car and missed the 4 overtimes -- but don't worry we had fun listening to the game in the parking lot!

...Sensing a theme with these two?!?!?!?!

Dinner & Laughs....

Ahh my heart is full.  I just love all of these women!!

They each bring something a little different, a new perspective, a lot of opinions, and TONS of laughter each time we are together.  I'm one lucky girl to have such a great group of friends!

Kstate v. Oklahoma!!!

OH MANHATTAN, HOW I HAVE MISSED YOU!!!!

A couple of  weekends ago, my mom, Joe, Brian and I all ventured out to Manhattan, KS to watch the Homecoming Game - K-State vs. Oklahoma!

One of my favorite memories in college was when K-State beat OU at the Big 12 Championship Game at Arrowhead in KC.  There were 12 of us that went; we made a sign that said "All we want for Christmas is a BCS Bowl" and we wore purple Santa hats!  Oh the days of college -- I miss you!

This weekend was wonderful and I was able to spend it with some close friends and family!  We ended up losing to OU, but we had fun anyway.  GOO CATS!

THIS MAN IS AMAZING BY THE WAY!!!!

Here are some actual pictures I took from the weekend!  ENJOY!

Where has the year gone?!?!?!?!

I'm sitting at work, not quite ready to start my day (hey, it's before 8am) and was thinking that this year has FLOWN by way too fast.  It is already November!!!

I swear it was just April and I was getting ready for my friend Julie's wedding, or July and I got home from the beach in Florida...I'm not ready for what the next few months are going to bring.....SNOW!

UHHHH this does not look fun.  

But on a positive note - there are only 255 days left until my WEDDING!!!!!!!!!  And I get to be Mrs. Alexander!!!  

I can't wait!!