My Year in Review: 2011

I can't believe that 2011 is almost over! This past year has gone by so quickly and here we are getting ready to enter a new year. As 2011 draws to a close, I can't help but feel so blessed. B and I have had an incredible year together and I so look forward to what 2012 has in store for us! Here's my year in review:

January

2011 was off to a busy beginning! I was totally caught up in prepping my LHS dance team girlies for their national competition. Between extra practices, regional competitions, bedazzling costumes, and my other regular teaching job, this gal was whooped and running on pure adrenaline. My girls had a great start to the 2011 year. We won both regionals as well Grand Champs and I picked up a choreography award along the way. Not too shabby ;)

February

February was a bittersweet month. My dance team was the first team in LHS history to advance to finals at nationals...ever! Pretty cool and such an awesome opportunity for me, as a coach. The time I spent coaching was definitely challenging but overall very, very rewarding. It was a tough month though because my sweet Papa passed away. He was so very special to our family and brought such joy into our lives. He has been greatly missed but the peace he has now with our Lord is better than anything we could have given him here on Earth. I am so thankful for the time I had with him. The holidays weren't the same without his smiling face. B and I closed out the month by spending a lot of time with my family and B experiencing his first UK basketball game at Rupp!

March

B and I were totally engrossed with work come March. B was studying like a mad man for his final board exam and working crazy long hours to finish up his residency. I was in full recital mode at the dance studio. Long days, long nights, long hours, and lots of caffeine pretty much summed up our month of March!

April

Thank goodness the first week of April was a vacation for me and B... we needed it! We traveled to Charlotte, NC to celebrate our 2nd anniversary. It was so, so, so much fun! Food, shopping, bike rides, lots of rest...it was amazing and so relaxing. April is always a fun month for us. Both of our birthdays are that month as well ;) I am so in love with my sweet, sweet hubby!

May

May was another month of work, work, work and study, study, study. Also thrown into the mix was pack, pack, pack! It was a crazy month that included more recital planning and B taking his Oral Board Examination. In between we were trying to visit and see friends and family before our move to Connecticut.

June

June began with my final recital at DESOD. It was absolutely amazing and so, so sad. I grew up dancing at the same studio where I taught. This past year was my 23rd recital! It was a blast to see all my kiddos on stage. B had his residency graduation as well. I was so proud of him and this huge accomplishment. Oh...we also had a lot of packing still going on ;)

July

July marked our big move to Connecticut and the beginning of B's fellowship. We were so thankful to have my mom and sis help us with the move and we were able to enjoy my sister's first trip into NYC! At the end of the month, I was so happy to go to my sister's dance nationals in Myrtle Beach. It was awesome to watch my kiddos dancing again...they killed it! So proud of them and happy that I had some extra time with my dance family.

August

Well...we experienced a few things in August, haha ;) An earthquake and Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene. I'm so thankful that God protected us during both and that things weren't worse but man...both were scary. Our month ended on a much happier note though. There was a huge "welcome" party for all the fellows. It was so wonderful to finally meet everyone that B was working with and great friendships were made that night. I cannot even begin to describe how thankful I am for the people we have met up here!

September

B was working like crazy and I traveled home for lots of choreography jobs. It was great to be home but it was definitely a work trip...I was so tired by the time I got back up north!

October

We went to our first clam bake at the beginning of the month and it was yummy! B's work set the whole thing up and it was absolutely gorgeous. Good food, great beach, and lots of memories! We also went to the apple orchard with friends, had our first snow, and B was officially named "chief fellow". Pretty good month ;)

November

November was awesome! I made my first Thanksgiving meal, our BFF Shawn came for a visit, we went to the Yale/Harvard game and tailgate, and we snuck in a day in NYC. Lots of memories from this month!

December

Before we knew it, December was here! We've been in Connecticut 6 months now and we can't believe we're halfway through B's fellowship. We were so happy to go to our KY home for the holidays. We got to see both families, catch up with dear friends, and go to a UK game. Fun, fun, fun times!

2011 has been a memorable year! I'm looking forward to ringing in the New Year with my hubby and can't wait to see what lies ahead for us. We have been so richly blessed this past year and I can only hope that 2012 is filled with more exciting adventures!

Happy New Year Y'all!

xoxo