2014 in Review

Here is our Christmas card from this {last?} year, never mind that Christmas was 2 weeks ago.  It's fine.

Let's be honest, this is one of those cards that I'd usually get and think "wow this is a show off card"  and it totally is.  There's no use denying it.  Two zero one four was huge for us!  And now it is forever immortalized on a card,  a card that is probably in most people's trash cans at this point, but let's hope for recycling.

I'll start from the beginning...

In March we had the chance to go on the vacation of a lifetime, a safari in Tanzania led by a fellow HBSer who was very familiar with the region.  We paid and showed up and the whole thing was beautifully planned out for us as well as the other 30+ people on the trip. Kudos to him, that was a huge undertaking and the trip was a dream.  I think about it every day.

We just got to stare at animals for hours on end each day.  Be still my heart. 

This was our safari guide, James, with our game drive group. He let us listen to The Lion King soundtrack and Toto's "Africa" on repeat.  Needless to say he deserved a good tip.  Not to mention he knew everything there was to know about what we saw on the drives. 

 We also went to Zanzibar on this trip, a semi-autonomous part of Tanzania 25-50 kilometers off the mainland. It was stunning. 

Then in May we went to Maui with some of our closest friends to celebrate our five year wedding anniversary and Matt's impending graduation.

The whole gang on a sunset cruise 

Elyse and me on the boat. 

Feast at Lele

Krista, we were also celebrating her impending graduation from HBS and her birthday. So much cause for a vacation. 

Then later in May Matt graduated from HBS.

Us and our families, such a special day.

In July we bought our house and moved to Oklahoma City. 

Shep accompanied us to the closing table...and was mortified to learn they didn't request her paw print on the contract. 

And in November we adopted sweet Birdie. So basically, I had a baby. 

I used the back of the card as a moving announcement of sorts.  

So that's a wrap of 2014, I think my show off card was warranted.  Of course we still plan to travel and just be fun human beings in general, but it's hard to imagine another year with as many exciting events as that one. 2015, you have some big shoes to fill.

Fall Reminiscing: Have I Peaked Already?

I love the fall. Who doesn't? Summer is oppressive and heavy and thick. Honestly, I kind of hate it. Fall is heaven, cool and crisp and energizing. 

Everyone says this Oklahoma summer has been mild.  I guess? But moving from Boston to Oklahoma in June was just rude.  I routinely check Boston's weather on my phone and feel a constant pang for the cooler weather.  

It's funny how much weather affects my mood, today the high is in the 50's and I feel like I'm floating on a cloud. I won't get too far ahead of myself, it's supposed to get into the 80's again next week. Ughhhhhh. 

Sidenote: the air was so refreshing this morning I thought it might be nice to introduce some jogging into my and Shep's usual walk.  I should've known. She's a neurotic herding dog and we never jog, I ended up being shrieked at and jumped on until I slowed down to an acceptable crawl. 

Anyway, in honor of this first cool day I thought I'd do a little fall montage. Get ready for some grainy iPhone pics: 

Maine in October

This wasn't a pumpkin patch, I guess you could buy pumpkins if you wanted, but this thing was just parked alongside the road. Adorable. 

Ogunquit, Maine

^^Nothing really to do with fall, but look at how emo Shep is being.

Fall beach day in Maine.

Concord, NH

Concord, NH

Cambridge, MA

Harvard Business School campus

{The above 3 photos are by Brittany Strebeck: http://brittanystrebeckblog.com} Love that girl!

Shep and her Boston BFF, Bailey.

More dog pictures. Obvi.

We also got to go to Germany last October: 

Neuschwanstein Castle

And this is the real reason we went...

Oktoberfest 2013, Munich.

Our tent, Hippodrom, at Oktoberfest.

It was so fun. A few weeks later the Whole Foods down the street from our apartment had its own Oktoberfest. Gahhhh, if I'd have known about that beforehand it would've saved us so much money. Oh well. 

So until we move back to the northeast or into that castle, neither of which seems very likely, it looks like my best fall days are behind me. So sad to have peaked so young.

I'm off to drink a PSL. Basic.