In January....
....I got nothin. Neither MRudd or I can remember anything significant happening in January. Wow!
In February....
....MRudd turned 22. We celebrated with a small family party.
....We booked a Mexican Riviera cruise for November...
....We surprised a family MRudd was super close with on his mission by flying to South Dakota for their temple sealing. There was a blizzard while we were there, no big deal. You don't have to shovel sunshine. Arizona for the win.
.....We traveled to Thatcher for our upstairs neighbors wedding. We stayed with MRudd's mission president, who is now the Gila Valley Temple president.
....I attended the first ever AZ Blogger Meetup and met some really awesome girls that would truly change my life. I am so grateful to know them and now call them my friends!
In March.....
....Michael Rudd quit his job as a suit salesman at Pomeroy's and started working as a "financial operations agent" at PayPal. That's code for debit card and in-store checkout customer service guru. If you have any questions about anything PayPal, he will gladly answer them for you. Those answers come fully equipped with presentations and demonstrations and account set-up assistance. The kid loves his job so stinking much. It really has been such a blessing to us. A steady paycheck, awesome benefits, and a very happy, appreciative, and rewarding work environment. We are so grateful and so blessed.
....My best friend, Celeste, married her love, Jacob. I was a bridesmaid, MRudd dj'd. We were pretty involved :) It was a beautiful day, all 16 hours of it. Ha! We love Jacob and Celeste and are so happy they found one another!
....We had a couple weeks off of work and school. MRudd timed his leaving Pomeroy's with spring break so that we could have even longer of a break. Spring break + quitting a job = two weeks of play time. And that, my friends, was wonderful. We went to a spring training game, a Sun's game, painted pottery at As You Wish, saw a couple movies, and did whatever else the heck we wanted. It was a blast!
....We participated in the M.A.D.D. walk with my family in honor of my sweet grandma. her picture is in the center of a quilt that they hang in the victims' booth every year.
....I threw up for the first time in like 10+ years. Several people mistook my vomiting for nausea of the pregnant variety. Wrong-o. Anyway, puke is obviously a big deal if it makes the end-of-the-year-wrap-up list.
....We finally took our Christmas tree and decor down. Yes, it was March.
In April....
....We signed up for a gym membership which we then proceeded to use a total of one time because we're pathetic like that. Pft.
....My best guy friend, MP got married. We (read: MRudd) dj'd and it was a party!
....We bought a third vehicle, a Chevy HHR, which soon turned out to be an awful decision. You live and you learn, though, right?!
.....We went to the DBacks opening day game and continued the tradition of getting Panda Express at the ball game.
....I graduated summa cum laude from ASU with a Bachelor's in Family & Human Development and a minor in Sociology. My dad and DoeDoe and my Aunt Brenda traveled from Vegas, Sahuarita, and Bullhead City to be with me on this big day!
....My little sister, Kelcie, graduated from Mountain View and made me feel super old. Wasn't it just yesterday I was walking across that very same field and kissing my high school days goodbye? It was super cool that we graduated together this year!
....MRudd also hit a milestone and finished his first year of college. I was so proud of him!
....I went to California with DoeDoe, and yes, our trip of course included Disneyland.
....MRudd and I had a three week soda fast and I lost five pounds in the first week because of it.
....I attended an AZ Blogger Meetup party and got to visit with some more than marvelous ladies.
In June....
....I received my diploma in the mail and officially felt like a college grad.
In July....
....I turned 22. MRudd got me a season pass to my most favorite place ever, Disneyland! He also got me tickets to see Rascal Flatts. We celebrated with a group of friends at Claim Jumper because we love that place a little too much.
....We celebrated our first anniversary with a staycation in Scottsdale. And MRudd surprised me with another band for my ring. Can you say spoiled? Srsly.
....I quit my part-time jobs at Linton-MILANO's and as a legal assistant and became a full-time personal injury paralegal at a different firm.
....I finally got my wisdom teeth removed. I had a couple good days of recovery and was a little surprised at how well I was feeling. And then I got the headache from h-e-doublehockeysticks. I stopped counting at day 17, people. At day 14 I finally called my oral surgeon, explained what was going on, and hustled my booty back into his office. One of my sockets (the one where the headache was stemming from) was infected. Awesome. It felt good to be validated and to know I wasn't crazy and to get that sucker taken care of. Within the week, the headache was gone and I was feeling mucho mejor (much better).
In August....
....We went on a cabin trip with the Rudd's.
....MRudd caught a foul ball at a DBack's game after it pelted some lady on the head. A security guy came and asked if he could give the ball to said lady and MRudd begrudgingly obliged. Said security guy shortly returned with a new ball that was signed by the DBacks very own Wil Nieves. Yeah, we're okay with that, thankyouverymuch.
....MRudd introduced me to Friends. And I wondered where it had been all my life.
In September....
....We bought a new-to-us vehicle, a 2012 Toyota Camry. Love it!
....We saw Rascal Flatts. Easily the best concert I have ever been to. I mean, who doesn't love Rascal Flatts?! Good choice, Michael Rudd. Good choice.
In October....
....I was laid off due to a change in job description. I handled it very well, and MRudd was thrilled and forced me to take a break from working so much. I picked up some hours nannying for a family friend and started filling in at Linton-MILANO's in the meantime.
....We got round 1 of colds for the season.
....I had my hair colored for the first time. After a few attempts, it turned out just how I wanted. Thank you to everyone who helped get it there!
....After losing my four-year title last year, I redeemed myself and won our family's annual doughnut-on-a-string eating contest. It's a big deal.
In November....
....We went on a 7 day cruise slash 9 day vacation with our best married friends, Kylee and Randall.
....Our twin nieces were born.
....Round 2 of colds happened.
....We got our pictures taken by the fabulous Lauren Brimley. She took our pictures just before MRudd left on his mission so I was excited to have her take them again.
....Special edition Harry Potter forever stamps were released and I drove to several different post offices to get my hands on some. No Shame.
....We were released from our calling as primary teachers, which we have happily done since we moved into the ward.
....MRudd dj'd wedding receptions three nights in a row, one of which was one of his best friend, Alec's.
....We finished the 10th (aka last) season of Friends. And I bawled like a baby.
In December....
....We went to the Forgotten Carols after not having been for a few years.
....We attended the PayPal Christmas party, and boy, was it a party! MRudd won a camping chair, and after the two guys in front of him walked away with blu-ray players and iPads, his camping chair is basically the biggest joke of the century. But hey, it's better than nothing, right?!
....Speaking of PayPal, MRudd got a promotion (and a raise...hooray!) at work.
....Linton-MILANO's graciously allowed me to come back and work for them on a regular basis and I couldn't be happier. I love that place!!
....Colds came back for round 3.
....I discovered the Mesa swap meet and immediately fell in love. Everyone needs to visit that place. And eat breakfast there. Because it's delish.
....I held a piano recital for my students. About twice as many people as I expected showed up. It was great! My students did SO well and made me SO proud! I love teaching and am so grateful for my musical talents!
....Speaking of piano, I was released from my calling as choir pianist and put in as the relief society pianist instead. Less work on my part...I'll take it!
....We started Friends from the beginning. It didn't take too much convincing. We just can't get enough of Ross and Rachel and Monica and Chandler and Joey and Phoebe.
We had a pretty good year with lots of up, lots of downs, and a whole ton of blessings. Here's to 2014 and the adventures it will bring!
Loved this lots and lots! Can we hang out soon please?
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