2014: Looking Ahead

Now that I've capped the fun things we got to do in 2013, let's take a look at 2014.

We already rang in the new year in style... and by "in style" I mean we went to bed and laid there until midnight hit and then immediately went to sleep.  PARTY ANIMALS HERE!!!

New Year's Day we went to the Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix stadium in Glendale.  We were fortunate enough to get tickets for us and some good friends from Cassie's dad for free, courtesy of the Boy Scouts of America.  The game was fun, we didn't really care who won, and we all learned that the Baylor Bears love jazz hands and spirit fingers (their fans raise one hand in the air and attempt to make a bear claw, but they also twist their hand back and forth repeatedly, thus confusing the rest of us as to what exactly they are doing).

So what's ahead in 2014?  Well, I will be finishing my MBA program and Cassie will be finishing her Bachelor's.  We are planning a trip to Emmett Idaho and Bieber California sometime this summer to visit Cassie's family and my family because... well, because we want to see them and because of this thing:

That's a baby.  It's kind of hard to tell, but that's about as good of a picture as she ever gave us.  She's not exactly cooperative in there - beats to her own drum like her mom.  I'm in for a lot of fun...

So last year, and really the year before, were full of fun plans and fun trips throughout the year.  This year... not so much (with the exception of the trip we take to Idaho/California.  That will be fun.)  This year will bring a lot of new changes - baby, completion of degree programs (which could bring on other changes as well), and who knows what else.

This is what I do know -

1.  I have never felt more blessed in my life than I do right now.  I am married to my perfect companion - perfect as in she complements me perfectly.  I love her, and she loves me, and we are excited to embrace these changes together.

2.  I am going to be a dad!!! WEIRD!!!

3.  As much fun as all the things were that we've done the past couple years, I'm looking forward to focusing on baby and on other priorities this year - educationally, financially, spiritually, etc.  We have a lot  of work to do this year... and we are ready!

2013: A Year in Review

So... we kind of failed at maintaining this blog last year.  We might continue to fail at it this year, but we will have at least one post!

A couple posts ago,   I recapped some of the fun things we did in 2012 and then listed some fun things we had planned for 2013.  Here is a recap of 2013:

We did go down to Tucson to see Wicked, and I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was! We loved it!  We ended up giving our tickets to Blue Man Group to our friends in Tucson because the day of the performance Cassie and I both just didn't feel up to making the drive.  We did, however, make an impromptu trip to San Diego for a weekend where we visited the San Diego Zoo and (of course) ate some good food!

Then we got pregnant.

The highlight of the year for me (as far as things we did or saw) would definitely be our trip to Kansas City/Independence/Liberty/Far West/Nauvoo/Carthage.  The Spirit is very strong in Nauvoo, and I love the feeling there.  We saw and did so much, and I really didn't want to leave.  Oh, and we ate amazing BBQ in Kansas City!

We did not make it to the Grand Canyon, but we did make another trip to California to visit with my family for awhile.  I always love getting a chance to see them.  On the way back from our trip to see them, we spent a couple days in Vegas.  We saw Ka by Cirque du Soleil (honestly kind of a disappointment compared to the other two Cirque shows we have seen) and then had a fun time at the Mandalay Bay Shark Reef, the CSI experience, and the Bodies exhibit.

Toward the end of the year we were able to see the Lion King musical at Gammage and the Lost Christmas Eve by Trans Siberian Orchestra at Jobing.com arena.  Both shows were amazing!

And of course we got to spend a lot of time with Cassie's family for holidays and otherwise.  We ended the year with a memorial bonfire for Cassie's brother Damond.  Members of Cassie's family shared their testimonies and great memories and stories about Damond around the campfire.  It was an uplifting experience.

2013 started off on a difficult and trying note for Cassie and her family, but through their faith in God and His Plan and their love for one another, they have been able to be strengthened, and they know that their family will be together forever.  2013 turned out to come with many blessings.  2014 will hopefully do the same... I know it will offer some surprises!  Baby will make sure of it... that's for sure!