Thursday, December 31, 2015

Goodbye 2015!!!

*I'm re-posting this today to link up with Andrea.   

It's finally here!  
The end of 2015!!!  

I have been waiting for this year to end since it started. 
This year started off bad and while there have been good moments, I was completely overwhelmed with my ankle injury for 75% of the year.

I have stated A LOT that this year was in fact terrible, but I know that I have had good moments and I am determined to remember them.

So I proudly present- the BEST moments of 2015!


We celebrated with family and friends and it was a wonderful weekend!


We celebrated as a family of four and had a blast at Chuck E. Cheese!


We played and played and played in the snow!


I flew to Atlanta to meet our new niece and love every minute of my trip!


Marriage is hard, and we have had our challenges, but I love this man more everyday!
Thank you Ben for the best 6 1/2 years of marriage!


June was BUSY.  Camp, colds, birthdays, and fun!
Elizabeth went to summer camp for the first time and she loved it!


July was a crazy, busy, great month!
We celebrated the 4th of July with friends, traveled on an adults on vacation, and got to see Jen and Dave get married.  July was awesome!




In August we celebrated Ben's birthday!
 We did a family party AND we went to the Nats game!


In September, we celebrated Caroline's 1st birthday!


In October, I made a solo trip to Columbia to meet baby JP and see two of my favorite ladies.
We also had a blast doing our Fall Bucket List!


In November, I turned 34 and celebrated with friends and family!
We also celebrated Thanksgiving at home with cousins!


In December we had fun as a family!
We did zoo lights, celebrated Christmas, made cookies, and went to the Military Bowl! 



Sometimes it is easier to remember the bad times and forget about the good ones.

I am so glad I took the time to review our year and stop to remember all the good times we had.
Thank you Ben, Elizabeth, and Caroline for an interesting good year, here is to making 2016 great!

Happy New Year y'all!

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Jessica and Noah's going away dinner

On Sunday night, we had Jessica, Noah, and baby cousin over for a going away dinner.

They are moving across the country in two weeks and we are going to miss them so much.  :(

They came over early so all the kids could play together and then once the two littles were in bed, Ben made cheese fondue for all of us.  We also had salads and then ended the night with chocolate fondue.  It was a great night and one I will not ever forget.

 Elizabeth and Noah

 Jess watching the kids play from the couch :)

 This boy!  I love, love love!

 Ben teaching baby cousin how to play his first musical instrument

Noah getting a workout

 Me and the little man
 Love these kids!

 Kid group picture time before bed

 Uh, OK Mom?

 Elizabeth did/didn't want to be in the pictures




Noah is very good a wrangling babies


 Right before we ate ALL. THE. CHEESE FONDUE.

 Good night hugs and kisses from Elizabeth


Cousins!

Jessica and Noah,

We are going to miss you guys so much.  We have enjoyed having you guys here for the last five years and they have gone by so quickly.  So much has changed and we are so glad we got to share so many adventures with you during that time.  Have fun in your new state and remember... you can come back anytime!

We love you,

Abby and Ben

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

The Military Bowl

We have been having a wonderful holiday season and we had another great adventure yesterday!  Ben, Elizabeth, and I went to the Military Bowl in Annapolis.  Ben went to The University of Pittsburgh and they played The Naval Academy in the Military Bowl.  We met up with Andy and Pap Pap to enjoy some pregame festivities and the game itself.

 Obligatory ticket photo

Elizabeth found some cookies in the Pitt tent

#sillyfaces

 Elizabeth is taller than Pap Pap!

 Andy photobombing us

Family photo before the game

 When walking into the stadium, six skydivers (military veterans) jumped out of a plane



 It was so amazing to watch


 They all landed safely

Pitt running onto the field

 Refusing to smile at the camera :)

 Standing on Dad is the best way to see the game

 She loved watching the Pitt Panthers

 Three generations 
Pap Pap, Ben, and Elizabeth

 Talking to Andy about the game

Showing Andy how to cheer with a Pitt towel

 So happy!

 Again, refusing to smile at the camera

Go Pitt!

We had a wonderful time.  Unfortunately, Pitt did lose to Navy but we still had a great time taking Elizabeth to her first bowl game.  Thank you Pap Pap and Andy for watching the game with us and helping us entertain Elizabeth throughout the game.

Happy Tuesday y'all!