The Best of Our Memories from 2013

For our Christmas card this year, we compiled a list of our favorite memories from the year. On Friday, I published a review of all the projects we completed this year, but our lives consist of much more than just house projects. Here you can hear about favorite memories from all four of us.

Douglas’

2013 has been a wonderful year. We celebrated our 1 year anniversary of adopting Kahlua, our wedding, and of adopting Crème, which also was our 1 year anniversary of being a family, thus making me one lucky guy to have 3 such wonderful females in my life. Jessica and I travelled to Montana and Yellowstone for the first time. We put new windows in the house, and completed many other renovations and projects, but I am still failing to grow grass. I doubled the longest run of my life when I completed the Lake Waramaug 100k (10:38), more than doubled my longest swim and almost put myself in the hospital hypothermia when I was last finisher at the inaugural Swim Ocean City 9 mile ocean swim race (5:20), I PR’d for Olympic distance triathlon, and then almost did it again while racing for the 2^nd straight year at the triathlon age group national championships. Despite 3 flats (with only supplies to fix 2), and knee injury I completed my 7^th straight Ironman. With the help of my assistant I have continued to improve the level of care and coverage I provide to my athletes as an athletic trainer, and I have continued to become more involved in my profession on local, state, and district levels by taking on more responsibilities in their social media and most recently I was made the editor and chair for our state association’s newsletter. Me and my 3 gals are healthy, and happy, and all of my friends and family are all healthy and doing well. Life is good…

Jessica’s

2013 was a productive and enjoyable year. While 2012 was exciting with the wedding, it was also exhausting and emotional. This year has been more relaxing and featured some amazing trips. We traveled to South Carolina, Maryland, Lake Placid, Long Island, Michigan and Montana/Wyoming. The trip to Yellowstone and Big Sky was certainly a highlight of the year. Huge thanks to Uncle Jay and Aunt Judy! I was also lucky enough to take a group of students to Costa Rica in July. Another highlight of the year was my cousin Sara’s wedding. It is fun to spend time with family at such joyful occasions. This year we were graced by many visits. Angela came from Rwanda, and we forged a special friendship. Our visitors from Venezuela multiplied in number each month through the fall with visits from Javier, Alejandro, Adriana, Tía Anita, Maru, Virggi, Jesi, Mamá y Papá (friends and host family who finally came to visit me after 21 years). Many projects in the house were completed this year. In January, I compiled an extensive list of all that I hope to accomplish in the house. Although there was no hope of finishing the entire list, we did knock off many a task. My blog moved to www.CapeofDreams.com. In short, I spent the entire 365 days creating beautiful memories with family and friends. Thank you to all who helped to make it a great year!

Kahlua’s

I got to go on a lot of runs. My favorites are runs through the woods with my dad, but I like runs through the neighborhood too! A lot of people came to visit and I don’t really like that, but I let some of them pet me a little. I am starting to get braver. I like my sister, but she bugs me all the time. I do not understand her, but she seems to like it when I chase her. I took three trips to Michigan. I also went to Long Island a lot. I like how my grandparents spoil me. Best is when I get to stay home. I prefer when there are no projects going on in my house, but that does not happen very often. I like turkey jerky, so if you are coming to visit, bring that, and I might let you pet me.

Crème’s

On July 25^th, I celebrated my first anniversary with my family. Of course, my parents were in Lake Placid, and they left me at my grandma’s house. I am still upset about that. Otherwise, I have had a good year. I successfully thwarted their efforts to toilet train me, and the litter box is back. Kahlua is not as boring as she used to be. In the past she would never react no matter what I did to her. Now, every once in a while she will play with me. I still have not been able to catch any squirrels or birds because I am only allowed outside on a leash. I did manage to sneak out several times and enjoyed making everyone chase me. The projects around the house are going well with all my supervision. It is important that I keep those humans on track, particularly the large one, as his work seems to be rather shoddy when I am not there closely monitoring. I really like all the company that we have had this year and look forward to more. The more people to pet me, the happier I am. Come visit!

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Now we are looking forward to 2014 and all new adventures. We hope you will stick around for the journey of our lives.

Happy Homemaking!