2012 in Review

A whole year over and I didn't blog a bit of it. Imagine what one of my 2013 Resolutions is? 

2012 was a year of growth. 

It was also the first year since going to BYU (2000) that I didn't write a Christmas Letter. 

I know... every time I sat down to write about it, I couldn't do it.

 I figured a year in pictures would just be easier. 

Here is 2012 in retrospect:

Campaigning for Romney in the South Carolina Republican Primary (we were so full of hope back then!). January 2012.

Shook his hand 5 times in 48 hours. By the end, he recognized me and thanked me personally. Highlight of 2012, and quite possibly a Highlight of my life. #themanthatshouldvebeenpresident

A little detour from a work trip in Louisiana took us through the town where Steel Magnolias was filmed. This is the original house.

 "Laughter through tears is my favorite emotions."

Such a classic.

I turned 30 this year. 

And this is how I did it. 4 days on the beach in Puerto Rico with my lady friends. 

Thank you Melissa, Cortney, Shelley, Kristen, Leslie, MJ, Rachel, and Deana for celebrating with me. At one point we were sitting around eating dinner in one of the restaurants and a group of older men were nearby and starting chatting it up with us. One of the men asked how we all knew each other. Once we explained that they all knew me, he got so serious and looked at me and told me that this was incredible and reflected on the kind of person and friend I was. It was seriously the kindest thing. It just took me off guard and honestly made me cry. I think because I have striven to be a good friend and for a total stranger to highlight that and praise me, hit a nerve. 

Definitely a 2012 Highlight.

My beautiful cousin Lauren got married in April in Utah. 

 It was so great to be in the Temple with her and her new husband, Jerad. 

Any excuse to go to Utah is good by me. 

  Took a little trip with Meradyth to Nashville. It was our first time there and we took in the sites. We were going to run a 1/2 marathon, but decided on the "mini marathon"instead. Haha.

This is the "circle" from the original Grand Old Opry building. It's been petrified over time and so during the flooding in Nashville that nearly destroyed the Opry, it was just floating on top of all the water.

 Gotta love that resilience.

Lake Gaston.

Spent Memorial Day Weekend at a Lake House with some friends. 

I am a beach girl through and through.

But this Lake was one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. 

Loved it.

What's a weekend at the Lake without some wrestling and throwing one another in the water?

Well I don't play. Let's just say Dustin didn't get me in the water at this point. the next shot here would have been me pantsing him and making a run for it.

A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.

Spotted Pig- Bono's restaurant in NYC 

(didn't run into him...dang it.)

Got to spend a week in NYC for work in June. Love that city.

. 

 Great play.

 Street meat.

Delish.

 Walking the High Line. One of my new favorite things to do in NYC. 

Read all about it. http://www.thehighline.org/

 Minneapolis in June. Got to see Charla.

 Krista's 30th in NYC in July.
Such a great week.
I love this girl and I love this city.

 Once. I actually loved this show. The music was incredible.

 One of my absolute favorite shows of all time.
We were screaming like school girls.
It was sooooooo good!!

 Yeah, that's Jack Kelly.
Be jealous.
Adorable.

 Wouldn't be a trip to NYC if you didn't eat your way through that town.
Just a sampling of the damage we did at Serendipity.
Delish.

 Laney & Jerry's wedding in SLC in August.
I love this couple!

 Love this picture.
Some of my favorite people captured perfectly.
Haha.

 Julie & Jonathan's wedding in St. George.
Spent the weekend at my parents'place with Kim and Savanna.
Such a blast!

 Got back into hiking.
This is Great Falls.
Gorgeous.

 Attempting to cook more.
Baked pumpkin & sausage rigatoni.
Basically pumpkin pie with sausage.
It was amazing.

 My parents now live 2 hours away.
Spent a weekend with some friends just eating and watching General Conference at my parents place.
Perfection.

 Roommates being the Jackson 5 for Halloween.
We have such a good time.

 A week in North Carolina in November with these ladies.
If only I could show the rest of the pictures.
Never a dull moment.

Feeding 34 people for Thanksgiving at Casa de Shurtleff.

It was such a great time.

Love my family. 

Christmas in Parowan with these two cuties

2012. 

Another year full of memories with family and friends.

I am incredibly blessed.

2013 here we come.

Promotion

I got promoted :)

This is my new title.

I'd be lying if I didn't say I wasn't super excited about this. What can I say? It feels good to be appreciated. I'm still loving my job and for that I am eternally grateful. Plus I'll be traveling less. Yes that is sad, since I may be seeing some of you less now, but after nearly three years of being on the road. I think I'm ready to enjoy my office with a view. Oh did I fail to mention that? :) Yes I have my own office. With a View of the DC Skyline.

Life is good.

Summer in DC

I am incredibly behind in blogging. It's a bit ridiculous. That said this was a good summer in DC and here are a few of the highlights.

Cafe Rio is in the DC area. And since this picture, there is now a 2nd location in the Greater DC area. Yes I've been to both many, many times. Let's just say I've earned a couple of free meals already. Oh Pork Burrito how I love thee...
A few of my favorite DC gals enjoying Cafe Rio with me. Kat, Meradyth & Amber.

Melissa and the boys came for a visit over the 4th of July and that was just perfection. Vince has got an eye for photography. The kid is pretty good. Ansel Adams better watch out.

Me! Haha. This is Vince's shot. Not too shabby.

Hello sunshine! Baby Clyde (don't you love how they're matching?!) is all of his beauty.

The boys were actually with Al and Melissa came up for visit, so this is a shot of them seeing her for the first time in a couple of weeks. It was such a great moment.

Melissa and I after a Capitol Tour. My friend Joe gave us a great tour of the Capitol and it was such a perfect day, grabbed some great grub at Good Stuff Eatery and enjoyed the sunshine.

President's desk in the Capitol. Thanks Joe!

Roommate photo! My roommates and I went out for Julie's birthday and walked around the monuments as the sun was setting. It was a perfect night. I really do love this town, especially in the summertime.

Fried Chicken & Waffles. Delish. For Julie's dinner we ate at Founding Farmers. A really popular restaurant in DC. It definitely lived up to the hype. It was amazing!

Enjoying Founding Farmers.

Summer isn't complete without at least one baseball game. I didn't get to as many games as I'd have liked, but I did get at least one and it was the perfect night for a game. I'm telling you this town is a dream in the summer. Love it!

The whole baseball crew.

Sunset from our seats in the Nationals stadium. Gorgeous!

Go Nationals!

Kate. I love her. This girl just makes me happy. She got married the weekend I was in Pittsburgh for work. But we did throw her a heckuva a bridal shower and here she is enjoying it :)

It was a yogurt bar. It turned out wonderfully and was the perfect food for a summer shower.

All of Kate's ladies enjoying the shower. What would summer be without bridal showers?!

More of Kate! I told you I loved her :)

It really was a good summer in DC. I look back and can't believe it's already over and there are moments I feel like I didn't do much, since there was no real "big trip." But I did get some quality time with my city and in the end, that's exactly what I needed. I do love this town, but we'll see how I'm feeling come the dead of winter!

Pittsburgh

Take me home country roads. John Denver really did sing it best.

I was able to check off one more state from my list.

West Virginia (leaving only Alaska and Vermont). We had a workshop back in June in Pittsburgh and so we made it a road trip through ET's hometown. We really were listening to "Country roads" as we drove these roads. Pretty surreal.
View of West Virginia.

Gorgeous.

Me & ET. I adore this kid. We have so much fun together. I can't tell you how much I miss him at the office. NACCAS just isn't the same without him.

The whole Workshop Crew.

Pittsburgh! I love this town! I have never seen so many manly men in one place in my whole life!!I loved it! Haha. Seriously though, there were men everywhere. It may or may not have something to do with the fact that the Pirates were playing the Red Sox the weekend we were there. Either way, it improved the overall view ;) The Beer House. Not quite as fun as the one in Munich, but still a pretty dang good time.

Our farewell dinner for ET.

The gang on our last night in Pittsburgh.

Yes I work with some crazy people, but it really is so much fun! I love doing these workshops. I get to travel with my colleagues and I get to teach, which I really do miss doing. It is a lot of hard work but it is so much fun. Pittsburgh was no exception.

The Prince is 5

5 years ago I became an Aunt. It has been the single greatest joy of my life. Hands down. I didn't do anything to deserve it and Melissa did all the hard work to bring this little man into my life, but it has been such a wonderful and incredible experience.

On May 20th Vincent Raymond Deleon turned 5.

Here is what he looked like the first time I saw him 5 years ago.

He was so tiny!! And he had so much hair!
Here is our first photo together (can we just make a sidenote about how ridiculously short my hair was then?! Woah.) I haven't stopped cuddling him since...well atleast when he lets me. The kid never stops running.

And here he is now. Our little Vince the Prince, 5 years old!

We had a big party for him in Tallahassee and it was such a good, good time. My parents were there and so was Nathan. I love being with my nephews and family. These babies bring such happiness into our lives. What the heck did we do before them?!

I know every Aunt thinks her nephews/nieces are the cutest. But seriously? Look at these faces? Pretty sure it's no contest.

I know that Mothers always talk about how they can't believe they have enough room in their heart to love anyone more than their first child and then they have another baby and it just muliplies. Well it's true. Life is so much sweeter with Baby Clyde around who just turned 2, now that I've taken so long to blog this post. Our babies are growing so fast. I honestly cannot get enough of these two.

Aunt Mimi is pretty much my favorite person to be at the moment.