Are those snowshoes hard to walk in? They’re tennis rackets, aren’t they? – Kelso, That 70 s Show

I’m chatting it up with these lovely ladies: IA and Seriously Shawn

Today we’re hitting the road bright and early with Walking Couple. I’m sorry I just can’t come up with more clever nicknames. Maybe after this trip I’ll have some!

Walking Couple invited us to this overnight stay shortly after we met them. I’m so excited to find couple friends that make the effort, and where we don’t feel like we’re constantly the ones asking them to do stuff. That’s how Sassy Couple are too, and I love it! Anyhoo, they found a deal online and we got a great hotel for half the price it normally is!

The deal includes one night stay, a choice of either snowshoeing, cross country skiing or ice skating, and an evening of roasting smores around the hotel’s outdoor fireplace. We’re hoping to snowshoe but Tahoe is severely lacking in snow this season. So we may just end up hiking. Either way I can’t wait!

The transition from summer to fall is a tricky one. Like astronauts returning from space. We had to re-enter the atmosphere of school carefully, so the sudden change in pressure wouldn’t kill us. -The Wonder Years

This part of the year was definitely the most fun. I did have some bouts of loneliness, but overall we had a very busy, very fun summer.

July:

I became a terrible dog mom.

We walked across the Golden Gate Bridge.

I had to say goodbye to Monica and Chandler for a whole year. Miss them both terribly!

I learned how to make Cuban pulled pork sandwiches. Try this recipe, you will thank me later!

I also shot a hand gun for the first time, and much to my surprise, I enjoyed it!

August:

I threw myself into earning money online to help contribute to our down payment. I was featured on Janette’s Friend to Friend Match Up with my Bloggy BFF Impulsive Addict. That was pretty kick ass!  We spent a lot of free time house hunting. We saw doozies like the house with the fireplace big enough for me to live in:

I celebrated with the Wolf Pack for Geeky’s Bachelorette Party.

and we took our annual trip to Carmel. We rode bikes, kayaked, and enjoyed an amazing trip with Match’s family.

September:

Match and I survived our first year of marriage and can no longer claim we’re newlyweds. Sigh.

I also wrote this sappy little post and included a wedding video, just in case you really want to soak up the sappiness.

I introduced the world to  Triple B.

I turned 28 and celebrated a very mellow birthday. But it was more than made up for by the white water rafting trip that Match took me on.

and the month ended on a bang with Geeky’s beautiful wedding.

Wow, I can’t believe we did all that in just three months!

[after Clark fails at lighting all the exterior Christmas lights at the "lighting ceremony" in front of the entire family]
Art: [sarcastically] Beautiful, Clark.
Frances: Talk about pissing your money away. I hope you kids see what a silly waste of resources this was.
Audrey Griswold: He worked really hard, Grandma.
Art: So do washing machines. -National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

I’m linking up with the ever fabulous: IA and Seriously Shawn

Here’s what I’ve been up to: 

• Two Sundays ago  Geeky came to visit me at our new casa. We had one of those fun girlie days, with lunch and margaritas downtown, followed by shopping, and ending with a gab sess on the couch over apple cider. I need more days like that in my life!

•  this past Saturday I returned the favor and visited Geeky and her Fire Guy. I had to drop off this little Christmas present I painted for her for her first year as a married woman. She has a thing for Cinderella.

• She got me and Match mini Korbel champagne bottles. I can’t promise that Match will get his.
• I also celebrated Couple Husband’s 30th birthday with him and his family. It was such a fun night, but for one tragedy: I forgot to bring my camera! You’ll just have to trust me that it was a great time. It was very casual, and I got to snuggle up with Couple babies.
• I went on a walk with a new friend, a wife of one of Match’s coworkers. I’ll call her Walking Buddy because I have a feeling we’ll be going on more. She’s a lot of fun and I’m so excited to have a friend that lives close by.
• We’ve also been enjoying all of the Christmas lights in our neighborhood.
• Later this week we’re going to visit Candy Cane Lane, which should have even more. I can never get enough Christmas lights and I’m a little sad that Christmas is only 5 days away. I don’t know if I’m ready for the holiday season to end.

•  Tonight Match and I are going to have a low key night. I’m making homemade Pho and spring rolls, and then we’re going to curl up on the couch and watch Christmas movies. My honey has been working massive overtime lately. I’ve forgotten what he looks like! I’m ready for some R&R with my main squeeze.
• So what’s new with you?

Pete: (To Berg) We’re having a surprise housewarming party for Johnny and Sharon.
Germ: I don’t have the address.
Pete: Well, meet me at the party and I’ll give it to you there. -Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place

The first Saturday of this month, Match and I hosted an open housewarming party. Our house was meant to be filled with people. It felt so warm and cozy, surrounded by our loved ones. The house was full of laughter, little ones running around playing, and most of all, love.

I had so much fun making some of the Christmas decorations for the party. Instead of wine charms I went to the dollar store and got a bunch of wine glasses and painted them with Christmas themes. I decided to keep them for next year, because you know I will be having another Christmas party!

Then I got the idea to paint one of my favorite quotes from the movie Elf. It turned out crooked but I figure that just adds to the charm right?

I also got some inspiration from pinterest, which actually came from this blog. I spray painted old wine bottles, added sticks I found in the driveway, and voila. This little centerpiece was completely free!

You can’t quite tell from the picture but there is glitter on the bottles and they sparkle slightly.

Match’s mom brought us the essential entryway adornment.

Here’s the table with all the goodies.

It cracks me up that no matter the size, everyone always ends up in the kitchen.

Good Couple came and Good Wife showed off her baby bump. Did I mention she’s pregnant with TWINS? First time mama…she is going to be a busy bee!

Monkey says…please someone just throw the ball!

Monkey made us proud by being VERY patient with the boys. I was nervous because he’s not around kids that often but he was so good. Look at him with Moose’s girlfriend’s son. He was loving all the food he dropped. Look at the grin on his face in this picture. Doesn’t he need a little boy best friend? I think so.

Here’s Couple Toddler giving him loves.

Neighbor Couple were also there but I didn’t manage to snap their picture.

At the end of the night, it was just Couple Family (minus Couple baby who stayed home) and us. We curled up on our comfy cabin furniture and visited. Match and Couple toddler had a blast goofing off. Look at the way Match lights up around kids. Is that not the cutest thing?

Watch out, Uncle Match loves to eat baby toes!!

We also had our first family photo in the new house.

It was an awesome house warming and hopefully just the first of many more parties to come.

Now that we’re drawing close to the end of another year, I’ve been thinking of all of the vacations I want to take with Match next year. I think we did a great job of getting out and exploring this year, but next year I would like to do even more. I’ve been looking at vacation Apartments for rent in Edmonton, Alberta, as well as other places in the North. I find that the further north you go, it seems like the friendlier the people. Now if I could just find some extra cash for all of this traveling we’re going to be doing next year. Maybe Santa will help me out!