2011 in Pictures (July-December)

July

We spent a good part of our Summer doing yard work,

visiting our local farmers market,

and enjoying any entertainment our new community offered

We hosted Nick and CAWife in our home

We celebrated the 4th of July at Neil and Elise's apartment

Which offered an incredible view of the DC fireworks

We finished their visit with a tour of the National Building museum

and bowling

We traveled to my hometown to host a bridal shower for my friend Caren

We also attended her engagement party

Where we celebrated with friends

We finished our hometown weekend with some relaxation with the family

We celebrated VABeau's 28th Birthday

and continued the celebration with tubing and debauchery in Charlottesville

AugustWe started August with a fun filled family vacation in Michigan with VABeau's family

We spent our days that week boating on the lake and

sunbathing and reading

We climbed the impressive Sleeping Bear Dunes

and spent an evening in unique Leland

We took numerous day trips

and enjoyed a visit from our friends, Neil and Elise

Neil took us to a beautiful spot that only a Michigan guy would know about

We did our own version of a Pure Michigan Wine tour

and fell in love with L. Mawby's sparkling wines

and gorgeous Michigan

It was definitely a trip we will never forget!

We finished the month with yet another home project, our compost pile

SeptemberWe started September with a perfect wine tour with Neil and Elise
We made stops at Linden Vineyards
and Naked Mountain Winery

We made our first visit to Chincoteague Island

to celebrate the marriage of Monica and Robby

I ran the Clarendon Day 10K

We both were blessed with job promotions one of which came with a brand new truck!

October

We celebrated our 2 year anniversary being total nerds in Colonial Williamsburg

With a quick visit to Yorktown

and lunch with our favorite William and Mary student, Chase

We made another trip to South Boston for Caren and Ryan's wedding

Where we had a blast with my best childhood friends and their husbands

A L&D nurse happy hour was born and we found a way to let lose and vent about work without a call bell to interupt us!

NovemberMy parents visited us for a weekend and helped us with multiple home projects

We discovered that our new backyard is absolutely stunning in the Fall

We attended another Caps game

before heading to Indiana to celebrate Thanksgiving with VABeau's family

We got to spend quality time with some of our favorite peopleAnd got to attend our first game in Lucas Oil Stadium
they may have lost but we still had a blast

DecemberI ran the poorly organized Hot Chocolate 15k

We attended the grand opening of the new United States Institute of Peace

And got to see the beautiful finished product of something VABeau worked on

We decorated our first home for the holidays

Attended several Christmas parties

and brunches

We hosted our own holiday gathering

before heading to my hometown to spend Christmas with my family

It has been a great year full of blessings. We adjusted to home ownership, traveled, and spent great times with friends and family.

I hope each and every one of you have a happy and healthy new year!