Belated 2012 in Pictures

So often I find myself saying I can't believe it's been "_____" long since I last posted.  Then, silently, I promise myself that I will blog more often.  I fail at this every time.  I love blogging...but I don't love it when I've experienced a long work day and been on the computer for most of it.  Well it's safe to say, that I won't be making blogging a resolution for the New Year.  No point in making a resolution that you know you will fail at.  LOL!
 Chad and I have been sick recently, so I'm just now getting around to my annual New Year's blog.

This year has been a year of firsts...

On January 2, we made the 4 hour trek with the kitties to KC and signed the lease on our new home...a loft in the River Market.  This was the first time that I've ever lived away from home...the St. Louis Metro area.

One of our first nights

We signed up for a membership at Cellar & Loft a week later...to keep our sanity, of course.

I must thank all the friends & family that came to visit us this first year.  You were all lifesavers in helping us get through this collosal change....Mom, John, Judy, Ashley, Rebecca, Doc, Calyn, Ben, Lehni, Dad & Mary Sue...and anyone else that I may have forgotten.

Judy came out to visit in February, and we took in a tour to the Chief's stadium,

In March, we made our first trip home for St. Patty's Day.

In March, we also made our first of several trips to Florida to plan the wedding.  On this trip we signed a contract with the Sandpearl Resort...and we couldn't have been happier...

...and we also visited the Yankee's Spring Training.

We were home again in April for Easter...where Fun Chad was born!

We also took in our first Royals game as citizens of KC...

...and saw our first tornado during my first storm chasing experience...

...and took in our first Wine Walk on Delaware (a fun monthly even in our neighborhood)!  I also went wedding dress shopping with Judy and Mom.  Wow, what a busy April!

In May, we celebrated my 35th with a fabulous dinner at Michael Smith's (one of the best restaurants in KC)...

...and took in our first KC Hop Fest (beer fest) with our new friends Jen & Jeff.

Also in May, we took a weekend drive to Tallgrass Brewery in Manhattan, KS (about 2 hrs from our home).  Tallgrass distributes all their beer in cans.  Here's one of my favorite pics!

In June, we took in our first KC First Friday's event.  This is a monthly event where artists can display their work.  One of my favorite parts of First Friday's is the sale of Christopher Elbow Chocolates for only $1 each!!!!!

Late in June, Lehni, Calyn & Ben came out to KC to see Ben's mom and joined us for dinner one night.  Lehni loved the balcony...and the fact that Aunt Lisa has her own building!  (No need to tell her any different.)

We celebrated the 4th of July with several other meteorologists at Jen & Jeff's in North KC.  The title of this pic is "How many meteorologists does it take to retrieve a phone?"

Also in Judy, we took in the All Star Fan Fest, which was held in KC this year...

...had our first luncheon at the Boulevard Brewery...

...and took another Wedding Planning Trip to Clearwater!

In September, Judy help a Bach Party for Chad and I at her place.  We were so blessed to have many friends & family come out to celebrate!!    So many great pics!  Here's a few of our favorites!

In mid October, I gained my first "second cousin"...Miss Tinsley!  She is sooo gorgeous!

Our wedding took place in October!  I cannot say how elated I was that so many friends & family came out to celebrate!  We were sooooo lucky!!!!!  It was the most fabulous event!  I could not have asked for anything better!  It was exactly what we wanted!!!!!!!

Here's only a couple of the fabulous pics!

...I gained a new mother, brother and even a new "sister"...

We were so lucky to get to spend so much time with everyone this weekend!  Here's a few pics of dinner on our last night together!!

Our honeymoon followed in Playa Mujeres, Mexico.  This was our first time together in Mexico, our first time repelling, and Chad's first time snorkeling & zip lining!  What a fabulous trip!!

In November, we celebrated Kristine & Nick's wedding...another fabulous event!  Kristine and I were single together for so many years.  So it was wonderful to celebrate these events together this year...even if there was a late signing of the marriage certificate!

I started my first new job in over 10 years on December 3rd with United Healthcare.  This has probably been my biggest stress throughout 2012!  Job searching has definitely made me more sympathetic to the many Americans that do this every day!  We have been in a temporary United Healthcare space throughout the month of November.  Funny thing that I was put in the "Royals" office.  Just made me want to bring in Cardinals decor!  LOL! At least we'll  be moving into our new office in January!

Due to my job, we could not come back to STL for Christmas this year, so my dad and Mary Sue decided to come out for a visit the weekend before.  I made Rachael Ray's Christmas Pasta and we opened gift.  The following day we went to Union Station to see the train exhibit and ate at Jack's Stack! This was the result...

This was the first Christmas that I had not been around family...and the first Christmas that I took in a movie.  We went to see Le Mis at the Alamo and had mimosas.  When we returned home I made Braciole, one of Chad's family recipes.  It was my first crack at it...not too bad.

On NYE we were supposed to take part in a progressive dinner within the River Market neighborhood, but I had been sick that week, so that we had to cancel.  It was just as well as I had to work late.  So we spent NYE alone with the cats, appetizers & champagne.

Happy 2013!  XOXO!  Cheers!

The Holidays...

We had a very busy...but fun day today.  The day started with a trip to the vet, which is always very stressful for both us as well as the kitties.  This is the first time they've been to the vet, since we've been in KC.  Thankfully, they are very healthy kitties, but that means they never get used to going to the vet.  We tried a few new techniques this time...covering a cage with a towel until they get into the exam room, spraying Feliway on the towels in their cage, and placing a toy in their cage.  They still weren't very excited to go but they did react a bit better...and recovered faster once we returned home.  Phew!  Glad that's over!!

We had a bit of time between events to finish off our holiday decorating.  Here's a pic of our place from below.  It's the one that's decorated...

 

This afternoon we headed out to a wine class at Cellar Rat,a local wine merchant in the downtown area.  This was our second class there.  We really enjoy them.  It's a small group and it lasts 2 hours.  They keep offering them via Groupon, so it's also very reasonable.  The class today was Wine Essentials: Reds.  The instructor was super knowledgeable.  He gave us several tips.  Let's see if I can remember a few:
*  When buying wine at a restaurant, stay away from Napa wines, as well as Cabernets, as those will be most expensive, since they are in the biggest demand.  Find a grape or a region that is lesser know.
*  Don't order Australian wines with meals because they are less acidic and don't pair as well with foods as higher acidic wines.

Here's a few pics from our class...

 
After the wine class we headed to the Holiday Walk on Delaware.  This was a holiday event that benefitted local merchants & artists.  The gist was to walk from business to business on Delaware.  Each business had their own thing going on but also had a local artist there selling their own wares.  We started out with some beer tastings from Grain to Glass, which is a local business that gives home brew classes.  I'm hoping to get in on one of these classes in the new year and try my hand at brewing once more.  We also had some phenomenal mulled wine at the Farmhouse.  Everything is always phenomenal there!!!  We walked out of there with a very cool necklace from Scarlett Garnet.  The necklace is a anatomical heart and benefits St. Luke's.  I love it not only for it's medical link but also that it looks artsy.

We also visited a few more venues and ended up with a dish from artist Ryan Fletcher.  It's from his Paper Plate collection, which was used as dishes at one of our favorite restaurants in KC...The Rieger Hotel.  Check out his website to read about it!  Very cool!!!

 
Hope everyone had a good Saturday!  Cheers!! 

What a week...

Wow!  What a first week at the new job!  I worked 10 hrs my first day and 11 hrs the second.  I managed to put in only 8.5 hrs on Wednesday…felt like I was slacking.  LOL!  This was all to be expected as I'm jumping into this roll 4 weeks before the go-live date with the health plan in KS.  There is soooo much to learn, and I don't think I've even scratched the surface yet.  Actually, I know I haven't as I've only met two of my 100+ staff.  That sounds awful, but I've only had a couple hours to work on "housekeeping" items each day as I've been pulled into important meetings.  It seems like I'll get to know Topeka very well.  I was told that I'd be there one day a week, but it seems like it could be up to 3 days a week…meetings at the State.  Everyone has been really nice so far, and it seems like it's going to be a good team!  Almost everyone is new within the last 6 months, so I'm not completely alone.

I'm completely exhausted from this first week and looking forward to the weekend…even though it's going to be a very busy weekend.  Saturday we are taking the cats to their first KC vet appointment.  I didn't have great luck with the groomer I chose here, so I'm hoping I chose better with the vet.  Taking the cats to the vet is always a super stressful experience for me & Chad, as well as the kitties.  They do not take well to car rides and other people…especially those that poke and prod around on them.  You'd think that someone was butchering them in the exam room the way they howl and carry on.  Whenever we're done and walk back out into the waiting room, everyone is usually staring.  Ha!  This time we're taking better precautions.  We're using Feliway, and herbal spray, to calm them down.  You're supposed to spray it on their towels in their cage, and it's supposed to make them relax.  Let's hope so!  After the vet, we're heading to a wine class at Cellar Rat and the a neighborhood event called Holidays on Delaware.  This is part of the Wine Walk on Delaware Association.  This event is geared towards families and support of the neighborhood.  You walk around Delaware St., in and out of businesses, eating & drinking…and possibly purchasing a Xmas present or two.  This event isn't supposed to have wine, but I may need to bring some of my own after the vet business!

Unfortunately, part of Sunday is going to be spent at the laundromat.  Oh how I hate the laundromat!  Our washer started malfunctioning on Sunday.  We contacted our property manager and the repair man came to look at it today.  Of course, the news wasn't good.  It will cost $500 to repair!  This means that the property manager has to contact the owner, who will need to decide to repair it or purchase a new washer.  I could care less either way…except that either decision will probably take much longer than it should…meaning that I will probably have to visit the laundromat more than once!  We're going to have to drive to a laundromat in the burbs as that is one establishment that I cannot fathom staying in the city for.  

Update...new washer coming on Tuesday.  Yahoo!  Now maybe I can make the laundromat outing into necessities only!

Hope your weekend is better than mine!