A Year in Review..

Happy 2015! So hard to believe that 2014 has come to an end, it seems that each year goes by quicker and quicker, while we get older and older. 2014 was a year of ups, downs, highs, lows, twists and turns. Happiness, sadness, tears, frustrations, laughter, blessings, and so much more. I truly believe God sends us through hard times, so we learn to even more appreciate and be thankful for the good times. Pat and I have learned to work more as a team, grow our relationship with God together, and for that I am so very grateful.

How is it that I only updated my blog 7 times in 2014?? That's not even once a month... pitiful. If I recall correctly my 2014 goal was to update more often and I obviously went in the wrong direction. SO for 2015, I again hope to be better about updates. I truly do enjoy blogging and it is so nice to be able to look back and reminisce.

February was a busy month. Pat was in his good friend Tyler's wedding, we headed to Oklahoma to take some of Pat's clients to an Oklahoma City Thunder game and then I headed to Kansas City to have our annual Chi Omega Reunion. I also celebrated my 28th Birthday. I received the best news on my birthday this year, I was going to be an Aunt!! YAY!!!!

OKC Thunder Game

Chi Omega Reunion - Kansas City 

During our reunion weekend we decided we were going to make plans for a girl's trip in May down to Scottsdale. I couldn't turn down this offer! My friend Holli's parents have a timeshare in Scottsdale so we headed down for a long weekend get away in May. It was so much fun and definitely needs to happen more often!

I also learned that I LOVE Scottsdale and want to retire there:)

Scottsdale Girl's Trip

Side note- I desperately need a nice camera I have realized while looking back on these pictures. Sheesh!

Also in May we sold my car and we upgraded to a 4-door finally, "officially a Mom car" I like to say. No in all honesty it's not really much of a Mom car at all and I really like it:)

One of my good friend's Caitlin and I ran the Color me Rad Run 5K in May and then the River Run 10K the first week of June. They were both HOT and HUMID runs. Darn Kansas weather is crazy!

Color Me Rad 5K

June is the month of birthdays in our family and my baby sister Paige, turned 21. I can hardly believe she is 21, she is growing up so fast and I couldn't be more proud of the great woman she is and continues to become. We surprised her with a party bus. I think she was completely caught off guard and surprised!

Officially the oldest two on the bus..

Birthday Girl!

Cort was 6 months preggo on the bus, she is much more of a trooper than I could ever be!

We headed to Bull Shoals for the 4th of July with some friends. Our good friend Sean has a lake house down there and we try to make a trip at least once a year. It was such a relaxing weekend and perfect weather!

Relaxation station as we like to call it! 

I attempted wake boarding for the first time. 

Cheers to you!

As July was coming to an end Pat and I headed out on our much anticipated vaca to Costa Rica. It was the most amazing 7 days. One of those vacations that you just don't want to end. I definitely had enough "adventure" to last me a lifetime as well:) Thanks to my hubby for pushing me to step outside of my comfort zone! I will forever remember this trip with him!

After we returned home we packed up our bags again and headed to Kansas City for my friend Tuyen's wedding, visit my best friend Ashley, and celebrate our friend Sean's 30th birthday!

August was such a busy month. Filled with birthdays, weddings, parties, and ended with my sister Cortney's baby shower for baby Wyatt. It was so fun planning the baby shower with my sister Paige and my Mom. We had such a great turn out and she left with just about everything she needed!

Ships Ahoy It's A Boy!

September rolled around which meant BABY month. Pat and I also celebrated our 3rd Wedding Anniversary, gosh really?! We all thought Wyatt would come early, but little did we know he would make his appearance on his ACTUAL due date, September 26th! It has been so fun watching her and David as parents, it melts my heart. And that little boy, gosh he is so, so loved! He has stolen all of our hearts and Pat and I love being an Uncle and Aunt!

If you recall we Pat finished our basement just after the first of the year. It has been so nice to have the extra space and take a break from house projects. Pat then got the great idea he wanted to build a new deck before winter rolled around. I of course was a little hesitant that he'd get it finished so quickly. I was pleasantly surprised though! He tore down the old one and built a new one which is about double the size, it is so spacious- I absolutely love it. Once again this guy amazes me!

November came around extra quickly this year which meant Patty boy would be celebrating his big 3-0! One of his good friends Chris' birthday is the day before so his wife, RaeAnn and I decided to throw a joint surprise party! We put a lot of work into the party and it was sooooo hard keeping things a secret. I am a terrible liar and was convinced he knew I had something up my sleeve. He swears he didn't though, so I guess you could say things were a success!

Photo collage with ages 1-30 of each of the guys!

Happy 30th Pat!

Love him!

We wrapped up the year with a great Thanksgiving and 7 different Christmases. We are so blessed to have most of our family so close to home.

Grandma, Mom, Paige, and Me on Christmas Eve

The hubs and I on Christmas morning. 

What a year it has been. I am more than ever looking forward to the New Year and hoping and praying for the best. Cheers!

We'll be starting the year off with a bang as we head to Tulsa next weekend to see Garth Brooks!!! AAAHHHH, SO EXCITED!!!

Cortney's Babyshower

As many of you know, my younger sister Cortney is pregnant with her first child, a baby boy. It seems like just yesterday her and David were tying the knot. You may remember this POST when they got married two years ago. She is due 9/26/14, and our family could not be more excited for Cort and David! This will be Pat and I's first time to be "Aunt and Uncle", this is also the first grandchild for my parents and first great-grandchild for my grandparents. I CANNOT wait to meet this little one, oh did I mention it is a BOY?!?! Yes- Wyatt James Richmond. Our family has pretty much zero boys, so this also brings everything to a whole new excitement:) We are just overjoyed and can't wait to meet the little guy in only a few short weeks. I cannot wait to see Cortney as a Mom, I have always thought she'd be the best Mom (she is one of the most caring, laid back, and patient people) and it makes me smile just thinking about her and David raising a family. I think Cort will have him early, my guess is September 13th, we'll see how close I am!

This past weekend my Mom, Paige, and I threw Cortney her a baby shower. The guest list was quite hefty, so we had it at St. Francis Church in one of their halls. It worked out perfect. We had an awesome turnout and Cortney and David are now pretty set for Mr. Wyatt's arrival!

My friend Tessa designed the invites (check her out over at Royalscript.blogspot.com)
The whole shower was based around a Nautical Theme

We made the cake table the focus table and then food on each side. My younger sister Paige made the Wyatt banner, my Dad made the fence, and I found the onesies to hang at Old Navy.

We added nets and sea shells to all of the tables to go along with the theme. I also had some lanterns at home that I incorporated.

My Mom and I found this cute boat for $10 at a craft fair, how cute is it?! We added some baby's breath in mason jars, sea shells, and a net on top.

I absolutely loved the cake and thought it turned out perfect! It tasted as good as it looked too:)

I found this cute anchor at TJ Maxx and then borrowed the chalkboard signs and crate from a friend.

I found these cute free nautical printables online. Printed and punched them out and glued to toothpicks for sandwich toppers.

These fruit kabobs were a hit! So easy- take skewers and add sliced strawberries, blackberries, and donut holes, then drizzle with caramel sauce. Easy and delish! 

Welcome table. I ordered this buoy off of amazing that says "Welcome Aboard." We then had all guests sign the buoy as they arrived for a keepsake.

Made a photo collage of a mixture of baby pictures of both Cortney and David

Momma-to-be

My amazing Mom, Momma to be, little sister Paige

What a crowd! My Mom also made diaper cakes for all the tables which will now be great for Cort to use.

The quilt my Mom made for Wyatt, it turned out so great!

And we're done! What an exhausting and HOT day! Now the fun begins:)

Auntie Amber can't wait to meet you Wyatt! I pray for a healthy delivery for Momma and you. I pray for you as you enter this crazy world we live in and that you will be loved, are healthy and kept safe, and that you grow up to be a wonderful young man some day. We can't wait to be a part of your life!