It is almost crazy to me that I am sitting here typing this post on what is the final day of 2009. The last day of not only a year, but a decade. I can't grasp the speed at which time is passing these days. This realization makes me feel simultaneously lucky (time flies when you're having fun) and sad (I've never been good with endings of ANY kind).
What an amazing decade it was...I began it finalizing my college degree and entering a new millenium and I'm ending it happily married and living in my eighth zip code. In between, I moved across the country, started a new life, established a career, met so many wonderful new friends, got married, moved BACK across the country, became Mom to two furbabes who have rocked my world in the most awesome way and so very much more. It boggles the mind, but I'm pleased to say that looking back on a decade, I feel mostly happy and content and so damn lucky to have the life that I have and the awesome people that fill it with such joy. I'm not sure there's a better measure for a successful decade.
One of my favorite new obsessions from 2009 is photography (duh) and the coolest thing about my new hobby/passion is the ease with which it allows me to relive a year. With a simple click through my photo files, I was instantly transported back to our 2009 in review. Between photographic evidence and the archives of this little website, it is easy (and so fun) to relive an entire year. Please to enjoy:
We rang in 2009 in the company of dear friends, singing karaoke to our hearts content as the ball dropped in the background and one year rolled into another. At midnight, I whispered a wish and gave thanks for infinite blessings. We started a new tradition (borrowed from our terrific SIL) and wrote down goals for ourselves and our family and shared them to shape the year ahead.
In JANUARY, we celebrated two years of marriage and relished the fact that we'd learned our lesson and had better mapped out a survival plan for our second full Chicago winter. We enjoyed a nice anniversary dinner and reflected on an awesome year of marriage and made plans for the next one to be even better. We were also thrilled to celebrate the awesome day that a certain fur-babe turned TWO!
In FEBRUARY, we practiced the winter survival tip that evaded us the previous year and GOT THE HELL OUT OF DODGE. We visited LA, just the two of us and although it rained some of the trip, it was spectacular and fun to relive our favorite spots and catch those sunsets that we miss so much. And of course, I entered a new decade in Lake Tahoe in the company of Hubby and my Mom.
In MARCH, we enjoyed both our first weekend of sunshine in a very long time (by taking the boys straight to the park) and a spring snowstorm that had us regretting our decision to uncover the roof deck furniture in anticipation of summer nights spent outside. We enjoyed a cozy (and chilly) Easter at the lake with MIL and lots more family and the Easter Bunny was really good to our boys.
In APRIL, we were really itching for warm weather, so I filled the house with fresh flowers figuring we'd fake it 'til we made it! And I traveled to Florida to toast a treasured girlfriend's single days goodbye in a bachelorette weekend that was paired with a wine festival. In a word, awesome!
In MAY, we returned to Louisville for the annual Brock family tradition known as The Derby. The hats were bigger and the time, as always, was a blast. One of our favorite weekends of the year. And we kicked off lake season, with our annual Memorial Day weekend extravaganza at MIL's.
In JUNE, we took our first real vacation since our honeymoon and enjoyed a fabulous week in Jamaica where we celebrated Beck and Jason and their gorgeous island wedding. It was also our first extended time away from the fur-babesbut they spent the week with Nana, Grandad and Uncle Matt in WV and were happy as clams.

In JULY, we continued the lake fun and celebrated lazy days and awesome fireworks with extended family. I rediscovered that smores are full of The Awesome and also? A certain adorable fur babe turned FOUR (wow)! And finally, I fell in love with a new city. All by myself.
In AUGUST, my parents visited Chicago and we hung out, just us 3, for the first time in ages. It was such fun.
In SEPTEMBER, we said goodbye to lake season with a relaxing labor day weekend and got excited to welcome my favorite time of year...FALL (and the holiday season soon thereafter).
In OCTOBER, we took a trip to Connecticut and NYC to celebrate with Rich and Wifey as they each entered new decades. We enjoyed an awesome Halloween themed party at a chic little Manhattan gallery and Hubby and I wandered for hours through Central Park. And of course, we celebrated another Bow-wow-ween with the fur-babes a couple of super heroes.
In NOVEMBER, we celebrated with family and friends at an awesome KY wedding and celebrated a quiet Turkey Day at home, giving thanks once again for such plentiful blessings. And in December, we celebrated Hubby's birthday from afar and another outstanding Christmas with the Brock clan. It is hard to believe it has already come and gone. Just the tip of the iceberg in terms of events and travels and fun that colored our 2009, but we're certainly a lucky clan, aren't we? I'm contemplative and reflective today; we're headed to MIL's shortly where we'll ring in a new decade in the company of family. I have such hope for 2010, so many dreams and goals plans. But mostly, I just want more of the same. Bring on the new decade; I have a feeling it is going to be epic. I'll be thinking of you tonight as the ball drops; I hope you are surrounded with loved ones and that you celebrate the year behind you as you welcome the one ahead. As I do every year, I will whisper a wish at midnight and I hope you will too. Let's enjoy making them come true together all year long. From our home (and hearts) to yours, Happy New Year!! 

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