Picture Perfect Memories

2009. It was great. I feel like so much happened in so little time, but I guess it lasted 12 months just like the previous 22 years I had experienced. Time just seems to fly by faster and faster these days. Anyone else agree? Between traveling the world (okay USA) and a few major life changes we kept us ourselves pretty busy. So here is a quick overview of where we were and what we were doing for the past 365 days that were the year 2009...

January

We rang in the new year out West with our families. The tail-end of our holiday vacation found us spending a few more days surrounded by the mountains and enjoying great company. After heading back to the 614 we celebrated Ryan's day of birth and dove head first into dental tools and textbooks. Oh yeah and we were totally loving the ever gray skies that linger over the Ohio Valley from December to April each year.

February

We got a new car! Very exciting. More homework. More gray skies.

March

For spring break we attempted to escape those cold, dreary Columbus days by heading South...ish, to South Carolina and the beach! A week with friends in a condo on the beach was just what we needed to recharge for the final quarter of the year. We survived bedbugs and 10 hour drives to enjoy approximately one day of sunshine, but enough good food, trips around the lazy river, and games of mini golf to last a lifetime!

April

April brought birthday wishes for Taryn and a visit from Taylor just in time to catch some Buckeye baseball. The sun was shining more often then not, and I was finishing up my dietetic internship by working with the kiddos at one of the top rated Children's Hospitals in the nation.

May

May was a big month for us. After a month of careful planning and scheming (also known as lying), Kyrsten and I were able to pull of the ultimate surprise for the ultimate party planner. To celebrate her "retirement" from the preschool teaching profession and pretty much just because she deserved it we threw a party in my Mom's honor. She didn't know about it. Or know I was coming. The above picture is when she found out.

Soon after returning from Idaho I did what I had to do on a stick and we found out the wonderful news that a little nino would soon be calling us mom and pop. Love thinking about that day. I seriously took 4 pregnancy tests and still didn't believe it. Sometimes I still don't.

June

June brought graduation and relaxation. After 5 long years, 2 majors, and 2 Universities I finally graduated. And instead of sitting in the middle of Ohio State's football stadium wearing a black gown in 85 degree weather, we flew South and laid on the beach in our bathing suits for a week straight. Happy graduation to me.

July

After returning to the homeland (minus the swine flu, thank you) we decided we must pay tribute to our forefathers and head to our Nation's capital. Touring the monuments with the Hansen family was so much fun and packing everyone into the car each day was even funner (I know, not a word). I also started my first official job as an actual dietitian. Oh the joys of working for WIC. What I like to call my "WIC Wonderfuls" deserve their own post all together.

August

Because the Obama's were occupied while we were in DC we had to meet up at a later date in Philadelphia. They made our trip a ton more fun by making us wait outside the Liberty Bell for two hours while they finished their personal tour. But our original Philly cheese steaks and Ihop with Greg and Karly totally made up for it.

September

September meant Ryan would be heading back to school full time and we couldn't let that happen without a final summer adventure. Said adventure took us East to the wonderful beauty that is the East Coast and into the lives of some of the greatest people on the planet. Such a great time.

October

Pretty sure October received an entire blog post of its own consisting of lovely leaves and football fanatics. And of course we found out our little bean was a little she, leading to the start of a very full closet for miss Stella.

November

Off to our mountain home for a day of thanks and some baby spoiling. Utah and Idaho were wonderful and it is so crazy to think the next time we visit home will be with our little chica.

December

This month brought our first Christmas without our families and the final countdown to baby. And the return of our beloved gray Ohio skies. Lucky for us we have a little piece of sunshine coming to join us and help us get through those few months of gloom.

It has been a great year and we really can't wait to see what 2010 brings us. I am sure there will be lots of surprises, but I think we can at least count on a birthday (or two or three), lots of studying, and of course a little Buckeye football. Until next year...