Kathleen's Korner: 2014

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

2014

Well, I don't think you have to wonder what my favorite moment of 2014 was....

The moment I had waited for....the moment I became his wife. On the day we got married, we had known each other for 25+ years, had "re-met" 7 years earlier, and had been together for 6 years. I knew he was the one after about the 1st week. I know people say that all the time and it's a little cheesy but it's true. I had dated a lot of duds before him and had my heart broken several times. He was different, I knew it from day 1. I waited a long time for the day I became his wife to come, but it was so worth the wait. I have so enjoyed being his wife these past 5 months. Has it been hard? Yes. I'm not going to sugarcoat it. I lived by myself for a long time and he moved in with me. It was hard. There was a day or 2 (or 3) that I went and cried in my bed because he moved something of mine, or did something different than how I did it, or picked a fight with me about how I loaded the dishwasher. Having a boy invade my life was not easy, but we've finally adjusted and have our own little routine going now.

I loved the memories we made over our first Christmas together, even if it was in our little 2x4 apartment. We will look back one day with good memories of our first Christmas in this little space we call home. And how he took my Christmas present to his car to wrap it because there was nowhere else to go.

The best week of 2014 was obviously our honeymoon to the keys! And yes, I still have to finish the honeymoon posts, and I will, promise!

That week was unbelievable. The prettiest scenery, my favorite person, relaxation, what more could I ask for? When we got there Ty told me we could do whatever we wanted and not to worry about money (if you know Ty, that is HUGE), so we lived it up. We had so much fun and I'm already begging him to go back!

So much more happened this year. I am honestly sad to see 2014 go! Here are some of my favorite memories (in no order)...

1. I was in my little sister's wedding, my friend Allison's wedding, and my cousin Karlie's wedding.

2.My college roommate, Lauren, had a baby

3. I was reunited with Molly and Charlie Grace

4. My friends threw me the best & most relaxing bachelorette party ever.

5. We spent a week in Pensacola with Ty's family.

6. I enjoyed every second of being these kids' aunt..

Oh yes, and Emma had a great year too. She loves duck hunting, chewing on deer antlers, playing fetch, snuggling, the lake, thinking she's a lap dog, getting as close to you as possible, and taking up the whole bed at night.

Saturday, December 27, 2014

Wedding Bells

A few weeks ago, my cousin Karlie got married! She wore our Nana's dress from 1949 for the ceremony and she looked stunning. I know my nana was smiling down from heaven that day. Karlie's mom also wore the dress 30 years ago when she married Karlie's dad. What a special dress!!!

Isn't she gorgeous?

We had so much fun getting ready for the wedding with Karlie and dancing the night away at her reception!

Cousin bridesmaids!

Waiting for the ceremony!

Me and my cute hubby at the reception!

Karlie changed dresses for the reception and she looked stunning in that dress too!

Sisters at the reception!

My sweet family!!

A little background - Karlie lives in my same apartment complex and she had a few things for her honeymoon delivered that didn't arrive until Saturday. Well, Ty grabbed the packages for her but we didn't get to give them to her before they left the reception - so what did I do? Busted up in her apartment after for a pj dance party with the bride and groom. Ha!

I am so happy for Karlie and John Allen and wish them a lifetime of happiness! And lots of babies!!!

Friday, December 26, 2014

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! I hope everyone had a great week celebrating the birth of Jesus with family and friends! I hope it was filled with love, laughter, and lots of special memories!

This year was very different for me for many reasons. I have spent every single Christmas of my life at home with my family in Atlanta. We always do Christmas Eve in Birmingham, then drive home in the middle of the night and spend Christmas Day in our pajamas watching Anne of Green Gables (any other fans out there??). Over the last several years, it has changed a little because my two older sisters have gotten married but me and my little sister carried on the same traditions every year. This year was so different not only because we both got married this year but also because mom & dad are now here in Birmingham so we never traveled to Atlanta. It was very bittersweet when mom & dad sold our home of 17 years and I've been thinking a lot about that house this Christmas season. It holds most of my memories growing up and has always been my safe haven and we can no longer go there. But I am slowly learning it's not about the house, it's about the people. The love. The family. Yes, that house will always hold so many special memories, but I know we will make so many new memories in their new house here in Birmingham. It will be the house my kids will make nana and papa memories in, and just thinking about that gets me excited.

All of this to say, my Christmas looked very different this year. I didn't wake up in my parents house in Atlanta, take a sister stair picture, and watch Anne of Green Gables all day with my sisters in our pjs, but Ty and I did share our first Christmas Day ever together (crazy, huh? We've been together 7 Christmases but never spent Christmas Day together!), we did make new memories and new traditions together, and we did spend time with both of our families on Christmas Day and that's all that matters! Was it hard to give up the thought of all those memories and traditions? Yes. But I did it, and I lived! And those special Christmas memories will always be tucked away in my heart and always be special to me.

Here are a few pictures from our family Christmases this week. Somehow I didn't manage to get one picture of Ty and I on our first Christmas Day together...oops!