2015: Top Ten Moments

2015 was truly such an incredible year! It was filled with all of my favorite things...fun, friends, family...and LOVE <3

In no particular order, here are my top 10 moments from 2015:

1. Saying I do

2. Our wedding reception and celebrating with family and friends

3. Our honeymoon

4. Buying our house

5. Starting the new school year as Mrs. Smith

6. Running the Chicago Marathon, and getting my sub 4:00

7. Completing Heartland 39.3 for the second time and setting a HUGE PR :)

8. Welcoming our newest family member, Norah Grace

9. Babies, babies, and more babies!

10. Celebrating our first Christmas together

As you can see 2015 was jam packed with so many amazing things! 2016 sure has some pretty big shoes to fill :)

Running in 2015: Year in Review

2015 was definitely a good, no GREAT year for me...4 half marathons, 1 marathon, 2 PRs, and ZERO injuries...unless you count that time I fell while running through the neighborhood...and in that case the only thing I injured was my pride ;) 

So here it is...my year in review-i.e. my chance to brag about my accomplishments ;) 

1) I ran a new distance this year...the 12k. The cool part about this was it was an automatic PR! It was also one of the hardest races I have ever run...hills on hills on hills!

2) I completed the Heartland 39.3 series for the 2nd year in a row...and not only walked away with a shiny new half PR...but 3 sub 1:45 half-marathons :)

3) Can I dwell on brag about the Heartland 39.3 series a little longer...

I placed 14th overall for the entire series...out of 480 women! In 2014 I placed around 40th.

4) I completed marathon training in the midst of getting married, buying a house, and starting a new school year :) 

 

5) I ran a 5k in Mexico while on our honeymoon...after 5 days of eating and drinking entirely too much...not my most shining (or pleasant) moment of 2015 ;)

6) I RAN THE FREAKING CHICAGO MARATHON! Need I say more? Seriously...how lucky am I?

7) Sub 4 marathon...again...need I say more? (Yes...I'm still residing on cloud 9 over this one!)

8) One more thing brag about Chicago....

Negative splits :)

As you can see 2015 was oh so good to me! I was so blessed...in every facet of my life...and I couldn't be more grateful for your love, support, and constant encouragement! 

See you all next year :)

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year: Part 2

Is anyone else mourning the end of the holidays like I am? No? Do you want to punch me in the face for showing you the countdown for Christmas? ;)

The holidays are always magical in my world...but this holiday season takes the cake. Not only was it AJ and I's first "married" Christmas, but Finley being at an age where she was excited about presents made it that much more fun! You will see that the majority of my photos are of my ornery little niece...forgive me...she is just so darn cute ;)

Every year my mom and I try to get together with whoever wants to join the madness and make cookies. This year Finley joined us...and let's just say not many cookies were made :)

Things started out okay...

And then went downhill pretty quickly...

Me? I spent most of my time snuggling Nora...so I suppose I wasn't too much help either :)

Christmas Eve and Christmas were extra wonderful this year because both of our families joined for a "super celebration!" I mean...how lucky are we that both sets of our parents get along so well? One big family family event...love, love, love!

Christmas Eve was at our house and we were so excited to host our first family function. First of many I hope :)

The Smiths -don't mind our bright blue walls...that will be the first thing to go in 2016 ;)

Brian and Vanessa

Fred and Cheryl

Not our best photo...but you work with what you've got ;)

And although they couldn't make it home for Christmas this year...Jenni and Evan were able to join us via Skype :)

While my parents and grandparents visited upstairs, the Smith clan did our annual gift exchange. I didn't get many pics...I was too excited...I love opening gifts :)

The next morning we got up extra early and headed out to my parents house. Please forgive me...most of the photos are of the famous Finley...but like I said before...I can't help that she's so cute :)

She was pretty excited to see what Granny and Papa "Santa" brought her!

My grandparents <3

My parents yet again made this a fun and special Christmas for everyone :)

Brandon and Caitie

Some of the toys required extra assistance!

Front row seats to the madness!

Norah was pretty amazed with her Papa :)

Butt hair beer....don't ask ;)

 

 And what better way to end such a perfect Christmas, than with a friendly nerf gun fight ;)

My dad bought these for Fin, but after discovering how powerful (and fun) they were, the adults decided we better take them instead :)

Our first "merried" Christmas was pretty darn perfect :)