2014 In Review

This is where we went this year: 

-DENVER- Broncos playoff game against the Chargers.* I had two favorite things about this trip, one was the Broncos played an awesome game and it was the first time I've seen them live, the second was the hat that I bought. It's adorbs. 

The game was F-R-E-E-Z-I-N-G. Like one of the coldest times in my life. But the company and entertainment were top notch. 

-LAS VEGAS- Eric went to Vegas in March with his dad. Neither of us can remember why I didn't go. I guess probably work. He went for the WCC tournament, which we do go to (almost for me) every year. We've done Vegas so many times, it's kind of old hat, if it's an old hat that you really like and will never give up on even when it's out of style. 

-MOAB, UT- Eric went to Moab, which is actually on my short list of places I need to go, but he went with the Boy Scouts and I was not invited! They rafted, camped, did all that good stuff. I'm glad he went so he can be prepped for our trip next year. 

-MT. RUSHMORE, SD- We went to Mt. Rushmore for the 4th of July. It was an awesome trip, and I just blogged about it, so just scroll down and read that, then come back. 

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Hi again!

-GRAND MESA, CO- Over Labor Day weekend we went to CO for my family's annual trip to Powderhorn. This year was unique and I treasure it because we were all there, and we had an extra brother and his family in attendance. It is really rare when everyone in the family can get together, so it was something I'll hold in my heart.

-AUSTIN, TX- The next weekend in September, we went to Austin, TX for the BYU v. Texas game. Hindsight, what a great decision! We got to enjoy the team while they were good and we were full of hope! Ha. We traveled with Eric's Dad and stepmom, and met up with one of his sisters' families. We ate well, at Iron Works (just ok for me), Salt Lick (awesome), Gordough's (so good my mouth is salivating as I'm typing this), etc. Eric and I went and checked out the bats at the Congress Ave. Bridge downtown; we packed that trip full. The game was a thing of beauty (I wrote a short post about this trip as well about a month ago, so scroll down a bit further--- see you in a minute). 

-DENVER- Thanksgiving we went to my bro's house in Colorado. It was a really chill trip, we did a lot of hanging out and card playing. Nice to have some QT with his family and my sweet little niece.

-LA, CA- We were home for a week, then left for California for my first time to Disneyland. It happened to be my 29th birthday as well. We did two day park hoppers then Price is Right the next day (Eric's sister actually won a car). I'm going to have to blog that trip separately, it was quite memorable. I loved Disneyland. I had wondered to myself why people were in love with it. What makes it different from any other amusement park? And I got my answer quickly. From the moment you walk in the park, the entire thing is an experience. Every step, every line you wait in, it's all designed to entertain and to make you happy. I'm sure it helped that we went when the longest line we waited in was 30 min (and I think that was only once), but I fell in love. Can't wait to go back. 

*If you want to see pictures for any of this, go follow us on Instagram: @hmglem and @glemonade11.

Here are some noteworthy things that we did/accomplished this year: 

-ONE- We lived in 3 different places, culminating in the purchase of our home. Living in Salem, UT for most of the year was a highlight for us. The people we met there are wonderful. It's small-townness made for a year full of community. I hope to be able to replicate that feeling in any future hometown we have. 

Our new home is, let's say... 5/8ths put together; we had so much to buy that we are just taking our time so we can create the space we want. We love the house and can't wait to make it ours.

-TWO- Work is awesome for both of us. I'm still at Prodigy and Eric continues to run his company, Dawson Global. 

-THREE- Eric ruptured his achilles tendon play indoor soccer. That was kind of a pain. He had surgery and couldn't walk on it for six weeks, walked in a boot for six more, and he can't play sports (it's been about three months already) until Spring. He's getting big-time antsy, but nothing we can do. 

-FOUR- We hit the five year mark of Eric being cancer free, which, turns out, is the big danger zone. Eric thought it was three years, so it was a little anti-climactic. We'd been telling people for years that we were in the clear. So..... wheeeeeee! 

The funny thing is we thought we traveled less this year, but once I enumerated it it may have been more, just some of them were less flashy trips. But we've been calling 2014 our "grown up" year. While we did travel and have some fun, we bought the house, and planned more for the future. 

It's always exciting for a new year and fresh start, with exciting things on the horizon planned and unexpected. And if you're wondering, yes we are going to try IVF again this year, but we won't say when until after (and we didn't try it in 2014. Our doctor unexpectedly peaced out and we've been working on getting a new one). But wish us luck! 

Happy New Year, friends. We love you. We really do.