Happy New Year and a Happy Birthday!

First and foremost, happy birthday daddy! It's a nice, warm, wintery day. Get out there with Snuggles and profitez-en! 

I am very late to post this "year in review" type thingy, but I have been sick and we have been busy (as always) so you will take what you can get, and you will like it! It will  be brief anyways, since I am still sick.

Highs of 2012:

- We are still employed, Chris is doing really well with his company and I am doing ok with my job. 

- We found a daycare provider who is totally awesome, so sweet and great with Cadence. 

- We booked our wedding location and started wedding planning

- Cadence turns 1

- All of the dogs are still with us, with no huge financially draining medical emergencies

Lows of 2012:

- Cadence gets a chipped tooth and now looks like a deep woods redneck when she smiles

- Sickness in the family that was very stressful and nerve wracking for a lot of people (myself included)

- Facing some health hurdles for myself (Lily)

- Having to find new daycare 3 times!

- Adapting to having 2 working parents with a baby who is cranky a lot.

Things to look forward to in 2013:

- Cadence turns 2 ( I already have all the decorations, invites, menu planned etc)

- Our big day! 

- Spending time with family and friends as much as possible

And there we have it! Quick and painless! We hope everyone had a pleasant holiday season and that the return to work isn't as rough for you all as it has been for poor Chris (guy had like 3 weeks off, lucky booger!).

I am so head over heals in love with our daughter. Cadence is going through the ultimate "LOOK AT ME I'M SO CUTE!" phase. We went to a kids Christmas party last night at my work and it was cuddle, cuddle cuddle. She wanted to eat sitting on my lap, and then when Santa was there she wanted me to hold her and hug her and give kisses. If she was toilet trained, I would love to keep her this small forever! 

We are all going through the crazy Christmas rush right now. I don't think our family is unique  in that situation, and I think this year we are doing better in some ways and then worse in other ways. Gift wise, we are on a strict budget. Trying to save for a wedding and other must-haves (new glasses, new couch, dental visits, dog stuff, etc) has us getting a little creative with our purchases. I do think everyone will like what we are giving, although to be fair most people don't usually throw a fit if their gift isn't what they were hoping for. I think we are going to get our tree this coming weekend. That is my favourite tradition around the holidays.

I remember when we were younger, my maternal grandparents had this crazy silver Christmas tree that had the lights built in. I always loved their tree so much, because the silver of the branches would throw the lights, and all of their decorations (or at least the majority of them) were home made. There was always something cool and new to discover in their tree. I don't remember much about my paternal memere's tree, but I know we had one. Now when I think of Christmas at my memere's place its lights strung up in the shape of a tree, an intricate DIY Santa village, Santa's throne and home made ornaments hung all over carpet covered walls. This will likely be our last Christmas celebrating at her house which is sad but I am trying to work it out to make it the best Christmas for her. 

In other news, we are starting the process of buying a house. Baby steps, of course, but we want to make sure we are being smart about things. Chris and I both REALLY want a house, but with a wedding coming up and all those other expenses mentioned above, saving for a house too would be too hard. So through next year we are working at improving our credit and cutting expenses etc so we can buy a house and not be strapped for cash or struggling in other areas.

Chris's grandmother was admitted to the hospital last week. She seems to be doing ok right now, and will be home before we know it, but Chris is really worried. He won't say anything (typical Chris) but if you read this, maybe send some positive energy and prayers to his gram and also to his family in general. Get well soon gram!

Other than that, no real news to report. Chris is good both work and otherwise. I am good with work etc. Cadence is, of course, awesome. 

J'ai eu mon voyage!

I'd like to take a break from family stuff to write a special piece about my bestest friend who is currently moving very far away to have an adventure in Scotland. I got to spend some time with her today, and all the things I wanted to say were left unsaid, both because I couldn't articulate what I wanted to say, and also because I'm an ugly crier and my voice is all weird when I talk through tears.

Tori and I met in the first few weeks of college, back in 2005. She was so quirky, and friendly we hit it off right away. In the months that followed, we became fast friends and eventually ended up moving in together. And then I got a job where she worked so we then worked together too. We lived together for over 2 years before fate, and mounting student loans, forced us apart. To this day I can honestly say I have never met a more dynamic or interesting person. She is a wealthy of facts and knowledge that is both fascinating and daunting at the same time. If I studied every day for a year I still probably wouldn't know as much as she does, and I will miss that about her while she is away.

She has seen me through some very high highs, and held my hand (both literally and metaphorically) during some very low lows. She is the comfort and wisdom every person can use, the logic every person needs, and the "glass is half full" type friend everyone wants. She was the first person I called when I found out I was pregnant (sorry, Chris!) and the first person I called when Chris and I got engaged. I am saddened knowing she will miss some big things coming up for my family, but I know that this trip is something that she has to do. To try to reign in her dreams would be so unfair, especially when she will be back before I know it. As hard as it is for me, I can imagine it is 100 times harder for her to leave everything behind, be brave and start a new life so far away.

Good luck Tori. Know that I am always thinking of you,  sending positive vibes your way, and if you need to talk for whatever reason, my Skype name is lily.king69 (I signed up for Skype when I was an idiot, clearly).