2011

Happy New Year! We welcomed in 2011 from Myrtle Beach and what a great year 2011 was. Aside from the obvious blessing that has stolen the show on the blog, facebook and our every day lives, here are some other highlights from twenty-eleven.

Roo surprised EJ with NFC title game tickets. We bundled up for some Bear Down at Soldier Field in January. Unfortunately, Green Bay won the game but we had a great time. In February, we took a trip to Florida that included a stop at EJ's grandmother's. EJ jokes that it was a March afternoon at the Fort Mill Beerfest that made EJ's grandmother a great grandmother. We returned to Chicago in April. A now-expecting Roo was on a restricted diet and fell asleep at a Cubs game at Wrigley, but another great trip to the Windy City. It was during this trip that we took the photo for Meatball's announcement. One relative thought the postcard meant EJ was going to be playing baseball in December. Prior to the announcement, we told our parents over Easter weekend and somehow, they all kept the secret. The secret was also kept throughout a weekend trip to the North Carolina mountains for Riley's friends wedding. EJ played golf twice that weekend. Our annual family trip to Edisto Island was moved from late July to Memorial Day week. EJ played golf again. In fact, EJ played more golf in 2011 than in any other year. He played in a charity tournament for his sister's sorority at USC, an alumni/friends tournament in Santee and in First Baptist's church tournament as well. EJ also played in several softball tournaments in 2011, including Rock Hill's Mighty Casey ASA tournament and the NC USSA State Church Championships. EJ and Roo played in and on the water in 2011 as well. We went back to Santee for a weekend of fishing and floating...and Roo's birthday. While Riley had to sit out during the actual whitewater rafting, a hike with friends in the mountains took us to the Midnight Swimming Hole at Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Riley logged plenty of hours surfing in 2011 as well...surfing the web, specifically newfound favorite site Pinterest. We both took on new roles at work. Riley's pre-baby new role meant no more company car. So we got Ford Tough and bought a new Explorer. EJ's job new role meant being publishing in a quarterly report presented to analysts on Wall Street, along with hundreds of hospital CEOs. Sister Jessica graduated and moved out, oh the places she'll go. We got DirectTV and NFL Sunday ticket, so after church, we didn't have to go anywhere to watch Bears highlights. Of course, the highlight of the year is Aubrey Elizabeth and not just the 21 hours of her on November 25th but really everything that lead up to and followed her arrival such as our dinner date at Morton's the weekend before, the Thanksgiving feast the day before or pure Christmas joy with family a month after.

So we ended a year in which we lost our favorite roommate, a year that the Bears lost to the Packers 4 times, a year that limited Riley's sushi intake. We ended 2011 on New Year's Eve, in bed at 9 p.m. It was a great year.