Two Thousand Sixteen - Year in Review

I can't believe 2016 has already come and gone! I know, everyone says that, but I am SO serious. It feels like it just began. They do say that time flies when you're having fun, and I have had a FABULOUS year of fun so it is no surprise.

This year was filled with love, change, memories, excitement, new, and some of the best days of my life.

January

January and the new year were rang in with my two most favorite little girls. If you don't know "The Girls" yet, they are my twin nieces and you'll be hearing and seeing a lot of them as they are my best friends. They hosted a New Year's Eve party and did their best as staying up into the new year. It was so precious and so much fun. We had hot cocoa and ice cream, they made the menu, and it turned into such a sweet memory. Not long after, per usual, I started a new semester of school. Nothing too exciting, but one step closer to graduation and a few more classes checked off of my to-do list. I was working in the College of Pharmacy at Ferris and babysitting sweet Parker a few days a week.

February

In February Sal and I celebrated four years of dating. Yes, FOUR. The questions started to roll in about if we were ever going to get married and at this point, I was asking too. ;) February is also when I really took the plunge to get my Youtube channel started but it soon fell off again and it's back on my list for 2017. I'm just not ready to give up on Youtube and blogging. A dream is a dream.

Sal and I made a Youtube video for Valentine's Day.

 March

March is always a special month for me. Alyson and Emily turned six and I questioned where time was going. If you've known me for quite some time, you know that I say Alyson and Emily saved me. When they were born I was 16 and questioning where I fit into this big world, but they totally changed my way of thinking and were a ray of sunshine on any poor day. March also brought Easter in 2016, and I reflected my faith. Together Sal and I truly started a journey of following Christ how we should and asking where he wanted us. This is when marriage was really heavy on my heart and I felt led to talk to Sal seriously about it, not just "So when are you going to marry me?" type of conversation.

Easter 2016.

One of Emily and Alyson's six year photos. 

April

April was the month that Sal and I knew we would be married in 2016. There had not been a proposal yet, but we were discussing dates, starting loose planning, and most importantly, talking with parents and lots of praying. It was scary. I feel like any big change is a little scary no matter how excited you are, but this was a HUGE step. Not only would I be leaving home for the first time, but I would also be living with a man that wasn't my father or brother for the first time. On top of every other thing marriage brings! April was a month of excitement, thoughtfulness, and love - and not just love for my future husband, but love for Christ as he was leading us and love for all of the support we were gaining from our "unconventional" way of deciding we were to be married (soon).

May

May was the month Sal proposed. My dad's birthday actually. It was sweet, thoughtful, and perfect for us. Although a couple weeks before we had chosen a date, Sal wanted to "do things the right way". He asked my father, got the most perfect ring for me, and took me out on a date that involved him getting down on one knee. I am so lucky to have him. We got the sweetest engagement pictures taken and found our home for after we would be married in August. The excitement was so real! As May came to a close I went dress shopping with my sisters, mom, and soon to be mother in law. Of course, it was a day to remember and I found the perfect dress for me. But wait, May isn't over yet! I also found out I was going to be aunt, again! More excitement and more love.

Some of our engagement photos.

(Are you seeing why 2016 flew for me?!)

June

In June I turned twenty-two. I'm not sure if others have felt like twenty two was the real age of adulthood, or if it was just me, but I started to feel OLD (I'm over that now, by the way, after hearing "you're too young to get married" I've decided I'm still young... just not too young for marriage.) June was also my mom's birthday and Father's Day so it was a month of family and warm sunshine. I forgot to mention in May that I started working at a daycare center, so I was also working full time and full out planning our wedding. Whew!

July

July is always so fun. The Fourth of July and the county fair are always a highlight. We actually didn't make it to the fair this year though, Sal decided to about break is foot off at the ankle and was on crutches after an ER visit one month from our wedding day. I learned there will never be a dull moment spending my life with this guy. July was also my bridal shower and when we started painting our new home and doing some updates. It was a month of realizations, that is for sure! My bridal shower was perfect. My sisters, mom, best friend, and aunt and cousin were main contributors and I am forever grateful. It was a reflection of the wedding style and me put into one and I couldn't have asked for a better day. I remember thinking when it was about over that I wanted to time to stand still. Just thinking about it makes me feel nostalgic and lovely.

August

This month was huge. I really should put this month in it's post, but I'm not going to. In August I had a bachelorette party, a wedding, a honeymoon, and started my senior year of college. I honestly can't find the words to even describe this month. Our wedding was a whirlwind of perfection and one of the best days ever. Our honeymoon was absolutely wonderful and I couldn't have picked a better spot myself (huge thank you to Sal's mom for sending us to Key West.) Senior year starting was a huge realization that I am SO close to a career and what I have worked so hard for. August was a blessing, a month of adventure and more change.

Sunset kiss. One of my favorite photos.

Wedding party.

Flower girls and ring bearer. Be still my heart.

Pictures hardly do any justice for this beautiful place.

 Our cute ride for the week and my even cuter driver in Key West.

September

You would think that things slowed down in September, but nope. September feels like a big blur. I was in full swing at school. The homework was pouring in, and I was super busy at home watching little ones. Sal was traveling A LOT for work. He traveled some in August, but September was more, and it continued into October. Sal and I had been staying at my parents house while we finished the updates, painting, and moving process so when he was gone for work I wasn't alone. September we completely moved into our home and  hosted our first house guests. I know I keep mentioning how this year was filled with change and firsts and love... but seriously, it was and it was all so fun.

 Hardly anything to take pictures of in September, but we celebrated one month married so here's the kiss. 

(PC: Bill McCullough)

October

October was exciting for me because it was finally acceptable to decorate for Halloween and fall. My entire life I have loved decorating for holidays and I had been dreaming about decorating my entire home. I finally felt like Sal and I's house was a home. Not quite home, but still a home. My mom and dad's house will always be home, there is just no getting around it. Sal went away for work for a week during October so I stayed with mom and dad. October of course brought Halloween and it was so much fun trick-or-treating with Emily, Alyson, and Evan. Memories with my nieces and nephew are cherished.

 Forgot to mention, but Sal and I took the girls to an orchard/pumpkin patch. Best. Day. Ever.

Mom and I carved pumpkins together.

November

November I am swamped in homework and preparation for finals. I am also starting a new job and transitioning from watching children at home. You're probably wondering what happened to the daycare job, back in August I decided it would be best to not return after the honeymoon and in September I mentioned I was watching little ones at home, just a family friend who trusted me with their child whom I deeply care for. Anyway, back to November. I was blessed with a few job opportunities and I know it is because Sal and I spent many nights praying about where I needed to be. I accepted a job at local Catholic School in their preschool classroom as well as the daycare on campus. Between those two places and the office I have worked at throughout college, I will be back to almost full time starting in January. It was completely overwhelming that the two childcare jobs did not have conflicting needs in hours and that I could accept both. That seems like a boring thing to share, but it was a HUGE answer to prayer. We attended our first Lion's Game and had a blast. I think we need to make it a yearly thing. Evan turned three during this busy month and we attended a sweet party for him too! We also celebrated our first Thanksgiving together, our first proper holiday as husband and wife. I then turned our home into Christmas land and began holiday shopping. Everything is so exciting. I am so happy Sal and I have until August for our first official year together and have many more things to celebrate as husband and wife for the first time.

 

At the Lion's game. They won! 

Thanksgiving at Grandpa and Grandma Knuth's.

December

Here we are, already to the end of the year. It is completely insane! This year FLEW by. December was the official finals week for me, I was stressed with a class that I struggled in and got my first ever C-. What a time. Glad that is over! Sal and I worked on a Christmas bucket list together of all festive things and picked gifts for family. I love Christmas time. The entire season, end of November through the New Year. December was filled with preparation for Christmas and the new year, family, and sweets. We also welcomed our new niece, Brooklyn Noel. We patiently waited past her due date in November and she was the perfect addition to our growing family for the holidays. Her birth felt extra special for us. Although Sal and I were dating when Evan was born, and the girls have always loved him, there is just something special about being officially family, and from the second she was born, he was her official uncle. My heart melted the first time he held her, and I think his did too. Our first Christmas as husband and wife was perfect. We had a quiet Christmas Eve as we attended church and had dinner with his dad and family, then home to "open just one gift", which turned into every present under the tree. I was okay with this, we had plans to be at my parents first thing the next morning so we wouldn't have much time anyway. ;) Christmas Day we had breakfast at mom and dad's and spent the morning and early afternoon prepping dinner with them. We opened gifts with my siblings and parents and just had the best time together. I may be an extra sentimental person, but this Christmas just felt so perfect and made me so happy.

 

Sal holding Brooklyn for the first time. 

 

Our first Christmas tree.

Christmas Day in front of mom and dad's tree.

The entire year was such a whirlwind. I am continually grateful and constantly looking forward to what each day brings. Two Thousand Sixteen was good to me, here's to another year and seeing what it has in store.

Until next time, xoxo 


P.S. All photos that are obviously not taken by me and have the watermark are under copy right. Credits to Ky's Photography. (Unless otherwise stated.) I have chosen to use the photos with the watermark so they cannot be copied and printed.