two thousand twelve.

{mi anita y yo.}

i have very few pictures from the shindig we threw at our place this new years eve,

probably because i was too busy gabbing with everyone & being a bad hostess.

good thing my hubby is probably one of the best hosts i know.

he's always one step ahead of me;

before i've offered a sleepover guest breakfast options, he's made them a mimosa,

is scrambling eggs, and has half the dishes put away.

a true gem, i tell you.

anyway. it was a joyous occasion...

not only because we welcomed & enjoyed so many friends into our new home,

but also because the midnight countdown was also the countdown to the

official end of andy's army career.

{man, do i have words to say about that.}

but, for now, it warms my heart to think of us kissing at midnight while i said to him,

"we did it, babe. we did it."

{a former soldier who believes in peace & will never have to go to war again!!!

another favorite element of this shot: me sitting on the floor with the halaska sisters.}

{the newly inherited vintage tea/bar cart that was once my grandma's...

still pondering how to paint it/spruce it up. 

please note the rockford, IL sock monkey.}

{bubbly!}

the food table, before food was ready:

have i expressed this fully yet?

i think 2012 is going to be my favorite year thus far.

big, serious words i know...but i believe it.

p.s. friends: i LOVE you. a lot. you make our years full & happy.

hoping for a lot more of these moments this year...!