Happy New Year!!

"Young Love".... doesn't this one just melt your heart :) I think this will be a great pic for Kaitlyn and Sam's rehearsal dinner slideshow in about 25+ years!! Last week we drove down to Nashville to visit our dear friends - the Olds (Matt, Molly, Jack and Sam). The Olds used to live in Ann Arbor until they moved to Nashville last summer and it was SO great to have a chance to catch up and see these kiddos play together. Kaitlyn loved chasing Jack and Sam all around the house and loved all of their new toys including the train table. We took a trip to the Nashville Zoo and were about the only ones in the place (humans and animals) but it was nice to be outside in the "toasty" high 40s :) Our New Years Eve consisted of putting the kiddos down for bed, having a great dinner and talking for hours over several bottles of wine just like old times. Wouldn't have had it any other way :) We also get a chance to check out one of the parks in Nashville where I realized just how out of shape I am trying to battle the "hills" of Nashville. It was a very relaxing trip filled with lots of laughter and hugs from the kiddos all around.

Here are a few more pics from the trip.....

A little indoor soccer to keep us entertained....

Two peas in a pod....



After our stay in Nashville we stopped off in Columbus, OH for a night to check out our new home come July. I had never been there so it was nice to finally get a visual of the city and check out some of the areas around the hospital to figure out where we should live for our year there. I must say I was pleasantly surprised - it's a lot bigger of a city than I imagined and we found at least two areas that look like they would be good options.


Today was sort of my first official day of "retirement" since the holiday break was officially over. It was great to take our time getting ready this morning, run errands, and just play all day without having to worry about checking email or doing work :) Now we just need to find things to keep us busy but somehow I don't think that's going to be a problem. Kaitlyn and I are headed to New Orleans on Friday to see my family and friends and have a delayed Christmas. We're excited to see my family and high school friends and do a lot of "wedding" shopping with Aunt Lindsey!


Hope everyone had a great New Year's and 2009 is off to a great start!!