Another years review...

Well it's that time of year again to continue my tradition and blog about the last year. I once again have so much to be thankful for and it's such a blast to look back at it and reminsce about the ride! Last New Year's Eve was a blast with friends it was a low key get together with lots of food, drinks and games! I knew 2013 was going to be a great year but I didn't just how great!!

In January Brad got to attend his first Iowa Hawkeye Basketball game which Iowa decided to loss it themselves to Michigan State but we are going to try this game again this year hoping for better seats and an Iowa WIN!!

February like always is full of basketball games and Walking Tacos. Both SCC and Danville both had great season and were a blast to watch. 

Once again in March I found myself back in Des Moines for the Iowa Boys State Basketball Tourney with Danville. This year was different since Becca lived in Ankeny, I had a week long roommate who made my stay a blast!! Danville ended up taking 3rd this year but it was still a great ride with these group of kids. I also took on another role at work by becoming the Supervisor of the Athletic and Performance Center, which includes the athletic training and personal trainers. It has brought many new challenges but it's been exciting!

At the beginning of April I finally decided on a wedding dress and couldn't wait for the big day. I spent many days/nights in April cleaning glass bottles and coming up with different and creative ways to decorate them for the reception. My theme seemed to be a travel, vintage, beachy, recycling theme. I know sounds breath taking :)  I had two beautiful bridal showers surrounded by friends and family that made my day even more special. The bachelorette party was a blast, we had a party bus, lots of good music and of course great friends and drinks. 

May was full of planning, decorating, and traveling. Mom, Dave, Becca, Brad and I left May 18th from Moline with the final destination being Boston, MA. We picked up our Mini Van and headed North to the place we'd call home for the next week. We decided to be brave and try our luck at renting a house through HomeAway….best decision that we have made!! The house was gorgeous, slept 12 comfortably, had more than enough bathrooms, a great deck for grilling and spending time with our families. If only the weather would have been on our side, oh well we can't have it all. Ryan, Sara, Laura, Tori and Cody all made their way to NH as did Kait and Jesse. It was such a great experience having my family and friends there and showing them to Brads world!

Waiting in the Airport for our flight to Boston!

 Soon to be Sister!!

Took a little trip around NH.

Our little hike up Mt. Major. 

Picked up Tori and Cody in Boston and did a little shopping!

Nibble Light House. It's always been my favorite place!

York Beach in Maine 

The Iowan's having REAL seafood…

Well after all the sightseeing it was finally our wedding day and we woke up to rain and 65 but we made it work and it was a beautiful day!!!

 Brad's Aunt did our ceremony! I meant so much to us.

 Brad's other Aunt did our music…it was beautiful!

 We decided to write our own vows and of course he makes me cry.

Our bouquet made out of our letters that we wrote each other. 

The ceremony was followed by a reception (BBQ) at my new Sister and Brother in laws, it was a great time and we really have to thank them for everything they did putting it together. The food was delicious, drinks cold and had multiple sets of bags or corn hole. 

June was very busy with the Iowa reception and everything that we had to do to get ready for that. Thanks to some great friends the reception was beautiful!. 

 First Date Story...

 How we met story...

 Engagement Story...

 Wedding story...

 Reception Site decor..

 Ice Cream Bar

 Shoe game…it was a blast!

We had such a great time at our reception and had the best night with family and friends. I'd have to guess that Hy-Vee doesn't get many brides in their dress coming in to shop at 12:30 at night but it was great picking up things for the breakfast that Brad promised some of our family and friends!

The end of June is the NATA or National Athletic Training Association National Convention…this year it was in Vegas and knew we had to go. The pictures show just how much fun we had….

 On our way to Mystere

 Had to stop at the stop that Brad proposed...

 Front row center at Mystere…Lishay was even the star of the show.

 Proof that we were at the convention.

 UPPER IOWA PEACOCKS!!!

 From the top of the Eiffel Tower

It's always hard to get back to Allison but July is one month that we always try to go back for. My brother and his friends save all year long by saving cans, scrapping metal and putting their own paycheck into a fund to bring Allison some amazing 4th of July fireworks. Brad and I made our way home and had a laid back weekend full of eating, drinking, floating and laying out. 

August was a big month at work…we had been working hard to start a pre-athletic training program at SCC and it's going to be a reality. I started my new role as a professor and loved every minute of it. If you would have asked me in high school what I would be doing when I'm 31 I never would have said teaching or talking in front of people…but my how things change!!!

We also worked very hard for the last year designing our new fitness facility and this month it becomes reality. Here are a few of the pics when we were moving in!! It's beautiful if I don't say so myself.

 New facility

 35 ft. Climbing tower

 New walking/running track

 Functional Training Area

Strength Room for our athletes

The month of September brought lots of traveling for the Abbott's…one of Brad's best friends got married in Long Island so we returned to the east coast and one of my favorite states! NY!!! We had a great time with them and the wedding was perfect. 

After a couple days in Long Island we decided to take a couple more days and take a mini honeymoon to NYC. Brad hadn't been there since he was little so we enjoyed each others company and went to a Yankees game with one of Brad's friends from college. 

September is always a special month to me since it's Ovarian Cancer month! This year the Danville football team made stickers for their helmets and talked about ovarian cancer before each home game in September. It brought tears to my eyes!!! Brad, Dave, Mom, my grandparents and I walked in the 2nd Ovarian cancer walk in Cedar Rapids and had a great time. 

One of my favorite singers were coming to St. Louis and I was determined to go see him. Brad said he would go and Debra and I were always talking about him when crafting so it only made sense that we all make the trip. MICHAEL BUBLE here we come!!!!

October always brings lots of volleyball, football and a big soccer tournament that all of our ATC's work. The staff that we work with is great and we decided to all go out for a night on the town. We had a great time bowling and food. 

Usually in November we get some east coast visitors and once again they didn't disappoint. We had lots of great food and even lived through a tornado so they said. 

Brad and I's first Thanksgiving as married couples. So much to be thankful for!

Like every year I put our Christmas tree up right after Thanksgiving and enjoy sitting at night with all the lights off but our beautiful tree. 

Brad and I thought it would be a great idea to take our annual Christmas shopping trip to Chicago and visit the family that I nannied so many years back…something like 10 years ago. We had a great time with them and did some damage shopping also. 

Merry Christmas from the Abbott's and have a great 2014!!! We are so excited to see what it has in store for us!