A Very Merry Christmas....

Here are some pictures of Christmas 2010. We had a great holiday, party hopping and spending time with friends and family....


Christmas Eve dinner


Opening gifts Christmas morning


The Fam


The WHOLE fam/ funny faces :)


All dressed up for bowling night with family friends. Peter took 2nd place of all 25 bowlers! Yay Pete! And Dan won the costume contest! Yay Dan!

2010. The Best Year. Ever.

Like most of you, our 2010 is ending with the typical cliche, "where did it go?" Luckily, this year, I might be able to tell you where it went this time. 2010 will always be a year close to my heart because of our wonderful friends and family who we have shared it with. I never thought that such a mellow start to the New Year (sitting around our table playing Catch Phrase) would amount to one of the best years so far... and so it goes....

After our rather uneventful New Years, the rest of 2010 carried on with fireworks. Literally. In February, the Olympics opened up in Vancouver and we were swept away in a whirlwind of patriotism, spirit and an amazing display of camaraderie as the world watched. We danced, we drank, we cheered, we sang. The perfect celebration in a vibrant city alive with people from all over the world. Everywhere we looked, people smiled like idiots and it was good. Very good. My parents came up and we had a blast together watching the torch run by and seeing a few US hockey games. Not only did I get to see a bunch of live events like pairs figure skating, speed skating and a few hockey games, Pete and I were lucky enough to be at the game when Team Canada won Gold in Vancouver surrounded by his whole family. We capped off the night at the Closing Ceremony and then danced the rest of it away at the Molson Hockey House. We were so busy playing in Vancouver everyday that we almost forgot about one very special creature. By the end of it all, I looked down at our little Ernestine and noticed how fat she got in just 2 weeks. Luckily spring was around the corner and so were plenty of long walks on the dyke.



March and April flew by and so did my youth ;) On Easter Sunday I turned 27 in Portland, Oregon where we saw the Michael Buble concert and watched the Vancouver Giant's in the playoffs. Pete's Gramma Liz threw me a beautiful bridal shower that my mom even came up for. I continued to stay busy planning our big day. Sadly the Giant's hockey season ended too quickly in the Spring, but to make up for it, Pete's buddies surprised him with a trip to Palm Springs for his Bachelor Party. My lovely bridesmaids threw me a truly unforgettable party in San Francisco, and my mom's friends put together a lovely bridal shower for me as well. It was incredible to feel that much love for an entire weekend!





Finally June 19th arrived and we got married. Definitely the best day of our lives together and I am so selfishly pleased to still hear people talking about it. Thank you to everyone who helped make it so much fun. Love is a special thing, and lucky for us we get to watch some of our best friends tie the knot this upcoming year. We can't wait to celebrate!



A few short days after our wedding, 2010 swept us away to seven African countries. A blissful five week honeymoon disappeared all too quickly, but like everywhere else we've been, Africa made a lasting impression on our heats. Nine nights of tents in the bush, one ferry ride, a few too many busses, nine flights and even one plunge off a bridge... we made it home safe and happy. We were so lucky to start our marriage off with our dream trip of a lifetime. That and our continuing good health was probably the greatest gift of 2010.



We came back from Africa with half of a summer left to soak up the sun and skimboard with Ernie. Pete went on his annual fishing trip... and we still have salmon coming out of our ears. Hockey season started and fall brought Thanksgiving in both Canada and the States. We had a short-lived but beautiful snowfall. Just recently I made a trip to the States for Battle in Seattle where I got to see a whole bunch of fellow Gonzaga alumni and hang out just like old times. That weekend ended back in Vancouver with a play and dinner with the family. It has been a great end to a great year.



On Wednesday Ernie and I will be making the journey down to California (via airplane) and Pete will join us on Thursday. All three of us are excited to take a break from the rain and spend time with my family. It's the first time since the wedding Pete will be with the Hurst clan all together.

Happy Holidays! And thank you 2010. You are surely one for the books...