2013 in Review

Well, 2013 has come to an end, and Drew and I have had an amazing year full of travel and the start of major life changes. We look forward to all that 2014 has to offer.

This year Drew and I joined a co-ed softball team with our life group. I never played sports before, I thought it was a lot of fun.

In April, Drew and I traveled to Las Vegas with his parents. We had a great time eating and going to a bunch of shows.

I turned 27 this year and Drew took me to see Wicked when they came in town.

We has a life group girls weekend, it was so nice to get away and hang out with my friends.

Drew had his annual work training in Boston, and of course I joined him. We headed out to Fenway to tour the park and we ate delicious Italian pastries in North End. After we returned from Boston, Drew and I headed to New Orleans for a weekend away, but we have no pictures to document the trip.

Then after we got back from New Orleans, Drew and I headed up to Nebraska for his cousin's wedding. We were very busy traveling this summer.

Drew's cousin married a truck driver and all the guys in the wedding brought their trucks, it was definitely a unique get-away car.

Our big trip of the year was Ireland. The country was absolutely beautiful, we had a wonderful time experiencing a new country and culture.

I'm am at the same school this year, and still teaching resource, but this year we each got our own room and I am teaching Kinder and 1st graders with special needs. I love my little home away from home!

In October, Drew and I headed out to New York with his parents. It was very similar to our trip to Las Vegas, full of shows and food. Drew surprised me with tickets to Wicked on Broadway....AMAZING! I did not enjoy the traveling as much as I did with Las Vegas as I was battling morning sickness.

The biggest thing to happen to our little family this year is finding out that we will be parents in May, a little nerve racking and exciting all at the same time.

For Christmas, Drew got me the DSLR camera I has been wanting, such a great gift. Be prepared for the pictures to follow as I figure out how to use it.

I hope you had an amazing 2013 full of love, blessings, and great memories. Happy New YEAR!

Life Group Christmas Party

This year we hosted the first annual Steele/Jarke Life Group Christmas Party...and let me say we had a blast and quite a few laughs during the White Elephant exchange. I was able to get pictures of the families and their prized winnings.

ELizabeth and Bruno came away with a smores kit

Gref and Kim came away with some classical music and a lotion kit

Ryan and Mindy were both crafty and typical Steeler's and got the coveted snuggie and red neck wine glass

Drew and I got Christmas mugs with hot chocolate and a creepy christmas jack in a box with a starbucks gift card!

Mike and Kara came away with a lotion kit that ended up going home with David!

Kyrie and Ricky came away with a ceramic vase and frog glasses

Jason and Leslie came home with a stocking full of goodies (practical jokes and candy) as well as a Guiness clock

Amber and Cain went away with a rare vintage year of boxed wine and a donkey political popper.

David and Amber went home with the treasure chest of gifts full of pirate booty (gold coins) and of course a picture of Jarke!

We had such a wonderful time and we are so blessed by our life group family and the friends we have made!

A Family Christmas

I thought I would FINALLY post about our Family Christmas...We celebrated with our families early, because Drew and I would be on our anniversary trip for Christmas.

My table all set up for Christmas dinner

I made my delicious meatballs again, I think this will be a Christmas Eve dinner tradition.

My brother and I have a joke about me eating his Doritos so I thought what a great gift! We also got him a A&M key chain and house key since he started driving this year.

Drew got a scarf and some clothes...he's looking snazzy

Buttercup likes to help open the presents and destroy the wrapping paper.

Look at his nice bright head light! Yay for stocking stuffers

Buttercup was not the biggest fan

The next night we headed over to the Gardner's to celebrate Christmas with Drew's family.
Brandon and Ashlyn

Ashlyn had a great time passing presents out to everyone

This child is obsessed with Hello Kitty, "My kitties" it's only fitting that she gets some PJ's to go with her obsession

Dan got the new Galaxy tablet...he cheated and peeked early :/

Brandon and Kristi

Ben and Mikaela

Ashlyn with her favorite gift of the night, after she opened this one she was done opening presents because she just wanted to play. She loved the doll house from Grandma and Grandpa

Giving Gracie some hugs, she loves this dog

I told you, hello kitty is the way to this girls heart.

This was her favorite toy (from uncle Drew and aunt Jenn) UNTIL the doll house was opened (those sneaky grandparents). It a little game where the dog asks for a color or a shape and you have to feed him the correct one (yeah for educational presents from the teacher)

Merry Christmas from the Gardners!

Merry Christmas

Isaiah 9:6

For unto us a child is born,

to us a Son is given,

and the government will be on His shoulders.

And He will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Prince.

Merry Christmas Y'All

Our Black Friday Tradition

This year brings about the 5th year of preparing for Christmas together. Each Friday after Thanksgiving, it has become a tradition for Drew and I to decorate the tree while eating yummy cookies and drinking eggnog while watching a Christmas movie. This year we enjoyed the decorating while watching Home Alone.

Here's to kicking of the Christmas season!