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!

Gardner Happenings

Well, it's been a while since my last post. I figured I would do one large update and get you all caught up in one post.

March:
Our life group embarked on a co-ed softball team. We are the Chase Oaks Slowpokes, and we live up to our name (or at least I do)  :)

April:

My cousin Natalie had her fairy tale wedding and married the man of her dreams.

We headed to Vegas for a weekend with Drew's parents. We saw the fountains, went to several shows, ate and ate some more, and gambled a little. It was a great weekend.

I turned another year older. We celebrated by dinner at Seasons 52 and going to wee Wicked (it was amazing)

May:

I went away with the life group girls to Rockwall for a weekend away. We had a great time eating and hanging out by the pool.

June was a boring month, I taught summer school...not so eventful.

July:

July has been a tremendously busy month. In the last two weeks, we have been to Boston, New Orleans, and Nebraska.

While in Boston we went and toured Fenway Park, it was a great tour and has some great history.

We headed to North End for a little Italian food and pastries.

I have been to Boston several times with Drew for business and we finally made it out to see Harvard.

We the proceeded to New Orleans where we stuffed our faces with amazing food, listened to Jazz music, and just wandered the crescent city.

Dinner at Dragos, Mmmm...broiled oysters

 Dinner at The Bombay Club listening to Jazz music

We finished our whirlwind of trips in Nebraska for Drew's cousin's wedding.
Her husband in a trucker, and they all brought their trucks. It was quite a sight driving up to the church.

All the cousins that came to the wedding.

  It's been a busy spring and summer, and there is more to come. I am a little sad that summer is coming to an end, I have definitely enjoyed my days off and getting to spend lunches with my hubby.

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!

Party like it's 1980

Last weekend our good friend turned 30, and to celebrate we did it up 80's style. Good times were had by all!

The life group couples...

Drew and I

The Cooks

 The Jarke's

 The Endres'

 The Gallegos'

The Coughlin's

The Coulter's

The birthday girl and her hubby

The Steele's

The Williams'

Photo booth time...girls gone crazy!

 As the night went on, it got a little crazy

Dance party karaoke