2014 !!

I just realized that I should post a few pictures from the last couple weeks before it fades into Christmas! Also wanted a chance to collect all of the year's highights to remember what a jam-packed year it's been...

I remember being nervous at the start of the year that our goals were too ambitous. But with help from friends and family, both my and Matt's goals for the year have mostly all been met! I think we'll both look back on this year as an outrageous success. But obviously we're relieved that the only goal left is a fun one - our dream trip. :)

There are two more days left in my second semester of graduate school. And there are five more days left in Matt's LAST full semester of undergrad. It's the end of an era!

This morning we went to the MoTab Christmas Concert. :) This year's guests was the Muppets! It was well done and adorable.

At the end they dropped confetti over the whole crowd. It was perfect.

 

It's not New Years yet but it seemed like a celebration of the end of this ridiculous year. Here's how it looked all over my skirt. :)

 

On the 9th we celebrated our one-year anniversary of owning Barkley. He's officially three years old now and it feels pretty good to know we can keep a dog alive for a full year. ;) To celebrate, he got a Christmas collar and bone. Lucky pup!

Other things… fun hike with Bethany out in Slate Canyon! That's Provo in the background :)

Plus running / hiking with Barks

We sent out Christmas cards on December 1. We took our Christmas card pics in October in order to have them ready, but unfortunatey it wasn't enough for our printing company, who sent us only half of our order (we didn't have to pay for them all). So sadly we only sent cards to family this year :( So sorry friends! :( Here's the pic we used...

Work lately has involved a lot of year-end wrap-up stuff for me… closing down accounts for the year, annual reporting,  scrambling to get things set up for 2015 wellness programs, and helping pack and ship a bunch of Christmas gifts for clients! 

Matt has been as busy as possible between finals, work, and TAing, grading finals, and more. He deserves a really awesome break. I think his superpower would be stamina... and the ability to go for 3 days without sleep (wish I were joking).

And now for…

Matt and Laura's Official 2014 Recap! :)

Highlights from the year, so we don't forget how much we packed in.

Matt capped off his undergrad career by securing a competitive job in the Army, where he will begin his career next year. Three cheers for future Lieutenant Neuffer!

 

I applied to grad school, got in, and finished two semesters at USC….! Still a little bit in disbelief about this one.

We celebrated our one-year wedding anniversary 

Ellen and I ran a marathon! 

Taught yoga for the 4th year in a row

Memorial Day Weekend with my fam in Sundance (Feb)

Quick trip to Las Vegas (May?)

Trip to LA for Ellen's graduation from USC! (June)

For me, a weekend trip to Zion National Park to camp with Heather and Stacy!! (June)

Fourth of July trip to Boise for Matt's family's reunion. So many good people :) 

Immediately followed by Matt's month-long training deployment (LDAC) in Ft. Knox, during which we had no contact except snail mail… (July)

… and during which I visited Mom, Dad and Ell in the Bay Area!

September trip to Oregon for a Zac Brown concert, to see Matt's family, and visit my beloved college friends!

 A perfect Thanksgiving in Utah with my fam

Matt turned 25!

I turned 24 :) We spent the day hiking and eating in Sundance

We moved to a gorgous new apartment. 10000% necessary.

Organized our Christmas trip throughout the year...

and more

We could not have packed more activity into 2014. Excited to see what the next year holds. :) We'll be back on the blog in January with a recap of our trip. :)

Merry Christmas!