98 days . . .

i finally booked the amsterdam leg and return date for my trip to europe. my mom and i are doing an 11-day tour of northern italy and then i'm tacking on a few days in rome by myself before heading to amsterdam to meet up with some friends for a 30th birthday celebration.

i had until today (of course, i procrastinated till then) to book my return. i had been waiting to see if it made sense for mac to meet me in rome for a romantic week together. the more we talked about it given everything else going on, the more sense it made for me to come back earlier. we're talking about a trip to bc for our birthdays in late feb/early march and maybe a trip to santa fe in late may before we move in together. we're also starting to plan my kitchen remodel. all of those things combined just didn't leave us enough $$ to do rome this year too.

am excited about the trip to europe nonetheless but i can't imagine being away from her for 21 days right now. i'm sure it'll be fine but will still be hard to be away from suki for that long too. i've added a few days on either end of the europe to see some family in tampa. i think dad's finally gonna have a puppy for me too so i may be coming home with it. his latest litter of dobies is due on jan 2nd and hopefully there's a puppy with my name on it out of the 8-10 pups that are born. have been wanting to get a pup for suki to have a buddy for awhile. it's interesting that it's finally coming now. mac's dog and suki are starting to get along. we'll see how it is with a 3rd dog in the mix.

so today i'm thankful for ... a trip to look forward to and some great memories i'm sure

merry christmas . . .

what a great christmas i've had ... it's been one of the best i think i've ever had. anunce throws a *christmas bender* every year and this year i was finally able to partake. i do admit that i didn't *bend* incredibly far ... i ate well and drank well and enjoyed fantastic company. oh yeah ... and it snowed today! i had just said to mac yesterday that i had never had a white christmas and today i did! was so cool!

the bender kicked off last night sitting by the fire drinking prosecco. i headed home to take care of the dogs ... i have boo as well as suki since mac is visiting her mom for the holiday. (the pic in this post was taken today ... it's the first time boo has *voluntarily* shared a piece of furniture with suki!) i was in charge of breakfast for 10 this am and made 2 frittatas and a double batch of gluten-free pancakes yesterday. got there around 1030a and heated breakfast through in the oven while we had coffee with bailey's, bloody marys, and mimosas. we opened presents and we each had a stocking (including the 4 dogs). was so much fun! after breakfast, i headed home to watch some basketball with jg and make some greens for dinner. headed back over there for dinner around 430 and we had a feast! you couldn't even see the kitchen island because there were so many different dishes. i am *still* full and we ate 3 hours ago!

*the only thing missing this year is that mac and i couldn't wake up together on our first christmas* she called around 730a so it was kinda like we woke up together. she gets back tomorrow am at 7 and i can't wait to see her smiling face. we plan to have christmas at new years and are going away to manzanita to ring in the new year. it's gonna be a great year ... i can just feel it. the hardest part is waiting to give her all the presents i bought her. i hope she likes 'em all!

i am grateful that this year is almost over and have been reflecting on the major changes that have transpired this year. to think of where i was last year at this time to where i am now is a pretty major shift. i am very pleased that i've had the experiences and am thankful for the dear people in my life who have been there for me and helped me grow. i am so thoroughly amazed and grateful for mac. i can no longer imagine what my life looks like without her presence. we are planning the kitchen remodel and starting to talk of our future together. our priorities are very much in line and we're planning trips and a beautiful home together. i know that wherever we live will be a comfortable haven for our love to grow and i look forward to waking up with her every morning for many years to come.

life has definitely been crazy recently and i was asked by a friend if i'd just given up on the blog ... i haven't but have been a bit tentative to write too much as i'm enjoying the newness and vagueness of this beautiful union. i'm hesitant to label it ... to put a box around the surrealness of it. it all feels like a ethereal dream that i am living each day. it's so hard to explain how close we've gotten and how *right* it feels. i try to put words on it but it doesn't make sense to anyone but us. even the dogs are getting along. i am blessed to be sitting on the couch with one on either side of me. the only thing missing that would make this moment more perfect is having mac sitting next to me. soon ...

today i'm grateful for ... my wonderful friends and a fantastic white christmas