Happy new year! We had a low-key New Year’s Eve watching the college football playoffs with friends and are excited to spend today taking down the Christmas tree, reflecting, and planning ahead! This post was supposed to be up on Friday, but we had a friend over for dinner Thursday, and I’m not sorry! You can see Part I here, and this is the exciting conclusion to our 2016 recap!
July
July started out with exploring DC at A Capitol Fourth’s dress rehearsal, several 4th of July parties, lots and lots of outdoorsiness, a 60th wedding anniversary celebration in Nashville, a visit from my dad, and exploring Boone, NC with Will’s mom! It was a very appropriately summery month!
Our Fourth of July Dinner Party
We spent this rainy Fourth of of July watching the Patriot and having the Phillipses over for a little over-the-top July Fourth party and then realizing that we couldn’t really see the fireworks from our rooftop because of the rain, so PBS just play previous years’ footage!
A Nashville Family Celebration
Next we went to Nashville to celebrate Grandmother and Daddy Jim’s 60th anniversary and also got to meet baby Amelia!
Dad in DC!
We had the best time when my dad came to DC for a corn growers’ meeting! We went to the Air and Space annex, did some hiking, did some cooking, and met the other delegates from Missouri!
Boone
We had a great outdoor weekend in Boone, NC with Will’s mom just kayaking, exploring, and seeing a show about Daniel Boone!
(Other) Fun Post:
Gardening on an apartment balcony
August
Y’all August 2016 was so chill. We had so few plans other than a few little bar-be-ques here and there, trying paddle boarding, and some more hikes. Otherwise, we were just kind of around until we went to Annapolis at the end of the month!
Annapolis
We had the best time in Annapolis with friends! We have lots in common, but one of those things is definitely a love of travel, which works out beautifully!
(Other) Favorite Posts:
September
We kicked off September with a trip to Charlottesville for Labor Day with the Porters, took a quick trip to Nashville for a beautiful wedding (and more Amelia time), watched a ton of college football, went to Charlotte for a Panthers game, and celebrated the last birthday of my 20s. Our new supper club was getting off the ground, Pippa showed everyone what an excellent swimmer she is, and fall was in full swing! I also just blogged up a storm in September as part of the Blogtember Challenge! I posted the most posts I’ve ever posted in one month. I love September.
Charlottesville
These trips are all the highlights of our year, so obviously, this trip to Charlottesville was also awesome. We always have to rush home and get back to work unfortunately, but we are also always thankful to sneak in a few days here and there.
Charlotte
We took a quick trip to Charlotte, and then my mom came to DC!
(Other) Favorite Posts:
Our Engagement Photos here, here, and here
October
October was all about wedding season and celebrating fall! We went to Nashville again, explored Long Eddy, NY, and threw our annual pumpkin-carving party! This was also the month I posted my first outfit post (thanks to Mom), and it brought a fun new dimension to this little blog.
An Upstate Wedding
We loved this wedding in the woods and exploring the northeast’s fall foliage!
Skyline Drive
The foliage was admittedly not as pretty as it was in 2015, but we still had a great day with the Mostellers exploring Virginia!
Our Annual Halloween Party
I love a good Halloween party, and this year’s was great!
(Other) Favorite Posts:
November
November started with a great church retreat, a trip to Houston, and hosting both a friendsgiving and a real Thanksgiving.
Fall Retreat Weekend
Leslie and I living that retreat life!
Friendsgiving
We had the most wonderful night hosting our first Friendsgiving!
Houston
I had a great time on my first visit to Houston to visit Haley and my cousin and attend a gorgeous wedding!
(Other) Favorite Posts:
Brunching in a Black Watch Blazer
Hosting our First Thanksgiving
December
December was definitely all about Christmas, as it should be! We had so many holiday parties for our offices, with friends, etc. that it left little time for anything else! We had some holiday travel hiccups but ended up seeing everyone in both our families (except James!) and had a lovely Christmas in North Carolina.
Pre-Christmas Celebrations!
You can see most of our pre-Christmas festivities here.
Christmas in Pinehurst
I still need to blog our family Christmas in North Carolina, and I know it’s such old news now, but I’ll probably post it next week anyway for posterity. 🙂
(Other) Favorite Posts:
Our Christmas Decorations and Traditions
Christmas Gift Guide for the Ladies
Phew! That’s a wrap! I’m so, so excited for 2017 and thankful for all the wonderful blessings that 2016 brought us. Life is good, and we are so grateful for the friends, family, and experiences that make it so. Let’s do this 2017!
