Ok... I haven't written in a gazillion days... 2016 has been crazy... and before I say how fabulous it was... I do have to put a disclaimer out that yes... it truly sucked that all my Hollywood and musical icons of my childhood/early adult years seemed to choose this year to exit to an alternate universe to party. I do not approve of that message and truly hope that 2017 sees Phil Collins, Tom Petty, Chaka Khan, George Clooney and Denzel Washington healthy throughout the year... Betty White and Keith Richards will survive forever so I worry not for them... but alas... I ventured off my disclaimer... The only major part of 2016 that will truly affect me and my loved ones: is somehow just short of half of America believed that a great orange tweeting Cheetoh is the best person for our Commander and Chief and placed him in office... My prayers for 2017-20 is that we see 2021 without a nuclear war or any other major fight on any of the major international players soil. If you're reading this and you're PRO Cheetoh... don't you dare comment about his royal orangeness here or on my Facebook page where I'll share... because 2017 I will be culling down my Facebook page to ensure it's all about peace and harmony... I am a Libra after all... 
Now... for me... when I look back at 2016 and my personal life... I look at true happiness, friendship, loyalty, accomplishment and pretty much everything being right in MY world. My job is the best job for me at this time in my life... it provides me with the most time with my kids... ability to travel everywhere.. and I have been working for 3 years with the best work wife ever... she was one of the 4 people I chose to be by my side when Bill and I married... she nearly made both of us cry when it was time for her to walk down my aisle... but I sang her through it with a "to the window, to the wall, til the sweat..." and she sang and laughed with me as she passed under the arch towards the tent I was married under.... she's on medical leave now and I'm tapping my foot in impatience waiting for her to get healthy again. 2017 will be HER year... Love you boo.... working in 2017 will suck without you...
I became Crowell... after two amazing women took me to Santa Barbara for the weekend. My besties and my life's blood... who ensured that everything leading up to my wedding was everything it should be and more. I can post a thousand pictures here but I'll post one now... as they're woven in and out of my life throughout the year...
Our wedding we couldn't have asked for anything more... the weather... the people who came and were involved... Sharing my kids happiness and ours with the people we love most in the world... in our back yard... we just can't say enough about the day. It truly was one of the most special, important, appreciated and loved days of both of our lives. We know we are blessed and we count our blessings in each one of you.... and in us too...
Shortly after the wedding we ran up to Richmond for an after party... then to Amherst, Massachusetts for my Masters Degree commencement. Ya get a Masters... you'd better walk... crawl and enjoy every moment of your achievement... I know I did... It was on my bucket list... and I came, saw and conquered... with my favorite crazy red head again by my side... and, of course, we found the time to join a friends picket line and fight for the rights of employees/workers... Don't piss off a UMass Grad by the way... they tried to shut down our program... and our Alums rallied and showed them we learned and surpassed their expectations as a labor force. We love our fellow alumni and are proud.
Bill and I were finally able to take time to wind down post wedding preparations and party... and enjoy our honeymoon in Chacala, Mexico thanks to my aunt who gave us her house for our honeymoon... we loved Chacala soooo very much and can't wait to escape to it again. Bill keeps threatening to move there... In time my love, in time....
We've done California 5 times this year... 4 planned, 1 unplanned... we've had a post wedding gathering... fun with my mom... and some scary shizzle with her too (grateful for her health)... we've gone to beaches and baked cookies... with and without kids... We've counted the blessings in every trip we've had because we've had time with friends and family... and we know how lucky we are to have this time.
The kids have been fabulous all year... from traveling all over the US... to submitting college applications (CJ)... to performing in marching band competitions in GA and DC (Katie)... they've left us both so proud our hearts sing. It's really been a crazy fun year for all of us.
We have had visitors outside of the wedding weeks... Ava came down in the summer... and so did my mom to christen our new beloved back yard patio escape to paradise... Our house has revolving doors... there's always room for one more... always an extra bed or plate for dinner. It's what makes a house a home... love from family and friends....
I think I need to take more than a one liner to describe what our new backyard kitchen means to us. It really is an escape. We cook out here more often than not when we are home... and now that the chill of fall/winter has come we sit with our feet to the fire in our fireplace... with a drink in our hand... cuddled together reading whatever and enjoying our quiet time... it's a relationship builder that patio. Quiet without animals... although Tootsie always wants to be at our feet out there... When you can't escape to Tahiti... you escape to the crackle of a warm fire... the smell sending me to my childhood... I can not thank those that had a part in this enough.
I can't be thankful enough that all my parental units still breathe... We're celebrating Corrie's bday belatedly in February of 2017 because I just couldn't do ONE MORE TRIP in 2016... How blessed can I be to say that I just couldn't do one more trip??? So many can't do just one... Corrie celebrated her 75th this year... with Katie's bday the day after... the love and affection from Oma encompasses us all...
Bill and I have done... California, Richmond, Washington DC and Puerto Vallarta this year... that's soooo much but really it's more... Friends... sight seeing... Bryan Ferry... Shawn Mullins... Honeymoon... Family... Willie Nelson... (well Bill didn't go there with me... he worked it and we crashed it but that counts right???)
We've done special food outings like fondue for the kids... they LOVE going out for fondue... and when Gramma comes to town we can usually make it happen. 
I cant say how much I'm amazed by my kids by the way... they're beautiful and brilliant and wonderful human beings and I'm proud at the young adults they are becoming.
So... here's some final pictures of my family travels... from time with the kids... to hugging my grandmothers redwood trees... to junking in Alameda... our year has been... FULL... and I really can't complain.
We came into the holiday/birthday season... I am reminded how blessed I am for my husband to have the relationship he has with my daughter. She worships the ground he walks on and he adores her like she's his own. Their connection is obvious in every day interactions and I'm sooo grateful.
And as I started the year with my closest girlfriends celebrating my choice to become Crowell,,. I ended the year with these two beautiful human beings celebrating my 50th... in Copenhagen... I love Europe... and traveling with these two never grows old.
And... my "wife", my hub and I got one last trip into 2016... visiting his family and friends in between Christmas and New Years... It's always fun going to the Lipfords... laughter, food and drinks for days...I am... Crowell and I wouldn't chose to be anything other... 2016... ya didn't suck for me... and it didn't suck for my Mudgie... so don't let him grumble about it... you know he'll try... just pat him on the back and tell him to suck up the happiness and get over it... Our lives are good. From our house to yours... Happy 2017!
