annual winter weekend

for the last 3 years, mr. o and i have been traveling up 

to the good state of NH for a wintery weekend. 

we've snowmobiled, gone tubing, skiing, boarding...the forest is our...oyster? 

we stay at the most amazing little place called the woodstock inn

which happens to be attached to a brewery.... 

not a coincidence. 

it also happens to be the cutest, friendliest, comfiest place on earth

with amazing food and brews and as part of your stay you get two free beers and 

be a mere 100 steps from the brewery itself! 

live free or die, am i right?! 

i was an avid skier as a kiddo/teen, but dropped off when college came around

and beer drinking and being part of my sorority was more important.

mr. o has been a snowboarder his whole life and, of course,

is amazing at it and totally fearless. 

i need some of that! 

regardless, this year, i finally caved and purchased the whole set of ski gear. 

we were determined to get me back on the slopes for real. 

and we did! 

(top of waterville valley)

we spent two full days shredding some pow

(did i sound like a real skier there?)

and it was a blast! so happy to be getting back into this sport. 

we enjoyed fantastic weather, amazing views of the white mountains, 

and added a super fun activity to our arsenal of things to do together.

including...working on our nerd face.

happy almost end of winter! 

jury duty for the new american

mr. o became a citizen of our great nation in 2010. 

since that date the only thing he's been praying and wishing for is...

jury duty.

what?! 

as a born and raised american, 

we're mostly bred to try and avoid this civic duty of ours. 

i'm sick? i'll be too influential in the jury room? i'm biased?

the last time i was called, 

i used the fact that my father was a lawyer to try and get out of it. 

"is anyone in your family in the law?"

"well yes, my father is a lawyer..for the state of CT..and he's important...?"

didn't fly. 

cut to me up in the jury box having been chosen, staring at a supposed criminal, awaiting the next steps. 

thankfully, they couldn't pick the final juror so we were all sent home. 

but why should i be thankful that i didn't have to exercise my right as an american? 

really, we should be thankful for people like mr. o 

who can't wait to get to the jury room. 

lucky for him, his moment has arrived. 

yesterday, that little envelope was in our mailbox and mr. o will be participating in one of america's oldest traditions this april...

(a face of pure joy)

we'll be sure to watch 12 angry men to get him really psyched up...

then find him a good book to bring ;)

surprise!

am i just the luckiest girl in the world or what? 

the dreaded, no good, last birthday of my 20s rolled around this past weekend

and what happened? 

our two bestest buddies jumped up from behind the couch when i got home from work. 

 (heather and chuck)

these two recently moved away from us to the warm, far away land of NC and 

we have missed them, oh so much! 

amazingly, with some serious scheming, they flew up to see us for my bday weekend. 

there is a video of the surprise moment and me screaming 

"what aaaare yooooou dooooing heeerreeeeee" 

but i can't figure out how to get it off slowmo status so you'll just have to imagine the wonderfulness of it all. 

the weekend was filled with lots of catching up, ice skating, 

a distillery tour (and tasting), a wonderful dinner some other amazing friends, 

and lots of love and laughs. 

thank you to the d's for making the long trip up to surprise me. so thoughtful.

and thank you to mr. o for making it all happen.

i am the luckiest.