Farewell 2015

That is technically a photo from the last hours of 2014, but whatever.

This year, y'all! What a ride. Easily the craziest year of our life. SO many changes. But still, I think it's been the best. There were some rough moments, but overall as usual life just gets better and better. Even if it is full of chaos.

This was obviously the year of being pregnant. I spent the majority of it pregnant and when I put this together I expected to find kind of a dull year, but we still did SO MUCH. We had so much fun this year, preggo or not. Plus, we managed to cram a lot of action into the not preggo months.

So here's the run down. We worked a lot, played a lot, explored a lot, ran a lot, and I sewed a lot (the year of Disney Princess dresses!). After half a year of trying I got pregnant (!), BRENDON GRADUATED PHARMACY SCHOOL, I quit my coffee queen job, we said farewell to Austin and moved to Temple, Brendon started his residency, and then decided to do another year of residency. On New Years Day we (Brendon) drove through a winter storm at night to get us home from skiing in New Mexico, we flew three times (big deal for us, since we hadn't been on a plane since our honeymoon), went on one giant road trip, lots of little road trips, and most of this was while preggo. We ran five races that I can remember, one of which was the Austin Half Marathon we'd trained over a year for, and two of which I was pregnant. Plus lots of other little adventures wherever we could squeeze them in. We have had a hell of a year. It's been a reeeeeally good one.

So lets get on with the photos! Lets watch me gain a million pounds over a year. Going from the best shape in your life to extra pregnant, and seeing it documented, is a blow for the ego let me tell you.

Had to sneak one of baby girl in there somewhere.

Such a good year! Thanking my lucky stars for this wonderful life we've got and all the good folks in it. Obviously 2016 will be one for the books as well, our first year as parents (AHHHH). I'm looking forward to this next year, more than I've ever looked forward to a new year. Not surprisingly. Not only do we get to finally meet the Seahorse, but life will just be all new! Nothing will be the same! And I will be able to wear regular clothes again! Haha. But seriously, I am so excited for 2016. I know it wont be an easy year, but I think it will be a great one.

And I leave you with mushyness, because always and forever, this boy is the reason I spend most of my life over the moon in happiness.

Thank you for a wonderful year, Brendon. Thank you for everything you do for our little family and for being the weirdest and most fun person I've ever known. Can't wait to kill 2016 with you and our offspring.

See ya soon, 2016! And if you want to see younger Hogans, here is Farewell 2014, 2013, 2012, and 2011.

Christmas 2015

Phew, how is it almost the end of the year already? Christmas flew by. It always does, but I thought maaaaybe this year since life in Temple (should have been) a little slower, it would last a little longer. But nope! It came and went in a happy flash like it always does. The good news this year is that we had off for the whole weekend! Usually we're off to work the next day, but as I'm not working at all at the moment (mwahaha) and Brendon is on that government schedule we had three days together! It's kind of nice, how the other half lives. We had the weekend to relax after the wildness of Christmas. And the weather was kinda cray, right? It was hot and grosssss on Christmas, but then this weekend winter arrived. There was even a chance of snow last night! I don't think it happened buuuuut, still! I'm pleased as punch that winter has shown its face. I'm a cold weather lover anyway, but being pregnant you run hot ALL the time. A mild winter was NOT what I was hoping for.

GOOD GRIEF, I am talking about the weather. (But really, when it actually happens, it's exciting!) Back to the point, CHRISTMAS! We had a fantastic Christmas. All our family came up to us in our little apartment and I felt super spoiled. Brendon's momma and his little bro came up the weekend before to celebrate. We had a taco feast and played a very serious game of Star Wars Monopoly where Brendon's true dark side came out. He is unbeatable in Monopoly and cut throat, wives get no mercy. Never play him. Actually never play him in any game. He's too competitive.

Our Christmas tree! Every year the day after Thanksgiving we get a tree. From Home Depot. They have this "Promo Tree" deal for trees that aren't quite perfect, it's usually around $20, NO MATTER THE SIZE! So we usually look for the biggest guy we can find, and usually they're awesome! They might have a little more character than the "normal" trees, but I like character. But man, this year. This tree is craaazy. It had holes galore, and crazy branches sticking out every where. It was hilarious. Also for whatever reason, even though it had a freshly cut bottom, it wasn't soaking up water. So it was a crispy critter by the end. I still loved it though.

FORGIVE THE FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY! I've found on holidays it's easier to just bust out the flash than to fight apartment lighting with manually shot photos. And you catch a lot more funny faces with a quick flash. :)

This is the "oh Marie is taking pictures again" collection of faces. I SWEAR we were having a good time! Every year Deb gets us PJ's, it's the sweetest tradition (and my only source of PJ's!). She always picks the cutest stuff!

Superheroes, obviously!

Looking extra pregnant here. It was a fantastic early Christmas, and a great way to start the Christmas week! I'm all about spreading the holiday cheer as far as possible.

Christmas morning Brendon and I got up early (well, we always get up early) and had our little Christmas together. Usually we do ours last, so it was a fun change to open our gifts to each other ON Christmas morning. A nice calm and quiet morning, because we know next year will be very different!

I am going to spam you with repeated photos of our tree. Because I can.

Christmas with the cats, naturally. Sophie is a big fan of Christmas, she sneaks into A LOT of these photos.

Brendon spoiled me rotten, as per usual. I love how thoughtful that boy is. Also he got me one of those giant tins of popcorn, you know the cheese, butter, and caramel? It's already over half empty. I love that nasty stuff.

My sister, mom, and her bf Ray arrived a little later that morning for Christmas round 3! And they rolled up like Santa:

Sophie was in heaven. No cat loves Christmas more.

PS, it was hot! Shorts and short sleeves and an open door because the apartment was getting steamy.

You see what I mean about funny faces? I get free passes because, preggo. And I made Brendon wear Elf hats with me. Because when else?

And I totally busted out the self timer. Multiple times. I don't regret it, we don't have too many group shots over the years.

Later that afternoon was Christmas round 4 with my dad, step-momma, and step-bro. And Santa arrived again!

More group shots! With a Sophie this time! She's so spoiled.

My photo taking slacked off towards the end, by the end of the day I was reeeeal tired! But not tired enough for one last Christmas family photo:

Greg though. Not thrilled. I love this little family of mine! Can't wait until that one that's living in my guts is HERE next year!

Overall, even though it was a break from tradition, it was an excellent Christmas. Our family really came through, I am so grateful that they all traveled up to be with us! And family spoiled us like crazy, we ate lots of food (and I cooked! Not something I usually get to do for my family!), and we had oodles of fun hanging out. Lots of laughing, lots of goodness. A wonderful last Christmas before the Seahorse arrives.

Which could be any day now! Eeeee! Hopefully she makes it to her due date but gosh, these practice contractions make me feel like there's no way in heck we'll make it another month. Keep your fingers crossed, y'all! I want a chubby little bundle of Hogan to cuddle on, and the longer she's in there the fatter she'll get. ;)

I hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas if you celebrate! And a marvelous holiday season! I still can't believe the year is almost over. Time flies when you're having fun. :)