2013

2013 is upon us, which is crazy to think about! So far 2013 has been a good year and has just included a lot of travel. Christmas in Minnesota this year was excellent, we had so much fun. I think one of our favorite days was our annual do something fun with all the nephews prior to Christmas. We have done different things every year and this year we decorated ginger bread cookies and just had an afternoon of everyone hanging out. It was so much fun and relaxing, it is neat to see all of the nephews get to an age where they really enjoy playing with eachother. Some of both of our best memories are playing with our cousins around the holidays. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were also a lot of fun the only problem was everyone was getting sick. The flu made its rounds both at the Breckes and at the Whites, we are just lucky that now in late January everyone seems to finally feel better!

Our New Years was spent in Florida and it was such a wonderful, memorable trip. We spent five days in Englewood Florida and then went down to Florida Keys for the birthday celebration. The heat and just relaxing was such a nice vacation for both of us. The best part of the trip was Tommy and Brandy got engaged! It was pretty neat to be there that night popping champagne and celebrating with them. The best way I can describe the whole weekend was that it was a celebration from beginning to end. We were down there to celebrate Brendan's grandpa Bud's 80th birthday, they had a really spectacular dinner the last night we were there that just made me feel so happy to be apart of such a great family.

As if Florida wasn't enough both Brendan and I also made some trips as well. I made it to Seattle to visit my friends Kurt and Emily and meet their gorgeous new baby Madeline. I had so much fun in their gorgeous catalog harbor town that they live in. I miss Washington and all the year round greenery and our good friends there. I think a second trip getting Brendan to come along is in the cards for this year as well. The same weekend I went to Seattle, Brendan went to Las Vegas for his work's annual conference. The vacation seemed to continue when my best friend Allison and her lovely husband Ben came to town this last weekend. We skied a lot; one day at Park City and another at Snowbird. Brendan and I just felt like we were on vacation with all the good meals, drinks and laughing. We both love having friends come visit and see why we live here.

February should continue to be a good time as we have more family coming to town and engagement party for Tommy and Brandy. I think my new hobby for 2013 is to get better at back country skiing and also to learn to use my sewing machine. Brendan is hoping to learn either woodwork or leather work. It will be good, as always!

Love,
Alyssa and Brendan