Weekends in Review

The general consensus for 2016 was that it was a crap year, but K and I didn’t really feel that way when we were reminiscing. Over the last 12 months we shared some amazing experiences. Looking back, it is no surprise that K and I, jokingly, refer to 2016 as The Year of Travel; before fall even arrived, we had visited South America, Europe, & Asia! K also managed to fit in a solo business trip to Israel while I was stuck at work during the busy season. With thousands of airline miles under our respective belts, the nomadic lifestyle continued while we were home and several weekend getaways took us beyond the four walls of our apartment while home state-side.

January-March

The first few months of 2016 were fairly laid back. With the new year, I celebrated my 27th birthday and officially entered the late twenties surrounded by family. As February rolled in, we were on our first international vacation to Colombia before enjoying a laid-back month of March.

Visiting the Vera Familia with the LaRosa Clan.

April-June

At the beginning of April I departed for Orlando, Florida for a short girls’ weekend with my best friend. We did extensive research and read numerous recommendations before our visit to Universal Studios and I even managed a quick day trip to Jacksonville to see some family while out in the Sunshine State. I finished April with a flight out to Germany where I met up with K for a week in Bavaria, and celebrated his 26th birthday strolling the shores of the Salzach River in Austria following a work conference.

The last half of May we had back-to-back weekend getaways. The first was a journey up to Oklahoma where we got to see my “adopted” brother graduate from college. It was a short 24-hour trip but it was a nice occasion, despite the surprise cold front that rolled in the night before the ceremony. It's not everyday you are thankful for indoor graduations due to the cold!

The following week, K and I journeyed down to Fredericksburg, Texas in honor of our second wedding anniversary. Since it also happened to be Memorial Day weekend, we splurged a little and stayed in a secluded cabin just outside of town. The mornings were quiet for lazy walks through the streets, the afternoons sunny for wine tasting, the evenings were warm for hikes up Enchanted Rock, and the nights dark enough for stargazing (one of my secret hobbies). Food Highlights: gluten free lunch at Woerner’s Warehouse, sampling some of the 35 different ice cream flavors at Clear River Pecan Bakery, dinner off the rotating menu at Otto’s German Bistro, and wine tasting at Becker Vineyards.

Our cabin in Fredericksburg & the view on top Enchanted Rock.

In case we weren’t satisfied with the summer heat and humidity in Dallas, in June we ventured down to Houston -- where the weather is notoriously hotter and more humid -- to watch the Colombian national soccer team in the Copa America Centenario. Before the game, we relaxed on the beach in Galveston before treating my dad to his first ever live viewing of the Colombian National Team. Although the end result was not what we had hoped for, Colombia advanced to the next round and it was certainly an experience worth the drive down to the Gulf Coast.

July-Sept

As the Texas summer continued, K and I traveled to the other side of the world for a trip to China and Thailand, where I struggled to adjust to the 12 hour time difference. Luckily, I’d had the foresight when requesting time off, that I had several days to adjust back to Texas time before returning to work. In August, we had some much needed downtime, and it allowed me the chance to adjust to working in a new office and undertaking a new role as lead dentist. Weekends were full of relaxation!

In September we had another set of back-to-back weekend getaways. The first was to San Antonio where we were joined by some of K’s college roommates to cheer on our Alma Mater as they played UT San Antonio at the Alamodome. The following weekend, we escaped to Oakland for the wedding of one my closest college friends and my orther former roommates. We even managed to have a LaRosa family reunion while we were in town!

Then: 2007 ASU Football Fans & Now: 2016 Wedding Dates

Oct-December

October was full of Dallas activities. My mom and I shared a mother-daughter day at the Texas State Fair, K and I let out our inner child at the adults-only night at the Perot Museum during our monthly double date night with the Drews, I joined forces with two other lovely ladies to host a dinosaur themed baby shower for my BFF, and K & I ended the month celebrating Halloween (the BEST holiday of the year) as honorary Belchers from Bob’s Burgers.

November we found ourselves back up at 32,000 feet and headed out to Phoenix for another wedding. Back in our old college stomping grounds, we learned the hard way that we cannot party like we did in college. Upon our arrival at DFW airport from Phoenix, K headed directly to the international terminal for his flight to Israel; just two days after his return we were gathered around the table, giving thanks among family.

By December we were done traveling, but we did get to watch my "adopted" brother marry the love of his life and we hit our own milestones when we put money down for the construction of our future home & decided that we were ready to start a family. Feeling a bit too much like adults, it was only fair that we had some fun the rest of the month. So, we ended 2016 with our first ever visit to ICE! at the Gaylord Texas and rang in the new year with The Halls at the Back Door Comedy Club. We have big dreams for 2017 and we can hardly wait for what the next year has in store for us!