2008 in Pictures...

I started writing this LONG post about 2008....but 2008 went by flying...or did it?. It was an intense, fun and unforgettable year for me and I wouldn't know where to start or end if I told you about it (plus it would be ridiculously boring!).

So rather than tell you, I'm just going to show you. So here we go, get comfortable as I take you down Andreina's 2008 Memory Lane....the year in pictures!

Disclaimer: There are some obvious moments missing, but those moments were just as special (I guess just not camera-ready moments!)

January

We rang in the New Year at my friend's house with both our moms!

The entire month of January was spent with preparations, preparations, preparations!. Finishing up all the details for the big day!. My sister, and Maid of Honor, was in town and thank God!! she was HUGE help!...Here is me working on the out of town bags (Isabella would not be very happy if I posted the one of her as it was not her best Kodak moment...which is highly unusual of Miss Photogenic!)

February

Aww, the month of love....and the month we went to the Chapel! (it was hard to choose pictures as you can imagine, so bear with me as I couldn't pick just a couple!

March

Let's MOVE!. I didn't find any pictures of the actual move, but believe me...this was a HUGE change!. I moved far enough to turn my life and routine upside down! (65 miles). Of course it was all worth it as I was moving to our new *home*.

Moving also meant I started working from home...another HUGE change and not as easy as a lot of people seem to think it is!. After a few months of crashing Alejandro's very-manly home office, I decided I needed my own space, so I made a new home office in one of the spare bedrooms.

That change made a tremendous difference...it's a little girlier and brighter!

Chepe celebrated his 4th birthday, happy as could be with his usual special Birthday dinner...ribs!

April

Happy Birthday to me!!!. I celebrated my 31st in my new home with Alejandro and his mom. I requested "little cakes" so I didn't have to deal with the temptation (very hard when you work from home!).

We also got invited to a Polo match!!! That was a lot of fun and very interesting!

....and last but not least, I got my new car!

May

Say hello to the new Engineer in the family (that's 3 for 3 sisters!). My sister Isabella graduated and I couldn't miss it!...it was so exciting to see her celebrating her huge accomplishment!!

Since I was in Colorado, a visit to my best friend was also in order!....her Fiance (now husband!) took us out on a very chilly but fun boat ride in the lake!

June

Que Viva Espana!!!. Spain played and won the Euro cup finals!! woo-hoo!

July

We went out to celebrate my promotion!. It was a huge promotion and with that came more changes for me...more travel, more responsibility and less free time! (making it even more challenging to find my new routine!).

We also had our yearly visit to the Cape to our friend's house to celebrate July 4th.

My best friend got married in July too! We had a grat time and it was a beautiful wedding..I just don't have any pictures :(

August

Like I said, I was busier with my new job...so busy that I can't find a single picture from August!. So there you have it, a BUSY picture-less month!

September

I left my heart in San Francisco...

Really, all over California!. We had a 2nd honeymoon (or so I liked to call it...and let me just say we scored some upgrades thanks to that!). We started out in San Francisco, drove down to Monterrey, Carmel by the Sea, Big Sur, headed West to Yosemite for some hiking and ended up in Wine country were we met up with some friends. It was one of the best vacations I have ever taken!

During the month of September we had a very special visit from my Dad & isa. I just can't find those pictures on this computer!. We had a wonderful special birthday dinner for Isabel!

October

Halloween!!!!. Alejandro and I had to look for last minutes costumes and ended up at Sports Authority and decided to be referees!

What I loved most about October was that I discovered my new love...RUNNING!. I started running in September, but it was towwards the end so my first full month was October!

While I ran, Chepe indulged in his favorite past time...NAPPING!. This picture could have been taken in any given month really...as this is how we often find him in the sofa!

And let's not forget October was Down Syndrome awareness month. My sister and nephews joined me in the walk to support our little friend Niko and his parents :)

Here is me with both my nephews (they were very tired!)

November

This was a special month!. We celebrated Alejandro's birthday with a quiet dinner at home, but then got a visit from our friends Jeff & Emily!. We all took a boat ride on the intercoastal to see how the riches live ;)

We also celebrated our first Thanksgiving in our home as Mr & Mrs ;)). It was extra special because my sister, nephews and brother in law joined Alejandro, me and his mom!.

And we went to a friend's wedding and made it into a tiny little getaway ;)

December

And that bring us to December. I loved the Holidays, all the family and friends...but most of all...I loved my RACE!!!. I know, that sounds a lil' selfish, but I'm just being honest here. I loved it and it was a great way to end the year!. All those runs...the good, the bad and the ugly brought me to that day. It was all worth it!...even the runs that my mind kept wondering "why the heck am I doing this!!?", all the alcohol shots that made my toes look like tiny little hot dogs...all. worth. it.

I hope 2009 brings more races and more fitness!.

Of course I also loved Christmas and having our house all decorated! ;)

Tomorrow the husband and I will leave on a little getaway to ring in 2009 (I just realized I had written 2010! I'm jumping ahead of myself!). I cannot wait to see what the new year has in store for us!.

I hope you all have a safe, peaceful and Happy New Year!!!!. I hope 2009 brings you all HEALTH, love, happiness, success and joy!

Cheers,

Andreina