2017 is coming to a close... we had a great year and happy to share some of our memories with all of you.

2017 was the year for family. We were able to visit with family several times this year as well as add Bolt to ours.
We saw family and friends in Minnesota in February to celebrate Daniel's marriage (welcome to the family Kelly) and and then again in June for a Finney reunion at Paul and Sue's lake house (thank you for hosting) and one last visit in July which found us road tripping with a stop in Lincoln. A first for me in the February trip was to walk on a frozen lake... I was always so scared to do it but it was actually fun!

 

In October, we took 10 days to visit family and friends in Tampa. We went to Busch Gardens (it had been 10 years) and had a blast with the Franks who were able to visit while we were there. With a couple of extra days we enjoyed sun and drinks at the beach.


Super happy we purchased our first home and are loving our new area of Arvada. The first quarter of 2017 found us getting settled in and making it our own. End of 2016 (literally a week before Christmas) was when we moved in. We also had family come check out our new place... Daniel and Kelly were our first visitors in February, then mom and Lynn came to visit in March and then again for Thanksgiving (tradition), and Jane and the Franks with a visit in November. Thank you for the visits and it was great to host all of you!

New location meant new jobs for us both... We were each happy to accept new positions and join new companies. We both stayed in our fields and are happy and thankful we are a short commute from the house!

Travel this year (besides FL, MN) included camping, annual Steamboat trip, and our anniversary trip. We did a glamping trip at a friend's cabin close to the Wyoming border, super relaxing. Camping in Vail was fun this summer, we saw the GoPro Games which included Dog Town activities (think dog with goggles leaping into a huge pool). Telluride for Justin's bday, where we took Black Bear Pass Trail (a gorgeous but difficult and dangerous trail) in the Jeep... Justin said it was his favorite so well worth it! Steamboat is always fun... Although not as much snow this year, we still enjoyed ourselves with family.

We celebrated 9 years of making it official in September and took a trip out to Portland and Seattle. It was our first time there and had a great time exploring the cities and breweries. Tried some crazy ice cream flavors, my new favorite: strawberry honey balsamic black pepper pear blue cheese, super yum!

Will end this update by sharing our favorite part of the year... we adopted a pup, his name is Bolt (after the TB Lightning of course... and he is sooo energetic and quick) and we are in love with him! We welcomed him in November when he was 6 months and he is such a great puppy! He is a lab heeler mix and loves meeting new people. So, incentive to come visit!

2017 was a great year for us and we are very much looking towards 2018! Always missing and thinking of our loved ones and wishing 2018 will bring you love, peace, and happiness.
Happy Holidays!!

Lots of love,
Xoxo ~ The Wallens