december 31 and ready

Two years ago at this time, Colin and I were getting ready to storm the Champs Elysées in Paris for an all-out New Year's celebration in the city. It was exhilarating—and I don't normally enjoy New Year's Eve—with the thousands of people drinking Champagne in the street, toasting the Bonne Année, speaking different languages, falling into nearby cafés and restaurants for a late-night meal. I'll never forget that gigantic crème brûlée we had that burned for almost as long as Mummy's figgy pudding. We were determined to have a good time (and we did). The party wasn't so much a focus on our accomplishments of the past year, but an enjoyment of the thrilling moment and excitement of what was to come. Our relationship was on the cusp of a great thing...

Now, two years older—and a little wiser—I'm feeling much more determined to reflect on the milestones of the past year, for they are great indeed:

• Colin got a promotion and is working his dream job at Burton; I'm working my dream job at EatingWell
  
• I snowboarded off a jump in the mini-park at Stowe—and landed it perfectly
• We took a trip to England; Colin met the English cousins, aunties and uncles
• Colin's sister Jill got married
• Colin and I bought our first place together, a home we absolutely adore
• My sister Hannah moved to Portland
• Au Lait lost three pounds—that's a lot for a cat
  
• Mama Sonia—my last living grandparent—passed away. One of the last things she said to me was, "this is part of your education." Indeed is was.
  
• Our parents—the Walls and the Algers—met for the first time up in Vermont; we had dinner at Trattoria Delia
  
• Colin and I got engaged; he proposed under a tree at the Christmas tree farm
  
• My sister Emma gave birth to a beautiful baby girl; I became an auntie

This year, we're celebrating New Year's in our new home. And we are ready to celebrate with gratitude and anticipation for the year ahead.