Spring Recap

Houston is starting to feel like home.  Between road trips and house hunting, we have been trying new local restaurants, catching up with new and old friends, visiting more with family, waking up before sunrise to run before the heat sets in, and enjoying our patio on mild evenings.  We do experience those moments when we miss DC, but the transition into a non-military life has been much welcomed.  While my intent was to document our lives in more detail {and I hope to get to the point one day!}, all I have to offer now is a glimpse into some of the last few months. 

We went to the Houston Rodeo three times in one week. We saw Miranda Lambert with Cody and Sarah Beth on Tuesday, then Brad Paisley {and the rodeo championship} with Sander and Marielle on Saturday, and finished up the week on Sunday at Alan Jackson with my family.  

 

We celebrated Easter in Bedford with Chris' family.  On Saturday we hung out in Fort Worth, reminiscing our early dating days, before joining his family for dinner.  Chris' sister then hosted us for Easter lunch after the service on Sunday. 

I turned THIRTY!  My sneaky {but very thoughtful} husband planned a surprise party for me to celebrate.  Although I do not consider myself as someone easily surprised, I was beyond surprised when I walked onto the patio of the restaurant and sixteen of my friends were there!  My birthday fell on Wednesday, so we went for a causal dinner of pizza with Cody and Sarah Beth that evening.  Chris assured me that he had dinner plans for Saturday night to continue the celebration and would give me a gift then.   These "plans" and "gift" turned out to be hosting a surprise party at The Tasting Room in City Centre with my friends, good food {and wine}, and delicious cupcakes! 

Lately {November and December}

{November}
The first weekend of November we flew to Austin for Chris to attend an interview conference (think speeding dating but with potential employers). From that, he received several follow-up interviews that keep him busy throughout November and December. The Sages came up for Thanksgiving weekend, and Garrett hosted lunch (and provided the turkey!) at his casa. On Friday we headed back down to Alexandria - with a detour to the outlet malls - and spent the remainder of the long weekend exploring more of DC. Our outings included the Christmas Tree lighting at the National Harbour, a tour at the Newseum, German food on Capitol Hill and a stop at the Manassas battlefields.

{dad, mom, Lauren and Garrett ready to eat Thanksgiving lunch}

{after Thanksgiving feast walk}

{National Gaylord lobby decorated for Christmas}

{view of the Capitol from the Newseum}

{December}
Chris accepted a job offer in Houston! In the span of three weeks, we flew down to lease an apartment, our household items were moved, my car was shipped cross-country, Christmas came and went, and good-byes were said. Since we were living an empty apartment over Christmas, we splurged for a hotel in DC on Christmas Eve and spent most of our Christmas walking around the National Mall. Chris literally picked me up from work on the 28th, and we started our roadtrip (via Roanoke, Nashville, Longview and Bedford) to Houston. While we are excited for the adventures to come, we will always be fond of DC. It was the first home that we made as a married couple, we formed many strong friendships, and it was a beautiful city (minus the never-ending road construction and congested highways) that had so much to offer.

{Christmas Eve dinner at Cuba Libre}

{National Mall on Christmas Day}
{The Capitol Christmas Tree}

{Capitol on Christmas Day}
{us - Christmas 2011}

{roadtrip}

{out in Nashville}

{Country Music Hall of Fame}

{traditional stop at the Loveless Cafe}

{late Christmas celebration in Longview}

National Mall {December 2011}

Shenandoah National Park

Chris and I ventured south this past weekend for a quick roadtrip through Shenandoah National Park. We traveled south down I-95 on Friday afternoon to Waynesboro, VA. On our way into town, we took a side-trip through the country roads to Veritas Winery for a wine tasting. It was a beautiful family-owned vineyard located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountain. We were impressed with most of the wines we tasted and left with a rose, chardonnay, and red table blend.


On our way to the winery, we past a brewery so we stopped in on the way from the winery to the hotel for a beer sampling and appetizer.


We woke up {somewhat bright and early} on Saturday and, after breakfast and Starbucks, entered the Shenandoah National Park through the southern entrance. Skyline Drive is the scenic road that runs 105 miles through the park, with several outlooks, campgrounds and lodges, and hiking trails along the route. We stopped several times throughout the drive {listening to the A&M/Baylor game inbetween} - for a 3 mile hike to two waterfalls, for a break at the central lodge, for a few photo opts at overlook points and again for a 2 mile hike to a summit.




We continued about three-quarters up Skyland Drive before exiting outside of Sperryville. Outside of the park, we came across an apple stand, so naturally stopped to fill up a bag consisting of a variety of apples. In Sperryville, which was the kind of town that if you blinked you would miss it, we stopped at the Copper Fox Distillery for a tour of the distillery. From the outside, it was had the appearance of a rundown warehouse; yet it was actually a very impressive mom-and-pop operation. From there we headed back home with one final stop for the evening - Pei Wei.

Klooster Wedding {9.10.11}

A few weekends ago, we made a much anticipated trip to Texas. I {Lyndsey} had been there for a quick weekend trip mid-summer, but Chris had not been back since December. We were going to celebrate Chris' sister, Jenni, and her fiance, Dave, tie the knot. Every aspect of the wedding weekend, from the festivities leading up to the big day to the ceremony and reception, were carefully crafted with personal touches, meaning, and thankfulness. It was a very thoughtful, intentional time that incorporated community worship and family blessings as well as a precious reminder of the beauty and sanctity of marriage.

Our flight into Dallas/Fort Worth was delayed Thursday night due to thunderstorms, so we arrived late that night. On Friday, I joined Chris' mom and sister for manicures and pedicures and a bridesmaids' lunch at the Reata, while Chris picked up his tux and ate lunch with the groomsmen. We spent the afternoon running errands, followed by the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner at Ruth Chris. Saturday started early with a hair appointment, then picking up food to munch on pre-ceremony, then pictures at the church. The ceremony was at First Baptist Church Hurst, followed by a dinner and dancing {and a coffee bar!} at the Fort Worth Hilton. On Sunday, we ate breakfast with my parents in downtown Fort Worth, then joined Chris' family while Jenni and Dave opened gifts at the Markos' house. Afterwards, we drove into Fort Worth to meet up with some friends for dinner at Yucatan Taco Stand.

{with the newlyweds at the reception}

{details}

{toast}


{dancing}

{us}


{my parents and I}

Thanks to my parents who picked up our "first anniversary" cake topper from the bakery on their way into town, we enjoyed tres leches cake to celebrate our first anniversary {a few weeks late}.