good bye two thousand and eight.

Out with the old and in with the new.

Tonight over dinner we were reminiscing about the best {and worst} of 2008.

This year we...

• got MARRIED
• quit a job {her}, got two more {him & her}
• moved into our first home together
• honeymooned:)
• planned a black tie gala {her}
• hosted friends and family
• celebrated birthdays
• traveled to Boone, Chapel Hill, Charlotte, Mexico, Raleigh, Shackleford, and DC
• ate oysters
• camped on an uninhabited island
• celebrated two Christmases
• cooked delicious meals {him}
• watched our best friends get married

In Japan they have Bonekai parties, or "forget-the-year parties", but i think 2008 is one that I would like to remember.

We rang in the new year with an oyster roast at the Smith's in Edisto.

Nothing like fresh oysters, good beer, and a chilly ocean breeze to welcome the new year

Janie and Ben attacking the slimy little suckers

mmm.mmm.good

Watching the ball drop, huddled by the heater at the Marina

Happy New Year!

{2009}

Today Ben and I didn't have to go into work- so we celebrated by sleeping in and taking it easy. This included:
A chilly walk on the beach

if you look closely you can see my new bangs:)

Coffee and Scrabble at Starbucks
A trip to pick up some dinner inspiration from William Sonoma
And a d-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s new years day dinner created by B

Steak with a red wine reduction and mushrooms, grilled potatoes, a spinach salad, and a good Chilean wine {courtesy of Mama and Papa Harding}

and of course we used our lucky, trunk-pointing-up elephant napkin rings to inspire good luck throughout '09

and right now B is cleaning up the kitchen as I sit here and write this- looks like it's turning out to be a lucky year for me already:)

Happy New Year!