Happy Holidays

This is my favorite time of year. The kid in me is still very much there when it comes to Christmas. I literally feel giddy when I think about it. I love the music, the shopping, the time with family and friends. I think if I ever took a part time job it would be wrapping gifts at a department store-I just love the whole process of this holiday.

I also enjoy this time of year, because it is a time of reflection. I look back at all the amazing memories from the year and this year I feel especially lucky. Chris and I both got into Graduate School, Chris got his CPA, we traveled a lot, we got a puppy, we watched some of our best friends get married and engaged and we watched our family grow with the birth of Samantha Marie Kenyon. It's been a beautiful year!

Christmas plans this year, once again, promise to be busy. We have multiple friends with whom we get together to exchange gifts, then we're heading to New Hampshire to see our Barkhouse Granparents and spend most of Christmas Eve with them, then driving back to CT to see the Nagle family for Christmas Eve as well, then home to celebrate Christmas day with Mom and Dad. The one thing I always remind myself is to find some down time to really enjoy the true meaning of the holiday and to not let all the chaos overwhelm the joy. I hope you all remember to do that.

As we mentioned, this year we got our first puppy, who just turned one year old on December 3rd. His picture is below with his first Christmas tree. Also, we just returned from Paris and below you'll see a few pictures from our trip.

Happy Holidays!!!

Summers End 2009 Update

Hello Loved Ones,

I figured now would be a good time for a follow up. It's been awhile. This Summer has been an absolute whirlwind. We thought that after our wedding was behind us that our lives would slow down, but not quite. In fact, this has been the busiest Summer, probably ever. We have the honor of being in our old roommates, Dan and Sam's wedding in October. I have been helping Sam with her wedding plans and planning her shower. I am also in a wedding on August 23rd for my dear friend, Bethany. Her shower is now behind us and it was beautiful. Aside from those we also have two other weddings to attend. I absolutely LOVE to help with the planning of these event, so they have been a blessing, but boy, it has kept us busy!

We just celebrated our first wedding anniversary. To celebrate we traveled up to Acadia National Park (for letter "a", since each anniversary we will travel with the alphabet...next year we're going to Bermuda for "b".). It was incredible!! The scenery was amazing and we did some intense mountain climbing. Many memories were made.

We also booked a trip to Paris in November. We will be leaving on Thanksgiving Day-so we'll miss our family very much. This is the first in 24 years that I will not have celebrated this holiday with family. I am a bit sad about that, but am ecstatic about our trip to France. We're spending about 4 days in Paris and one in Reims (Champagne Country) touring the Champagne Houses. I love champange!!! Many pictures to come of Paris, as you would all expect.

Career/school-wise, as you know, Chris recieved his CPA and we both were accepted into Graduate School. We start the end of this month. Chris will attend University of Hartford for his Master's in Accounting and I will attend UConn for a Master's in Professional Studies in Human Resources Management. We are both nervous and anxious about returning to school.

Aside from all of this, we continue with our hobbies of running and working out, cooking and scrapbooking (ok, well that one if just me) and spending a lot of time with our puppy, Duke, who is now 8 months old. Marriage rocks and we are so happy to share this wonderful life together!

HELP SAVE MORGAN

So my sister Sarah just got a puppy. Her name is Morgan and she is a german shepard/golden retriever mix rescue from Alabama. After having her for less than two weeks they found out she has a congenital condition called Liver Shunt, basically meaning her body is like a toxic waste dump and is killing her. Unlike most puppies, Morgan doesn't bark and jump and chew. Without medication, she can only sit in place and cannot make eye contact. The condition is curable with surgery, but costs $4000! She has already spent $500 in one week on two antibiotics and an ammonia blocker. She is not one to ask for help-BUT I AM! We are asking people to give even $5 to save this puppy. Email me (troxell712@yahoo.com) or call Sarah at (603) 313-5159. See Morgan's picture below. Thank you, again, for anything you can do.

Introducing: Duke Troxell

So, we took the plunge. We were so hesitant, but when a breeder contacted us to let us know, "I have one boy and one girl left", we couldn't resist. I was at work and called Chris. I was more reluctant, knowing the responsibility it takes to raise a puppy. Chris said, "Let's do it!". I let him call and pick boy or girl. He called me back saying, "It's a boy!". So, Duke, it was. Chris loves the name Duke for a child. I say it works for a dog, that's it.

Duke is an American Eskimo, a very tough breed to find as they are rare in this area. We drove up to Auburn, NY to pick him up. So far he has been so sweet. He is quiet and very calm and submissive. Unfortunately though, he is teething so he is chewing on everything.

He is 13lbs. right now and will grow quickly, so check his picture out below. We are cherishing the puppy-phase, but we're excited to have this companion with us in our future.

Our Cups Overflows

Hello Loved Ones,

We just got home this weekend from our awaited cruise. We traveled to Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Jamacia. We had PERFECT weather. The cruise ship was incredible-with the pools, jumbo TV screen on the top deck, mini golf...and the food, of course the food. We are pretty adventurous as many of you know so we made sure we participated in an excursion on each island. In Cozumel, Mexico we took a jet boat ride on a boat named Twister-and that's esactly what it did. At high speeds and twisted in 360 degrees. We were soaked but it was such an adreline rush and I think we would do over and over again. Then the boat dropped off us on the most gorgeous, secluded beach where we were greeted with open bar, Mexican buffet, lounge chairs, cabanas, and hammocks. In Grand Cayman we did something I said I would never do: parasail. I did it and will definitely do it again. It is so amazing and so relaxing. It is just so quiet 400 feet in the air, especially over Caribbean waters and especially with someone you love next to you. In Ocho Rios, Jamacia we climbed the famous Dunn's River Falls. This is 900ft of water falls, that seem to have a naturally formed staircase going up. It was challenging since the water is freezing and you have no choice but to be up to your waist in it. It was fabulous. We also visited Dolphin Cove where there are 14 dolphins who interact and swim with the guests. We didn't get to swim with them, but got good pictures.

The cruise was probably our favorite trip together and I felt so sad to leave and head back to reality in CT-snow, rain, cold weather, and of course, work. But when we came home (hours late because of snow in Chicago), we finally rejoined reality by going to the mailbox, collecting the pile and opening each piece. In the pile was Chris' score to his final exam. HE PASSED! The final exam-meaning he is now a Certified Public Accountant. I know I have mentioned before (I am so proud), but it is incredibly unlikely, almost impossible that someone passes all four parts on the first try, but Chris did and the achievement is monumentous. Because he never sings his praises I will.

We feel very happy that during such hard economic times for our nation, us, as a young couple, are able to travel, that we have great jobs, and are able to tackle occupational challenges and excel. I think our future is bright and I feel very lucky!

Christmas was great this year. I think it was one of my favorite Christmas' ever! We celebrated with friends and with family and then the day after Christmas Chris and I celebrated together-as we exchanged gifts as husband and wife sitting near our tree that morning.

This winter has been pretty brutal-freezing temps and lot's of snow-but luckily in mid-February we'll be on our cruise for seven days. Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Jamaica sound really nice right about now. We have enjoyed winter, though. We've been sledding and Chris is looking forward to getting some skiing in.

Chris just completed his FINAL CPA exam. He feels really confident about it-but I don't want to jinx him. He should be getting the results back in a few weeks and it will be unbelievable if he passes (which I have no doubt he will), because only 10% pass all four tests consecutively and certainly a 23 year old CPA is pretty unheard of.

We've been thinking a lot about getting a puppy. We're a little nervous because we know they are a big responsibility and we are spontaneous people who like to take off for a day or weekend at our liesure. Also, we love our cat, Cassius, so much and we know she will be petrified of a dog. Either way, a dog is in our future-maybe in our near future. We've decided on a breed-American Eskimo or Eskies as they are nick-named. We love them and they are known as one of the most intelligent and loyal breeds. Maybe this Spring or Summer we'll add a dog to our little family.

Hope everyone is doing well and staying warm this winter. I'll keep you updated on Chris' score!