After almost *TWO* years of not blogging....I'M BACK! :)

Oh goodness....where to begin honestly. 

I suppose an apology is in order. 

I'm sorry that I basically gave up on my blog (for two years)...I'm groveling at  your feet in fact...

BUT it was for good reason--I SWEAR! :)

My last post was our announcement that we were having a baby boy. 

Well since then...SURPRISE(!!!!) we had the baby boy--and his name is Nicholas :) He was born on December 28, 2013 at 2:21pm after 27 hours of labor (thank you very much). He's currently about to be 17 months and is a very sweet, very active (ugh), very intelligent little boy with a larger-than-life personality. He's a wonderful mix between Matthew and I. 

I think we did pretty awesome--not trying to brag or anything. Or maybe I am...

He was fascinated by the camera...maybe because I always have my phone for pictures

The reasoning behind my blog abandonment was due in part to that little boy being born and not having time to really post anything...let alone cook...or take a shower for that matter. The main reasoning, however, was because I was in Graduate School and when you are already having to write papers and read hundreds millions of books...well, there isn't much time for doing a blog. That first semester was brutal! I was reading 4 books a week and writing 2 papers a week (combined page range was about 8 to 10 pages per week....). It was crazy! Then there was the following semesters where we had to write an original research paper...times 3! Yes, 3....which ranged from 25 to 35 pages each (my first paper though was 45....oops)...

Needless to say, my fingers are spent :) and so is my mind...for now. It was all worth it though because on May 15, 2015 I walked that stage and officially became 

Jennifer Lawrence Broderick, M.A.

*cue trumpets and confetti blasting through the air*

It was an accomplishment that I thought would never happen, yet it happened too fast. Two years of constant stress, countless hours of reading and researching and editing and writing and writing and writing (....did I say writing??). Not to mention taking care of Nicholas and trying to write in between his naps and trying to give him 110% of my attention, yet feeling as though I was neglecting him because I had to read for class. And let's not forget being active in the spouse's club on post (I was 1st Vice President and then Secretary...I successful ran a Holiday Bazaar too!), being active within Matt's Brigade and then Battalion...too many hours driving back and forth from Fort Carson...there was a deployment, many hours out in the field, a training trip to Germany (all of this was Matt by the way...ha!)--and all the while I was still reading...and writing...and taking care of Nicholas. Not to pat myself on the back, but how the heck did I come out alive on the other end with all of that going on??? I feel that my degree was well earned and I was very proud to don the cap and gown and hood and walk the stage with family looking on: my mom, aunt, Matthew, and of course the little boy who was with me from day one...my Nicholas. I doubt very seriously he will remember the time his mommy was in Graduate School or being at her graduation--but I think when I tell him everything I did during those two years so that I could better myself and better his life through obtaining a higher degree, I think he will be very proud of me as well. 

Now that everything has died down and I find myself idle, I decided that I would jump back onto the blog and start right where I left off! I'm going back to my "Traveling Tuesdays" and sharing recipes from around the world...and I'll of course be blogging about life in general in the Broderick household! 

One of the bigger things that's going on is that we are moving! Yep...our time in Colorado Springs is up after almost 3 years of loving, learning, and exploring the city and surrounding areas. I must say, I'm digging my heels in. I don't want to leave. I love adventure...I love traveling...but I really don't want to leave. Too many things have happened here. There are too many amazing memories, too many amazing people, and too many amazing places. Alas, we must though and it'll be okay amazing...I know it will. But I still don't want to do it.

This summer should be a whirlwind and I think it's going to be fantastic. I am actually getting to focus on myself now that school is done and I get to take Nicholas swimming or to the park! Whenever I want! We are going home to visit family and friends soon as well. I always love going home; sometimes it feels like I never left! When we get back, we will have a few weeks before the packers come...and then the movers...and then we will be gone. In those few weeks, we are planning on spending time with friends and checking things off our "To-do before leaving Colorado" list. 

It's quite a list!! 

1. Do the incline (together) 

2. Hike up Pike's Peak 

3. Do the Cog Railway one last time

4. #2 and 3 will only happen if it stops snowing up there!!! 

5. Visit Cripple Creek one last time

6. Maybe visit Estes Park one last time

7. Play pool at Phantom Canyon 

8. Probably go to my favorite winery together one last time (D'Vine Wine!)

9. Drive up Pike's Peak

10. Rock Ledge Ranch Historical Site

11. The Mays Natural History Museum 

12. Attend The Renaissance Festival one last time

I hope you enjoy my posts from now on and I'm glad to be back to share all the happenings in my world and all the yummy recipes we're trying and hopefully loving! Ha!

Welcome back and enjoy!!!!