Back again for the second half of the year.

Summer nights in Brooklyn were loud. People were outside playing games, enjoying cocktails and just out strolling the neighborhood. I loved sitting on our rooftop on the bench that someone left up there, watching the sunset and just observing people. I never got a picture, but the best nights were when the building across the street hosted their musician friends that would play on their rooftop and it just carried.

The Dispatch concert at Forest Hills Stadium was FANTASTIC. The band was great, the venue was amazing and the weather was perfection. If you live in NYC, you HAVE to see a concert here. There’s great food, great prices and great craft beers.

Working from home. I’m planning on writing a little more about our transition back to MN, but the worst thing has been the transition back to an office. I miss working in comfortable clothes and getting so much stuff done and then having happy hour ice cream time at 4 every day instead of having to commute home.

My number one favorite moment of 2017 was a random Friday night in August. We went out for drinks with friends in FiDi. It was late when we left the bar and we decided to walk part of the way home because a subway shutdown. That was the best part about NYC was the walkability. It was a few miles to our apartment, so we set off. Once we got onto the Brooklyn Bridge, it was empty and there was a tiny bit of rain falling. We took our time taking in the view and enjoying the quiet. I’ve never seen the bridge without a thousand people on it, so this was pretty incredible. It started pouring when we were about 20 feet from the stairs and we were able to grab an Uber. So worth it.

Another trip to the US Open, but this year we added my husband and godfather to the mix. We ate good food, drank champagne and watched some amazing athletes. I’m so glad my dad had this idea last year. I hope we make it to another tournament in the near future because they are so fun in person.

Even though Quincy was with us in Minnesota, we were all over the place trying to find a place to live and getting settled, so this picture feels so final to me. We were saying goodbye to our apartment, but it was the last place that our family of four was really all together, healthy and happy. And I made it through writing that sentence without crying, so that’s a win.

This is a photo of Minnehaha Falls which is near our new house. We took Lola for a walk there shortly after putting Quincy down. We all needed some fresh air and some outside time. This area is so beautiful and I’m looking forward to warmer weather so we can get out and explore more of the Twin Cities.

And then there was our first game at US Bank Stadium. This place is AWESOME. They are hosting the Super Bowl here this year and I can’t wait for all the fun things happening in town that week. Plus, the Vikings are doing great right now, so that’s been even more fun to be around for.

And last, but not least…

Christmas with the family. We haven’t done this for a few years, so this was a treat. We made gingerbread houses, went sledding and played in the snow, played some dice games, had a big dinner and then opened presents one at a time (which is my favorite.) Christmas Day, we went to my grandma’s with my side of the family and had brunch and hung out. It was really nice to have two low key days with the family.

2017 had some real rough spots for us, but it is so important for me to flip the situations as much as possible to the positive – especially since I’ve done my fair share of complaining already this year. We have some amazing things planned already for 2018 and I couldn’t be more excited for a clean slate.

Happy New Year! Hope you are ringing in the new year with good people. good food and good intentions.