2025 Year in Review: Married, and Off Around the World
2025 was our first year as a married couple — and what a way to begin. We exchanged vows in Hawaii, honeymooned halfway around the world, and came home to a house full of projects and a year of growth.
Note (draft): Our notes run through July, so the later months below are placeholders for you to fill in. Anything in is a private prompt and won’t appear on the site.
January — saying goodbye, and getting ready
We welcomed the new year with dinner at Raccolto and fireworks over West Seattle. Derek took a ski trip in Nevada. It was also a tender month: Derek’s Nana passed away. And in between, it was wedding planning, wedding details, wedding everything — right down to cutting down the apple tree in the front yard.
February — we got married! 🌺
The big one: Hannah and Derek got married in Hawaii. Back home, we celebrated Hannah’s 30th birthday with dinner at Canlis, saw Hamilton at the Paramount, revisited our first-date spot at Nana’s, caught Lane 8 in concert, and started demo on the upstairs bedroom wall to build a closet.
March — honeymoon, part one: Japan
We sent Dottie to grandma and grandpa’s for a two-month stay and set off on our honeymoon. First stop: Japan — Tokyo, Kyoto, Kōyasan, Hakone, and Osaka, where Derek turned 30. (Between trips, Derek also rewired the upstairs knob-and-tube wiring properly — romance comes in many forms.)
April — honeymoon, part two: New Zealand
From Japan we flew to New Zealand, road-tripping the North and South Islands and visiting Hobbiton. On the way home we squeezed in a one-day layover in Hawaii — Adela’s for our favorite pasta and the North Shore for sunset.
May — anniversary and home
We celebrated our two-year anniversary cooking salmon and asparagus risotto at home, Hannah picked Dottie back up from Georgia, Derek ran a garage sale for the big West Seattle Yard Sale, and Hannah discovered she loves Pilates.
June — new goals, new job
Hannah started training for a half marathon and Derek for a full marathon in November. We bought used gym equipment for the garage, traveled to Denver for Pfriem’s wedding, marathoned Star Wars I–VI, hosted Ruben and Myrnie for pizza — and Derek landed a new job!
July — a full Seattle summer
Fourth of July kayaking, a new sprinkler system to rehab the backyard grass, the Empire Strips Back burlesque show, the aquarium, West Seattle Summer Fest and the bike ride (Derek bought Hannah a bike!), yoga at Volunteer Park, a PCT hike with Dottie, finishing the drywall in the new upstairs closet, and Hannah’s first sourdough starter.
The rest of the year
Coming soon — we’re still writing this part.
From newlyweds in Hawaii to travelers, runners, and renovators, 2025 was the year our story really got going. Here’s to whatever comes next. 🥂