2012 in Review

What a year!

It was so good, I just had to live it, instead of blogging about it. (That is my story, and I'm sticking to it!)

Over the spring, I worked 2 jobs. 3 days a week I was a nanny and the other 2 work days, I worked at a fabric store. I loved every minute. I have discovered that I enjoy customer service type jobs, anything that lets me relate to, and interact with, the public. I guess that shouldn't be much of a surprise since I am such a people person. :) I loved it, and my boss was happy with my work, so I guess we were all happy. Oh! And I made some awesome friends there, too.

In June, we found out the happy, and long anticipated fact that we were headed toward becoming a family. Needless to say, life has never been the same since. And, something tells me it only gets crazier.

Over summer break, I nannied, up to 6 kids, several days a week. That would've been fine and dandy, except I was in the throes of morning sickness. Thankfully, my boss was very understanding and managed to let me come in late several mornings.

In August we had to move out of the place we had been living. Because we were planning to move to Texas, we couldn't rent another place that had a minimum stay lease agreement. The title: the traveling bride, once again, is/was very fitting. We stayed with friends and family while Caleb fulfilled a work commitment in Grand Junction.

Thanksgiving weekend, we moved to Texas. Some amazing friends are letting us crash at their place. It started out to be just for a few weeks, until we found a place. Well, we found a place, but it needs quite a bit of TLC. As I type this, Caleb is out there working in the dark on it. The goal was to be able to move in by the 1st of the year. It looks like it might be another week or 2 before that is possible.

Right now, most of our stuff is packed in a trailer. I can't wait until we are moved in and can unpack it and pull out all baby clothes and wash them. That will be so much fun and one more step to being closer to being ready for the baby. The 1st room we are wanting to remodel is the baby's room. Yay!! :)

This fall, Caleb lost both of his grandparents on his mom's side and I lost my great-grandpa. His grandpa passed while we were still in Grand Junction. My great-grandpa passed while we were there as well, but we were able to drive out to California for that. Caleb's grandma passed after we were down here, actually shortly after we got here. I had just driven the car down from Colorado and did not feel up to another road trip so soon, so Caleb ended up just flying up by himself. He also got to work another week at his old job, which was nice.

We spent the holidays with my family and enjoyed every minute of it.

This year, there have been many people who have blessed us in numerous ways. Thank you, to each of you. You know who you are! We couldn't have made it through this year as well as we did, if it wasn't for you.

Today marks week 33. This is only the second time my whole pregnancy that I lost track and had to go back and count. I think I told several people over the weekend that i was gonna be 32 weeks. Lol! About 7 more weeks to go. Yes!! 

 

I was gonna do a letter to send with our new year cards, but I ran out of time. So instead, I got them in the mail and did a blog post. :)

 

Hope y'all had a wonderful holiday season. Here's to 2013! Happy New Year!!

 

 

Happy New Year!

Hope you had a happy and healthy, merry Christmas!

This year, for our first Christmas letter, I basically took excerpts from my blog and journal to tell about our year. So if you've read my blog, you pretty much read our letter :)

If you haven't, then you are most welcome to!

Here's a few snapshot highlights from our year!

The wedding!

The honeymoon ;-)

<3 And the honeymoon continues <3

We were blessed to be able to spend our first Christmas with both of our families, my folks came to Colorado for Christmas. Now we are in California visiting some of Dad's family.

We hope this holiday season finds each of you blessed with happiness and health, enjoying the company of family and friends.

I am so stoked!

First of all, let's get the definition of "stoked" out of the way. (Just in-case you were wondering.)
Stoked: Adj. When someone is really happy or excited about something. -Urban Dictionary

Who doesn't love a good bargain?!
I found this side-table a couple of months ago: $3

It needs to be refinished, but was exactly the size and shape I was looking for, and is very sturdy. That's always a plus :)

Furniture pillows: $1 ea.

Or, how do you like this cookbook I've been trying to find ever since I knew I was gonna be getting married. It's by far the most popular one in my mom's kitchen, especially for basic necessities such as, pancakes, waffles, muffins and cornbread :)
This morning, I found it at the local Good-will: $2

It's in near perfect condition and is very close to the edition Mom has, meaning old ;) But that is what I wanted, because the new ones aren't quite as good. IMO

My christmas decorations are up! (Humble that they are.)
Speaking of bargains and christmas, I found this little manger scene:$0.50

Since this is our first christmas together, we have very little to decorate with. Also being on a newly-wed budget, bargain christmas deco is a necessity. I'm waiting until the "after the christmas sale" to stock up for next year :)


Caleb and I are getting into photography, something that both of us have always aspired to, and dreamed of. Right now, we are in the research stage. Trying out different techniques with our nice but smaller camera, before we get a really nice one...like...a...Canon! Yes, we are biased :)

This last Sunday, the twins I babysit turned five. I have to tell you, they are the cutest 5 yr olds in the world. (Sorry. No pix, out of respect for the parents, because they don't know all my friends...I know, y'all are awesome...but you'll just have to take my word for it!) 
Monday, they were getting ready for school. Their mom was there to help, a nice treat since she is very busy. It seemed like she had the preparations for school under control, so I decided to go do some laundry. Next thing I know, she calls to me and says that one of the girls requested I do her hair. She really likes a side ponytail, and likes the way I do it, apparently. It was one of those moments that you go, "Awww...poor mom." Then, while your thinking that, your heart melts, "Yay! They like me." Lol! Dumb...I know. But usually it's, "When is Mommy gonna come home? I want her to do my hair." "You don't do it tight enough." "You didn't braid it long like Mommy does." So, needless to say, it totally made my day. It felt like maybe I had made a little progress in earning their trust :)
Here's a picture of what it kinda looked like, thanks to Google! Only she likes her's tight ;)

And, last but not least...
My family is coming to Colorado for Christmas!!
Ahhh! What are we gonna do for christmas dinner in our cute, but tiny, house?! What about sleeping arrangments? Any ideas? 
(Besides having them get a hotel room :)

Hope y'all are having a great week!

Btw, how do you like my new blog look? I know it's not very christmas-y, but feel free to leave comments :)