2011 In Pictures (and a few words)

It has been a truly incredible 2011 and filled with so many different emotions. Wanted to do a quick post of some of the highlights, and what I think about when I look back at the past year. Enjoy. :)

January 1, 2011 - The Fiesta Bowl w/ Kyle's brother and his wife to watch OU. Boomer!

February 7, 2011 - Super Bowl. Green Bay Packers are #1. Go Pack Go!

March 31, 2011 - Mini-Hanson concert/Radio promo in Palm Springs with Michelle and Kyle.

April 2011 - My husband (far left) and his Marines the day they deployed to Afghanistan. 

Spring 2011 - The husbands left and we started hiking to keep busy.

May 13-15, 2011 - Met some of the most amazing people in Tulsa, Oklahoma
for a members-only Hanson event.
Bonded by Hanson. Family for life.

June 2011 - Filmed a vlog with my best friend, Vincenzo, while eating German snacks.

July 3, 2011 - The 4th of July NOIZE Party

Glow sticks. Glitter. Girl Talk. Red Bull.

If you weren't there, you wouldn't believe the stories.

Summer 2011 - Skype dates with the husband were always treasured.
Even thousands of miles away he knew how to make me laugh.

July 10, 2011 - Ran my first half marathon, The Summerfest Rock n Sole in Milwaukee, WI.  Between the poor race planning and the weather, it was a horrible experience but I survived!

Late July 2011 - This sums up Stephanie and I's caffeine fueled road trip from Wisconsin to California.

August 5, 2011 - Celebrating our 5th wedding anniversary alone.
... the life of a military wife. 

August 2011 - Took my sister to DisneyLand for the first (and second and third) time.

August 21, 2011 - Ran my second half marathon (with a 30+ minute PR) with my little sister at the finish line.
This was my first race having family at the race to cheer me on. Felt incredible. 

October 2011 - HOMECOMING! After 7 months, he's home. 

November 21, 2011 - United Stated Marine Corps Birthday Ball

As the year draws to a close, I also want to reflect on the loss of five men from our Darkside 3/4 Marine Corps Family while on their most recent deployment to Afghanistan. May these men never be forgotten, and their ultimate service to our country always be remembered. 

Cpl Paul Zanowick

LCpl Jason Hill

Cpl Mark Goyet

Lcpl Christopher Camero

SSgt Leon Lucas

What will you remember most about 2011, and what do you look most forward to in 2012?

Why I've disappeared... again.

I know this is no excuse, and I don't exactly have the best track record for blogging regularly. Oops! Anyways, the reason excuses excuses I've disappeared the last few weeks is that I've been a crazy working as many hours as I can, organizing to the point of perfection, to cleaning all nooks and crannies fool. Why? Because this happened... finally.

So what if the first thing I noticed in this picture were my legs? 

Yep! My husband is finally home from Afghanistan, and has been back in the states for almost a week. We've been busy getting things ready for our cross-country road trip, and just trying to enjoy each-others company. It's crazy going from a single housewife for the last 7 months, only talking to my husband once every week or two, to having my husband by my side 24/7. So surreal at times. There are still moments when we're watching tv on the couch that I can't believe he's actually sitting next to me. I can't even explain the feeling. It's funny thinking back to early in the deployment and the conversations I would have with fellow wives, and the things we'd wish for. Thank goodness he has been easing me back into his obsession love of video games because I remember quite vividly there was a rough week, where I told my friend Jenna that I would give anything to see my husband sitting on the couch, ignoring me while playing Call Of Duty. It's weird getting used to the little things like cooking dinner for two again, sharing the remote or not being able to sprawl out across our queen sized bed. It's the little things I tend to take for granted when he is home, and it's the weirdest feeling getting back into the swing of things when he's home. Luckily he has been amazing helping get us back into the swing of life from 7 months ago. He's been back in his routine of putting gas in the cars, taking out trash and making breakfast in the mornings. Sometimes it's those little things that you miss the most.

Together again. <3