2011 - Year in Review

Happy New Year Everyone!!

Looking back on 2011 --- We had a great year filled with travel, family, and fun.  Here is a quick review and please look up the blog entries on these for more details.

We started the year with a Trip to Las Vegas.  It was Raef's birthday and I wanted to play in Vegas for a few days.  The month ended with us down in Temple for Jared's birthday.

February took us to San Antonio Wyoming for time with Jen and family and then to explore the area.  It also brought us SNOW!!  Lots of snow.

March found me traveling to Montana to pick up Elena and bring her down here for a most delightful week.  We also ended the month moving Mister's from her home to a retirement community.  She loves it.

April took us down to Temple for Pinewood Derby construction and then on to San Diego/Los Angeles with Matt and Becca.  Mid-month was Jen and family up here for Scarborough Fair and Easter.  We finished the month with the arrival of anew grandson.  Welcome Caleb.  I went to Vegas to help for a few days and then on to Montana for Zyra's birthday where I met up with Mister again.

May -- We made the rounds and went up to the Flathead the first week and back to Billings by the weekend for Elena's birthday.  Whew, after two weeks, it was time for my own bed again.

June let me explore the wonderful city of Boston.  How fun.  It also took us down to Austin for the National Tae Kwon Do tournament which Bekah was in.  The month ended with the experience of a lifetime and one I will forever hold dear.  Thanks to Mister's Valentines gift of a turtle nest -- I was given such a treat and memories I will treasure forever.

July gave us the chance to just hang around the house and enjoy Dallas.  This type of month is awesome as well and sometimes much needed.

August brought the family reunion to Texas.  I organized it with a beach house rental in Surfside and was on pins and needles hoping everyone would have fun.  Cass and Scott arrived a week ahead to help and spend time together.  It was such a great time and we cannot wait to go back again next year.  Just having all of my children together once a year is such an incredible high for me.  Ah, the memories.  Once we returned from the beach, we still had a few days with Cass and Scott.  What a fun two weeks.

September was the beginning of our subscription to the Dallas Theater Center.  We have really enjoy our "play" nights and hope to continue this for years to come.  It also delivered Hyrum and Zyra to us for a fun week.  I flew up to Denver and met Becca to do a kid trade.  She then flew back to Billings and I flew with the kids to Dallas for time together.  A week later, we did the reverse, meeting Matt in Denver and returning them against my will.  We loved having them here.  The Texas State Fair is this month and so Jen arrived to spend time there with us.  What a fun month.

October is our anniversary month and so we spent a weekend in Hot Springs, Arkansas enjoying all it had to offer, including the old bathhouse.  We were also able to go to Chicago with Matt and Becca for a few days.  We finished the month down in Temple, watching the grands while Jen and Louis went  away for Jen's birthday.  Whew.

November was another quiet month for us mostly spent with our Texas family (Yep, Jen's) and with a small trip down to Lake Granbury for a night with Willie Nelson.  Good times.  I also got busy baking this month -- gearing up for Christmas.

December started with a "help" from Amanda and so off to Cheyenne we went to help them get moved.  It was a great time and we even managed to get a little Christmas in there as well.  Ending the month was time with Jen and Cass.  Cass and Scott arrived for 10 days and helped make the holidays special.  Jen's crew came up for Christmas and we had a full but oh so happy house.  Sometimes I think I live for these moments when I am surrounded by those I love so dearly.

What an awesome year.  When we fill it in with friends, dates, and just time together, Mister and I can say that our lives are full of love and fun times.  We look forward to 2013 with all the surprises it will bring us (and a new granddaughter).

Love to all,

Mister and Lady