Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas and many blessings to all of you!

In lieu of sending a Christmas letter in our Christmas cards this year, we just directed everyone here, to our family blog. Well, I'm the only writer, but it's about our family, so I'll call it our family blog. :) If this is your first time visiting, welcome! You now have the link to follow our super exciting and somewhat lame lives.

I started this blog nearly two years ago when we moved to Alabama. It was a way to stay connected with everyone back home and as we've gone along, it's also been a way for the kids and I to stay connected with Dale when he's gone for Army things. So it's kind of handy.

If you had lots of time, you could read all the posts from the past year to see how awesome it's been, or you could read through this quick synopsis of our 2011.

January:

Dale was still working his way through U.S. Army Flight School and I officially signed up for a half-marathon. The kids and I spent tons of time outdoors and at the park, because January in Alabama equals 50-65 degree days. Macy started eating solids and Parker impressed us with his growing sense of humor.

February:

We took a family trip to Atlanta over President's Day weekend to see the Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coca-Cola. The aquarium was super awesome and if you ever get a chance to go, do it.

March:

Parker turned 4 years old. He's a big boy who loves to get dirty; go fishing; play with cars, trains, helicopters, and tractors; and impress his dad and I with all he knows. Macy turned 7 months old and still wouldn't sleep through the night, resulting in one whiny mom. I ran my first and only (so far) 10k. Dale took Parker camping for the first time and while they were fishing, he uttered this now classic line "A fishing pole and worms dad, that's all I need."

April:

Dale's flight school training came to a close and Gail's half-marahon training increased greatly. We took a day trip to the beach in Destin, Florida and enjoyed a relaxing time with the kids. Macy crawled for the first time and figured out how to pull herself up to standing. Parker enjoyed getting to play with other kids at daycare and was always mad when I picked him up.

May:

This was the most important month of our entire year. Dale graduated as a CH-47 or Chinook pilot from U.S. Army Aviation School in Fort Rucker, Alabama. I cannot begin to tell you how big of a deal it was other than to say was and is still a really big deal. I completed my first half-marathon far faster than I ever thought I could. We were finally able to pack up our bags and move home to Nebraska. Yay!

June:

Dale returned to Alabama for 3 months to learn to fly C-12's or fixed wing airplanes for the Army, while the kids and I stayed in Nebraska. Before he left, we hit up all the touristy spots in Nebraska with the kids including the Dinosaur Museum, the Lincoln Children's Museum and the Henry Doorly Zoo. The kids and I took a trip with my mom, sisters, nieces and nephews to the Black Hills to attend my cousin's wedding and sight see. Parker took his first year of swim lessons, but ended up failing because he refused to put his face in the water. Macy became a pro at cruising around the furniture.

July:

We met Dale in Branson, Missouri, for the Fourth of July. It was nice to see him after a month of him being gone. Miss Macy took her first steps July 4 and was officially walking by the 16th. Parker participated in his first kiddie tractor pull and got third place. I worked on my tan as the kids and I hung out at the local swimming pool.

August:

Dale flew home for a weekend to attend his brother's wedding. It was a quick trip, but it was fun to see him again. Parker started his first year of preschool and was so excited to wear his Army shirt on his first day. Macy turned one, but we waited on celebrating her birthday until Dale's return in September. Dale and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary.

September:

Dale finally finished C-12 training in Alabama and returned home. He finally got some time to figure out how it feels to live in Nebraska, after 2 years of being gone. We were finally able to settle into Parker's school routine and having a family routine again. We attended our second wedding of the year when Dale's sister got married.

October:

The great weather allowed us to enjoy things like fishing, an air show and lots of time outside. Parker learned how to ride his bike without training wheels and got his first pet, a fish named Superhero. I got a design job where I could work from home. Dale left for a 3-week-long C-12 course in West Virginia, but got to carve pumpkins with us before he left. The kids dressed up as Optimus Prime and a pumpkin for Halloween and got an insane amount of candy while trick or treating.

November:

Dale finished his training in W.V. and went back to his civilian job with BNSF Railway. The kids and I took a trip to Branson, Missouri, for an early Thanksgiving with my sisters, nieces and nephews. We made a trip out west to Dale's brother's house for Thanksgiving and I nearly killed Parker's fish by turning down the thermostat while we were gone.

December:

We all enjoyed our first big snow in two years and Parker finished up his first semester of preschool. I signed up for another half-marathon and Dale got an Army promotion. We had a fantastic Christmas and Santa brought everything on the kids' list.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year everyone!!