It's the requisite mulling over the last year post

2010 is coming to a close, so I've been thinking a little bit about everything I've done this year.  (And beware...I've done a lot so there's a bunch of photos.  Just so you know..)

It's been a good year--kind of an interesting one because it is almost like my previous and new lives were combined into one in this year of 2010.  We moved into my parent's house, back into my old bedroom. It's where I grew up, but now I'm supposed to be grown up.  My growing up and grown up realizations have come to a head in the same space.  Kinda weird.  But overall, it's been a very good experience.  

We started out the new year with a vacation to California.  It was a fun filled trip of great food and roller coaster rides.  I thought about the things that are really important in life.

Jeff and I found our doppleganger in a certain character from Lord of the Rings.  I took some pictures of myself and Hero decided to intervene.  She makes me so happy.

Also, Jeff and I were able to find employment at the beginning of the year--something we were kinda worried about because the economy in Vegas was not doing well at all.  I was lucky enough to get re-hired at a Chiropractic office that I used to work at and Jeff took a job with the Census.  We had some interesting experiences at our jobs (if you get a chance, be sure to ask Jeff about Kiki--his boss), but were so grateful that we had them!

In February I wrote a couple of posts (this one and this one) about Valentine's day.  I was pretty proud of them.  We enjoyed the beautiful Las Vegas winter, as compared to the snowy hell we were used to in Provo, and spent lots of time outside.  We took the dogs to the park, and just lounged in the front yard.

Early in the year I found out that I got accepted to UNLV's Marriage and Family Therapy program and was so happy!  As it warmed up outside Jeff and I turned into hiking fiends!  Red rock and Mt. Charleston turned into our playground and a sweet, sweet time was had by all involved.

Jeff and I shared with you, our dear blog readers, our sometime-to-be-award-winning story that we wrote together.  There were jazz date nights and pizza with the parents, as well as delicious Indian food.  Soon after I found out I was accepted to grad school, I learned of UNLV's budgetary difficulties and the probable doom of my program.  I was stressed, to say the least.  Luckily everything turned out well, and the program continued to exist as an affiliated, but separate UNLV program.

We rescued some homeless pets this year, including our beloved Chancho.  Such a neat dog!

I waxed philosophical this year as I thought about the lessons that pigeons hold for humanity.  I still feel strongly about that post.

After finding quite a few gray hairs I had my first midlife crisis.  It was traumatizing...let me tell you.  I also celebrated one of the greatest men I know by writing my first children's story.  Speaking of that, I still haven't done the illustrations to that yet!  Is there anyone out there who knows how to draw and would like to volunteer??

I wrote a couple of notes to people/things that I felt strongly about.  The girls at work got a kick out of that post, and it made me proud.

Jeff's awesome brother got us tickets to see one of the last shows of possibly our favorite band, and we made a California trip out of it.  It was such a great time!

I also got to go on a trip with the Steed family women, and we had a wonderful time together in St. George.  We might have had a few minor car problems getting there, but once we were there I had so much fun spending time with them and learning more about my adopted Mom and sisters!  I love them.

We went on a Pitts family trip to Oceanside, and it was a blast!  Man, we are so grateful for the families that we have...we won the family jackpot.  Seriously.

Jeff and I celebrated our 3 year anniversary this year, in my new favorite place: Portland.  We had such a great trip going down the Pacific Coast Highway.  It was in a word, life-changing.  I never did write a post about our trip, but I'm still planning on it so I won't put too many pictures here.  Just the good ones.

 

Can't forget about the first day of school pictures:

We celebrated October birthdays and even had our first Halloween party.  It was a success!

Thanksgiving and Christmas have been wonderful time spent with family, eating delicious food, laughing, playing games, and loving each other.

Well, I told you it was a really long post, with tons of pictures.  Congratulations if you made it this far...I'm impressed!  Hope that everyone else had a great year, and here's to an even newer and better year to come!