The Year in Review

How did we get to here ?

January 16th it was 1 year since we left our native land in the midwest and moved to the west coast ( a foreign land to us)! i had a hard time composing this post because soooo much has happened in 12 short months. It made my head spin looking at all of the events that made up 2012. So this is a pictorial description of our past year. I wanted to show all the people we left behind but there were so many. Trust me the good byes were painful and many. Sit back and prepare for a travel back in time.

Saying goodbye to my mom who I would only have one more visit with in Feb.  

My last day of work at Froedtert after 30 years. 

Some last head rubs with Shane!

Leaving the children was the absolute hardest part of the entire move.

Leaving this wasn't quite so hard!

The view from our temporary 1 bdr apt in Carlsbad.

Home for now

All we brought for 2 months.

My first hike and first inkling of what an active lifestyle CA  encourages.

Found a home to buy after looking at lots of houses.

Yup we might like this new place!

Ross and Marilyn who made us feel welcome.

John and Julie who have become great friends.

Jeanie and Brooke, Jane and Keith and all their wonderful hospitality

Bill and Sherry who welcome us into their home every Sunday.

The big move from WI to CA.

Our Fallbrook friends!

Guess we are really residents now.

Welcome home!

In April, Shane and Nikelle came to visit.

Tristan came a few weeks later.

Convention in AZ and seeing old friends.

More friends.

In May, I rushed back to say goodbye to my mom. She was gone in 3 hours. The family at the gravesite.

While in Wisconsin we attended Garrett and Sarah's wedding reception.

Visited cute people like this….

Watched Shane graduate with his Masters in Nurse Anesthesia

Stayed with our other "children"

The happy couple that are finally done being poor students!

Watched our 4 boys have some great times together!

Drove through the old neighborhood towing the last of our belongings.

Attended the Milwaukee area graduation party.

Saw my cousin Lynette and more people in Colorado.

On our drive to CA we stopped to see Tristan in Kansas

A day with cousins Ron and Jan at Hotchkiss Convention.

Camping trip in Mammoth Mountain,CA with our good friends.

Revamped the entire front yard with help

New patio

Then the pipe broke and we had a disaster!

Our co-in-laws and friends- Randy and Brenda came to visit

More friends that showed us great hospitality. Joel and Ann, Scott and Jeanette

I was lucky to get a bonus trip back to see the kids. First to WI…..

Very special friends and cousins Randy and Cathy came to visit.

A day at my home convention- WI Dells

Days in Berlin,WI with these 2 special people:)

Seeing my sister too.

Then a flight to Kansas to spend time with Tristan. 

Yes, he is gainfully employed in his profession!

Special meeting time in Fallbrook and 2 young couples we love.

Special visitors- Mark and Jeremy

Dave learns to fly

Dave's mom came to visit- our last remaining parent.

Back to WI for Thanksgiving- lunch with special friends.

Our boys on Turkey Day

Family

Lots of cousins at brunch the day after T day

And more….

All of the Garner's and Brooke.

We meet Yehzie!

And get to cuddle her sisters- Minzie and Minah

Dave gets brave and begins flying over the ocean.

Special visitors- Pam and Andrea

Wayne and Marilyn visit us

And the Sanderson family ( and Cammy)

Then Tristan and Brooke arrive.

The Tristans celebrate their birthday!

And that was our year….. I am amazed at all that can happen in just 12 short months!