Goodbye 2009!

Another year has come and gone. I would say it seems so fast, but I know for 75% of 2009 it really just dragged along for me.

2009 included a lot of tests and trials where my patience was tried beyond belief and my worry/stress gene probably added a few wrinkles and the start of gray hair. Maybe that was the Army though and not 2009. :)

January- A birthday with my family! I haven't spent a birthday with them since my 21st and my parents and brother did everything they could to make that day special. It was by far my favorite day during this month. We had dinner together completed with cake and ice cream. Another favorite piece of that day was the runaway balloon Jason sent.

February- Ohh I am so spoiled. The piece that really sticks out is the big box of Godiva chocolate I received on Valentine's Day haha. This month I stayed busy by starting up back at the gym and was lucky enough to rekindle an old friendship with a great friend from high social. I remember how great it felt to know someone else was back in the small town I grew up in too.

March- Halfway!!!! By March I was truly counting down until R&R in April, but I was also excited for the deployment to be half over in the middle of the month. That day my mom and I went out to celebrate and I had a SoCo with Sprite. Liquor is something I don't usually do but by then it was completely necessary! Again, another great family moment this month when the four of us got together for St. Patrick's Day and had dinner out completed with a few green beers for not only my brother, dad and I but mom too!

April - Ahh the month of mid tour leave! The date changed a few times but I remember how calm I was the day I drove to the airport to pick up J. My nerves never set in until the plane pulled in and it finally hit me that after seven months he was about to get off that plane. That month was pure bliss waiting on him and an amazing two weeks spent with him :)

May- I recovered from my surgery at the end of April and began to work more hours at work. This month was a little sad trying to get back in routine but also the final countdown began and that felt like a new accomplishment.

June- Last day of work, last time living with my parents, J's birthday and the month of another move. I went to Michigan with two suitcases and came back to Alaska with four boxes, two suitcases and three carry ons. I was so excited to get back here and into my own space again.

July- I had a blast the first two weeks of July with my mom still visiting after helping me move in. I was so sad when she left to head back to Michigan. This was when the pep talk kicked in and I had to remind myself on my way home alone that we were in the homestretch.

August- One of my best friends from high school came to visit. We had a blast and I could never thank her enough for helping pass those last few weeks before Jason’s arrival. Then of course the day Jason FINALLY came home. Ahhh I waited a whole year for that moment and it felt amazing driving onto post to pick him up.

September- This month was spent reacquainting with each other. We had our first big purchase this month as a married couple of the truck in the driveway. J had a lot of half days and four days weekend. We spent so much of the time watching movies, catching up on TV shows ands spending time outdoors before the cold hit. It was another month spent in bliss.

October- We went home to see family and took our second honeymoon to Antigua.

November- We decided this month to add to our family and bought a playmate for Emmie. I was so nervous about the addition of a second dog, but Eli turned out to be nothing short of a bonus to us. We also went to Jason’s redeployment ball and spent Thanksgiving with my cousins here in Alaska!

December- Jason took leave and we spent the most relaxing time together at home without any plans and the rush of being here and there like any other leave. We took a short road trip and together we spent the last few days of 2009.

Now excuse me while I go kiss my husband at the beginning of 2010! : )