2011 in review

Well I can't say it was a horrible year, yet not an overly great year either.  We sure have grown since we've moved out here together though.  Here's to hoping/praying that 2012 is an amazing year for us! 

January:
Drove up South Mountain

Explored Lake Pleasant

Went to see the Montezuma Castle

Spent the day at the balloon fest at Lake Havasu City

February:
Spent a week w/just my Dad here doing lots of "guy-like" activities such as showing him S. Mtn, a Nascar truck race, outdoor expo, & a spring training baseball game.

March: 
Spent a ladies week w/my Gt A. Char & her friend Sandy where we went to a wine & art fest, shopping, hiked Camelback Mtn, cooked, & walked around the Desert Botanical Garden.

April: 
Celebrated my 27th Birthday in Tucson & saw the Kartchner Caverns

May: 
Saw my first "broadway show" Billy Elliot with a great group of ladies
Went to see the Body Worlds & Brain exhibit at the AZ Science Center
Took our first flight home to PA for a week to visit fam/friends

June: 
Went to our first amusement park in AZ:  Castles & Coasters
Celebrated Mark's 26th Birthday
Celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary
Mark totaled our car, so we had to get a new one

I started online classes full time to finish my Bachelor's degree

July:
Camped out for a weekend in Cottonwood & Jerome

Spent a weekend in Vegas to see "The Voice" concert

August: 
Nothing exciting, just lots of school & work class stuff

September:
Spent almost a week w/my parents visiting

I started my seasonal position at work where I'll work 7 12hr days/2 wks from Sept.-June, then have off from June to Sept. 
Found out I was pregnant with our first child

October: 
Went to see the Foo Fighters in concert w/friends
Saw our lil baby on the U/S screen for the first time!

Surprised our families with the news of the baby & started telling others

November:
Celebrated our friends' baby girls' arrival into the world
Had our NT scan & got to see baby Smouse again

Announced preg. to work & on FB

December:
Went to the Desert Botanical Gardens Luminaria event

Experienced one of the scariest & worst feelings/things I have had to deal with so far...hope to NEVER EVER have to go through that again!
Found out baby Smouse is a little girl!
Celebrated with a Christmas exchange/get-together with a great group of ladies
Spent a week at home w/fam. & friends by myself to celebrate Christmas
Celebrated Christmas apart from Mark for hopefully the first & last time ever

Out with the old, in with the new!

I started a baby blog to document progress & everything.  So this one will be put to the side for a while.  Though I never use it any more anyway.  New blog is at:  http://ourpreciousmiracle1.blogspot.com/  So head on over there if you wanna keep updated & see progress of baby Smouse.  =)

Me A-Z

Since I fail at the whole routinely blogging thing, I figured I'd do this so you can get to know a lil more about myself...& it's a lot easier. :)

A. Age: just turned 27, hard to believe I'm really that age


B. Bed size: Queen


C. Chore you dislike: Cleaning the bathrooms, yuck!


D. Dogs: Yes, an adorable lil Chihuahua pup named Cooper who keeps me very entertained. :)


E. Essential start to your day: Shower, not a coffee drinker or big breakfast eater.


F. Favorite color: Blue prob. still.


G. Gold or silver: White gold


H. Height: about 5' 8"


I. Instruments you play(ed): I played the baritone in HS, nothing now.


J. Job title: Registered Nurse, Wife, & puppy mommy ;)


K. Kids: Not yet!


L. Live: A beautiful one story house w/a pool & nice backyard


M. Mom’s name: Laurel


N. Nicknames: Don't think I really have any, since my parents named me that way on purpose. Mark of course has a few lovey dovey ones though, haha.


O. Overnight hospital stays: I guessed I stayed overnight when I was 5 & broke my arm. I absolutely try to stay out of hospitals when I'm not working in them.


P. Pet peeves: Drama!!! Also horrible drivers, finding no toilet paper in the bathroom, people who curse in like every sentence, people who use the phrase "You know what I mean?" or a similar one, all the time, & many more!

Q. Quote from a movie: I'm a horrible quoter


R. Righty or lefty: Righty


S. Siblings: 2 sisters, but only the one counts in my book, right now


T. Time you wake up: It's diff. every day, but when I have to work, it's 5:10AM


U. Underwear: Thongs & v-strings, most comfy!


V. Vegetables you don’t like: Brussel sprouts


W.What makes you run late: Waiting until the last minute to get ready. I usually give myself an hour to get ready & leave the house, but sometimes that's just not enough time. Plus, I hate being early!


X. X-rays you’ve had: Teeth, ankle, finger, arm, hand, not sure what else.


Y. Yummy food you make: Lots of desserts! I'm good at baking, but not so much w/the cooking.


Z. Zoo animal favorites: Typically the monkeys & the lions/tigers.

Did it again!

And of course, I haven't been able to keep up w/this darn blog! I really have great intentions, but other things just get in the way. It's been a busy 2 months.

- we checked out Lake Pleasant & saw our first donkeys in AZ (didn't know they existed here)

- shopped at the Outlets at Anthem (def. going back there if/when I get pregnant)

- went to see Montezuma Castle

- bought a Wii so I can do Zumba at home, which has been fun

- attended a balloon fest & explored Lake Havasu City (def. wanna go back there too!)

- had a fun day at another Nestie GTG

- started a horrible ritual of seeing my new dentist way too often! He's really hurting our wallets, but I've gotta get my mouth tuned up...darn old fillings!

- met a fun couple & hung out w/another Great couple at a Super Bowl Party (& actually watched my 1st super bowl)

- enjoyed a week w/my Dad here which included a hike on South Mtn, my first truck race, an outdoor expo, some shopping, lots of good food, & my first Spring Training game...lots of boy stuff for a change!

- got to celebrate w/friends at another friends' baby shower

- enjoyed another week of company right after my Dad left, of my G. Aunt Char & her friend Sandy. And Mark got called to work the day they arrived, so I got to have lots of needed girl time. We attended the Carefree Fine Arts & Wine Festival (WOW is all I have to say! I totally envy artists!), did some shopping & exploring, hiked Camelback Mtn, drove up South Mtn, devoured a delicious Caribbean-inspired meal cooked by our guests, walked around the Desert Botanical Garden, & shopped at Old Town Scottsdale.

And of course, work & the usual errands, playing w/Cooper & those kinds of things too. ;)