The 2011 Roller Coaster

We are saying good bye to 2011 today. As I look back, I don't really remember the first half of the year. There were six uneventful months. And then the roller coaster began as John started applying to jobs in the San Francisco/Silicon Valley area. It was just on a whim, but then he started getting interviews! The process began in July 2011 and will last into 2012.
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We've had our ups and downs. We have examined so many aspects of our lives. We are willing to let go of many good things to open the door for new possibilities and growth. I wonder how I will reflect back on 2012 when the year winds down. I expect it to be a year of many new things, but I am not exactly sure what is coming.

Over the past few months, I have realized the my family of three is the most important thing to me. (Other things are important too: my extended family, friends, job, home, etc.) What I need most of all is John and Alex. When I saw this video posted last summer, it clicked with me.



I wish you a happy 2012! Soon my blog title will be outdated: I have another 1600 some miles to travel.

Christmas

Alex woke up on Christmas morning and immediately tore into one of his presents from Grandma Mickey. There was a look of sheer delight and he jumped when he saw the presents under the Christmas tree. He managed to wait to open the rest of the gifts until my parents came over. We ate our almost-burnt cinnamon rolls while we waited. Santa Claus brought Alex his own digital camera so that we would stop trying to use mine. John recently got an iPhone, so both boys took lots of pictures on Christmas.

Alex wanted to play with each gift as he opened them. At the end, the area was a mess, but we all had a good time. Alex was in miss matched pajamas since he woke up with a wet diaper.

We skyped with my brother and then had lunch at Rudy's. My parents have been the last two years on Christmas, so now it is a tradition. You know that you are in Texas when you can get barbecue on Christmas.

Alex enjoyed playing with his toys and one of John's new co-workers sent Alex a gift. We watched National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (while Alex watched cartoons). John was able to skype with his family later in the day. We enjoyed this Christmas in San Antonio and we'll see where we are next Christmas!

Christmas Eve

Alex is starting to get Christmas this year. We put up a smaller and child friendly tree on the 17th. Alex rearranged and played with the ornaments and knocked over the tree once. After a couple of days, we were able to enjoy the tree without constantly wanting to touch it.

Somewhere Alex picked up the idea that Santa Claus likes cookies. On Christmas Eve, Alex, my mom and I made cookies for Santa. It was fun but messy. Alex is not too into sweets, so he only ate one cookie. We left two cookies out for Santa that night. We kept Christmas simple but enjoyable this year.

Christmas Lights

We made it downtown earlier this month to see the Christmas Lights on the Riverwalk and the San Antonio Christmas tree. I love the new LED lights, and Alex loves Christmas lights in general this year. We had dinner at Schilo's and I took a picture of another favorite restaurant, Casa Rio.

Checking in

Bit by bit, we are getting ready to move to California. I know that things will move even faster in January. I am sad to be leaving my current job the first week of January but excited about some job prospects in California. I am nervous about selling our house but excited about our new place even though I have not seen it yet.

I finished my Christmas shopping but have not even started wrapping...

Merry Christmas!

November Craft Spending

It turned out to be a "no spend November." With the upcoming move, I resisted buying craft items. This was hard with all of the advertisements for Black Friday sales!

I am still pairing down my craft supplies in anticipation of a smaller craft space in our next place. Right now, my hope is to set up our large folding table and the big red shelves that John built for me in a corner.

I sold some craft items at our garage sale on Black Friday. It is hard to let go of stamp sets, but the wood mounted ones take up so much space. I felt better about parting with some supplies when a gentleman explained that he was buying items for his 12 year old granddaughter for Christmas. She loves to stamp. :)

December will remain low to no buy for me, but I may do a little craft shopping in the new year.