A recap of 2011!!

As the year comes to a close I would like to re-cap this amazing year. 

♥ In January, Mr. Dogtags and I started the year with a romantic vacation.

♥ In late February Mr. Dogtags and I celebrated 6 years together.

♥ In early April I said goodbye to my husband as he left for basic training. It was the hardest 10 weeks of the year.

♥ In mid June my sister and I flew to South Carolina. I was reunited with my husband and it was one of the best moments of my life. It was a perfect trip and saying goodbye to him again as he left for AIT near broke my heart.

♥ On July 2nd I woke up that morning and spontaneously decided that I wanted to visit Mr. Dogtags in AIT in Maryland for the 4th of July weekend. By the end of that day I was on a plane. Melissa Jean Suchomel-Brandau also decided to do the same thing, and we met for the first time that weekend. :) When told that their AIT was going to be extended, Melissa and I decided to move across the country to Virginia to spend the rest of AIT with our soldiers.

♥ On Aug 3rd Mr. Dogtags had to make an emergency trip home for the funeral of his grandfather. R.I.P Grandpa. We love and miss you dearly. He flew back to AIT 3 days later.

♥ On August 9th I packed my car with the bare necessities, put the rest of our belongings in storage, said goodbye to my family, and drove across the country alone 1200 miles to start my new life in Virginia.

♥ On August 28th I had emergency surgery to have my gallbladder removed. Mr. Dogtags took care of me the 11 days after while recovering. That same week I was in my first earthquake, and a hurricane hit the coast of Virgina and knocked out our power for 5 days while I was trying to recover from the surgery. YUCK! lol 

♥ On Sept 22nd I witnessed the birth of Melissa's baby, Maddie Lynn. ♥

♥ In late October Mr. Dogtags received his orders, we found out we would be moving to Ft. Carson, Colorado (our first choice!)

♥ October 28th I proudly watched Mr. Dogtags graduate from AIT after a very long 6 months of training...That same day after the ceremony we packed up our life in Virginia, put everything in the car that we could, and left everything else behind as we drove the hard 1200 miles back home to Texas where we would spend a wonderful 2 weeks with our families before having to say goodbye again.

♥ In mid November we loaded our life into the Uhaul and made the 17 hour journey to our new home, Colorado. 

♥ A couple of days later we moved into our house here on Ft. Carson and absolutely love it.

♥ On December 6th we completed our little family with another fur baby- Guiness.

♥ On December 11th Mr. Dogtags and I celebrated our 2 year wedding anniversary.

♥ Christmas day we celebrated for the first time away from our families...but made it one of the best Christmas' we have ever had.

In just the past 12 months I have visited 5 states and lived in 3.

I spent 5 months, nearly half the year AWAY from my husband but I wouldn't change this year for anything. I've found that the hard times only make you stronger and to cherish every moment with the ones you love. I feel that 2012 will be just as exciting and challenging in its own ways and I can't wait to spend another year with my love.

 ♥ Happy New Year Everyone! ♥