I loved 2011

LOVED it.  It was a welcome break from 2010, which I wasn't too terribly fond of.

Not that this year wasn't without struggle, but I just felt so content this year.  A feeling of wholeness came as God fulfilled my dream of going to school to become a dietitian. 

Here's a few 2011 highlights:

got accepted into Graduate school

spent a ton of time at grand isle

participated in my very first mardi gras! i believe it was fox's first, too!

bird watched

family photo shoot

several loup-family sundays

survived a flood

spent hours in the swamp walking, talking, watching, reflecting, playing

saw plenty of birds

survived a tornado in our yard

a couple of galbo-family get-togethers

an awesome wedding in jersey!

to celebrate these two...

a CRAZY house-search in the twin cities (i still owe you for your patience, mom!)

a really great year at MPT

more hours of crabbing and fishing fun on grand isle

started the adventure of a lifetime with this man (and cut down a minnesota-grown tree)

we also have not, yet, died from the snow!

football games

hours of fun at como park!

2011 has been so good to me.  Maybe I should say GOD has been so good to me.  2012, I look forward to getting to know you!  I hope you live up to this years' expectations!

New Years' Eve Eve

 

+

=

Happy

i'm so proud of Charlie.
we were on our way home from our triple-stop grocery trip. 
the car directly in front of us suddenly swerved on the highway.
we then saw it was a huge, 100-lb metal grate that has flown out of a car in front of them.
she swerved past 2 lanes of traffic and hit the concrete road divider head-on and ended up facing oncoming traffic.
i started dialing 911 and Charlie jumped out of the car, ran across 3 lanes of interstate traffic to check on her.  she was miraculously okay so he ran around the highway picking up pieces of her car and clearing the road for everyone else.  he waited for the police to arrive to tell them what happened and showed the woman what she had almost hit.
she said it almost went through her windshield.
i am 100% positive if it had hit her windshield she would have died.

When we left Charlie said he was disappointed that not very many people stopped to help.
i, on the other hand, thought it was amazing the we, a lady behind us, and another man all stopped to help. 

But maybe that's what makes Charlie so special... that he wouldn't think twice about helping someone in a need and it comes so naturally to him that he doesn't understand when more people don't. 

I love you, Charles Wilson.

5th warmest christmas on record!

pretty boy

what a chef!

 

i tried. i had this orange-french-toast recipe picked out...

 but then charlie informed me that he doesn't like food with oranges in it. besides oranges and ducks.  change of plans. but it was good! i took the brown sugar and pecans from the recipe i had picked and updated our french toast! it was good.

we ate all of it. rufus got none.

the anticipation of charlie's gift from his parents... i warned him that he would LOVE it! he did!

risa thought of us, too! thanks ris!

we took a family outing to the park to take christmas pics. pernkie was LESS than thrilled.

we're a como-park-lovin' family!

for self-timer pics they turned out really well!

love my little family!

a gift of warmth from my daddy

and a gift of italian beauty from my mom-in-law

Merry Christmas Eve!

Wishing we were many places right now.
Missing many cute nephews.
Many awesome siblings.
Our 4 great parents and grandmother.
And tons of cousins.
Thankful we (two) get to be together.
Thankful Charlie has a job.
Thankful for the pups.
Thankful for where God has us now.
Thankful life has seasons.
Thankful it's 40 degrees outside.

I wish I had done a better job preparing my heart for this celebration. 
Thank you, Jesus, for experiencing life as one of us.
For knowing what it's like to be separated and yet connected.
For making things right.

random assortment

here's our "clean laundry" hahaha

A VERY thoughtful gift from a very thoughtful mother-in-law

a very sleepy and benadryl-drugged rufie (i'm just so clever)

i think caleb likes his twilight turtle! yay!

here is a picture of half the girls from our cooking class! i love them!

ALSO

i believe that it takes... ohhhh.... 48 hours for your body to revert back to southern temperatures.

i have been FREEZING for the last 2 days! (and it was above 32 today!)

belated birthday

Happy Birthday Nicholas!!

Charlie and I were so sad we missed your party! It sounds like it was pretty awesome (and maybe not so much of a surprise..?) I guess nothing gets past you in your old age :)

Growing up, I always wanted a big brother... and you seem to live up to the big-brother expectations! I know why both your siblings look up to you so much!

I know you had a big impact on the man Charlie is today! I'm so thankful for that!

 

 

 

You're such a great dad, too! It's also so fun to watch you with all of your nieces and nephews!

I'm sure one day our kids will also love and look up to their Uncle Nic!
Happy birthday! I'm sure this year will be the best yet! (Hope to see you soon!)

half-way-there

I AM FINISHED WITH BIOSTATISTICS FOREVER!!

i'm not sure what i made on the test... but i'm sure it was enough to pass the class.

that is a GREAT feeling.

and with props to this brilliant mind, here is an ode to the completion of my class.

 

i'm sure you're all thankful it's not a corgi :)

corgi-in-a-swing

I just love them.

So it's finalsish week.  It's coming along. The test I'm most worried about it this Thursday.  I think I'll feel much better when that one is over. I will be SO GLAD to kiss biostatistics goodbye. 

Can I just say I love teenage girls?  LOVE them.  The healthy cooking class I'm working with now is a bunch of high schoolers.  They can be sassy and independent and insecure and needy and brave and admirable and adoring.  I think I would really love to work with kids in nutrition.  They're blank slates... many don't know much, if anything, about healthy food or cooking.  Most are eager to learn and will love you for any little effort.  The class has been kind of crazy, but it's been really telling to me.  Who knew?

corgi-of-the-day

is going to make finals week(andahalf) so much better.

see?

TRY and tell me there's a cuter dog. TRY IT.

what a week.

this week was finals week except that i don't get to crash now and do nothing for the next month.  no, i have to gear up for actual finals. 
it's really cold.
i want to be vague and profound because i don't actually want to talk about anything that happened this week.  but i don't think i'm that articulate. 
maybe for the first time i feel like an actual adult dealing with... being a grownup.  and the weight of it all. 

yes!

[AC] Promo 2011 from Advent Conspiracy on Vimeo.

i need some encouragement.  i forgot what "end of semesters" are like.

Basically, it's kind of gone like this.

i hate politics

I just don't understand what sort of example it sets when politicians get on television and say horrible things about one another.

you know what message i think it sends? (especially to children if they're watching?)

"be rude to people who are different than you.  it's the best way to solve problems."

snow boots

so apparently the right clothing DOES make a difference in cold weather.

who knew?

(we just went on a walk thru the neighborhood with the puppies. in 4 inches of snow.)
(it's still snowing.)

Daddy

This picture reminds me of the basketball camp you created for me with Pistol Pete when I was in Jr. High (or middle school?)  I didn't want to go to a real camp, but you saw potential in me and had me watch videos and do drills and practices for a week one summer.  I think at the time it paid off, but unfortunately I didn't stick with it and milk $50 more out of you for being able to jump and touch the basketball rim. 

So not just with basketball, but you've always been my coach.  A constant encourager and person who sees great potential in me, my sisters, my mom, and any other person in relationship with you.

I love this picture, too.  You have a big family of girls! (Which will probably swing to a man-dominated family soon!)  I can't think of a better man to be stuck in the middle of a bunch of women and love and protect and support all of us (and sometimes make fun of our soap-operas and girly food.)

I'm so thankful for you, Daddy.  I really hope this is one of the best years of your life.  I pray God will give you fulfillment and joy and a few more trips up to Minnesota :)

And hey.  I love watching you with Caleb.  And I can't wait for Charlie and I to have kids so they can meet and love their Papa.

Happy birthday, Dad!  Wish we could be there to celebrate you!