Happy New Year everyone! We are praying that you all have happy, healthy, and blessed 2011! I put together some photos from this past year that hopefully sum up everything we did.
In January, I turned 24. I was lucky enough that we got to celebrate before the movers came and packed up our house. A day or two after our house was packed up and shipped. We lived with minimal personal items, a few electronics, and air mattresses for about a month.
February brought the girls very first plane ride and hotel visit that they would remember. A week before we left England we stayed in billeting for a few days. I was extremely stressed because we hadn't received Ruby's passport yet and the woman who took care of these things on base was an idiot, and I am truly being kind in that description. Steven had contact the Embassy and decided he would go into London the day before our flight and pick up the passport himself. Thank the Lord he was successful and we flew out of London to Turkey the next day. All of the girls did fabulous on the plane; they were well behaved and enjoyed the flights. We then arrived at our new home, Incirlik AB, Turkey.
In March we waited patiently for our things to arrive. While we waited we were able to purchase things we needed from the BX. The girls enjoyed riding in taxis all over base. We eventually got it all and unpacked. To say we were excited to get our household goods is an understatement. We also ventured out into the "Alley" for the first time and enjoyed some delicious Turkish food. We also got our cat Milo, he's camera shy though!
In April, we celebrated Lilly's 4th birthday and Easter all in the same day. We woke up to goodies from the Easter Bunny and went to a brunch at the Club Complex. After dinner we celebrated Lilly. She truly is one of a kind and loved her presents. Steven and I also celebrated 5 years of marriage, with many more to come.
In May we enjoyed our last true month of playing outdoors. It started to get really hot and Lilly was getting heat stroke. Before it got too hot, we bought the girls their first real bikes, with training wheels. They loved them.
In June Sadie got her first haircut. She was really good and exited about her "new" hair afterward. They also rediscovered all of their dress up clothes. Ruby was still as sweet as can be. Because of all her medications, she slept most of the day, Ruby also got her first 2 teeth!
We had our first 4th of July here in Turkey. It was very low-key and not like the ones we had in England. Lilly was disappointed, we all were, when she learned there was no carnival like we had in England. We enjoyed ourselves though and watched the fireworks in the back of our car. Ruby also got her ears pierced!
We finally set up the playroom exactly how we envision in August. It was a good thing too because most of the month is was over 100 degrees! The girls and I spent a lot of time in there. Even when Steven was home from work we spent a lot of time in there. We made the floor extra cushiony with blankets and foam mattress covers so that Ruby had a safe place to roam around.
Lilly started pre-K in September and she was SO excited. She was disappointed when she learned that it wasn't like Busy Bees. Since it had started to cool down, just a little bit, I would take them to the playground after school. Ruby took a nap in the stroller and the big girls would play.
Steven turned 26 in October. I made him cake balls for his cake because for the past year he has asked that I make him cake balls instead of a cake for his birthday. His birthday was also fire safety week. Lilly had a field trip to the firehouse and Sadie and Ruby met Sparky the Fire Dog at story time. We also went trick or treating at Steven's squadron and Ruby had her first Halloween. Lilly and Sadie picked out Ruby's costume. It was the first Halloween that we weren't freezing outside and bundled in multiple layers. It really didn't feel like fall here because the weather was still nice and warm. I tried to decorate the house in whatever fall-ish decor I could find or make. The base put on a "Fall Fest" in the middle of the month. We were able to ride camels, and I was excited at first, then terrified once I was on it. Sadie and Lilly loved every second of it! Ruby also started walking at Yiayia's house!
In November we went back to the states and visited family and friends for a month. The flying was long, but the month was pure bliss. We went shopping, celebrated many birthdays, painted pottery, went to the zoo, went to a science museum, traveled to San Antonio and Lackland AFB, saw Disney Princesses on Ice, saw Tangled and Harry Potter at the theater, went to Spur to visit with wonderful family, and went to Cabela's more than once. We also met our beautiful niece Sophia, aka Fifi! We can't wait to go back!
In December we traveled back to Turkey. None of us wanted to come back, but life had to go on. Ruby turned 1 and Sadie-Mae turned 3! We decorated for Christmas and for the first time in 6 years, we celebrated with just us. We had a great Christmas though!
We have had a crazy but wonderful year. Looking back on everything we can truly see how blessed we are!
Happy 2011!
-K
I really enjoyed reading this post! :) Still can't believe you guys are gone. Someone else has your car on base...Every time I see I think of you.
ReplyDeleteYou are one brave chic to ride a camel...Camels and llamas freak the crap out of me...plus they spit. I'm terrified. lol