Happy Holiday's 2015

Happy Holiday’s to you and your’s. Is it really that time if year again?! Another fun filled fabulous year of memories behind us. You may remember Gabe was deployed from November 2014 - July 2015, leaving me to spend the first part of the year keeping busy with work, school, running and doing fun girlie things. I was even able to enjoy a few weekend getaway’s to SC, OH and WV. 

In February I experienced my first snow storm. This Texas girl wasn’t really sure how to handle all that snow or even attempt to drive in it. Mean while Gabe was doing what he does best, helping defend our country down range. April & May rolled around when we celebrated another birthday. I spent the 4th of July with the Gabriel’s and some of their expended family. Mid July rolled around, Gabe and I where reunited after his 3rd deployment, this time after being gone 9 long months. It was definitely the highlight of our year. 

In August we enjoyed two long over due fun filled weeks in both Texas and Arizona visiting family and friends on both sides. Surprising both my brother and Gabe’s mom with our arrival, along with Gabe finally getting to go out on the boat to see us ski where just a few of the many highlights from our trip home. 

This fall we went on a few weekend get away’s, which included a trip to Louisiana, Memphis and Gatlinburg. Our trip in November to Gatlinburg was to celebrate our 8 year wedding anniversary. We enjoyed exploring the Great Smokey Mountains, a first for the both of us. Such a beautiful place. 

One of our most exciting adventures since Gabe returned was the purchase of our ’91 VW Vanagon Westfalia. Also known as our Westy. We’ve spent many weekends now working on the renovations and restoring process of our Westy. It’s become something that we both really enjoy working on together. I know we will have years and years ahead of us to enjoy the Westy and create wonderful lasting memories with her. We’ve already taken her out on a few adventures. We spent Thanksgiving weekend at Montgomery Bell State Park camping. A new tradition maybe? Previously while we where home in Texas we purchased two bicycles and have since then enjoyed getting out and cycling together. Having the bikes to load up on the Westy and take camping has been great, they really come in handy. Especially on our 3 mile ride we had to take to Thanksgiving lunch. 

We’ll enjoy Christmas and ring in the New Year here in our Home Sweet Home of Tennessee. It’s been a great year. Full of up’s and down’s but we wouldn’t have it any other way. We hope the New Year finds you and your family filled with lots of Love, Joy and Happiness. 

                                              Happy Holiday’s 2015

We did something a little different this year for our picture card, and I had our pictures made into polaroids and we made labels to go on the bottom and included them with our yearly holiday letter. I loved the change and I think they turned out great!! 

Merry Christmas 2014 (our card & letter)

A Year of many changes good and not so. We rang in the New Year in the middle of Time Square watching the ball drop. Bucket list: check. Followed by an unexpected snow storm, causing us to drive back to South Carolina. Mid January the girls and I met up in Miami for our 2nd annual Country Music Cruise. Early February we took a trip to Tennessee to do a little house hunting and enjoyed catching up with some of our Hawaii Army family. Gabe Graduated his final group of PTV’s going through BCT, his time on the Trail was quickly coming to a close. April was a big month for several reasons Gabe received his EIB (Expert Infantry Badge). We bought and closed on our very first home in Clarksville, TN. We celebrated my 27th birthday with some great friends. Gabe and the pup’s bid far-well to Ft. Jackson and Aloha to Ft. Campbell. While I stayed back to finish out the school year at EDS. The first weekend of May I drove up to TN to celebrate Gabe’s 31st birthday. Our house hold good’s were also being delivered the same day so we were able to get our new home unpacked and set up. Later that month I had a unfortunate accident and wrecked my car, just a week before I was suppose to move to TN. We can’t say Thank You enough to the Meyer’s family for everything they did to help. Finally making my way to TN, I started working shortly after I arrived. I excepted a position at a local Preschool in there Pre-K program. It’s been an adjustment but I’m enjoying it. Gabe spent his first couple of months at Ft. Campbell as a Platoon SGT before he was moved to his current position as a Squad Leader which he seems to be enjoying. The summer months came and went far to quickly. Gabe was away for the month of August at JRTC training at Ft. Polk. While I took a course at the local College in preparation to start school in the spring. We were lucky enough to have The Gabriel’s come out for a visit early September. We took full advantage of having guest’s and played tourist the whole week. We also took a few fall road trips that included South Carolina, West Virginia, and a Anniversary get away to Chattanooga. November by far was the hardest month as we embarked on our 3rd deployment. We said our “See You Soon’s” as Gabe headed off to Afghanistan just day’s before our 7 Year Wedding Anniversary. I’ve managed to stay busy since he’s left to help pass the time. He has settled in as best he can and has been quite busy since then. If you think about it please keep him and his Unit in your thoughts and prayers for a safe and quick return. I spent Thanksgiving with some of our fabulous Army Family, The Brooks. Followed by some traditional Black Friday Shopping with a Friend. I’m excited to said I’ll be spending Christmas in Arizona, thanks to the Gabriel’s. It’s been quite some time since I’ve been back so it will be great to catch up with family and friends. 

With that being said we do have a spare bedroom and I’m open for visitors starting now, through next fall. Or any time for that matter, your always welcome!! :) We hope that 2014 has been a great for you and your family. 

We can’t wait to see what the New Year has in store for us. 

Happy Holiday’s 

( Now that our big not so great news is out, I'll be blogging more about our journey through deployment number 3. )

This is the 8th Year we've ordered our Christmas Cards from ShutterFly and we will continue to do so in the future. I absolutely love the options, amazing deals and sales they offer. Not to mention the quick turn around time on shipping. Be sure and check them out for all of your photo gift giving needs.