goodbye 2011, hello 2012

So, a few friends and family have asked me what happened to that blog I started, to which I will remind you, I made no promises.   I've thought about blogging, but that's about as far as I've gotten lately,  'er the last SIX months!.  Hasn't been the biggest of priorities.  
So what have we been up to?  


Here are a few highlights from the last half of 2011: 
Summer:
Our summer with next to nothing to do abruptly turned into spending a month in Virginia and Florida with family and:
-taking care of dearest Dad as he recovered from surgery.
-eating lots of great home cookin' (learned to make Lumpia!!)

(this not lumpia, but we scored big time with lots of fresh seafood.  YUM and thanks Moms! )

and
-keeping up our status as best aunt and uncle in the world (We share that spot with "Auntee Clo-lo" of course).  Family time is SO precious.  

Giving Uncle the stare down.

Jobs: 
1. Gene got one!!!!   SO grateful to God for His provision and for the answered prayers of so many on Gene's behalf.  He's still lovin' it after five months.  Bonus: Co-workers play tennis.  Employees get to wear shorts to work all summer long.  Perfect for Gene and worth the wait.  
2. I've been teaching for 10 years!!!  Whaaaat?!?!  This year is one of the best yet.  I have ONE prep.  In teacher-speak that means 1/2 to 1/3 of the usual daily planning.  First time that's ever happened in 10 years of teaching.  So with all that time to spare, I've been planning more fun stuff for my classes,

Guacamole/Salsa Competition (also happened to be Sunglasses Day)

planning a Costa Rica Spring Break trip for students, and not filling my bag with papers to grade at home that I never really take out of said bag anyway.  I've been able to hang out more with co-workers more than I ever have.  We've carpooled, done movie nights, a day-trip to Sonoma, dinner in SF, a concert, etc.  Love them!  


Travel:  
So besides our trip to the East Coast, we did one other trip late this summer to Yosemite, with Cleo, Adam, Sophie, and Scott.  So fun!!  It was however, bittersweet for me for two reasons:
Reason 1: I've wanted to hike Half Dome for a really long time.  We prepped for the 12 to16-hour hike all summer long with long walks up and down the hills of SF and in the sweltering humidity of Virginia and Florida.   So, once there, we hike, and hike some more, and then we get about 30 min. away from the summit and have to turn around due to the threat of thunder/lightning and rain.  We weren't about to take any chances since a few weeks earlier lightning struck the cables and a girl slipped and fell to her death AND since Mr. Park Ranger had just told us he wasn't going to come rescue us if we got stuck at the top in a storm.  I was disappointed we didn't quite finish.  I've realized something about myself: I really like to finish, reach the top, cross the finish line, get a high five and THEN go home!!!!!!!
Arrrgh!!!!  
I'm over it now.  
And grateful for my wise husband who made the call.  "Safety and family first." he says.  ;)     

Reason 2: Gene left his SECOND wedding band in a shower at the campground.  Gone.  We went back to search, filed not one, but two lost/stolen reports with the Park.  Gone.  Oh, and by the way the first ring got lost in the snow a year ago after throwing rounds of snowballs at me.  At least now, anytime he reminds me I forgot something, I just say two words: wedding ring.  


Thankfully, there were way more sweet parts to our trip than bitter ones:

1. The company.  I'd camp and hike with this crew anytime.

  
2. Renting a van we could all fit in instead of carpooling was a smart idea.  Scott. 
3. Beauty all around.  Doesn't get much better than Yosemite.  Although, my guess is heaven will be better.  

4. September is a great time to go to.  Still warm and way less people.
5. This guy knows how to scare away the bears:  GOOOOOOO!!!!

6.. Camping trips with Scott are FUN year after year after year.   He's our favorite Sherpa.

    
7. All food tastes better when camping, even dehydrated chili mac.  
8. In-N-Out tastes the best on the way home from camping.


I did manage to get home to Virginia the week before Christmas.  Good times were had making Christmas cookies with the nieces

                             

                                                     

 and eating clams, shrimp, and other goodies at the Great Killmon Christmas Eve Coffee Table Seafood Feast:

After years and years of huge, fancy Christmas Eve dinners, we've decided to just throw a Christmas table cloth over the coffee table and chow down.
Gene had to work and couldn't come to Virginia, so I arrived back in SF, just in time for a quiet Christmas dinner of paella and then presents with my love.  

Routine
Yes, routine, everyday life is a highlight for me.  The last six months I've enjoyed carpooling with Gene to work, continuing our long walks on the weekends, lots of shared meals with friends, teaching ESL again, and trying out lots of new recipes in the kitchen.  

So what's in the works for 2012?
A trip for us to Thailand in February, Spring Break in Costa Rica, a college besties reunion, perhaps, wearing earrings more often (my random New Year's resolution) and . . . much more that I don't yet know about.  I kinda like it that way.  


I will try to blog more, but hopefully have shorter post because this one is way too long!!!!  Already got some ideas for upcoming posts:
-Our home sweet home: for those that want to see where we live, and for us to remember our first place,
-Whatever happened to all those summer goals,
-Marriage, Year 1 (I started this blog a year late and I'm kinda weird about it being "complete"  so I might go back to year one to have some memories of what we did, before I forget.)


I know you're beside yourself in anticipation.  Don't hold your breath.