For January’s “10 things” post, I chose to reflect on 12 of our most memorable moments from each month of 2012. Since there are 12 months in a year, I am doing 10+2 things.
I presented my graduate school research publication at a conference in Nashville, TN. Presenting all my hard work and efforts to a room full of old smart men in suits was a real rush. On my last day there, I came down with a kidney infection. I flew to San Antonio where the Viper Pilot and I spent the weekend at our marriage preparation class. I was miserably sick the whole time, but we finished it. As a result of not taking care of myself, I got to spend some quality time with an IV and a bed for the next week.
2. FEBRUARY
We met in Colorado Springs for a weekend to plan our wedding. I flew in from Mississippi and he from Texas. We had an absolute blast getting our flowers picked out, the DJ lined up, tasting cake, and above all, reminiscing in our favorite city in the world.
3. MARCH
I went to Washington, D.C. for another conference for grad school. I’d never been and was fortunate enough to see the cherry blossoms, which had made their grand appearance a bit earlier than usual. In between meetings and conference sessions, I managed to do a lot of sight-seeing and I even got to catch up with a few dear friends! It was a fortunate opportunity to see our nation’s capital before making the big move across the pond. I’m so proud to be an American.
4. APRIL
I spent a much needed weekend in San Antonio visiting the Viper Pilot. I got to sit alongside the runway to see four F-16s take off — one of them was the Viper Pilot (that’s him in the picture above)! It was the first time I’d ever seen him fly (other than a Cessna). I’m sure he flew a T-6 over the house in Mississippi numerous times, I never knew when it was him. As the roar of the engines deafened everyone in at least a 1 mile radius, I yelled out at the top of my lungs, “I’M GOING TO MARRY THAT PILOT!!” Well? It’s true. My adrenaline was pumping and I was bursting with pride, I couldn’t help it.
5. MAY
Soooooo very much happened in May. The Viper Pilot completed the initial training in the F-16. I successfully defended my thesis while Elle was waiting in our fully packed car. As soon as I had the good word that I passed and the paperwork was signed, I jumped in the car and Elmer and I were en route to Texas. The very next morning I was on a plane to Minneapolis for my bridal shower. This picture captures one of my most favorite memories of all times. I was surrounded by some of my favorite people in the world celebrating…everything!
6. JUNE
The obvious answer is the wedding, but I chose this picture instead. We were on our honeymoon in the beautiful St. Thomas. Don’t get me wrong, our wedding was incredible and the happiest day of our lives as of yet, but our honeymoon was a blast. We didn’t have a care in the world, we spoiled ourselves with amazing food, drinks, and massages and there were white sandy beaches and multiple pools to soak up the sun’s glorious rays by. It was heaven on earth. I believe that someday we’ll probably spend an anniversary right there at the same spot. 🙂
7. JULY
After temporarily living in Phoenix, a visit to San Diego, the Grand Canyon, and Las Vegas, and a week at home surrounded by family and friends at our going away party, we moved to Germany. This picture was taken right before we boarded the plane in Iowa — the beginning of what turned out to be a very long trip (complicated by Elle’s ticket getting cancelled without our knowledge). We were overwhelmed with all kinds of emotions the day we said goodbye to our parents in the airport, but we were married and anxious to begin our lives together in Germany and in this moment captured in this picture, we were happy.
8. AUGUST
After a month of house hunting, living in a tiny, cramped furnished apartment on the third and a half floor with no elevator, being sicker than we’ve ever been, and starting new jobs, we finally found a place to call home. Though we didn’t get our household goods for another month, we unpacked what we had, got settled as best we could and it instantly felt like home.
9. SEPTEMBER
10. OCTOBER
The Viper Pilot surprised me with a planned trip to Cologne for my birthday. The trip was our first real adventure, just the two of us, in Germany. It was this moment as we were standing before the enormous Cologne Cathedral that we realized how much fun we were going to have exploring Germany and Europe for the next few years!
10 + 1. NOVEMBER
We enjoyed sampling 0.001% of the incredible beer selection Belgium has to offer during our Beercation to Brugge and Gent.
10 + 2. DECEMBER
I realize we took a pretty big trip to Munich after Christmas and have some amazing memories from that adventure, but my favorite memory from December was making pancakes together on our first Christmas morning as Mr. and Mrs. Viper Pilot. I know it’s nothing terribly special and most people have pancakes every Sunday morning, but we decided this is going to be a new tradition. 🙂
PROST!
“10 things” from the past:
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012