2012.

One of our last family snapshost of 2012.

The last part of 2012 was much easier for our little family than the first half. I am thankful that I was able to ring in the new year last year with family, and thankful I was able to stay until mid-January. Being home for a month during the beginning of Dan's deployment was a big help, and it was comforting to be around family.

The first half of 2012 is sort of a blur, to me. I know what I did, and know what Evelyn did, but the days or months that everything occurred? No idea. I became more active in Stroller Warriors, started attending a boot camp two days a week. Evelyn stopped breastfeeding in March-ish, if I can remember correctly.

The middle of 2012 is when our family was reunited -- the beginning of June. While we were waiting for Dan, my stomach felt like it did every time I would get off the plane to visit him in California.  Combine each visit's butterflies, and then multiply them by 2,356. Super butterflies. I was able to have a photographer come take pictures, but I have only received the sneak peek. I haven't even written the second half of our homecoming story. Regardless, June was a special month for us.



This song was played right before the motorcycles started revving their engines, the beginning of our official "Welcome Home" to all of the men and women who came back safely to us. Listening to this song now still makes me cry, even right now, and it probably always will. Happy tears mixed with unexplained tears.

The battalion that Dan deployed with did not come home as a whole. Two individuals were killed; one was from that battalion, and another was a friend of Dan's that he had worked with before they individually augmenting (IA) over to that unit. I was so happy that Dan was coming home to us, but my heart hurt because his friend and the other man were not coming home.

Once Dan was home, he worked for a couple weeks, and then was able to take post-deployment leave. We tried to "Space-A" to Tokyo but were unable to get enough seats. We bought a surfboard (Dan gave his away before we moved), and on my birthday, we went to the beach. Dan surfed some, and then I decided I was going to paddle out to surf as well. I got scared about 10 feet out because it was a long paddle, and I was afraid of sharks. Ha.

Dan graduated with his Associate's degree after working hard as soon as he came home from deployment. Since then, he has taken several classes towards his Bachelor's degree. I finished up all of my classes for my Bachelor's degree, and just need to finish my internship in 2013.

In September, we went back to the States for Dan's sister's wedding. An issue came up with work, and Dan was unable to come on the first flight we had booked. He stayed behind a few days to finish what absolutely HAD to be done before he could leave, and Evelyn and I set off.

While we were home, we were not only able to be part of his sister's beautiful wedding, but we were able to spend time with our loved ones. I was able to go down to Nebraska to see my aunt and uncle, cousins, and my Dad. We visited Dan's Grandma in the assisted living center where she lives. I visited my Grandparents in South Dakota. It was a great time, but it was hard to leave. There is never enough time when you are home visiting.

In November, Evelyn turned two. Dan turned another year older, too. We celebrated together -- not early like we had to last year, but on the days of their actual birthdays. I made a turkey for the first time, and it turned out okay.

The rest of the year was smooth sailing. Christmas decor really lit up the house, and made it seem like Christmas, even if it did not feel Christmas-y outside. We celebrated Christmas together as a family, although I came down with the flu on Christmas Day. That put a big damper on things.

On New Years Eve, we put Evelyn to sleep, and then relaxed downstairs. We do not have cable (American nor Japanese), so we did not watch any NYE festivities. It was quiet, and nice.

2012 was a year of growth and change for all of us, and I look forward to what 2013 will bring for our family.