farewell 2012

i'm actually sad to say goodbye to 2012 because it was an amazing year for us.  the only plus is that 2013 has the potential to be even better!  but before i move on to the new year, i shall highlight some of our biggest moments in 2012.  here it goes.

we adopted DASH into our family! 

probably the best decision of 2012.  that little guy has sure brought a lot of fun into our home.  and has made us realize even more that we are NOT ready for real children.  but seriously.  we can't remember what life was like without him.

dawson conquered the LSAT

and now we are trying to decide if law school is what he really wants to do.  but whatever happens, all i can say is i am so glad that blasted thing is over!

we experienced DISNEYLAND together for the first time

and oh what an experience it was.  we went hard for 12 hrs straight.  dawson might have thought i was exaggerating when i said i love disneyland, but he soon learned otherwise. 

our first official COUPLES RETREAT

lake powell with our 6 favorite couple friends, what could be better?  nothing i tell you.  nothing bonds you closer together than roughing it for a week in powell.  if you are still friends after a week together without showering, then you are friends for life.

being a ma and pa on PIONEER TREK

how dawson convinced me to do this i still don't know.  at least i can now say that i have gone on a pioneer trek.  and that i don't plan on going on another one anytime soon.

a HAWAIIAN vacation

spear fishing, snorkeling, luaus... we are so lucky that we have been able to go to our favorite place in the world together twice now

i finally made it to PRIEST LAKE

this trip was a long time coming.  priest lake lived up to all my expectations and more.  but i should have known that any favorite place of dawson's was bound to be a favorite place of mine.

we celebrated our ONE YEAR anniversary

it honestly was the best year ever.  we learned so much about each other and decided we still loved each other just as much, if not more.  i won't lie and say everything was perfect all the time and that i didn't try to sleep on the couch a few times (only to have dawson come get me and carry me back to bed in the middle of the night).  but we have become even closer and our relationship is stronger than ever.  i am so lucky to have married the most amazing man in the world.

we survived the UTES football season

while somewhat of a disappointing season, we had fun traveling to almost every away game.  and of course enjoyed a satisfying victory (three times) over the team down south.

i made it to my one year mark at my J-O-B

they say it takes at least a year to feel comfortable as a nurse on my unit, and i would have to agree with that.  gun shot wounds, broken femurs, amputated limbs, full body burns, etc.... i feel like i've seen it all, but unfortunately i'm sure i haven't.  i've also learned that i really do love my job, and i'm grateful because not everyone can say that.  and i'm also grateful because i got a "one year mark" raise! 

dawson made himself a job as a CAR SALESMAN
we went through 6 cars and 3 motorcycles this year, as dawson found himself a little hobby of flipping cars.  lucky for him i could care less what car i am driving, so i had no qualms about switching cars every other month (i do have qualms about those dang motorcycles though).  he ended year with a pretty impressive profit, and i know he will be as successful in a real job as he was in this temporary one.

and now it's onward and upward!

i know that 2013 is going to be just as great.  who knows what the future may hold, but as for now here is what is in our plans to look forward to:

our trip to CHINA in 2 weeks

dawson becoming a COLLEGE GRADUATE in may

going to PERU to visit dawson's mission

graduate school or a fulltime JOB for daw

more COUPLE TRIPS with friends

lots more time spent with FAMILY (especially nieces and nephews)

the TAYLOR SWIFT concert in june

a puppy friend for DASH perhaps? (my wishful thinking)

visiting tyler and lauren in WASHINGTON, D.C.

happily celebrating our TWO YEAR anniversary

i don't know about you, but i for one can't even wait.