The End Of A Year

I can't believe it's been one year since we made the move to Maryland, I can't believe we are thisclose to the end of the deployment; yes thisclose...but it'll still be about 6 more months before we're all together again. We're staying here until Kayla finishes school, and no, Joe can't be temporarily assigned here to spend the next 6 months with us. It's a nice thought, but it doesn't work that way!

At times the year seemed like it would drag on, but now that we're at the end I can't believe how quickly the year passed!

This year, like every year, had it's up and downs. This year also brought quite a few get-togethers with online friends!

In January Kayla started putting on make-up.
In February we said good-bye to Joe, met online friends Julia and her daughters, and Lucas turned one.
In March Kayla got her first real taste of snow and sledding and she was diagnosed with celiac disease.
In April we found out where our next assignment will be, the kids experienced the DC Metro, had a fun weekend with 2 more IRL get-togethers.
In May I realized how much Lucas had already changed in the 3 months since Joe deployed, sadly, Joe's grandfather passed away.
In June we decided to have Kayla repeat Kindergarten, she started sight-reading in her books, and we again went to DC for another IRL with The Special Ks.
In July Lucas got his first hair-cut, Kayla celebrated her 6th birthday at Disney World, and I struggled.

In August I celebrated my birthday by going to a Red Sox game, met even more online friends from the DSANV, went to Sesame Place for another get-together, Joe came home for 2 wks and surprised the kids, spent time with Kayla's future boyfriend from CT, went to Baltimore and met Tricia and family, and said good-bye to Joe again. (wow August was busy!)

In September we went to Wisconsin and met Michelle and Ruby, attended the first of two Buddy Walks, and my dad was diagnosed with cancer. (He had a port put in this week which has made receiving the chemo easier; he's been doing 'well' with the chemo - all things considering).
In October we went to Port Discovery and met Sue and her girls, Lucas showed some of the signs he learned, and we went to our second Buddy Walk where we met Rachel Coleman.
In November Kayla revealed that she sat at the 'naughty table' at lunch
In December Kayla and Lucas performed, we had snow fun, and of course there was Christmas, Lucas also started potty-training himself (!) but I don't have a post on that yet!

Happy New Year! and bring on 2010 (it feels so weird saying 2010, doesn't it?)