2011 ~ A Year In Review

What happened in 2011?  Let's start from the beginning.

Month of January ~

Kaylee rode her first pony, and I got to reunite with a friend that I haven't seen since high school (Thanks Facebook!). 

We visited Lovers Point in Pacific Grove. 

Rode and pushed Auntie Laura's wheelchair for the first time, and went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium with Grandma, Papa, and cousin Rocky.

 And picked lemons with Joel in Salinas. 

In February ~

 Greenbay won the Super Bowl and we were "blessed" to have a former Packer at our annual Super Bowl party.  

In March ~

We made sure Kaylee's doggies and toys were well fed. 

In April ~

We had beautiful flowers bloom in our backyard.  Just as long as we remember to water them.  

Baby Jesika's Yellow Rose

Wild flowers 

Bulbs from Oak Canyon Road

Kaylee had her first ice cream cone.

 Kaylee really got into finding easter eggs.

And Nik & Holli visited us from Montana. 

In May ~

Kaylee turned 2!

And we had a scare of a lifetime.  Kaylee had a fever and then it spiked so quickly that she went into a febrile seizure.  I almost lost it ... thank God Curtis was home.  We spent the evening in the E.R.  We are  happy to report there hasn't been a repeat performance, and now we are extremely cautious when Kaylee has a fever.  

In June ~

Curtis turned 32, but I am a terrible wife (not really) and I don't have a photo to document such a monumental event.  

We went to a Minnesota Twins game (baseball stadium #9, our life goal is to visit all the baseball stadiums). 

Kaylee's first amusement park ride in Mall of America, Blue's Skidoo!  She loved it.  She was not happy when we ran out of tickets.  Mall of America was amazing, it was an endless circle of stores.  

Welcome to Gilman, Wisconsin.  Home of the swinging bridge, and my Grandfather's hometown.  Yep, that is a population of 474 you see in the picture.  It was my first time back in over 20 years, and of course Curtis and Kaylee's first time in Wisconsin.  If only we could get the yard size of Bernie and Kathleen's home in California :)

Earl Road, the road is named after my Great-Grandfather Earl Englebretson and it leads to the Farm.

 Sitting on the front steps of the house my Great-Grandfather built himself.  I believe those rocks were hauled up by my Grandfather and his sisters. Amazing.

Just a pretty picture of Kaylee Ann at the Farm.

We went to the Rosemeyer's farm, an active beef cattle farm.

And we got to meet a baby cow ... Beef, it's what for dinner.  

Kaylee wants to ride the lawn mower.

And we are off.  Honestly, I was a tad timid, but it wasn't a bit difficult.

Too cute!  But there is something about grass fed Wisconsin beef that is just so yummy!  On our travels we try to support local eateries.  We look for places that have been featured on Diner, Drive-Ins, and Dives.  We ate at places suggested by D-D-and-D while in Minnesota and Wisconsin.  Both delicious!  

Rope swing in the hay loft with cousin Teri Rosemeyer.

Uncle Jonny & Kaylee in the hay loft.

Miller Park, ballpark #10, Kaylee's 7th ballpark.  

Unfortunately, Curtis wasn't feeling 100% for this trip so he missed out on the baby cow and hay loft.  A 2012 goal is to not take our health for granted and be proactive with our health.

In July ~

We stayed in San Diego, and I turned 31.  

We helped the kids (my sister and brother, Samantha & Jonathan) move into the condo.

 Here is Samantha moving (haha).

 We spent time lounging outside.  Here is Kaylee learning how to pretend to be asleep, snore and all.

 Kaylee inherited my old rake.  

We started going to church.  Saint Gregory the Great, which is right down the street from our house.  Kaylee says that she has to whisper in church.  

We painted rocks.

Learned how to do a somersault.

Created the "Enrichment Loft".  We work on whatever strikes our fancy ... artwork, coloring, circle time, counting, alphabet, days of the week, the weather, and music appreciation.  So basically this is our preschool area.  

Enjoyed the best of what Southern California can offer.

Became Sea World members.

Miss Kaylee waiting so patiently for Shamu.

Kaylee's drawing of a whale. 

 Happy birthday to me.  Thanks babe for my breakfast in bed.  31 years old on 7/31, wow!

In August ~

We got back into the travel mode.

We visited Houston, Texas.

 Houston Astros, ballpark #11.

Then traveled to our hometown and checked out the local sites.  Here we are at the Giant Artichoke in Castroville, CA.

And Dennis the Menace Park in Monterey, CA. 

In September ~
We were back in our work/home routine.  Curtis was back to work at Mira Mesa High School.  I was back to being a stay-at-home mom and babysitter to the Williams kids.  And I started the potty training process.  As I type this letter Kaylee is almost 100% potty trained.  We have to tackle night-time training and that will be a goal for 2012. 

Austin Williams & Kaylee ... friends forever!

We hosted the 2011 Fantasy Football draft.

Remembered September 11th.

And played with another Lego creation made by Curtis ... binoculars.

In October ~ 

We celebrated Halloween at home. 

In November ~ 

We played in the dirt.

Experienced some "major" weather (hail).

And Kaylee made carrot cake with Grandma.  These are the muffins Kaylee actually prepared.

And in December ~

We hosted our first holiday party for Mira Mesa High School.

We cut down our Christmas tree, a tradition I am not willing to give up in order to have the type of tree Curtis wants, a Nobel Fir.  So we will eventually end up with 2 trees in our house.  One small Monterey Pine tree (the tree that we cut down), and a larger Nobel Fir.  

I tried to do 25 days of Christmas (an activity every day leading up to Christmas), but I ended up doing only 3 things ... oh well.

We spent Christmas Eve with Aunt Sami & Uncle Jonny.

We spent time with friends.

We had two wonderful dinners (we are getting better at preparing meals!) before Christmas, and a quiet Christmas day with just the three of us ... and Skype with the grandparents.  Curtis is in the middle of his basketball season and I am busy trying to keep the house from being overrun with toys.  

And for the New Year ~
2012 will bring lots of changes.  I plan on going back to work as a personal trainer and Curtis will be changing his schedule so he will be home more often.  Baby #2 is still on the discussion table, there are things that need to be done before ... like dental work :(, the Big Sur Mud Run :), car payment :(, and other things a family needs to consider.  Our travel hopes include ... Chicago to knock out two more ballparks, maybe Montana to visit Nik, a summer wedding up in San Jose, maybe a family reunion in Truckee, and spending a last Thanksgiving and Christmas at the Oak Canyon Road house.

Curtis will continue playing softball once a week.  I will continue reading every chick-lit book possible on my iPad.  And we hope to continue swimming lessons and start up a gymnastics class for Kaylee.

Our 2012 resolutions include spend more time with family and friends, workout more, take our health seriously, and enjoy each and every day to its fullest.

We wish everyone a successful and joyous 2012.  

Love The Fulks

Curtis, Jesika, & Kaylee Ann