A year in review! where to start!!
We are having a ball getting moved and settled into our new home. We signed loan docs and got the keys on December 30, 2015! I have a LOONG list of furnishings and things to get, but am trying to be patient so as not to dip into our savings too much.
2015 was a great year to us. Jeremy's asphalt business was very successful (his first year with his own LLC).
I took some extra school classes to add a Science teaching credential to my Art and Health teaching credentials. Then found my job teaching Science in school (grade 7). They had interviewed 47 candidates, and 4 were hired including me! I love going to work, I love being at work. Teaching has its trying moments, but for the most part it is rewarding, fulfilling and challenging in a good way. I teach 5 periods of Science and 1 elective class called Career Choices. I have 180 students and I love every one of them. (read blog post "what teachers wear" for more info.)
We took a few fun trips around here to Zion National Park (Utah), Arches National Park (Utah), and Yosemite National Park (CA), and of coarse many trips to the beach, and our favorite: Hearst Castle which is on the coast in Cambria<--- (also posts on these)
We bought and renovated/upgraded a Tri-plex property (also posts on this) and have it rented to three sets of good tenants that (so far) pay their rent on time, a mostly good experience! We love having the rental property as our tenants pay for its mortgage and also the mortgage on our new home. We didn't want to buy a house and be "house poor" and are now seeing these past sacrifices pay off- a great way to end the year!
I played two seasons of co-Ed soccer (this is Ryan Carr in the picture, he is the principal at Norris Middle School where I teach, we are on the same soccer team!) and also made a personal best time running a half marathon. (Just under 2 hours. In 2016 I'd like to run it ever faster though!)
I got my very own beautiful car. No, it's not a Tesla but a 2015 Toyota Corolla. I'd been driving a 1984 stick shift Toyota pick up truck for 3 years prior. With the 100 + *F (around 40*C) weather in the summer and no air conditioning, it was a MAJOR up grade. Jeremy also bought a new truck- a GMC something or other. One of those big obnoxious ones you see people driving, but it is perfect for towing and hauling all of his Asphalt equipment. We have a three car garage and it's too big to fit inside, so he has to park it on the drive way. With just my car and the motorcycle parked in the garage, it sure is roomey!
We have made great progress with my fertility treatments. I had a miscarriage (at 4 weeks) - really not a sad thing at all- it was the first time I got pregnant in 4+ years of trying to, so we were just happy that it happened! (I have Polycystic ovarian syndrome, endometriosis and a reverted uterus- the perfect storm!) We have an appointment on 11 January with a fertility specialist to get an IUI (intrauterine insemination). We would like to have children eventually, but life is great for now so I'm not too sad about it.
We went to Washington for Christmas to be with Jeremy's family. It was a great time.
We took a plane over on Tuesday December 22, and Matthias who lives in Seattle picked us up from the airport and we all drove to Wenatchee together.
Wednesday we got on our snow clothes and went out to find a Christmas tree.
Of coarse the boys pushed Mattie in the snow
Of coarse no one could stand still for a picture!
Lots and lots of snow!
We found the tree!... Pretty Charlie Brown, but whatev.
My first time chopping a tree!
Thrones in the snow.
The boys loading up the tree.
Okay so afterward we hung around for a while and then Nick and Mer showed us this data center (pictured below) I still don't know what exactly is does, but it looked cool.
Then, our favorite Christmas tradition: Easting Brats outside in the snow in Leavenworth, followed by caroling and seeing all the pretty lights.
Another great Christmas tradition: Pulling sleds behind the four wheeler in the driveway ha ha
Thursday: Christmas Eve, making Gingerbread houses! We modeled our after our new home!
On Christmas morning we all got up and opened presents.
Jer got a remote controlled helicopter and we both got nice electric toothbrushes and new pots and pans (SUPER NICE!)
Here are the boys putting some toys together.
Got to hang out with baby Matt!
We met up with the Whites the day after Christmas and played soccer, which I love.
Then Nick, Matthias, Jeremy and I went Snowmobiling. My first time and it was pretty fun. Lots of snow, powder and speed and cold and bumpy altogether!
Afterward we went to get Mexican for dinner and had the most amazing cabbage salsa!
On Saturday Jeremy and I went snowboarding for a half day at Mission Ridge.
I had a blast!!!
here is us on the chairlift.
Getting the hang of it.
Later that evening, Jeremy and Nick went to go and rescue the snowmobile that we left on the mountain... a story for another day, but that same night Zack came over for a visit and it was great fun! (this picture was definitely taken at 1AM haha.)
On the way over to Seattle the next day (last day in WA), we stopped in to see Grandma White. It was so precious!
They dropped us off at the airport and then we flew home and the next day we moved! That evening Mattie and Merilyn arrived- They drove down because Mattie is moving to Carlsbad, CA to start her new job, so they helped us move and such, and celebrated new year with us :)
We were also invited to another party that we stopped in to and it was cool.
Most awesome part of the new year: I came home to my new luxurious amazing warm comfortable bed! :)
What a terrific year 2015 was. I am thrilled to see what 2016 has in store for us!
<3 Tessa
