Look Back at 2011

Happy New Year!!



Before I write these and look back on the year I like to read the previous years that are saved here on the blog. I can't help but laugh at my predictions and am always shocked at how much I forget happens each year.

I was reading 2010's and Brode had a particularily busy year that year and was rarely healthy causing a lot of appointments and trips. As I was reading it, I thought to myself "What am I going to write about 2011? What possibly did we do?" I started looking back at pictures, my planner, and Brode's scrapbook - oh yeah, graduation, Walt Disney World, and a new career to name a few! I guess we did do some big things!

As I review our year in the blog world I also realize how many posts I completely forgot or only drafted. Did I really never show you pictures of Brode's halloween costume and completely skip our entire trip to Disney? Wow!

January 2011 - 2011 started slow. I finished an interim class (at least thats what my blog tells me I did? I don't even remember what class it was!) I got a short break before going back to school in February.

February 2011 - February 2011 started my last semester at UW-Oshkosh. The semester started well when I got a snow day on my birthday. That was wonderful seeing as how I was supposed to work the fitness center at 6am that morning! My 22nd birthday wasn't anything exciting beyond turning 22 on 2-2. Not an exciting age. My classes weren't too bad for the semester - a lot of hands on. I had my clinicals where I personal trained employees from the university, a facilities management class that we developed our own fitness center, and a few other practical classes. The other biggest change was my contract with Kimberly-Clark for 2 and 1/2 years ending. I was out on the job hunt.

March 2011 - March 8th was my date of hire at the YMCA, meaning my job hunt luckily only lasted a week. It was a bit tough adjusting to the new schedule as I always closed at 10pm, but it worked fine with school and Brode had great babysitters at home. We also went to Disney on Ice this month. Brode was a bit young for it, but he still had fun!

April 2011 - April was also fairly slow, outside of Matt's hockey games every weekend. We spent a lot of time at the Ice Arena cheering on the Ice Dogs until Matt broke his foot in one of the last games of the season. Requiring surgery, a plate, and a few screws he found himself on crutches for 8 weeks (oh joy!). April brought great news as I accepted my summer internship at none other but - Kimberly-Clark. Yes, I was out for a month.

May 2011 - May was huge! Best month of the year! I graduated from UW-Oshkosh with honors after making Dean's List my last two semesters. I actually have to say that I "fake graduated" as I walked in the ceremony but my actual date wasn't until August 28th. My parents and grandparents came and we celebrated with lunch afterwards. After one day of rest between finals and a plane flight we were off to Walt Disney World! My parents, Matt, Brode and I spent a week in Florida in 100 degree weather. It was all of our dreams come true to see Brode's face when he met Mickey, Handy Manny, and Tigger!

June 2011 - June was true summer vacation. I wasn't set to start my summer internship until after the 4th of July so I got a lot of down time this month between working at the Y. We made trips to the cottage, hung out with friends, and played outside. We had one trip (our first of the year!) to Milwaukee where we got great news that Brode only needs to see his head surgeon annually from now on. We also met with his evey doctor again and we started patching his eye every day.

July 2011 - July 2011 was highly consumed with my Kimberly-Clark Health Services internship. I started after the 4th of July at 40 hours a week (in addition to my closing Y shifts). I loved it to say the least. I was welcomed warmly, learned all I could learn and practiced everything I had gotten through school. My confidence went through the roof in what I had studied and I enjoyed going in every day. I got to work on events, taught classes, promoted the health center, and completed an application for a national award. Brode went to his first Brewer's game in July as well!

August 2011 - August was technically my official graduation date but I didn't even notice as it came and went after already going through graduation (they don't have a summer ceremony) and I still had 3 weeks of internship to complete. Little boy also was fully potty-trained!

September 2011 - September 2011 I finally finished my schooling as I completed my internship. It was hard to leave as I had such a great time, loved what I did all day, and loved all the people that I worked with. I could only hope to find a job with as great of a fit as the internship was. Because I was finally a graduate with a B.S. I could sit for my American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) certification giving me a huge advantage in the field. After a 4 hour exam I passed and earned the right to put HFS (Health Fitness Specialist) after my signature in the fitness world. The last weekend of my internship was also my biggest project, the Fox Cities Marathon. I assisted in planning during my internship but I also participated in the half marathon the same weekend! It was a great experience and I am hoping to run it soon! Brode turned 3 at the end of September and we celebrated with friends and family with a sports party at home! His most exciting present - his first pair of hockey skates that he has been dying for!

October 2011 - October put me out on the job hunt! Having a break was fun for all of 1 week, then I was bored and needing a job. I accepted a part-time job with Kimberly-Clark on a new project every other week to keep me busy while I hunted. Application after application came and went with nothing (the job market is miserable making the job hunt excruciating). It wasn't too long and I stumbled upon another opportunity at the Y in addition to my night shifts and after amazing referrals I was in for 2 interviews and a job offer all in a week. I accepted a job as a part-time wellness coordinator at a corporate fitness site that the Y manages. The weekend before I started my job a friend and I traveled to Atlanta to house and dog sit at her sisters. It was a nice 4 day weekend as the temps here were getting low and staying in the 80's down there. We shopped, ate, relaxed, and toured the city before flying back to reality. Brode also successfully participated in Halloween this year as a Firefighter ("fiderfider"). You may remember him refusing a costume last year.

November 2011 - November 2011 consisted of a lot of work between 3 jobs. Although it was stressful it reassured me on Thanksgiving how lucky Brode and I are to have everything we do including all the help we receive from family and friends who want to see our success. Brode also started another session of swimming lessons! He is doing great!

December 2011 - December continued with work and was a month of celebration with never ending Christmas' which you know all about from the last 4 posts!

2012 is looking to be a year of development as a I expand on my career and we complete Brode's health care concerns. We hope to throw fun in along the way and see where it takes us!

We hope everyone else had a wonderful 2011 and is looking foward to a blessed 2012!