The Craziest Year of my Life

...and I can't say that I'm going to miss ya.

A year filled with so much change, both good and bad, I'm quite impressed that I still find myself standing on two feet. 

Here's the fast forwarded edition of my year:

January

On our plane ride home from Mexico, on NYE, Joel told me that his goal in 2012 was to find a new job.

In the middle of January, Joel received a random text message about a huge job opportunity that would take us to NYC or LA. He pursued the interview process while we kept our mouths shut around our friends and family.

February:

Joel accepted the job offer that would move us to LA. We left on February 2nd to go look at apartments and make plans to move across the country.

 

On Valentine's day, I put my 2 weeks notice at my job and Joel promised me we would get a dog in LA

 

That night, when we left Valentine's Day dinner at Shaw's my mom called me in the cab and told me my Aunt Peggy was in the hospital in very serious condition.

As we packed, arranged movers, and said goodbye, Peggy's condition got worse. I didn't fulfill my 2 weeks at work, left on the 16th for Crystal Lake to be with my aunt and family in the hospital and never looked back.

  

My friends helped me pack and we shipped my car to LA, and tried to handle moving while dealing with the fact that my 48 year old aunt was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. 

We were able to fit in a goodbye party with our amazing Chicago friends the night before Joel left for LA on 2/28.

.

 

March

Since I didn't have a job, or an apartment, I stayed at my parents house for two weeks, 1 mile away from my Aunt Peg.  I was witness to too many doctors appointments, too many scary words, too many tears, and the deterioration of the healthiest woman I knew.

Amidst the dark, dark chaos, their were bright lights. So much love and support came from our community, and my close family, got closer.

I said goodbye to my Aunt Peggy on March 6th, with a hug, and the advice from her to "Go conquer California". 

My mom flew with me to get me settled in LA. 

 

The day my mom got back to Crystal Lake and came to see Peggy, she found her in bed, speaking incoherently. Peg has suffered a stroke that would ultimately end her life a few days later, on March 10th, 2012.

 

On March 11th, I flew home the next day, and began the most awful week of my life.

On March 20th, I had to go back to California. I hated leaving my grieving family, cousins, grandparents, and mostly my parents...but my mom forced me back to reality. 

I was still unemployed so I spent a lot of time looking for jobs, decorating my apartment and trying to understand the LA life. 

I met two new girls in California that ended up turning into dear, dear friends - Carly and Dawn.

On March 31st, I accepted a job offer.

 

April

Joel and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary with a weekend trip to Santa Barbara 

 

On April 7th, after a few days in San Diego with Joel's brother, we stopped in Long Beach and picked up my long awaited puppy Roscoe. 

 

We hosted an Easter brunch with everyone we knew from California. All 9 people. 

 

We adjusted to life as new parents and fell absolutely in love with our little nugget. 

 

April 16th I started my new job

 

May

 I turned 24 and Joel had a surprise dinner party for me at The Lobster in Santa Monica. 

 

We flew to Jupiter, Florida to watch Joel best friend Chris get married

 

My sisters came to visit us (and meet Roscoe) in LA  

June

My cousin Amanda and her boyfriend Andrew were our next set of visitors.  

I fulfilled a life long dream of seeing Mr. George Bank's house from Father of the Bride 

 

On June 9th, I got ENGAGED!

 

I was finally able to buy bridal magazines! 

I traveled to Palm Springs for my soon-to-be Sister-in-Law's bachelorette party

July

I flew home with Roscoe so that I could finally see my family

 

I asked my best friends to be my bridesmaids

 

I picked my wedding venue and date

 

Joel's brother Andrew was married in San Diego

 

  

Before Joel's parents headed back to Chicago after the wedding, they came up to LA to spend the weekend with us

 

August

 We started taking advantage of living in California with weekly hikes

 

My bridesmaid Sara came out to LA for a long weekend.

Joel turned 25 and we hosted a wine tasting party for him

 

September

We flew home over Labor day to see my cousin Cole get married

 

I found a wedding dress

 

We took engagement pictures

We went down to San Diego to spend time with Joel's brother and sister, and I went to my first pro football game

 

October

We did a day trip to Malibu winery

 

We carved pumpkins as a family

 

Accomplished a 6 mile run in the mountains

 

We registered! 

November 

My best friend Claire came out and we explored LA and Santa Barbara

 

 Completed a 7.1 mile turkey trot in the mountains with my girl Shelby!

We had our first "Friends-Giving" with all the L.A. orphans and it was amazing

December

We decked the halls

 

I hosted an ornament exchange with some girls

 

We spent 8 glorious days on the beach in Mexico with my family

And unfortunately, on  December 29th, my 90 year old Grandpa joined his daughter Peggy in Heaven. 

 

Here is to 2013