2009.

Inspired by G.Baxter this morning, I decided to do a quick photo recap of the crazy, swirly, and amazingness that has been 2009. I know I will leave a ton out, so if I happen to forget to mention some 2009 memory that is very dear to your heart, that's what comments are for :)
 
Almost one year ago, Chris and I rang in 2009 with some fantastic people, although Chris was sick almost all of new years eve, and I spent most of the night finishing my 3rd book of the Twilight series it was still a pretty good time. The next day we went down to the beach and rode bikes and hung out all day, one of my favorite new years' so far.

In February we got Disneyland passes for my birthday

and so began the new tradition

For less than ideal reasons we also got to visit the East Coast in (New Jersey & Philly)

Us at our first ever Lacrosse game, Go Wings!
Sightseeing (we got to see Oozaki too!)
Late Feburary we got to be a part of our friends celebrating their 10 year anniversary in Vegas! We got an amazing deal and got to stay at the Bellagio! best.hotel.ever.
March came along, and it took us on a roller coaster of emotions, March 29th we said goodbye to South Campus, Furnace, and South Hills Church.
As a result we had one of the most memorable Easter Services ever, sunrise service at Jameson park.. what would become known to some as "Chrisroads Church" or "Jameson Community Church"

After that was the Easter Egg Hunt at the Sheshack,(RIP) for those of you who were there or have heard the story, this is the madness that started it all, the epic battle of two boys, and one pool.

Late April we took a road trip to Solvang with my family

Chris performed his first wedding ever-- knocked it out of the park

Summer Fun at Medieval Times


San Fransisco for my niece's graduation
In June we moved out of our apartment and in with probably the best roomies known to man

When we interviewed in Virginia
and celebrated our one year anniversary in Virginia Beach

Shortly after we interviewed in Des Moines, and well we all know how the rest of the story goes ;)
But before that happened, a little of this happened first
I started my long term sub position at Citrus Hills (and all the stories that took place their with my infamous 7th period class)

Keeping with my new year's resolution to try more new things, I had my first piece of chocolate covered bacon at the OC Fair
Chris' 2nd wedding (this is the rehearsal) our good friends the Webbs!

So when Chris left in August we had a few of these

and a final trip to San Diego

and once he was in Iowa from August to October there was a lot of this

he bought this (enter bananas)

I flew back to Iowa for this:

no, not the pastries, the Official Launch of Gateway Church

after moving to Des Moines, Iowa on October 11, 2009 we have:

 Gone to the STORY '09 conference with the Gateway staff and got to spend a few hours in Chicago!

Had my sweet sweet Rose come out and visit within the first month of being out here! She and Josh drove our Xterra out for us!

And a month later Bob and Co. played a show in Des Moines!

We were able to spend Thanksgiving with Kara and the family and finally meet this little lady!

 

In December we had the ultimate Christmas Vacation experience

We also had a few more So Cal visitors, and enjoyed SOOO many good times with these two crazies!
Got to go home the week before Christmas (refer to my previous blog for all those fun details!)

Through all the changes it's been an amazingly, swirly, eventful, and breath taking year! Chris and I are so unbelievably blessed and loved.

As always we won't stop believing...

California Love.

As all of you know Christmas came early this year for the Kretzu family, a week early to be exact. As our Christmas gift this year we got to go home for the holidays, as odd as that still sounds to me. It was amazing. Seriously.

Being around people who know me, and seeing my family, eating miguels it was a beautiful thing. I won't even mention the weather, but yes, it was as perfect as you imagine a southern California winter would be.

So here is a little photo update of a few of the highlights from our CA visit.

My sisters decked out in their "Team Es" gear, greeted me as I walked off the plane (red lipstick was Debbie's idea hah)

The short drive from LAX straight to In and Out and the second welcome party that awaited there!

Watching Savi's reaction to her Christmas gift from us, and then watching her reaction when Chris kicked it over.

Getting to see Chris sport this bad boys ( a Christmas gift from my brother and Jill)

Christmas lights with the fam (a tradition)

Kareoke with the homies! And the fact that no one had a voice the next day

this girl.

being able to wear my flippies

Girls potluck at B's house, and all the shaningangs that took place there! awww

The magical kingdom of course, I could have stayed there all week!

But then I would have missed out on this lyrical gangster, and the madness that has now invaded Sportys (aka the Sportsman, for you old schoolers)

Dinner at Woodranch with Chris' family, can't believe I don't have a picture of our food!

3 Generations of Camacho ladies

The one and only

miguels, again.
Getting to see and sit in the "replacement chair"

baby Ella, and the little miracle she is becoming! (14 days seizure free, amazing) she is like an entirely different baby since the last time I saw her, she was laughing and smiling ALL of the time it was the most amazing thing to see. Actually probably the most amazing thing I saw while I was home.

Then of course there is Del Taco, the way God intended a combination burrito to taste, nice try Taco Johns.

This I actually don't miss (aside from our awesome neighbors) its our old apartment all 470 square feet of it-- awesome thing is that just on the other side of this bad boy is where miss Brenda lives and I got to check out HER new place, which only made me realize how great my apartment COULD have looked that entire time! Nicely done B.

My favorite street in Corona.

Coincedently also where my favorite girl in corona lives.

Sweet, sweet Miguels some day we will meet again, it was great while it lasted.

And the welcome that awaited us when we got back.

It was an amazing seven days that went by way to quickly, I love you and miss you all and it's true, California does know how to party.

Update.

It has been a while since my last post, and quite a lot has happened. A visit from my best friend, trip to Nashville, concert, and more friends from California here are a few highlights from the last month or so.

These were carolers singing outside of the East Village Promenade shops during the Holiday Promenade. The best part was that the guy on the right was on his phone talking while standing RIGHT NEXT to them, and then the little old man playing the bell starting ringing his bell (literally not metaphorically) in his ear until he moved away, it was awesome!


That's me skyping with my family on Thanksgiving, it was rough, emotionally and literally setting up the phone call haha but AMAZING to be able to "see" them all that night. Frick I miss them.
My first attempt at Sopes, I think my mom would be proud.
During Brenda's visit she blessed me with this bad boy! Yeah I had TOTALLY been wanting one!
Our first Christmas tree, and what an experience it was. We went to a tree farm and cut it down ourselves, which was actually the easy part. Trying to find one we both on agreed on however..... yeah no one told us Christmas trees could be hazardous to our marriage.
There she is in all her glory, after Joey and Chris got it set up we all spent the night stringing popcorn and cranberries (a first for me) it was also the night it starting snowing it was a pretty magical experience.
A little out of order here these are from when Natalie and Josh drove our car up! Yeah they're are amazing and I have the best friend in the world. It was sooooo incredible having here!Spending some time in the kitchen
Right after Rose's visit Bob Matthews and Co. came to town to play a show at People's Court in Des Moines. It was so much fun seeing him, we made dinner for him and the band before their show, they're all very cool guys. During the show the only thing that kept coming to my head was, "what if they all get sick because of dinner, and start vomiting on stage!" haha So far I have heard of no FOOD related complaints from that night.

Got to meet and spend some time with this little lady!!! Anastasia, Chris' one year old niece!
Thanksgiving Week in Nashville was a blast! Weather was great and so was the company!
Cut to present time, Miss Medina and Nicole enter the picture and the Des Moines area one week ago! It was AH-MAZ-ING having these ladies here (technically one is still here haha) they arrived Friday and Saturday we put them to work ALL day building a house for a Habitat for Humanity Family. It was soo much hard work but they were troopers and worked their tails off all day!
That's me in my handmade "snuglet" courtesy of miss Candice, Chris and I have to call dibs on it when we watch TV.
Anywhoo that's what it's a little of what's been going on here these last few months and believe me that is only the beginning. Since this week we've already had a plethora of Iowa Death Storm 09 experiences, but tomorrow I get to go home.

It's not you, it's me.

Change is tough. No shocker there.

But it can be even harder when you're married to a chameleon.

Obviously I don't literally mean a chameleon. I mean someone with chameleon like characteristics, specifically the ability to adapt to new environments quickly. Enter Chris.

For example, I don't know how a man, who practically lived at in and Out, moves half way across the country and within weeks has already found and fallen in love with a new cheeseburger.

I on the other hand, have refused to even try a cheeseburger since I've been here, just dream about them instead. I'm serious, two in and out dreams, two miguels dreams.

Today, I guess you could say I had a mini meltdown, food related of course. I was in serious need of some comfort food and being Nowhere near anything remotley familiar I tried out a little place called taco johns. Fail.

The food was ok, it was supposed to be like a del taco, except it's basically nothing like it. When I asked for a small fry they said we have potatoe oles.... Ummm ooook. Nope. They were good, but nothing like French fries and I was is no need or mood to try ANOTHER new thing.

I realize this sounds pretty ridiculous, but when you're starving for something familiar, something consistent, something the same or that you're used to you just want a little comfort with you're food.

If Life is A Highway

I'm that super annoying car in front of you that isn't quite sure where they are going. No really I am.

I spent the day running errands today...on my own. Yeah, that's huge, seeing as how sometimes I still managed to get lost in Corona.

Between google maps, the around me app, and a compass I managed to have quite the adventure trying to go to lunch, find the bank, make some returns and go to the post office.

First off - Our new bank, Bank Iowa is pretty awesome, but I guess coming from my hate/hate relationship with Wamu/Chase it wouldn't really take much to make me happy, just don't physically abuse my accounts and we'll be just fine. My only complaint- which is not really a complaint- or their fault- its just that the building, colors, location and name is very similar to Bank of the West which is located only a few driveways away. You can imagine every one's confusion as I walked into the wrong bank requesting money from my non existent bank account.... well not really but I did pull into their driveway before realizing I was at the wrong bank.

Next I conquered walmart, actually SUPER Walmart, I am pretty much helpless against it's super power, I haven't even attempted to go to the super TARGET, I know I can't handle that kind of temptation right now.

Once again walmart and all of it's roll back prices got the best of me. The thing about the walmart story is not so much that I somehow manage to buy double of everything I needed when I got there, but more about the fact that I was in tears walking around the store as I was shopping.

Let me back up, I pulled into the parking lot and parked, as I was collecting my purse and gathering the items I needed to return, I listened to a voicemail Gretchen had left me earlier that day. mistake number 1. Of course I start crying because she is saying everything I am feeling, and need to hear. I collect my thoughts and shut the door, yup you guessed it... Mistake number 2...keys are inside. As if Bananas and I don't already have a history-- (the car hates me) I locked the keys inside as.it.starts.raining. I head inside, not that I wouldn't have a shortage of things to take up my time inside while I waited for Chris but I try to call Gretchen back and as I am leaving her the message I start crying again! I'm pretty sure people here think I am crazy, or just refer to me as the "cold girl who cries in all the stores" (ross, dahls, and now walmart) but who's counting Anywhoo as has been the case for the last few months Chris shows up to save the day and we head home to end Dora and Diego's adventure for the day.