2011 Recap

As we rang in the new year it is time to reflect on all the memories of the year past. I can say that I thought 2010 was pretty fabulous with the wedding and honeymoon, but 2011 was hands down the best year of my life, for obvious reasons.

Professionally, I was able to manage an office that turned into something pretty amazing. For those that do not know what I do, I manage Express Employment Professionals of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. We are a full service staffing agency. So, we help employers find employees and employees find jobs, seems pretty simple, but it is a very challenging industry to work in. I have had the opportunity to work with my sister Brandy since 2009 as she is my senior staffing consultant. We had some internal turnover where it left just Brandy and I to run an office by ourselves for almost four months. It was very challenging, and we put in a lot of hours, but the thing that was amazing, we were hitting all time highs as an office, with just herself and I. So, that can tell you a little bit about how well we work together. Because our numbers were so well, we were able to back fill the other staffing consultant position and then add another team member, making 3 internal recruiters and myself. I had the opportunity to extend offers to two of the most talented friends that I had, and I do not regret it for a second. Julie and Christina were part of a team that hit all time records that Express has NEVER seen in Cedar Rapids. That is pretty exciting stuff, and I am so excited to see what 2012 has in store for our team!! I can honestly say that I love going to work every day and it is because of these three women and the hard work and talent that they all have.

Beginning of 2011, Nate and I decided that after ringing in the new year, we were going to try and have a baby. By the end of January we saw the positive pregnancy test and our life was going to be changing! I was very blessed that we were able to get pregnant easy and the pregnancy all together was very easy, so I thank God every day for the little 8 pound 5 ounce blessing we were given. Alaina has been the most amazing experience and we wake up every day wondering what the day will bring with her. She is my little honeybee and makes me so happy. Life cannot be bad when you are looking at her bright blue eyes. :)

Nate had a lot of changes and accomplishments in 2011 as well. He was able to complete his first Ironman in September, became a dad in October, and then started a new job in December. He now works and Van Meter in Cedar Rapids. This was a huge change for us, but we are so excited that he is now working for a company in a position that he loves and he will be very good at. He is back working in Cedar Rapids, so I am sure that within a couple of years we will be moving closer to Cedar Rapids.

Outside of all the excitement and positive things that happened to our little family, everyone else has been healthy and successful as well. We cannot thank God enough for everything that he has provided for us. If we have half as good of a year in 2012 as we did in 2011, I would say that we will be pretty lucky.

So what is on the agenda for us? No babies that is for sure, we are sticking to just Alaina for a while. Nate's sister Natalie is expecting her first baby in July, My middle niece Bailey is going to be 16!! My eldest niece Abby will turn 21 in August so we are going to go to Vegas with her! Alaina's pony party, other friends of ours starting on their second baby, planning a trip somewhere nice and warm with our friends the Davis's. All in all there are a lot of things to be looking forward to, and I am so blessed to have my family and friends with us to experience it all!!