Merry Christmas!!

Dearest Friends & Family,

Merriest of Christmases and a happy, sparkling New Year to you and yours!

A crazy weekend trip from Korea & CO respectively... at Trevor & Sarah's rehearsal dinner

Standing with an enormous South Korean guard in one of the negotiating buildings at the DMZ

Bridge to nowhere....on the left side at the end is the building where they came out to check us out!

We are so excited to send greetings from Colorado together again! We started the year off separated by miles and miles (with a brief visit to celebrate Trevor's wedding to his beautiful wife Sarah in early January) until I left Korea in the rear-view in March (a month later than expected). We got a few relaxing days in Florida before driving up to the glowing, sophisticated metropolis that is Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, AL. (If you were going to drive for 10ish hours and wanted a book on tape....I'm betting your husband wouldn't pick History of Intelligence in the US...driving books are supposed to keep me awake....) How unfortunate that as taxpayers we've all put so much $ and effort into such a place that the officer corps will NEVER escape. Two long months (and lots of afternoons at the driving range) later, I was finally home in Colorado, starting my new job at the Air Force Academy.

Telluride, CO! Celebrating the end of a 15month separation!

In reality, we've had quite a few adventures this year. We were able to visit with loved ones in June when we went back East for Beach Week in Delaware with my high school friends. Then come August, we brought my parents back to Ireland where we were married for a week of traveling and culminating with a glorious Notre Dame victory over Navy in the football season opener! This trip was full or reminiscing while we enjoyed Doonbeg, visited the Church in Limerick, and got a speeding ticket in Cork! October brought us to Atlantis, Paradise Island with the annual Infinity company trip with Chris's work colleagues. Finally, we were excited to host Thanksgiving for the Crumps, welcoming Mike home for a brief visit during his 2 year stint in Suzhou China.

Three of my favorite people on a walk through one of Doonbeg's courses

2 years later at Doonbeg Golf Club in Clare, Ireland

Aran Islands, Ireland

Aran Islands, Ireland

cow family on the Aran Islands

We've got the gift of gab...Blarney Castle

Early this summer, we got joyous news - we're pregnant! At our first ultrasound (when the baby is still pretty squished and has a tail), Chris excitedly exclaimed "we're having a mutant!" The months since then feel like a blur of being really tired and emotional (first trimester), feeling slower and more out of breath and emotional (second trimester), and finally feeling bigger and emotional (now - third trimester). Highlights include: watching The Amazing Spiderman together - I sobbed through the whole thing and told Chris we couldn't watch anymore sad movies while I'm pregnant..."It's an action movie, a comic book - this isn't a sad movie!!!" and recently when I went our last appointment and was actually holding a snack in my hand during the weigh-in. Truly, pregnancy is such a blessing and we've been tremendously lucky with a healthy happy 31 weeks so far! We eagerly await 16 February 2013 when our little Crumpet is due to arrive.

At the beginning -8 weeks-ish -with our other babies

Turkey Trot - 29 weeks!

We continue to enjoy the beauty of Colorado Springs and are settling into a new home. It's just a few minutes to Chris's job (by bike) and just a little longer for me to drive up to USAFA. He's still doing great systems engineering work with Infinity and serving with his reserves unit several days a month. I've settled into the Registrar's office at USAFA and boy am I lucky! I love working there (and it's a great reminder why I'm so glad I was blessed to attend ND)! I was recently hired to teach with the management department and should start that next fall. Otherwise I'm getting lots of opportunities to work with cadets and even take Chinese again! In his (no-so) spare time, Chris is putting his incredible handyman skills to work and finishing our basement. Overall, we couldn't be happier! We have plenty of space (soon to be even more) and would love to see you for a stop through on a trip or a few days enjoying Colorado!

Infinity Christmas Party - 31 weeks!

Peace!
Caitlin & Chris (and Crumpet)