{"id":10976,"date":"2014-01-01T03:01:22","date_gmt":"2014-01-01T09:01:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=10976"},"modified":"2014-12-30T19:10:46","modified_gmt":"2014-12-31T01:10:46","slug":"happy-new-year-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=10976","title":{"rendered":"Happy New Year"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Before we start recapping the year that passed, allow me to catch you guys up&#8230;<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<ul>\n<\/p>\n<li><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=2671\"  title=\"2008 Highlights\">2008<\/a><\/strong> is the year that Brian started working for Viega, I completed my MBA from Wichita State University, and we dealt cards on a cruise ship.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=3810\"  title=\"2009 Highlights\">2009<\/a><\/strong> is a year of firsts. We attended Zoobilee for the first time. Brian had his first trip to Germany. He also visited the Philippines for the first time. I completed Leadership Westar. Tita Sol adopted Molly.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=5487\"  title=\"2010 Highlights\">2010<\/a><\/strong> was the year that we spent a lot of time with the Dills. It started out when we rang in the New Year at Kansas City Power &#038; Light with Jay, Becca, and Mama Dill. A month later, we were traveling with them again. This time to San Francisco. We did a lot of traveling that year.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=7155\"  title=\"2011 Highlights\">2011<\/a><\/strong> was the year that we started by getting stranded at McCarran International Airport (Las Vegas). That didn&#8217;t deter us from traveling, though. We traveled through the East Coast with the Dills that summer and had a lot of firsts. We also got to see James Taylor perform twice: once at Intrust Bank Arena and again at Tanglewood. I also had my first ER trip and my first biopsy. Exciting stuff!<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=9196\"  title=\"2012 Highlights\">2012<\/a><\/strong> we attended a few weddings, most notably Cousin Tracy and Jeff&#8217;s destination wedding at Coral Cove Resort in Jamaica. I got my Zumba Basic 1 License and I took Brian to Nashville for his 38th birthday. We celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary by closing on our house and then I ended the year with a thyroidectomy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Now that you are all caught up, let&#8217;s talk about what&#8217;s happened to us since then. <\/p>\n<div style=\"padding-bottom:10px;\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/11547746603\/\"  title=\"highlights 2013 by Ching, on Flickr\"><img src=\"http:\/\/farm4.staticflickr.com\/3728\/11547746603_fa89dbfded_z.jpg\" width=\"500\"  border=\"0\" alt=\"highlights 2013\"><\/a><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>Brian and I both played in the <a href=\"http:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=9354\"  title=\"Cards for the Cure\">Cards for the Cure<\/a> poker tournament. Neither of us did well, but we had a lot of fun. I have a couple of Zumba classes that I teach on Saturdays now so I&#8217;m thinking of skipping the tournament this year, but Brian will likely be playing in the tournament. I&#8217;m hoping he takes the whole thing down this year.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=9347\"  title=\"Orbases Visit Wichita\">Sheryll, Clayton, and their kids drove up from Dallas to visit us<\/a>. It was a short visit but we had a wonderful time hanging out with the Orbases. We were hoping that they would visit us again but that may not be happening anytime soon as they&#8217;ve moved back to the Philippines, which makes me really sad.<\/li>\n<li>After years of attending various fundraising events, <a href=\"http:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=9263\"  title=\"We Made Splurge!\">we finally made Splurge! magazine<\/a>. After the first one, we made the magazine a few more times this year. You&#8217;d think we were stalking their photographer or something. LOL.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=9492\"  title=\"The Blizzard of Oz\">I had to endure the worst winter we&#8217;d had in years without Brian<\/a>. He was in Arizona at the time.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=9417\"  title=\"First Handguns\">Brian and I got each other handguns for Valentines Day<\/a>. I know. How romantic, right? <a href=\"http:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=9519\"  title=\"Shooting at Bullseye\">We made a few trips to the shooting range<\/a> this year to get further acquainted with our new toys\u2026 err, weapons.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=9519\"  title=\"Fight for Air Climb\">I survived the Fight for Air Climb<\/a> (a fundraiser for the American Lung Association) at Cessna Stadium. Thanks to my friend Jodi for talking me into it.<\/li>\n<li>Brian and I went on one of my most favorite dates of all time. We completed a <a href=\"http:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=9649\"  title=\"Sculpture Scavenger Hunt\">sculpture scavenger hunt<\/a> on the Wichita State University campus. The best part was that we both got mistaken for a couple of college students. LOL.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=9618\"  title=\"Walking Dead Season 3 Final Watch Party\">We had some Walking Dead watch parties<\/a>. The best one being the Season 3 finale watch party because Chef Jason actually joined us for dinner, though he could care less about the show.\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=10103 \"  title=\"Brian's Airboat\">Dad gave Brian his airboat<\/a>. Things haven&#8217;t been the same since.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=9952\"  title=\"Annual Filipino Ball\">We attended the annual Filipino ball<\/a> at the Marriott after several years of not attending the event.<\/li>\n<li>We attended the <a href=\"http:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=9894\"  title=\"Celebrity &#038; Chef Cook Off\">Celebrity &#038; Chef Cook Off<\/a> benefit for the Orpheum. As fundraising events go, this one should be on everyone&#8217;s list because it is super fun. And the food is amazing to boot!<\/li>\n<li>In the realm of professional development, <a href=\"http:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=9862\"  title=\"Leadership Elite\">I completed Leadership Elite<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=9849\"  title=\"In-Laws' 40th Wedding Anniversary\">We threw Brian&#8217;s parents a nice 40th wedding anniversary party<\/a> catered by Truffles. Thanks to all who helped make the event possible, specially Kevin and Kasey for the decorations.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=9977\"  title=\"Cards Against Humanity\">We discovered Cards Against Humanity<\/a>, my new favorite card game.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=9972\"  title=\"Brian Learned to Make Lumpia\">Brian learned how to make <em>lumpia<\/em><\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=10247\"  title=\"Zumba Instructor Convention\">I attended my first Zumba Instructor Convention<\/a> and picked up a couple more licenses in the process. I&#8217;m now licensed to teach Zumba Toning and also Zumba Kids + Kids Jr.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=10124\"  title=\"My First Webinar\">I delivered my first webinar<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>I attended the <a href=\"http:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=10402\"  title=\"MEA Customer Relations Roundtable\">MEA Customer Relations Roundtable<\/a> in Minneapolis. While I was in the area, <a href=\"http:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=10478\"  title=\"Mall of America\">I got to check out Mall of America<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=10507\"  title=\"Spoon Bridge in Minneapolis\">the famous spoon bridge<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Brian and I helped with <a href=\"http:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=10329\"  title=\"Labor Run 2013\">the Labor Run<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=10692\"  title=\"The New Stove Saga\">I got a new double oven electric range for my birthday<\/a>, which wasn&#8217;t without its challenges. We&#8217;ve made pretty good use of the two ovens though so, in the end, it was all worth it.<\/li>\n<li>We got to see some amazing performances such as <a href=\"http:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=10552\"  title=\"MOMIX: Botanica\">MOMIX: Botanica<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=10776\"  title=\"Cutter J the Absurdist\">Cutter J the Absurdist<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=10803\" >Brian&#8217;s parents officially moved to Oklahoma<\/a> so we ended up hosting Thanksgiving and Christmas at our house this year.<\/li>\n<li>We had our first ever <a href=\"http:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=10714 \"  title=\"Post-Halloween Party\">post-Halloween party<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=10916 \"  title=\"Davenport, IA Trip\">I had my first trip to Davenport, IA<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/cbrubaker.zumba.com\/apps\/blog\/show\/35554766-guess-what\"  title=\"Instructor Training at the YMCA\" target=\"_blank\">I completed the 8-week land instructor training at the YMCA<\/a> and started teaching Zumba at Andover YMCA.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Man, it&#8217;s been a busy year! Here&#8217;s hoping that 2014 is just as amazing!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Before we start recapping the year that passed, allow me to catch you guys up&#8230; 2008 is the year that Brian started working for Viega, I completed my MBA from Wichita State University, and we dealt cards on a cruise ship. 2009 is a year of firsts. We attended Zoobilee for the first time. Brian [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[10],"tags":[948,1208,1337],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10976"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10976"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10976\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12241,"href":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10976\/revisions\/12241"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10976"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10976"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10976"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}