As the new year approaches I look back upon the past twelve months and am amazed at the sheer variety of experiences our little family had. Here’s just a few of them.
January

In January we were cycling along the foothills of the Andes. Each time we went up and over a pass, there was a small shrine where people asked the virgin for safe travels. It seemed like we passed at least one every day.
February

In February we passed through the enormous flat pampas of Patagonia. Guanacos kept us entertained as they leapt over the fence as we approached.
March

Rather than using the same photo of the end of the world that we always use, I figured I'd represent this month with the awe-inspiring valley we cycled through shortly before reaching Ushuaia.
April

Spring in Boise meant the birth of hundreds of baby geese. We loved cycling and walking through the city parks watching all the birds.
May

One of the best parts of being back home was being able to play on a soccer team. The boys had missed that tremendously while on the road!
June

In June we were thrilled to spend time with Grandma and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. The whole family gathered together in Leetes Island in Connecticut and had a blast.
July

After being nomadic for so many years, we were excited to move into a house and put down roots. In July, we purchased this little house and started remodeling it to make it home.
August

Who can resist a good fair? And fair food? As I was growing up we always spent my birthday at the Western Idaho State Fair. We did the same this year.
September

Most of September was spent frantically trying to get the house ready to move into, but every once in a while we took some time to head down to the Boise River.
October

We figured as soon as that toilet moved from the back patio into the house we could move in. In the meantime, the house was little more than a construction zone.
November

By the end of November we were happily settled into our house and could start paying attention to the rest of the world. We spent some time at the Occupy Boise settlement trying to learn more about the movement.
December

Both Davy and Daryl have long been fascinated by robots. They've joined a robotics team and will start building a BIG robot next week, but in the meantime they've been learning all they can from a small Mindstorms Lego robot.








So happy to see the Oreos made the photo cut! Happy New Year Vogel family!!!
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Nancy Reply:
December 31st, 2011 at 8:02 pm
@walkingon travels,
How could I leave the Oreos out???
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Those oreos are amazing aren’t they? I do miss our country fairs!
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Nancy Reply:
December 31st, 2011 at 9:58 pm
@Mary,
It was so much fun to go the fair again! I hadn’t been for quite a while so it brought back wonderful memories!
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Oh wow – what a great idea….looking back on 2011 with photos! Love the ones with animals, and the one with the toilet in the back yard! Priceless.
You guys are such inspiration.
Cheers
Lisa
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Nancy Reply:
December 31st, 2011 at 9:58 pm
@Lisa Wood,
I just HAD to put in the toilet one! That bathroom was such a huge part of our lives for so long!
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Happy New Year, Nancy and to the men in the family as well.
Boise-you are there and my older daughter will move there in Fall 2013 when she finishes her accounting degree (she’s in Oklahoma now w her family). I will make a trip to see them and would love to get some coffee with you while i am in the neighborhood–if you are still there then…
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Nancy Reply:
January 1st, 2012 at 10:53 am
@Lynda M O,
Absolutely! Be sure to let me know when you are coming! That would be awesome!
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What a great idea and great pics, especially the valley, wow!! Happy New Year
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Nancy Reply:
January 2nd, 2012 at 10:56 pm
@D Murphy,
Happy New Year to you as well! May 2012 be your best year ever!
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Priceless memories! Thanks for sharing. The best in 2012 to you and yours from Nova Scotia, Canada.
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