Christmas Letter

2011 Zuniga Family

We rang in the New Year at home with close friends.  2011 started like the past 7 years since we moved to Walton, Nebraska from Santiago Chile in 2004.  Jorge was in graduate school and I was working as a Review Specialist for the Foster Care Review Board. While I worked Jorgito was hanging out at Grandma & Grandpa Fountain's house, catching fish at the pond, riding the 4 wheeler and playing fetch with the dogs.  

Jorge completed the Naturalization process & test to became an US Citizen in early February.

Jorgito turned 2 years old on February 18th.

Dr. Jorge received his PhD in Exercise Science from UNL in May.

My mother turned 60 in June so my parents took us along with my brother and his fiancee to Turks and Cacios to celebrate for a week at an all inclusive resort.

We spent the rest of the summer enjoying time with friends and family in Nebraska.

On August 1st we moved to Silver City, New Mexico, where Jorge teaches exercise physiology, anatomy and physiology, nutrition, and introduction to research at WNMU.  I am blessed to be able to stay at home with Jorgito now.

We still bleed Husker Red but enjoy cheering on the WNMU Mustangs at all the sporting events.

We spend most weekends and free time exploring our new back yard which consists of 3+ million acres of the Gila National Forest.

My parents made 2 trips to visit us in 2011 and have another booked in February 2012 for Jorgito's birthday.  Together we thoroughly explored southwest New Mexico. Pictured here in the Mogollon Indian caves about 2 hours north of Silver City.

Tyler and Jamie's Wedding

We made our first trip back to NE in September for my brother's wedding.  Jorge was the best man, I was a bridesmaid, and Ito was a ring bearer.  

We were also able to spend Grandparent's day with all of Ito's American grandparents. Grandpa Larry, Grandma Deb, Great Grandma Mary Jo and Great Grandma (G.G.) Doris.

No trip to Nebraska is complete without helping Grandpa and Uncle Tyler with some type of carcus, while wearing camo.

We spent Halloween and Thanksgiving in New Mexico.

We even got to play in a very unusual 7 inches of New Mexican snow before flying home to Nebraska for the Holidays.

Merry Christmas

&

Happy New Year

We hope you have a blessed 2012!!!!

You can check in on us anytime throughout the year right here on this blog, which my New Years resolution is to update on a weekly basis. :)

Thankful for Friends

Jorgito met a 3 year old boy named Keanu in the park one day shortly after moving to New Mexico.  We later learned that Keanu and his family used to live in the same house that we live in now on the University as his mother is also a professor.  Ito and Keanu have become great friends.

 They take tennis lessons together.

 They read during their play dates....apples don't fall far from their trees I guess :)

They meet at the WNMU games to cheer on the mustangs....and eat popcorn.

 They are usually the half time entertainment! 

 Since we stayed in New Mexico over Thanksgiving we hosted Keanu and his family for Thanksgiving Dinner.  Keanu's mother is from Brazil and his father is from England.  I made a traditional turkey and all the fixings. 

 Apparently turkey tryptophan has no effect on toddler boys.  After dinner the two took turns jumping off the couch to smack the punch balloon that Jorge taped to the ceiling for them to hit. 

Ito trimmed the tree.  Since we are spending the holidays in NE we didn't go all out on the decorations but he had a jolly ol' time decorating the tree all by himself :)

Halloween Visitors

My parents came to visit for a week over Halloween.

Jorgito is potty training so grandma bought some mickey mouse undies for him.

He likes them!

Mickey and Minnie Mouse Halloween costumes. 

Ito informed me that he was in fact a "Spooky Mickey" and next year he is going to be a Monster.

Day of the Dead alter display outside an art gallery. 

Brunch at Bear Mountain Lodge

The weather in late October is beautiful in Silver City.  We got to eat lunch outside at this restaurant.

Hiking, hiking, hiking, hiking!!!!!