Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas & best wishes for the New Year!

Due to our busy lives we were unable to get Christmas cards out.  Instead, we're attempting to "get with the times," "go green," "embrace technology" and send our love via email & internet!

This year has been an exiting year for Ryan and I.  The year began with Ryan accepting a new position at Hennepin County Medical Center as an Health Information Management Business Analyst.  While he was sad to leave good friends and coworkers at LSS, HCMC is a much better fit for career growth and for our personal lives as Ryan no longer travels for work.

Ryan's first month on the job was a little rough, not because of the job but because my parents decided to take a 3 week excursion with their good friends, the Rozinka's.  While they were away, the house lost heat during a extremely cold spell & the pipes burst.  Water ruined a large portion of their home.  A blessing in disguise:  none of their items of importance (pictures, memory books) were destroyed & they were required to get new electrical (now they can run the stove/oven, microwave & have all the lights on!), better insulation and a BRAND NEW kitchen!!  Needless to say, we're beyond thankful for our family & friends who helped pack up the house, met with contractors & offered guidance to Ryan & I.

Ryan and I enjoyed a long lazy summer visiting family & friends across the upper middle states.  We started with 3 days visiting the Tonsager side (my dad's side) of the family up near Itasca where we did some canoing, biking & one long painful 12 mile run.  We continued on to Fort Peck, Montana to the Heins' (Ryan's mom's side) for the big, annual Fourth of July bash which included games, boat rides and lots of fun on the jetskis.  Next was a few days in Bozeman, Montana where we hiked in the beautiful mountains & visited with Ryan's good friend Greg before heading off through South Dakota to see the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore.

Our lives changed dramatically this past fall.  Ryan is pursuing a double Master's degree in Software Management and Business Administration at the University of St. Thomas.  I am working towards a Masters degree in Business Administration at the University of Minnesota.  Our lazy days are certainly over!  It's been an interesting & enriching first semester though has it challenges with both of us working full-time and in school at night.  Let's just say housework seems to have fallen complete off the To-Do List!!  We're again thankful for our families as they've supplied us with homemade meals for the days and nights we might otherwise have to order a pizza!

Most recently, Ryan was promoted at HCMC to a newly developed role as a Systems Administrator.  We're both happy that he is doing well, found a career path he is excited about & is being rewarded for his talent.

We are both looking forward to next year as we know it will challenge us academically & professionally yet will be rewarding.  We're excited to see Alaska in June & July and equally excited to see what adventures are in store for us as we approach 2012!

We wish you all a 2012 that is full of happiness, health & love.

-Ryan & Laura Nordlocken