1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?
Well, I began my list of 40 Things. To date I have accomplished the following:
# 1 - Had a Mammogram
# 2 - Built a gingerbread house
I knew you would be impressed...admit it that you are jealous I am such an accomplished person...
2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions and will you make more for next year?
Here is what I wrote out last year, on Dec.31st, 2010...
* create a master 52 week cleaning schedule (completed through week 13)
I discovered FlyLady and she does it for me! I even get it sent to my inbox every morning. Now I just need to clean out the 329 FlyLady emails that are still in my inbox...
* create a master 52 week recipe/menu/shopping list plan (completed 2 weeks worth)
What am I, insane??
* create a master daily schedule for each child so that I can make sure I am meeting the daily minimum of their educational needs.
Sigh. I so wanted to make this work for me. I am in the process of revising the schedule now - since we only have afternoon naps to contend with at this point. I also want to incorporate my goals for this coming year: time to mess around with bugs/dirt/plants/art supplies/and kid-friendly household chemicals.
My motto for the upcoming year remains the same: Revise and make it work.
Here is what I wrote out last year, on Dec.31st, 2010...
* create a master 52 week cleaning schedule (completed through week 13)
I discovered FlyLady and she does it for me! I even get it sent to my inbox every morning. Now I just need to clean out the 329 FlyLady emails that are still in my inbox...
* create a master 52 week recipe/menu/shopping list plan (completed 2 weeks worth)
What am I, insane??
* create a master daily schedule for each child so that I can make sure I am meeting the daily minimum of their educational needs.
Sigh. I so wanted to make this work for me. I am in the process of revising the schedule now - since we only have afternoon naps to contend with at this point. I also want to incorporate my goals for this coming year: time to mess around with bugs/dirt/plants/art supplies/and kid-friendly household chemicals.
My motto for the upcoming year remains the same: Revise and make it work.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Well... Does this current New Year's Day count? My niece (by marriage) gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, Marshall, at 5:30 am. He was the first baby of the year at the hospital they delivered at.
Well... Does this current New Year's Day count? My niece (by marriage) gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, Marshall, at 5:30 am. He was the first baby of the year at the hospital they delivered at.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
This one is painful... Yes - three wonderful grandmothers.
Dean's maternal grandma, Essie, in January
My maternal grandma, Betty, in April
My paternal grandma, Bobbie, in October.
It's been a long, dreadful year in this respect.
This one is painful... Yes - three wonderful grandmothers.
Dean's maternal grandma, Essie, in January
My maternal grandma, Betty, in April
My paternal grandma, Bobbie, in October.
It's been a long, dreadful year in this respect.
5. What countries did you visit?
Does Oklahoma count? That sometimes feels like another country...
Does Oklahoma count? That sometimes feels like another country...
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
Sleep
Sleep
7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
April 17th and October 7th - when my grandmothers passed away
April 17th and October 7th - when my grandmothers passed away
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Finding my calling to write, write, write... It has been my salvation.
-or-
Getting Owen to poop on the potty. Take your pick...
Finding my calling to write, write, write... It has been my salvation.
-or-
Getting Owen to poop on the potty. Take your pick...
9. What was your biggest failure?
Putting straw mulch in the garden. An absolute botanical catastrophe...
Putting straw mulch in the garden. An absolute botanical catastrophe...
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I have been suffering with plantar fasciitis since fall of 2010. I just got my orthotics a couple of weeks ago. It doesn't exactly feel like a miracle yet... Pretty bummed about that.
Otherwise I am very thankful that my only major complaint is a nasty cold that will not go away.
I have been suffering with plantar fasciitis since fall of 2010. I just got my orthotics a couple of weeks ago. It doesn't exactly feel like a miracle yet... Pretty bummed about that.
Otherwise I am very thankful that my only major complaint is a nasty cold that will not go away.
12. What was the best thing you received?
My iPhone4 that I got from my husband for my birthday...
-but-
My new FlyLady purple rags and scrubba tools come in a very close second... or my new cast iron enamel dutch oven... can't decide.
My iPhone4 that I got from my husband for my birthday...
-but-
My new FlyLady purple rags and scrubba tools come in a very close second... or my new cast iron enamel dutch oven... can't decide.
13. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Owen has been just awesome during the whole potty training process. He frequently has accidents, but his attitude has been very upbeat. He is such a sweet kid...
Owen has been just awesome during the whole potty training process. He frequently has accidents, but his attitude has been very upbeat. He is such a sweet kid...
14. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The Republican portion of the Senate.
The Republican portion of the Senate.
15. Where did most of your money go?
Interest payments. And diapers. And Starbucks. And karate lessons.
Interest payments. And diapers. And Starbucks. And karate lessons.
16. What did you get really excited about?
Going to see U2 at Mile High, Skiing with Rylan last spring and cutting up our first credit card.
Going to see U2 at Mile High, Skiing with Rylan last spring and cutting up our first credit card.
17. What song will always remind you of 2011?
Us Against the World, by Coldplay.
Us Against the World, by Coldplay.
18. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? B) thinner or fatter? C) richer or poorer?
a) happier - much happier! b) about the same... boo. c) we stopped the bleeding but we are walking along the edge every day...
a) happier - much happier! b) about the same... boo. c) we stopped the bleeding but we are walking along the edge every day...
19. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Spent time with my grandmas...
Spent time with my grandmas...
20. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Eating out - our single most extravagant expenditure...
Eating out - our single most extravagant expenditure...
22. What was your favorite TV program?
The Closer, Modern Family and The Middle.
The Closer, Modern Family and The Middle.
23. What were your favorite books of the year?
The Blue Zones and The Help
The Blue Zones and The Help
24. What was your favorite music from this year?
Coldplay, Foster the People and Adele 21 - and Jimmy Fallon's rendition of the Reading Rainbow
Coldplay, Foster the People and Adele 21 - and Jimmy Fallon's rendition of the Reading Rainbow
25. What were your favorite films of the year?
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2
Tangled
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2
Tangled
26. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 40. We went camping, had a nice family dinner and then Dean and I went out to our favorite 'special occasion' restaurant for dinner the next night. It was the best of birthdays... :)
I turned 40. We went camping, had a nice family dinner and then Dean and I went out to our favorite 'special occasion' restaurant for dinner the next night. It was the best of birthdays... :)
27. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
It is selfish, but I wish our grandmas were still here. They all had health issues and so, in a way, they are at peace now. But I miss them terribly - the holiday season was exceptionally rough.
It is selfish, but I wish our grandmas were still here. They all had health issues and so, in a way, they are at peace now. But I miss them terribly - the holiday season was exceptionally rough.
28. What political issue stirred you the most?
It is a toss-up between the no-tax-hike oath that all of the Republicans took (which will mean the death of America if we don't vote them out of office soon....) or the FOX network's assertion that Socialism is a dirty word. What bothers me the most, though, is that a political argument between me and cousin of mine earlier this year means that we are no longer on speaking terms, and that makes me very, very sad. I can't bring myself to understand his view, and he ridicules me for mine.
It is a toss-up between the no-tax-hike oath that all of the Republicans took (which will mean the death of America if we don't vote them out of office soon....) or the FOX network's assertion that Socialism is a dirty word. What bothers me the most, though, is that a political argument between me and cousin of mine earlier this year means that we are no longer on speaking terms, and that makes me very, very sad. I can't bring myself to understand his view, and he ridicules me for mine.
29. What kept you sane?
Writing out all of my joys, fears, concerns, rants, and so forth... And Dove dark chocolate.
Writing out all of my joys, fears, concerns, rants, and so forth... And Dove dark chocolate.
30. Who did you meet this year?
I met a couple of new homeschooling moms that are an inspiration to me - their sage advice has spurred a lot of interesting discussion in our group. We met at a non-profit center one night, in early fall, for our monthly homeschool association meeting, and it feels like we are on the cusp of something big. A fusion of public/private/homeschool education endeavours... The future of education is changing rapidly, and I am excited to see what is in store. I remember the drive home that night... my mind was racing with the possibilities.
I met a couple of new homeschooling moms that are an inspiration to me - their sage advice has spurred a lot of interesting discussion in our group. We met at a non-profit center one night, in early fall, for our monthly homeschool association meeting, and it feels like we are on the cusp of something big. A fusion of public/private/homeschool education endeavours... The future of education is changing rapidly, and I am excited to see what is in store. I remember the drive home that night... my mind was racing with the possibilities.
31. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
I will never be able to do all of the charitable things I want to do in life until we pay off our debts and become good financial stewards with what we do have.
32. Best song lyric for the year?
Coldplay's Every Teardrop is a Waterfall. Love the entire song!!
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