Warning: You are about to read thieved material from someone else's blog, that I read on a friend's blog this morning. It's a list of questions all about 2009, with the idea that you will do this annually... So, lets get started!
1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before? Visited a Hot Springs, came to like owning a mini-van, went to Chuck E Cheese with the boys and family, to a Wichita Air Show, fed a giraffe, enjoyed an outdoor country music concert weekend vacation, went to Walters Pumpkin Patch – a new tradition we must keep, and MUCH more. My life - always something new!
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Sadly, no. But, this year, I resolved less specific things. Most were just goals for good habits and really being the person I want to be...
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Wow, for the first time in three years no family or BFF’s have had any new little ones. In a circle of Winfield friends there was one sweet baby girl born, and a really fun couple we used to go out with in
4. Who did you miss? My dad, immensely, Jermie’s dad, & Jermie’s great uncle Roger
5. What vacations did you take? We visited Jermie’s sister in
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? Better photo albums – think the Creative Memory photo books/journals, for the boys’ first years. And a robot to do all our laundry!
7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Ashton standing, Ashton walking, Gabe making a snow angel, Gabe swinging on the monkey bars, him trying on the fireman suit with Uncle Matt, family at Chuck E Cheese, at the air show in Wichita, two fun zoo trips, the Liberal water park, picking corn, Jermie’s birthday weekend at the lake, friends over at the house, Jermie on his new motorcycle, the four of us out on the boat together, Nov. 18, Walter’s Pumpkin Patch, the Topeka park, train and carousel, and our neighbor’s house fire.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Tough to answer. Maybe none, maybe finding a job I enjoy… Maybe being a wife and mother makes you feel like there is too much work and too few achievements, save – raising two healthy boys and still being in love with your husband!
9. What was your biggest failure? Letting medical bills get past due. UGH!
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Thankfully, nothing major.
11. What was the best thing you bought? Jermie’s motorcycle was the most outrageous purchase of the year, and he loves it and I love riding with him. Best memory so far: the drive to and from that middle-of-nowhere café for pie and cheeseburgers… Oh, wait, now I’m considering that the new projection screen, along with our surround sound, makes for some of the best home movie-watching I’ve ever seen! I’m pretty proud of that!
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Hmm… Hats off to my mom, for having such a tough year but doing so with grace and strength. But the wording of this question also makes me think of birthday celebrations, and hats off to my family for getting our kids together for birthday parties. I hope that continues this year. I love seeing all the boys together!
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Hmmm… Lets give this award to Angels Care Home Health – specifically Trish R. and Melissa M. – IDIOTS!
14. Where did most of your money go? Wal-Mart, Dillons, and into the gas tank.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Can’t think of what would top everything else… I don’t know…
16. What songs will always remind you of 2009? Although Taylor Swift owned 2009 country music charts, I liked: Whatever It Is and Toes by Zac Brown Band; When I Get Where I’m Going by Brad Paisley; and a couple of songs Jermie has me hooked on, have no idea who/what they are!
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer? Happier, fatter, richer
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? I wish we would have gotten a few more projects done on the house, and that I had done some of the photography projects I’ve been dreaming of for awhile now. Also, I need to write down the hilarious things my kids say and do more often because, sad as it is, I forget them so quickly!
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Complaining, feeling sorry for myself, holding grudges, and insisting that it wasn’t my fault when I should have been apologizing!
20. How did you spend Christmas? Good times! First, at Uncle Jamie’s with all the family from Pittsburg, then at home with just the four of us, then a holiday weekend with Jamie and Brady, followed by New Years which was a BLAST, and finally, Christmas with my mom and siblings, the boys and all their cousins (minus the eldest.) It was wonderful and a lot of fun. I Always Love Getting Together with my Family!!!
26. What did you want and get? Slippers, dishes from Pampered Chef to complete my sets, and time with family. Didn’t know that I really wanted Jermie to get me a necklace, but he did, and I love it!
27. What did you want and not get? That darn laundry-maid robot!
21. What did you fall in love with in 2009? The Twilight series, Pandora Internet Radio, Netflix, mini-chewy sweet tarts, Reeses PB No-Bake in a box from Wal-Mart, our pet turtle “The King,” and our new kitten.
22. What was your favorite TV program? Greys Anatomy, followed by Private Practice and when I can catch it, the Bachelor/Bachelorettes.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? Hate – a pretty strong word. The two people I mentioned above from my former job though, they are pretty much pond scum bottom of the list LOW…
24. What was the best book you read? The Twilight Series – most engaging, The Shack by William P. Young – most thought-provoking, and The Time Travelers Wife – most anticipation for the movie!
25. What was your greatest musical discovery? Pandora Internet Radio. Love it!
28. What was your favorite film of this year: Taken, Grand Torino, The Hangover (guess that's 2010)…
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? Turned 28, had margaritas and girl time at Nieveses and then a party at my house… FUN times!
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? I don’t know of anything we needed and didn’t have… Guess I would answer less personal conflict and more trust/faith and belief in my personal walk with God.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009? Same as 1999. Same as always. Classic pieces that I wear too often.
32. What kept you sane? Who said I was sane?
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Heidi Klum and Seal, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Rachel McAdams.
34. What political issue stirred you the most? Octomom and The Jon and Kate Plus 8 scandal. – JUST kidding. Like everyone, health reform, war. Now, working where I have, schools and prisons are making the news and I’m following those issues more closely.
36. Who was the best new person you met? Probably Alicia out at the prison, who I had been acquainted with before but really enjoyed lunches with while we worked together. Lots of great bosses out there that I didn’t really want to leave and hope to run into sometime again. Also, getting to know my brother’s girlfriend Alli has been tons of fun – breaking her out of her shell and appreciating her help and friendship.
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009. Forgive quickly, grieve slowly, make the littlest moments count, close your eyes and count to ten, breathe deeply, and hug, hug, hug often. Also, take too many pictures of your kiddos, always. :-)
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. “Twinkle, twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are…”
